AN: No Piarari Key needed this time. Be sure to drop some comments as you read. Enjoy!
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My mother's words echoed in my ears, and it seemed to finally sink in that she was still a spirit, and I would have to let her go again.
"Are you ready, Cyris?" she asked.
"Not really...I don't want...you to leave me again," I choked back tears. I could feel my heart breaking.
"Oh Cyris," she said softly. She reached out a hand towards me, but pulled back, not wanting to inadvertently cause me pain and cross over. "I may cross over after I show you what you need to see, but know that I'll always be with you in your heart, just as your father is."
I nodded, not able to form any words anymore. I wiped my tears with the back of my hand, and focused on the lake. Mother waved her hand over the lake and the water rippled, revealing Circe in the bedroom of the mansion. She was older now, maybe in her late teens.
Odon entered the room and strode over to Circe. She didn't seem to be afraid of him now.
"Why isn't she scared of him?" I asked.
"At this point, your sister was teetering on the edge...the fine line between darkness and light..." Mother explained. "She hadn't given in yet."
"I have three questions for you, Circe..."
"I'm listening..." Circe replied.
"Who is Cyris Castellan?"
"My twin brother and the one who usurped my birthright."
"And what did your parents do to make you believe this?" he asked.
"They named him the Crown Prince and shoved me aside, treated me like a disposable spare," Circe replied.
"So what are you going to do?" Odon asked, his eyes gleaming with triumph.
"I'm going to hunt my brother down and make him pay for what he did."
With every word she spoke, Circe's eyes flickered between warm hazel and dark purple.
"Why did she believe him?" I asked.
"Your uncle kept telling her that we cast her aside and she heard it so much that she started believing it. He filled her head with lies, Cyris. Everything he ever told her was a lie," Mother explained.
There was a knock at the door and Odon smirked.
"Ah, there's your gift now," he stated. "Come in."
One of his guards came into the room, towing a bruised and dirty Caja. There was a thick metal collar around her neck. The guard threw her to the floor in front of Circe, and Caja sat up shakily.
"C-Circe!" Caja rejoiced. Her glee quickly faded as she noticed how stoic Circe looked. Then she noticed the purple flickering in Circe's eyes. "No! No, no, no, no, no! Please, don't give in!"
"Circe, my heir, I think it's time I gave you a new mark," Odon told her.
"No!" Caja snarled. She stood in front of Circe protectively. "I won't let you do this, you bastard!"
She charged for Odon, but he flicked his wrist and she flew into a wall, knocking the wind out of her.
"Why can't Caja shift?!" I questioned.
"Your uncle made sure she couldn't. That collar around her neck keeps her from changing, it's enchanted," my mother answered.
"Familiars should learn to speak only when spoken to," Odon stated. He took Circe's left arm and began muttering in Piarari, his eyes turned black and he traced a design on her forearm. It was a rune. The rune of darkness. One that only those with dark magic wore. And as it appeared on Circe's skin, she let out an agonizing cry of pain, one that seemed to shatter the sky and make the wind stop blowing.
"Circe..." Caja uttered, too dazed to move.
And then Circe opened her eyes and instead of the usual warm hazel, they were dark purple. She was gone. She looked at Caja and the basilisk changeling became surrounded by a black light. She whimpered but it was in vain. Eventually Caja rose to her feet and knelt before Circe, her eyes devoid of any emotion.
"Your Highness," Caja said respectfully. "How may I be of service to you?"
A deep, and wicked, laugh erupted from Odon as he took in the sight before him. His grueling repetition had finally paid off.
"She...She gave in..." I said in disbelief.
"She gave in because she couldn't fight anymore..." Mother stated. "Odon shattered her strength, he shattered her spirit with what he did, and when Circe gave in, the dark magic flowed down her bond with Caja, corrupting her as well. Circe fought as hard as she could."
"My poor sister..." I was so angry. Angry, and guilty—I should have been there! I splashed the water and cursed loudly in Piarari.
"Language, Cyris," Mother scolded lightly, knowing how angry I was.
"I...don't know where to go from here," I admitted, gritting my teeth.
"Circe's fate is going to involve imprisonment most likely, but that doesn't mean she needs to suffer, Cyris. Show her mercy...don't separate her from Caja and don't you dare stop trying to break through the dark magic holding her hostage," Mother told me. "Don't give up on your sister."
"I won't Mother, I promise..."
My mother held her head and swayed back and forth a little. The rage I felt was instantly replaced with anguish as I remembered she had to leave me for a second time. I gazed at her lovingly, then started sobbing.
"My strength...is fading, Cyris..." she said softly. "I can't...I can't stay here much longer." She noticed my tears and gave me a sad look. "Oh my sweet little fish...I'll always be with you...even if you can't see me. I'll live on in your heart and in the memories you have of me. That lullaby I used to sing to you? Sing it to your own child someday."
"I miss you...and I'm going to miss you... You and Father... It hurts, it hurts so much."
"I know Cyris... I miss you too my sweet son...but it's time for me to go..." she stated. She moved towards me, but stopped. "And Cyris...?"
"Yes?" I sniffled.
"Rosanna is a lovely woman and a fierce warrior. You chose well, my sweet son. She'll be a great Queen someday. I just hope she doesn't suffer in the Esporian Court as I did."
"She won't," I bit on my lip, trying to hold back more tears.
My mother floated closer, opening her arms, finally ready to hug me one last time.
"Shower her with love, my son, and bring her the stars. Treat her as your father treated me," she told me.
"I will," I replied as I smiled through the tears.
"I hope I don't cause you pain, my little fish," she said softly. "I never wanted to do that."
"It's okay, Mother...I'm honoured."
She nodded and I looked into a set of hazel eyes that mirrored mine.
"I speak for both of us when I say your father and I are so proud of you...you've become every bit the man we hoped you could be..." she told me as we embraced.
Hugging her was definitely nothing like a physical hug, but somehow I could still feel the presence of her embrace. My mother vanished before my eyes and I was left hugging myself, sobbing as I did. Then the pain hit me...I wasn't sure if it was because we were related or because she was a magic user, or both, but it was the worst pain I had felt so far. I screamed out into the night, knowing the thick woods would blanket my voice. I keeled over, letting the torture begin, but this was different.
As much as it hurt, all I could think about was losing my mother all over again. Thoughts of Circe also weighed down my heart, and it made me cry out louder.
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AN: Be sure to drop some comments and vote!
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Storm's Rapture | Storms Series: Book 1 (This is a Co-Write)
Romance"The past haunts you, flowing through your veins like water..." Cyris Castellan is a young man with water magic and royal blood. When he was a child, his home was attacked and destroyed by gruesome magic users. They killed his family, orphaning Cyri...
