Fates Entwined

Chapter 22: The Calm Before the Storm

Miri finally arrived at Risha's apartment.

"Miri!" Risha's voice cracked as she threw her arms around her cousin.

Miri held her tightly, feeling the tremor in Risha's shoulders. "Hey, hey, I'm here now. What happened?"

Risha pulled back, her face twisted with anguish. "Everything's falling apart, Miri. I—I did something, and now Sol doesn't remember, and I've been avoiding everyone. Ashan's been texting, but I can't... I can't even look at my phone. I feel like I'm losing myself."

Miri guided her to the couch, her voice calm but firm. "Okay, slow down. Start from the beginning. What happened with Sol?"

Tears welled in Risha's eyes as she recounted the events of that night, her voice breaking as she described the pain of having a divine being wipe Sol's memory.

When she finished, Miri sighed deeply. "I don't want to blame you. Maybe I would have done the same if I were you. You were just filled with desire, human desire, and you acted purely on emotion."

Risha looked at Miri. "But lil sis, you can't carry all this guilt alone. I mean, yeah, you broke the code and let the being wipe Sol's memory, but you also know how you feel. Sol might not remember, but that doesn't mean what you feel isn't real. You're hurting yourself by keeping it all bottled up."

"I don't know how to fix this," Risha whispered.

"If you feel like crying, let it out—just vent," Miri placed a hand on Risha's shoulder.

Risha could no longer hold back her tears. She cried and screamed uncontrollably, as though all the emotions she had been bottling up were finally bursting free. Miri sat silently, letting her release it all without interference.

After a while, Risha calmed down and sat.

Miri spoke, "Now, we've got to fix it, no matter what! One step at a time. First, you need to take care of yourself. Go back to work, face Sol, and Ashan too. Avoiding them won't make this any easier."

Risha hesitated, her fingers twisting in her lap. "I don't think I can. Not yet."

"Then start small," Miri urged. "Reply to Ashan's texts, even if it's just to let him know you're okay. And when you're ready, talk to Sol. You can't run forever, Rish."

Risha nodded reluctantly, wiping her face. "You're right. I'll try."

As the evening deepened, Miri's thoughts wandered to her own tangled emotions. Aaron had been kind, steady, and patient—a stark contrast to the uncertainty she felt about Neil. She hadn't told Risha about any of it, not wanting to add to her cousin's burdens. But the weight of her feelings was becoming harder to ignore.

Meanwhile, across the city, Sol sat in the office she shared with Risha, staring at the empty desk opposite hers. Three days. Risha hadn't shown up in three days, and Sol couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was off.

Ashan's return from his trip only added to the tension. He found Sol at her desk, her brow furrowed as she flipped through her notes.

"Still no sign of Risha?" Ashan asked, leaning against the doorframe.

Sol shook her head. "No. She's on leave, apparently, but it's not like her to just disappear like this."

Ashan crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. "She hasn't been answering my texts either. Something's definitely up."

Sol hesitated, then looked at Ashan. "You should talk to her. I don't know what's going on, but... maybe she needs someone like you right now."

Ashan raised an eyebrow. "You're asking me to make a move?"

"I'm saying she needs you," Sol said simply, though her voice was tinged with frustration. "I can't figure her out, and maybe you can."

Ashan didn't reply immediately, but there was a glimmer of determination in his eyes.

Back at Risha's apartment, the night brought new challenges. As the moon rose higher, Risha and Miri's mothers, Lady Anastasia and Lady Troissa, convened in Ursula's realm. The air crackled with tension as they laid out their concerns.

"The full moon is approaching," Anastasia said, her voice steady but laced with worry. "Eron will be at his strongest, and my daughter is vulnerable."

Troissa nodded. "Miri too. We need a stronger spell to protect them."

Ursula folded her arms, her expression unreadable. "A spell of that magnitude requires more than my strength alone. Another immortal will have to assist."

Anastasia's lips pressed into a thin line. "I cannot step in directly. My hands are tied."

Troissa's eyes narrowed in thought before a sly smile spread across her face. "Mitzy."

Ursula raised an eyebrow. "The fairy?"

"She's fierce and unpredictable, but she gets the job done," Troissa said.

A short while later, Mitzy arrived in a flash of golden light. The fiery-haired fairy exuded mischief, her eyes sparkling as she took in the scene. "Well, well. Looks like you've got yourselves a pickle. Lucky for you, I love pickles."

Ursula sighed but didn't argue. Together, the two worked through the night, their combined magic creating a shimmering barrier around Risha and Miri. As the spell solidified, a ripple of power spread through the air, alerting Eron to their efforts.

"Shall I tell Risha and Miri the truth about me?" Ursula asked. Lady Anastasia and Lady Troissa were not sure how to respond.

"My Lady Anastasia, Risha is in a deeply conflicted state, as you already know. And while Miri is in mortal hands with Aaron by her side, I can't shake the feeling that the situation is precarious. I don't believe deception is the answer—but what do you suggest?" Ursula inquired, her tone measured yet laced with concern.

Lady Anastasia looked at her sister-in-law, Lady Troissa finally broke the silence, "Tell the truth once you cast the spell. And please, help both of them. We can't go down now, but as their devoted aunt, you can do it Ursula."

Ursula nodded. Mitzy and she left after bidding them goodbye.

In his distant lair, Eron smirked to himself. "They're preparing for me," he murmured, his voice laced with dark amusement. "Good. Let them try." But for now, the sisters were safe, their bond fortified by the protective magic.

As Risha lay in bed that night, her heart weighed down by unspoken fears, she found a fragile sense of comfort in Miri's presence beside her. But Miri, too, was not at her best. Her phone buzzed—Neil's text lighting up the screen: I'll be back the day after tomorrow. There's a lot to discuss.

What is happening?