~ Rhaenys Vissera, blood witch ~
Haakon, Callidora, and Mithra and I all walk out of the tunnels and into a massive chamber. The chamber is gigantic, full of bioluminescent plants, trees, and flowers. There is a small lake in the middle, which also glows bright in the darkness of the chamber.
"This place....." whispers Mithra, her eyes wide as she turns in place, looking around and holding the vial. "This place is so beautiful...."
"What is this place doing in the Darkscape?" Callidora asks.
"Good question," Haakon mutters. He looks around us, the brilliant and glowing plants so bright in their bioluminescence that it illuminates the whole chamber. All around us are tall trees, which stand sentry over this chamber. Among them, I see shadows lurking. We are being watched from all angles.
Callidora walks up to a curved bowl-shaped leafy plant which is taller than even Haakon. She gently touches it, causing the stem to glow bright blue, which pulses up into the bowl-shaped leaf. She approaches the big plant, her hands touching the plant with reverence.
"This is a sacred place," she whispers.
I look over at a nearby tall plant filled with flowers similar to lilies. But they are purple and glowing golden. I look over to the small lake, hearing a soft splashing sound.
"What?" I whisper, walking toward it.
"Rhaen? What is it?" Mithra asks, following me.
A girl swims in the water, and she breaches the surface, her hair long and silver, sticking to her rich brown skin. She watches me with green eyes like that of grass after a storm. She has no clothes on and is covered in tons of beautiful tattoos. Is she one of the mythical sirens?
Sirens haven't been seen in centuries.
"Um, hi?" Mithra says to the woman.
The woman looks at her. "Hello, Mithra. Hello, Rhaenys."
"You know us?" I ask, studying her face.
"I do," she replies. "I am Krihla, and I am the only ally you have among the divine. Aside from my wife, Zunera"
"Wait ...." Mithra backs away from the water. "You're a ...."
"No need to fear me, Mithra. I will not harm any of you. I swear upon my life."
"Why not?" I ask her. "I mean, most of the gods are bloodthirsty and they all seem to want us dead."
"Indeed. But Zunera and I may be goddesses, yes. But we are not like the ones you have met. We will help you, in any way we can. I am the Goddess of Storms, she, the Goddess of Love. And those two elements shall save the five of you."
"Wait. You said five. Is Kai...?"
"Kai is indeed alive within that vial," says Krihla. "However, he is very weak. Your love, however small, as you two have just met, your love is keeping him alive. Mithra, if you want Kai to live, I will ask you to gather your friends and follow me. I will take you to my wife. She will help you save him."
"Save him? But Rhialdir said ...."
"Our brother-god is indeed a strong being. But he does not know all, nor does he speak for love. Now, who would you trust more to know the truth of saving your soul mate? The God of Beasts, or the Goddess of Love?"
I turn to Mithra. "She's offering to help us. I know this is scary and I know we have no true reason to trust that she won't hurt us, but .... we need to do this. For Kai."
"For Kai."
As if on cue, Haakon and Callidora return to our side. Haakon looks at Krihla, his eyes widening in shock. "Wait. Mother of Storms?"
Krihla grins. "I am glad you know of me, Haakon Sterling, the warlock. Come with me, all of you. And we shall see what we can do to help you."
YOU ARE READING
The Blood Witch
FantasyWhen you come from the bloodthirsty gods and goddesses, you become bloodthirsty yourself. When they force you to feel their power, or either make your life a hellish experience in order to get what they want from you, chances are, you'll do what the...
