Thirty-Four
CHAPTER
We were no longer in Neil’s beloved Manor which was now in ruins.
We were somewhere else. Somewhere familiar, but nearly long forgotten.
The Mountain.
The place in which the High Lords came to meet to discuss important matters. The place in which the Gods could be summoned in the direst of circumstances.
Those of great importance.
I felt as if I had been here before, but I couldn’t quite figure out why.
A distant memory, or a dream perhaps.
So many questions left unanswered, even now.
The room was made of oakwood and alabaster stone. Vases and decor of glittering gold, marble and moonstone, hand-painted a millennia ago, filled the walls. I took a step forward, and then another, standing before a mirror of glistening gold, detailed with gemstones of all shapes, sizes, and colors.
Deus stood beside me, a shadowy hand on my left shoulder, and pink eyes that stared at my reflection. I turned to look at it, only to find the space empty.
Deus was nowhere to be seen.
“Come.” Zathrian’s fingers grazed mine, reaching to grab my hand. I gave his hand a light squeeze, unsure if it was to reassure him or to provide reassurance to myself. Hand in hand, he guided me alongside the group into the most sacred of places in all of Wisteria.
The Place of the Gods.
A holy place, one that only the High Lords and their Right Hands had ever stepped foot in. Until now.
Neil and Gelia squirmed against their shadowy binds. Javaid took them to the steps before the entryway. Muffled complaints could be heard through the shadowy tendrils that had them bound and gagged.
A doorway of bright ethereal light that smelled of lavender and eucalyptus stood before us.
Mateo stood beside Acheron in silence. Gelia and Neil were on their knees. Javaid stood behind them, with Zathrian right beside him.
And then there was me.
A voice only I could seem to hear spoke to me. “You’ve come home to us at last, little one,” the voice said.
“I have?” I questioned.
Zathrian seemed confused. “Who are you talking to?”
I lifted a finger, pointing at the two champagne-colored beings that stood before us, side by side. Beings that felt familiar, friends from long ago.
One of them had similar features to my own, the other, not so much. The other reminded me of Deus. Champagne-colored features with moonstone eyes that matched my own. Taken aback, I could not help but stare at them.
“Please.” Zathrian turned to the Gods.
They both stared back at him, shaking their heads. “We are not to intervene,” they said in unison. Their voices echoed throughout the room, a sound that screamed power yet sounded so sweet at the same time.
“They’ve committed treason! They wanted to take down the Wall! They were going to destroy everything you’ve built. They have defiled you, defied you. They are traitors!” Javaid said earnestly.
Both beings stared at Javaid, then at each other, and down to Gelia and Neil once more, all in unison.
Despite being two entirely different beings, they stood as if they were one.
“We know what they have done, for we have been watching since the very beginning, long before the Realms even existed.” With a wave of their hand, both Gelia and Neil were released from their binds.
The pair fell forward onto the steps, sinking to their hands and knees, and panting heavily from how tightly Javaid had them confined.
Served them right after everything they had done.
“Please, help us save the Realms and the people who reside within them. We beg of you. We need your Divine intervention to make things right again. We cannot do it without your help. Please,” Zathrian pleaded.
Everyone was so focused on the Gods before them that no one noticed Neil reaching behind him for the dagger that Acheron had sheathed.
Not until Neil was already lunging at me.
I only noticed when Mateo shoved me forcefully out of the way.
I slid onto the alabaster stone flooring beneath me, eyes wide in horror.
The dagger dug deep into Mateo’s shoulder and three inches across his chest, right beside his heart.
I screamed.
Acheron did, too.
I sank to my knees, watching the blood pour from Mateo’s chest. Neil forcefully yanked the dagger out from his flesh, and Mateo collapsed in an instant, choking on his own blood.
Zathrian lunged for Neil, tackling him with such force, I heard the air leave his lungs the moment he hit the ground.
Neil and he wrestled, each trying to get control of the dagger in Neil’s hands.
The dagger slid across the floor. Mateo’s blood spread across the alabaster stone, the dagger landing right beside me.
I stared at the blood-covered dagger before carefully gripping the handle.
Zathrian pinned Neil down, and the two shot words of hatred at one another. Words I paid no attention to. I was more concerned about Mateo.
Sweet, sweet Mateo.
Mateo, who had been nothing but a pain in my ass since the beginning. But he was my pain in the ass.
Even when I was convinced I was alone, he was always there. Even when I made it known I didn’t want him there with me, he stayed. When I tried to push him away, he refused to leave. Just like Zathrian, Mateo was always there for me, even in times when I didn’t think I was deserving.
Gelia did nothing but remain on her hands and knees in silence, besides the sound of her fast-paced breaths.
Acheron rushed to Mateo’s side, carefully cradling him in his arms as he bled out.
“No, no, no,” Acheron muttered, tears welling in his eyes. Mateo whimpered, choking on his own blood as his hand slid to Acheron’s cheek.
Acheron leaned into his touch, looking down at him lovingly.
“Please,” Acheron whispered.
Blood dripped from the corner of Mateo’s lips as his thumb continued to caress Acheron’s cheek.
“Why would you do that? Why do you always have to be the hero?” Acheron cried out, leaning forward to brush his nose against Mateo’s.
Mateo’s eyes were half open.
“I love you,” Acheron whispered. Mateo’s eyes closed, his hand drifting away from Acheron’s face, falling against the floor beneath him.
Acheron screamed, leaning his head forward, and sobbing into Mateo’s chest.
“NO! NO! PLEASE! TEO!” Acheron cried.
Tears pooled down my own cheeks, watching Acheron cry for Mateo. I couldn’t let Mateo die, I just couldn’t.
“Please,” I pleaded, turning to the Gods. “Please, bring him back.” My voice cracked.
The room was silent except for Acheron’s hysterical sobs and the sound of my voice, begging the Gods to bring him back.
“Aerilyn,” Zathrian said, reaching for my shoulder. I pulled away. “What do you think you’re doing?”
The Gods peered down at me. The one whose features were similar to mine knelt down so he was face-to-face with me.
“Please, I’ll do anything, please. Bring Mateo back. Please, make this right.” My voice trailed off, tears pooling down my face. “This isn’t how his story ends,” I whispered.
The God smiled, lifting his hands to my face. He cupped my cheeks, carefully wiping my tears away. “That is right. It is you… isn’t it?”
Zathrian reached for my shoulder a second time. “Aerilyn,” he warned. We both knew that wishes granted by the Gods came with a price.
“Me?” I questioned.
Javaid reached for Zathrian, pulling him back as the God embraced me.
“You are so much like your mother,” the God replied.
“My mother?” I questioned, not understanding what the God was speaking of.
He turned to Mateo who was being cradled by Acheron.
“Is this truly what you wish, little one?” the God asked.
Nodding, I whispered, “Please.”
“You have the power to bring him back,” the God said. “You are far stronger than you think.” The God leaned in closely, whispering into my ear, “I will see you again. Soon.” His lips grazed my cheek, leaving a feathery kiss. “I will fix things for you, my child. Everything will be as it was.”
Swallowing hard, I nodded. Turning to Mateo, I scooted closer.
“I-I—” I paused, kneeling into the pool of blood that oozed from beneath Mateo.
“I-I’m going to fix you.” I sniffled. Lifting my hands, I hesitantly reached for the gaping wound in Mateo’s chest, his blood staining my palms. Closing my eyes, I focused my energy entirely on Mateo.
“Aerilyn!” Zathrian called out.
“Shhh. Let her,” Javaid warned.
The God turned to Gelia and Neil. “You will pay for what you have done,” he said, “You will leave Wisteria and live the rest of your Mortal days within the Mortal Realm.”
My eyes were closed, my ears ringing, and I could no longer hear or see anything happening around me.
I was so tired, but the Deus’s whispers coaxed me to keep going, and I did.
Memories crossed my mind. Memories that had a special place in my heart.
Channeling strength and magic I did not know I had, I healed Mateo.
Laughing with Gelia over tea. Kissing Neil for the first time.
The Celestial Festival and dancing the night away.
Seeing a Pegasus for the first time. Watching Acheron and Mateo share that kiss.
Finding out that Zathrian was my Mate. Discovering the true nature of my magic, and everything else in between.
Mateo gasped. Wheezing and half choking, he jolted in Acheron’s embrace. My eyes opened; my vision blurred as my energy was drained from me.
Something wasn’t right. My head hurt so much.
Mateo was okay, that’s what mattered.
Zathrian rushed to my side, dropping to his knees. My hearing hadn’t returned, and everything was so fuzzy. My eyes met his, his mouth was moving but I had no idea what he was saying.
If only I could tell him.
If only he knew the truth of how I have felt, all this time.
If only he knew how much I loved him.
I fell backward, and Zathrian caught me before my back hit the floor. Tears left his eyes and fell upon my cheeks as he said something I couldn’t make out. My eyes closed, and everything went black.