Nightbound

Chapter 12- Silver and Blood

"What are you doing here?" I blurted out to Garrus, peeking an uneasy glance back to the darkened room. I swore the moaning of that voice still resounded inside.

"Saving you from getting vaporised, of course." He kicked the door hard and I winced because the creaking sound echoed through the eerie empty corridor. "When you are told to stick with safety, you are supposed to! I never thought you would be foolish enough to wander alone, and for lord's sake, to Persephone's Tears?"

I gave him a blatant look, "Whose tears now? That red floating liquid thing is someone's tears?"

Gross!

"You are not aware of this this world, Alex!" his cerulean eyes flickered with anger and I actually noticed—which I had never realised earlier that the way he spoke...was different. His voice, the accent—it was different as if a melodious helium tune was speaking in raspy etherealness.

The chillness faded.

"How are you here? And..." I looked around, "Where's Katherine?"

He frowned, "Who--?"

"I am here."

We both turned towards the main hall and found Katherine walking towards us, holding a very wicked axe almost the size of my whole body. She was dragging it with her because it probably weighed tonnes. Garrus tensed beside me and practically made himself a barrier in front of, earning an eye roll from me. He stiffly greeted Katherine, "Nighthunter."

"Ah, Fae Prince." She clicked her tongue, "What a nice surprise! Thought your kind did not venture in blotchy places like this."

I brushed past the fae, "Katherine! What happened? Where did you go?"

She supported the axe of the nearby wall, grunting in the process and replied, "That damn door closed on you like it was waiting for the prey. I tried to kick and scream, didn't work. Slashed it with my dagger here," she gestured at the glinting blade strapped to her arm which I am very sure was not there before, "Didn't work as well so I saw this beauty here and thought about giving a try."

"And you couldn't call Nik?" Garrus crossed his arms, eyes flashing.

"Pfft! Ask Nik Ryder? I may very well cut my head off before I do that!"

Garrus growled—he fucking growled, "Alexandra's life was on stake here, Katherine! How could you be so held up by that goddamn ego to let her die by consuming Persephone's Tears?!"

Katherine's head jerked back in surprise, "What?!" she looked at me, "You were about to drink that lethal essence?"

Before I could give a retort back, my thoughts took the better hold. Surely there were many things missing here and that red thingy—Persephone's Tears was bad of the worst. But I couldn't help but relive the feelings of guilt, loneliness and melancholy which ricocheted in that room. There was sadness in there, of being alone for so long that even tiniest bit of company was welcomed. And then that voice was answering my questions as well which was suspicious of course but at least I was somewhere from nothing.

I knew the one who summoned that bloodwraith was a woman and she was doing it for the man she loved...and had killed many before. Was she the one who also murdered the two powerful beings before? Surely the mess their bodies have been left with implied it. Luc's words came through the same....

"The Magician, The Queen of Cups, and the Devil...two mighty women, standing in your path. And a man, a bitter, hateful man. The first woman...is ancient, powerful beyond reckoning...she sails the seas of time. She---" he frowned, "She has answers for you...and is waiting. The other is wounded, and very much in love."