The Goddess's Hero

The Fall

Jacqui's POV 

My father's portal opened within my realm. I felt his power slice through my realm's defenses as easily as knives cut bread. I groaned. 

What did he want? 

It didn't matter. I'd have to receive him. I picked myself up off the floor I hadn't moved from in days. I blinked my eyes in order to get the exhaustion to disappear. It didn't work. I walked over to my closet and picked out the first thing I saw. Much like Josephine, Father didn't approve of my mortal cosplay. He often yelled at me about how I'm his daughter and should dress like the powerful being that I am. I sighed. I was on a thin line. He had already banished me. Would he strip my godhood away for this little offense?

Well, even if he did at least then I'd be able to die. 

I hurriedly bathed and got dressed. I shouldn't be late in welcoming him. After making myself look presentable, I teleported to his portal. Funnily enough, he wasn't there. I looked through the portal confused. There was sand and a rather large figure. I coughed a little. What was Father doing? Was he summoning me? I shrugged. I had to go if he was. I stepped through the portal and into a pit with sand. Blood and sweat mingled with the soft golden earth. That's not what caught my attention. 

His spirit cried in mourning. I slowly approached where it was coming from. I stared at his sleeping form. No longer dead, but much much more broken. Tears sprang to my eyes at the view of his comrade. 

Amber! I knelt beside my friend. Her last immortal form was destroyed. I frantically searched the area for her spirit. Nothing. She was gone. I looked around and found Ronu's body, Guardian of Wind and Freedom, splayed across the sand with an arrow in it's chest. My breath staggered and I found Galya's form had also been destroyed. No..no. I placed her head beside her body. Who had done this? I found Kythrakh's fox body mutilated and I couldn't bear to look at him anymore. Ara's form had more than likely been destroyed as well. Who had done this? Who had the power to destroy Immortal Souls? 

I stared over at Skye's restless form. 

This wasn't possible. This couldn't be! Why would he destroy the Guardians of Comwen?! They protected his world! They protected it! Why did he kill them? 

And Amber. Ambrianna. I walked over to her last form and knelt beside it. Skye had fallen asleep on the other side of her. I petted her fur. She was my friend. They were all my friends! Ambrianna was my sister. Our first Demigod. The Queen of Comwen. She created peace while alive. She loved Comwen more than she loved herself. She loved the people and all of the races. She guarded life. 

I stared at Skye and wondered if he knew her. The way his hands had been clutching the fur in his sleep made me assume he did. Tears fled from my eyes. Their very souls had been destroyed. I don't know how Skye did it or why but it had been done. They were gone. 

What was I going to tell Jasper? He loved Amber! And Josephine? What will she do? She treated Amber like her own daughter. They both had very strong feelings. What was I going to say? I swallowed the lump in my throat and looked around. I had never seen this place before, but it looked very similar to an Orc Pit. I shuddered. What was Skye doing here? I looked over where my father's portal had been. 

Father had been here. 

He had known. He had the Guardian's hidden away all this time? I figured he did, but I never thought that he'd treat them this way. How could he? I thought he allowed them to use their powers sometimes, but I never knew where exactly they were. Now, my friends were all dead. 

Skye was used to punish me.

He was used to punish all of us. 

Dread filled my soul and I sat down beside Skye. Did he know? Did he know what he did? He couldn't possibly know. The Guardians were taken before he was even born! This was my father's trial. Father had Skye kill the last defenses of Comwen. 

There really was no hope for Comwen. 

Not when Father was behind it's destruction. 

I stared at Skye and crawled over to him. His soul was crying out in pain and anguish. I gently caressed his face. 

"I'm so sorry." If it hadn't been for me, he would have lived a relatively normal life. He would have fought the evil that threatened his world, not become it. He might have been able to stay happy, find a wife, have some kids. The Life he may have had, had I not seen the hope in his eyes. I laid my forehead on his. 

"I'm so sorry you had to do this. I should have left you alone. I never should have let you seen me. I'm so sorry." 

Skye stirred and I watched as his blue eyes opened and found mine. They were dull and full of grief. Another tear escaped my eye. "I'm so sorry." I repeated. 

"Bring her back." His voice was hoarse and pleading. He picked himself up to a kneeling position. The weight of the prayer fell on me. "Please, bring her back." The power of his prayer and the sincerity broke my heart. 

"I'm so sorry." 

He furrowed his brows as he looked at me. "Are you not the Goddess of Life?! Can't you bring souls back from the Underworld?" 

I swallowed another ache in my throat. "I am the Goddess of Life. I am the Goddess of Death. I can bring souls back from the Underworld." I reached over and petted Amber's fur. "Her soul isn't in the Underworld." I looked at Skye. "None of them are." 

"What are you talking about?" His eyes widened and flipped back and forth around the area. He tried to stand up, but exhaustion took over and he fell to his hands and knees. I reached out to him and he didn't fight me as I held him in my arms. I let him go but still held onto his shoulders. A strong sense of protection passed through me. Maybe I could protect him. Maybe I could hide him from Nero. I'd do better than I had with Amber. I vowed.

"I'll explain at home. Will you come with me?" I stood up with a plan forming in my skull. I held out my hand for him to take. Skye stared into my eyes and his grief melted away into determination. He took my hand and we passed through Father's portal into the Underworld. Once Skye took the step in, the portal closed instantly. 

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A/N

Hey everyone! 

I wanted to thank all of you for voting 

on this story! It means so much to me!

I'm so glad ya'll are enjoying it!

Did any of you cry or was it just me?

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