Page 74 of Shadows Ascend (Remnant Archives #2)
I don't know how long I died nor the number of times I was brought back to life.
Over and over again, I was snuffed out, then reborn.
The full circle of the travesty I had wrought during Morta, my well known legacy, was now coming to a head, and I told myself this was what I had deserved—but I did not fail to notice, that deep within the darkest recesses of each death was a gentle tenderness in which the shadows joined me, as if to say they did not fully blame me for their end.
By the time I gasped back to life with the last lilin, I was a shivering, weak, mess floating in a shallow pool of The Well, drowning in ankle deep water.
Coughing, I slowly rolled to my hands and knees, instantly feeling the need to purge the darkness I had absorbed. Exhaling deeply, I pulled the shadows from my body and watched weakly as they formed into the large inky clouds of darkness. Darkness I was so accustomed to.
I had done it.
I had obtained the lilin from The Well of Souls.
They were mine now and I was theirs.
I touched the one soul in my chest that mattered the most. Emon's golden glow was still bright despite the taint there. I ached to feel his arms around me, his breath purring against my lips, his voice rumbling saying how fucking proud he was of me.
I shoved that notion away. No tears would change what had already come to pass, now all that mattered was what I did with the future.
Dragging my tired body from the water, I stumbled to stand.
The effort reminded me of the last time I had pushed my body to the brink of exhaustion.
When I had run the hills of The West Isles with Riella slung across my back.
My eyes widened. Goddess, Riella!
Turning quickly, I looked out over the glassy reflected surface of the waters to see my daughter standing vigilant in the distance with a contorted dark fae shaped figure standing in front of her.
I stumbled with alarm towards her, hearing her tiny voice growl at the being.
"I don't care what you think Zaki! I am going to help maedere! She needs me." Riella stamped her foot and I slowed my panicked stumbling, noting it was her spirit guide.
"Stay." I heard it hiss, then it added. "Mine."
My eyes narrowed and I could feel Emon's soul pulse angrily inside of me.
"I think we feel the same on this one, shifter," I whispered internally to him.
There was no answer, just the gentle caress of his essence against mine and I swallowed down the bitterness I felt at knowing we would never have an Eithne together.
Hearing my sloppy walking, Riella finally looked up from her angry glare and gasped when she saw me. Pointing her spear at the pookah, she hissed, "Move."
Zaki hissed back at her, then popped out of existence. Dropping her spear on the shadow platform she stood upon, Riella launched herself into The Well's waters. Its depth came to her knees but that did not stop her from shifting quickly into shadow and barreling straight into my chest.
"Maedere!"
Feeling her shadow morph into her fae form, I clutched at her tiny body.
Our hearts thundered in unison while we held each other, my nose burying deep into her thick black hair inhaling her scent.
Emon had told me once that she smelled like the most beautiful sunlit meadow.
I couldn't agree more as I let it soothe all the bitterness and regret inside.
The road to holding this sweet miracle in my arms was paved with crushing pain and soul wrenching tragedy but I would do it all over again just to feel her exactly this way.
Like Emon, she was a vital piece of me that had been so achingly missing…a hope I never thought I could ever believe in.
"I don't like The Well of Souls," Riella murmured into my chest.
Laughing brokenly, I peered down at her, nuzzling her nose with my own just like her father would do if he were here. "I do not like it much either, little chickadee, but there is one last thing we must do."
Peering into the inky darkness hovering nearby I nodded to the anticipating shadows, "Obtain the souls of the sleepers…all of them."
Their smooth dark tendrils paused and I held my breath with baited anticipation. This would be their first true test on how dependable they could be. We didn't have a few thousand years to grow together, we had a few days, and the quicker we both accepted that, the better off we would be.
I exhaled when they disappeared a moment later.
"They are different from the other shadows," Riella said softly.
Adjusting her crown, I assessed the worry on her face. "How so, little one?"
"They are more…vocal," she explained.
Shifting her to my side, I waved towards the shadow spear and released the island of darkness I had made for her back into the waters. "Anything I should be worried about?"
Riella shook her head, taking the spear I handed to her. "No. Bay is the loudest. She has taken charge as their leader."
I smiled sadly, picturing Bay’s big electric blue eyes and soft voice commanding thousands of vengeful souls was the best way to envision my lost friend. "She would have made an excellent leader for the water fae," I murmured more to myself than to Riella.
"That she would have but then again, the lilin would not have her to lead them either. Fate is a fickle thing, forta ."
Stiffening, I held Riella closer to me and turned, seeing a sleek spotted form of a black footed lynx gliding over the water. Yellow eyes glowed brightly over their depths, straight at us, before it spoke again.
“Greetings, Remnant Ezra Solaire Dark. I have been waiting my turn to meet you. Unlike those last souls, I am a patient predator and I have heard many great things about you, forta. "
"I suppose that depends on where and who you have heard them from," I said to the lynx, assessing the way the tufts on its ears pulled back at my response.
The beautiful feline laughed softly, a warm and gentle sound that had my tired shoulders relaxing.
"I suppose I heard it from your mother, she was a great friend of my soulmate and an even better dodging daggers partner.
Although much has changed since the last we saw each other, if what the souls of The Well whisper is true. "
I took a cautious step forward, tilting my head, my braid falling over my shoulder. "You are Lova."
The lynx purred, her sharp grin bright in the reflection of the glossy darkness. "Yes, forta. "
I smiled. Hearing her say forta, like the master healer, a term meaning strong female, was like having Jar’s presence envelope me again, chasing the cold and filling me with warmth I was desperately missing.
Here before me, was Jarquinn’s lost soulmate.
"Why haven't you gone to Eithne? Your soulmate has been searching for you. "
Lova’s eyes fluttered wistfully, "My handsome beautiful soulmate, he has not forgotten me even after all this time.” She smiled sadly at me, “When I died I was so angry.
At myself for failing to protect my court, leaving my son behind, and for the heartache I had caused Jarquinn.
He had never wanted any part of the war but he fought in it to be by my side and to save as many as he could with both his blades and talented healing.
I heard your vow. The release of the lilin once the queen has been purged of this universe. "
“A fae cannot lie," I said, reaching to Emon's glowing soul inside, feeling solace in the fact that when the end came, it wasn't the lilin that I needed but a future with Emon and Riella in it.
The spotted cat bowed her head, the tufts of her ears twitching again.
"You are more than just a fae, forta . I can see why my Jar loves you.
" Raising her head, her yellow eyes peered into my own.
"I know he is waiting for me, I can see it in your eyes and I have heard the whispers through the realms but I also know I have one last journey ahead of me before I rejoin him again in eternal life—if you will have me. "
"If that is your wish," I said softly.
She nodded, peering at my daughter. "Once you get back, keep that dying kiss flower on you at all times, little shadow shifter."
Riella nodded and my brows rose but the cat ignored my silent question, instead she bared her fangs at me. "Brace yourself, forta . My death is not for the faint hearted and even the strongest may weep. Ligare. "