The floor under Elise’s coffin lowered.Water lapped at its sides, climbing inch by inch until it was swallowed entirely.
Elena leaned her head against Kira’s side.“This is my fault, isn’t it?”
Horrified, Kira’s gaze snapped to her niece.“Don’t ever say that.Parents protect their children.Always.”
Elena’s head dipped, her shoulders sagging.
Kira stifled the rest of the words she wanted to say.It was no surprise that her niece blamed herself for what happened to Elise.Guilt was an old, familiar friend of Kira’s.Hearing that something wasn’t your fault was different than actually believing it.Elena had to come to terms with the situation in her own way.All Kira and Raider could do was be there to support and guide her while she did.
With that in mind, Kira crouched, bringing herself to eye level with her niece.She waited patiently until Elena was looking at her before continuing.“Elise did what she was supposed to.What any parent would do in a situation like that.The same thing I would have done if I’d been there.”
In a way, this was a good thing.It meant there was hope for Elise.That something of the friend she knew still remained.That the Tsavitee and their masters hadn’t completely perverted her mind.
Kira took Elena’s hand, holding it in hers.“As long as she’s breathing, there’s hope.That’s all that matters.”
Raider grunted in agreement.“We won’t give up on her.”
His gaze met Kira's in silent promise.If it took decades or centuries, they would continue searching.Whatever it took to wake her up.
Kira broke eye contact to look at her niece.“You got that?”
Shadows and doubt still lingered at the back of Elena’s eyes, but Kira was relieved to see that there were fewer than there had been before.
“Yes, Auntie,” Elena whispered.
Kira squeezed Elena’s hand in reassurance before rising to cast one last regretful look at Elise’s watery resting place.
This isn’t the end, Sunshine, Kira whispered silently.The words as much for Elise as for herself.They’d come back from the impossible before.They could again.She refused to let this be a permanent goodbye.
Elena leaned her head against Kira’s side.“What happens now?”
“We wait for her to wake up,” Wren rumbled.
Despite his expressionless face, there was no hiding the depth of grief and turmoil wracking him.
Wren was in hell.
Kira didn’t know how to help him.The long lost daughter he’d just found was deep in a coma from which they didn’t know when—or if—she’d ever wake.
That was a head fuck if there ever was one.
Yet, he was still standing.A source of strength and support not only for his granddaughter but Kira as well.
Next to him, Auralyn stood at rigid attention.The boredom that normally characterized her expression absent.For once, she looked fully present.Focused.And a little angry.
Sensing Kira’s gaze, Auralyn glanced at her.
They stared at each other for several seconds before Auralyn dipped her chin.Almost as if she was making a silent vow.The content of which Kira wasn’t privy too.
In the next moment, Auralyn looked away, leaving Kira to wonder if she’d just imagined it.She studied the woman with white-blonde hair, her gaze wandering over features that held a strong resemblance to Elise and Elena, noting the missing right arm.
Auralyn hadn’t let the injury slow her down.She was just as fierce.Just as deadly.
A crushing silence descended as they each grieved in their own way.
Kira endured as long as she could before she couldn’t take it anymore.“I’ll give you privacy to finish saying your goodbyes.”
Retreat was cowardly, but her heart hadn’t quite gotten the memo that this wasn’t a forever goodbye.Everything felt far too final.As if this was a funeral in truth.
