At first there’s nothing. Just my body suspended in complete darkness, unaware of which way is up and which way is down, and how the hell I even got here.
And then there’s a light. It’s small, pin like, but blinding compared to the darkness that consumes me. I reach toward it and feel the smallest hint of warmth brush against my fingertips, sending a shiver down my spine. I try to latch onto it, wanting the reassurance that there is something other than the darkness, but I can’t because light isn’t solid and I am meant to suffer alone with hope just out of reach.
“Aria,” a dark voice says in a melodic tone. It chuckles as shivers rake my spine from how close it is and how it seems to surround me. Something moves and blocks the light. “I’ve been waiting for you to call on me.”
“Y-You’re not Beata,” I stutter out, trying to back away from it, but I can’t move.
Another chuckle. “I’m glad we cleared that one up, girl.”
I struggle to swallow, my throat suddenly dry, my tongue made of cotton, but I manage to push out a question. “Who are you?”
“I believe the better question is what am I?” the voice replies.
Something brushes against my neck, leaving icy kisses on my skin. My body trembles.
“I am darkness itself. I am the shadows that slither across the earth and the ice that coats the souls of the criminal. I am the night and the never ending abyss that traps the most disgusting of souls.”
It’s suddenly at my ear, it’s cool breath tugging at my hair. “I am Mortem.”
“W-What do you want with me?” I ask as I try to keep my heart from leaping out of my chest.
“I don’t want you, little girl. I want what’s inside you. I want her,” he replied as he glided past her.
Her? Who is he talking about? Is he talking about Nina? But why? She’s not inside of me.
“And you—”
Don’t listen to him, Aria.
I jump as a familiar voice joins the conversation. A sudden bright light engulfs the darkness, making Mortem hiss.
Leave, the new voice commands.
Mortem lets out a low growl from somewhere behind me. “We are not don here, girl,” he hisses before disappearing, letting the light take over.
I squeeze my eyes shut at how bright it is now, finding my feet touching solid ground. I slowly blink them open, finding myself able to move my muscles once again. When I glance up, I see the light goddess across from me, her bare feet floating a few inches above the ground.
“Beata,” I breathe out in relief, glad that she is here with me. “What are you doing here?”
I sensed his presence, she says and takes a few steps toward me. He is growing stronger, Aria. He will soon be able to contact you even when you’re awake.
I cringe. “What am I supposed to do?”
You are with Leo and Vul, correct? she asks and I nod. They will help you, they’re strong, true warriors. I believe I chose well.
“Wait,” I say as I wave a hand in front of me. “You chose them? What for? What is even going on? And who did that Mortem guy want anyway?”
Beata gives me a small smile. For now it is best that you don’t know all of the answers to your questions. You will find out soon enough on your own.
“Can you at least tell me what I’m supposed to do next? That’s what Leo told me to ask.”
That is not something I can tell you, I am not allowed to interfere. I am not even supposed to be talking to you right now either, she says and I raise an eyebrow at her.
“Then why are you?”
She places a hand on my shoulder, sending a comforting warmth through me. You hold a lot more power than you know, my dear. You need to believe that it is there and that you can use it. Only then will you find the answers to your questions.
She takes a step back as the edges of my vision begins to blur. Do as the boys tell you, and don’t trust the other Arco too easily. Some have been touched by the darkness and will do whatever they can to help it grow.
I nod at her as she takes another step back. She spreads her arms and smiles at me. Farewell for now, my champion. I wish you luck to bring back peace to Caelum and your world.
“I still don’t think I can—”
Darkness consumes me before I can finish my thought, and I soon find myself gasping awake in Leo and Vul’s house.
I fly into a sitting position, my shoulder aching from the sudden movement as the stone falls off of my forehead and lands in my lap. I blink a few times to clear my vision as I try to calm my racing heartbeat.
These dreams are going to be the death of me.
The room is empty and quiet aside from the sound of my own breathing. I curl my fingers around the stone and scoot to the edge of the bed before slowly standing up. I don’t fall this time, I only wobble a little as my legs get used to holding my weight.
I make my way to the closed door and pull it open, poking my head into the hall to see if Vul or Leo are nearby. I hear Sim’s giggle off to my right, followed by a rather large thump.
I step into the hall, my room residing at the end of it. There are three other doors in the hall, all of which are shut, that lead the to what I assume to be the living room. I let my fingers trail along the wooden walls as I follow Sim’s giggling. There are no pictures hanging on the walls like in houses back where I’m from.
My feet pause at the entrance to the living room, letting my eyes take in the scene in front of me. The living room is connected to the kitchen, everything made of wood, even the counters. The only color besides brown seems to be coming from the couch cushions and the rug that resides in the middle of the room. There’s a fireplace off to the side that has flames that flicker a mix of white and grays instead of the typical reds and yellows.
Sim is swinging from the ceiling by the roots that are woven across it while Vul lounges on the couch, tossing a small ball into the air. Leo is nowhere to be found.
“Oh, you’re awake.”
I gasp and whip around, finding Leo standing behind me, casually towel drying his hair. I stumble back a step at how close he is and ram my good shoulder into the wall.
“Don’t do that,” I say with a scowl as I rub at my shoulder.
He only chuckles and brushes past me. When I turn around I find Vul staring at me, annoyed, while Sim hangs from one of the roots by his tail, watching me curiously.
They mustn’t have told him everything yet.
I hesitantly make my way into the living room, not enjoying all of the eyes on me as I lower myself into one of the chairs beside the couch.
“Sleep well?” Leo asks from where he stands in the kitchen. He’s peeling the skin off of an apple with one of his claws.
“About that,” I say as I cast a glance at Sim who went back to swinging around the room.
Leo catches my apprehension and sets down the apple. He pulls a basket out from under the counter. “Sim,” he calls and the monkey-boy pauses mid swing. “Do me a favor and take these to Pan.”
Sim swings over to him and drops down on the counter. “Do I have to?” he whines. Leo rolls his eyes and hands him the basket.
“Yes, and I bet if you ask nicely, she’ll give you some sweets,” he adds persuasively and Sim grins.
“Okay!” he says with a grin as he wraps his tail around the handle of the basket and bounds out the front door.
Once the door is shut firmly behind the young Arco, Leo and Vul turn to me for an explanation. I shift uncomfortably under their intense gazes and turn the stone over in my hand before clearing my throat.
I look back up at them, open my mouth, and tell them everything.
[sorry that this chapter ends awkwardly, but i felt that if i kept adding to it, it'd be too long so i decided to split it up.]