A Gift from the Goddess

Chapter Forty-Five There she was. 

Two years I’d been looking for her and yet it was like she had just fallen out of the sky, having been completely untraceable this entire time.

And the nagging I’d been feeling inside my head? I should have met Thea months ago. Aleric first introduced us before his coming of age, so they should have already been dating at this point. I remembered that she hadn’t been allowed to attend tonight’s event however I couldn’t recall why exactly.

But she hadn’t shown herself even once this entire time I’d come back. And, as far as I knew, she hadn’t even shown herself to Aleric yet. And yet, here she was… Staring right up at me. Like she knew who I was. My body immediately tensed up as I realised she must have found out I’d hired someone to track her down. That would explain how she had been able to avoid being found this entire time. Well, I’d already worked out she had begun orchestrating my death from possibly years before it had happened. Her whole sweet, naive persona had been a charade from the beginning that I’d been too blinded by my jealousy to see. So, needless to say, I knew she had it in her to be smart enough and figure out I was trying to find her.

But why would that stop her from meeting Aleric? No one knew why I wanted to find her except me. Was it because Aleric and I were closer this time? Did she feel threatened?

I could feel my heart racing just looking at her. Neither of us moved, just standing frozen in place with eyes locked knowingly. The tension between us was thick.

Aleric may have been the one to swing the sword and break me emotionally beyond repair, but at the end of the day, my journey to death had started because of her. Because she had wanted Aleric for herself… because she had wanted to be Luna.

Suddenly, Thea was the first to break eye contact. She turned around and started walking towards the exit, blending in with the crowds of people below. 

But if this was my only chance to catch her then I couldn‘t let it go to waste. I needed to follow her. Maybe find out where she was living.

I quickly kicked my heels off, cursing my choice in footwear, and ran through the mass amounts of people, down the stairs, until I stood just below the balcony where I’d first seen her.

I had scanned every face I ran past, scrutinising them for any similarity to Thea… But none of them were her.

…She was gone.

I couldn’t see her anywhere and, without any decent sense of smell, I wasn’t going to be able t o track her either. She had completely managed to avoid passing me and maybe had even left

the party already by the time I’d gotten downstairs. Too many people had slowed me down as I had tried to catch up to her quickly. “Fuck!” I screamed, punching the tree next to me out of frustration. I’d been so close. She had really been here. Should I have just let her go, watching where she went before I ran downstairs? Should I have yelled out to her? What would I have even said? ‘Hey, I think you killed me in my past life, stay there while I ask you some questions in case you’re going to try that again’? I ended up waiting below that balcony for an hour, scanning the crowds for any sign of Thea, but she never returned. And the more time that passed, the angrier I became at myself. Everything that had happened this night had been a disaster and I had allowed myself to become invested in the wrong things.

When I finally conceded she wasn’t coming back, I headed straight home. I was completely shaken by the entire encounter and knew there was nothing good waiting for me if I went back inside. It seemed like an obvious choice that I should give the rest of the event a miss.

However, even once I returned home, I could still feel myself shaking.

first time. I didn’t feel like breaking down and

No… this time?

I felt pissed.

day I went to the gym before work to get my mind off everything that had happened. It was a public gym that had private rooms on the second floor, of which ranked members could use. I usually had the room booked permanently out every

the public area was overly occupied. Not that it was a major issue, just that having constant stares and whispers from other people always made a workout less pleasant. “Knock, knock,” a voice suddenly came from the door. I had been hitting a punching bag for the last thirty minutes, imagining in my head that it was alternating between

again but this time with excessive force. Just in case

train but his lack

to face him and wiped at the sweat on my forehead, completely out of breath. “Uhh...,” was all he said when I turned to him. He shook his head as if

harter Forty rivers 

said between breaths, “…do you think

stupid charismatic smile, holding

warily regarded it. “Come on, Aria. Just give me some time, please?” I exhaled, annoyed. “Fine.” I’d left my clothes and towel over by the door, and so I walked over

record...,” I said, grabbing the plastic bag from his hand after I’d

was a last

the gym, and walked across the road to where a small park was; all without even looking back once. There was a large tree that was further in and mostly private. I sat myself down there under its shade and waited

I asked Myra what you like these days and she suggested this.” I pulled out a small foam box from inside the bag that felt warm to touch. So, of course, inside contained the one thing Myra knew I was weak for; nuggets and fries. “You brought me fried food to the gym?” I asked. “Are you telling me you don‘t want

already.

I sighed.

had to take it out on the food. And so, I started eating it, noticing the taste was even similar to the one from the cottage cafe. He either found a place just like it or went the extra mile to get it

the necklace Myra gave you?” he asked, after watching me eat for

normal. It was more

I answered. Was this his attempt at trying to get

you going to apologise to me then?” I asked, pushing past the small talk before he managed to make me forget why I was upset. “I assume that’s why you’re here since you’ve come all this way, seeking me out with a peace offering.” “Depends,” he said,

his eyes burn brighter. But I was more mesmerised b y the way the shadows moved every time the wind picked up ever so

on the issue at hand. He closed his eyes, his expression becoming completely relaxed. “On

had that way about him; that presence that always made me want to give in and forgive him, even if I didn‘t want to. He