Epilogue
Kuron
The air is still as I enter the dimension I’ve imprisoned Me’Rite.
It took me centuries to create a dimension like this—a dimension that siphons the energy of those I’ve placed within it.
I created it specifically for this purpose, waiting for this day to come.
I never thought it would. I never thought I would live to see Remus again.
Me’Rite is especially talented in not only manipulating minds, but also energy.
She destroyed any trace of her and Remus, knowing that I would never be able to find them on a separate plane.
I was extremely lucky to locate them this time.
I wouldn’t have been able to sense it if I weren’t as powerful as a Celestivine as I am now.
Me’Rite’s head is down as I approach, the deep hum of this dimension a reminder of what it does to her.
The rage that I feel as I look down on her is an emotion I haven’t experienced in a very long time—not this intensely.
For the first few years, I was angry with her betrayal.
But years turned to centuries, and I eventually had to accept that I would never know my children, and our world would die along with their disappearance.
Of course, I tried having more children over the centuries.
But none survived the conversion. Me’Rite and I were matched for a reason.
Remus is not only the best suited, but may be the only one capable of bringing our world back to its former glory.
He showed immense promise as a child, and that hasn’t changed even now.
I gave him a brief lesson, following the restoration of his power, on how to consume a planet.
I did it to allow him his chance at the revenge he desired. And to test his capability.
Not only was he able to apply that knowledge within hours, but he far surpassed the main goal: consumption.
He sensed specific life forces and saved the weaker beings who would have otherwise perished on the surface.
Now that the block Me’Rite had in his mind has been removed, his power has shown itself to be limitless.
“He was right, you know. You should have killed him,” I say, standing over Me’Rite.
She chuckles bitterly, shifting her attention to me. Her eyes have dulled significantly, a physical manifestation of her weakness. I feel no pity as I look into her eyes, drained of power and filled with pain.
“Don’t you worry. I will if I ever get the chance,” she growls in resentment.
She thinks the child she had with one of the brutes of that planet is dead, and that the planet has followed suit.
She doesn’t know the child she despises most spared it for the woman she tried to kill, and the son she had to replace him.
I laugh. “You and him are so similar. It’s a wonder you never took the opportunity to know your son,” I say, watching her reaction.
“He revealed himself to be a threat very early on. There was never a need,” she says in disgust.
She truly never cared for Remus. She raised him in isolation, keeping him at a great distance throughout his life. It’s chilling to see the result of that has manifested itself in the way he exists today.
“What do you want, Kuron?” she asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I slowly lower myself so that I am eye level with her. “Why did you do it? Why, when you knew what was at stake? When you knew what taking him would mean for everything?” I ask.
She scoffs, looking me in the eyes. I can see the energy swirling behind her gaze as she tries to use it. It flickers, but it will never be released. Not while she is here.
“You know why,” she hisses.
Silence settles between us. It’s as if no time has passed between us. We are both still set in our beliefs, forced together by a war but divided by our ideals.
I laugh, watching her reaction as I speak.
“You won. The world we are returning to is much different than what you remember. Your little rebellion has cost more than you know,” I say.
“Why do you think I would care about a world I abandoned?” she asks.
I smile as excitement rips through me from being able to shatter her like this—to give her a taste of what I felt. The helplessness of it all.
“Because the abomination you brought into this world lives. As a condition of Remus’s return, he has demanded I spare the boy…and allow him to return with us,” I say.
I finally have her attention, and the smug expression she held melts away, replaced with panic as she shifts forward, unable to move past falling to her hands. Her fingers tremble as she slowly lifts her gaze, fighting her tears as she looks at me.
“You can’t—”
“I think we are long past you giving out demands, Me’Rite. Remus will have to learn the hard way what happens when you try to blend our world with weaker beings,” I say, turning away from her.
“You won’t be able to keep me from them, Kuron! I will see them when we return, regardless of the punishment that awaits me. I will warn them of what the future holds for them in that place,” she shouts, desperation lacing her tone.
I pause, slowly turning to face her. This is the moment I was waiting for. The moment I can finally rip what little piece of hope she has away, just as she did to me. To our entire world.
I laugh, looking her in the eyes.
“Another of Remus’s conditions is that you never see them again—any of them. I believe his exact words were, ‘If she is let within five feet of any of us, Ezra included, I will kill her.’ And you know he will make good on that threat after everything you’ve done,” I say.
Me’Rite pales as I reveal the name of the child she cares for the most. She knows I am telling the truth.
I never would have bothered learning the bastard’s name, let alone allow him to live, if not for Remus.
It’s a miracle he survived my attack for as long as he did.
But it must be the Celestivine side of him that kept him alive long enough for him to be administered the proper care.
Now, his life hinges on Remus and whether or not he will be able to succeed me.
I turn away from her, slowly gathering my energy to transport myself back to my ship.
I enjoy hearing her scream my name in desperation.
She knows how deadly our world can be—how it will consume you if you are not strong enough.
I’ve waited for centuries to hear the pain in her voice.
And if Remus cannot fulfill his purpose, then I will enjoy slaughtering the offspring she ruined our children together for.
Either way, our future hinges upon Remus and whether or not he will be able to handle the dangers that await in our world.
The End
…Of Book Two