Inferno's legacy (On Hold)

Chapter 35

Eretria stared blankly at the ceilings, hands on her stomach. It had been two days since she decided to seek Sheila out. Her thoughts had wandered out of the room and it revolved around the fact that Gwen was getting married. It wasn't a big deal, she told herself. But she didn't believe it.

She rolled on her side and closed her eyes. She had decided she wasn't going to show up. It was purely political and , of course, wasn't a big deal, so why the hell was she thinking about it?!

"Your thought are pretty loud."

Her eyes snapped open and she whipped her head towards the door. She narrowed her eyes at Dash as she got off the bed.

"What the hell?! You can't come in here like that." She said, crossing her arms as she stood.

"I can if you won't open the door."

"Ever heard of knocking?"

"I did knock. You were too consumed to hear me." He tucked his hands into his pockets. "Come on." He said, gesturing outside with his head.

She narrowed her eyes. "Where?" She asked.

"Someone's here to see you and I do not like being the errand boy for this." He said and turned around and for a moment, Eretria could swear she saw a peek of white hair underneath the woolen hat he wore.

"Who is it?" She asked. Her mind already gave her a  list but she refused to take it. None of the people on the list would come here to see her.

Dash didn't reply, he just kept walking. Eretria cursed at him before following behind.

They stopped in front of the large doors of the meeting room. The doors opened on its own accord and Dash stepped inside. The moment she stepped in, it closed and for a moment she panicked when she saw the unfamiliar back. Her eyes flickered to the closed door, wondering why Dash would leave her alone with her complete stranger. But no harm was probably meant.

She took steps forward and when the woman in front of her turned, she paused. Froze. Then she took a step backwards and those grey eyes watched her.

"Eretria." The woman breathed her name, coming closer as tears filled her eyes.

Eretria used her hands to put some space between them. "I know you, don't I?" She asked, even though she had no idea how.

"You probably don't remember." She spoke in a low voice attempting to move closer but Eretria took several steps backwards. "I did somethings I probably shouldn't be forgiven for but know it was with your best interest at heart. Many will say it was greedy of me to want more than I was given, but I took that decision knowing it was the only way to save you. A mother can't watch her child die."

The words sank in one at a time. Shouldn't be forgiven. Best interest at heart. A mother.

Her knees buckled, she grabbed the table for support as her eyes glazed out of focus. She tried to concentrate on what was real but the ringing in her ears just got louder.

A mother.

Her hand went up to her chest and she could feel. The excruciating pain she couldn't describe, couldn't understand. A flicker passed through her eyes and she stared at the woman in front of her.

"You did this to me." She said, her voice turning dark.

The woman's eyes widened and Eretria saw fear leaped into her grey eyes.

"Eretria, I didn't mean to. I had to, to save you, to save all of us." The woman said, her voice desperate.

"Save me?" She placed her hands on the table to support herself. "I'm sorry, how? What are you talking about?"

"It's probably been hard for you, accepting your identity. But because that heart was placed in you doesn't mean you have to follow it's owners footsteps. You're an entirely different person from her."

Eretria closed her eyes and shook her head. "What are talking about?"

The woman grabbed her arms and made Eretria look at her. "You've probably been told that you're just a descendant but that's not true. You're...her but not the same person... you're" Eretria's eyes narrowed in confusion. "You have her heart. Yennefer's heart beats in you."

Eretria pushed her away. "The last thing I want right now is a strange woman telling me strange things. So first, we're gonna start who the hell you are. And what are you talking about?"

The woman took a deep breath and Eretria couldn't help but noticed the tiny strands of grey hair, the way her eyes fluttered close before she opened them, the familiarity in this woman. She saw it but it didn't make sense.

"I'm Adeline." She started and Eretria could tell she was debating where to go from there. "A century ago, there was a war that threatened humanity. A war between gods, a war to prove power. The only way to end this was to put and end to one of the gods and the mages found a way." She touched her chest. "The heart. Rules were broken during this war and the universe punishes defaulters. The heart of fire was taken from it's source, locked away, and the heart of water was frozen. It's owner couldn't access it's powers." She paused and sighed.

"A century ago? The heart of fire? The heart of water? Where are you going with this?"

"All you have to know is that at birth, you were gifted with the heart of fire as the only way to save your life. Those powers were meant to be kept locked away, which is why you have that." Adeline pointed at Eretria's pendant.

"This never locked away my powers. I've always had it and it has always been out of control, until recently."

"It's purpose was never yo lock away your powers. That was something we all misunderstood. It connects you to the lineage of your heart. An ancient bloodline of fire beings."

Eretria turned away, placing her hands on the table. "And you know all this, how?"

Adeline hesitated for a moment. Eretria knew. She knew the answer but still denied it.

"I placed that heart in you. I gave birth to you."

Eretria clenched her fist. "And abandoned me. You knew all this about me, yet, you left me to face it all on my own. Why are you here now?"

"To set things right." Adeline said, stepping closer to her.

"You're too late! Everything has gone wrong and you can't fix it! You should have been there for your child! You left me, because you were scared of what you turned your child into.

Eretria's eyes blazed with a mix of anger and hurt as she stared at Adeline. "You're too late," she repeated, her voice low and even. "Everything has gone wrong, and you can't fix it. Why are you here now?"

Adeline took a step forward, her eyes filled with a deep sorrow. "I'm here to help you, Eretria. I know I wasn't there for you before, but I want to make it right."

Eretria's laughter was bitter. "Make it right? You think you can just waltz back into my life and fix everything? You don't even know what's going on."

Adeline's gaze faltered, and for a moment, Eretria saw a glimmer of uncertainty. But then, Adeline's expression hardened. "I know more than you think, Eretria. I know about the heart of fire, and I know about the danger that's coming."

Eretria's eyes narrowed, her anger boiling over. "I don't want to hear it," she spat, turning to storm out of the room.

Adeline's voice followed her, desperate. "Eretria, please! You have to listen to me!"

But Eretria didn't look back. She slammed the doors open and strode out into the corridor, her heart pounding with rage and hurt. She didn't know where she was going, she just knew she had to get away from Adeline and the painful truths she'd uncovered.

***

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