Soul Ties

Chapter 15: So It Begins

"Are you ready to begin?" Thysus questions as we both stand up and saunter over to the center of the room. Above us is a stained-glass image of a bright star circled by a ring of other smaller ones. I assume that was the love that Kriana and Sosten had created with each of their powers.

I wonder where in the galaxy both of them could be. It wasn't likely they had separated, but why hadn't I heard of them or even known there were other Gods and Goddess that came here before? Now that i thought about it, what could Luniod's know if we didn't return home to share what we'd learned? And why would it be my mother's responsibility to tell all? As if the others weren't already jealous enough.

"Will it be painful?" I ask nervously. She puts her hand delicately on my shoulder.

"No, my love. It will feel like a weight, but you will feel no pain from it."

"Like the mist outside."

"Exactly. Now give me your first finger from your weaker hand," she demands in a soft voice. I take a few steps towards her, the room suddenly feeling like it's closing in the closer we get. I extend my left hand towards her, and she grabs it with her right.

The magic to keep me calm is completely gone. The dread was overwhelming me now, waiting for what was to come. Even though she claimed I would feel no physical pain, she had no idea the emotional hysteria I would go through.

She grabs my hand in hers, angling closer to me while I struggle internally not to move back. My nerves were on edge, the apprehension settling deep in the pit of my abdomen. I can't look away, though. I wanted to avert my eyes and slam my feet towards the door, but I was stuck. My feet felt glued to the marble beneath me.

Thysus closes her eyes, leaning forward a bit more towards our intertwined hands. And that's when I feel it. The crushing weight. It knocks the wind out of me, pushing down so hard on my shoulders, I witness my knees buckle underneath me. I dig my nails into my free fist, fighting the urge to fall to the floor while the weight continues to force itself down on me. Thysus doesn't seem affected at all by what I'm feeling. Maybe she didn't notice whatever she was doing had begun. I wonder if she's aware of anything at this point.

Her head tilts back, her eyes fixed on the stained glass images above us. When she looks back at me, the gold in her irises brighten, but it doesn't seem like she's focused on me. She appears to be looking through me.

The weight becomes heavier, driving down not only my shoulders, but the top of my head. It was like the ceiling was crashing on top of my body. I want to look up to see if I can see anything, but I can't get my neck to move back. The weight is too much. I digging my nails deeper into my palm, trying to keep the panic under control.

Thysus squeezes my hand, the golden talon almost piercing through my skin. It sends a surge of alarm through me. I don't want to lose my senses again. The urge to scream is weighing heavier than the invisible force. I'm not sure if I can take much more of this. When would it end?

A light comes out of her palm and covers mine. It's so bright that I have to squint to see what's happening in front of me.

A rush of fierce heat travels through my hand, moving up my arm and towards my shoulder. It isn't a comforting warmth like I'd felt when I first opened the door to this room. No, it was something unbearable. My skin feels like it's boiling. Instinctively, I try to pull my arm out of Thysus' grip, but she just holds on tighter. The golden claw digs a little deeper into my hand, creating a wave of nausea when I remember what happens if it pricks my skin.

The heat increases, and so does the weight pushing me to the floor. My tail stiffens trying to keep me from falling over. I've never felt something so feverish in my life. I have to look down to make sure my skin is still intact and hasn't melted off my body.