The Last Silvermaw Hunter

Chapter 25

The wind bites through my leather armor, as we stand in front of an abandoned temple, one dedicated to their death god. They say death is the only way to give life.

My mother stands by me, her cheeks are hollow and her eyes have lost all light. I can see her ribs through the thin cover up she has on. She looks at me and gives me a small smile.

"It'll all be okay."

"I know, it doesn't help with the fear though,"

"It's ready," Zhoron calls from the pile of rubble supposed to be the entrance.

It's dark inside, even with the moon shining through the open sky it's dark. Like there's only a cloud overshadowing this temple, never moving, never letting a single ray of light inside, making it dark as night.

In the center there's a stone altar that is big and Zhoron is tall. The edge is covered in candles setting a glow across the area around the altar. Next to the altar is a pedestal with a dagger on it, the one that will soon cut me and transfer my life's blood into my mother, the one that will kill me.

June walks to the altar and lays down on it. She looks completely calm about this, which gives me some strength-but she still looks so weak.

"You still don't have to do this," Zhoron whispers behind me, "There's still time left."

"But how much time?" I ask, "I can't take that risk." I can't lose anyone else.

"Then let's hurry then."

I walk to the altar and grab June's hand, "I love you," I whisper, "and I forgive you."

"We only have 15 minutes until the moon reaches its peak," Zhoron tells us, "if we were to do this, we need to do it now." I nod, turning to face him as I walk over to the circle on the floor a few feet from the altar.

Zhoron grabs the knife and I freeze. Nothing prepares you for death, no show, book, or talk beforehand can prepare you for it, you can only pray.

He moves toward me, and my power rolls under my skin but stays away. He stops before me and brings the knife up to my chest, "Once the blade pierces your heart, the spell will take effect." My body is tighter than a bowstring when he brings his free hand up to cup the back of my neck. "When the spell starts to take your power and transfer it to your mother, it will hurt. You must not fight it, you must accept it and it will go so much better if you do," His forehead falls against mine, "Know that I won't leave your side, I will stay until the end of time."

My breath stops when I feel the knife slide through my sternum. I feel nothing until the shock fades, and I can't breathe. I can feel my heart still beat around the blade.

My hands reach up to the blade before I'm falling and Zhoron falls with me.

I find it ironic that we're mirroring the position that I held Sander in, except that it's me on the floor with a blade in my heart.

Something wet lands on my cheek, I raise my hand to wipe it away, my fingers are covered in blood when I pull them away. I feel more land in my face and I look up.

Zhoron's face has blood on it, originating from his eyes, and I realize he's crying. He's saying something but I can't hear a single thing, everything is fading to black.

My hand reaches up to cup his face, I wipe at the blood but only smear it and I try to get it off.

Why should you cry? It can't be the tears are for me? You didn't even care for me two days ago, you don't even have to marry me anymore. So why do you cry? I wonder and I look into his eyes, Eyes so beautiful, one of ice and one of fire. Pretty even surrounded by blood.

My heart is slowing down, I can feel it, I'm barely conscious, my breath slows with every one I take.

I think...I think I would have loved you Zhoron Iarwarin. I think you would have made a great husband for me.

Zhoron's head falls to touch mine. And I think you would have been a great wife for me Adorite Griffin.

I wonder where my father is and if he knows what I've done. I wonder if he knows I wish I could have known him better. I wonder if he's going to be there when I arrive at my soul's destination.

I look at Zhoron then at my mother again, I think I'm hallucinating when I see a smile on her face before everything fades to black.