The Pain in My Heart [Completed]

Chapter Thirty-Two ~Zaria

"So, what's the plan, you all-knowing Fae?"

Tyrian glares over at Lucy who has seemed to go back to normal after being in the inn café. Or, back to normal when it comes to talking to Tyrian.

"First things first. I'm going to need to inspect the castle," he says with great confidence. Lucy's steps stop immediately and I almost bump into her before gently pushing her back to keep going. I'm guessing he can sense our shock because he continues, "Well, it seems only fair. You and the castle have been stuck in my mind for months now. How do you expect me to help you if you won't even welcome me inside the castle?"

"You didn't say anything about going to the castle. I thought you would have a better idea of what you're looking for."

"What she means," I cut in, elbowing her side. "Is that we have had bad experiences in the past of letting people just wander inside the palace with only a story."

He turns around and walks backward. "You mean yourself."

I can see Lucy's arm in the corner of my eye advancing, but I grab it before anything happens and clear my throat. "Actually, yes."

His eyebrows raise at the tone of my voice and even Lucy's hands go quite colder than usual. "How do we know you're not just trying to infiltrate Lumbridge with a false promise that you can help us?"

Just as I'm done asking the question, the crystal around my neck starts to glow a fiery red. The whisper of tiny windchimes hums from the necklace and it glows even stronger. The brighter it gets, the louder the hum becomes until it starts to float off my chest and gravitate towards him.

Glancing up at him, his eyes are wide and fixed on the crystal looking just as surprised as I feel. Lucy's presence behind me is like a faint shadow and I know what I'm thinking would make her go mad, but I can't help it.

Unclasping the necklace, I hold it out in front of me and the pendant swings back and forth between us like a pendulum. Lucy peeks out from behind me and stands next to both of us, the necklace gravitating towards her as well. Swinging in a triangle the pull becomes stronger until it is waving around us in a circle out of my hands and floating in the middle.

Tiny sparks of what seem like fire start to erupt out of the heart of the crystal and wrap around all of us. The sparks stop in midair and hover above all of our heads and quite suddenly change to a burning black that sprinkles gently on top of our heads. The ash stands out on Lucy and Tyrian's heads like a spot of ink on paper.

Tyrian whispers under his breath. "I thought it was only legend," he says mesmerized by the falling ash.

"What legend?" I whisper.

"A bond as strong as fire shared amongst the select.

A blessing over souls, the mighty flame protects.

Till dusk of the dead, the fire will burn. From ash we were made—"

"To ash we will return," Lucy murmurs. "The Ash Bond."

"You've heard of it?" he asks roaming his eyes over her.

She nods her head slowly. "I... I've seen it."

"Who? Where have you seen it?" The glow of the crystal fades and the sound of windchimes becomes only a faint whisper again. I hold my hand out underneath it. The necklace falls into my hands as gently as a feather and with one last whooshing noise the crystal goes back to normal.

"Adam's family," she says shortly and I can feel Tyrian tense next to me. She takes a deep shaky breath. "I was there with him in the Medic Room when he passed. Adam's father. Right when he closed his eyes and took his final breath... it was as if the heavens were crying. The room started raining with ash. I didn't know it at the time." She folds her hands together, her pale knuckles turning stark white. She sniffs and shakes her head quickly, her loose curls swishing.