The Goblin's Heir

Chapter Fifty Four: Monstrosity

The pact had been made. The contract was signed with blood. My children had pulled the bright red thread and now...we plummeted. Whether it would be to our salvation or doom we would soon see.

According to Bran's estimation, the City of Thorns should be arriving in London within hours. While the others used the time to plan and prepare, I found myself spending a great deal of our remaining time on the island on the beach. The cottage, despite its many comfortable rooms, was far too small. I could hear him no matter how far away I kept. The entire house smelled of him. That scent of smoldering ash made me want to retch.

"The ocean breeze can get downright freezing at night. Aren't you cold?" Cat asked, a rare echo of concern ringing in her voice. Clutching a dark maroon shawl about her shoulders, she extended one hand to me. "Come inside, Cerise was just heating some water for tea."

I swayed slightly on tired legs, glancing up at the sliver of moon rising up into the sky. The water was a black nothing against a purple sky, the waves capping in moonlit silver. How many hours had it been since I'd begun pacing the beach? When my walk began the sun was just settling over the waves, turning it to fire beneath it. "As if you want me here. This is your marital home, isn't it? The place you snuck off with Bran to hide away and laugh at me? Treacherous, ungrateful brat."

She let her hand fall heavily to her side, letting out a haggard breath. "I know you are trying to prod me into a fight in some pathetic attempt to take your mind off of much greater concerns, so I'm going to ignore that comment." She stepped closer to the waves, crouching for a moment to let them lap at her fingers. She picked a pinkish shell from the sand and held it up as she stood, turning it the dim light. "Yes, this is my home. Bran built it for us when we married, as our secret haven where we might meet in secret, though we meant to reveal it someday when things were...not so complicated."

"You mean when the majority of our family was dead and I was too crazed with grief to care what you did." I hissed.

Her frown deepened. She clutched the shell between her fingers, turning it, testing its weight. "What can I say? Unparalleled selfishness seems to be a recurring defect in the Pole bloodline." She tossed the shell at the water. It skipped over a wave before plunking into the depths. "I didn't make myself have feelings for Bran out of spite, despite what you probably think. It merely happened. However, I admit that keeping it a secret made me feel good, like I'd won in some small capacity. It was all childish stupidity and I'm ashamed of all of it now."

"Why are you still so angry with him? You've sided with Magni too. I expected you two to be in the "kiss and make up" stage already."

"Besides how he just left us at that house? How he knew the world was dying and never warned us? How he lied to me?" Folding her arms tightly over her chest, she glared out at the water, clenching her teeth. "Bran's made his bed and I want out of it." She spat through those bared teeth. "I'd like to burn this house down."

"Don't. It's a nice house." I said, gesturing at the water. "Most people would kill for a sea view like this." The wind picked up. It raked its fingers through my hair like Knut's once did. The touch soft and adoring. I felt a pang in my chest at a melancholy memory and my voice grew soft. "I'm sorry. I don't blame you for wanting to run. I was horrid to you." Too many times I'd ignored her or picked fights simply because something about her face, made painful feelings reemerge to bite at my mind. However good my intention had been in keeping her, I hadn't exactly been a loving mother figure to her. I was still the one that orphaned her. She had every right to hate me.  

I felt a tug at my clothes. "I don't hate you anymore, you know." She said in a murmer. I looked down to where her small hand clutched my sleeve. "I still get angry sometimes...I still miss them...but it's nothing like it was."