Mah’s voice rings through the darkness again. “Five shards have been kept from you, resting in Rea’s embrace. Five shards seek a home, and trust is the key to claim them. Can you trust, child? Can you trust and surrender and allow the pieces to claim you? Areyoustrong enough to claimthem?”
Trust. Such a small word, yet so profound. Despite causing me immeasurable hardship, it has also brought me the most profound joy of my life: Seniia and Vilder. True friendship. If I had let fear hold me back, if I hadn’t dared to trust again, that incredible moment of our bonding would never have happened.
So I decide to trust. To allow. And as I let go of my past and surrender my future, the ground beneath my feet comes alive.
Ancient markings whisper their guidance, the earth calling for me to follow the rhythm of an old forgotten trail, yet one my body remembers. Surrendering to the fire of transformation, I allow the flames to burn me to ashes until I’m nothing but dust carried on the seven winds as they whisper to me their truths. Coming to an end at the water’s edge, the water’s sacred song washes over me, healing my scars, restoring my bones. And then I allow the knowing of the spirit to settle into my soul.
I’m floating in a deep, meditative trance, where I can sense all of Mah’s creation in my being: Her earth, her waves, her tides. Her mysteries, her birth, and her depths. Her entire cosmos. And when she speaks again, I can see her. Mah.
Her feet glow with shining light as she walks on a moonlit path across the shore. Draped in layered garments of dark blue, adornedwith stars, she exudes an air of regal majesty. Her lavender hair cascades down her back, and her skin glistens like stardust. Still, what catches my attention is the single crescent moon adorning her forehead, right between her deep, dark eyes. And while they shine with ancient wisdom, they are also youthful, vibrant. And familiar.
She stares at me with a kind, caring gaze. “You have done well, daughter.”
Despite the now-glowing skin and ethereal beauty, I recognize her. It’s the same lavender hair. The same dark, star-flecked eyes. “You.”
“I wish I could have done more to ease your suffering, but too much interference would not have let our strings cross here. This moment,” she says as she comes to stand before me, “would not have happened.” She pulls me into an embrace, then steps back. “But it is now time to leave. To remember who you are.” She taps my heart. “To live who you were born to be.”
The hollowness in my chest. It’s gone! But in its wake is a myriad of emotions I don’t want to study too closely. Not now.
“Nothing becomes real until it is experienced.” She cocks her head, as if listening for something, then looks back at me. “There are those who do not approve of my choice, but you are stronger than you think, and you would do well to remember that in the days to come.” There is a soft, wistful smile on her face. “Now go. He will be waiting for you.” She brushes her fingertips across my face. “Until we meet again.”
I reach for her as she fades out of view, a million unanswered questions at the tip of my tongue, but it’s as if I’m trying to grasp air. And then she is gone.
THE SENSATION OF FALLING BACK into my body is an unpleasant one. Every single part of me is on fire, as if my skin is being seared from my bones, and for a moment, I’m paralyzed, unable to move.The fear of being caught in this inferno makes me want to scream, but even my voice is gone. I can’t breathe, and the lack of air makes me lightheaded and on the brink of panic. Then, as soon as it arrived, the pain is gone, and the paralyzing feeling loosens its grip. Rolling onto my back, I gasp down breaths of air.
The darkness is gone, and the cave is again lit by the many candles. The Celestial Moon, visible through the open ceiling, doesn’t appear to have moved at all. It still hangs at its peak.I can’t believe I’m alive.
The first thing I notice is that I still remember my life and still have my connections to Seniia and Vilder.That should mean they’re safe. What’s different is the newfound sense of completeness. I bring my hand to my chest. There’s no gaping hole there anymore.
The second thing is the strong smell of blood that surrounds me, impossible to ignore. Pushing myself up to a seat, I flinch as I look down at my body.That must be why. I may be alive, but I’m a bloody mess.
Avoiding the mirrors, I stand. My eyelids are heavy, my muscles ache with fatigue, and I would give anything to sleep right now, but what I need is to find a place to clean up and then be out of here. How long have Seniia and Vilder been standing there, holding the gates open for me? I’ve lost track of time, and all I can do is pray the task hasn’t been too hard on them.
I glance around. Where did I enter this cave? That pool of water would be perfect for cleaning up before I get out of this damned place. Scanning the cave for the exit, I freeze at the sight of a familiar face in the reflection of a mirror: Nana.
I take a step toward her. At the same moment, Nana steps toward me.How?Lifting my arm, I can feel all color drain from my face when Nana replicates my exact movement in the mirror.
This is not happening. Is it?
I stare at Nana, a scream trapped in my throat. Am I still dreaming? Surely, that must be it. My shoulders drop with relief. Of course. I’m in one of my dreams. Yet, I feel undeniably like...me.
Stepping closer to the mirrors, I study my reflection: The golden skin, heart-shaped face, and high cheekbones. Full lips and a small nose dotted with a handful of freckles. Large violet eyes, the dark limbal ring surrounding the irises making them sparkle like amethysts. And the cascade of iridescent white hair hanging down my back, now matted with blood.
How is this possible? How could I not have known? Somehow, I’m sure I’m still in the same body as before. Then how can I look so vastly different? How is it that I look likeher?
I lift the hair and turn my head to study my ear. By now it should not come as a surprise, but I still gasp at the slight point at the tip of it. The discovery instantly makes me run my tongue along my upper teeth, and sure enough, I find fangs. Have I been Rean all along?
Knees buckling, I collapse to the cave floor, my body shaking uncontrollably.
I don’t know how long I sit there, staring at my hands. All I know is that I sense his presence long before I see him. I lift my violet gaze to meet Aster’s golden ones in the mirror.
“He will be waiting for you.”
We stay like that for what feels like an eternity. My body is a whirlwind of emotions I can’t quite name, and my mind is a jumbled mess of questions and thoughts, racing around in a dizzying spiral. I have so many questions, yet I cannot form a single one. All I can do is stare, my heart pounding, as Aster’s overwhelming emotions wash over me like a tidal wave.
A tremor runs through his body. His eyes snap shut, hands flexing at his sides.
“Youknew?” My voice cracks as the last word catches in my throat. Is this why he helped me?
