Catalyst by LaRae Brant

Author:LaRae Brant
Format: epub

Chapter 6: Growing Pains

Rhea’s home was no larger than my own, her hut built with all the essentials, but that was where all similarities ended. My walls had remained bare, but hers were lavished in oddities. The shelves held trinkets, foreign clothes were strewn about as well as fur blankets and there were pieces of artwork hung here and there. The largest wall was decorated with a large stretch of sewn skins, their stitches so small and precise that you had to truly search for them. Upon the skin a rather talented artist had depicted fantastic scenes in the style of the great city’s stained windows, the pictures separated by frames that were accented with actual flakes of gold.

The bottom left corner hosted a unicorn and a young maiden overlooking a hunt, their expressions pained. The opposite corner showed a great golden eagle fighting with a massive serpent over what appeared to be some kind of egg with intricate swirls and vibrant hues marring its irregular shape. In the bottom right a Gryphon looked up at the stars, a litter of cubs dead at its feet, a fire blazing high in the background amongst the roofs of a city. The last corner displayed a mother and child shying away from a human shadow, a fireplace in the background shedding light only on their fear. In the middle were two women, Goddesses I recognized. Nemesis and Artemis stood, their forearms braced together, hands both covered in blood and determination on their faces while tears trailed down their cheeks.

I found myself lost among the images until Rhea touched my shoulder causing me to jump in place. For a woman who looked frail, her grip was surprisingly strong, a glimmer of mischief in her eyes as she chuckled at my jolt.

“Beautiful isn’t it?”

Her voice was just as strong as her grip though it was no more than a whisper.

“Not many remember this story, never mind the inevitable results of such a pact as was made that day. Nemesis and Artemis binding their vows with blood. No woman, beast, or child would ever find themselves without aid if an Amazon or creature of Nemesis could be found.”

Her words made my head cock to the side with curiosity but she merely gave me a wink. “Perhaps another day I will tell you the whole story. Tonight I would like to discuss more recent events. I believe your other half will be joining us soon.”

She drew me toward the table just as a knock came upon the door. Nyx entered moments later, her cheeks red as if she had been laughing. Her eyes were their normal vibrant hue, but her skin seemed more alive, like a piece of gold shimmering in the light, a stark contrast to her long locks which I might compare to the obsidian pitch used in war games. She donned a diagonal wrap and long shorts beneath her fur cloak, her strong biceps appropriately looking as if they had been chiseled out of stone as she took the latter off.

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