In my arms, Bjeliq is suddenly limp and lifeless.
*
Even though I know that this is how it must be, it’s strangely, instantaneously horrifying to see her like this.
Heart-breaking, even though I no longer have a physical heart to break.
I tenderly place her now lifeless body upon the floor.
The earth beneath her rumbles unsteadily, as it does everywhere now. Soon it will open up, claiming her.
Although I haven’t informed Joshe what needs to happen next, he seems to instinctively understand: for now his body lies down upon the ground, alongside Bjeliq.
My body joins them too, with nothing more than a resigned, exhausted sigh.
We are still standing of course.
My daughter, now already old enough to stand alongside me, to reach for and take my hand, smiles up at me.
In a moment, her height matches mine. Wings rise up from her back; the most beautiful wings I have ever seen, quite glorious in the way they appear to be formed from reflections of light rather than of feathers.
Far across the hills, the wandering giants are beginning to crumble, to crumple, just as the chalk lines they are formed from begin to crack and break, to fall away.
But they have achieved their set tasks.
Those who can still manage it wave happily at the men, women and children rising up from the splintering earth on their vast wings of light. The creatures follow them too, of course, rising up into the dark sky like a cloud of ascending shooting stars.
Leading them all are the original angelic creatures; the roebuck, the lapwing, the hound.
Bjeliq was born and raised for this too, of course.
‘Are we ready mother, Joshe?’ she asks. ‘And you too, little one?’ she says with a smile for her protective roebuck.
Joshe spreads out his wings.
I look down fondly at the three husks that have protected us, sheltered us, while we lived here on earth.
Cernnunos himself is fairing badly now, great chunks being ripped away from him.
He’s crumpling, weakening.
‘Go now, my children,’ he says. ‘I don’t have long!’
‘Thank you…thank you for caring for us, great god Cernnunos,’ I reply, weeping.
But then, like my daughter, like Joshe, like everyone else on this crumbling earth, I spread my wings, I set them beating – and I soar up into the dark sky.
And the cavernous mouth of Cernnunos speaks for the very last time.
‘Take care my children; and remember me fondly to your children!’
End
If you enjoyed reading this book, you might also enjoy (or you may know someone else who might enjoy) these other books by Jon Jacks.
The Caught – The Rules – Chapter One – The Changes – Sleeping Ugly
The Barking Detective Agency – The Healing – The Lost Fairy Tale
A Horse for a Kingdom – Charity – The Most Beautiful Things (Now includes The Last Train)
The Dream Swallowers – Nyx; Granddaughter of the Night – Jonah and the Alligator
Glastonbury Sirens – Dr Jekyll’s Maid – The 500-Year Circus – The Desire: Class of 666
P – The Endless Game – DoriaN A – Wyrd Girl – The Wicker Slippers – Gorgesque
Heartache High (Vol I) – Heartache High: The Primer (Vol II) – Heartache High: The Wakening (Vol III)
Miss Terry Charm, Merry Kris Mouse & The Silver Egg – The Last Angel – Eve of the Serpent
Seecrets – The Cull – Dragonsapien – The Boy in White Linen – Porcelain Princess – Freaking Freak
Died Blondes – Queen of all the Knowing World – The Truth About Fairies – Lowlife
Elm of False Dreams – God of the 4th Sun – A Guide for Young Wytches – Lady of the Wasteland
The Wendygo House – Americarnie Trash – An Incomparable Pearl – We Three Queens – Cygnet Czarinas
Memesis – April Queen, May Fool – Sick Teen – Thrice Born – Self-Assembled Girl – Love Poison No. 13
Whatever happened to Cinderella’s Slipper? – AmeriChristmas – The Vitch’s Kat in Hollywoodland
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