The Goddess's Hero

Waking Up

Skye's POV

He literally shattered my soul. So what, I'm the living dead now? Bri explained to me that Jacqueline had strengthened my soul enough to try to live, and Jasper had used his Godly Power to bring me back. She went on about how Jasper collected the shattered pieces of my soul and brought them together again. Enough for me to at least function and live. She explained that it would take time for me to fully recover. If I recovered at all. I vowed to never use mana again, but Bri pitifully grasped my shoulder and said that I would never be able to again. At least, that was the most likely scenario. 

Nikolai had explained to me about mana cores, but he never told me that they were your very soul! I couldn't grasp the concept that my soul had literally been saving my life each time I used mana. I was just letting it out there. Readying it to be ripped apart. And to have my soul be so incredibly weak to be punched right through? How could I face myself if I woke up? How could I face Bal, Jasper, and Jacqueline? How could I face my people? 

My friends and family were counting on me to save them. I was so egotistical, thinking that because I had trained with gods that I was untouchable. I thought I was strong. I laughed at myself mirthlessly. Me? I thought I could actually do it. I thought I could take on these challenges, become a powerful being, and save my world. I thought I could kill gods. My humorless laugh seemed to echo within my mind. Bri had disappeared to leave me with my thoughts. I could feel her in my mind still, but she wasn't near me. I felt some solace in my imaginary solitude. 

I could leave this place if I had the desire and the strength to. I didn't know if I had either.  

After some time, Bri came back to me. She didn't say a word as she held her hand out for me to take. I didn't want to take it, but I felt like I didn't have a choice. I took it and followed her through the inky blackness to another part of my mind. I still couldn't see anything, but I began to hear voices. They were soft and yet, uncomfortable. I began to tense and Bri brought me to a place where I could hear the voices quite clearly. Well, voice. Now that I could properly hear it, I realized it was only one voice. Bri silently left. I didn't even notice. 

"I can't believe it. After all this time?" It was familiar to me but I didn't care to place it. A soft sigh escaped from it's lips. The voice continued, "I know who you are. I know the part I played." A lonely chuckle. "I am the fool. I would have done more had I known who you were. Had I known who she was." A slight pause. "Perhaps she was right that I not know. I would have made it obvious. Thanks to her she lives, yet. I've always known it. And thanks to you, she will always live on. Unless, of course you die. Of which all of our hopes and dreams will be as nothing." A more determined hum came from the voice. "I will do my part. I will stay by your side Skye Firebird. Now, you must do your part!" The voice did not stop there. "You will become the most powerful being on Comwen and you will destroy the evil that overtakes it! I will personally make certain of it!" 

Me? I'm not worthy. The dark shroud within my mind darkened even more. The voice stilled for a moment and when it spoke again, it was softer. 

"Jacqueline is afraid that you will never wake up."

Curiosity lightened the area around me. Why would she be afraid that I might die? Wouldn't my soul linger here? She'd be able to deal with me how she sees fit.

"She's not eating or sleeping." Like gods need that. I scoffed to myself. "She watches over you and she only let me have a private word with you once I kicked her butt out." Why was she doing that? "You gave her hope when all her hope was gone." Surprise brightened the area around me even more. It was like lighting a candle within my brain. "We were all so distraught, unable to overcome this evil. And things got bleak when Father punished us. I thought he was lawing us out of helping Comwen due to the lack of the mortals faith in us. I had no idea it was to punish Jacqui for rebelling." 

Things just got interesting. Jacqueline rebelled against Nero? How? I felt like a dog perking up my ears at the sound of a treat. The voice however didn't relinquish the information. 

"Jacqueline felt hope for the first time in many decades when she witnessed it in you. She shared that hope with the rest of us. We want Comwen to be safe. You will keep it safe." The voice paused. 

"Jacqueline is an optimist. She understands that she took a life worth living away from you, but she believes it was for such a greater cause. She trusts that you can do all that is asked of you. And seeing how fleeting and weak your trust in us was, she got scared. She is afraid that you won't wake up. She's afraid that if you do wake up, you'll be as if you were dead anyway." Anger erupted like a volcano in my mind. The darkness was replaced by a fiery furnace. I stood up straighter. So, Jacqui is afraid that I'll be useless? I'll show her useless! I began to stomp away in the halls of my mind looking for the door to reality. I could still hear his voice and his next statement froze me in place. 

"She wants you to live. I think she loves you." Loves me? That's ridiculous. And yet I began to feel my heart pound. I followed the sound of the pumping and found a large double oak door. I tried to open it and it wouldn't budge. Annoyed, I shoved it with all my might. I could no longer hear a word the voice said. Bree found me pretty quickly now that the black shroud had dispersed. 

"That's not the door you need to go through." She examined me forcefully trying to break it down.

"What if it's the door I want to go through?" I asked in between pounding the hinges. 

"You don't believe yourself to be ready for that door so it won't open." Bree stated easily. 

"Whatever." I shook my head. I didn't have time for this. I needed to wake up. "Show me the way." I was glad that I didn't have to explain what I meant. Bri turned the way she came and we came upon a rather small dingy door. "I just open this and I'm free?"

Bri nodded and waved goodbye at me while I simply turned around and left.