RAYNE (Xiao Hong Song)
Rayne had never been so grateful to all the circle members who knew the plan to return home. They got Ming-Yue and the rest home on a private plane back to San Francisco. Especially since her sister had woken up right after the battle, she had slept for nearly two days.
The circle set up everything for Rayne for the aftermath. Hiding what they had done, settling whatever accounts and all the things that Ming-Yue would generally do since Rayne had no idea what her twin would do once Bù Wěndìng de Jūmín was sent away. She had to follow Kai's suggestions to the letter. The circle had done similar things before, but never on this scale. Rayne was glad that she could trust them to handle everything.
Rayne spent her time recovering from her wounds, healing from her exhaustion from the previous few days of hunting down the creatures. The original hole had sealed over, meaning the pair, Bù Wěndìng de Jūmín , and Nián Lǎ o de Mèilì Zhě , were the only two to escape from their realm. Rayne wouldn't have to stay after Ming-Yue awoke.
Her only concern was that the link between the worlds had gotten thin enough for two creatures to spill through. If more escaped, the world would be in danger again, and Ming-Yue would call her back. Her twin wouldn't hesitate. Her life would be destroyed if she kept being pulled back repeatedly every time it was weakened, and something crawled out to constantly threaten the world. Ming-Yue was powerful. She almost didn't need her, but not completely.
After her sister woke up and returned to leading the circle, Rayne found her in the study. Ming-Yue still looks like shit. She sat across from her, slumping into the chair, waiting for her sister to glance up from the monitors.
"You are preparing to return to your life away from here?" Ming-Yue asked, sitting up straighter, the pain etched on her face.
"How weak is the border between the realms?" Rayne asked boldly.
Ming-Yue rubbed the bridge of her nose before answering. "I don't know, we are still researching. I know you aren't that worried. You want to return home. We will work to strengthen the boundary. That was our plan once the creatures were returned," she explained.
"What happens if something else crawls out? Are you calling me back to fight again? I have a life. I don't want to keep being called home every time something goes wrong," Rayne asked several rapid-fire questions.
Ming-Yue nodded, listening to the many questions and concerns. "If I had a good answer, I would tell you. The plan was for us both to be here, part of the circle, and fight when we were called upon. Not living out in the world and out of magical practice. You did well, but you should be here, practicing with us," Ming-Yue replied. She gave a deep sigh. "I wish I had a better answer, but duty tells me you should return to us, live here. But as your sister, I want you to be happy. So, do what you believe is right for you, Rayne."
"There is no good answer Ming-Yue. If I leave, and something comes through, I must return. If I leave, and nothing comes through," Rayne pauses, sitting up better. "The cycle continues with your children and other generations."
"Of course, I will have to have children to continue our line and lead the next generation of the circle. We must protect the line between the worlds. I will ensure it, so you do not have to," Ming-Yue said softly. "I understand your desire and need to be free of this place. I didn't before, and I will never fully understand it. But you came when we needed you, and I will forever be grateful to you for that."
Rayne sank back into the chair. "I thought you would be angry with me, yell at me for leaving again. Give me the lecture about duty and shit," Rayne said. "Why are you letting me go?"
"Because, after fighting both creatures and seeing how well you did after Bù Wěndìng de Jūmín . It shows how much you learned from Nián Lǎ o de Mèilì Zhě in a short time. I wish you to continue learning independently, and maybe you will wish to be here one day."
"And you are going to get that darkness removed from you?" Rayne asked, pointing to her aura.
"We plan to do it once I am more healed and can withstand the demands of the ritual. You can stay for that if you wish," Ming-Yue said, leaning back in her oversized chair. "It will be a few more days. Depending on your schedule, of course."
"I can stay for a few days. I want to heal up a bit more before I go home," Rayne said. She stood up. "I might never want to come back here; you know that right?"
"I do, but we have kept people here against their will before, and I think that is a mistake. I don't wish to continue that type of organization anymore. You and I fighting has helped no one and hurt us long-term. It is time for us to set that aside and learn from our mistakes."
"I could have told you that," Rayne said, then laughed. "Not that I would have stopped fighting you either. We are opposites in basically every way. Magically, personality, emotionally, and all the other ways that matter. It was like we were born to butt heads with one another."
"But we were also born to complement one another."
"Agreed, we do that as well. I think that is why we do better apart instead of living under the same roof," Rayne replied with a shrug.
"Maybe living across the country is what you need now. Someday, you can consider living closer, but I wish you the best of luck with your path. But please consider practicing your magic wherever you are, just in case," Ming-Yue said with a gentle smile.
"That I can do. I don't want to be caught like that again." Rayne smiled and knew she wouldn't allow her magic to fade again. Her path had shifted with this fight against the creatures beyond and this uncomfortable middle ground with her sister. They weren't quiet allies in the ordinary sense, nor sisters in the traditional sense where they would chat weekly and share everything like other twins. But they had finally come to a place where they could stand one another after everything, and Rayne could live with that. She wouldn't be looking over her shoulder all the time, waiting for the circle to drag her home all the time now. They weren't friends, but they were not enemies. It was something, and she could live with that. Finally, it was something.
***
The End