The Queen of Elysium

Chapter 59 - Fate unravelled

Did the world just move? Elissa's eyes spring open and she finds that the world is engulfed in fire.

Slowly the flames around her recede and she stares up not at a ceiling but a glowing crystalline roof. Pushing herself upright, her chemise crumbles away, reduced to ash by the fire. She is back in the crystalline chamber that Ishtar summoned her to only a few moons ago. This time, rather than descending into Ishtar's temple within the mountain, she was simply plucked from her room.

The towering, flaming figure of the goddess is stood right by her. To make things even more awkward, the multiple images depicted within the depths of the goddess's form, are those of her and Kai from moments before.

Completely exposed and feeling vulnerable, Elissa tries to cover herself with her hands. Ishtar twirls her fingers and flames encircle Elissa's body, settling against her skin as pure gold. Elissa stands and smooths out a dress of interlocking metallic flame shapes.

Welcome, child of nature. Thank you for attending upon me. The voice is warm like sunshine and sounds directly in Elissa's head.

Elissa tries to keep her mind blank but can't help the snarky thought 'I didn't exactly have a choice' popping into her head.

Ishtar smiles, her lips arching like lovers, before falling like a slain warrior.

Your fate has been diverted from its true course. You have a choice to make. This time the voice creaks as ominously as an unstable glacier.

"What choice?" she asks, dread pooling in her stomach.

Give up your lover or Elysium will fall.

"Kai? No, I love him." Elissa shakes her head. She knows that she is treading a dangerous line by arguing with a goddess, but this is no reasonable request.

Before you make your decision, you need to understand the consequences.

The metal of Elissa's dress ripples and a hole appears to reveal her tattoo. Blue fire shoots out from the goddess and too late Elissa moves her hand to block it. Icy flames lick across her navel and the tattoo melts.

Ink crawls across her flesh, forming a new image as six flames rearrange themselves to form the outline of a sword. It is as if the Sword of Damocles is now etched into her skin.

Ishtar waves an arm and a wall of crystals meld together to create a glass-like screen.

.......

Illuminated upon this screen is a scene of the gardens of Babylon. The life-sized figures of two girls about ten solars of age move into view, their arms linked together. They are chatting animatedly, their eyes bright with mirth and there seems not a care upon their young shoulders.

They are like night and day: one is slender, with pale skin, a white blonde bob and brilliant blue eyes, whereas the other is taller with dark, curly hair, dark eyes and has early signs of approaching womanhood.

"Rina, you will never guess what. Mother has invited an elf-boy to live with us in Arcadia," the blonde girl says and rolls her eyes.

"So, tell me Rory, is he cute?" Rina, the dark-haired girl asks.

"He is certainly annoying," Rory, the blonde girl responds.

A little boy of about four or five solars, runs up. He has cherubic features, golden blonde hair and blue eyes. He grins at the girls, adorable dimples forming in his cheeks.

"Winny, look what I can do," he squeaks in excitement and hold up a hand to Rina. A small ball of fire flickers to life in his palm. "My new fwiend showed me."