Echos Of A Soul

Through the Cracks

The warlock's feet hit the ground in a place she knew all too well. Her second home, The Derelict. She loved it here, seeing all the things her love was tinkering with. A small sigh escaped her lips. She was worried, her situation only grew more dire as time went on. Her hands began to shake with fear, for the first time since this happened, she was afraid. Slowly she began to hum a small tune to herself in order to calm herself. However the attempt failed as she slumped to her knees hugging herself. Lost in her stormy sea of thoughts, she didn't hear footsteps approaching her.

The figure paused when he saw her. Slowly he got down beside the apparition of her and placed his hand on her shoulder. She jumped slightly until the figure spoke.

"Echo, are you alright?" It was Crow, she remembered Storm had asked him to watch over the Drifter. Crow noticed how frail the warlock looked, almost like she was about to break apart in his hands.

"How I'm doing isn't important." She shook her head, "How is he?" She looked to Crow, he could see the worry in her gold eyes. He looked in the direction of where Drifter was.

"Would you like to see him?" He asked the warlock. He turned back to her to see her eyes cast downward, fidgeting with the ring on her finger. The beautiful stone had taken energy sealed inside of it. Crow remembered when Drifter had asked her friends to help him craft the ring. Crow smiled and walked off while she wasn't paying attention.

The hunter made his way to where the Drifter was. Once he entered the room, he saw Drifter sitting at the counter. His head lay on the table and a half-full glass of who knows what, clearly drinking away his sorrow. Crow walked over to and placed his hand on his shoulder.

"Someone wants to see you, come on" He whispered in an attempt to not startle Drifter like he did to Echo. The Drifter grumbled and let out a string of curses.

"Tell em to go away, don't wanna see em." Even though he had clearly been drinking he was still sober, the man had a surprising tolerance. Crow sighed and grabbed the drink from the Drifter causing his head to snap up, eyes full of anger.

"THE HELL KID?? GIVE IT BACK" He snapped and reached for the glass. He turned away and stormed off. "WHY CAN'T ANY OF YA JUST LEAVE ME BE I JUST…." He paused for a moment. His emotions were taking over, something rarely seen with him. He slowly slumped down to his knees, his hands gripping his hair tightly. Crow made his way over and got down beside him only to see tears running down the Drifter's cheeks.

"I…I just want her…" His voice was broken, empty. Crow felt a pang in his chest, he knew how he felt. When he and Echo were trapped under the Altars of Sorrow all he wanted was Storm. Crow took Drifter's hands out of his hair.

"I know, " Crow gazed into the Drifter’s eyes to try and calm him. "When Storm went head first below the Altars after Echo and I got trapped….I was terrified I was gonna lose her." His gold eyes turned away gazing upwards.

"I know this is different from the situation is now, but I was so scared. Scared of losing her, scared of her being gone forever." He turned to look back at the Drifter. "You're afraid, you're hurting, you're terrified of losing her." Crow's head turned to where she was appearing. He smiled softly remembering she wanted to see Drifter. He helped the Drifter up to his feet.

"Come on, she's over here." Crow took his hand, "She wants to see you, if anything I think she needs you." Drifter's eyes shot up from the floor.

"Where…where is she?" He frantically asked Crow. The hunter led him to where he last saw the warlock.

She was still there but she looked different. She was slumped over more, she looked to be hugging herself and shaking. She's afraid. The pair made their way to her and Drifter got down next to her. She looked so tired, the battle of the mind was taking its toll on her.

"My Moon…" it was a name he tended to use in more intimate or difficult times. Her gold eyes widened and she stared into the Drifter’s eyes. The moon sigil on her chest began to glow a shade of green. A sense of calmness washed over her, easing her fragile mind.

A sun sigil began to glow on the Drifter's hand and his chest. It was their souls bonding with one another. Crow knew that they each held a piece of the other's soul but he's never seen the pact they made in action before. He watched in awe as the pair seemed to hold a conversation without actually speaking aloud.

"Echo, how are you feeling?" Drifter's eyes were clouded with worry. She looked as if she would shatter if he touched her. Her eyes closed and she shook her head.

"I'm…managing" Her voice was weak. His brows furrowed at her response. Drifter moved his hand to rest on her cheek. Before his hand reached her body recoiled causing him to jump. She clutched her head tightly. He was trying to break in.

"No, no, no." She scooted away from Drifter in a panic. Her eyes shut tightly so she could focus and lock down her mind. "GO AWAY" She cried out.

He could see it, she's slipping through the cracks. Her mental walls are breaking, allowing him to slip through. Her panic only gave him more strength. Quickly he made his way back to her side. Drifter placed his hands over hers, he could feel them shaking.

"Breathe my Moon, focus on me not him." The sigil on her chest began to glow again this time brighter than before. Her grip on her head loosened and he guided her hands off. Her gold eyes locked with his once more. The sigil was not only a bond of their souls, but a way to calm each other, a way to communicate, a way to be a part of the other forever.

"Malok…" She spoke the name he loved dearly. "I, I need you to go find Storm in your bar. Go with them, please." The apparition of her was fading away. "Please, go with them" She begged him once more. The apparition of her began to grow transparent.

She placed her hands in his. Her gold eyes locked with his. He loved the glow her eyes held. He watched as a smile appeared on her lips. Confusion filled the Drifter's body as that smile became her signature closed eye smile.

"I love you Germaine." She spoke softly before dissipating once more. His eyes widened as she vanished once more.

He felt something in his hand that wasn't there before. He opened his palm to see her engagement ring laying in his hand. The stone filled with taken energy gleaming brightly. His heart began to ache again. Emptiness took over his emotions. He felt as if he was drowning. He couldn't breathe, his hand made its way to his chest grabbing at the cloth of his over coat.

'My Sun, Germaine, I'm here with you always. Don't worry'  Her voice echoed through his head. The sun sigil on his chest began to glow, calming him. He laughed softly, funny how he was just calming her now here she is calming him.

"I'm coming Stardust, don't you worry." He closed his hand around the ring and tied it to the jade necklace that hung from his neck. He stood up and got ready to leave the Derelict.

~~~~~

"Eris," Orion spoke. "Her six have been chosen. We need to prepare for Operation Eclipse. The former hunter looked at her dear friend's Ghost and placed the book down. Eris had gathered all the information she needed to save the warlock. It was time.