From the Ashes

Chapter 61 ~ Clouded Paths

    She found herself standing beneath the gazebo of ivory wood and stone, gazing up at a starry night sky. Someone was beside her, a female glowing with an ethereal warmth. She knew whose presence she was in without even looking at her, but she did anyway.

    Oriana's soft blue gaze already rested upon her. Golden hair floated around her like a glistening mantle and light shimmered beneath her pearled skin. Morana began to bow, then paused as Oriana laid a delicate hand on her arm.

    "Is this why Rehema told me to be wakeful?" Morana whispered, almost afraid to break the reverent stillness around them.

    "Yes. I bring wisdom for the coming days." The goddess's voice was as lovely as she'd imagined, rising and falling like the melodic chirp of a songbird. It was impossible for her voice to ever compare with the goddess's, not even when she was singing.

    But she wasn't so awestruck not to remark on the goddess's words. "Why couldn't you bring wisdom before when we really needed it?"

    A tender smile graced Oriana's thin, bowed lips. "Perhaps we did not bring it directly, but we have always guided you towards what you need."

    "Why the different approach now?"

    "Because you are different now, Morana. You were not open to dreams and visions of this nature before."

    "Will this happen frequently?"

    "No. Even in dreams, it is difficult for us to return to the mortal realm for long. Even Drenusha cannot remain in her doe form in your world without risking the loss of her immortality. Such is the way for us. We Ascended while living, and to Descend now would mean death."

    Morana pursed her lips, but held her tongue. Clearly there wouldn't be time to ask all of her questions, if the goddess even deigned to answer them. She'd have to resign herself to hearing what Oriana had to say. When the goddess seemed certain that she wasn't going to interrupt, she spoke again.

    "I bring you a warning, Phoenix of Hadeon. The servant of the god-spawn survived the battle, and some small seed of Astaroth's power remains in him."

    Morana's eyes widened. "You mean Rhidian? Rhidian survived?" She shook her head in denial. "But...I killed Astaroth. Rhidian is nothing without him."

    "Yes, and you will have nothing to fear if that seed does not endure. But if it does, Astaroth may be able to return through a new host's body. Through the one who carries the last remnants of his power."

    "Will it happen?"

    "We don't know. Drenusha's Sight was clear before, but now, she cannot see more than a few days into the future."

    Morana stared at the goddess in shock and dismay, then slowly sank to the ground. She hid her face in her hands, still shaking her head. "No, no, I killed him. He's gone and it's over. It has to be. After everything we just went through..."

    Oriana knelt beside her and rested a gentle hand on her shoulder. "It is a terrible burden to place upon you, this knowledge, but you had to know so that you can be prepared if that day should come."

    Her. It had to be her, because if Astaroth returned, she would still be the only one who could stop him. But this was proof already that she hadn't done enough. She'd given it her all.

    She thought she'd killed Astaroth, but if he could return through even the smallest remnant of his magic, what could she do to stop him? Would it be a never ending cycle throughout her lifetime? Had all of this been for nothing? Morana didn't resist when Oriana tilted her chin up.