A Leader Must Rise - Old Version

Chapter 6

Aria

All I felt was the pain. It was a weird sensation, like a million needles stabbing aggressively at my intestines. It didn't help I was floating on a sea of black either, not being able to move or scream. There was a surface underneath me suddenly and I released a startled yelp. My eyes shot open and I sat up, but everything was still dark. The surface I was on was smooth to the touch and I wandered my hands around, searching for anything but didn't touch anything. I sighed and stood.

"Andrew," I called, hoping he would answer but his name was echoed back to me. I turned when I heard a whimper and I gasped as Sapphire stood. She was taller than I remember, and she looked healthy, her pure white coat glistened even in this surrounding darkness. She shook her fur and looked at me with blue and purple eyes.

"Sapphire," I said aloud.

Aria? What's going on? I can't feel you, she said, and I frowned. I couldn't feel her either, I feel oddly human. It feels wrong.

"I don't know,"

Where are we?

"I don't know," I repeated. I walked to her and placed my hand on her neck. Her shoulders were level with mine and I was tall for a female, five feet and seven inches last I checked...a bit over two years ago.

Although pointless, we continued to look around. We started to wander aimlessly, calling out occasionally but no one was here. I paused briefly and closed my eyes. I tried to contain the growing fear, but it started to overwhelm me. Sapphire whimpered and nuzzled her head against my chest. I open my eyes when she yelped and released an embarrassing squeak. The continuing darkness was suddenly replaced by a beautiful scene. Long flowing grass brushed against my legs in the wind, a river calmly travelled on my left from the beach until it disappeared into the forest ahead of us, and a snowy mountain range on my right. I turned on my heal and gazed over the sandy white shores to the crystal blue waves, and just beyond the horizon, there is a large golden gate surrounded by clouds.

"What is this place?" I whispered.

"It's heaven, child," a woman said. I spun around to see a bright light.

"Who's there?" I called as I covered my eyes. I noticed someone step from the bright light and it suddenly disappeared. I lowered my hand and stared at a very gorgeous woman. She tall, taller than me by at least a foot, with beautiful blonde silvery hair and pale skin with the most electric green I've ever seen. She wore a white dress, the bust hung loosely around her torso and the skirt flowed out from behind her. A yellow robe was tied around her waist, something similar to what a medieval priest would wear, and her feet were bare of shoes. I'm ashamed to say I'm a little jealous, but she looks familiar.

"Yes, I would be familiar to you, child, you mortals have a very good likeness of me," she said with a sweet smile and it finally dawned on me who this is.

"Moon Goddess," I whispered.

"Yes, my child, I am your Goddess," she said as she walked closer to us and gestured to walk along the beach towards the river.

"Are we dead?"

"Your souls have left your combined body, but I have preserved your brain function, so you can return,"

"I'm going back?"

"Yes, child. I have brought you here because I needed to speak with you, but your twin is more heartbroken than I anticipated," she replied and peered into the river. I gazed into it as well and saw my brother crying himself to sleep on a strangers bed.