Chapter Twenty-Five #2
As she walked into the room, the hallway to the left lit up with an image of her working in the Phoenix Rising, she was laughing and dancing with Scarlett as they fixed drinks.
Then the image morphed, and she was walking through a flea market haggling over the price of a mismatched set of vintage chairs.
It morphed again and she was in her apartment above the bar, watching a movie marathon with popcorn and an ice-cream sundae in front of her.
“Choose this path, you’ll be safe and able to live a normal human life, unburdened by a destiny you didn’t choose.”
As Bréagha watched the scenes in front of her, she felt the pull, the desire to not have the fate of all the realms on her shoulders, no fighting shadows or dying over and over again just to awaken in pain with all of her friends’ worried faces looking at her.
But the instant she thought that she felt an ache deep in her heart that told her she could never go back to that life.
Even if she forgot everything about the garden, she would feel like something was missing, just as she had her entire life.
She couldn’t go back. She couldn’t turn away from Roz, the boys, the Elders, or even Killian.
It wasn’t in her to just walk away. As soon as that thought materialized, the path on the left went dark and the path on the right lit up.
“Choose this path and you’ll be unburdened by restraint. You’ll have unfettered power to conquer all your enemies without risking anyone else or being held back by Killian. Why weaken yourself when you could have all the power you could ever want or need.”
As the voice spoke, Bréagha watched herself battling shadows.
Her entire being was aflame, her wings were solid and feathered, her hair was long and flowing, her arms were flung towards the darkness.
All of her was pure fire that cut a swath between the shadows, instantly destroying everything.
The fire didn’t differentiate between foe and surroundings; trees, flowers, everything caught in her path went up in a blaze.
She watched as the all-powerful version of herself wiped every shadow off the battlefield within seconds.
Crowds of people came forward, cheering her like she was some kind of hero as she flew above them, untouchable.
Again, she was tempted. This would put a quick end to the war, saving countless lives including and especially her teammates and Roz.
She actually took a step forward, but something stopped her.
Yes, she would be all powerful, but as she watched closely, she saw the smirk on her face, an ugly expression of smugness and disdain for those below her.
She saw her teammates in the distance, and she turned away from them, choosing to soak in the adulation of those around her as if it was her due.
She shuddered; she could never allow herself to be that person.
She wasn’t above anyone; she was an orphan who had finally found her place amongst friends whom she loved dearly.
No, she wouldn’t choose that path either.
Just like the last time the path instantly went dark and the one in the middle lit up.
Here she was standing side by side with Killian.
They were both facing down a sea of shadows, they moved in sync, fire and steel flashing, as they worked their way through the darkness.
He would catch her when she stumbled, and she would hit a shadow who slipped past his guard.
Both were focused and controlled in a way they’d never been before, even when they were at their best.
“This path means you give up control; you give in and trust someone without question or thought. You walk together with your Sentinel, and he walks with you.”
Bréagha instantly shied away from that thought.
Trusting anyone that readily without hesitation wasn’t something she thought she could be capable of.
Even with Aiden and their lifetime of respect and love, she always held pieces back.
Her walls were always up and impenetrable.
She remembered the moment on her balcony the night she found out about her parents and how Killian had offered her comfort.
Even then she had known she could let go; her walls had crumpled completely that night.
She knew if Aiden had been the one that came out, she wouldn’t have broken as completely as she had with Killian.
As much as she adored Aiden, there was always a piece of her that tried to be stronger, harder, and more untouchable so he wouldn’t have to worry about her as much.
With Killian, she didn’t have to do that.
He was solid, and stubborn, but stable. Something she had always lacked, the one thing that she had always needed.
That thought made the choice for her and the middle path stayed lit, but the images died away.
Bréagha stepped forward and entered the middle hallway, hesitantly, half expecting something to jump out at her, instead she stood back where she had been but in front of her was a pristine courtyard with a fountain that sparkled with clean water as it splashed down.