The Light Within Her - Book Nine

Ch. 31- Summer Solstice

"The light will always win over darkness."

***

I stood on a pedestal while my mother fixed the train on my wedding gown. Her scarlet hair was curled at the bottom while she wore gold eyeshadow that was the same color as her eyes, yet it still brightened her entire face. Hers were more defined, more bright while mine had a mix of black in the irises. Having a bit of darkness the moment I was born was no surprise and today I was marrying the god of it. I stared at myself in the body mirror in front of me–analyzing every detail of myself. The curves on my waist, average sized breasts, the dark brown locks ending at below my shoulders–even the freckles on my cheeks given to me by the sun. The injury from last night was already healed thanks to the powers my mother gave me at birth. And thanks to the summer solstice–my sunlight was even more fierce and controlling to the point where anyone who touched me would burn.

Erebus did not know that fact and I was counting on it today.

Kalama and Nyra were setting up makeup and hair tools on the vanity across the room, while Emmeline, Rosalind, and Bea stumbled in with a bottle of champagne. They all wore lacy black gowns as my maid of honor and bridesmaids. If this was a wedding that I chose, my smile would be more genuine. Today, it was an act where me and my entire family would dare to play. We were supposed to be joyous, to celebrate this happy fucking day. But it was nothing but darkness. And last night when Erebus came home–he wanted nothing more than to celebrate because of his marriage to me and that he found Aether. He was chained somewhere in the temple, though when I asked Erebus he avoided the subject and I assumed Selene and Achlys were watching him.

Through everything, I could not stop thinking about Amias Guinivere. The promises we made last night. The ones we vowed to make happen no matter what. He was my safe place, my home and I desperately wanted to go back to it. To feel safe again in his arms.

A tear fell down my cheek without thinking and my mother instantly straightened, walking around to face me. Damn her motherly instincts. Her lips pulled back into a sad smile–nodding as though she understood without me having to say anything. Did she know? She placed her hands in mine and squeezed tight. "No matter what happens today, the love we have for you will never waver." she whispered so no one else could hear, leaning in close. "And between you and me, love will always prosper over every law and lowly god, Sor. So fight for it with every strength you have so you can have the life you want."

Sometimes when I spoke with my mother, the great Elora Meryn, it was unbelievable she was the one that gave birth to me. That I was her daughter, the troublemaker that seemed to get in way too many fights throughout my life. She spent years in torment and all alone and yet, she was gentle and kind. Elora–who fought wars and crawled her way back to life over and over–chose to be soft instead of cruel. "How do you hide it, Mom?" I blurted out. "The violence from war and all the torture that was inflicted upon you...how do you stay kind and compassionate through it all?"

'I do not hide it, sweetheart. I wear it like armor. All that pain...the heartbreak and grief in my heart was enough to make me gentle. I fought my way out of the dark and into the light where I can see clearly that everyone deserves a little bit of kindness. Which is why I understand the war in your own heart." she said, her eyes glassy with tears but stood tall. "He sees every inch of you, Soari, and does not falter from it whereas the god loves the idea of you. Of what you might be to him. And I am grateful that you know the difference between the two."

"How did you know?" I asked slowly, my heart beating against my chest.

My mother moved a strand of hair behind my ear. "Please, I've been an expert of keeping secrets from those I loved for many years. I can keep another." I let out a laugh and shook my head. Of course she would know what was going on between me and Amias–she was not blind. Yet, I still wanted it to be kept secret from her. From everyone until it was safe to tell others. She was just another person that was in danger because of my decisions. "Who else would shove your father away from you so he could break your fall? Who swore a blood oath to protect you, sweetheart? It is all in his actions. And his eyes, of course."