Her Loving Captor

21

Dani



"How could all this have perished?" Dani asked, pain clenching her heart. "All this magic?"

"This magic and the world were made to be pure," Peace explained. "But Chaos is chaotic, Power too dominant and hungry to be pure, even Time, has his burden to bear. I was supposed to be the one to balance them and I did, for a time."

There was too much sorrow in Peace's eyes, too much pain as she spoke, breaking Dani's heart. "What happened?" she asked.

The smile Peace gave her was heartbreaking. Tears shimmered in her eyes like crystals under the noon sun. "I fell in love," she explained.

Dani couldn't understand how that could be a problem until she remembered what her grandmother had said. The three Primes had all wanted Peace. "With Power," Dani guessed, remembering what Chaos had said.

"Yes," Peace agreed. "It was a love we both knew we could not express. We knew it would be unfair to the other two. All we had were lingering looks that went nowhere and fleeting touches."

Dani knew that pain, the ache of watching the one you love, knowing that a chasm stood between them. One that was insurmountable. To escape it, she cleared her throat and changed the subject. "Forgive me, but I thought you Primes were... uh... siblings."

Instead of being offended as Dani had thought, Peace smiled, then explained. "Time, Chaos and Power are triplets, born in the first instant of creation. Power was first and Time last, that is why they look so alike. I was born some time later."

"So you're not their sister?"

"No,"

"And Cari, Annie and I are the pieces of you meant to bond with the remaining Primes?" she asked.

Peace laughed, and it felt like the air danced with joy along with her. "Yes, and no." Dani frowned at that answer and looked askance at the Prime. "You are not pieces of me Dani, you are me."

"How... how is that possible?"

Peace looked at the city sprawled before them, her gaze far away, not seeing the splendour of it. The city was built with something that was like marble and yet had the texture of gold. Its architecture was a harmonious blend of ancient grandeur and futuristic elegance. Towering spires reached towards the sky, their surfaces shimmering in the sunlight, casting a golden hue that seemed to dance with every breeze.

The streets were paved with intricate mosaics, each tile a tiny masterpiece depicting scenes of mythical creatures and legendary heroes. The buildings, though grand and imposing, had an ethereal quality, as if the hands of gods crafted them. Balconies adorned with lush, hanging gardens overflowed with vibrant flowers, their scents mingling in the air to create a symphony of fragrances.

In the heart of the city stood four colossal palaces, their domes and minarets piercing the heavens. A vast, crystal-clear moat, where golden fish swam lazily, their scales catching the light and adding to the city's radiant glow surrounded the palaces. Bridges of translucent glass arched gracefully over the water, connecting the palaces to each other and the bustling city beyond.

Every corner of the city was alive with activity. Marketplaces buzzed with merchants selling exotic goods, their stalls overflowing with colorful fabrics, rare spices, and mysterious artifacts. Street performers entertained passersby with feats of magic and acrobatics, their talents drawing crowds of awestruck onlookers.

As Dani took in the breathtaking view, she couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder. This city, with its blend of the old and the future, the real and the fantastical, was a place where dreams and reality intertwined, creating a tapestry of endless possibilities. How had it existed? Where were its ruins?