Divided

Sacrifice?

A/N: I hope you guys enjoy:)

Caterina's POV

After meeting Sirina, Alistair strides ahead, his silver ring shimmering with a faint glow as he conjures a swirling portal with his blue magic.

"Why do we have to go back to the castle?" Ajia asks, her voice laced with playful frustration as she glances up at Alistair, her bright eyes sparkling. "We still have so much to show Cat!"

"Because it's getting dark, and Caterina can't be out too late. You never know who might be lurking in the shadows," Alistair replies firmly, yet there is a hint of warmth in his tone as he gestures for us to step into the portal.

As we emerge on the other side, the imposing castle looms before us, its tall doors adorned with intricate carvings. The guards, clad in shining armor, bow respectfully, and swing the doors open, allowing us to enter.

"Amra!" (Love) Alistair calls out, his voice echoing slightly in the grand entrance. He scans the vast hall, his expression softening when he spots Celeste emerging from a corner.

"How did it go?" she inquires, her gaze shifting between Alistair, Ajia, and me, her curiosity evident.

Alistair steps closer, taking her hand in his, and kisses it gently, a tender moment that makes my heart flutter. "It went well. We took her to three places! I guess we still have more to teach her," Ajia chimes in, her smile brightening the dim hall.

"Did you talk to Sirina?" Celeste asks, her eyes searching Alistair's, a mix of concern and interest.

"I told her to inform us if she sees anything strange. Her clan will be on the lookout," Alistair responds, his focus unwavering as he holds Celeste's gaze.

Ajia interjects, her voice teasing, "She tried to eat Cat!"

The words hang in the air, a playful accusation. Celeste raises an eyebrow, a small smirk forming. "Sirina knows that humans are off-limits. I'm sure she was just trying to scare you away," she reassures me, her expression softening as she looks at me.

"Yes, I figured..." I reply, a small laugh escaping me. "She was actually quite nice." Celeste offers a faint smile, her eyes twinkling with understanding.

Suddenly, a flash of movement catches my eye. Tzan storms toward us, his red button-up shirt splattered with paint, his expression a mix of frustration. Ajia glances around, feigning innocence before she bolts away, laughter building up as Tzan chases after her.

Alistair, Celeste, and I exchange giggles, the sound echoing in the immensity of the hall. We're left standing together, the castle's grand architecture towering around us, the flickering torches casting dancing shadows on the stone walls.

"Did you enjoy the sea?" Celeste asks, her eyes sparkling with curiosity as I turn to face her.

"Yes, it was very beautiful," I reply, my voice filled with genuine awe. A soft smile spreads across her face, encouraging me to share more. "The scenery was wonderful. So many rocks, the sand, the water, the sky... everything," I elaborate, feeling a warmth in my chest as I remember the vibrant hues of the sunset reflecting off the waves.

Celeste nods, clearly understanding what I'm trying to convey, but I sense a shift in her mood as I continue, "We went to the Tribrid Trading Grounds..." My voice trails off, and I catch her expression changing. "Oh, and the Family Trees."

As soon as I mention them, her smile slowly fades, replaced by a shadow of sadness. "Umm, but it's a beautiful forest," I add quickly, hoping to lift her spirits. "It was more beautiful than the way it is now," she replies, her tone tinged with nostalgia and loss.

My brow furrows as I try to comprehend. "Can't the trees grow back since the stumps are still there?" I ask, my voice laced with hope.

"No. Not these trees," she says, her gaze dropping to the ground, where memories seem to linger in the soil. I watch as Alistair wraps his arm around her, a protective gesture that seems to provide some comfort.

"These are not normal trees. The Family Trees are magical," she explains, her expression growing serious, the gravity of her words settling over us like a thick fog. "They were the source that kept us in touch with the unliving."

"So, there's no possibility for the trees to ever return?" Desperation seeps into my tone, a chilling realization beginning to take shape.

"They can," she replies, her eyes igniting with fierce determination. "Since I'm a tribrid... I can give up my life to Mother Moon and bring the trees back." My heart stutters at her revelation, disbelief crashing over me like a tidal wave.

"You can't force or sacrifice a tribrid. They have to want it, or it won't work," she adds, her gaze locking onto mine with an intensity that makes my breath catch. In that moment, I see the enormity of her burden reflected in her eyes, a weight I can't begin to fathom.

A heavy silence envelops us, thick with tension. I can see the resolve in her eyes, but beneath it, I sense cracks of uncertainty. I step closer, lowering my voice. "And what if you sacrifice yourself and it doesn't work? What if the trees don't return?"

Her expression falters, the weight of my question settling in like a stone in her chest. "I... I don't know," she admits, vulnerability creeping into her tone, softening the fierce exterior she's trying to maintain.

"My sister took the one thing important to everyone; she made sure everyone suffered... because she was." I look at Celeste, who seems lost in her own thoughts, adrift in a sea of guilt and regret.

"Everyone understood it wasn't my fault... but yet it feels like it is," she confesses, her voice a fragile whisper that trembles with emotion.

"Sorry, Caterina. We'll see you in the morning," Alistair says gently, but the heaviness lingers as I watch him pull her away, their figures gradually receding into the distance.

Confused and unsettled, I turn and begin walking toward my room, my mind racing with what we've just discussed.

"Cat!" I hear Ajia's voice break through the silence, bright and cheerful. "Wait up!" She rushes toward me, her laughter bubbling over, but it falters as she notices my expression.

"What's wrong, Cat?" Her face shifts instantly to concern, worry etching lines across her brow.

"Come." She pulls my hand, leading me toward the library, her energy a clear contrast to the heaviness in my heart.

As we enter the dimly lit room, the scent of aged books envelops us. I spot Tzan lounging on one of the plush couches, a book resting lazily in his lap. He looks up, curiosity flickering in his eyes, but his interest quickly shifts to my troubled face.

"You look shocked," Ajia observes, her voice laced with worry, deepening the confusion within me.

"Celeste has to die in order to bring the Family Trees back?" I whisper, the words slipping out like a secret too burdensome to carry. The moment they leave my lips, the room grows still, the weight of the truth hanging heavy.

Ajia's expression falters; her eyes widen as she glances at Tzan, who shuts his book with a sharp snap, the sound echoing around the library.

"Come here." She tugs me closer to the couch where Tzan sits, her tone shifting to something more serious. "Sit." I lower myself onto the cushion, struggling to keep my composure.

"Don't worry about that... Celeste knows the stakes, but I don't think she would actually go through with it. She's our leader after all." Ajia meets my gaze, her eyes firm yet filled with empathy.

"Celeste has kept her emotions in check for the sake of our world," she continues, her voice softening. "A tribrid is a powerful being... if their emotions get tangled, it could spell disaster." Tzan nods slowly at Ajia's words, his expression grave.

"Is that why Alistair took her away?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper. They both nod, the weight of unspoken truths hanging in the air.

"No one has endured what Celeste has," Ajia murmurs, her voice thick with understanding. "She's faced too much." I nod, absorbing her words as clarity begins to cut through the fog in my mind, each revelation sharpening the edge of my concern.

Thank you so much for reading♡♡♡