said, I don’t want you to suffer the loss of your sibling either. Therefore, I will accept the bargain you offered. I won’t make any attempts on her life. For now.
There are a few mages skilled with curses here in the Underworld. I will ask around to see if anything can be done. Or rather, undone. Try to find some other remedy, if it exists. If one can’t be found, well, then I must carry on with my original plan. I refuse to lose you again. But my darling girl, I hope it will not come to that.
If you ever need me, I am here, ready to read anything you wish to write about. Even if all you want to do is vent, send me your list of grievances. I will happily read anything you write. Tell me, how have you been?
Love always,
Your Mom
* * *
I looked away from the notebook, swallowing a deep breath. Petra telling me she wouldn’t kill Riley came as an enormous relief. Because if anyone could do it, she could.
For a while I sat there, wondering how to reply. Or even if I should. I drummed my fingertips along the blank page, going over Petra’s last line in my head.
Tell me, how have you been?
I didn’t know why, but it felt strange yet comforting that she wanted to hear about my little life. Finally, I took the quill in hand, penning a few short lines.
* * *
Mom,
* * *
That already looked weird. I scratched it out, thinking about what to call her. Addressing her as my mother didn’t sound right, but neither did Petra. Maybe I was overthinking this.
* * *
P—
Thanks for the parchwyn. Also, thanks for not killing my sister. As far as my part of that bargain goes, I’ve found a way to dual-enroll in both Aphrodite and Ares classes. How, you may ask? Well, you’ll be delighted to know your daughter is a geniox. I’m sure you are as surprised as I was to discover this. (If anyone asks, tell them genioxes run in our family tree.)
In other news, I’ve summoned my soul weapon. They say that’s a pretty big deal for a first year. It’s a bow and quiver of arrows. I’ll have to take up archery now—ironic considering I have my own archer in Aphrodite.
About the curse…I’ve been using my bibliomagery to research. Have you heard of Persephone’s Cure? I read about it in a book from Twilight Island. If it’s legitimate, it could be the answer we’re looking for.
-S
* * *
Satisfied with what I’d written, I took another deep breath. That breath was shakier than I anticipated. Petra’s approval didn’t matter. Or, at least, it shouldn’t. She was a means to an end. Someone who could help me lift this curse. That’s all. I didn’t care about her or what she thought. I certainly didn’t care if she was proud I summoned a soul weapon. Why had I even bothered telling her that?
“Hey, sorry I’m late!”
I glanced up as Zack bounded around the corner, his brown curls flying.
“No biggie.” I slammed the parchwyn shut and stuffed it back into its box. “Ready to get started?”
He stopped to catch his breath, his cherubic cheeks flushed. If I didn’t know he was over one hundred, I’d swear he was the cutest kid I’d ever seen. “Yes, but I hear we’re both archers now,” he said with a wink. “Do you even need me?”
Blood rushed to my own cheeks. “My arrows aren’t full of lust.”
“Then what good are they?”
“They’re pretty good at making one bleed.”
He shook his head, letting out a mock sigh. “Come on, Sheridan. Time to take off your Ares cap, so we can help these humans fall in love.”
I gestured toward our mirror. “I can wear both caps.”
“We’ll see about that.” He snorted. “Have you named it yet?”
I trailed my fingers over the golden bow, settling over the glittering gemstones. “I have a name in mind.”
“Say it aloud.”
“Polaris.”
As soon as the name left my lips, the bow and quill vanished. As easy as that.
“Now, onto more pressing matters.”
“Right.” Mia and Ben. “Lead the way.”
We stepped into the Mirror Realm, and my stomach immediately tied into knots—because Mia was feeling the same way. Zack once mentioned I would begin picking up on my subjects’ emotions. I thought it would be good to know how they felt, but the ability added another distracting layer to this dimension, making it that much harder to focus.
We arrived during a tutoring session. The two