Noct gently took the cloth away from Mia, and Penny glanced over to see that a scar had replaced the wound across her eyes, which had turned a clouded white. Penny could hear her whispering to her brother, but could not make out what she was saying.
“Here friends, drink of this.” Adrielle pulled a flask carved of bone from her sash and gave it to Hector, who hesitantly removed the stopper and sniffed at it. Adrielle gave him a reassuring look. “It is purified water from the river Lethe―it will make you forget your grief, if only for a while.”
Hector took a sip and then passed the flask to Simon. When it came to Penny she drank from it liberally and coughed as it made the entirety of her mouth and throat go completely numb.
Adrielle drew closer to Penny, whose mind had begun to hum with a far-off buzzing that made her feel lost, yet peaceful. Adrielle lay her white hand upon Penny’s, and Penny became vaguely aware that Adrielle was looking through all of her memories, starting from the day she had been taken to Elydria up to the present moment. Somewhere distant, in a part of her that still cared about the world, Penny felt a wave of shame when Adrielle came to know of her folly, the various debacles she had caused, and her hidden feelings for Hector. When the Angel opened her miraculous green eyes, she smiled at Penny and touched her face.
“Beautifully done,” she said, and looked around at the quiet and unfocused group. “There is no way I can ever truly thank you for what you’ve done―no way to mend the scars. You all gave freely, selflessly, and with no hope of reward. I know of no words to express that which all of creation should owe to you, yet which you will most likely never receive. Seival and Della chose well. I bow before you, children.” The Angel lowered her head in a gesture of respect that was so divine and genuine that tears appeared in every eye. “How deeply I regret that I was not beside you through these tribulations―how I wish I could’ve helped.”
“Well, you can help now, can’t you?” Penny said, feeling indignant rage beneath the induced blanket of calm. “There’s nothing stopping you. Nestor’s dead. Go get the other parts from Elydria and we’ll fit your brother back together and we can all be free from this.”
The Angel’s face darkened. “Unfortunately, things are not that simple,” Adrielle sighed and Penny stared defiantly into the eyes that were like deep, green pools. “Nestor is not dead―only sealed within the Tree.”
“And my mother?” Penny croaked. “If he’s alive, then—”
Adrielle shook her head. “Nestor is immortal. Paulina was a mere human.”
Penny hung her head and the Angel touched her face again. “I created this garden with the Voice of Heaven. It is nothing more than a very complex illusion used to hide the Tree of Mana from the rest of the world. Without my lyre, it will eventually fade. It will take every ounce of my strength to keep this place hidden and to make sure that Nestor stays trapped within this tree long enough for you to collect the last fragments of my brother’s body and join them together once again. If I were to leave this place, even for a day, he would surely escape and destroy Gaia just as he destroyed Nelvirna. Then he will come to find you Penny. I cannot let your mother’s sacrifice go in vain, so I must stay here.”
Penny was sure that if she had not have tasted the water Adrielle had given her and had not been sitting on the Tree of Mana’s roots, this response would have made her belligerent with rage. However, all she could feel was a mild sense of disappointment.
“What must we do?” Hector asked.
“You must return to his world, for the last three individuals you seek are all there. Take the time you need―regain your strength. I should be able to keep him sealed until the snows start to fall. Turn your pain into fuel that will help you rise to the task. When you are able to set forth again, go south. Rest, but do not wait.
“An elf and dragon hold the three lost pieces—two wings and the heart. Once you have gained these allies, find a way to rescue the man Nestor transformed into an abomination, and you shall have the head, legs, and spine as well. They are all within him. Once all the pieces are together again, you must return to the ruins of Seival’s realm, and find his tomb wherein lays the last remnant of his body. If you are able to accomplish this, we will have the strength to put this madness to rest for all time when Nestor returns,” Adrielle told them, and Hector nodded with resigned dignity.
“Please, Angel,” said Armonie. “Sublime one whom I fear to look upon―may I beg a question?”
Adrielle gave a warm laugh. “Child, I am unlike Nestor, who once demanded to be worshipped by his children. You may speak to me plainly, and do not fear. I will gladly answer any queries you have.” She smiled, and her beauty shone even brighter.
“What has happened to poor Cyrus? What has Nestor done to him?”
“He has done something to him which brings me terrible regret for a past action of my own,” Adrielle said, shutting her eyes. “You must remember my dear Della, who has sadly left our worlds?”
She waited for them to nod before continuing.
“Centuries ago I felt it was my duty to punish her for her wrongdoings, and also preserve her extraordinary gifts for as long as I could. She was a gifted clairvoyant and used her gifts to wreak havoc upon the world of men, solely for her own selfish delight. Because of this, I studied the ancient magic written on these stones you see around my Tree, and the ones in the far worlds, and I remembered the method for creating what you may know as a homunculus.” Adrielle paused as if falling back into a long-forgotten memory.
“I modified her body―filled it with rare magic and artificial parts. The change involved staggering amounts of agony for poor Della, but when it was finished I successfully transformed her body into one that was fed and kept alive solely by the flow of magic, just as mine is. In the process I had to separate her soul from her body, and this I kept in a glass ball, which she in turn kept in her chest. This is the same thing Nestor has done to that man, though there is one very serious difference between him and Della. I allowed Della control over her soul. Nestor keeps the man’s soul for himself, and thus keeps control over the man.”
“But why? Why would he do such a thing?”
“Because he knows he can use him to create his legion of demons. When there is no soul present in a subject, they cannot go insane. This is why they are able to exploit the forbidden magic of Elydria and create multitudes of wraiths. It served another purpose as well—that man’s defaced body is used to keep the parts of my brother Seival alive and contained so they do not pose a threat to his cause. You see, if any of you were to die, the bits of Seival inside of you would become lost and find their way to another soul―this is why he does not simply kill you. He’s afraid of losing control over Seival’s power, even after his death,” Adrielle explained.
Armonie retreated back under Gavin’s arm and they sat down together, falling quiet. Penny gritted her teeth, then gazed up at Adrielle, wanting to feel angry at her but finding herself unable to do so. “I have a question. Actually, I have several.”
Adrielle met her gaze, serene and unblinking. “You are more than entitled. Please ask.”
“You said Seival and Della chose each of us,” she began. “I want to know why. Why is it up to us to fix everyone’s problems and stop this maniac? We aren’t especially powerful, we have no special knowledge or tools that made us stand out from everyone else. What made him choose us?”
“It took him years of delving into endless possibilities alongside Della. They spent that time together experimenting with the threads of fate in the Dawn Mirror. They tested combinations of every individual they could, but he never told me the reason why he selected each of the ones who were to take on the vestiges of his body and soul. Perhaps it was because he knew you were the ones who had the greatest chances of success―you must remember Della’s visions were not absolute, only probable.
“Or perhaps it was for the fact that if you would be able to make it, he knew you would receive the greatest reward. Seival was
kind and fair, and he would not have asked this of you unless he knew you’d get something in return. In truth, I do not know, but I must say it’s worked out so far for each of you, and Penelope, dear, Seival only chose the individuals who were to carry on with his fragments.”
“What do you mean? Seival didn’t pick me?” she stammered, not sure if she understood Adrielle. “If I wasn’t selected to carry a bit of his soul, then why am I here? Why did Maddie and my mother have to be murdered, why did I have to suffer through all these trials? My life was ruined―everything I held dear was stolen for me. Do you have an answer for that?”
“Penelope, you are perhaps the most important person among your comrades, and you are the reason I still have hope for the future of our worlds.”
“So what, I’m the chosen one or some crap? I have some special destiny?” Penny spat, her anger shining through.
Adrielle shook her head, solemn. “Nothing of the sort. It is…it is a…” Penny noticed Adrielle’s speech was slowing, and that her jaw seemed to be growing heavy. “You…you are…”
“I’m what?!” Penny cried.
Adrielle’s eyes were strained with emotion and as she tried to speak, but her jaw shut tightly upon itself and all she could do was a make a small, muffled sound in the back of her throat. She looked meaningfully at Penny, trying with all her might to relay something to her, but she was unable. Tears as bright as diamonds rolled out of Adrielle’s eyes in a sight so sorrowful and beautiful, Penny could not bear to look upon it.
“Forgive me, Penelope. Find it in your heart to forgive me for I cannot speak these words, no matter how much I want to. I swore an oath forbidding me to ever speak of this secret. There is only one who can tell you who you are. Della made me swear.” Adrielle’s voice was saturated with pain, and Penny gritted her teeth as she suffered the sound of it.
“So that’s it? So I just wait in the dark even longer?” Penny whispered as the frustration and dejection this brought her pierced through the shield over her heart for a moment. Tears flowed down her face, and Penny found all she wanted now was to sleep―to sleep so deep that it wiped her from the world long enough for all the broken parts inside to come together, long enough that she forgot the names of those she had lost. She never wanted to feel this open wound again. She had no will left, no strength to face what she must.
“Your weariness is evident, dear ones. Your injuries are deep, without and within, and you have a well-deserved rest ahead of you,” Adrielle told them all with tender gentleness. “If you have nothing more to ask me, then you should seek comfort and rest.” They all looked to her with heavy eyes and blank stares. Not one of them had another word to speak.
“Remember, I will be close to you from this day on. Wherever you are, if you play those notes on the flute forged of fallen stars, I will hear you. You may return here whenever you wish. Even in the darkest night, know you have a friend.” She looked at the weak, muted group and more tears fell.
“You’ve traveled far from your origins to find one another, and together have scaled mountains that once seemed impossible in your eyes. The agonies of these journeys weigh upon you, I know it, and it is a lonely, thankless path to go down. Never forget, even in the face of the most abominable of fears or the most hopeless sorrows, what you have gained in spite of it all.”
Sleep was a blessed elixir from which Penny drank with a tortuously parched throat for the first week following the departure from Eden. When she woke, hurricanes of agony rocked and tossed her until someone, usually Armonie or Hector, came to her side and shouldered the grief that threatened to swallow her alive. Time lost relevance as she drifted between the necessary peace of sleep and the short fragments of day, evening, night, and morning that flitted by.
Penny awoke on the seventh morning and struggled to sit up. This morning, which had risen balmy and bright, was different in that the simple thought of her mother and Maddie did not cause her to break down into a violent outburst of sorrow. The ghostly images of their smiles haunted her thoughts as she peered out of the open window and its swaying curtains, smelling the fresh forest air and listening to the birdsong, but the feeling those smiles brought was one of dull aching instead of the usual unbearable sting.
The halls of the Sanctuary seemed noticeably brighter and more airy since the last time Penny had seen them. She navigated the corridor of guest rooms, heard the inviting sound of soft voices and went toward the distraction it offered. Mia and Noct smiled as she entered.
“Big sister, you’re finally awake! I missed you,” Mia called from the bed she lay in, and Noct smiled warmly as Penny sat down beside him. The young girl’s eyes, still hazed over with a strange white film, were fixed directly on Penny with such eerie accuracy that Penny started.
“It turned out better than we expected,” Noct explained, seeing her reaction. “The eye of Seival is still inside her, so she can still see magic.”
Penny looked at Noct, seeing a boy years older than the one who had thrown fireballs at her months ago.
“Lucky for me, almost all things have magic in them. Though it’s just a tiny, tiny bit, it’s enough that I’ll be able to find my way around, at least. Still, I will miss seeing everyone’s faces,” Mia admitted, and Noct’s face clouded with sadness.
Penny stayed and talked of strictly carefree things with them for a while until a surprising ache of hunger gripped her.
On her way to the kitchen, Penny admired the way the light and warm breezes flooded in copiously from every open window, making the passageways smell of fresh cotton. She thought of how Mia would never again see the sunlight and, feeling the sorrow closing in, focused instead on her thankfulness that others still could.
Like days long ago, Penny found Simon digging through the pantries, his arms already laden with bread rolls, chilled meats, fresh cheese, various vegetables, a handful of tart cookies, and an apple. He jumped when he heard her coming and almost dropped all of his food.
“Oh God, I thought you were Armonie! She’s already scolded me three times for taking too much,” he said with relief, then offered a careful smile. “I’m glad to see you’re out of your coma.”
Penny smiled back thinly, not knowing what to say as they regarded each other. She read in his eyes the pain she was feeling, and his determination to remain lighthearted inspired her. Her eyes saying what her mouth could not, Penny took a small portion of pofflin pie from him and nibbled it.
Eating succeeded in making her legs a fraction stronger, and she took her leave of Simon and went for a walk. She didn’t get far before voices echoed from the entrance hall, catching her attention.
“Give me one good reason why you won’t tell me. Just one,” Annette was saying.
“Because I don’t want to,” Argent’s voice taunted, and Penny spotted him in the entranceway of the hall, his arms crossed.
“Come on! Don’t you trust me?” Annette cried, tugging on Argent’s sleeve.
“Not in the least,” he smirked, pushing her gently away.
“Ugh! I did not think it was possible for any one person to be so entirely infuriating!” Annette said, then caught sight of Penny and rushed over. “Penny, you’re out of bed! How are you feeling?”
Argent turned, looking so concerned Penny decided to lie.
“Much better, actually,” she said with ease, and Annette relaxed a bit and took her hand.
“Oh, I’m so glad. We all thought you’d never come out of there.”
“You heard the news from Hector, right?” Argent stepped over, his straw sandals scraping on the tile.
“News? What are you talking about?” Penny inquired, and Annette shook her head at Argent. Penny glared.
“Iverton fell. Rhea took the castle for herself and closed off the city walls. She’s taken control over everything―every Sophotri stone in the city, even private ones, the Tunnels, all the businesses. She announced that once she’s done settling the turmoil in the city, she’s going to move on to quash the upris
ings in the rest of the kingdom,” Argent said, his voice hollow, and Penny stared down at the floor while she thought this over.
“Did you hear anything about your aunt, Annette?” Penny asked, thinking of Wendy, and her friend shook her head.
“We can’t communicate with anyone inside the city walls. We have no way of knowing,” she sighed, and another worry occurred to Penny―one that surprised her.
“And the King?” she asked, refusing to speak his name.
“There’s been nothing said about him,” Argent said, raising an eyebrow.
“I see.” Penny sensed that she was losing control over her emotions again and tried to think of a quick escape. Her eyes landed on the front door of the Sanctuary. “I’m going to go see Humphrey.” Without waiting for their goodbyes, Penny left through the front doors and headed for the stable.
Humphrey’s long, sinewy neck was already stretched as far out as it could go past the stable wall when Penny wandered in. He whined, and Penny threw her arms around his straining neck, burying her face in his silky black fur. He licked the side of her face, whimpering.
“I should’ve known.”
Penny turned to see Armonie peeking through a window, an empty basket in her hands. Penny got up and approached her, the sight of the canopy of trees with the white summer sky silhouetted their leaves behind her. “Armonie, where did you come from?”
“I’ve been in town. I had to go see someone…” she left off, her eyes misting with sadness. Penny gave her an entreating look and Armonie elaborated. “Do you remember that woman who we visited when you first came here? Ms. Cassandra Howe? She gave us tea, I think, and I left her with some raw magic.”
“Yes, of course. Were you visiting her again just now?”
“I was. I needed to let her know,” Armonie said. “I think I also remember telling you that her husband had disappeared some years ago.”
Eden Undone (The Dawn Mirror Chronicles Book 2) Page 38