Dellilian’s blood has dried over his hands and knuckles, splitting with frost. I hold his hands in mine, offering little body heat until I bring those hands to the center of my chest.
“I won’t tell you what to do. But…I think you need to be home when your mom gets the news. I can’t imagine her pain if she thinks she has lost her son too,” I say quietly.
This reaches a place in his core that has remained silent. That hasn’t even considered his mother quite yet. And who could blame him? After witnessing these two gruesome, soul-wrenching events…
Niklaus flicks his tired, tormented blue eyes to me, then back down to the soil he clutches in his right hand.
“I don’t want to leave her.”
“Dellilian’s Hearts will be here in this form when you return home.”
A voice enters our minds the way Dellilian’s used to. A female voice that scrapes the air as if being dragged across stone. Slightly jagged like broken obsidian. A voice that gods may kneel to. Commanding. Seismic. Interstellar.
Neither of us move.
A bird caws from the sky above, flapping its massive wings and dipping mid-flight to soar low, inches from our faces.
I flinch back as a folded piece of parchment lands in front of us.
Niklaus unravels that crisp paper between his numb fingers, and we read a small message inside.
Thank you for loving our Dellilian so well.
She has witnessed many great stories but never been a part of one the way she has now.
I come from many worlds away. A place where we catch wind of interesting prophesies.
And I have sent you a Morphing Onyx Short-Haired Windila out of good faith.
My people face a great evil that only your parents and a great beast can stop.
One day, I will ask for your favor to sway them to our side.
For our survival in our war will depend on them.
When Dellilian’s species perishes out of magnificent heroism, the magic of their bodies give back to the Earth. Whether a tree or a burning rose bush, their form will never perish.
It will live on for thousands of years, untouched by fire, by water, by any element.
In fact, no one will have the power to cut her down. She will only give to those who are worthy.
She will only allow a pure of heart to take her from the ground and repurpose her for what she deems admirable and fueled by love.
You’ll hear from me again one day.
Sincerely,
Vindawolf
I guess that answers the question we had about who sent Dellilian to aid us.
Niklaus and I read the message again to ourselves before he drops against my chest in exhaustion and defeat of the icy breeze that picks up against our exposed skin.
I cradle him to me, wrapping his body against my own, and harnessing that love to carry us like a feather in the wind back home.
Skylenna
Present Day
