Six Crimson Seeds (A VegasPete Persephone AU)

Chapter 33: The Love and the Terror

    Kinn and Porsche watched, helpless, as Vegas's mother sprang from the earth. Yai smiled at her friend, blinking away her tears as she immediately began pleading.

"Sasithorn, I need your son's help. My grandson's been taken and we need Vegas to find him quickly."

Porsche clutched at Kinn''s back, terrified. "What's happening?" he whined.

Kinn reached back to wrap an arm around Porsche's waist to comfort him, all while keeping his eyes on the woman coming out of the ground like she were merely treading water. He remembered her face from his childhood and had never thought to see it again.

"It's okay, Porsche. We're safe. It's my aunt." Kinn licked his lips, hoping he hadn't just lied to his boyfriend.

Yai ignored them both as she bowed in front of Sasithorn, who opened her mouth, finally, to speak.

"Phueng, do you know what you are asking? Do you know the price you must pay to disrupt the system?"

Yai gave a weak smile as she nodded. "I freely surrender to the Fields. I give myself in exchange for Vegas's return."

Porsche tried to push past Kinn, but he held him back, complying with Yai's wishes. "Yai? What are you doing?"

Yai turned to them finally, giving them a warm smile. "Keep your promise, boys. Find Pete. Save him. And tell him I love him."

With that, Sasithorn reached forward with her other arm and pulled Yai into the earth. Porsche had to cover his mouth to keep his screams quiet so they didn't attract the attention of the guards.

"What- what do we do, Kinn?"

Kinn shook his head. "I don't know. We have to wait, I think."

_____

Vegas was lying on the ground when a flash of what looked like a shooting star caught his attention. Getting to his feet again, Vegas peered into the dim distance, trying to see anything unusual over the heads of the departed souls.

Finally, the bright light of a torch held high drew his gaze just as he heard a familiar voice calling his name.

"Vegas! Vegas! Help! Pete needs you!"

"Pete?" Vegas breathed. In a moment, he took off running toward the sound of Yai's voice. "Yai? Yai!"

Vegas ran faster when he saw Yai, being led by-

"Ma?"

Vegas didn't know where to turn. There was Yai, who didn't belong there, and then there was his mother. His mother who he missed so much.

"Vegas!" Yai called again, running to hug him. "There's no time, my boy. I need you to find Pete. He's in danger. Renfro has him, and only you can find him. You have to find him. Pete will be the one to save you, Vegas. Save all of you. But first, you need to save him."

"I don't understand," Vegas said, glancing between them. "You shouldn't be here, Yai. You can't die. It's not your time. And how can I save Pete when I'm stuck here?"

"We're wasting time," Sasithorn said in a gentle tone. Turning to Yai, she said, "He won't remember this interaction either way. We need to get him back to the others."

"What?"

Sasithorn held her son close with her arm not holding the torch as she said, "Phueng is giving herself so that you may save her grandson. You won't have much time, but it's all we can give you. Please be safe, my son. I love you."