DYING SUN

CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE

The darkness was all-consuming.

There was no direction; no up or down, no left or right, just inky blackness surrounding me in a sea of shadows; and as I walked, I realized that I wasn't afraid. Not of the dark, or of the things that resided in it. Not anymore.

The monsters didn't try to reach out for me like they usually did, but stood at the sidelines, watching as I strode through the dark, knowing exactly where to go even though I couldn't see my own feet ahead of me. I reached out with steady hands, turning a knob I formed in my mind, and opened a door.

Achar sat at the head of a small table, moving a chess piece along the board. He paid me no mind as I approached, or as I pulled the seat before him and sat, but shifted his white knight and waited for me to make my move.

I studied the board before I played, taking note of all the vulnerable pieces. He had two of my pieces captured; a pawn and my knight. My king was in check and my queen was close to being captured, but I had captured his queen and most of his pawns. Knowing Achar and his love of mind games, I could only assume that the pieces off the board were the persons who died; I had his queen, Lilauae, and almost all of his pawns, her Djuen, while he had my Knight and a pawn, Aunt-Drea and Rae. However, my king was still in the game; my mother was alive.

I ate another of his pawns. "This isn't a dream, is it?"

"No, it is not; I just poked into your subconscious for a bit." Achar sat back. "Do you know that you are practically dead? Your body is at war with itself, fighting for control over your power and vice versa. Here I am in your mind and I feel it failing you; and to think your death could have been avoided if you had just come with me. I would have taught you how to feed off of your power instead of the other way around, but you wanted to be stubborn."

"We've already established all of that." I said, matching his posture. "Where is my mother Achar?"

His eyes flickered to the chess board, then to me, a grin breaking out on his face. " It's good to see that you still have a little intelligence. I was really beginning to doubt it when you refused my offer. She's with me."

"That's not–"

"Possible?" He finished, beaming wildly. "Oh, but it is. Do you honestly think that I would not have a plan in place in case things didn't go how I wanted? You insult my very being, Solaure!"

His smile dropped. "Lilauae knew that you were closing in on her location so we risked a few setbacks to get Alessia out. The portal wasn't big enough to get both me and my army to Alterra, but it was able to bring one woman to Ilairk. It still took tremendous energy though."

"The blackout," I murmured, realization hitting me with a brutal force.

"Yes." His grin returned. "So Alessia is with me. I just wanted you to know that before you died; I wouldn't want you resting in peace."

A series of coughs pounded through my chest and I wasn't surprised to see blood splattered on my hands when the coughing seized.

My eyes fluttered open and an unfamiliar sky stared down at me through glass ceilings and its second sun told me that I was no longer on Earth. Sairen stood by the large window, silhouetted by the bright light, his tall frame obscuring most of the view from my position on the bed.

''Sai?'' I choked on his name, tasting mercury on my tongue when I swallowed, and my fingers came away silver when I wiped my lips.

''Hey,'' He helped me up so that I was sitting and propped up by pillows . ''You were out so long that I started to get worried.''

''How long?''

''A week,'' He frowned as he wiped the wet strands that were stuck to my forehead. The room was cold but my clothes were plastered to my skin with sweat. "You're burning up again... You've been running high fevers in and out since you passed out.''

It took a lot of my strength to take his hand in mine. ''Mom is...''

He nodded and squeezed my hand gently. "We know. We pieced it together when the entire city went black and we found you unconscious by Lilauae's corpse. I'm sorry."

I inhaled unsteadily; it hurt so much to breath. "I could've prevented all this..."

"Sol, there was no way you could have."

"No, I could. Achar told me that if I came with him, he would have spared you all; and for a moment I said screw the world... then I changed my mind. They would've still be alive if I chose differently."

"I don't think any of them would have wanted you risking entire worlds for them Sol." He reassured. "No matter how hard, no matter the consequences, you chose right. Don't let the outcome cloud the fact that you chose right. There would not be a world right now if you chose differently."

I sank my head back into the pillow and closed my eyes for a few seconds, letting his words sink in, allowing them to comfort me a little. "Are we in Eçalis?''

He nodded. ''We are. I'll let everyone know that you're finally up.''

''Not yet... I want to be alone with you for a while longer.'' I heard the crash of waves and focused out the window but I only saw the clouds. ''Is that the sea? Where...exactly are we?"

"Home; I told you that I would bring you here when everything passed."

"You did," I sat up straighter, pausing for a few seconds as a sharp pain pierced my skull, then exhaling softly. "Can we go see it? The sea, I mean."

"Are you sure?" He felt my forehead again and shook his head. "I don't think that's a good idea princess, you're still burning up."

"Please? " I looked at him with the same big eyes he said he couldn't say no to before. Only now they were no longer brown, I think; they had stayed that startling violet since the day of the eclipse. "What color are my eyes?"

His brows pulled downward at my sudden question before he took my face in his hand. "Still violet." I turned my head away but he held on to my chin, turning me to him. "Still beautiful."

He pulled me up with ease, steadying me when I swayed on my feet. His face told me that he wanted me here, resting, but he knew as well as I did that it may as well be my last chance to see an Eçalian sea. I gave him a soft kiss as a thank you and pulled the coat he rested around my shoulder tighter as the shadows swallowed us.

Otherworldly. The word fitted with the scenery perfectly and I took it all in in awed silence. The water was the clearest blue– even with the black sand– glittering like diamonds under the twin suns that lit the sand as well, making the fine particles twinkle in pink, golds, and blue. I looked back towards the daunting cliff, atop which laid a magnificent castle that stared out over the sea. A white staircase trailed down the cliffside and onto the beach, and if I was well enough, I would have loved taking the trek down.

I buried my feet in the sand, wiggling my toes, and I laughed. "Enaidium sand! I've always wanted to see it. It's softer than I thought it would be; it's like powder!"

Flying figures in the distance caught my attention, swarming around a colossal peak beyond the sea. "Are those?"

"Forge dragons, and that's mount Seeres."

I looked up at him, amazement no doubt etched into my face. "Do you see the Furnace Fires from here?"

"All the time, but they're seen better at night." He crouched down in front of me, "Climb on, we can see Seeres better at the bend."

He hoisted me up and I wrapped my arms around his neck. We walked along the shore for a while, me taking in the foreign beauty, and Sai allowing me to. I pondered hardly on whether or not to tell him that mom could still be alive, and after minutes of debating with myself, I came to the decision that if I were to die today, someone needed to know in order to find her.

"Sai?"

"Yeah?"

" I have something I have to tell you."

"I'm listening,"

"Mom... could be alive."

He stopped in his tracks and placed me down gently. " What do you mean?"

I sighed and began, recalling the images from earlier. "While I was asleep Achar said that she was with him, but I don't know if to take his word for what it is or take it as a ploy to phase me."

"He's never lied before,"

"And that's what scares me."

"Wait," Sairen said, raking his hand through his hair. " how is she with him?"

"On the day of the blackout they opened a portal just big enough for her to slip through to Ilairk." I took his hand and laced mine through his, brushing my fingers along his palm. "Don't tell anyone as yet though, I don't want to give them false hope."

Sairen nodded slowly when he understood what I was telling him and brushed a soft kiss on my forehead. "I won't. I'll find her. I promise."

"Thank you."

Sairen's phone rang, and he made no move to take the call but I urged him on as it could be important. "Vai?"

I looked out to the see as he greeted the person on the phone, his Eçalian accent seemingly thicker in his birthplace. I watched the forge dragons in the distance, their golden scales glittering in the suns as they oversaw the flames that melted the mined Enaidium from the mountains surrounding Seeres.

"We're down by the beach," Sai told the person on the phone and I turned, hearing the smile in his voice. "Yes, Sol's here too. Okay, okay, head up to my room. I'll see you in a few minutes princess ."

"Princess?" I asked when he pocketed the phone, taking in the soft smile on his face.

"That was Addie."

"She's here?" I didn't think I'd get the chance to meet Sairen's little person before I... left.

"She snuck out." A smirk pulled at the corner of Sairen's lip and he crept closer to me, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me close. "Was that jealousy Solaure?"

I shrugged and hid my burning cheeks in his chest. "I was just making sure you haven't replaced me already."

"Never." His lips came to my ear, brushing the skin as he spoke. "You're irreplaceable."

A little scream of excitement pierced my ears as we entered the bedroom and a blur of strawberry blonde curls rushed pass me before tackling Sairen in a vice grip. "Siya!"

He picked her up and swung her around, and she smiled down at him with a grin that was missing a tooth . "Did you have fun at the fair with Jules?"

Adelaide nodded, her ringlets bouncing in her yellow ribbons. "We got fairy floss!"

Sairen gasped, amusement on his face as he looked down at the little girl with adoration. "Did you save any for me?"

She shook her head and scrunched up her button nose. " Mea espisci; I ate it all."

"You don't look too sorry," he teased, poking her ribs, and her giggles warmed my chest. "Where's Jules now? I doubt she'd appreciate you sneaking out."

"I know, but she's taking a nap and I wanted to see you. I even left her a note,"

"We'll talk about you sneaking off after; you know it's not safe." Sairen sighed and tousled her hair. "Aren't you going to say hello to Sol? You've been asking about her since she came."

Bright blue eyes, the same color as the other Arçenaults, glanced at me, and her round face grew red as she took me in before she buried her face into Sairen's shoulder.

"Don't be shy, Addie. Say hello." Sairen placed her on her feet and she took a few steps forward.

She joined her thumb and her ring fingers and rotated them away from herself. "Adelaide Arçenault-Eviani" She smiled shyly, revealing her missing bottom tooth. "You're pretty."

My heart warmed. I didn't feel pretty with my white hair and purple eyes; I didn't feel like me. But she looked up at me, her lips slightly parted and a blush on her cheeks and I felt like the old Sol again. I repeated the greeting, albeit a bit unsteadily, and smiled back at her. "Solaure Kaltain. You're gorgeous."

She blushed and ran back to Sairen, clutching onto his legs.

I stepped back and took a seat at the edge of the bed, feeling a strong wave of nausea coming on. "Where... are the others?"

"Mount Ourieis, at the temple..." Sairen took notice instantly, coming to my side. He pressed a hand to my forehead and cursed softly under his breath. "Addie, darling? Why don't you go play in your room for a bit? Sol isn't too well at the moment so I'm going to take care of her, okay?"

Adelaide was looking at us with wide eyes and I could only imagine how the scene looked through the eyes of a young child. I wiped the blood that started to drip from my nose before she saw and gave her a reassuring smile.

"Okay," She nodded, intelligent eyes drifting between us. "When will you feel better? I'd like to show you my room and my stuffed toys. Siya got me most of them."

"Soon," It wasn't a lie; I'd feel nothing in death. "I'll... feel better soon, Addie."

"When my mommy's really sick I put on shows for her sometimes; would you like one? I'm really good."

"I would love one maybe later," I said with a soft smile. " but here..." I reached behind me to where Mr. Bearingtonn was sitting and held the bear in my arms for a few seconds before holding it out for Adelaide. Her eyes sparkled as she took in the little toy.

"This is Mr. William Elijah Bearingtonn and he's a Dove." I took a few deep breaths, willing strength into my body until she left the room. "He's my favorite thing in the entire world but he could use some more company while I get better. Can you do that?"

"I can," she whispered, her little arms politely at her sides, waiting.

I placed Mr. Bearingtonn to her chest and her arms engulfed him, a smile very similar to the one I had when I first got him on her face. " I'll take very good care of him. I'm very responsible."

"I know you are."

"Addie?" Sai urged, and she took a hesitant step forward before giving me a hug and walking out of the room.

I let my body fall to the bed, and Sairen rearranged me so that I wasn't sprawled carelessly. I grabbed his hand before he walked away and he looked down at me with dark eyes. "No medicine," I said, feeling the fever on my breath. "Just stay."

I saw the war with himself as he debated on whether or not to listen to me, whether to bring me medicine that just subdued the pain and the fever and the chills for a while longer, or whether to just let me wait it out — whatever the outcome would be.

"No more." I stressed again when he still hadn't sat down. "Please."

Sairen was breathing heavily when he settled in beside me, pulling me as tightly against him as he could have without it being painful. "You should get some more rest, okay? I'll show you around the estate in the morning, and once you're recovered we can ride the horses. "

A soft gasp left my lips. " You have horses? I love horses... "

" I know," he whispered. " I even have a unicorn. "

I rolled my eyes. " They're extinct. "

" Endangered, yes, but not extinct. Not in Eçalis ." Sairen said, playing with my fingers. "I found him as a foal out in the woods a couple months ago and nursed him back to health. Addie doesn't know as yet; it's a surprise, so you rest up, okay? Tomorrow I'll take you to see him and we can surprise her together."

"Sounds fun—" I inhaled sharply, taking a few moments before continuing. "She's a wonderful little girl; she's lucky to have you."

"I'm lucky to have her." He brushed my face, taking in my features. "Why did you give Mr. Bearingtonn away? You love that guy."

"I do," I sighed, feeling the tears well up. "and that's why I gave him to her; he deserves someone to love him as much as I did."

I wouldn't want something so important to me to be forgotten overtime in some box in the attic. Adelaide will grow up, and she will grow out of him, but the memories she'd make with him would make him special to her, and he'd never be forgotten. "Besides, I have you."

"Yes you do," he ran his thumb across the scar on my palm, and my chest swelled with unshed tears. We'd found each other when we were children by fate or by luck, and the same entity brought us together when we were adults. Now I was leaving again. I was always the one to leave.

Sairen's warm fingers brushed the nape of my neck and I felt my chain unclasp. I felt the now bare spot on my chest, still cool from the metal. "What are you you doing? "

"Keeping my promise." He wrapped the chord around our hands and I shook my head as it dawned on me what he was doing.

"No. You'll lose piece of your soul when I'm gone. "

"I'm loosing my Sol either way. "

Sairen took his knife and sliced his palm that wasn't bound, reopening the scar of our promise. A sob broke free from my chest and I held my hand out for him, watching as silver welled up as his blade kissed my skin. He took my hand in his, holding tightly.

"We call upon the Goddess Asirzye to witness our union." He looked up at the heavens with such determination that I was sure every Great heard him.

The chain glowed around our wrist and I welcomed the warmth on my freezing skin. "She's here,"

"She's here." He repeated.

Sairen's fingers tightened around mine and he brushed a lingering kiss on my lips. "I, Sairen Vernon Arçenault, give you, Solaure Kellan-Jade Kaltain, the piece of me that I have been keeping for you. Take it back, for it is rightfully, and truly yours, and let us be one. " The chord grew brighter then, illuminating a small halo around our hands. " As you take my blood, take my soul. Take it as you have taken my breath, and my heart, and my every thought since you came into my life. Take this promise that no matter where, when, and in whatever form we take as our bodies turn to dust, and our souls back to string, I will find you again and I will love you then as I love you now."

Tears streamed down my face as he finished his vows, and I took a deep, painful breath and began my own. "I, Solaure Kellan-Jade Kaltain, give you, Sairen Vernon Arçenault, the piece of me that I have been keeping for you. Take it back, for it is rightfully, and truly yours, and let us be one. I have nothing much to offer other than my failing heart and what little time I have left, but let the Goddess bear witness as my words hold truth; that in the time we spent and in what few moments we have left, I have loved you as much as I could have with countless lifetimes, and I will continue to love you. Even as my body dies and my soul and animhi seperate, as I turn to dust and disintegrate, wherever my deeds take me–be it Ourie or Aldhem, I will continue to love you. "

Sairen's eyes were shining with unshed tears and an intensity I had never seen in them before as he murmured the last words of our vows. "Blood to blood,"

"Blood to blood," I repeated.

"Mind and soul,"

"Mind and soul,"

"With your piece, I am now whole."

"With your piece, I am now whole..." A heavy wave of sadness pierced my chest as I uttered the last line, and I looked up at my newly acquired husband, his eyes wet, and I felt his sorrow as he no doubt felt mine.

His lips met with mine, tender and fierce at the same time; a promise and a goodbye. Blood streaked his cheek as I cupped his face, bringing him closer, and I kissed him to make up for all the times I wouldn't get to. I brushed my finger against his lips, wondering how our life turned out this way; so completely and utterly twisted.

Sairen pulled the ring from the chain and slipped it onto my finger, and I was surprised at just how much of a perfect fit it was. His thumb toyed with the band and his other hand wrote letters on my skin, soothing my racing heart somewhat.

"Kali is going to be pissed;" I choked out. "She wanted to be the maid of honor this time."

"What did Matt say... about being replaced? "

"He doesn't know. " I whimpered as pain squeezed my heart, stealing the breath from my lungs. "I'm scared..."

"It's okay. I'm scared too. " His hands were shaking as he stroked my hair and my cold hands clung to his again. "I'm scared too."

"Sai?"

"Yes, princess?"

"I'm really tired."

I felt him inhale sharply against my chest, and he squeezed my hand gently. "It's alright, Sol. You can rest."

I nodded slowly, feeling my eyelids grow heavy. "I love you, Sairen. Always have."

"I love you too. Always will. "

He left a feather like kiss on my forehead, "Sweet dreams, Sol."

I felt my lips tug up in a small smile– then I felt nothing at all.

I had died over four thousand times in my lifetime; almost every night for twelve years my dreams ended in a death that felt so real that when I woke up I stared silently at my walls, waiting for my heartbeat to steady. But death didn't feel like how it felt all those times– that paralyzing fear as I felt my breath leave my lungs for the last time, as demons and monsters clawed and devoured me, as I drowned in blood and mud and vines– no, when I died I felt peace.

I felt light, so amazingly light that I knew my soul was no longer attached to my body, yet I was scared to open my eyes. I didn't think death scared anyone as much as the thought of after. What happens next? Where will I go? What happens now? Ourie or Aldhem? Heaven or hell? Reincarnation or no?

I was at the edge of answering all those questions, all I had to do was open my eyes. 'It's not that hard,' I told myself, 'just open your eyes.'

I gasped loudly as I took it all in. Colossal statues of men and women bordered the circular platform I stood on, holding up the ceiling– if there even was one; I couldn't tell with the bright light shining down on me. The statues encaged me with the towering twin Enaidium thrones that stood atop the dais, and my mouth dried up as I looked up at the giant fates that sat regally on their respective thrones. The giants looked down at me, their beautiful faces both impassive yet kind, their silver eyes taking me in.

Eirha and Uorem, the twin fates that sat in the hall of Asara; the Greats that would be evaluating my life.

I felt my chest squeeze as they lifted their hands, and suddenly I was made aware of the walkways on either side of their thrones, leading to doors at the feet of a statue. One would lead me to Ourie, the other bounding me to Aldhem, and I inhaled as their large hands raised, pointing me to my fate, and I prepared for the worst. But instead of left or right, they pointed forward– behind me.

I turned, walking slowly towards the door, my heart beating erratically in my chest. The door opened as I approached and I took a deep breath as I stepped through.

I was in a room without walls. Tall pillars the color of golden sand held up the high ceiling at intervals, intricate carvings etched into them in gold. Cool air came in through the open space and I took a step further towards the middle of the room when I saw just how high up I was; Luscious green mountains surrounded the building from what I saw, a glittering lake miles below.

"Breathtaking , isn't it?"

The person spoke in Eçalian, their soft voice coming from behind me, and I spun around and saw that I wasn't alone. The stunning woman sat on a luxurious white day bed, weaving golden thread into a sort of ball. Her skin was the color of Enaidium, shining softly in the natural light, delicate silver designs cording along her skin; half of her hair was pinned up beautifully with jewels, the other half cascading down her back in silver waves, swaying in the breeze. She looked up at me with eyes the same color of her hair and the markings on her skin, a soft smile on her lips. "I come here often when I want serenity."

I knelt, crossing my palms over my chest and bowing my head. " My Goddess."

Her eyes twinkled as she watched me, "My child, stand up."

I did as she said, watching as the threads formed a lion cub. "I see Eirha and Uorem frightened you."

"They did, my lady." I admitted.

"Why?"

" I didn't know my fate,"

"Well as you can see, you had no reason to worry about Aldhem," she said as she weaved the little lion cub to a baby made of golden thread by their foreheads. The chords knotted together and glowed. "But I wanted to speak to you before you go on your way."

I nodded, particularly confused, and Asirzye laid her tools down, "I have created you, and watched you grow since you were just a little seed in your mother's stomach. You have walked along the borders of Ourie your entire life, and now you are finally here. You have been in pain for most of your life but now that you have finally found peace, do you wish to go back?"

I think my heart stopped— though I wasn't sure if it was really still beating. "W-what?"

"I have not revealed your Mark to you as yet because of this very moment. I want it to be your choice and not just your fate. I am giving you the chance to stay here in Ourie, in peace, and forget about the animhi I have given you. "

"But... why?"

"Because I pity you both— You and the one who is laying by your side as we speak. Fate has dealt you both cruel hands."

"I thought you were the one who assigns our fates,"

"Many do, but I am but one piece in the order of things. I create you, yes, assign your animhi, but Fate decides your fate. It is not a Great, or a god; It is an entity far greater– older– than us all."

She pulled out a small glowing orb from a woven basket beside her and held it for me to see." I create new souls and Fate gives me these, these are your destiny."

I watched in awe as she took the orb and tucked it into the point where the woven baby and tiger were joined. The orb brightened significantly and the two merged, becoming one before dispersing into a cloud of light.

" You were not supposed to be born, Solaure Kaltain , it is an impossibility; Dècaltian blood cannot mix; Sairen Arçenault was not to be born either; I was about to discard his soul when Fate placed his orb in my hand. Yet here you both are, as Fate wanted. I have sat back and watched your life unfold Solaure, but I think it is you that needs to decide now. Not I, not Fate."

I didn't have to think about it. "I want to go back."

"Even if it brings more hardships?"

"Especially because; I can't let them face it alone."

"Very well," The Goddess smiled. " You are brave, Solaure Kaltain; a good soul. I am pleased Fate decided to give you a chance. We shan't meet again for a long, long time."

"Wait," Asirzye looked at me, a delicate eyebrow raised. "Before I go, can you please tell me the status of my aunt and my friend? I would like to know if they made it to their Greats."

The Goddess' eyes glazed over for a second and I wondered if she had heard me, but when they cleared she nodded. "Their Greats have accepted them and they have found haven. They are well."

I sighed in relief, relieving some of the tension that had been stuck in my chest.

"Go ahead," the Goddess said. "Ask."

" And my mother? " Achar said that he was with her, but he couldn't be trusted.

"Her animhi has not yet been severed from her body and soul. She is still alive."

I exhaled shakily. I didn't know if I was more scared or grateful; She was alive...but she was with him. "Thank you."

"I have faith that you will end the one who is disturbing the order of things. Toying with life and death—with souls—,never ends well for the fools that do so. Live well, Solaure Kaltain, your body will no longer be at war with itself; you were sick constantly for a piece of your soul was missing and it made you unstable with the additional power you were given. For that I apologize, but your body and your souls are one now." She gave me a last smile, then there was pain and the feeling of being bathed in fire.

It crawled up my skin, igniting me from the inside out. Ourie and the Goddess disappeared, swallowed by a wall of white flames that rushed out of me, hungry— But instead of feeding from me like before, it fed me, strengthened me, breathed life into my lungs, and when the fire went, so did the light until all that was left were ash and shadows.

I was buried in the embers, but I emerged, born of the fire.

And I rose. A phoenix from her ashes.