Chapter 177

I turned around and saw Cillian standing across the clearing, draped in the same red cloak that Candido had been wearing. He looked up at the moon then to the temple doors.

“I assume you missed the last prayer session.” He hummed. “Though, you don’t have to look so distressed. The doors will open again soon.”

“She’s in there with Candido,” I sniffled. “She’s in there with Candido and probably asking the Goddess for a blessing on their life, and I…”

Cillian’s head tilted as I slumped against the wall. I couldn’t even be sure she would grant my wish, but it seemed that she’d already granted Estella’s, and it wasn’t fair.

I couldn’t let it end like this. Candido can say that he had a plan, but I know he’s lying. He was desperate. I saved him. Why else would he have kissed me like that after we left the ceremony?

No. This was all Estella’s doing. I had to stop her.

Cillian turned. “Well, if you don’t want to wait for the next prayer session here, you could always come with me to the older temple.”

“There’s…. another temple?” I asked. Hope filled me. If I could just get to a temple.

He nodded. “It’s smaller. People don’t tend to go there often since it’s hard to bring their families.”

“Where is it?”

He nodded away from the temple. “Not too far.”

He turned, and I scrambled to follow him. He paused a few steps down the path and turned to me.

“Ah, I should probably tell you that there’s another reason why people don’t tend to use it. Asking for things, wishes requires… a sacrifice.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“It means that the Goddess gives nothing for free beyond what she is willing to give freely.”

I worried my lip and followed. She hadn’t given Candido to me freely. It was obvious from the mark on Estella’s chest that it was likely that she had given him to Estella, but I wasn’t going to let that happen. I was the better choice. No matter what they said, no matter what Candido said, I had done so much for Moon Shadow because of him.

I was the reason that the servers were safe right now. I led the analysis of all the attacks where that drug was used. I refused to go to training because I thought my strength would be enough. No, I knew my strength was enough, and I didn’t want to chance being out and about and seen by anyone I knew who might discover my secret.

Besides, if I had gone out on missions I wouldn’t have had nearly as much time with Candido over the years, and it would have been really hard to cover up my disappearances for hours on end. Candido would have found out and probably tried to stop me ages ago and then we wouldn’t have found out we were mates.

They could rub it in my face, but I had my reasons for doing what I did. I didn’t need to be in the field to support Moon Shadow’s mission or Candido.

I set my jaw, remembering what Candido said to me about my contributions as Pandora. There was more to supporting someone than logistics. What about all the times I made him take a break to help me with homework? What about all the breaks he took to be with me and not with Sibyl? I saved him from letting Sibyl dig her greedy claws into him any further.

Candido might not have been tempted by her body because they hadn’t spent a lot of time alone together, but what if they had? Would they be married? Would the altar have rejected her if I hadn’t interfered with their relationship? I hadn’t done it on purpose, but the effect was the same.

We walked for about five minutes before I saw the small stone building. There were no doors. The roof was supported by old-looking columns. It looked like it might cave at any moment and the path was paved with white stone that shone red under the bloody moonlight.

Cillian approached slowly, walking on the stone path.

I saw the altar inside the building. The torches inside lit up as we approached. He stopped at the base of the stairs and turned back to look at me.

“Would you like me to go first?” He asked.

I shook my head. I didn’t have time to waste. He gestured ahead of him and I climbed the stairs. I braced for some sort of barrier, but nothing came. I walked to the altar. There was nothing on it or any indication of what I should do, so I thought hard.

I want Candido.

Whatever you want in return, you can have it.

I want Candido.

I want Candido.

I saw his face looking at me from across an aisle. I turned back and saw Wren nearby, looking bored. Then, I saw Estella wearing an expression that I recognized from Sibyl’s face: jealousy. I smirked inwardly at the thought, then everything vanished. I opened my eyes just as the basins of fire turned to basins of electricity. It all zipped and darted around me.

This had to be a sign that she had agreed to give me what I wanted. This had to be a sign. I didn’t care what she wanted, what she took in return. She could have it.

The electricity lifted into the air, tumbling in a ball of light then it struck down on me. Pain filled my whole body. I screamed as everything went black.

I groaned, turning over. There was something burning in my nose. I was twitching and I couldn’t stop. I opened my eyes as I jerked. The moon had lost its bloody red glow. How long had I been there? Where was I?

“Just hold on,” I heard someone calling to me.

I couldn’t make sense of who it was and I didn’t care. Everything hurt. Something lapped over me. Then, I was turned face down and I realized that I was in water. I thrashed, and panicked, then I felt someone grab me from under my arms.

“Just hold on!”

I felt myself being dragged through the water and the currents that were being churned up around me. Then, whoever it was dragged and hauled me out of the water. When my back hit the ground, I groaned again, still twitching.

“Can… dido?”

“Stay with me. Don’t fall asleep.”

I frowned. That wasn’t Candido’s voice. Estella’s face, wet with her stupid short hair plastered to her face appeared in my face, she shined a light in my eyes and I growled, swatting whatever was in her hands away and shoving her away.

“Get away from me!”

I got onto my knees as she went scrambling after whatever she’d been holding. She went to the lake’s edge and seemed to catch it. She let out a short breath and turned back to me.

“What is your problem?” She asked. “I—”

“You did this! It’s your fault!” I stumbled to my feet. My fury rose. Familiar and thrashing around inside me. I heard laughter in the back of my mind. “I’ll show you I’m not a child! I’ll show you who is more worthy!”

It was me. It had always been me. MY strength surged and I lunged at her. She darted out of the way.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Estella said. “But you need to calm down. I’m not sure what happened to you either, but it’s clear—”

“I’m not crazy! This is all your fault!”

She must have already wished for Candido. She must have beaten me to it and the Goddess had granted her wish. I lunged at her again, barely missing her shoulder with my claws. She growled and pulled out her dagger.

“Alright,” She growled, her eyes flashing bloody red. “I’ll let that slide because you’re agitated, but you won’t get lucky again.”

“I don’t need luck!” I shrieked, lunging at her again. She fended me off, tossing me into the water as my claws met her dagger. I felt them break off and I screamed. I whirled around, using all my strength and anger.

I dug deep, searching for that strength I’d used against that beast, and punched at her. She dodged again, evading me like oil in water. How was she so fucking fast? Her dagger cut sharply across my arm. Pain seared through me. I smelled my blood and felt it dripping down my arm. I turned back around, but she made no move to attack me. If anything, she was farther away.

“That,” she said, lifting her dagger. “Was a warning. Calm the fuck down.”

“I don’t need a warning from you!”

I lunged at her again. I was going to get rid of her. It didn’t matter if her wish had been granted if I killed her. Could I do it? I had never killed anyone before, but if it was for Candido, I’d do anything.