24. SOPHIE
Sophie found herself at the waterfall, behind several rocks tucked away from the prying eyes of the Tienthan who trained close by. Sophie sat there with her feet on the edge of the rocks. Water lapped up to calm her still rapidly beating heart. Her throat still ached, though her tears had abated. She felt numb. She felt like an intrinsic part of her was being held above her head, just out of reach and by someone who most definitely didn’t deserve to have her.
She watched her reflection ripple with the flow of water. Her purple and silver hair reflected the sunrays like a star-filled galaxy, her pointed ears peeked through, and her glass-like skin shimmered – the only giveaway that she wasn’t just Fae, she was half something else. A goddess. She looked like herself, mostly, but the bags underneath her eyes painted a different story. She was a husk. A woman with power and potential but a shadow of what she could be – who she wanted to be.
She heard the rustle of his wings before his reflection appeared next to hers in the water. Two halves of one whole. “If you’re here to express your disappointment in me, I suggest you go away before I drown you in the water.” Sophie scowled and turned away from Ash as he perched himself on the edge of the water beside her.
“Again, you’ve got to stop threatening me with a good time.” His deep laugh rumbled through her. The harmonious reverberations pulled at Sophie’s attention. She shot him a narrowed look.
He leaned back, bracing his hands on the ground as his white wings kept him perfectly balanced. His tanned skin, slick with a sheen of sweat glistened in the sun and for a moment Sophie regretted looking at him. His muscled form sat perfectly still, keenly aware of Sophie’s burning gaze.
Their eyes locked.
“I shouldn’t have pushed you,” Ash breathed. He pulled his knees to him and leaned his head against them, watching Sophie.
Subconsciously, Sophie mirrored his movements, pulling her knees to her chest and resting her head atop them, watching Ash.
“Someone had to say it.” She muttered. He only voiced what she already knew was true. That if she wasn’t capable of overcoming the roadblock she burrowed herself in, then how could she expect to wage a war against three tyrants?
“I could’ve timed it better.”
“Well, it’s not your fault you were born with a big head and no foresight. Must be those damning wings getting in your way.” She softly laughed and stretched out her hand toward him – a peace offering.
Slowly, hesitantly, he grabbed her tattooed hand with his, and it felt like they were their young selves running through the streets of Faery again. Except here, his hands were worn and much larger as they enveloped hers.
“Listen,” Ash said, squeezing her hand, “I know you wanted a clean slate but . . .” Sophie’s heart skipped a beat and her hand stilled. “. . . there’s one memory that I think is worth reliving. One that I think can help you with your mana.” He squeezed her hand again and quickly added, “Only if you want to.”
The space between them fell silent.
Sophie did want a clean slate, but if what Ash offered would provide her refuge, a solution, something to get her sense of self back again, she’d take it – however high the risk would be.
“I do,” Sophie wondered if she would regret uttering those words.
Like two souls born of the same elements, like reflections in a mirror, Sophie and Ash faced each other, crossing their legs, their knees just touching.
Sophie leaned into the space between them and closed her eyes, breathing in Ash’s woodsy scent. His warm fingertips found their place on either side of her forehead. His mana felt like lightning as it thrummed through her veins and into her mind. And then there was darkness.
“It’s like you’re diving for treasure.” The silver-haired Fae male animatedly swooped his hands high then low as if he were diving into water. “You want to jump down into the pool, pick out a piece and bring it up with you.” He clawed his hand and picked at the air around him. “But be careful to not bring up too much or you’ll burn out and that hurts.” He winked. “Trust me.”
Young Sofreya and young Acheron tilted their heads at Lou – the Right Hand of King Gydeon. And they burst out laughing.
“That’s silly, Daddy.” Sophie laughed. “My belly is too small. I can’t dive into it.”
“You’re not actually diving into your own belly, my sweet Sophie.” Lou guffawed. “You only have to imagine it.” He pulled the two children off the grass where they sat atop a hill in Soxis, the dull roar of the Southern River not too distant. “Try it. Close your eyes. It helps.”
And so the children did.
Together, they closed their eyes and tried to will their mana for the first time. Their task: to lift the small pebble from the ground and suspend it, midair.
Beside her, Sophie heard her best friend cheering. She opened her eyes to find his small pebble floating midair. He always found tasks like this easy which annoyed Sophie to no end.
Lou joined the boy in his cheers of glory. “Great job, Ash! Your father will be so proud of you.” He walked over to the boy and scruffed his hair.
Sophie watched, a little jealous that her friend had beat her to the punch. It was always a competition between the two. Friendly competition. She furrowed her brows and shut her eyes harder, but she didn’t understand what her father meant by taking up a morsel. When she dived deep into her belly, into her mana, there was just a big pit and all she wanted to do was take the whole thing and push it out. But all of it was too heavy.
She heard the sure footsteps of her father. Warm, caring hands braced her shoulders from behind.
“Relax your shoulders.” A soft giggle left him. “And your face. You’re going to get early onset wrinkles if you keep scrunching your face like that.”
Sophie softened her face.
Her father placed a hand onto her diaphragm. “Now breathe in deep.” She obeyed. “And breathe out.” She let out a slow breath, her stomach expanding with the movement. “Now, dive into the pool but don’t swim too deep. Just keep your head above the water.” She felt her body relax. “Now let that feeling run through your veins.” She felt it, a cooling sensation running down her legs, her arms and her spine. “And imagine that there’s a string running from your hands to that pebble.”
Sophie lifted her hand in front of her.
“Good girl.” Her father let go of her shoulders and moved away. “This is your mana. Only you can control it. Now lift.”
She obeyed. She imagined that the string she held was bound tightly to the pebble and she yanked it hard. Sophie opened her eyes and the pebble that was once on the ground in front of her, was now suspended midair.
A ribbon of excitement danced through her and she cheered, jumping up and down. Ash ran up to her, grabbed her tight and lifted her up, cheering.
“Well done, Sophie! You did it! I am so proud of you. I’m proud of you both,” Lou shouted. With his long silver hair and purple eyes, he leaned down and stretched out his arms.
The two children ran into his waiting arms and cheered with happiness.
The darkness dissipated and Sophie was in the Godlands again. Her eyes fluttered open to meet Ash’s. The scar across the left side of his brow, shining brightly in the sun. And just like the day his living room, Sophie’s lips wobbled. Her throat ached. Without a word she flung herself onto Ash’s shirtless body and wrapped her arms around his thick neck. He did not falter, he caught her with ease and held her tightly with his arms as she sobbed. What he showed her was exactly what she needed to see. Her skin had been set alight for so long, she’d almost forgotten what it felt like to not be burning in hatred. Finally, finally she had met relief. She was grateful for it. Impossibly grateful. It was her father that had taught her how to wield her mana, but she was the one who took it by its reins and mastered it. No one else. It was hers and hers only. The chokehold that Kaine had on her essence and power relented because it was hers. It was Taliesin blood and Taliesin magic that ran through her veins and nothing in this world, nothing in this realm and all the realms, could change that.
She was power.
She was a demigoddess.
She was Sofreya Brighid Taliesin, and no one could stop her.
Sophie leaned back. Without even realising it, she had found herself in Ash’s lap. His thick corded thighs the only thing supporting her, but she didn’t care. “Thank you. Thank you for showing me that. I don’t know how you do it.” She wiped her tear-stained eyes with the back of her hand and laughed. She probably looked like a feral cat.
“Do what?” Ash beamed, his eyes shining in the sunlight.
Sophie’s breath caught slightly. Striking was the only word she could describe Ash as. “You seem to know exactly what I need.” She beamed right back.
“That’s what friends are for, right?” He swallowed, eyes darting down to her lips then back up again.
“Best friends.” Sophie nodded. The words didn’t seem quite right given how they sat right now.
A momentary shadow of disappointment washed across his face but as soon as Sophie blinked, it was gone. In its place was the confident, powerful male she learnt to like, hell love – as a friend, Sophie told herself.
Ash looked at the sun. “Oh shoot.”
Sophie stilled on top of his lap. “What is it?”
Ash reverently lifted Sophie from his lap and helped her to stand.
“I’m late.” He brushed off the dirt that had clung to his legs and shook out his wings. He held out a hand for her to hold. “I think it’s time we explore life outside the Isle of Deos.” He smiled brightly. The two dimples that marked his tan skin were the embodiment of mischief and charm.
Sophie narrowed her eyes at him. “Where are we going?”
“To see my kids.” Ash grinned.
“Your what?!” Sophie didn’t mean to shout. Nor did she intend her voice to echo across the cavern. She just wasn’t expecting him to utter those words let alone plaster a silly grin on his face as he said them. And it wasn’t just one child, it was kids – plural.
It seemed like the gods, goddesses and angels on the Isle got busy when they had a moment to spare. She wondered who the female was. The female lucky enough to spend and create life with her best friend.
A pang of jealousy shot through Sophie – an unwelcome feeling that she didn’t quite understand when it came to Ash.