Chapter 26 What If
What If
Arainbow of colors swirled by while the Serpent King’s portal carried me through the realms. It was unlike anything I’d ever experienced, and it was quite glorious never to take a single step, yet be transported through space.
Portaling would make heels far more comfortable to wear as often as I did.
However, this portal felt different than the others I’d been in. Perhaps, it was because I’d never seen such landscapes, but it felt special . . . magical, almost like the fairytales I read about when I was younger.
Worlds flashed by, yet the shield of the king’s golden magic prevented me from hearing any outside noise. So, I simply watched the realms pass, noting all the various creatures living within them.
A man appeared, and he looked human until my gaze dipped to two hairy legs ending in hoofs.
He bathed in a river beside a woman who made a fire spark between her pale hands.
Sharp, black mountains could be seen in the background.
Some of them had smoke billowing out from the peaks, along with a red liquid spurting into the blue sky.
Before I could marvel at the foreign picture any further, a new realm came into view.
This one took me into the depths of a vibrant aquamarine ocean.
A woman with turquoise hair swam past the shield, and I jumped back upon seeing the eight tentacles floating behind her, propelling her through the clear blue waters.
I dared a step closer to the shimmering wall of magic, marveling at the look on her face while she swam.
She looked so free. As if she was truly happy and at peace with her life.
A spark flared to life inside my chest.
No, please, no—anything but another horrid emotion.
I wasn’t entirely sure what was passing through the void within me, but it felt like I was missing out on something fantastic as I watched her swim without a care in the world.
Was this . . . longing? Yearning for something I never could have?
Before I could drown in my self-pity, the siren’s realm zoomed by, leaving me in a pitch-black night sky.
It nearly reminded me of what Ashivire looked like in the evenings, with how bright and glorious the stars shone.
However, besides the stars shining silver instead of gold, there was another major difference . . .
Hundreds of women floated in the dark sky.
But that was impossible.
I squinted, trying to see what I was missing.
Then, the dim sky lit up in a variety of colors as the women burned into—wisps of air?
Shaking my head, I tried to make sense of what I was seeing as I watched the once tangible woman take on the form of a spirit of the air.
Their auras shone brightly in various hues: neon pink, sea-foam green, ruby red, and so on.
Some of the spirits tipped their heads back as if they were cackling, while others had their lips parted in conversation or song.
The one thing they all had in common was how fucking stunning they were.
A feeling crept into that endless void in my chest as I watched the band of women drift through the night sky.
For Serpent’s Sake, not again.
Longing festered inside me like a caged beast. Deep down, I always dreamed of having a group of people I could be myself with—my real self, not the version I became when I donned the mask of the Serpent Queen.
Just me, Seera.
In moments like this, it was hard not to let my mind wander and think about how life could have panned out differently if I’d never made a bargain with the Serpent King.
There was always a kernel of curiosity buried deep in my core that wondered about who I’d become if I had the chance to be free of my mother, if I had been raised by someone who demonstrated what it felt like to be loved . . .
Would I be kind?
Would I meet people who understood me?
Would one day, someone see all of me—all of the horrible darkness slowly consuming every inch of me—and would they choose to stay?
Would they love every sick and twisted part of me?
Water splashed across my cheeks, making me glance above as worry crashed into me that the portal was cracking. Did it malfunction and take me back into the siren realm?
When I looked up, I saw no leak in the golden shield.
Glancing around, I confirmed I was indeed still moving forward.
A new realm appeared, painting the scenery with thick, dark green trees that jutted high into a slightly golden sky.
Animals swung lazily between the branches, and there was not one rain cloud in sight.
I swatted the water droplets off my cheeks, as I realized I must be crying again.
Curse these damn emotions.
I had to get a grip on myself, for the vibrant emerald color splashed across this forest gave me a sneaking suspicion this was my final destination.
My hopes and dreams were not what they once were.
If I could lock away my feelings forever, I’d do so in a heartbeat.
The bad emotions often outweighed any good ones I used to experience.
I once despised being so lonely, so broken—like I was never enough.
So, the day after my bargain, I was actually relieved I couldn’t feel anything beyond a vortex of anger.
Cold determination grounded me as a bright golden light flashed to my right. A circular passage opened up, signaling the exit was fast approaching, so much so I barely had time to bend my knees and brace for the undoubtedly brutal impact.
The lush environment around me could only mean one thing.
I made it to the imposter Serpent Queen’s realm.
It was time to see what this fraud’s lands had to offer.