The United

Chapter 12

"I didn't...." Aaron whispered, and took a sharp breath in.

"W-what? B-but you did... Y-you are still here.... Y-you are alive.... Y-you are here... W-with me...." My voice was wavering.

"I died Maria.... I died.... But Jayda.... She has a healing of her own.... A revival... She brought me back from the dead Maria..."

"H-how is that even possible? It's incredible.... Jayda...... was scared by it.... Wasn't she?" I said my tears drying in my eyes.

"Yes... She felt she had betrayed you.... That you would be angry...." Aaron admitted, and smiled weakly at me. 

"That's why she believes this was her fault?" I asked my eyes widened. "But... She brought you back, and if you blamed her, you wouldn't be helping me to find her... You would resent her or... something.... You wouldn't be helping me look for our sister..." I muttered realizing quickly that I needed to catch up to Jayda. I tried to focus in on her spirit, but once again, as I got close, pain brought me to the ground, but this time I was ready. I fought the pain and focused into Jayda's soul, and I placed myself in my realm. Nothing had color but Aaron's blue green eyes and they seemed distant. I looked next to Aaron, and saw myself just lying there. I looked at my body. Am I dead? I can't be.... I promised them..... I am so sorry Aaron.... Jayda...... sister..... I failed you too....

I glanced around and saw a girl painting a picture. She was in color despite my dark surroundings. As I walked to her, I saw the picture looked remarkably like I did, only, this girl seemed to be a magician. Her hair was spread as though she was swimming through water, and latin words were all around her. She wore a simple black top, and jeans as I always did, but a book floated in front of her. 

"You are her.... The ether queen..." the girl said eyes wide.

"What? I'm sorry... but I don't know about that. Are you from here?" I asked uncomfortable that this girl had called me a queen.

"Truly. Why must you not believe me? You are the savior of this realm. Only once you have lost yourself can you save this place and their world.... Maybe you can make us one again. I know you can. I have seen you do it." the girl said.

"What is your name? Also... What do you mean you have 'seen' me do it?" I asked extremely confused.

"My name is Fortuna... But my code-name is Postea Visum...." The girl answered. "I am clairvoyant." 

"It makes sense... Your code name means future sight...." I smiled slightly, and looked at Fortuna.

"Truly." She said simply and glanced back at me.

"How do I leave this place and go back to my life on the earth?" I said thinking of Aaron.

"You will need to give up that life to bring the worlds together and save everyone...." Fortuna sighed. "Though if this isn't the time, go back to your body and start your heart again."

"Thank you Fortuna.... I'll be back someday...." I said softly and turned back and walked over to where Aaron was. He was holding my body, with tears falling from his eyes. I felt my heart beating, and I took a sharp breath in. I felt like I had been hit like a truck. One thing I won't miss is the pain... I opened my eyes and felt Aaron holding me close to him. Tears fell from his eyes, and he didn't realize I was okay. I moved my hand slightly, and placed it on his cheek, wiping away the tears gently. 

"Maria! Thank God.... I thought... you were.... Gone... I couldn't handle the pain... I kept hoping you were alive... and somehow you would come back to me. And you did..... Thank God, Mari.... I can't lose you...." Aaron said softly, and pulled me even closer to him.

"You won't.... I got called into my realm by a girl named Fortuna.... She is trapped in my realm.... And she is clairvoyant.... She told me something about my future...." I started and looked up at Aaron.

"What did she say?" Aaron asked calmly, still holding me tightly as though he thought I would slip away from him.

"That I would bring the realms together.... And that I am some sort of queen there.... Ether Queen? She seemed to think when our realms united I would have a powerful magic here." I said, purposely leaving out the part where I would give up my life to do it. 

"At a time I would have tried to say it was madness, but now... Anything is possible." Aaron said calmly, and closed his eyes blinking away the tears that still threatened to fall. "Please don't leave me again..." He muttered with a half smile before he kissed my forehead. "I can't lose you... Not ever...."

"I'm not going to die.... I'm the one who is going to protect you Aaron..." I smiled at Aaron, and I felt weak still. I still wanted to find Jayda, but in my current state it wasn't possible. It occurred to me that I wouldn't be able to use it unless Jayda was near me, because Jayda had never been this far from me before.... Wait.... Do my powers make her stronger as well? If so, how long can she go without me, and how far can I go without her? I am already falling, and I haven't even been using my abilities non-stop as Jayda probably is.

"You don't need to protect me, I need to protect you...." Aaron muttered before looking around. A small child had walked into the room.

I shifted away from Aaron weakly before I walked over to the child. "Hello sweetie... Are you okay?" I asked looking at the frightened young boy.

"They have my sissy! They Got her! I have to get her!" The boy cried out in a panic.

"It's okay sweetie.... We'll help you find her.... What is your name?" I asked the boy, realizing something was familiar about this boy's essence. He had a shadowy aura like Jayda's or mine... With any luck, Jayda would run into his sister and rescue her, and maybe she has the shadowy aura that could heal her. 

"My name is Keaton...." The little boy squeaked. "My sissy is Bri... She is so cool! She is older...." Kearon smiled before randomly adding, "I am three" He said with a slight smile and held up four fingers instead of three. Keaton reminded me of Kaden when he was little....

"Where did they take your sissy?" I asked, and Aaron stood up. He walked over to Keaton with his arms open, and picked Keaton up.

"That way...." Keaton said pointing into the heart of Norfolk.

"Great... You ran through the ghettos.... Have I ever told you why I don't like guns Mari?" Aaron muttered and looked through the shattered windows of the abandoned house we were in.

"You didn't... You told me you were scared of guns though..." I said calmly and was about to add My name is Shadow... But Keaton cut in.

"Hi Mari...." He giggled slightly, and then looked at Aaron. "What is your name?"  

"My name is Aaron..." Aaron smiled at Keaton, and his eyes glowed.

"My mommy and daddy look like you. Sissy said they left, and can't come back. But why?" Keaton asked, and I nearly cried.

"Your mommy and daddy are too far right now... So we can be your mommy and daddy for a while..." I said softly and looked at Keaton...

How can you explain to a three year old what death is? How can you do something like that... I understand why Bri did as she did... I really do... Poor children... We will take care of you...