I will not let her take my second chance away.
The woman pushes back her hood, her worn face somehow years lighter now. In her hands are the large shears used to cut the threads of life. The same shears that had stabbed her sister and ended countless lives.
“Aisa,” I breathe, narrowing my gaze. Despite myself, my heartbeat quickens.
She grins at me, then slowly places the shears in a holster at her side. “Don’t worry, it will be a long while before these shears come for you again.”
“How can you be here? I thought I stopped you?” I breathe, fighting back my surprise and terror.
Stepping forward, she reaches out, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Oh, but you did, sweetheart.”
“Then… how are you here?” I ask, blinking hard.
“We are inevitable. Should the Moirai cease to exist, there would be no balance to the world. People live, but they still must die. It’s the natural order of things. However, what you did was ease the suffering brought to humanity,” she says. “You should be very proud of what you accomplished. I wasn’t so sure you had it in you.” Smirking slightly, she pats my shoulder.
I shake my head. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. Just enjoy your life, Autumn. Make it a good one,” Aisa says, her voice far gentler than I remember. “Like your mother, you will have a long while until the end of your thread comes due.”
My forehead creases, and I take a step back from her.
“Are you saying I’m immortal?” I ask, surprised.
She shakes her head. “Sadly, no. However, your deeds have not gone unrewarded. Now that things have been…righted, I guess you could say you have inherited longevity from your mother. Something you should always have had. It will be a very long time before death catches up to you.”
“Oh,” I say, my eyelashes fluttering as I fight to process fully what this means.
“But you should know that in time, however long that is, you will still face the scales to be judged.” Her expression again turns dark and she sighs. “The burden you carry now is a heavy one. I should know.”
She points inside my car and I bend down to have a look. Sitting on the passenger seat is the small, intricately carved wooden box.
“Regardless, I’d like to think things played out the way they were meant to,” she says with a lopsided sort of grin. “Maybe you could even call it fate.”
The End
(For now…)
Also by Carissa Andrews
The Pendomus Chronicles
Trajectory: A Pendomus Chronicles Prequel
Pendomus: Book 1 of the Pendomus Chronicles
Polarities: Book 2 of the Pendomus Chronicles
Revolutions: Book 3 of the Pendomus Chronicles
Diana Hawthorne Supernatural Mysteries
Oracle: Book 1
Amends: Book 2 (Coming in 2021!)
Immortals: Book 3 (Windhaven converges with Diana Hawthorne! Coming in 2021!)
The 8th Dimension Novels
The Final Five: An Oracle & Awakening Bridge Novelette
Awakening: Rise as the Fall Unfolds
Love is a Merciless God
About the Author
Carissa Andrews
Sci-fi/Fantasy is my pen of choice.
Carissa Andrews is an international bestselling indie author from central Minnesota who writes a combination of science fiction, fantasy, and dystopia. Her plans for 2021 include continuation of her Diana Hawthorne Supernatural Mysteries. As a publishing powerhouse, she keeps sane by chilling with her husband, five kids, and their two insane husky pups, Aztec and Pharaoh.
For a free ebook and to find out what Carissa’s up to, head over to her website and sign up for her newsletter:
www.carissaandrews.com
