Thief of Twilight

Part Three: Chapter 113

Dravna held up her hand, holding a pearly sphere between her fingers. She marveled at the soul of Lord Baldwin who now lay lifeless before her.

"How do you feel?" Elyan asked.

Dravna looked up at the goddess. "I am quite pleased with the outcome." she rose to her feet and handed the sphere to Elyan. "Now it is yours to do as you please."

Elyan took the sphere and narrowed her eyes. "Such a disgusting human." she opened her mouth and swallowed the soul before licking her lips. "Normally, I would have you hold onto the soul until I called for you. But this human has evaded death for far too long. His soul must be judged at once."

"I completely understand." Dravna smiled.

"I take it you have business to attend to?"

"Yes." Dravna looked to the east. It would appear that Sayori is calling for me. I can sense it. She's got a task for me. It might be something regarding a human that needs to be taught a lesson."

"I see." Elyan waved her hand. "Run along then. I'll summon you when the time comes for you to collect another soul."

Dravna smiled happily before sauntering off through the forest.

Elyan lowered her head before holding her hand over Lord Baldwin's body. The earth churned beneath him as a pair of ivory fangs emerged from the soil. His body was gathered by the teeth before it was crushed and swallowed by the earth.

"He deserves no funeral. He deserves nothing." she turned and walked away. "He shall return to the earth and remain there until the end of time. I will hold onto his soul for all of eternity and make it so that his soul cannot be cleansed and reborn into a new life." Elyan looked up at the moon. "I will do that for you, Celen, as a goddess and as a sister."

___

"You are such a fool." Zaffre grumbled.

"Do you enjoy making us worry?" Vista sneered.

"We were so worried about you!" Canary whined.

"We thought something bad had happened to you!" Cerise cried.

"I-I'm sorry..." I smiled softly.

"You were carried to the palace by the emperor! You were unconscious!" Canary slammed her hands onto the edge of the bed.

"I don't really remember what happened after Yohan comforted me in the forest. But when I woke up, everyone said I had a high fever for six days. I guess if it wasn't for Vista, Zaffre, and Cerise, I probably wouldn't be alive right now.

"Do you have any idea how long we've been keeping your body cool?" Vista asked.

"Yes, water and ice don't last long when someone has a high fever such as yourself." Zaffre growled.

"I'm sorry, guys." I laughed lightly. "Really, I am."

"We're glad you're alright." Tekhelet said.

"Even the emperor was worried." Jasper added.

The door to my bedroom opened and Sinopia stepped in. He had his hands held behind his back. He looked over to the bed and took a breath.

"He's back again." Canary jumped to her feet and bounced out of the room.

"Let's go." Jasper said. "Let's let the old man talk to her."

Vista and Zaffre looked down at me. Zaffre placed his hand on the bowl of water next to my bed causing it to cool with a thin layer of ice on top.

"We'll come back after you two talk." Vista walked with her brother out of the room.

I took a deep breath as Sinopia approached the bed.