The great Throne Room doors opened gracefully, as if welcoming my footfalls to the road ahead. Here, I began my journey home again. Here, I would farewell my past and all the mistakes, and move forward. Finally free.
I left the cloak at the base of the hill outside and entered the forest in my pure form, closing my eyes and feeling the energy of Nature guide me, gliding through the base of the trees like wind at my feet. It moved me forward quickly, sending word a breath ahead that I was on my way home—that I was coming to return to the place we all once began.
“Spirits of the forest,” I whispered, “Show me how to return to that which created me.”
The world went silent, the breeze dying away with the song of birds, and the leaves in the trees coming to a standstill, all waiting as if holding their breath, watching as the spirit of Mother Earth made herself known in this place. I closed my eyes and imagined her there by the Stone up ahead, with open arms welcoming me.
And I knew what to do—as if her voice itself whispered the answer in my ear.
One foot over the other, I walked at a pace respectful to the flow and ease of all things living, existing, breathing this world of life in the rhythm of Nature. And as I came upon the Stone, fell to my knees and swiped a nail tip across the centre of my palm, drawing blood to the surface of my skin. She wanted it back—Mother who guarded the gateway between worlds. One must offer blood for anything asked of this Stone. I understood that now. Life, knowledge, magic: all of it could be mine for the exchange of this substance inside me that was connected more richly to the earth at our feet than this very platform in front of me.
I laid my hand to the Stone and felt it reach up, felt the life force inside it move to the blood on my palm and draw it away. “Take me home,” I whispered my hot breath into the rock. “Free me from the binds of this world so that I might save my people—save the king.”
I waited, imagining for a moment how Jase would react to my letter, imagining how relieved he’d feel. I knew relief wasn’t what I’d be leaving behind, but after some time passed, I knew everyone would see that this was for the best. One day they would come to understand why I did this. I’d failed at so many things, and for once in my life, I would die getting something right.
“Auress,” a ghostly voice said.
I didn’t need to look up. Didn’t need to see where She stood. I could feel her beside me, feel her touch on my skin. I closed my eyes and smiled. “Mother.”
“Young Auress, defender of all natural things, protector of this realm. Why do you seek to free yourself of your claim?”
I placed my other hand to my bare chest. “I broke him. I hurt him deeper than any soul should ever hurt, Mother. I can’t save his heart, but I at least owe him his life.”
“A wise decision, young goddess. But not the only path that was laid at your feet.”
I nodded. “Yet, it’s the one I’m choosing.”
“And what of her?”
“Her?” I asked, trying hard not to open my eyes.
“Your child.”
“There is no child.”
I felt her touch become warmer, almost as if I could feel her smile. “Would you still want to die if I told you I foresee a child in your future?”
I swallowed, my bleeding hand stinging now, going cold as the connection to the earth flickered, fading. “David won’t give me a child now, and even if he did, I can’t stop Drake from taking her, not if he lives.”
“Ara!” A desperate voice hollered through the dawn shadows, stealing the tranquillity for a second.
I turned my head and looked for the mother, but there was only warmth there where I imagined her. “Hurry,” I pleaded. “Take me now before they come.”
“Ara!” It called again, and beyond the fog I saw faces, sharpening and taking shape before my eyes: Mike, Quaid, Emily, Arthur, and Jason.
“Grab her, Mike!” Emily cried.
“Don’t!” I ordered, my voice coming through my lips in a deep, almost baritone whisper. “Only an Auress can enter here now. You’ll die, Mike.”
“Ara, please,” he begged, taking a step closer.
“Don’t touch me.” I aimed my finger toward him, the command of my voice stopping him in his tracks. He looked down at his feet, trying to move them, but they wouldn’t shift. “I’ve made my choice,” I said, searching their eyes as my gaze travelled over each face. “This is the only way.”
“Ara?” Jason stepped into sight, reaching out to me but not daring to come close. “I read the letter. I know,” he said, his eyes holding the weight of everything I told him. “I know, okay, and you don’t have to do this.”
“I’m the only one nobody will miss, Jase.”
“Oh, Ara.” He dropped quickly to a squat, covering his mouth. “Please don’t think that way. You matter to me, okay. More than anything in this world, sweet girl, and I’ll die without you. You can’t go.”
I turned back, laying my other hand on the Stone. “It’s already done.”
“No!” he cried, and my heart skipped a beat when Arthur sternly said David’s name, telling him to do what he had to do.
I could feel David here with me then—feel him connected to the earth through me. But it didn’t matter. None of them could touch me. None of them had the power. I was completely wrapped up in the hands of my maker, already wedged between this world and the next.
I focused harder on my hands, feeling my wrists and arms go through and touch the world on the other side. And it felt like magic, like a warm, happy feeling right in the centre of my chest. Every problem I ever had just fell away then, like petals off a dying rose, making me laugh for that moment. We all took things so seriously there in that world, and as I looked upon the other realm, I realised as deep as my soul was living, that on this side, nothing mattered—not the past, not our mistakes, not our failings as humans, and not our regrets. Here, we were all just life without consciousness.
“Ara?”
I looked down to the cool, familiar hands wrapping my ribs—smooth against my pale, naked skin, and both of us stared for a moment, open-mouthed as the black Mark of my betrayal faded under his touch, bubbling and reseeding back into my body. “David, let me go. Please.”
“You can’t go, Ara. I need to take you back.”
I looked up from his hands at the blue light surrounding my body shining across his face. “One of us has to die.”