Solstice - The Goddess Awakens
Chapter 62

Lola didn’t have to be yanked from the car. She was determined to take control of her situation and to meet death as bravely as Arthur had. To face it as bravely as she had the last time she was at the Brú Na Bóinne. Only she was Brigid then, not Lola Paige. Leading the way with a pair of metal cutters was Derek, followed by a triumphant Carl. Alex walked behind Lola in case she decided to make a run for it, even though there was nowhere to run to. She wouldn’t last an hour out in the open in that dress, with her ankle now considerably swollen, barely able to lean her weight on it. With the padlock on the gate now broken, Lola followed them up the path. The snow had started to fall again obscuring the large circular structure at the top of the hill. It was the ring that registered it first and then Lola felt it.

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That sense of familiarity. It was like nothing she had ever felt before. A connection that was so deeply ingrained in every fibre of her being. A different picture flashed before her eyes, but the grass was green and the grassy mound of the sacred Brú stood out like a beacon on the landscape. The Brú Na Bóinne, whispered Lola to herself. This was where she had lived and worshipped. Her people had built this, millennia ago, in honour of the great universal creator, in honour of where her people had come from.

It took Lola some time to make her way up the gravel pathway. The capstone, which was ornately decorated, was now surrounded by a wooden fence, and at either side there were steps that led to the opening of the passageway. Cutting open the gate, Carl Stein entered first, with Lola behind.

There was only darkness ahead, but Lola knew every stone of the narrow passageway. Closing her eyes she let her hands run along the walls on either side of her. She could feel their energy and suddenly she felt calm. Inhaling, she allowed herself to savour the smell of the ancient stone and dust that had once been so familiar to her. All her senses had been ignited, triggering memories of a past life that she hadn’t believed existed. Not until that very moment.

The space began to feel open, and although all she could see was blackness, Lola knew that she was in the inner chamber, the very place that her journey had ended, almost 3500 years ago. Instinctively, she positioned herself in front of the north recess. Stretching out her fingers she touched more cold stone. She was searching for something, but she wasn’t exactly sure what until her fingertips found it. There, carved deep into the stone were three intertwined spirals, exactly where she had carved them with ‘Solas’. Her guardians had been there too. The memories of a previous life came flooding back to Lola. She remembered it all now. The chase through the forest, the Cube, the book, Luna, Rocha, Manus and Delphius. Tears began to fall from Lola’s tired eyes. It was true, she had lived before. As she stood there facing the darkness, she no longer feared death for she understood now that her soul had lived many lives. She could hear Carl’s breathing, and she could tell he was growing more irate.

‘And now we wait,’ said Carl. ‘But just in case you get any ideas, Ms Paige, …’ Lola winced as the cold blade of his dagger pierced her back. The amulet began to pulse again, transmitting a faint light around the chamber. Lola could see Carl Stein’s face now, it looked contorted and ravenous.

‘It’s time, Alex. Hold out her arms.’ Lola backed further into the small recess as Alex moved towards her. ‘Come on, Alex,’ shouted Carl impatiently. ‘Her arms, hold them out.’ Lola watched as Alex moved slowly towards her and turned around to position himself between her and his father.

‘No, father,’ said Alex defiantly.

Carl Stein was momentarily stunned by the sharp rebuttal, it was clear that he wasn’t used to being disobeyed, especially not by his son. Lola didn’t dare breath, as she listened to the exchange.

‘This ends here,’ continued Alex. ‘I won’t let you take any more innocent lives.’

For a second, Lola thought it was another of his sordid tricks, that perhaps he was playing mind games.

‘Enough, Alex,’ screamed Carl. ‘We can deal with this another time. Move out of my way, boy!’ Lunging forward Carl Stein directed the knife right at Lola’s heart. Closing her eyes she waited for the silver blade to pierce her flesh, but the impact never came. Opening her eyes again, she saw Alex standing in front of her.

‘What have you done, you stupid boy?’ Carl Stein dropped the Cube, falling backward against the stone with the blood soaked dagger still clasped in his hands.

Wheezing, Alex fell back against Lola who struggled under his weight. Falling to the floor she cradled him in her arms trying to process what had just happened. The air exploded with the smell of iron, her hands were covered in blood, as it oozed out of the small puncture wound in Alex’s chest and onto her dress.

Lola sobbed as she clung onto Alex’s limp body. His breath was becoming more shallow as he tried to speak. Shaking uncontrollably from shock, or perhaps it was the cold, Lola kissed his lips.

‘Please stay with me, Alex, stay with me,’ she begged.

He was trying to speak, but Lola urged him to save his breath, yet he wouldn’t listen. ‘I... I’m so sorry.... for the things I’ve done, Lola. You were wrong when you said that I had never tasted love. Your light saved me. I love you!’

She was losing him and she felt helpless as she lay on the frigid stone floor. The deep coldness was beginning to seep into her bones. There was no way out of that darkness, and she could hear Carl getting to his feet, could hear him walking around her like a predator stalking its prey.

‘How touching,’ he mocked, as he continued to pace. ‘He loved you after all,’ hissed Carl, sounding deranged now.

‘He is your son, you monster!’ sobbed Lola.

‘Any or all sacrifice, remember?’ he sneered.

What was the use, thought Lola. What hope did she have? Then the memory exploded into her head. Her nightmare had come true. After months of the same dream of that cold chamber, here she was about to die. Lola’s resolve was finally broken. It would always come to this, this was her destiny, and she had known it all along. Lola closed her puffy eyes rocking Alex’s dying body back and forth, waiting for Carl’s deathly strike. If he didn’t kill her the hypothermia would.

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