Hooked [Complete]

62. Beltane Part 8: A Sexwitch's Liberation

Author's Note: Meanwhile, back in the Ghost Bubble....

Sean's POV

Lana and I are frantically having a silent argument while Cernunnos and Carrie have a loud one.

It's got to be Trivia, I say. She's the weakest.

No, we should throw our support to Cernunnos and attack Mercury, Lana protests.

I know why she thinks this. Our dedication to Cerridwen is dissolved, but Lana still belongs to Cernunnos.

No, Mercury will realize what we are doing and order Apollo and Diana to kill us. 

But Trivia has two aspects. We'll be dividing our strength.

We take one at a time. I think her division makes each aspect weaker. 

Fine. The ugly one.

I grin. You'll have to be more specific, Lan.

She grins back. My heart aches. We are probably going to die, and that's probably the last time I am going to see my twin smile.

The one in red, she says.

When it starts, I say, and she nods.

Cernunnos and Carrie are still arguing. I think they are stalling, but I'm not sure why. Is help coming? Or does Cernunnos just know he's going to die, and he wants every last second he can get with her?

It's actually kind of funny, how they can command everyone's attention, with their fight. Even Mercury is standing by, his evil plans momentarily forgotten, as he watches the Great Celtic Lovers hurl their passion at one another like bombs.

Then Cernunnos kisses Cerridwen. It's a beautiful moment, but it hurts me to watch. It takes me a minute to realize why it hurts. It's not because I'm jealous. The intense attachment I felt for her is gone. She's no longer a goddess. She's no longer my goddess. Though I care about her deeply as a person, the soul-binding feelings no longer exist, because I no longer belong to her.

No, I'm actually kind of glad for Carrie, that she gets this last great moment with Cernunnos. If we die, we might as well die honest. The love they have for each other is wild and eternal, and I'm glad they are sharing it.

The reason that the kiss between Cernunnos and Carrie hurts me is because of Dru. Cernunnos loves Cerridwen with his entire soul, and a god's soul is great big thing. He doesn't love Dru like that, and everybody in this whole fucked up situation, including Dru, knows it. What will she feel, if this is the end for all of us here? If she's left knowing that Cernunnos died for Cerridwen, and that I died for my sister?

I can't die here today. I won't sacrifice Lana and I won't leave Dru alone.

Lan, we are staying alive. Whatever it takes. Do you understand me? We'll take Trivia, but then, we stay alive. I protect you, you protect me. That's the only way we survive.

We need to help Cernunnos, she protests.

No, Cernunnos can take care of himself. You need to live for Finn. That asshole will go insane if you die. He Greenspark loves you. Like Cernunnos loves Cerridwen. He can't live without you, so you have to survive this.

Silence from her. Finally, she says. Okay. Trivia, then protect each other.

"I love you," Cerridwen is saying to Cernunnos, and suddenly he whips her behind him, out of Mercury's reach. Mercury laughs. "You have her mortal body; I have her divine soul," he holds out Carrie's immortality to taunt Cernunnos.