dimensions | original

Aftermath

 Mark took in a shaky breath. He wasn't sure what was happening. It all felt like a strange sort of daydream and nightmare that had been smushed together. Luma had chosen to never go home. For him.

Okay, not totally for him. He knew that there were much more reasons as to why. If anything, she was trying to play the hero, not the victim that she really was. Mortals always had maintained a strong record of selfless heroes that always fought for the greater good, unlike deities and magic-bearers.

After Luma's choice, Mark had broken down. For so many long, hard years under the service of Timorous he had locked away his emotions as not to become too depressed and angry to move on. But now, he had felt all the emotions in brief succession.

After Mark and Luma had shared the hug, Dia had declared the negotiations to be secure and absolute upon the shaking Luma's hand and Spirit's (since he dealt the negotiations). Spirit had shaken her hand most reluctantly, a frustrated look on his face. He must have known that many mortals cannot help but be heroic and selfless and stupid, but he had still counted on Luma being afraid and child-like. His plan had been a harmless gamble, but he still seemed fairly annoyed.

Sacrifice just glared at Mark in hatred, his hand twitching. Spirit reached out, grabbing his wrist and growling something in his ear- probably a sort of warning. If not for Spirit, Mark guessed, Sacrifice would tear me apart. Perhaps Dia was only half-right when she predicted me to be killed. But Sacrifice seemed to calm, if only a little, and returned to hating everything, and not just the ex-shapeshifter in front of him

Mark was glad. He had seem the duo in action, and it was truly terrifying, though not so much as Fear himself.

Then again, Spirit and Sacrifice had no real reason to be very angry. The sacrifice Luma had chosen to make as payment for her healing didn't really affect them at all. The sacrifice made was purely for Luma. Her life for her life, really. After all, she was exchanging her old life for her physical life.

Speaking of Luma, the poor girl had fainted after Dia first attempted to transport Mark and Luma back to the ugly mountain fortress where the twins resided.

"Well, I suppose this makes the medical process a tad easier." she had sighed. "Now they won't have an excuse to hit her over the head to put the poor kid asleep." Mark flinched at the thought.

"When will they heal her? Keme said she didn't have long. Well, I think. The whole experience has already blurred in my head. It was very confusing."

"Soon. Until then, I will take her to my rooms." Upon seeing Mark's quizzical expression, she explained further. "In the castle, I was given a bedroom to reside in. While she is sleeping, I suppose the least I could do is ensure she is comfortable." Mark nodded understandably.

"And, um... Could you please take me to where you found me? I have a companion that also came along that stayed behind at the motorcycle. It's within walking distance."

Dia looked at him curiously. "Not... Not Vitae-spawn, I presume?"

"She's a hunter. The one that caught me and Luma. It's okay now. I was only ever an outlaw due to Timorous's irresponsibility, so they grew to trust me and Luma under the circumstances." Mark remembered his earlier fury with Kinglyn and flinched. "Well... Kind of."

"What is her name?" Dia asked.

"It's Asha. Asha Arora." Dia nodded thoughtfully, as though thinking.

"That name means nothing to me." The raven-haired girl admitted. "But I have neglected all contact with the Vitae or any other organization for quite some time. But I believe it is time for you to reunite with this girl, whomever she might be. Here, take my hand- I believe we should transport Luma while she is still unconscious."

***

"What happened?" it was the first and only thing Asha said upon Mark, Dia, and Luma's arrival (Dia had decided that she'd transport Mark directly to Asha instead of making him walk.)

"It's a long story. Mark will tell you all about it while I take Luma to rest and be healed?" Dia spoke sharply, an tired look on her face. It had been while since she had transported so much so often. It was much more practical to simply

"Wait, I won't be there when she's healed?" Mark said suddenly.

"It is best not to test their patience. But I swear I will bring her back. I rather like the child, and I certainly do not like Phoenix. He always was a little too cold and cruel, even for a selfish nasty such as myself." Dia said, and Mark sensed that her words were final. There was no arguing with Dia when she was determined.

Mark, lips pressed tightly together, nodded.

Dia said no more, simply allowing herself to transport away so quickly and suddenly it was if she had never even arrived.

Asha spun abruptly on her heels to face Mark. "Tell me everything."

Mark sighed, already weary. But he knew that Asha most definitely deserved an explanation about the events that taken place. Besides, Asha was a good, fair listener.

So Mark began to tell her everything that had happened, from meeting Dia to the strange workings of the Lace Web of worlds, to the sacrifice and the stonehedge-like ring of stones.

"That's... A lot." Asha admitted at the end. "I'm not quite sure I understand it all."

"Me neither." Mark confessed. "But Luma chose to keep me safe and her far from home."

"That's very noble of her, to help you and hinder the twins like that. I suppose she does have good side." Mark gave Asha a weird look.

"Oh come on, admit it. She is pretty annoying." Asha pointed. Mark rolled his eyes goodnaturedly, biting back a smile. But his happiness must have shown because Asha smiled too.

A/N: yeah yeah yeah BOOMBAYA! I haven't been writing lately, but I really missed it... I meant to write for a couple minutes but ended up writing until I finished this chapter. It's a bit sloppy and filler-ish, whoops.