Page 21 of Heart Shaped Wreckage (standalone)

HEATH

Iwalked through the golden portal with Kevin, the only person in my entire life who would walk towards his death to save me.

He had grown so much in the last forty-eight hours, and my heart had expanded because of him.

Things I had never dreamed of had come true.

He had seen my true nature, and still he risked his life to save mine.

What is love? I had asked myself that question many times. I had never felt it, but as I looked at him, I understood what it meant, how it felt when it seeps into every fiber of one’s being.

Of course, we were on a rocky landscape – it was where our adventure began.

But this was not on Earth. This was somewhere in the in-between of realities and dimensions.

We were in the place that gave birth to everything we know.

I had never been here. It was only for the primordials and those whom they invited to see them – usually unlucky ones.

The heroes of yore who followed a prophecy through to an unhappy ending.

I would make sure that did not happen to Kevin, no matter what I had to do.

If anyone deserved to live a happy life, it was the man I had grown so quickly to love.

He would learn who he was, and I would have to make a choice.

It was there in the last line of the stanza.

I knew, somehow, that the final choice would be mine.

A robed figure stood before us on the precipice of time and space and pointed his bony finger at us.

Death came for all, but his presence here in this place was not unexpected. He was born as soon as the primordials created their pantheons. I know because it was with our birth that he sprang forth from the loins of chaos. He turned and beckoned us to follow him.

He led us through a maze of rocks and whirling universes as they tumbled in the black skies of the in-between. Kevin’s hand tightened in my own.

“What is this place? It’s so cold.” He looked up at me and frowned. “I don’t like it.”

“It’s unnatural for the living to ever see this place. It’s everywhere and nowhere. This is the world between worlds where creation sprang forth.”

“Is it in space? How can we breathe?”

“It is and it isn’t. It’s best not to think too much about it, honestly. We’re here, and this is the end of our journey.”

“Is it the… uh… end of us?” He looked away, and it broke my heart.

“I don’t know. I hope not. But if you get your memory back… I don’t know what life you left. You might want to go back.”

“I don’t think I’d want to leave you.”

“I don’t want you to,” I answered huskily.

“Then can we just turn around and leave?”

I spread out my wings as we walked. “Look at me, Kevin. I can no longer live in the world of men like this.”

“So, you have to leave?”

“No. I don’t think so. We will see.”

He teared up and scrunched up his cute face.

“I don’t think I want this to end. I know that’s crazy, but… With the stones, I can portal us wherever we need to go to keep you hidden.”

“I hid long enough, don’t you think. One day, I will tell you all about my past and how lonely I’ve always been. Until you came along, that is. You showed me a world I had never thought I could be a part of.”

“So, we have to go?”

“Sadly, yes. The quest isn’t over until the prophecy is fulfilled.”

“Who is that bony, robed guy?”

“Henry,” I lied. “He’s the butler for the Fates. Just don’t look him in his eye sockets.”

We continued on the path for what felt like hours, but what does time mean in a place like this? The river Duat curled under our structure and disappeared into the darkness. Kevin gripped my hand hard enough for me to feel his quiet strength.

“It looks like Henry is stopping,” Kevin gasped.

Death pointed his finger towards a door marked with ancient runes, and it opened as we stepped up to it. The stone grinded loudly as it moved.

Sitting on three thrones were the Fates themselves, covered in robes and hidden to the eyes of anyone who sought them.

Greek mythology had always gotten this wrong.

They were born from creation itself and had no names.

The Fates were exactly what they were – a link to every living thing, from the beginning of life to the harbingers of death.

They knew all, and it was their duty to always watch.

“I smell man,” one of them croaked. “How long has it been since we had a man in here?”

“A member of Jehovah’s army of pigeons.” The second pointed her thin, bony finger at me. “Never have one of you been allowed to come see us.”

“But we know what they want and why they are here. Poor things. Poor things.” The third wheezed.

“Yes… The quest. That’s what this is. We’ve been watching.”

“Have we? I don’t remember a quest.”

“The prophecy of Magdala, remember?”

“Oh, yes. I remember. The soul quest, isn’t that what we were calling it?”

“Poor thing. Her memory isn’t what it normally is. She’s had a very long millennium. So many humans, so many lives and strings to cut.”

“Lives to birth.”

“Lives to die.”

“Such is the way of fate.”

“Why have you sought an audience with us?” The first fate hissed.

“Uh,” Kevin cleared his throat and tried to sound strong. “It’s in the prophecy.”

“Is it?”

“It is sister.”

“Oh, well then, go on.”

“A last gasp and the choice is made – fate is done, and it’s too late. A choice to make for a lost mate,” I replied.

“What does fate have to do with us?”

“We are fate sister.”

“Oh, well then, go on. I am tired and need to nap.”

“She’s been cranky. One day here is an eternity that never ends.”

“That is eternity, sister.”

“Oh, yes.”

“Fine. So here you are, and how far you have come on your journey. Why do you seek us? What do you wish?”

I stepped forward. “Kevin has forgotten who he was. I came here to help him find himself again, and for his memories to be returned. He has shown true heroism and bravery.”

“He has shown love,” the first one croaked.

“Yes. He has taught me what the word even means.” I stood up tall, and my wings twitched behind me.

“That is what he needs. What about you, Magnus of the Heavenly Horde? You already have your godly essence back, and your connection to your father flows through you once again.”

“I don’t know what it is I seek. I am still trying to come to terms with who I have become, again,” I answered honestly. Part of me wanted to soar through the skies, but then I looked at Kevin, and I knew I could never bear to leave. I was his as long as he would have me.

“But you are not as you once were, are you? Your past still lives within you like a disease. The beast is asleep – the demon you were still resides inside, even if your form and place have been restored. No angel has ever been like you before. A half-breed among half-breeds. A demon who wears the guise of a human, but with a compassion we have rarely seen. Part human, part shifter, part demon and angel. You truly are a spectacular work of creation, child.” Rarely have I ever been called a child. My wings twitched again.

“Then what am I?” I choked back my emotions.

“That is not the question, is it? Who are you?”

“I feel like Heath – the person I chose. But I also feel like my old self. I am Magnus, but I am not of the angelic legion. I choose not to join my brethren and stay on Earth.”

“Oh, to give is to receive.” She cackled.

“Fate has decreed that for Kevin to receive his memories, Magnus must die. For you to live as you were, Kevin cannot remember who he was. A choice to make, remember? Only one of you can have what it is you wish. The other… well, we will see what choice you make.”

Kevin squeezed my hand. “I choose to stay as I am. Flashes of who I was have been coming to me. I remember something that I’m ashamed to even say.

I am the way I am because it was my fault.

I remember putting together a potion or something, and it went bad.

I can’t remember the details, but I know that to be true. ”

“What does that matter? You want to know who you are. It’s the whole reason we’re here.” I pulled him close.

“No. You are the reason that I’m here.” He looked up with me, and tears clung to his long red lashes.

“I choose you, Heath. You are all I need. But to know that we had this and you had to leave… I couldn’t handle that.

I don’t want that. I just want you. I am happy with you by my side, if you’ll have me. ”

“Is that your choice? For Magnus to return as he was?” The first fate spoke loudly.

“A demon wearing the skin suit of a man? That’s your choice?” The second laughed.

“Humans always surprise me when I least expect it.”

“Yes. Does it matter who I was when I know I’m happy as I am?” Kevin replied.

“Are you sure? There’s nothing more that I want than to be with you. I love you, too, Kevin.” Saying the words made my blood pump faster.

“It’s the only choice I would ever make.” He nodded.

A snip of scissors made us both jump. “Oh, was I too quick? I thought it was decided.”

“It was,” Kevin grinned.

My wings started molting, and I bent over in pain as my wings dissolved, and the holy essence drained from my body.

I fell to my knees. It was not a pleasant experience, but neither had been growing them.

This didn’t hurt nearly as much. But it did leave me feeling bereft for what I could have been.

But I was sure of the choice. I had never known or understood what actual love was in all of my existence.

I had found it, and I was happy to never let it go.

“Are you ok?” Kevin bent down and took my face between his hands.

“Yes, I can feel the beast still inside me. I am as I was.” I smiled.

“Such a strange choice. The claws are wonderful, but the wings allow you to soar into the heavens themselves and between all worlds. Eternal yet always seeking a body for sustenance like a leech.” One of the fates shook her head underneath her robe. It was weird.

“Sister, it is his way.”

“I’m just telling the truth. The fallen who stayed on Earth have faded into ghosts of what they once were. He was strong again.”

“What else can I give you for Kevin to get himself back?” I slowly stood up.

“Ah! Yes, I thought you might ask that. What would you give, Magnus, wearing the body of Heath?” One of them pointed their bony finger.

“I would become mortal and live my life as I am. When it is Heath’s turn to die, I will go into the afterlife and join my mate there if he would have me.”

“You would give up immortality.” She cackled.

“Heath, no. You can’t do that.” Kevin stamped his foot. “I won’t allow it.”

“It’s not yours to deny. I am tired of living a half-life. I would rather have a full life with you than an eternity without you. I would watch you grow old and die, and I would always be left behind. I choose this, Kevin.”

“Sisters? Do you accept the bargain?”

“A choice to make for a lost mate. It was the end of the verse. Seriously, you don’t remember any of the prophecy, do you?” she sounded annoyed.

“There are so many. Who can keep up?” She coughed loudly.

“Are you sure?” Kevin looked up at me. He was weeping. “I feel like I am killing you to know who I was. I don’t need that, Heath. I only need you.”

“Don’t you see? I only need you, too. But I want you to know everything about yourself.”

“What if I don’t like what I discover? What if you don’t?”

“It was still worth it to me. Besides, I would love you even if you were a serial killer.”

“If you’re sure. I will never leave you, no matter what.”

“I offer my immortality, sisters of fate.” I made sure to make it a final declaration.

The snip of the scissors made me flinch.

I waited for something to change, but I felt no different.

“Did you do it?”

“It is done. Your essence was weak. You are now and forever only a mortal. You will one day die and go into your eternal resting place,” she wheezed.

“You really are supposed to wait for me to agree before you use those damn scissors,” she slapped her throne.

“Now go. Your future awaits you, and when you exit this realm, the mortals… er… the other mortals’ memories will be restored.

Kevin held the stones aloft and grinned.

“To our future.”

I took his hand and we stepped into the portal.

I will admit, I was scared that when he knew who he was, everything would change.

This was the last gasp. All I could do was hope. I hadn’t felt hopeful in a very long time.

But I was learning.