Remembered (7 page)

Blood ran down her chin and dripped onto Strayke’s chest.
Slowly and painfully, Galia pulled herself away. Though she was sore, and her knees were bruised, she was entirely herself.

“Galia?” Strayke gasped, blinking and sitting up. “What happened?”

“What needed to,” she whispered.

Though Galia had not succumbed, the power of the Goddess was in her. She was the Oracle.

Though the Goddess’s rage surrounded her, Galia slowly dressed. Strayke slid off the table and did the same. But now as she watched, she knew what lay inside him: the green land where he had been born; the first time he had lain with a man, and the first time he had killed one; the first time he looked up into the sky and wondered what lay beyond their world. Then she saw the moment he’d met her and Mina.

“Someday,” she said quietly, “we will leave this behind. You won’t be a soldier. I won’t be an Oracle, and Mina won’t be a slave. We’ll be happy.” She held out her hand.

He smiled a little and took it.

They left the Goddess, and started their journey up.

W
hen Galia knocked
on the trapdoor, the Oracle opened it immediately. The smile on her face was beaming, but when she saw Strayke, it vanished.

“What have you done?” she said, her voice almost strangled.

As she and Strayke mounted the steps and entered the chamber, Galia met her mentor’s eyes. For five years she had learned the woman’s lessons of strength and will.

“Things change,” was all Galia said.

For a moment, she thought her mentor would lash out, declare her unfit, or claim Galia was no Oracle.

Instead, the woman only stood silently, her eyes dark and quiet.

But the ceremony had been real. Galia had taken the power of the Goddess and was, in fact, the Oracle. But rather than feel pride, or at least superiority, she looked on the downcast woman and only felt pity. Without another word, Galia turned and walked away. As she and Strayke closed the outer doors, she thought she heard her mentor cry out.

G
alia was presented
to the people of the city that day at noon. Her mentor relinquished her sovereign place, stepping down so that Galia could step up. As she recited her vows, she could not keep her eyes from Strayke and Mina, resplendent in their guards’ uniforms. Inside her, the Goddess raged, but it was less important than her lovers, less important than her own power. As the people below cheered, she wondered, half in fear, half in awe, what she was truly capable of.

“
G
ods
,” Galia breathed. “I thought we’d never be done.”

It’d been her third full day of meeting just about every single person in the palace.

Mina tugged her into her chamber, and Strayke followed close behind, as an acolyte shut the door behind them. Galia had finally finished the last of her duties as the new Oracle––dinner with the priestesses that she now directed. But as always, Rhea had helped her navigate the day. Her mentor had been nowhere to be seen. Whether the woman’s absence had made them bold, or maybe Galia’s new position, she wasn’t sure, but Mina had declared that she wouldn’t be using the window tonight. Strayke had been waiting outside when they’d arrived.

Mina quickly pulled her into a kiss. Though Galia never minded the way that Mina took control, she felt her face flush, aware that Strayke was watching. Mina must have sensed her hesitation, because she drew back.

“What?” she asked, glancing at Strayke. “I really don’t think Strayke minds.”

But Galia couldn’t bring herself to look at him. Since their time in the subsanctum, when she’d defied the Goddess, they had barely seen each other.

“Mind?” he said, his voice husky. “I’ve conjured this every night in my dreams.”

Mina snorted quietly. “He’ll have his chance.”

Just the words, flooded Galia’s belly with warmth. But when she didn’t move, Mina gently lifted her chin. Her soft eyes met Galia’s.

“I’ve never seen you look more beautiful,” she said softly. “Don’t make me wait.”

Though Galia adored the sensuous and playful side of Mina, it was the tender moments that tore her apart. As Mina leaned in, Galia enfolded the slimmer woman in her arms and slowly closed her eyes. Their lips met in a soft kiss.

The luscious mouth she knew so well had never tasted sweeter. With everything that had gone on, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d been with Mina. As always, Galia found herself responding with a thirst that never seemed quenched. She drank in the feel of Mina’s lithe body pressed close, the warm cling of her lips, and the way she moved her firm thigh between her own. Galia widened her stance, and Mina deepened the kiss. Galia had nearly lost herself in the sensual embrace, when gentle fingers moved her long hair aside and warm lips kissed the back of her neck. Galia moaned into Mina’s mouth.

As though she’d been given a signal, Mina began to undress her. While she unfastened the clasps at her shoulders, Strayke undid the chain belt. In minutes, Galia stood naked between them. As Mina watched, Strayke’s big hands reached from behind and cupped her breasts.

“No,” Mina whispered hoarsely. “Like this.”

With a deft touch born of practice, she lightly grasped the nipple rings and twisted.

“Oh gods,” Galia gasped.

Strayke’s hand smoothed down her belly and his fingers slid over her mound. Even as Mina slid her thigh there, his fingers found her clit.

“Oh–”

Mina smothered her mouth in a kiss.

“You two are so lovely,” Strayke murmured behind her ear. “I’ve waited so long.”

At that, Mina released the nipple rings with a little tug, and undressed. Strayke took a nipple ring, and twisted it as he’d seen Mina do. Galia moaned at the pleasure mounting in the tip of her breast and leaned back against his chest. To her shock, it was bare, and that realization only stoked the heat rising in her core. His fingers massaged her clit, and her hips pulsed forward seeking more.

“Yes,” he hissed in her ear.

Then Mina was back, stroking her thigh between Galia’s legs, and nibbling her other ear.

“Too bad you can’t pleasure us both,” she whispered to Strayke.

“What makes you think I can’t?” he said, dipping his fingers into Galia’s wet folds, making her whimper. “I can. And I will.” He tweaked one of the nipple rings, making Galia gasp. “Didn’t I say I’ve been dreaming of this for years?”

He led them both to the bed and lay on his back. His erection was enormous, and just the sight of it made Galia squirm. He took Mina by the hand, and guided her over his chest until she straddled his face. As Galia watched, his tongue flicked into her slit, and Mina softly moaned. Strayke palmed her small, sensitive breasts, and in moments Mina was shuddering with pleasure. Though Galia could have watched them forever, touching herself when Mina moaned, she also remembered what it was like when Strayke had filled her. She carefully climbed on the bed, and mounted Strayke, just behind Mina.

As she had done in the Goddess’s shrine, she positioned herself over him and took his cock in her hand. His moan of pleasure at just being touched was immediate, and Mina hissed. Though Galia had thought that she might tease him and herself, her own need couldn’t wait. Without warning, she sank down on him.

His shaft was like iron, piercing her to the core. She groaned with the pressure of it, grinding herself on his hard abs. As Strayke flexed beneath them, Mina leaned back, and Galia held her against her chest. Mina was breathing hard now as Strayke’s mouth worked her. Galia could see his fingers dig into Mina’s hips, even as he plunged upward into Galia. From behind, Galia squeezed Mina’s breasts, and pinched her sensitive nipples. Mina wound her hands behind Galia’s neck, holding on as though for dear life.

They rode Strayke together, the pleasure spiraling higher. Mina was close to coming, her taut body quivering. Tension built in Galia’s belly as Strayke thrust higher and higher. A high-pitched whine escaped Mina’s throat. Galia groaned as her clit was squeezed against Strayke. And he growled as she began to clench. The ecstasy built between them, each one feeding the other, until it seemed that they would explode.

Mina climaxed first, crying out as her body quivered in Galia’s hands. Then Strayke erupted inside Galia, his erection swelling and jerking inside her. His hot seed pushed Galia over the edge, as she gripped Mina and clamped hard on Strayke. Waves of pleasure washed over them, as they each gave into the other. In all of Galia’s life, nothing had ever felt so right. The sound of her lovers rang in her ears. The feel of their bodies melded with hers. Nothing separated her from them, or them from each other. Only now did she realize that she had waited years for this, like Strayke. With a final paroxysm of pleasure, they each took a last bit of satisfaction, and collapsed. Mina landed on her side next to Strayke, and Galia behind her. For minutes, only their heaving breaths filled the air. A warm, languid heat suffused Galia’s body, a relaxation unlike any she’d ever known. She could feel Mina melting as well, and heard Strayke sigh with contentment. As though a spell had been cast, none of them moved. But finally Galia draped her arm across Mina’s side and onto Strayke’s chest, sandwiching Mina between them.

“I didn’t know what it was to be happy before this,” Galia whispered.

Though neither of them answered, Mina moved her hand on top of Galia’s and squeezed. Then Strayke covered both their hands with his, and did the same. As slumber claimed them, Galia smiled and let her eyelids fall closed.

I
n the morning
, after Mina and Strayke had made their pre-dawn departures, Galia dressed quickly and went looking for her mentor. The woman had withdrawn. Now she spent most of her time in her solarium, seeing no one but her wolf and Rhea. More and more of her duties had fallen to Galia.

I must talk with her,
Galia thought, unable to escape the nagging feeling Galia had betrayed her.

Only a few paces from the Oracle’s solarium, the door flew open and Rhea came running out. To her shock, Rhea’s eyes were red with tears, and there was a fresh hand print on her face. Galia grasped her at the shoulders.

“Rhea, has she struck you?”

Rhea neither nodded nor shook her head, but the evidence was clear.

“She’s in such a state!” Rhea whispered, before wrenching free and hurrying away.

Fury filled Galia, and she strode into the room without knocking. But what she saw made her stop and stare. The Oracle had always been a cold woman, but now Galia could see what happened when the ice broke. Her blue silk gown was only half-fastened, leaving her shoulder and part of her breast bare. Her dark hair fell in disarray, and her eyes were rimmed with dark circles, as if she hadn’t slept in days. Perhaps she hadn’t.

“What has happened to you?” Galia whispered.

“I have failed,” the Oracle said, matter-of-factly. By her leg, the white wolf whimpered.

“What are you talking about? What failure is there?”

The Oracle’s laugh was like the caw of a crow.

“We are forsaken, little Galia, and damn my eyes, we bear this cost together.”

The Goddess within her laughed. Galia felt every hair on her head stand. “We have done nothing wrong.”

The Oracle shook her head. “It is the end. This city is doomed, because I have failed.” For some reason Galia couldn’t fathom, she felt ill. “By the Goddess herself, I swear I tried.”

The Oracle brought up her hand. Galia flinched away, expecting a slap, but her mentor only caressed her cheek.

“My little Galia. I have been so hard on you, but I wasn’t hard enough. I am so sorry for that.”

Galia started to protest, but the Oracle pushed her away. For a moment, her mentor straightened her clothes and tucked her hair into place. Galia relaxed.

“If it is written in the book of fate,” her mentor said, “that we should meet again, next time I will guide you better.”

Galia was briefly stricken with a vision of another woman in another land, a city larger than Tenebris, an enormous white wolf trailing at her heels. The vision so distracted her that she was unable to move fast enough.

With quiet deliberation, her mentor stepped to the window and unlatched it. Without a backwards or forward glance, she leaned over the edge.

“
No
,” Galia screamed, rushing forward and grabbing for her. But it was too late.

There was a billow of blue silk as the wind caught her, but it was far too little to halt her fall. The Oracle fell like a stone and without a sound. Galia recoiled from the thud as she hit the ground, not able to look. People below were already shouting, and the wolf began to howl.

As Galia sank to her knees, she pressed her hands down hard over her ears. But nothing stopped the sound of the Goddess laughing inside.

G
alia passed
through the next days in a haze. The first night the Oracle’s funeral pyre had been spontaneous, an anguished outpouring of the people. The flames seemed almost to rise to the balcony, accompanied by their piteous cries. Galia knew how they felt. She had looked on her mentor as something eternal. There was nothing the woman could not do, and to have her simply be gone was unthinkable. Sometimes, when she was busy with palace duties, she could pretend that her mentor was still there, watching her. But when she turned, she realized that, no, it was only her.

She knew that Mina and Strayke spoke about her behind her back. She knew that they worried about her. Both of them spent time in the troubled city, though there would always be one or the other close to her at night. One evening, as she lay in Mina’s arms, she couldn’t stop the words from spilling out.

“I have done something terrible,” she said softly. “I have broken something.”

“You have done what you had to,” Mina said, not contradicting her.

“
I couldn’t kill him
,” Galia whispered. She hadn’t spoken of the time underground. She wondered if Strayke had.

“You? Never. And any Goddess who would force your hand is not worth the city we live in.”

She gave herself up to Mina’s embrace and fell into a fitful sleep.

Each day, she played her part, becoming the powerful Oracle. But each night, she huddled in Mina or Strayke’s embrace. She was terrified out of her wits that something would happen to them. She wanted them kept close, but in that, they would not be ruled. But finally one evening they both came to her.

“We need to get out of here,” Mina said. “There’s something going on in the city, and it’s got murder in its teeth.”

Galia stared. “Murder? What are you talking about?”

“They are angry, Galia,” Strayke said. “They can’t decide if you had a hand in the Oracle’s death or are innocent, if the Goddess is punishing you or being abused by you. Murder is the right word.”

“The bread that you gave out, it’s killed people.” Galia gasped and covered her mouth. “People died with their stomachs swollen and black. It struck the very old and the very young, and people are afraid––of you.”

The people were afraid of her? But she had only tried to help. She hadn’t killed the Oracle. She’d tried to save her. She thought back to that day. They must have seen her at the window. She took her hands from her mouth and looked at them. Even if she hadn’t pushed her, had she been the cause?

“We must go,” Strayke said.

Galia dropped her hands and looked at them both. “You two have to go without me,” she said, though it broke her heart. “My face is too well known.” If it was her the people wanted, let them have her as long as Strayke and Mina survived.

Mina snorted.

“Not likely. We go together, and that is not something that you can change. We may have begun as slaves, but we will not end as them. We have a plan.”

Both of them nodded. For the first time in what felt like years, Galia felt something like hope.

“What are you talking about?”

“At midnight, you will read for the city for the Firefly Festival. Once you have done that, the revelry begins in earnest. That will be our chance. We have made preparations on the other side.”

“Preparations?”

Strayke smiled.

“Horses. Swift ones. After that, a ship waiting for us at the coast. After that, anything we want.”

It was like an echo of the past. They’d met on a ship that had docked at that very coast, on the other side of the gate. She was still for a long moment. The Goddess controlled the gate. But now the Goddess was within her. The power was within her. The plan would work.

Galia gazed between her two lovers.

“We will go,” she said, reaching out for them. As one, they stumbled back to the bed.

There was no center to their lovemaking, the way there sometimes was. Instead, it was only a sweet riot of flesh and love, of mouths and tongues and beauty. Kisses passed between them easily. For a moment, Galia was whimpering as Mina kissed her, and Strayke suckled at her pierced nipples. The next moment, both she and Mina were pinning Strayke to the bed and running their tongues along the length of his body. Just a little after that, Strayke had lifted Mina to straddle his body while Galia wrapped her arms around the slimmer woman from behind, playing with her small breasts.

The sensuality of the night carried Galia away. There was another place out there where they could be together, where they could be who they needed to be to each other. There would be no oracles, no guards, and no need for either.

With Strayke buried deep inside Mina, and Galia ravaging her mouth, she writhed sensuously with her climax, carrying Strayke with her. They had barely stopped shaking before turning to Galia, pressing her to the bed, and bringing her to the height of pleasure with their mouths.

Though Galia hung on to them as long as she could, she knew they had to leave. She consoled herself with the knowledge they would not be apart long. Soon, they would have a new life, and Tenebris would drift away like a dream.