Their eyes are fathomless dark holes, save for the occasional eyeball rolling around in the socket.
Bone Stragglers, I think to myself, trying not to shudder at the thought. These must be the Bone Stragglers I’ve heard so much about.
Slowly lanterns along the dirt wall are lit and I push myself back on my elbows to get a quick look. I’m on my ass in a cavern carved into the dirt. There are roots of trees and other plants reaching down through the ceiling, damp cobwebs strung here and there, and beyond the skeleton people, tunnels disappear into darkness in all directions.
“So it is you,” the nearest skeleton says to me with those disturbing clacks of its jaw. It reaches into a worn leather strap at its waist and pulls out a rusty knife which he brandishes at me. “We have been waiting for you.”
I stare at him, then the rest of them hovering in the background. My heart is still going a mile a minute but, despite the weapons pointed my way, I don’t think I’m in any immediate danger. And by immediate, I mean in this exact moment. I might be sliced and diced in the next.
“You’ve been waiting for me?” I ask carefully. “Why?”
“You’re Louhi’s daughter,” the skeleton says. “Salainen. The prophesized one.”
I blink. Though part of me is aware that if I play along I’ll have a better chance of surviving this, it’s not enough to hide my surprise. “I’m sorry, what? Louhi’s daughter? Lovia?”
The skeleton shakes its head. “Not Loviatar. Salainen. I have met you before, Sala.”
Holy fuck. What does that mean? How is that even possible? Do I have a twin out there or something?
Suddenly Rasmus’ voice echoes throughout the tunnels. “Hanna! Hanna!”
The sea of skeletons part as Rasmus is led toward me, two large skeleton men on either side of him, daggers pressing into his throat, close to drawing blood.
“You’re alive,” Rasmus gasps, his blue eyes wide as he looks me over. “Did they hurt you?”
The lead skeleton looks over at Rasmus, but keeps his blade pointed at me. “And you call her Hanna. Has she not told you her real name?”
Rasmus looks to me, brows raised. What is he talking about? his voice suddenly cuts into my head.
I have no idea, I answer back, hoping he can hear me now.
“Go on, tell him,” the skeleton says to me. “You are Louhi’s daughter, Salainen, part of the Prophecy of Three, as told by Rangaista. The child of a shaman, born from the shadows, who will defeat Death. End his rule. Usher in the new age, open the portals to Kaaos so that Kaaos can rule again.”
I look back at Rasmus. Can you shed some light on this?
Rasmus presses his lips together and shakes his head, a line between his brows. He clears his throat. “Tell me about this prophecy,” he says to the skeletons.
Even though the skeleton’s eyes are just empty black holes, I swear I see anger in them. “I only know what Louhi has told us. We have spent eons waiting for the signs and they are starting to appear. I met her, not long ago, when Louhi sent Sala to have a meeting with us, to tell us to wait, that our time was coming soon.”
I manage to swallow. Even though it’s cold underground, my skin feels tight and hot, my confusion building. It’s like I’m suddenly second-guessing everything. I’ve never met these skeletons before, but now I’m wondering if I have some secret other life that I’m not even conscious of. Is that even possible?
You’re in the Land of the Dead, anything is possible.
“Please, indulge me,” Rasmus says, talking carefully as he eyes the daggers that are still pressed into both sides of his throat, right below the jaw. “Treat me like an idiot that’s been lied to by their friend. I only know of one prophecy, that there is a mortal girl out there that can touch Death, and that their union has the ability to unite the land. Right?”
“It is all part of the Prophecy of Three,” the skeleton says in annoyance. He looks back to me and waves his weapon, puncturing the air as he talks. “A shaman will have three children. One will raise the Old Gods. One can touch Death and together will destroy the Old Gods and the uprising. And one, born from shadows, will defeat Death, leaving the kingdom to Kaaos. She,” the skeleton says, stabbing his blade near my face, “is the one born from the shadows. She will destroy Death and bring Kaaos back to this world. And once again, all of us will be equal.”
I project my voice toward Rasmus. Might be in our best interest to at least pretend that I’m the Kaaos-bringer.
He frowns at that, having heard me, but there’s a wariness to his expression, as if maybe he’s second-guessing how well he knows me.