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Rei
My sight slowly became clearer as the monster finally released me from its grip, my body slumped down hard onto the ground and my breath came in ragged gasps. I lay there for a few moments, waiting for the static in my head to go away and for some of the feeling to come back into my limbs before attempting to stand. Even then, it was a struggle; I felt like every move was laboring against an invisible force that was trying to keep me down.
He’d disappeared in the same manner he’d come, like a flash of light. One I was glad to see go.
Who—or what—ever had been in here with me was void of all humanity. Before, Baz had at least a shimmer of light left in his eyes. But that thing?
It was dead inside. A rotting soul that couldn’t be saved. There was nothing left to save. I needed to warn Rhen.
My sweet Rhen, who I knew would always want to find that light in him again.
A sharp pain suddenly lanced through my skull. My body reeled backward against the hardwood floor, and a gasp escaped my lips as I clenched my teeth together. Hot tears welled up in my eyes, and I shut them tightly against the pain that radiated through every inch of me. My head felt like it was splitting open, and writhing tentacles of agony were coursing throughout every nerve ending in my body.
I could hear muffled voices, like a distant whisper, coming from deep within the pool of water. There were a number of female voices calling out to me, almost as if they wanted me to jump in and dive deeper into their realm. The light from above cast an eerie ripple on the surface, and I could feel an energy radiating through my body. Despite its calming presence, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of uneasiness from whatever was gently luring me in.
I saw them standing on the bank of a river, shaded by a cluster of trees. There were four women with dark blue skin. One of them stepped into the river’s edge and gestured for me to come closer. Then, one after another, they advanced further and further out into the water until all of them had submerged up to their waists.
My knees trembled as I tried to stand, and yet the sound of their song was like a spell that effortlessly lifted me up and guided me to the river. I bravely delved into it as far as I could until it was up to my chest. The initial shock of the cold water sent shivers down my spine, but I refused to avert my gaze from the women.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity in the icy cold water, someone clasped my hand and pulled me to safety. I was overwhelmed with relief as I felt solid ground beneath my feet and saw the friendly face of the stranger.
“Hello, Rei.”
I opened my mouth, attempting to speak, but no sound emerged. My throat felt dry and my tongue heavy in my mouth as I tried again, only to be silenced by one of the women with a firm shake of her head and the quiet gesture of placing her finger over her lips.
The first placed a gentle hand on my cheek, their warm touch radiating through the cold air. “Look around.”
I did as she directed, cautiously peering behind the four women, and what I discovered filled me with terror.
Twisted trees lay on the barren ground, their gnarled branches reaching out in desperation for something that could never be found. The sky was a dreary, dismal shade of gray that left me feeling unnerved. Something unknown screeched eerily in the distance above us, and I shrank down in fear. Everywhere my eyes wandered, there was not a single hint of life anywhere. Not even the faintest trace of hope or joy filled this desolate place.
A sweet, gentle whisper answered my question even though I couldn’t articulate it. “Human and fey are the minority here. Most are buried beneath our feet, their bones strewn like birdseed.”
My lip quivered as I discovered the three lifeless bodies on the ground. The leaves surrounding them were drenched in a deep red liquid that oozed into the earth below. It seemed to gurgle as if it were guzzling it ravenously.
What is this?
The third stepped forward, her scaly body glimmering in the moonlight. Her eyes gleaming, she flicked her forked tongue with precision, as if to taste the air and get a sense of the surrounding area. “It isss our future.”
A silent, desperate scream erupted from my soul. The muscles in my stomach contracted with fear and I felt like I was being ripped apart. I dropped to my knees, her name still on my lips, and embraced my daughter’s lifeless form in my arms. On either side of her were the two feyrie princes. Elm was gurgling, blood oozing from his lips. He reached out for me and tried to utter something, but the words died in his throat as he exhaled his last breath. I could see the terror etched on their faces; even in death, they looked frightened. Tears streamed down my face as I held my daughter close to my body.
“But it can be changed,” interjected one of the other women. “Every decision that is made affects the future.”
The oldest nodded, her hair like black serpents coiling around her face. “Do you know what you must do?”
I remembered the milky eyed woman’s words in my ear before Baz had returned. She’d warned me, I would have to make a decision that would either save Rhen or destroy her. Of course, it was no question. I would do whatever it took to keep my daughter safe.
I shook my head in agreement.
“Then wake, mother of our savior. Wake and save all of us.”
My eyes fluttered open again, and I was back in my poorly insulated prison. Everything I had experienced felt like a fever dream, yet the citrus taste of magick on my tongue reminded me it was all very real. In an instant, I felt the weight of what had just happened bear down on me. The choice I would have to make would decide the fate of us all.
The only thing I knew for certain was that there was no way around it.
I had to save Rhen.
I rose carefully from the dusty floor and made my way towards the entrance, and peered through the slim gap in the door, and what I saw made me instantly freeze in place - a set of canine legs trotting back and forth with determination.
My shoulders felt like an impossible burden as I shut the door. I leaned against it, my body feeling weak and full of grief. Tears cascaded down my cheeks as I sank down to the floor, overwhelmed with emotion.
Baz
I clawed at the inside of my mind, trying to break through the surface. But the cage seemed to be made out of an impenetrable material. Repeatedly, I slammed my mental forces against the barriers, and it was one of the most physically and mentally draining experiences I ever endured.
I was almost ready to give up. Mammon’s hold on me was strong, and my willpower had been reduced to a faint whisper in the back of my mind. I thought about how many times I had felt powerless before and felt myself slipping back into those feelings of resignation once more. But then something changed; a spark ignited within me, an urge to keep fighting even when all seemed lost.
If Luka was alive —
If I hadn’t killed him —
Determination drove me on, making the wall in front of me feel as if it were made of flesh. I pushed forward with my newfound strength, feeling the wall gradually yield to my will. I eased my way through and grabbed hold of Mammon’s arm. His body gave as I ripped the monster back behind the bars and took over.
But I hadn’t been expecting the pain I would feel on the outside, the consequences of my actions. The reminder of all the things I had done — he had done while he was in control. Rhen’s crumpled expression. Luka’s blood on my hands. My brother’s rage.
It was too much.
Too painful.
I slipped, my grip on reality weakening as the monster inside almost dragged me back into the dark confines of its cage. Its cold, clammy fingers were curled around my neck, ready to extinguish the life within me forever.
But.
I snapped the mental wall back up, cutting him off from me. It took more focus than I’d expected and my physical body suffered for it. Gasping for air, I slumped down in the grass.
“What’s wrong, beastie?” I hadn’t even heard her beside me. “Is our little prince giving you trouble again?”
I looked up and saw Drea in all her glory. Mammon had a point. The way her body radiated an ethereal glow was beautiful.
“Yes,” I admitted, trying my best not to give myself away.
She tilted her head inquisitively, and I felt a wave of anxiety wash over me. Had she seen right through my facade so quickly? My mind raced with questions as I studied her expression for signs of suspicion.
“Come.”
I stood under her command and obediently moved toward her. There was no room for hesitation or refusal, even though I desperately wanted to. She beckoned me forward, leading me beyond the edge of the trees. A searing wave of power, unlike anything I had ever experienced before, surged through me. It was so palpable; it seemed to flood through my eyes like fire, radiating outwards in all directions. The strength emanating from this place was so strong that even breathing felt difficult.
There was a large, round bowl nestled beneath all the foliage and debris, almost impossible to distinguish amongst all the dirt and fallen branches. But despite its unassuming appearance, there was an aura of power radiating off it that couldn’t be mistaken. It seemed to hum with mysticism like it held some magical secret inside - an energy that could transform anyone lucky enough to come across it.
“The cauldron,” I muttered under my breath.
Drea nodded slowly, her hands balling into fists and pressing into her hips. With a determined glint in her eyes, she straightened up and took a step forward. “Someone placed barrier magick around it eons ago. The blast of the Gate opening broke it. Imagine, it was right under my nose.”
Unsure of what to say, I stayed quiet, letting the grandeur and magnificence of the Article wash over me. Its body was forged from pure iron and painted with intricate gold runes from an ancient language. Although I had studied plenty of lost languages in my time, I could not quite make out the symbols that were etched into its surface.
Drea waved a hand, and a gust of wind blew the debris from the cauldron. She stepped closer and ran her fingers over the runes, murmuring under her breath.
“I can feel its power,” she breathed.
I watched in horror as she whipped out my father’s rotting heart from the folds of her cloak and tossed it into the cauldron. It landed with a sickening thud, and the cauldron glowed an eerie blue, throbbing with hidden power.
She turned back to me, her grin twisted in an almost sadistic way and it sent a shudder of fear coursing through my body. And I gave way to the monster yet again as she uttered a satisfied, “One down, two to go.”