Hearts slaved to minds of darkness

6. Hide, or the night will haunt you

"I've been waiting for you, your majesty." Caelesti's fine words rolled off her tongue as she sensed me dipping my palm into the cool water of her river. One moment I had been sitting on it's banks, and the other I was in a memory palace.

"Waiting? Then you know what I'm here for." I stated, letting her smile succeedingly dim and persuade a nod in response.

She stepped closer and gracefully rolled out her fingers towards me. "This may hurt a little Emerald." I turned my head enough to see her clearer, "Will it help me?" My eyes were cautiously watching her incase she let out a sign of betrayal. "No one will be able to see the mark on your shoulder, your majesty." Her wide bewildering eyes told me that she spoke the truth, something unusual for a situation like this. "Do what you have to Celeste."

Despite her warning, she didn't mention that the pain would affect my mind, not my body. The moment she struck me with her shielding magic my eyes dropped deeper into that memory palace. I felt an agony that spread like wildfire through my happiness. I met a grief that felt like someone ripped out my heart and died with it. The torment lasted for centuries before I was pulled back into the river, outside the depths of the palace. My breath was still bated against my throbbing heart. "W-what was that?" Her expression grew fearful by my suffering.

"You weren't meant to go in there, it wasn't meant to hurt your mind. What... what did you see?"

"Loss." My mind still too heavy to carry multiple words. "What is it?" I asked as the fear started growing undefiable in her.

"It was your future Emerald."

My recovering heart sank deeper into its grooves searching for comfort I wasn't prepared to give. "Will I remember this when I leave?" "No one remembers the future outside these walls. If you are meant to loose someone, you will."

My fear was quickly replaced with anger as I stood up to tower over her.

"A little pain may do good for your soul." She preached, weary of the hand I was reaching out to threaten her with. "It can't be Alec, if that's what you're worried about, you don't love him enough." Her words provoking a sadness, and a relief to cover it.

"It's best if you leave now." She confirmed in fear of me hurting her. "I won't harm you Celeste, you aren't in control of the future. But promise me to look for a solution."

"I will, your majesty. You won't die in Slakra if it's any consolation. No one will know who you are. You will remember that they can't see you, Slavoka."

"Do you know everything?" She nodded to answer me yes, allowing a smile to grow on her in response to something amusing she remembered about the future. "Leave now, so that you can forget."

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I pulled on a pair of black strapped boots, which matched my dark leather coat with red dragons embroided around the sleeves, they'll come alive if I ever needed them.

"I need to speak with you Reign." He was barely listening to me, only worrying. "Wh-" "I don't need you to speak. If I die down there you will be leader in a war, so listen to me while I'm alive." "Speak then." His voice turned annoyed at my assurance.

"There is someone, a warrior named Ares." "The one who did that to your arm?" Reign spoke quickly, letting the disgust seep into his tone. "There was something about him that only I seemed to notice, he wasn't loyal. I saw the way he acted, different from the others. It was like he wanted to destroy the darkness for himself and this scar on my arm was a warning to stay out of it."

"How could you notice this?" His eyes were serious with shock. "I don't know." My voice was unsure, but it was the truth. "And you think that he could be your answer to remaining alive?" "It's either that, or he will be the one who kills me." My voice paused to allow him a moment to sink in the information.