Chapter 66

  Audrey

  Lydia and I joined hands, and Auntie seemed to calm down as we each cupped her face gently. I took the lead, opening myself to Lydia’s divine power. Slowly, our gold and silver mixed and circulated throughout our bodies. Our divinity was highly compatible, but it still took plenty of focus and effort not to lose control of the flow. As we sank deeper into meditation, my eyes closed, and the noise of the outside world faded.

  When I opened my eyes, I found myself floating in a black void. I had been here before, back when I'd been training my control on the frontline. Only this time I wasn't alone. I glanced to my left to find Lydia floating beside me, her fingers still interlocked with mine.

  "This is new..." I said, and my words echoed around us. The sound made Lydia's eyes flutter open, and she looked around in confusion before meeting my gaze.

  "And this is...?" Before I could answer, a distinct voice came from behind us.

  "You've entered the mindscape." We both turned to find two women in white robes. One with shining silver hair and golden eyes, and the other with platinum blonde hair and silver eyes.

  “Aurora!” I said happily, floating over to give her a hug. It had been a while since we had last met in her divine plane. Everything had just been so chaotic the last few weeks.

  "Hello, my guardian..." She said with a gentle smile while her hand patted my head softly. "You've worked hard." I sank into her embrace, letting a sigh escape me as I enjoyed the moment. Lydia and I held each other often, but that was a different sort of feeling compared to the motherly affection that my goddess radiated.

  "My goddess... you're heavy." I glanced over and giggled at Lydia, who had a blank expression as Azzy hugged her from behind, resting her chin on my girlfriend's head.

  "How rude!" The goddess puffed her cheeks out before laughing, causing Lydia's lips to twitch upward as well.

  When the peaceful moment passed, I pulled away from my goddess and met her gaze. "Are you here to help us save Auntie?"

  My question dampened the mood immediately, and the two divine beings shared a worried glance.

  "There's something you need to do first... If the two of you focus, you should be able to visualize your stella in this space." My goddess said, side-stepping the question. Lydia and I nodded, then closed our eyes. I focused my senses on the power I felt circulating inside me and through our interlaced fingers, and I could feel my girlfriend doing the same. "Just like that, you can open your eyes now."

  When I did as she said, I gasped quietly as the black void around us was now filled with streaks and rivers of divine power. Gold and silver mingled together, and it was even more beautiful than when it had just been mine. However, there was one particular flow of divine power that seemed to vanish into the darkness itself.

  "Let's go," Aurora said gently, guiding me and Lydia along that river of stella until we reached the end. There, we saw the flow of our power clash against a blood-red cage. In the center of it floated Auntie. Red tendrils wrapped around her neck and body, burning her flesh where they touched, and causing me to cover my mouth in shock. There was no emotion on her face, and her eyes were just as lifeless as her physical body as she stared blankly upward.

  "Mother!" Lydia cried out, lunging forward with her arm outstretched.

  "Dia, wait—!" Azure tried to stop her but was too late as ?the emperors' power ensnaring Auntie whipped out at her, striking my girlfriend across the arm and making her shout in pain. Azure grabbed her guardian by the collar and pulled her back, because that injury had done nothing to stop Lydia's efforts to reach her mother. "Dia, please... I understand how you feel, but you need to calm down!" It wasn't until I took her hand again with a gentle squeeze that she finally calmed down, but her eyes brimmed with tears.

  "What do we do? We can't just leave her like that..." she asked as a thin stream of our power broke from the major river we stood beside and wrapped around Lydia's arm to burn the lingering enemy stella away and healing her. Again, our goddesses exchanged a sad look before they each held us by the shoulders. I knew it was bad news before the words were even spoken.

  "The emperor's power—or more accurately, Xenis's power—works by interfering with the bond that anchors a soul to its body." Aurora began to explain. "He uses his stella to replace that bond, allowing them complete control over the victim, while keeping the soul and consciousness connected just enough to maintain life."

  "With the natural bond destroyed, removing Xenis's stella only results in the soul being untethered... and instant death." Azure continued.

  "No... That can't be," Lydia said, pain lacing her voice as she looked between the two goddesses and Auntie. "There has to be something we can do to save her! You both are goddesses! Audrey and I are your divine guardians! Surely there's something we can do!" She begged but was cut off as Azure cupped her face between her hands.

  "I'm so sorry, Dia. If I could, I would return your mother to you without hesitation, and maybe if the gods of life or death had active guardians in this era, it would be possible... But my sis and I lack the specialization to repair the average soul bond, nevermind creating a new one.” She flashed a self-deprecating smile. “Despite all our power.”

  I turned to look at Aurora, my heart hurting with every beat.

  “But you saved me…” I said, hope and despair mingling with every word. She only shook her head with a downcast gaze, holding me gently.

  “As I said on that fateful night, you were a very rare and special case. Your dormant divinity and affinity with me delayed the degradation of your soul and body, and since yours was a natural death, I was able to make the necessary repairs. But in Bella Venyth’s situation…” her words trailed off as she looked at the woman floating, suppressed by power far beyond her own.

  “So there’s nothing to be done?” Lydia said, tears falling down her face. “Either my mother lives as the emperor's slave, or we kill her? I-I can’t make that decision!”

  “There is another option.” Azure said, holding my grieving girlfriend in her arms. “It’s true that we cannot permanently fix what has been broken, but there is a way to anchor her soul and consciousness temporarily after removing Xenis’s power… but it will come with a cost.”

  “We’ll do it.” Lydia and I said at the same time, without hesitation.

  “We knew you’d say that.” Our goddesses said knowingly.

  “But I must warn you both… Even stalling her death for an hour will leave both of you drained of power for days afterward… Even with both of your reserves of mana and stella.” Azure continued, with a little worry coloring her voice. “It will be unlike anything you’ve experienced before… the toll on your bodies will be immense. You will be in no condition to walk, let alone fight.”

  That made us hesitate, but after looking at each other, we came to the same answer.

  “I have faith; my brothers and the others can handle anything that happens while we’re down.” Lydia said confidently. “If it will give me even five more minutes with my mother, I’ll do anything.”

  “It’s the same for me.” I said with a smile. “Tell us what to do.”

  After we all composed ourselves, we stood just outside the range of the bloody stella. Seeing it like this, it was clear the emperor had grown much stronger during our absence… and the amount of power he had used to enslave Auntie was beyond anything I’d seen inflicted on the soldiers of his army. I wonder if the Duke had something to do with that, or if the emperor had understood just how strong she was… Hopefully, Auntie had spent no prolonged period with that womanizing emperor. If I find out he laid his hands on her… We’ll make him regret every choice he’s made.

  Once we were in position, Aurora and Azure explained the process to us. Instead of working to undo the dominating stella, we would slowly replace it with our own. However, holding the soul bond together would strain our power much more than the emperor’s, since Xenis’s concept was much closer related to death itself.

  We had to move slowly, ensuring our flow remained stable, and we felt the drain on our magic immediately. No wonder Aurora never mentioned it before… The emperor’s stella resisted every step of the way, which only served to slow our efforts further, but we held one advantage over the enemy. We possessed the direct source of our divinity, while the power we fought against had long been disconnected.

  Once we destroyed and replaced the cage surrounding Auntie, we moved onto the tendrils actually binding her. This would be one of the hardest parts to do, as one mistake could mean releasing her consciousness before we could re-bind it, or causing irreparable damage to her soul. Despite all the struggle and risk, Lydia and I slowly burned away the bloody stella until nothing was left.

  “N-Now… What…?” I asked between ragged breaths. It felt like my lungs were on fire, and my heart beat wildly as I maintained the flow of divine power. One glance at Lydia revealed she was in the same state.

  “You’ll surface your minds back to your physical bodies.” Aurora said. “As you do, you’ll need to take her with you so she will regain consciousness as well.”

  Tentatively, Lydia and I both moved closer to Auntie, who was now clad in gentle flows of gold and silver. Unlike the emperor’s stella that was meant to restrict her, our power hugged her body like a silk gown. We each took one of her hands, then looked back at our goddesses, who watched us with gentle smiles as we floated upwards.

  “Make sure you leave no regrets this time.” My goddess said.

  “We’ll be watching and supporting you until the very end,” Azure said.

  We waved back, and then everything went white

  ***

  Lydia

  I groaned as my eyes blinked open against the harsh magic lamps that illuminated the destroyed throne room. Audrey sat beside me, her red bangs stuck against her forehead by a sheen of sweat. Slowly, her eyes opened as well, and after looking at each other, the commotion in the room filled my ears.

  “Lydia, Audrey!” Luke said, crouching down beside us with a concerned expression. “Finally… Are you two alright?” Behind him, countless people rushed in and out of the room, all bearing the resistance insignia.

  “We’re fine…” I said, clutching at my head painfully. Then everything came flooding back to me. “Where’s Leah?” The look on his face didn’t reassure me.

  “Still unconscious… and you two have been sitting here with Mother for nearly an hour,” he explained.

  “And the duke?” My follow-up question made him hesitate.

  “Dead. We found his body in the tunnels he used to escape.” I raised an eyebrow at the way he said it, and he continued. “He was severely injured after our fight, but something else took his life—”

  I wanted to know, but the more he spoke, the worse my head pounded until I raised a hand to stop him.

  “Apologies, brother… As long as it’s finally over, I can hear the rest later… My head ?is ringing…” I explained, and he nodded in understanding. As much as I wanted to bask in that bastard's defeat, there was something even more important now.

  I turned to see that Audrey was in the same state I was, rubbing small circles on her temple as she listened with her eyes closed while a sheen of sweat graced her features. The strain on our divinity was just as intense as our goddesses had warned, but both of us would shoulder it.

  “Is mother going to wake up?” Luke asked, his voice trembling slightly.

  “She will.” I said reassuringly. “But we should go somewhere quieter and find Abel.” I didn’t see him while looking around, and I guessed he was investigating the Duke’s escape tunnels with the other knights.

  “Of course.” My brother then gave orders to those around us before lifting me into his arms. Some nearby allies also lifted Audrey and Mother, and although it was embarrassing to have my brother, carry me at my age, I was too weak to complain.

  The three of us were carried into the adjacent waiting room, the same one Mother had originally entered from, and Mother was laid gently on one of the soft couches. Audrey and I sat across from her, our faces flipping between worried and strained as we struggled against the immense flow of power escaping us. The time ticked by slowly, marked by the sound of the enormous grandfather clock in the room?. At some point, Abel arrived, and after checking on Audrey and me, sat beside us.

  “Will she be alright?” He asked, voicing the true question Luke had wanted to ask earlier. Both their faces fell as Audrey and I shook our heads.

  “It’s only temporary.” I said quietly. “The emperor’s stella damaged her soul, and we aren’t able to repair it.” I composed myself as I delivered the terrible news to my siblings. “We are only stalling the inevitable.”

  They said nothing after that, and with bated breath, all of my mother’s children waited for her to awaken.

  “She will wake up… right?” I asked Azure after ten minutes had passed.

  “Her mind has been suppressed for a long time, Dia. You two released the chains, but Bella still has to decide to leave the prison.”

  Another minute.

  Then five.

  Ten.

  The longer we waited, the more labored Audrey and I became until I couldn’t wait patiently any longer. Standing up, I moved to kneel beside Mother and took one of her hands.

  “Mother… Please wake up.” I pleaded quietly, bowing my head as tears filled my eyes. There was a shuffle of movement, and scarlet hair appeared beside me as Audrey took her other hand.

  “We’re all here, Auntie… Please open your eyes.” We leaned into each other for support, trying to comfort each other as tears began to fall.

  “Mother, you were always the first person there when we needed you.” Luke said, placing his hands on her arm. “Now, let us be there for you.”

  “You and Father are the strongest people I know. Please fight for even a little more time.” Abe?l held our mother’s face gently as he spoke, and seeing my brothers like that only made me cry more.

  A few more minutes passed as we each whispered our wish, but eventually—

  “Her hand just moved!” Audrey exclaimed, and the rest of us watched through our tears as a quiet groan escaped Mother’s throat, then her icy eyes fluttered open. Though dazed and unfocused, she was awake.

  “Mother!” all of us cried out.

  Slowly, her pupils narrowed on us, and her eyes widened.

  “Is this… a dream…?” She asked, her voice hoarse from neglect. “Ah, if it is… what a pleasant last moment.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh through my tears, squeezing her hand.

  “It isn’t, Mother. We’re all here.” I said.

  “Is that so?” she replied thoughtfully. “Even if this is just… a figment of my subconscious, I suppose I should… enjoy it.” A tired smirk pulled at her lips, and her attitude helped lighten the heavy atmosphere that had overcome us. Slowly, she tried to sit up, but it took all four of us helping to get her into an upright position.

  “How do you feel, Auntie?” Audrey asked with concern.

  “Something feels… off.” Mother replied, which made Audrey and me exchange a look. Before we could explain the situation, she smiled knowingly. “How long do I have?”

  “However long we can maintain our power.” I said after a moment of hesitation. Gently, her hands caressed our faces, and both Audrey and I leaned into her palms.

  “My beautiful daughters… both chosen by the divine. I had a feeling it would turn out like this.” She murmured, and I could only giggle.

  “Everyone said that.” I retorted. Mother just kept a gentle smile on her lips.

  “I’m so very proud of both of you.” Her words made my heart swell as she turned to Audrey. “Cecelia would feel the same, Audrey.”

  “I hope so, Auntie.” My girlfriend said, trying desperately to suppress her crying.

  Next, Mother turned to look at my brothers, who both kneeled in front of her with wet cheeks.

  “My brilliant sons…” she said, reaching out to run her fingers across their faces. “Your father and I left you quite a mess. For that, I apologize.” Her eyes moistened slightly as she continued. “The past blinded us, and we ignored the warning signs. I won’t ask for your forgiveness—”

  “Please stop, Mother.” Luke cut in softly, squeezing her hand. "There’s nothing to forgive. Even though you and Father made mistakes, you both did far more good. For the kingdom, and our family."

  A bitter look crossed her expression.

  “But only the outcome matters, and we’ve left our children in darkness.” She said,

  “You’re wrong, Mother.” Abel chimed in. “The darkness we face now was always going to come… It’s because we had you and Father that we’re strong enough to face it.”

  Audrey and I voiced our agreement with resolute nods, and she sighed in defeat.

  “I suppose Stephen and I did one thing right at least… We feel, and will forever feel, blessed to be your parents.”

  After that, we reminisced. About Abel and Father sneaking into town to avoid work. ?Luke would always take on too much to try to make up for it, but being dragged along on the next outing, regardless. The times I would sneak into their offices to sneak a peek at the documents. Mother and I talked at length about all our shopping excursions. The five of us kept the conversation going with anything we could… For just a little longer, until.

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  "Lydia, you're bleeding!" Audrey cried out, and everyone in the room stopped to look at me.

  "You are too..." I said, wiping at my nose and staring blankly at the red smear that stained the side of my hand. Audrey also had a thin red stream following the curve of her lips before she hurriedly wiped it.

  "It's time then." Mother said sadly. "Still, I'm grateful I got to spend even another moment with my children."

  "No," I said, refusing to let my divinity stop flowing. "There's still so much we need to talk about... to prepare for the future."

  "I know you're strong enough to handle it yourselves."

  "No!" I shook my head, but had to stop as my head felt like it was going to explode. Audrey took my hand and met my gaze with determination of her own.

  "We can—no, we will keep going."

  "Dia, stop. It's too much. If you maintain her soul any longer, the damage may be irreparable to both you and Audy," Azure said with concern. I had no doubt Audrey was being told the same thing from Aurora, but I just ignored her.

  "Lydia... Audrey..." Abel and Luke took us by the shoulders, but we refused to look at them.

  Amid my despair, Mother reached out... and squished my cheeks with her hands.

  "Lydia. It's alright," she said softly. "While I regret leaving my precious children behind, I have faith that together, you'll create a brighter future." Her thumb brushed gently over my skin, wiping away the tears and blood. "I want neither of my daughters to continue hurting themselves like this... and besides." She paused and laughed as tears brimmed in her icy eyes. "Your father and Cecelia are waiting for me.

  "B-But—!" I sputtered, but the words came out slurred because of her still squishing my face and my exhaustion.

  "If we had the choice, I'd stay with you forever, but it's impossible, right? The longer I stay, the more you and Audrey have to bear, and I refuse any such thing." She turned to Audrey, who looked just as terrible as I felt. "You as well, Audrey. It's time to move forward with your heads held high." My girlfriend nodded, her head lowered and tears falling to the carpet. I gritted my teeth as ?the coppery taste of blood filled my mouth, and my head spun. Both of us were at our limit, and it took everything I had to keep my vision focused on my mother.

  She finally released my face and leaned back against the couch with a sigh. "Luke, Abel... Take care of each other and your sisters."

  "We will, Mother." They said, hugging her from behind over the couch. Her hand raised and patted their arms lovingly. It was at that moment that I felt something inside me snap, and the flow of divine power Audrey and I had been supporting dwindled, no longer able to hold Mother's soul in place.

  I couldn’t do anything but cry and beg for my power to return, to keep her here for just another minute, but slowly, the ice began to melt from her eyes. In tandem, the color vanished from my mother, and my brothers held her upright as the ?strength left her body. “In our room… We left a safe… It contains… Your father and I’s precious feelings.” Her eyes fought to stay open, but the light had already disappeared from them as she forced out her last goodbye. “We love you, my children… I better not… See you… anytime soon.” Her whispered words echoed through the silent room as her eyes closed for the last time.

  My brothers had their heads buried in her neck as Audrey and I knelt in front of her, gripping her hands tightly. I was in pain, and everything hurt from my heart to my head.

  "Auntie... Mom..." I heard my girlfriend say a moment before she collapsed sideways onto the carpet. Blood dripped from her nose and ears, and I lurched toward her in a panic. However, suddenly, excruciating pain lanced through my chest, and I coughed a mouthful of blood into my palm. I looked down in disbelief, then slowly back at the figure of my dear mother.

  "Goodbye... Mother..." I mumbled. The last thing I saw was my mother, sitting straight up, her hands folded gracefully in her lap and a smile on her lips. Not even death nor a single tear rolling down her cheek could ever mar her beautiful dignity as queen.

  Then everything went dark as my brothers rushed to our side.

  ***

  Bella

  Immense grief filled me as the faces of my children faded from view, and then I felt... nothing. Yet, after a long time... Or maybe just a few seconds, I soon blinked my eyes open to find myself standing in a white space. Confusion filled me as I looked down at myself, seeing my body healthy… and even a bit younger?

  I didn't have long to ponder it, however, as a loud crashing sound came from behind me, and I turned to find something very out of place. A rustic log cabin sat in the white void before me... Well, I assumed it was a cabin, since one wall was now a pile of splinters. I stared as a figure rose from the pile of wood and glass and shook his head. Blue and white fire danced around him, and I’d recognize those flames even if I were blind.

  "Damn! Let's go again! This time I'll beat you for sure!" My husband said with a defiant smile, pointing dramatically through the hole he had just opened. He seemed to be having… fun. I stepped forward, my love and relief at seeing him accented by the usual exasperation. But before I could say anything, a woman's voice responded from inside the building, freezing me in my tracks.

  "Not that I'm tired of pummeling you, but isn't that the hundredth time I've won? Shouldn't you be tired of losing by now?" The voice was familiar, but one I hadn’t heard in many years.

  "Hah! Don’t get ahead of yourself! That was only the ninety-eighth! And I have all the time in the afterlife until my darling shows up! Let's go–" Mid sentence a blast of my ice that sent him rolling further across the blank space struck him.

  "What are you two even doing?!" I growled, glaring at Stephen as he got to his feet with wide eyes.

  "Darling!" he said happily, but then his face morphed into grief, then acceptance.

  "Hello, Bell... Long time no see." Slowly, I turned to the destroyed cabin wall and saw none other than my best friend.

  "Cecelia," I unconsciously stepped toward her and then embraced her in a jumping hug.

  "Whoa! Hey, Bell! It's alright—"

  "I'm so sorry, Cece... I'm sorry!" I sobbed into her shoulder as my regrets flooded out of me. "I made so many mistakes, and I failed you!" Her hand gently patted my back, and when I looked up at her, only a sad smile graced her red lips. It had been a long time since I'd seen her, and even longer since I'd seen her this vibrant and healthy. It was even more obvious now just how much Audrey took after her mother.

  "Stop, Bell. We all made mistakes... I let my love blind me until it was too late... But it's all over now." Her eyes flicked to the inside of the cabin, and I followed her gaze to a doorway that sat in the back wall. It seemed to pulse and shimmer with rainbow light and divine power.

  "Was that bastard here?!" I asked angrily, but Cecelia just held me tighter.

  "You just missed him." She said, with an emotion coloring her voice I couldn't quite understand. "But he's gone on ahead… We both thought that would be for the best.”

  “Don’t tell me you forgave that bastard!” I fumed through my tears.

  “Of course I didn’t.” The coldness of her voice was enough to even give me shivers, and I stepped away from her. "What Thomas did to your family and my Audrey is unforgivable." Her blue eyes burned with crimson fire as she spoke, but then she closed them and took a long breath. “But… we are not innocent either. Me most of all.”

  “Cece—”

  “Stephen told me about everything… everything after my death.” She said bitterly. “I held onto the past, hoping that the boy I had fallen in love with was still inside him somewhere… By the time I came to my senses, I couldn’t even do anything for my daughter. Not only did I fail as her mother, but as Thomas’s closest friend.”

  I said nothing. I couldn’t. It was true Thomas had become the worst of us… But maybe it was something we could’ve prevented if we had been more aware of his circumstances growing up. Even Thomas had been an innocent boy in love once. As we stood in silence, Stephen came up and took my hand gently.

  “There’s no point in reliving our regrets. We’ve already left our children behind… We can only believe in their strength.” He said, a rare moment of seriousness from him, and I let him guide me inside the log cabin. Once we were out of the way, the destroyed wall rebuilt itself, and after I stared in surprise for a moment, I sat beside my husband, our hands stuck together, on one of the comfortable-looking leather couches in the center of the room as my best friend sat across from me. The inside of the building was just as rustic as the outside, with a fur rug covering much of the floor, and various hunting tools and animal trophies mounted on the walls. A warm fire crackled in a white stone fireplace just beside the mysterious portal I had seen earlier.

  “So can I get an explanation?” I finally asked after the heavy atmosphere dissipated. “Is this the afterlife?”

  “Not quite.” A booming voice echoed around us, and I flinched at the loud noise. It was the gritty voice of a man, but it didn’t fill me with fear, oddly enough. In fact, it was like it settled my soul.

  “I told you not to do that, Laz,” Cecelia said with a frown, and a moment later a black haze appeared in the room before it quickly merged into a figure. When the smoke cleared, a man with long black hair and unhealthy gray skin stood beside the couches with his hands relaxed behind his back. What was ?most shocking were his eyes. Two silver irises sat in a black void, being the only dividing line between his pupils and sclera.

  “And I told you, Cecelia, that your mortal faults are not my responsibility.” His retort only made the redhead sigh in exasperation.

  “Bell, this is Lazarus. He’s the god of death.” My friend introduced me casually, and I gaped in shock.

  “And reincarnation.” The grey-skinned man corrected with a raised finger. “You won’t believe how many souls forget that part…” When there was no response, he just continued. “Anyway, now that you’ve reunited with everyone you wanted to, are you ready to once more enter the universe?” His question was directed at Cecelia, who just pursed her lips.

  “What do you mean?” I asked. Earlier, when talking about Thomas, Cecelia had also mentioned he went somewhere before us.

  “Reincarnation, my dear.” With a puff of black smoke, Lazarus appeared on my free side, giving me a genial smile that made my husband growl at him. “When a mortal dies, their life energy—or soul, as you humans refer to it—is wiped clean and mixed back into the universe, where it will eventually give life once more.”

  “So we don’t carry our memories?” I asked, the thought filling me with sadness at forgetting my current self and my precious family.

  “Correct.”

  “Even if that’s the case, my soul will always find you.” My husband cut in, kissing the back of my hand gently.

  “Some bonds can transcend even reincarnation.” Lazarus said with a shrug. “It’s not uncommon for lovers, or even entire families, to be reborn together once more. Especially from worlds where the concept of ‘soulmates’ is prominent.”

  I remembered Audrey had once explained to me ?how spirits and divine beings are born. It was in line with what the spirit church preached, but with much more detail.

  “Unfortnately, the current mortal has to be willing to relinquish themselves to the universe. If there’s even the slightest resistance, it causes problems for my brother down the line.” He said, seemingly more amused by the idea then worried. “Cecelia here refused to go until she got to see some specific people one final time.”

  “Me and Thomas…?” I asked my best friend, who nodded slowly.

  “What about me?!” Stephen asked in disbelief, which made us giggle.

  “So what happens if we refuse to go at all?” I asked curiously, bringing us back to topic. The idea of waiting for my children to live out their long lives and hearing all their stories before reincarnating together sounded… Nice.

  “You could, but this space is not meant for long-term storage of life energy. The longer you stay, the more memories of your most recent life will vanish until nothing's left. Once you no longer remember why you’re staying here, you’ll agree to go.” He explained casually. “Ask Cecelia, as she hasn’t even been here a decade yet and I have no doubt she’s already missing most of her childhood.”

  I looked at Cecelia in alarm and was met with a casual shrug.

  “I still have all the important parts.”

  “But still—!”

  As if reading my thoughts, the god of death chimed in again.

  “You might still remember your sons by the time their time has ended, but your daughters… Well, not even I know what their destiny holds.” That made both Cecelia and I glare at the deity, as I didn’t like the way it sounded. Still, there was a silver lining hidden in his words. As I placed a hand on my chest in relief, Lazarus suddenly vanished in another burst of black smoke as he teleported right beside the portal I now understood led to reincarnation. “Great! If everyone now understands the situation, and Cecelia is done being stubborn, if you fine mortals could continue on your ever-lasting cycle, I’d appreciate it.” He clapped as he hurried us along, but I didn’t get up even as Stephen and Cecelia did.

  “Bell?” My friend asked, and I smiled at Lazarus.

  “I’m not ready, I still need to talk to someone.” I said, leaning back on the couch.

  “Gah… who is it.” The god rubbed at his temples, and I snickered a bit at his very mortal display. Again as if reading my thoughts, he scowled at me. “There are billions of souls I have to shepard at any given moment, so don’t scoff at me trying to rush you out when Cecelia’s already been a massive pain.”

  “Right… Apologies.” I replied sincerely. “Still, I would like to meet the goddesses our daughters serve.”

  “Oh, that’s a great idea!” Cecelia said, her fire red hair swaying as she sat back down.

  “I would as well.” Stephen said in agreement, once again wrapping his arms around me.

  “You mortals dare ask of the gods?” He asked, his voice becoming powerful once more. I instinctively shirked back from it, and noticed the other two do the same until… “Actually, if it will get you out of here… If it’s those two, I’m sure they’d agree. Though…” He murmured to himself while considering it.

  “Though…?” I asked, and the god of death furrowed his brow.

  “We don’t have a very amicable relationship.”

  “Why’s that?” Curiosity and my time in high society wouldn’t allow me to pass up the chance to pry.

  “Well… their feud with Xenis means I’m not really an ally, even if I’m not an enemy.” At the mention of the evil god that had caused us so many problems, my skin prickled, but I didn’t have time to interject. “Don’t look at me like that. War and death go hand in hand after all.” He smirked, not in the least bit ashamed. “I’ll be right back, I suppose.”

  And just like that, he disappeared in a blast of black smoke, leaving the three of us alone once more. Silence filled the cabin, but Lazarus returned not even a minute later. Following him, two other figures appeared with a flash of light. Beside Lazarus stood two women whose appearance made me feel inferior in every way, and I understood just how attractive I was.

  The two newcomers didn’t even look at Lazarus as he stepped out of the way, and the three of us stood as they walked gracefully toward us. Up close, their otherworldly beauty stunned even more, and we mortals could barely deign to breathe in their presence.

  “Ah, sister. Our divinity.” The platinum blonde, silver-eyed goddess said, nudging the other one with her elbow.

  “Right… The girls never reacted like that, so it slipped my mind.” The silver-haired, golden-eyed goddess replied. A moment later, I could feel the spell that had overtaken me release its hold, and I took a heavy breath. Their features hadn’t changed, but they didn’t seem as captivating anymore. “Apologies. We meant no harm to you.” The more mature one of the duo said with an expression that was almost… sheepish. “It’s a pleasure to meet all of you officially. I am Aurora, the goddess of night, and Audrey’s goddess.”

  “Same here! I’m Azure, goddess of day and my dear Dia’s goddess!”

  Once they introduced themselves, I could tell immediately they were truly a good match for our daughters.

  “I’m Bella Venyth.” I said, pulling my dress as I curtsied with practiced ease.

  “Stephen Venyth.” My husband said as he bowed.

  “And I’m Cecelia! Thank you so much for taking care of my daughter!” the redhead said, enthusiastically taking Aurora’s hand and shaking it. Her movements gradually slowed, however, as the bitter smile from earlier reappeared. “I know I have no right, having left her in that state… But truly… Thank you so much for saving my precious child.”

  Aurora only smiled gracefully and laid her hand on Cecelia’s.

  “Do not disparage yourself so much. Audrey has never once forgotten or blamed you. Her love for her mother overflows even now.”

  “That’s…” Cecelia started, but a sob choked the rest of her sentence as she bowed her head and tears fell to the wood floor. “I don’t deserve her.”

  Giving my friend some privacy to work through her grief, I turned to find Azure leaning right into my husband’s face with a thoughtful expression.

  “The hair and eye colors are different, but you resemble Ezekiel quite a bit, which is surprising considering the era…” I did not know what she was trying to say, but the blush creeping across my husband's face at the proximity was enough for me to pull him away sharply.

  “You’re my daughter’s goddess, yes? Thank you for taking care of her when I couldn’t.” I said, feeling the same pang of guilt and regret as Cecelia.

  “No need to thank me.” She replied with a knowing smirk. “Dia mostly takes care of herself, and I’m honored to have such a capable guardian.”

  “Thank you for saying so.”

  An awkward silence filled the air until Cecelia composed herself.

  “How are the girls doing now?” She asked, wiping at her face.

  “They are resting currently.” Aurora said, then waved her hand. The space in front of us seemed to split into a whirling pool of darkness before two figures came into view. Our daughters lay on the same large bed, a flurry of activity around them. A familiar lady-in-waiting stood right by their bedside, discussing something with a handful of other servants. “They exhausted their power, but should recover just fine in a few more days.”

  In the window, I saw my two sons step into frame, looking worriedly over the girls.

  “It’s been three days already…” Luke’s voice came through, even though nobody else was audible.

  “How long are you two going to make us wait, huh?” Abel said, taking his sister's hand gently. His bravado was an obvious front, judging by the trembling of his body. That’s just like them.

  We watched for another minute, but nothing else changed before the window closed, vanishing without a trace.

  “My sweet girl has grown up…” Cecelia said, her hand outstretched and gently touching Audrey’s unconscious face. An invisible force stopped her fingers, but she only smiled gently. “That locket… She still wears it?” She whispered, seeing the glinting accessory her daughter wore.

  “More than that.” Aurora said. “It’s become a part of her soul now, and it allows her great strength.”

  “So, you’re saying a part of me will always be with her then? I’m… glad.” Cecelia leaned her head against the image and giggled quietly. “I’m honored to be of help to you, my daughter…” We watched for another minute, but nothing else changed before the window closed, vanishing without a trace. “Thank you for allowing me to see her one last time.”

  “It’s the least I could do.” Aurora said sadly.

  Cecelia then looked at me, the light in her eyes changed. “Bell… I think I’m ready to go now. I’ve heard all I needed to.” She wrapped her arms around me, and I reciprocated tightly.

  “But we only just found each other again.” I said, fighting back the tears as she moved and wrapped her arms around me, and I reciprocated tightly.

  “And we’ll continue to find each other… no matter how many lives we live or who we become.” We stayed like that for a long time before she finally pulled away, and I reluctantly had to let go.

  “Please guide my daughter to the happy future I couldn’t.” She said to Aurora, who nodded seriously.

  “I’ll do anything for Audrey, if it’s within the limits of our power.” A smile so beautiful then bloomed across the goddess’s lips. “I love that child with all my heart, after all.”

  “I’m filled with relief knowing that…” Cecelia said, then walked over to the shimmering portal. Lazarus looked up, but said nothing as she stood at the threshold. “See you again soon, Bell… Audrey.”

  “Until then, Cece. Thank you for being my best friend.” I said, doing my best to keep a smile on my face.

  “It was my honor.” With a final wink over her shoulder, Cecelia stepped forward and vanished. The portal pulsed with beautiful motes of red light, then calmed once more.

  Stephen held me as I stared at the place she’d just been. The smile trembled on my lips before it finally broke, and a strangled sob broke free. The two goddesses stood silently, watching me with empathetic gazes. Once I got the worst out, I looked into my husband's eyes to see his cheeks wet as well.

  “That meathead… I will win next time.” He whispered.

  “I’m not sure even reincarnation will help you there.” I giggled through the last of my grief.

  “Let me dream, my love.” He kissed my forehead softly, which helped me compose myself. “Shall we go as well?”

  I nodded into his shoulder silently, then pushed myself away to face the two goddesses who would watch over our family from now on.

  “I know Cecelia already asked, but please take care of them.” This time, Azure replied, thumping her chest confidently with a grin.

  “You need not even ask.” Her casual demeanor somehow made me feel incredibly at ease.

  Hand in hand, Stephen and I walked past them to stand before the colorful portal. We stood together, focusing just on each other’s warmth before a sudden memory came to mind. It wouldn’t hurt to get one last tease in… Looking over my shoulder at the silver-haired goddess, I smiled as seductively as I could.

  “Unless that offer from before is still available, oh beautiful goddess?” A look of confusion crossed Aurora’s features before her eyes widened in remembrance of the time I’d teased her through Audrey.

  “O-oh…” she stuttered. The blush coloring her cheeks made me reconsider the joke as a genuine option.

  “Darling?!”

  “Sister?!”

  My husband and Azure cried out in harmony, and I quickly masked my wandering thoughts. I wavered only for a moment!

  “I’m just kidding, darling. You know I only love you and Cecelia.” I patted his hand placatingly as he grumbled.

  “I still have to share with that gorilla?”

  I pinched the back of his hand for that.

  Once the amusement faded, I squeezed his hand to draw his attention. When he looked down at me, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him into the most passionate kiss I could manage. It made even the deities in the room look away in embarrassment.

  When I finally broke the embrace, I smirked up at him. “You’ve had plenty of me to yourself.”

  “I can never win against you.” He murmured, leaning down to kiss me one last time. “Thank you for choosing this life with me, Bella.”

  “And I’ll choose the next hundred.” With that, we faced the portal and stepped forward together.

  Blinding light washed over me, and it was so very warm.

  ***

  Aurora

  The portal pulsed with immense divine power and different shades of blue magic as Stephen and Bella Venyth stepped through, rejoining the cycle of reincarnation. Perhaps they’d be reborn back on their home world, or perhaps a different planet elsewhere in the endless plane of existence… Not even Lazarus could guess. Regardless, I had faith that the universe would bring them back together with those they loved and will love in the future. Souls such as theirs deserve the happiest of endings.

  “I see where Dia and Audy get all that passion from, at least...” Azure said with a laugh from beside me, and I couldn’t help but agree. For mortals, death was a goodbye full of grief, but for the divine, it was just the rebirth of another story.

  “We should return.” I said to my sister, who nodded in agreement. Being in the domain of other deities drew on our power considerably more than our own.

  “You should remodel purgatory, Lazzy.” she directed at the god who still leaned against the wall by the portal. “The white void feels… uninspired.”

  The god of death only rolled his eyes and kicked himself upright. “Don’t call me that. And I don’t recall asking for your opinion.”

  “So cold… We haven’t seen each other in eons! You should visit sometimes.” Azure pouted. “Bring Eliy!” As the primordial deities over life and death, Lazarus and Elior were even stronger than us… But it also came with much more responsibility.

  “We don’t have that kind of time.” Lazarus scoffed. “See yourselves out.” With a blast of dark stella, the entire log cabin disappeared along with him.

  “Always so sour.” My sister complained. “Elior at least pretends to be nice.”

  I could only shake my head in exasperation as we prepared to reenter our divine plane. Our guardians were still asleep, but once they recovered enough we could at least call them to our divine planes, even if they hadn't physically woken up.

  "The girls are waiting for us." I said, changing the topic.

  "Right, let's go!"

  With flashes of divine light, we left purgatory behind and anxiously waited for our guardians.