ESCAPE

Breathe

The beeping of the heart monitor filled the room. There were only two days left until the meeting began and Asteria was still in the hospital passed out. Every woman on the castle was feeling hopeless. Sorin was furious, but there was only one Chimera in the castle and unfortunately it was one of the few people Sorin couldn't touch. Aegeus and Tess were trying to keep the women calm, but without Asteria there was little hope. Without her there was no island, no escape, and no freedom. She was breathing and the medics were hopeful, but Tess could feel the light dimming in her.

I was floating in a pool of warm water. Lights danced around me and I felt nothing. It was beautiful. Small waves carried me farther and farther away from the noises that had plagued me for what felt like years. An incessant beeping noise, voices, and the uncanny feeling of someone touching me. This was freedom. But, I was alone and the farther away I got the colder the water became and the more uncomfortable I got. The lights got brighter and the pain in my body came with a vengence. That's when I opened my eyes. But, instead of being at the palace I was on the island. The sand under me scraped against my skin and hands dragged me onto shore. I struggled back to the water, but I wasn't strong enought to fight them. My vision cleared and I was staring at a woman who looked just like me. Her black hair was long and tied in braided ropes. She wore battle armour and her skin was tanned and scarred. Her green eyes glowed with power. Her body was all muscle and she held a bow in her right hand. She looked like me, but I couldn't place her.
"Yes Asteria, I am you. And you are me. We are not separate no matter how hard you try to ignore it." The woman said, "There is no need to deny me just as there is no need to deny yourself. Let me take part in your soul and I will teach you how to fight. I will show you how to lead. I will give you the connections to your ancestors. And I will show you what it is like to taste the blood of battle. It is time. Let me in."

The heart monitor started racing and the medic rushed in. Aegeus ran in with them, but they forced him out. Only Tess could go in to help. That's when Asteria stopped breathing. The heart monitor flat lined. The squeal of the machine sent ice into Aegeus's veins. Tess looked frantic and sweat beaded on her neck as she shot every ounce of energy she had into Asteria. But, it wasn't working. The energy just flowed right back into Tess. It was like Asteria was rejecting it.

"How?" I asked

"Just breathe and I will be there. We will be together as one. There will be no more seperation. You will lose part of you and I will take its place. This is the sacrifice of the Amazons and in return we are one. The sisters of our kind will be with you as we have always been. Just breathe. They are waiting." Other me said

I closed my eyes and reached for the noise that I had been so desperate to ignore. I could just barely hear it.

"Breathe Asteria." She yelled

I fought toward the sound and it became louder. The pain seared through my body like a hot knife.

Beeeeeeeppp. Everyone jumped up and Aegeus's heart leapt. She's alive.

"Come on Asteria!" Tess shouted

The heart monitor began evening out to a more regular heart beat. Aegeus moved towards the bed and a pressure built inside the room. A loud gasp came from Asteria's lips the same time that her eyes flew open. The pressure in the room released into an enormous burst of power that knocked a few unsuspecting medics off of their feet, including Tess. Aegeus had to take a step back, but his primal side told him what was happening. Asteria was becoming the Amazon she was always meant to be. Her eyes shined bright before they closed and she fell back onto the bed. Exhaustion and pain was written in her face, but her eyes were triumphant. Thank the Gods!

Then Sorin ran in.