Fates Entwined: The Cost of Second Chances

Chapter 28

The Sacrifice of Soul Sisters

The night had fallen into a heavy silence, the kind that settles in when the weight of the world feels just a little too much to bear. In the dimly lit room, Ursula and Mitzy stood near the large wooden table, their faces cast in shadows. Miri sat in a corner, her eyes red from the tears she had shed earlier, but she had no time for mourning now. The stakes were too high, and the decision that lay ahead weighed heavily on her soul.

Mitzy, her eyes still glowing with the remnants of the magic that had wiped the memories of Ashan and Sol, was speaking in hushed tones. "We need to protect Risha, Ursula. We need to stop the unraveling of her soul before it's too late. But there's only one way I know to do that, and it's dangerous."

Ursula nodded, her face unreadable. "I'm listening."

Mitzy took a deep breath, her hands still tingling from the magic she had woven to erase the memories. "The only way to stop Risha's descent into chaos is through a sacrifice. A soul-bound sacrifice. The bond between her and Miri—it's strong enough to reverse the curse that's been placed on her. But for it to work, Miri must give something vital of herself, something that will ensure Risha's redemption."

Miri looked up sharply, her voice trembling. "What kind of sacrifice?"

Ursula turned to face her, her gaze steady but full of sorrow. "A sacrifice of a piece of your essence, Miri. You'll have to sever part of your soul and give it to Risha, willingly. This will restore balance to her, but at the cost of your own power, your immortality. You will never be the same."

Mitzy stepped forward, her eyes serious. "It's the only way, Miri. Risha is unraveling, and if you don't do this, she won't survive. But once you give this part of yourself, you'll be tethered to her in a way that no one else can understand. You'll be bound, forever. You will sacrifice your own strength to save her, and you'll never have the power you had before."

"Will I not be an Immortal?" Miri asked. 

I am afraid not fully, only half immortal, you can go back to your parents for once in a year to see them and then you have to come back to this earth and live your life here. And being half immortal means, at some point you'll either age and don't die or you'll not age but will die after living a long life, but people around you will die." Mitzy tries to make things clear.

"What about my love for Aaron?"  Miri asked.

"Miri, Aaron will have to go back to our realm and as a half immortal you cannot marry any immortal as it goes against the rule," says Ursula

Miri's heart clenched at the thought. She had always known that being Risha's protector came at a cost, but she never imagined it would come to this.

"I knew this day would come," Miri whispered, almost to herself. "I made a promise to Risha's mother. I promised I would keep her safe no matter the cost." She stood up, her face a mask of determination despite the agony inside her. "I will do it. If this is what it takes to save her, then I'll make the sacrifice."

Ursula's face softened with a mixture of pride and sorrow. Her deep eyes locked with Miri's, as if weighing the consequences of the decision that was about to unfold. "Miri, you don't fully understand what you're agreeing to," she said gently, though her voice carried a weight that made Miri's stomach twist. "Once you do this, there's no going back. You will be forever tied to Risha's fate. And that means you won't be fully immortal anymore."

Miri's heart skipped a beat, her mind racing. "What do you mean? I'll still be able to protect her, won't I?" she asked, though the fear creeping into her voice betrayed her uncertainty.

Ursula's gaze grew heavier, as though trying to find the words to explain the magnitude of what was about to happen. "You will be bound to her in a way that's beyond anything you've ever felt. You'll share her pain, her joy, her sorrow, every step of her journey. You won't be able to escape from it. You won't be able to walk away from her, no matter what. And there's more. The essence you'll sacrifice will leave you... half of what you were. Immortal, but only in part. Your power will be diminished, and the bond you share will make you vulnerable in ways you can't even begin to imagine."