She pressed her lips together, squeezing her eyes tighter. Trying to clear the picture in her mind. There was a tall wall of black ice. She could see herself reflected there. Everythingaround her was stark and empty. As she walked to the wall she found that something wavered behind it.
“There is something behind the ice,” she said aloud. As she stopped before the wall, she reached out and touched it only to flinch quickly pulling her hand away. “It’s hot.”
Looking up, she found a person standing on the other side. The orange light formed its complete shape. The flames licked up along the skin, moving under the force of an unseen wind. The figure lowered its hand then stared back at her.
She leaned forward squinting, and so did it. Making another movement, Lanias realized it wasn’t another person. “It’s my reflection.”
Roni’s eyes widened. “What?”
Lanias didn’t answer him.
Instead, she walked to the right, and the creature followed her. She turned in a circle and it turned as well. Facing it once more she pressed her lips together and reached up with both hands and pressed them against the ice once again this time she ignored the flare of heat.
In the real-world Roni cursed, jerking his hands from her skin. He looked at her in alarm as the black smoke that had been twirling from her skin started to change into a bright orange. A hissing sound began to fill the room.
“Lanias?” he called, but she didn’t answer.
Within her own mind, Lanias continued to bear up against the pain. The magic had been locked away inside her, the Surrem half of her fought back against being absorbed. But Lanias wasn’t used to failing. She wouldn’t back off. She was going to regain everything, her identity, her name and her magic.
She staggered as the ice melted, and she could hear a loud cracking noise. Looking up alarmed, she jerked her arms up as a piece of the wall broke off and fell toward her. She squeezed hereyes shut, only for nothing to hit her. Reopening them she found that the large ice rock had passed through her. The rest of the wall did the same as it fell all around her.
She looked away from the falling ice to the magic that hadn’t moved. Their eyes met, and she determinedly walked toward it. Every step she took, the other did. Soon they were a hands breadth away from each other.
“You’ve come,” it spoke, surprising her.
Throwing off her shock, she nodded. “I was told you are a part of me.”
“I am, have you gained the purpose you were looking for?” it asked, looking around. “This place was empty for a very long time and cold.”
“I’m still finding it,” she honestly answered. “But I know more than I did before.”
The creature smiled. “That’s better.”
Before she could add anything, it reached up and laid a hand on her shoulder. “It’s good to be whole again.”
She sucked in a quick breath as the creature fractured into a thousand pieces turning into bright white particles of light. Swirling into an orb that radiated warmth. It floated before her, Lanias reached out wrapping her arms around it and pulled it close. Tears slipped out of her eyes.
“My daughter, welcome home.”
The sensation of her mother’s hands on her cheeks was brief. Before she opened her eyes to find that she was no longer sitting on the deck. She was standing outside, and she flexed her fingers. The black marks she’d seen on Avery and Roni covered her arms, like small star shaped freckles.
“Finally. You’ve awakened.”
Just as she was prepared to turn around and say something. She found not Roni, but a stranger standing behind her. Thestranger’s eyes were a dim orange. Even with his Surrem features she knew immediately he didn’t belong on the estate.
“Who are you?” she demanded, glaring at him.
“Who am I?” He repeated, looking her over with such hate that she took a step back. “I’m pleased you pathetic Beings have such horrible memories.” He gave her a short mocking bow, four black holes opening behind him. “I told you that she would awaken soon we only needed to be patient for her to guide us directly to her lair.”
Lanias took a hesitant step back as people came from within the black portals that opened behind him. Their skin glowed white, and their eyes were empty of humanity. A familiar one stepped out landing in front of the gleeful man.
“It’s you.” Lanias glared at the woman, her hands turning into fists at her side.
Icarus eyed the half-breed in front of her. She was clearly used to fighting, her stance was relaxed. “Return us the key, and we will make your death swift.”
“Ha, are you serious?” Lanias scoffed, narrowing her eyes. “You thought you’d just show up, and what? Kill me with no fight?”
“You fight us.” One of them cackled, his hair shaved on both sides. “Ants won’t ever win against us. You’re blessed to be in our presence.”
