Moon Cursed (Book 2 in The Star and Her Moon Series)

The Place Between

Meribella

 Meribella had never given much thought to the afterlife. Fae rarely did, and though her human nature shaved a few years off of her life expectancy, she expected to have a few more centuries before being forced to contemplate the Great Beyond.

But, as she sat in a field of wildflowers, the breeze blowing through her hair tangy with salt from an ocean shouldn't couldn't see- only hear and smell- she decided she would have never bet on death being like this.

Yet, there was something familiar about this place. A sense that she'd been here before. She stood and looked around. As far as her eye could see, there was nothing but natural beauty. A world untouched by progress.

She might have enjoyed it more if she weren't alone.

Raff.

Meribella spoke to their bond, knowing he couldn't hear her from here. Not that she really wanted that kind of connection. She was not so cruel. He needed to grieve for her and move on. Even without her voice echoing in his mind, she knew it would not be an easy task. Raff loved fiercely and deeply. 

And theirs was a forever kind.

She moved toward the sounds of the sea. A swim sounded nice, and if this was her version of heaven, the water would be the color of glass and warm enough to swim without clothes. The sand would be so white it would almost make the eyes hurt to look upon it, and where the sea foam brushed across the sand, it would turn gold.

Yet, the further she walked she noticed small imperfections in her new world. Broken blades of grass that turned to ash when her fingers brushed against them. Swathes of black winding through the green, and flower petals fell from healthy blooms without provocation.

"What is this?" She touched a wild rose with the tip of a finger and watched in horror as it turned brown with decay.

"He holds on tight, your Raff. This rot is his doing. His anger."

Meribella shrieked and spun around. Her hands pressed flat against her stomach, and she winced as remembered the knife slipping through the skin just above her thumbs. Three women watched her from a few yards away.

Two were nearly identical. Slanted eyes, full lips, and willowy frames, they walked in tandem. Hair the color of stardust over her shoulder, the one on the right regarded Meribella with cool blue eyes. The woman on the left had hair black as pitch and eyes like the harvest moon.

The third woman was as short as they were tall, with skin like coal and hair of fire. She radiated with nervous energy, and even as she walked her hands moved around her as if she was conducting a private symphony. But like the other two, her eyes never drifted from Meribella.

"You know who we are?" The small one asked.

Meribella licked her lips. "I think I have an idea, but I've never met you here before."

The one on the right- the one she suspected was Astra- smiled. "This is the same place as always, child. Only before it was a wasteland because you weren't supposed to be there. It fought against your presence. It welcomes you now."

"So I really am dead. I mean, I knew it, but it helps to hear someone say it."

A bark sounded behind the women, and they parted to allow a blur of silver and white through. Aurora launched herself at Meribella, knocking her over and licking until Meribella was laughing.

"Oh sweet girl, not you too."

"Not quite," Celene said, staring at the wolf pup with great fondness. "Wolves are creatures of spirit. They can traverse the world between life and death with ease, and Aurora has always been special."