Page 78 of Hex You

Nothing happened. Not one thing. Mercy could still feel the ley line power. If she closed her eyes she could even see it—fat and green and strong. But for the first time in her life, it wouldn’t come to her.

Mercy’s shoulders slumped. She covered her face with her hands and a sob escaped her lips. “I don’t understand,” she whispered brokenly. “What have I done wrong?”

Wrong, my precious Green Witch? I would say what you have done is more unusual than wrong.

With a gasp, Mercy looked up to see her goddess hovering before her. Freya wore a bright red dress that was covered in forest cats embroidered in glistening silver thread. Around her shoulders rested a cloak of falcon feathers that moved in a preternatural wind as if there were thousands of wings that kept the goddess aloft. And around her neck was the famous Brísingamen, a silver torque encrusted with jewels that glistened with an otherworldly beauty.

Tears spilled down Mercy’s pallid cheeks. “Freya! Thank you for hearing me! Thank you for coming to me!”

Freya’s smile was gentle.You are mine, Mercy Goode. I always hear you—especially as you near death.

Dread made Mercy’s tears fall faster, and she wiped at them, willing them to stop. “S-so I’m dying?”

You already knew that when you summoned me, young witch,said the goddess.

Mercy swallowed several times and blinked until her vision cleared and her tears completely dried. She took a deep breath.Be brave! Be strong!“Am I going to die because my magic won’t work? Is that why I can’t heal?”

No, dear one. You die because of the poison in your body. Xena’s attemptto save you was valiant, but she knew it was temporary. The Nure-Onna’s bite is deadly. Not even a goddess can change that.

Mercy nodded slowly as the truth seeped through her veins. “I’m not sorry. It was going to kill Hunter.”

Yes,said the goddess.

Mercy met Freya’s cornflower-blue gaze. “There is nothing I can do to stop my death.”

Though Mercy didn’t frame it as a question, her goddess answered.No, there is nothing you can do.

“How—how long do I have?”

You know that answer, dear one,said the goddess.

“So, not long.” Mercy drew in another long, shaky breath. “Will my mom be there with you to welcome me to the Summerlands?”

Yes, dear one, Abigail Goode and I will happily welcome you to the Summerlands. Your mother will braid flowers into your hair and you will feast at the table with your ancestresses, who will rejoice at your arrival.The goddess paused.But there is something you must know first.

Mercy’s stomach tightened. “Is it something terrible?”

The goddess’s full lips twitched, like she might almost smile.Yes, I believeterribleis an appropriate word for it—though it is not an insurmountable terror. Do you recall Upuant, Father of Khenti Amenti, and the demi-god you hexed in the Egyptian Underworld?

For a moment Mercy was too shocked to speak, and then she stuttered. “Y-yeah. I remember him. He was awful to Khenti. He totally deserved to be hexed.”

The goddess cocked her head to the side, causing her golden hair to wash around her waist.Did he? Or did your anger cause you to meddle in another world and another family?

“I thought it was the right thing to do!”

Freya’s eyes flashed.Speak the truth to your goddess!

Mercy cringed and had to look away from Freya’s anger. When she spoke her voice was small and hesitant. “I was really mad. Upuant hurt Khenti for no reason. I just—I just wanted to do something to help.”

To help or to punish? Search your heart, Green Witch, and answer with honesty.

Mercy deflated. “I wanted to punish him.”

Freya nodded.Which you did, and by doing so you bound your soul to the hex.

Mercy fought against the tears that stung her nose like bees. “Do I go to a hell now?”

You would, indeed, have to enter Niflheim, Land of Mist and World of the Dead, until the hex runs its course—which could be rather a long time, as Upuant is a demi-god and extremely long-lived, as well as the type of being who does not easily learn from his mistakes.