“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say, clamping my mouth shut.
Her face goes deadpan and she blinks back at me slowly. “Don’t patronize me, dear. I’m the epitome of destiny. Who do you think finds these loopholes in the tapestry of life?”
I inhale sharply. “You’re talking about me evolving.”
A smile breaks out across her face. “Is that what we’re calling it?”
I press my lips tight, waiting for her to continue.
“So, here’s the thing,” she says, pressing her palms together. “Clotho and I… Well, we approve.”
My heart practically stops. Dropping Wade’s hand, I walk around his bedside, pulling her away from where he rests. “You approve? Of me becoming a sin-eater?”
Saying the word out loud still feels strange.
“Yes,” she says matter-of-factly.
My fingertips fly upward, and I press them hard against my forehead. The idea of evolving into a sin-eater was meant to be a surprise to the Moirai, not the other way around.
“There’s just one thing,” she says, her golden gaze glued to me.
“Of course there is,” I mutter, almost scared to find out.
“If you’re to do this, you can’t wait. The threads have been measured for each of you already and they’re beginning to fray. Your friend’s father knew that.” She eyes me knowingly. “Once Aisa has her orders, there will be no stopping her.”
“What about my child? If I do this,” I sputter, remembering what Abigail had said.
“That is a dilemma, I’m not going to lie,” she says. “Becoming a sin-eater means accepting the past regressions of those you take on. It affects you, body and soul, until you are brought to the gates of judgement. When your body is a shared entity…”
“I won’t do that to my child,” I sputter, shaking my head and backing away.
“There is a way…” Lachesis says, shooting me a sideways glance. Her eyes flicker with a glow all their own.
“What is it?” I ask breathlessly.
She leans in closer. “Sin-eaters typically deal in the land of the living. Everyone has sins they need to atone for. When sin-eaters take on the sins of others, they do it so they do not suffer into the afterlife. So their lineage does not suffer and curses aren’t born.” Lachesis holds my gaze for a moment, letting her words sink in.
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” I ask.
“If you go back far enough, say, taking on the sins of Warren and Abigail, what do you think might happen?” she says, taking a step back to give me space to consider.
I tug my eyebrows in, confused. “That would break the family curse. Abigail would be free to cross over.”
“Ah, well, yes. But it’s more significant than that,” she says raising a finger. “Ordinarily, you wouldn’t be able to consume the sins of a lost relative. Once they’ve left for the afterlife, your chance is lost. However, when a remnant exists...” Lachesis pauses, cocking her head slightly, “such as Abigail. Should you consume the sins keeping her in this realm, the act erases those sins completely. As in, it wipes them from existence.”
“Okay?” I say, not quite following her train of logic.
She shrugs. “Granted, they would still be etched into your soul—and that’s something you’ll have to be judged for at the time of your death. But it would spare your child.”
“So, let me get this straight… All I have to do is start my sin-eating with Abigail?”
“Yes.” She nods.
“What’s the catch?” I say, shaking my head. “That seems way too convenient. Am I sent to hell or something?”
Lachesis scrunches her face. “Well, where you would be sent to after judgement is hard to say. I cannot be certain. I’m not the one at the scales. However, what I do know is this… Should you accept the sins of Abigail—the act erases everything. The curse, your family’s history with the curse…” She clasps her hands together, intertwining her fingers. Slowly, she raises both index fingers and presses them against her lips. She watches me closely, but continues. “This also means you, poor Wade here, and your child would be free of the curse. Debts paid in full, and all that.”
“Well, that’s all I need to know, then. Where do I sign up?” I say, breathing a sigh of relief. If there’s a way to save them all—what more do I need? Of course, I’ll take it.
Her face darkens and she eyes me from under her brows. “An act such as this alters time, Autumn. Accepting the sins upon yourself erases them from history. I’m not sure you’re understanding the gravity of this. It could be that your family makes different decisions. Your life may take a different path. Maybe at the end of things, you never meet Wade, never fall in love…” She bites her lip. “Never have a child together.”
“What?” I blurt, my voice trembling. She’s right, I wasn’t understanding the gravity at all. Not even a little bit.
“This is the only way,” Lachesis says, placing a hand on my shoulder.
I shrug away from her touch and back away. “No—no, no. That can’t be the only way.”
I’d do anything to help those I love. But this?
How do I choose between freeing everyone from the burden of this curse…when the cost is possibly erasing my relationship with Wade—and even the life of our child?
Chapter 21
Pulling the Strings
I can’t help but wonder… Has Fate been pulling the strings all along?
Here I thought I might have had the upper hand, even if it was only for a brief moment. Dominic seemed to think forcing me into the realm of the dead was the only way to make a move without the Fates overhearing, yet here we are. Two of the three were more than well-informed.
They’re actually cheering me on.
“Look, kiddo, I know this isn’t the choice you wanted, but it’s the one before you. Regardless, if you’re going to make a move, whatever it is, it needs to be soon. Aisa’s been given her instructions and she’ll be coming for you both
