by Ali Winters
NIVIAN
Nivian woke with a start. Hazy flashes of sun filtered through the green leaves of a tree. A dark figure and a gleaming wolf against a crescent moon. She rubbed her throbbing forehead as she tried to hold onto the images. The harder she grasped at them, the faster they slipped away.
The lingering feeling of the dream was reminiscent of the memories she’d regained of her death. Now, though, sharp pains shot through her temples, stealing the images from thought.
She rolled to her side, meeting two black eyes. Her fingers reached out and stroked the white stuffed bear next to her. If she continued spending time with Kain, it was a possibility that the memories she longed to get back would return. But at what cost? She wanted her memories back, but to use Kain like that… It felt wrong.
Squeezing her eyes shut, Nivian buried her face into the bear’s soft fuzz.
No, she thought. Kain had been nothing but genuine with her. She refused to repay him by using him like that. He was her friend and she cared about him too much to do something so selfish.
The thought of avoiding him stung but she wouldn’t be able to live with herself if she treated him that way. She wanted to be near him and it made her feel empty to force space between them—to not have him by her side when they weren’t working.
Nivian knew she had to be sure these dreams weren’t caused by his proximity, and sure that they were in fact just dreams. But the only way to know was to stay away, force them to spend time apart from each other. At least until she recovered her memories on her own. That is, if they still existed in the dark recesses of her mind.
She grabbed her pillow, covered her face, and groaned into it. It was impossible to know what to do. And Nivian knew she couldn’t stay away from him forever.
EIGHT
YEVA
BLINDING LIGHT HOVERED over Yeva’s palm. Bright and powerful—her powers had finally returned to her. She’d acted too soon the last time she’d challenged Silas and his Reapers. Underestimating their strength was a mistake she would not soon repeat.
The thought of repaying Silas for what he’d done had made her too eager to notice she was not at her full strength. But now, it had returned. Never again would she let her need for revenge—or desire to take back what was rightfully hers—blind her from obstacles that could stop her.
The force that now flowed through her veins grew hotter, burning her with a strength she had not felt in eons. The unrelenting power took her breath away, leaving her gasping for air in the aftermath of the euphoria.
Yeva let the light in her hands fade, a slow grin forming on her face. This was the perfect location—one rumored to be nothing more than a legend. Now, it was clear why Silas had brought her here. His sentimentality over their shared past fueled his desire for her. He couldn’t stand the thought of keeping her weak for long, no matter what he said.
And those pathetic emotions would be his undoing.
Yeva crawled along the hard stone floor feeling, searching for the spot she knew was there—the narrow area where the realms met.
This small space was the origin of all powers—where the power of the Underworld, Life, and Death flowed into their respective realms. She scoffed, the beyond. There was life and death. It was a myth, as far as she was concerned, created from the effects of her and Silas’s powers mixing.
They had spent many hours in each others arms, but it was always over too soon. Once they had longed to be together for all eternity without consequence. But being creatures of pure power, they were confined to their own realms, never allowed to spend much time in any other. They would meet in the mortal realm to be together, but their time was limited to mere days. And after a while, their powers would begin to drain, weakening them, until they were forced apart once more.
Together in their youth, she had joined him in his search for this place, but they had never found it. Eventually giving up and banishing it as nothing more than just a theory they had created. It was a myth that proved to be impossible. Realms did not connect in the way they wished they could, in a way that would allow them to stay together… That had been the conclusion they’d reached together with much sadness.
Yet, had that been true, why had Silas continued to search for it? How long had he known of its location? Had he found it before The Dissension, and kept it from her? The questions arched through her mind, boiling her blood as ice settled in her stomach at the thought of him betraying her then. Had he ever truly loved her at all? Or had everything been a ploy to trap her in a prison so he could rule alone?
The longer Silas kept her locked up and under his power, the more time she had to relive the memories of their time together. Emotions flooded her, pushing against the walls she had built up to keep them out until they overflowed. They pulled at her and threatened to erode away her rapidly crumbling defenses until she had nothing left but a desire to become what they had been—and to do the impossible.
But they could never go back. She wouldn’t allow herself to be so weak again.
She swallowed her feelings and pushed them away, forcing them down below the surface until they were once again locked behind a wall of ice. The feeling continued to grow behind that barrier, nagging at her, taunting her, reminding her.
Yeva welcomed the only emotion that would help her—anger. She used it to push herself to continue the search, moving around the room feeling for the power she knew was there. The longer she searched, scanning every inch of the room, the stronger it got. Reaching under the bed, Yeva closed her eyes as the power flowed through her fingertips and up through her arm. Fire and ice mixed as it coursed through her, swirling around, inside and out.
“He found it. I cannot believe he found it,” she said in awe.
Laying on her belly, she slid her torso further under the bed feeling around until she hit the exact point where all four realms met. She felt around until her fingers found the realm of Life. Her realm. It had been so long since she’d been home. It was nothing more than a city ten miles in diameter, but if she could go home again… time would belong to her.
She paused. There was something there. The power of Death lingered near the source of Life, but a third power existed. It was not the beyond they had assumed… but a place far more impossible. The Underworld.
Now was not the time to become distracted. She had a lot of work to do, and was eager to get started. Yeva placed both hands in front of her and gathered her power, sending it back into the heart of the spot. Stone chipped away, devolving into nothingness. Sweat dripped down her forehead, and her breathing quickly became labored.
It is working!
Yeva let go, panting from the effort. It would be slow work, but her strength had been growing with each passing day. A grin formed across her full, red lips at the joy of what this meant.
The telltale sign of stone scraping against stone met her ears causing her heart to beat wildly against her chest. Scrambling out from under the bed, Yeva curled her knees under her and dusted herself off as she concentrated on slowing her erratic breathing.
Silas stepped through, his cloak billowing around his ankles as his dark form filled the doorway. With the grace that never left him, he lowered his hood and walked toward her. The door scraped closed behind him.
“How are you doing today?” he asked, the deep timbre of his voice warmed her from her core, radiating throughout.
“Yes,” she started, quickly realizing her mistake when seeing the quizzical look on his face and correcting herself. “I am still very weak, my strength is not returning as fast as it should.” She adverted her eyes hoping he would not see the lie in them.
“That is to be expected. You suffered extensive injuries, and I believe you were not as strong as you thought…” He paused, kneeling down before her before adding, “You were not as strong as I thought.”
He ran his hand over her hair, resting it on the back of her neck. A shiver ran down her spine at the familiar gesture. Every word, every touch… they were al
ways sending conflicting emotions and feeling through her, always to cumulate to one singular emotion.
Yeva lifted herself from the floor, allowing him to assist her.
“You are flushed. Are you feeling unwell today?”
“I fear something is wrong. I should not heal this slowly,” she pressed, her attempt to glean what she could from him and distract him from the lingering effects of her efforts.
“Forgive me. I should have been more careful with you.” He stroked her cheek with his knuckle.
“Silas?” Yeva asked, her eyes large and pleading. “I’m so lonely, please give me something.” Her hands grasped at his.
“I will give you anything in my power,” he promised. The way he looked at her was the same as he used to when their relationship was less complicated. Before she realized what he really wanted, and before he decided to use her to get it.
“I just want something of you to keep me company when you are not here.”
Silas slipped his hand out of her grasp and reached into his cloak. He held his closed fist out to her. Slowly, he unfurled his fingers, exposing a white and green stone on a silver chain. The long facets of the crystal glowed, sparkling with a light generated from within and throwing rainbow prisms between them.
Her breath caught, recognizing the stone. “It’s… beautiful.” Her fingers wrapped around the pendant and she clutched it to her heart. “Thank you.”
It was reminiscent of the trinkets and flowers he gave her long ago. The pendant came from her realm, proving beyond a doubt that she had not imagined her findings. The power within it was weak and it would not restore her. Silas had picked it for that very reason. What he failed to notice was that it wasn’t useless, but blocked.
The corner of her mouth twitched. He was doing it again. Ripping apart her defenses and tearing at her resolve. She inhaled a shaky breath, reminding herself that what her heart wanted was impossible. The memories she had indulged in as of late would be her ruin if she did not take more care.
Silas lowered his face even with hers. It was only in moments such as this when she was reminded of how he naturally towered over her, a quality she’d once enjoyed. “There is no need to thank me, my love. I only wish I could do more.” His gaze dropped.
“You can…” she whispered, daring to hope that his defenses were weaker than her own. “Please, Silas—”
His gaze snapped up to meet hers. “No,” he spoke firmly, all traces of love vanished in that one word. “And do not ask again. You know I would do anything for you, but I cannot give you that. Your power must be contained, for now.” He cupped her cheeks with both hands, softening in the next moment.
Yeva dropped her eyes. A single tear escaped and rolled down her cheek, but inwardly, she seethed. How dare he! Silas would pay for trapping her like a monster.
His thumb caressed her face, wiping away the tear. They stood together, inches apart for a long, silent moment. Abruptly, Silas stepped back and straightened so he looked down at her. “I am sorry, my love. Know that I wish nothing more than to free you and for things to be how they once were.”
He gave her one last wistful look before pulling his hood back over his head and turning to walk from the room.
Yeva wiped at her face, trying to erase the lingering sensation of his skin against hers and looked down at the crystal in her hand. She had the final piece to her plan. It would provide her with the extra boost that she needed to open the portal.
Setting her jaw, Yeva waited to be sure Silas was gone. The feeling of his opposing powers that crackled against hers faded as he moved away.
Once that feeling had vanished, she held the crystal in one palm, weaving her opposite hand through the air above it in a series of practiced movements. She managed to unlock the block his essence had placed on it at first contact.
Yeva slid down to the floor and lay on her belly. The stone was rough against her raw skin as she fit herself under the bed. Again, she focused her powers on creating a portal under her bed. It wouldn’t be long before she was out of this miserable prison once and for all.
Two could play at this game. The tables would turn and then Silas would be at her mercy. She vowed to hit him where it hurt and show him the pain he’d bestowed upon her all these years.
Yes, he would pay for everything he’d done to her.
Light glowed beneath her palm, swirling. Blues, whites, and grays formed a whirlpool of power. Yeva pressed herself forward, inching closer to it until it claimed her, pulling her into its gravity. She was jerked violently down into the rippling eddies of power and thrown out onto the other side in the blink of an eye.
Deep blue surrounded her like a thick, comforting blanket. A solidified dome of power protected the sanctuary—all that was left of the weakening remnants of her protection spell. When she had created this place, the barrier kept out all who were not of her lineage. It had weakened and hardened over time, becoming a strange glass like substance. It still held, but she would need to reinforce it.
A school of deep-sea fish swam above her head, throwing shadows at her feet as they floated between beams of light that filtered down through the water, casting a twilight over the ruins.
The once great city had fallen without her presence, sinking deep under the waters of an ocean whose name she no longer knew. Ancient pillars that once inspired the Greeks and Romans, paving the way to their architecture, stood crumbling before her. Stone steps led the way to the dais of her altar. She brushed her hands along stonewalls, clearing the dust to reveal the intricate carvings beneath her fingertips. From afar, they looked to be no more than tangled vines and leaves; up close, the history of creation from the very beginning to the time when man first stepped foot on earth, until the present day.
A gift from Gaia.
The carvings had a life of their own, growing and developing with each passing day, telling stories of the world, life, and death. There was nothing of her, or Silas, in the carvings. They were not of Gaia’s chosen realm.
What makes these mortals so special? Yeva was immortal—shouldn’t that be revered? Yet, it was always the weak that were given special attention. But she was their protector, their Guardian of Life.
A large shadow moved overhead and she lifted her chin, the sight of a large whale passing above greeting her.
Stepping away from the wall, Yeva lifted her arms out to her sides as she stepped into the wide-open center of the village square and called to her power. Blue, swirling lights rose from the ground, dancing on the air as they flowed toward her. They created a cocoon around her, making her surroundings hazy and blurred. She took a deep breath and tilted her head back, letting the power infuse itself within.
Yeva snapped her eyes open and reveled in the feeling of restoration. She swung her arms out in front of her, a blinding light forming above her palms. Slowly, she lifted her cupped hands, raising them above her head and aimed her power, pushing it into the dome above her head.
A wide beam of light shot up and hit the bubble protecting her underwater sanctuary. The dome glowed as her power renewed it.
Dropping her arms to her sides, Yeva bent at the waist, panting from the exertion. Though tired, she made the effort to examine her work. The protective bubble gleamed with renewed life, shimmering as though it lay exposed under the warmth of a summer sunset.
Yeva would restore her domain to its former glory, and once she was strong enough, she would exact her revenge on Silas. She wouldn’t rush it this time. And now that she had access to her realm, she would not have to wait long. Soon he would know exactly how she felt, trapped in her own body and powerless to do anything. Her fingers reached up and stroked the pendant around her neck. He must think her a fool if he thought that pretty trinkets and gifts would distract her from what he had done.
Her plan was falling into place better than she could have hoped. Victory was finally within her reach.
She narrowed her eyes and remembered the fight not too long ago. The loyalty of
her Hunters was at risk, thanks to Kain. He had once been her right-hand man. His sacrifice had been necessary at the time, and he’d been willing to give everything for her… for them all. There was no telling what had made him so loyal to that infuriating Reaper in this lifetime. He should have come back to her with his love and loyalty as strong as ever. The change of his alliance should have been impossible. What had Nivian done to him? Yeva regretted not destroying the little traitor when she’d had the chance.
Yeva had left her most trusted man on the outside, though he was not as powerful or as influential as Kain—even at his weakest, at least he was loyal to her. She could only hope that he was doing his job. If he failed, then he would pay the ultimate price. Once she had Silas under her control, she would put her plan into motion.
Sighing, Yeva turned her thoughts to her city. She moved to the edges of her city, a wall of earth ran along one side shooting up to the top of the water. “What happened here that would sink this land?”
Her heart went out to her Hunters. How lonely and weak they must have been all this time without a home to call their own, without her domain to keep them safe.
It was not a natural occurrence for one city alone to disappear so far below the waves. Approaching the land, she studied it. The break was clean, leaving very little variation, as if a giant had taken a sword to the earth and sliced it.
She focused on the wall and placed both hands flat upon the soil. The rocks and dirt beneath her fingertips sang to her. “The Isola Di Vita,” Yeva muttered. “The island!” A fit of hysterical laughter burst from her lips. She’d been so close but in her newly awoken state, she had been too weak to notice how near she’d been to her home!
Glancing skyward, Yeva noticed the sun had moved noticeably since she’d arrived. Weak rays of light filtered through the water, elongating the shadows of her once beautiful structures.
It was getting late, she must return to her cell before Silas discovered her missing. He would be bringing her another goblet of “healing” waters. Yeva rolled her eyes at the pathetic way he tried to care for her, while slowly killing her.