Xylia

Seventeen

Vera was dead.

There was no ethereal glow or angelic light that casted upon her lifeless body. Lightly tanned skin that once glowed with vitality now reeked with death. Her eyes remained hooded, the golden orbs peeking through slanted holes. Chapped lips lifted into a peaceful smile. She looked so serene. So content with her choice to leave us right back at square one.

I hated that.

You need the Earthborn who walks among the spirits. I blew out an irritated breath.  The only way for an Earthborn to live among the spirits is through the empowerment ritual, the completed empowerment ritual. In other words, the small speck of hope that I could be the one to end this wild goose chase was squashed.

We had no leads on where to find the Earthborn who is completely connected with the spirits. I could not go back and complete the empowerment ritual. Everest is somewhere on his deathbed for treason. The spirit realm is falling apart. All of mankind is on its final legs. And to top it all off, I haven't eaten lunch.

Fan-freaking-tastic.

I continued to sulk, drowning in self-pity.

Why do we have to be the unlucky souls that have to suffer humanity's demise? Why did I have to be dragged into all this mess? Why did I stop with my original plan of leaving Cyra? Why did I think they would ever take me back?

The last question resurrected  unwanted memories; they slithered around my mind like snakes, tainting my thoughts with old insecurities. You're lonely, my mind cooed. The hollow void in my chest deepened. You wanted to fit in so badly, that you risked your one chance for complete freedom for what? A guaranteed death sentence.

But wait there's more, I tacked on sarcastically.

You get to live out your final days knowing that the very fabric of reality is going to be ripped to shreds the moment the spirit realm collapses. Wreaking havoc on all the earthborn. My hands balled into tight fists while I struggled to keep my breathing level, cooling the simmering turmoil that bubbled beneath the surface.

"Xylia," a hesitant voice ripped my train of thought away. Volkan stood  a few feet away from me, eyes flooding with concern. His mouth began to move, but all I could hear was a distant ringing.

"What did you say?" The crease between his brows deepened as he repeated his words, but I still couldn't make out his sentences, only adding to my pent up frustrations.

A glimmer of red caught my eye. Following its glow, I stared in awe as ruby-red ribbons unfurled in front of me. Volkan melting away in the shadows they cast. The sheets of scarlet glided gracefully towards me and coiled tightly around my arms. They yanked at the limbs with a jarring force.

Too tight. Too close.

I thrashed against the confines, trying to break free. Suddenly, a warm sensation bloomed within my chest; its comforting presence distracted me from the threads that wrapped around my body. Wires morphed into strong arms, hugging me tightly. I relaxed against its embrace.

"But what do you mean I have to leave?" A small voice asked. Tilting my head to its owner, I spotted a young girl, pouting in front of  an elderly woman. The woman ran a hand through her graying mop of hair, tugging at the wrinkled skin. Her clouded eyes were lined with fatigue and framed by the wrinkles that echoed her weary life. Crouching down to the girl, she articulated.

"We already talked about this my dear," The child poked out her bottom lip, arms crossing her small frame. Thin arms were tangled in the dark tresses that tumbled down to the girl's stomach. The chocolaty wisps  flying around her mud-caked face.

"But I don't want to leave," the cherub's eyes filled with tears, droplets streaming down in visible trails as they cleaned away the grime that was matted on her cheeks. The woman sighed, placing an age spotted hand on the girl's shoulder.

"Listen," her voice rang clear and commanding, contrasting to her earlier tone, "We decided that if we were to take you in and raise you, it would only be until you were old enough to work in the fields." The girl shrank away from the woman's touch, cowering at her words.

"That time is now." A pained expression marred the young girl's face, as she recalled the earlier conversations that warned her of this day. I could see the girl floundering for an argument, scrambling for words to make the elder woman rethink her decision. But she was just a child, a child who could not fully comprehend the unfairness of life. At least, not yet.

"We don't have the means or the need to raise you anymore Xylia."

I nestled back into the arms that held me, not wanting to see what happened next. The little girl, snapped her head up to the woman, a strangled whine emitted from the back of her throat.

"B-but, I thought you loved me," she choked out, her lower lip quivering pathetically. A tight smile stretched across the woman's face.

"Oh Xylia," My caretaker ran a hand through my younger form's hair, patting my cheek lightly. "We don't have time for love. Only survival."

Nudging the girl to the fields she tutted, "Now off you go, there's no more time to waste." I watched brokenly as the little girl was led to the Cyran fields. Mouth agape in horror as she was thrown to the side by the woman who took her in as a  babe.

Don't follow her, I pleaded in vain. Please don't follow her.

"Wait!" My former self cried out, running towards my caretaker's retreating form.

"You won't need to feed me!" My younger self panted heavily, as she tugged on the woman's dress. I internally cringed as the little girl continued to babble on.

"I- I'll find money to get my own food. Pay for my own clothes, j-just please don't go." My caretaker stiffened, her lips settling into a thin line.

She looked at me. Gray eyes hardened with her resolve, her sharp lips opened then closed abruptly. Turning on her heel as she left me with the trails of dust she kicked up in her wake.

"I knew I shouldn't have taken her in, they always get too attached." She mumbled under her breath. Whether she intended for me to hear that or not, the damage had already been done.

A small body crumbled to the ground, clutching her heart. As if she could stop the pain. Little did she know, it never faded. You just get used to it. 

The pressure on my sides tightened uncomfortably. Strong arms turned to metal bars, constricting against my body. Then, they began to rattle, pulling me with each shake. My jaw snapped against the force, head swirling with confusion. The tremors continued, increasing in power.

"Xylia, Xylia, XYLIA!" My eyes snapped open at the familiar voice, feeling the weight of hands shaking my shoulders. The simmering heat dulled, but I could still feel the phantom ache in my chest.

"Holy shit, they're dead." My vision became painfully clear at those words. Seeing Drea lean over the two guards, I felt my stomach plummet. The two men adorned the same outfits as the guards that took us to our cell. The armor molding to them fittingly, up until the gaping hole that burrowed in their chest. Right where there heart was supposed to be.

The slimy, thick liquid that coated my hands brought bile to my throat.

What have I done?

Another update! Hope you enjoyed and if you could consider voting and commenting it would be much appreciated! Hope you have an amazing rest of your day!

-H