What Lies Between ✔

Over When It's Over

46.

Kairos

I blinked, trying to focus my vision. I stared up at a wooden ceiling, beams criss-crossing above like the branches of many trees. I felt content and warm, safe, before a hot iron of anxiety lodged into my throat. My friends! I bolted upright, sitting rigidly in someone else's bed, in someone else's room.

"Calm yourself, child," an airy voice spoke to me. I held the covers close to my chest, glancing its way at the other end of the tiny room, and there she was. Moonlight bathed the room, flecks of dust winking around us, but she was half-concealed in shadows, sitting in a rocking chair. Pale light brushed softly across her cheek, and one unusual eye glittered luminously at me. She wore a cloak, her hood up. Darkness or not, I could tell she was beyond beautiful, and that instantly brought my guard up. Definitely God.

I went to speak, but she raised her hand. "If you speak above a whisper, I will pull your tongue out before you can even utter a word, you understand? The old woman is just in the other room, tending to Kenway."

I nodded, feeling some relief that Adrian was being tended to. That woman must have looked after the others too. I contained my voice to a whisper, "Who are you?"

"I cannot share my name with you now, someone might hear."

"The Gods?"

"Do not speak of them! You will draw attention," she berated me, then seemed to gain her composure. "Despite my warnings, you remain alive, and therefore I am inclined to help you."

"...Why?"

"We share a common interest, but unfortunately, she is more devoted to you than you are to her." She shook her head angerly, satiny ribbons of dark curls escaping from her hood. " I told her to let you die, but of course she insisted, and then you decide to abandon her?"

Every hair on my body rose. "Lidia," I whimpered.

"Of course Lidia! Who else would hurl themselves into peril for someone as ungrateful as you? What seemed like strength when considering her is now gradually revealing itself to be bafoonary, it would seem."

"Considering her? How is it you know Lidia?" Suddenly, I remembered my talk with Sema, when she told me Lidia was speaking to a Goddess. " Wait, you're Ar –"

She was infront of me so fast I didn't even have time to take another breath before her hand was pressed against my mouth, preventing me from speaking. My head banged against the headborad of the bed at her force. Her muscles were tensed, and I realized she was restraining her strength so that she wouldn't crush my skull. I felt the heat of my panting breath against my lips, trapped by her air-tight palm.

"Stupid, stupid girl, hold your tongue! Or I will!" she growled down at me, eyes bursting with a myraid of small lights. I nodded frantically, terrified."Here is what is going to happen: You will go to Purgatory and you will get Lidia back. I would go if I could, but that would shed light on my plans, and I do not want that to happen as of now. I won't have everything ruined because of Lidia's blind devotion to you."

Her plans? That aside, I wanted to get Lidia back anyway, of course I did! But entering Purgatory with all the Seekers there, infiltrating The Arx and escaping with her... I wanted to get her back, I just didn't know how. I tapped against the God's hand lightly, letting her know I wished to speak.

She gave me a look. "Whisper."

I nodded and she uncovered my mouth. My lips tingled, blood circulating again. I cleared my throat quietly, then said, "Tell me how to get her back and I will do it. I'll do anything."