“And yet one is dead, and one is altered forever. Kalona, hear me well as this I vow: Should your anger, Darkness allow, Earth’s embrace shall not succor thee. So I have spoken, so mote it be.” Sealing the oath, Mother Earth kissed him on his cold lips and then turned to Nyx wearily. The two women embraced.
Nyx’s gaze went to the maiden. “When you are not sleeping, would you watch over my daughter with me? She is a new being, and the only one of her kind. She will need special care, and one cannot have too many mothers.”
“My friend, I am afraid that I may sleep so long that in some ways I shall never again arise, so before I drift into my living bed, I will create once more, though you must watch over these children yourself.”
Nyx was confused for a moment, and then she understood what Mother Earth intended. “You will create more like her!”
“I will, though their creation will be more difficult than was hers. She is not truly a new being, but rather a mortal made more. I will sow humanity with the seeds of what she is. I do not know how many of them will be able to become more.”
Nyx clasped her friend’s hands. “Thank you, Mother Earth. Thank you for making sure my daughter will not live her life alone.”
“Do not thank me yet. I do not know how many like her will survive.”
“Humans are strong and brave. There will be many who survive,” Nyx said. “And I will be their Goddess of Night!”
“Yes, my friend. Yes,” Mother Earth agreed. “Now, embrace me again, and take your leave quickly. I want no sadness or regret between us.”
Nyx hugged her tightly. “Sleep in peace with no worry and no regret. I will visit your children, and I will watch over that which is eternal within them for eternity.”
“Watch over yourself as well,” Mother Earth said. Then, still embracing the Goddess, she whispered for her ears alone: “And watch Kalona. If he begins to change it will be because his anger has grown greater than his love. If he allows anger to consume him, it will also consume you and your realm.” Then she released Nyx and stepped back. “Go now, and may you all be blessed—”
Heartbreaking trills erupted from the group of Fey that clustered around Mother Earth. Nyx saw that there weren’t only dryads there, but coblyn, naiads, and even a few skeeaeds had appeared on the prairies, painting the night with bright colors that reflected their anxiety.
“No, little ones, do not despair. You belong in the Otherworld—that is your home,” Mother Earth said.
“Oh, my friend, please tell me that the Fey may continue to visit your earth,” Nyx said.
Mother Earth looked surprise. “You would allow it?”
Nyx smiled warmly at the Fey. As long as there is Old Magick, ancient, rich and true, there you shall find the Fey, and there they shall find you.
“So your Goddess has spoke, and so mote it be!” Mother Earth cried, enlivened again as the Fey formed a circle around her and began to dance in celebration.
Nyx wiped away a tear, and then took Kalona and Erebus by the hand. “Let us leave her now, happy and surrounded by those who bring her such joy,” she said softly, guiding them into the darkness of the grassy prairie. When they were out of sight of Mother Earth, Nyx let loose their hands and said, “Follow me.” The Goddess lifted her hand and a slender silver thread appeared, as if the moon had lent her a beam of light. She grasped it and smiled at the winged immortals who were studying her with twin looks of apprehension. “Don’t worry. If you know the way, the journey is not far. And I will show you the way, so that ever after you will never be far from me.” Then the glittering ribbon went taut, lifting the Goddess into the night sky. Kalona and Erebus unfurled their wings together, and took to the sky after her.
* * *
Nyx didn’t let loose the glittering silver thread until, out of the complete blackness that exists between realms, a patch of hard-packed earth suddenly appeared. She stepped on it and turned to face Kalona and Erebus.
“Is it a piece of Mother Earth here?” Erebus asked, bending to touch the ground that looked so very much like the red dirt from the tall grass prairie.
“There’s more of it in there,” Kalona said, pointing at a seemingly endless grove that stretched before them.
“No, there is nothing of Mother Earth here,” Nyx said. “Though you will see many sights that will remind you of her.”
Nyx thought Kalona looked relieved. Erebus only looked curious. “What is that tree?” he asked, starting to walk forward toward it.
Nyx stepped before him, blocking his way. Both immortals were now looking at her curiously.
“That tree has many names in the mortal realm, Yggdrasil, Abellio, and the Hanging Tree are but three of many reflections of its Old Magick. Here, I call it the Wishing Tree, as I have filled it with ribbons of Divine Energy in which I have woven wishes and dreams, joy and love. It stands at the entrance to my realm, the Otherworld. I intend to share my realm with both of you, but before I allow you entrance I ask each of you to make me one promise—that no matter what the eternity to come brings, you will never again speak of the events of this night. My daughter, and those who come after her, must never know that they were mistakes created because of superstition and madness. Do you agree?”
“I do, and you have my promise,” Kalona said.
“As do I. You have my promise as well, kind, loving Goddess,” Erebus said.
“Then I gladly bid you enter the Otherworld, and wish that together we will all blessed be!”
* * *