EMBER

CHOICES

She stares at me with her ever changing eyes. She suddenly looks tired. And ancient. I mean millennia of exhaustion is what I see.

"This superiority war between the light and dark has waged on ever since I wasn't in existence. It has caused so much destruction. So much pain. So many innocent sacrifices. I wanted it over and a few Gods shared my vision. We want to sleep in peace. Your mother and father were heralding the same idea, it is why I gave it all up for her, it was that she and I shared the same dream. We shared peace."
Peace, it is something I have never truly known. It is a noble cause for a being like a Goddess.

"She wanted both of you to grow up with love and no wars. She wished peace for the both of you. But I saw more. Both of you could not only save the realms from war and oblivion but could also usher in new ideals and different ways to do things for all beings. You contain equal parts light and dark. You can end the archaic ideologies of war and make light and dark exist with each other in harmony even for us Gods"
Now she sees as chess pieces? This woman is pulling on my skepticism.

"You realize we are sixteen year old teenagers?" I stare at her like she has grown a third eye.

"Almost seventeen." Temi counters. Which side is she on anyway? I scowl at her. This is insane.

"We relinquished the world and all the realms to the celestials and the will of heaven and we all went into deep slumber of peace even if some Gods still persisted on dominion. When you were conceived, there was let's say a shift in the universe's energies, it woke all the ancient Gods. Myself include. I just want to slumber again. The era of the Gods will be the worst thing to ever happen again. Believe me."
She almost sounds like she is appealing to me.

"Where were you slumbering? And where did the will of heaven come from?"
I really want to know this. She stares at me for what feels like eternity in a second before sighing and closing her eyes.

"I cannot tell you. Those are not things for mortals to have knowledge on."
She has an adamant edge to her voice so I let it go.

"We followed your signs and now we are here. How do we close the demon portal?" I am so tired. So our parents died because of us, for peace. Seems a very logical ideal. I convince myself.

"All in due time, after all you brought all the ingredients, a piece of every thing and its almost ready." She beams. Even her excitement is flawlessly graceful.

"Where did you get Aunt Meave's blood?" That ingredient we didn't come with.

"She sent it over." She says admiring her fingernails. Her voice takes a grumpy edge mildly annoyed even.

"That illustrious Áine Chláir, I wonder till when will she stop pretending to be your mother's sister when she never even bothered to inform me that all the protective spells I put on the safe houses were worn and broken. Though I guess it is my negligence in reinforcing them that is the matter." She sighs again.

"Excuse me what do you mean by pretend?" Temi's voice shook me out of my shocked trance.

"Well Áine is truly the Queen of fairies. She grew up with your mother and they were the bestest of friends. Your mother always snuck out of the celestial realm to play with her in her younger years. Your mother and father always met in her realm and it is where their affair flourished. She bestowed upon them protection and holds your parent's ideals close to her heart. But of course she is your designated Aunt and I suppose I am your designated God mother."
Her voice turns grim and serious.

"Áine is more. She reigns on side of light and she is otherwise known as Áine Chláir of light. Her love for your mother, you two and her dreams sent her on the path of expulsion from the council which means she is at the mercy of both sides in this war too."