Chapter 45
T
he air crackled with tension as the entire crew, except Jayce and her, engaged in a heated argument. Even Xol, to her disbelief, had joined the fray.
“We shouldn’t even be discussing this,” Xol’s frustration echoed in her tone. “There should be no debate; she cannot go back.”
“I’m inclined to agree, but what other choice does she have? And we have to stay on the path to arrive in less than fourteen days,” Alyse, standing beside Akua, nearly screamed at her first officer. “It also sounds like this Jake person is somehow watching us—”
“I don’t think so,” Jayce interjected, his arms crossed over his chest as he slouched against a stack of boxes. “I’ve got wards around the ship.”
She took a deep breath. Jaakobai had tapped into his grandfather’s wards and had been watching her for nearly two hundred years.
However, Jayce insisted that these wards weren’t the same as the ones around her home.
She found comfort in knowing he wouldn’t give her a false sense of security, especially since their plan would involve them being enemies.
Xol grimaced, “So what, we just let her walk straight back to them?” There was a touch of sensitivity in her words. “Jayce, can’t you wether us into the Kingdom, and we can sneak into the Keep and get her friends?”
Carmen and Théodore both nodded their heads, “We can all go, use our anonymity to sneak—”
Kaen laughed, “You would only get captured and make Aza have to work even harder.”
Most of the crew turned their heads towards the fire user, who didn’t flinch. Her raised eyebrows silently dared them to try.
Bless him, Rowlin stepped into the circle of the crew and waved his arms to gather their attention. “Aza,” he addressed her, “What do you want?”
Taking a deep breath, she glanced at Jayce, having already discussed her idea with him that morning before crawling out of bed.
He wasn’t a fan, but with limited options for a safe return, her proposal seemed like the only viable choice.
When she looked back at Rowlin, everyone had their eyes fixed on her.
Xol, above all else, pleaded with her not to make the already decided choice.
“Jayce will take me in as his captor,” she watched as Xol shook her head.
“Jaakobai still believes him loyal to the King. I won’t be going in alone, and that is what matters.
We have no idea, absolutely no clue, where my family is being held—or if they are even in the Keep.
Our only indication that they are somewhere in the Kingdom is that we are unable to locate Karver.
” Jayce had informed them about his involvement, saving her from the need to explain.
“Once we have located them, Jayce will open a wether for the twins and Xol to assist.”
Shock rolled over Xol. “They will know who you are then,” she said, directing the statement to Jayce.
He shrugged his shoulders, a cheeky smile on his face. “It doesn’t matter anymore. Plus, this is bigger than my itsy-bitsy secret.”
“You are likely the oldest Fae alive; I don’t think that is an itsy-bitsy secret,” her tone was not playful.
Azahara rubbed at her eyes in frustration.
She had already thought about that. Knowing that he would be ultimately starting war with his own people, and their relaxed pursuit of him would begin once again.
He was adamant he didn’t care, but it still left a sour taste in her mouth.
Jayce owed nothing to Kaed, Zhal, and Illyan, and yet, here he was, risking his safety for theirs.
“I’m sorry, Aza.” Xol’s voice came from beside her, a tinge of anxiety evident. “I’m just…worried.”
Offering a grateful smile, Azahara nodded, addressing everyone around her.
“I know you are, and I really appreciate all of you. That’s why I won’t actively put you all in danger.
This time...” She watched as Alyse linked her arm around Rowlin’s, continuing, “Once we get my family we are going to leave. I don’t want to fight, not there.
I could summon Ilkiz and level the entire Kingdom, but…
” She shook her head, releasing a heavy sigh.
“I don’t want to be the monster in my story, given the choice.
They may not know that,” referring to the people of Naverra, “but I do, and so will you.”
Her gaze shifted to Rowlin, “You once asked me to tell you my story. You wanted to know the truth.” Before continuing, she took a deep breath, “The Battle of Sunfall was all a front, and we—I, played right into Jaakobai’s stupid game.
It ended up getting the one person in my life that had given me hope, someone I love, killed.
When I saw his lifeless body, I lost control.
When warned that I would start a war, I didn’t care—because they took him away from me.
” Sorrow etched their faces as she continued, “It was my family, Illyan, who pulled me from the darkness. If it weren’t for them, I would have likely destroyed this world. ”
“Ladybug, I’m here—please!” The memory of Illyan’s desperate plea echoed in her mind.
“Please, I love you, don’t do this. Let me help you.
We will try to figure this out.” She had yelled at them, told them to leave and never return.
Instead, they wrapped their arms around both her and Kaed.
“I’ll never leave you!” She hadn’t ever deserved their friendship or love.
“I’ve made mistakes, but the one I never made, was staying by your side over these past two hundred years.
You were the one good thing in my life. I beg you to stay with me.
Don’t destroy yourself. I love you so much. ”
“The truth, is, yes I did the things they say I did. However, I didn’t know that I would kill thousands in a matter of seconds, and I don’t know if knowing that would have made a difference.
” She paused, seeking support from Jayce, who smiled proudly at her.
It was all she needed to continue, “I will kill people like I did at Sunfall, both willingly and not. I… will not be the hero that Rah was, and I don’t want to be.
“What matters most to me is my family, and that includes all of you. Alyse, you and everyone on the Neptune have done more for me than I can fathom thanking you for. You waited for me after Goddrick took me, never knowing if I would come back.” She hadn’t intended to make Alyse cry, but here she was, doing so.
“You didn’t throw me overboard in those first several days of being onboard, and I definitely deserved it.
” A few laughs rang out, and she noticed more of them shedding tears.
“Your survival until the end is my only priority. The best way to ensure that is for you to leave Itotaki and go back to your lives before ever meeting me.” The thought pained her beyond belief, and she felt as though her heart was ready to punch her brain for forming the thought into words.
“However, I’m not going to take the choice away from you, but I don’t want you to feel obligated to follow me into the unknown, risking your life for—”
“Oh, shut up—” Alyse crossed the hull so quickly that when she crashed into her, they both stumbled and nearly fell. They embraced, and for the first time, her skin didn’t tingle or react negatively to the contact. “We are family, damn it, Aza.”
While she knew that was how they felt, Azahara understood that sometimes making the right choice was not the easiest.
“I’d leave the Neptune if Alyse felt any differently,” Carmen said, moving towards them and wrapping her arms around them.
“I second that.” Théodore joined them, and soon the rest of the crew had embraced them in a warm, almost suffocating, embrace.
Giving into the moment, Azahara closed her eyes and felt their unconditional love.
It was difficult to come to terms with, but in that moment, it all felt deserved.
None of them owed her anything, and they never would.
They had come to care for her over their time together.
These people would strengthen her and give her a reason to be better, and find the control she so desperately needed.
“Thank you,” it was like a cue for everyone to begin moving away, “really. All of you.” When they had all backed away, and their eyes were back on her, she nodded. “Alright then, so it’s settled.”
It was decided that once her and Jayce were dropped off in Itotaki, they would immediately turn back and head for Ilkiz.
Akua, Kaen, and Xol would keep a vigilant watch for the portal Jayce would open.
Once everyone was safely collected, they planned to return to the ship.
While that outlined the basic plan, Azahara knew from experience that nothing ever unfolded exactly as anticipated.
Hence, she braced herself for every conceivable scenario, even those leading to the darkest imaginable places.
Ilkiz had returned, prompting everyone to gather at the ship’s side to witness her graceful glide across the water’s surface.
Smiling, Azahara approached the ledge and leaned over, extending her arm in an attempt to touch Ilkiz’s wing.
A strong arm gently steadied her, ensuring she wouldn’t lose balance as her fingertip brushed against the leathery skin of her Spirit.
At that moment, a familiar smoke enveloped Ilkiz, gathering at Azahara’s palms. Power surged through her veins, and she rolled her head, feeling the energy course through her as she stood tall.
Welcome back. How did it go?
“My home is filled with Dragons, as it should have always been.” Ilkiz’s tone resonated with pure bliss, and though her mighty voice still echoed powerfully, a sense of calm permeated through it.
I’m so glad, she sighed, turning around to see Jayce wearing a warm smile as she continued to lean over the ledge. I’m scared, Ilkiz. Rising to her feet, she approached him, and he enveloped her in a comforting embrace, his head resting gently atop hers. I can’t lose them.
“I know you are, and we will do everything to protect them. You have the might of Dragons behind you.”
At that moment, Jayce sensed her unspoken desire—to find solace in his arms. He remained silent, understanding her need for comfort.
With a tender touch, he traced a soothing path up and down her back as they swayed gently with the motion of the ship.
The steady rhythm of his heart, echoing in her ear, brought an overwhelming sense of peace and tranquility, enveloping her in a profound sense of calm.
I need you to do something for me, her eyes closed, and she took a deep breath through her nose, savoring his worldly scent.
If things go badly, and I have to summon you…
She rubbed her eyes against his chest, and he placed his hand behind her head, running his fingers through the spirals of her hair.
Kill them all. Every last one of them. For what they did to you, your people, and your kin.
For everything they’ve done to me. Destroy the Fae for what they did to Jayce.
Destroy the mortal realm for what they did to Kaed.
Destroy the gods for doing nothing while their people suffered.
Reduce them to ash and return them to the ground from which they came. ”
As her eyes fluttered open, she sensed a subtle transformation.
It was as if her pupils were expanding and contracting, forming a captivating, razor-thin line.
The warmth in her chest surged as she sensed Ilkiz’s power intensifying within her.
It felt as though she were developing scales and flexing wings that, in reality, didn’t exist.
“I never wanted war,” Ilkiz uttered, and she could feel the palpable excitement in the words, “but they forced my wing—now, I shall not show the same leniency. For you, my little one, I will destroy them and feel nothing but elation while doing so.”
Jayce gently guided her back, his hand cradling her chin to lift her gaze.
His amethyst eyes gleamed with a bright smile.
He understood; she had emphasized that his safety was paramount.
Ensuring the return of all of them to safety was her foremost concern.
While her ultimate aim wasn’t to annihilate everyone in Naverra, if circumstances demanded it, she was prepared to take that measure.
“I’ve been alive for a long, long time,” he whispered, his thumb tracing the delicate curve of her jaw, “people have always tried to draw a clear line between heroes and villains.” With a gentle stroke, he caressed her lips.
“The eternal struggle of good versus evil, the lost versus the saviors of the realm.” Pulling her closer with his other hand, he leaned in, pressing his forehead against hers.
“But having witnessed both sides of this tale, I’ve come to realize it’s all a matter of perspective—dependent on who writes the story.
” He paused, looking deeply into her eyes.
“So, my love, don’t confine yourself to either of those classifications because you are beyond them both. ”
For reasons unknown, she sensed power emanating between her fingertips, his words echoing in her soul. He was right; she had never conformed to the mold of good or evil.
A smile adorned her lips as her arms encircled his neck. “To the ones between the lines,” her words whispered against his lips.
“To you, Sunshine, only to you.” His lips were on hers, and while the uncertainty of the coming days still lingered, there was one thing that wasn’t; if they didn’t survive, no one would.