Blood Bond

For a while my dreams were nightmares—a jumbled, mismatched, chaotic soup of thoughts that swallowed me in the depths of sleep. I was tossed about, drowning in an incessant torrent of garbled visions, unable to turn away, to close myself off, to curl up into a ball. Then I would wake up, drenched in sweat, unable to form any memories or even comprehend what'd occurred.

Little by little, I managed to grab hold of some sense of self in the nightmares. I took hold of the visions that were mine, and pushed away the foreign, plundered ones: the memories of father and me in the garden, of me comforting Maya as she cried, of the blood veins from the Wardstone. Slowly, I was piecing myself together like some scattered, patchwork jigsaw, before retreating to the sanctuary of the waking world on Earth.

As I waded through the sea of visions in search of my own, I also found the ones that were still active. There were only three of them.

One was Hope circling the skies in search of prey in the far-off distance.

Another was a massive presence that I sensed only through blood, pacing somewhere closer by.

And the last was his heart, beating loudly and distressed as he sat still with his hands clasped, right next to me.

Then I found the final jigsaw piece, the memory of me falling into their arms and the bloom of blood fireworks in the evening sky.

I snapped it into place.

—

Sunlight lit up my eyelids into bright shades of pink. I tried to roll away, but there was a weight pinning me down.

Something cold and wet pressed against my cheek, and wiped down, forcefully.

"Nnnghh…" My mouth, unused to forming words, groaned against the uncomfortable sensation.

My eyelids felt like they were glued together.

"Your highness, stay still… just let me finish." Anya's voice cooed down at me.

Why is she talking to me like I was a baby?

My hand reached to pull the wet towel from my face, only to be obstructed by frills, fabric, and the curves and warmth of a body.

I finally managed to force open my eyes and Anya's blurred face slowly sharpened into focus.

Our eyes met and she froze. My gaze shifted slowly. First to the left, where the wet towel sat in her hand, stained pink with blood. Then lower, to her uniform which was draped all over my body as she sat straddling me.

"Umm… Anya?" The words that escaped my lips were rough, scraping against my raw throat. "What… are… you… doing?"

Plop!

Something wet splashed against my nose, several more struck my cheeks. I looked up to find tears falling from her eyes.

"Anya?"

I tried to disentangle my hands from her dress, but then she flung her arms around me and sank her entire weight down on me.

"Ela! You're alive!" she wailed into my ear as she pulled me in tight.

"They said you were gone. That there wasn't any hope," she gasped out between sobs.

I finally worked my arms out from under her dress and hugged her back, patting the back of her head. The sensation of her weight pressing down upon me wasn't an uncomfortable one. I pulled her in tighter against myself.

"Who said so?"

She sniffed. "The healers. They tried to heal you, but it only made things worse. Ms Meris and Sir Kael barred them from you, but they said that…" Then her eyes widened as she quickly tried to push herself up. "Oh, no! What am I doing!"

I glanced out past the massive four-posted bed, to the light spilling from the tall arched windows onto the bookshelves and dressing table. There were several chairs arrayed around my bed, but they were empty.

"It's alright, there's only you and I here. And I could never begrudge my sister a hug." My fingers brushed tears from her cheek. "Thank you for taking care of me."

Anya sat up, wiping at her swollen eyes with her sleeve. "Everyone took turns watching over you. It's just, they've duties to attend to, and are resting now. And…" She raised the blood stained towel in her hand. "You needed to be wiped down in the morning."

"I'm still bleeding overnight." I muttered as I turned my head sideways. My blood had seeped into the sheets, spreading away from me like the veins of dried-out wings.

Anya mistook the look on my face with embarrassment. "Don't worry, we made sure they're gone from the bed by late night, even their Majesties. Though, it was hard getting the queen to let go of your hand."

"What happens to me late at night?" I was morbidly curious. I knew I bled then, but I never saw how, and as far as I knew no else had either.

Anya covered her lips, she looked hesitant, but then withered under my gaze. "Only Ms Meris and I saw. She wouldn't let anyone else in near mid-night."

Meris, she knew. She must have seen it.

Anya continued, her eyes grew distant. "But… your wounds would open up, and they'd weep blood as you just peacefully lay there." She closed her eyes. Her hand trembled. "I'd seen you covered in wounds through True Sight. But this was different. Seeing the slits open across your beautiful face, and the blood dripping out… The horror."

I reached up and placed a hand over hers. "I'm sorry for making you remember. I'm alright now, so no need to watch anymore."

My muscles, so unused to moving, protested as I stirred. My entire body felt stiff and sore, I tried to get up but Anya's weight was still atop of me. "Anya, I don't really mind, but is there a reason you were sitting on me?"

"My apologies, Your Highness!" Anya squeaked, quickly rolling off of me. "Your body kept turning away when I try to wipe you down. We were hoping that meant you were still with us. But you wouldn't wake up."

I rubbed at my forehead.

So my sub-conscious was still active. Trying to control that many puppets must have scrambled my conscious mind. Those nightmares were probably my mind trying to repair itself this whole time.

"How long was I out?"

"Ten days."

I groaned, combing my fingers through the tangled weaves of my hair. "Tell me that we won."

"You won Ela! There's talk of you all through the city. They're calling you The Savior of Aethelgard… The Blood Dancer That Bewitches All."

"I… just waved my arms a little."

But Anya didn't seem to be listening. "They say that your dancing sent ribbons of blood to the sky, and that it was so mesmerizing the gods themselves descended and drew the dead back to life." She sighed wistfully with a hand pressed against her chest. "Ela, I can't believe I missed both of your dances."

"That's not what happened! I didn't want to actually dance either time!" I protested, shaking my head. I realized that I needed to quickly change topics or else I'd really lose Anya to her fantasies. "In any case, what happened to the invaders? Did they try to attack again?"

"There's been no word of them. People say they are afraid of you… Oh, maybe that's why the King had proclaimed that your condition be kept a secret." Her hand shot up to her mouth as a realization seemed to hit her. She hurried off the bed, her eyes dancing about wildly. "I need to inform them that you're up! And others… you need food, a bath…"

She looked down and I followed her gaze. I had nothing on.

"And clothes."

—

It was all over once Meris got a hold of me. Not only would she not let me out of her sight, but she had a physical grip on me at all times.

She forced me to eat as much as I could even though I wasn't actually that hungry. Apparently, Anya and her had been dripping honey and soup down my lips every day and I had somehow managed to take it in despite not being fully conscious.

I was then scrubbed thoroughly before two of them did my hair, nails and make-up.

My eyes roamed the empty room as they worked on me. "Meris, is it only the two of you working alone here? Is it because of Father's order? Must be quite the burden…"

"Nonesense, I won't let anyone else touch you. Those foul healers, and the way they sullied you by opening up your wounds. I should've known," she spat out the words with heat. A sharp glint flashed in her eyes, making me flinch, nearly jerking my hand from hers as she filed my nails.

"They couldn't have known." It was then that I saw it, the grimace in the shadows of her face. Her eyes held not just anger, but also pain.

"Meris?"

The muscles of her tight jawline twitched.

'I should've known.'

Sliding off my seat, I moved my free arm, reaching across the small space between us.

She was angry at herself. I should've known that she was beating herself up over that night in the dungeon. I should've seen it in her eyes. I was helpless, but so was she, and I was her ward.

"Stop. You couldn't have known either, not for sure. And you wouldn't have known what would happen down in that place." I knelt down and gripped her shoulder. "It was my fault that I kept putting myself… and you in danger. My apologies for being so reckless. I nearly got everyone killed."

"You did it because you felt you had to."

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"And so did you."

She pursed her lips, brushing aside the strands of hair from my face. "You've grown far too old for your years."

I pulled her bony, calloused fingers down to my chest. "And here I keep thinking I haven't changed at all."

—

When we set forth out of my room, I was dressed in a long flowing Aethelgard blue gown with a red veil draped over my face.

Even though my face was covered, everyone seemed to know who I was. Voices went silent at my approach. Ladies and maids curtsied, sinking down to ground, and guards and footmen bowed reverently. I suppose Meris and Anya striding proudly behind me with fiery gazes was kind of a dead giveaway.

A large shadow emerged out of a side corridor, stopping me in my tracks. Stonehand's giant figure stepped into view. Instead of his usual burnished armor, he was wearing a grey doublet with white sleeves. "Why, if it isn't the Princess. Glad to see you're up. Oi! Saleic, get over here."

He reached to his side and yanked a nervous-looking Saleic into view.

Saleic stood stiffly with his hands before him. "Your Highness, I'm glad to see you're well."

Meris glared at Stonehand. "Insolent brute, how dare you act so familiar with her royal highness. You don't have the run of this place anymore."

Stonehand waved her off and then swept his large hand back, bowing. "Sure, sure… your humble servant is so very glad to see you walking about, my lady."

Several gasps could be heard around us, followed by low murmurs. Oh great, this is how rumors start.

"She isn't your…"

I silenced Meris by raising my hand. "It's alright Meris. He helped, a bit."

Turning to Stonehand, I narrowed my eyes. "How did you know I was awake? Running into me here can't be a coincidence."

"You put something in me, remember? It wouldn't be fair if it only goes one way." He winked lewdly at me.

"That's… impossible." I stammered. It was my blood. How could he reverse that?

I shook my head. "But why are you still here?"

"I'm hurt, my lady. You forgot what was expected of you?"

I blinked with my mouth open, not quite understanding.

He tapped at a badge on the right side of his chest. It was a dark red heart with a green bolt stabbing through it. Saleic had one on his shirt as well. "Our men stand ready to reforge this world. We march on your orders."

"You're insane." I breathed, my legs wobbling.

He stroked the rings in his beard, his grin widening. "A certain old master told me about a princess who told him of her virtue, something about the importance of life and saving all those suffering. That she would… hmm… give her blood to save them all." He took a step closer. "You have the power now my lady. Wield it, and all will follow. You can bestow your virtue on this age."

"You can't be…" But I could tell from the depths of his yellow eyes that he was completely serious. The thought of it made my skin crawl.

After a long moment of heavy silence, he turned on his heels and yanked Saleic along by the back of his shirt. "Come on boy, time for more Iron! You've got a ways to go before you can catch Her Highness's eyes like my boy Cassian did."

"High Princess, bye!" Saleic's pathetic voice rang out as he was dragged down the corridor.

I stomped my foot. "You idiot! Cassian did NOT catch my eye!"

—

I was in a foul mood as we moved further down the hallway. Stonehand's proposition had completely sideswiped me. I wasn't expecting that of all things. Then I remembered Antara's words being spoken through my lips.

'The goddess of war.'

A nauseous feeling crept up from the pits of my stomach. I wavered and a hand grasped my shoulder, steadying me.

"Are you alright?" Meris asked, lifting my veil to look over my face. "We can go back if you're not up to it."

"Meris… how many did I kill out there?"

"What?"

"Just tell me. I need a number to hang on to."

The dark pools of her eyes looked back into mine.

"I can take it. I just need to know." I pleaded with her.

"Some… estimated… around ten thousand lost on their side." Then she quickly added. "But the majority of those are from the two troop carriers that went down."

"Those are definitely mine… Let's keep going."

As I stepped along the path, the numbers kept hammering at me.

Ten thousand souls. How deep is the depths of the void within me now? The hunger once it hits again will be massive. I don't want to fight any more battles. But it might already be too late.

Whack! Clack! Clang!

The sound of swords striking each other rang out from a training yard beside the gallery that we just entered. I saw three familiar figures in the yard, instantly lifting the gloom hanging over me.

Two of the figures, a man and a woman, were squaring off against one another. Beads of sweat flew off them as their swords blurred around each other, only solidifying when their blades met in brief, violent clashes.

"Just give me a moment," I said to Meris and Anya, and they inclined their heads, seeming to understand.

Gingerly, I tiptoed over toward the two figures still swinging their blurred blades at each other, picking up a stick along the way. Thankfully they weren't using magic so the area wasn't engulfed in explosions of flame and ice.

As I approached, the third figure, who was watching with arms folded, turned to me. Theron's one good eye widened at the sight of me. His lips parted to speak but I silenced him with a quick finger to my own. I hoped he could see the smile behind my veil.

Slowly, I snuck up behind one of the other two figures, Kael, whose dark hair was plastered in sweat-drenched waves to the sides of his face. I aimed for the crown of his head and swung the stick, but Kael shifted instantly. His blade whistled through the air, neatly slicing my stick in half.

"Aw…" I groaned, staring down at the shortened stick. I was so close.

A sword clattered against the ground.

"Your highness?!" Kael croaked.

"Ela!" Astrid's voice hit me just as she did. Her arms smothered me, lifting me up into the air. "You're awake! Thank the gods." She buried her face against my neck as she kept spinning me. "I would've ripped the world apart if you were gone."

"Astrid…" I hugged my sister tight as she held me, my legs dangling. "Thank you for helping me, and not attacking, even with those… monstrosities."

"Like I said, I see only my sister," she breathed against my ear.

When she finally set me down, I threw back my veil. I didn't understand what the point of it was anyways. Everyone knows I'm awake now.

I turned to Theron and smiled. "Thanks for taking care of things. And for holding back."

Theron chuckled. "You made it too easy for me, putting tracker beads on every ship and giving guides for the secret tunnels. Even Master Alarc was a lot of help. It almost feels like you're some kind of mastermind who puts me to shame."

He ran his fingers through my hair, his gaze growing thoughtful. "Speaking of which, Master Alarc requested you take some lessons with him at the Academy. Said something about you exhibiting interesting powers, which you clearly have plenty of. Oh, and… Master Steffan said you need to see him as well. It seems you made quite the impression on the masters."

After a moment, Kael approached, his head downcast.

"Your highness, I'm sorry to have failed you..."

I held up one hand. "Stop, I already told Meris, the fault is mine. I'm drawn to trouble. It'll always find me. It is my fate."

Astrid's face darkened at the word 'fate', her eyes drifted down to my Soul Seed. I knew the implication of that gaze.

But at least it also means she's free.

"Well, I have to go see Mother and Father. Why don't you two keep training together?" I flashed the two of them a teasing grin. "That looked awfully intense."

I should just be happy for the two of them.

That twinge of tightness in my chest when I looked at Kael was gone. There was nothing left. Perhaps, being continuously on the other side, with Naomi, helped.

Turning away from them, I walked back to Meris and Anya, who were waiting for me at the gallery.

"Wait," Astrid called out, stepping up beside me. "I'm coming with you."

"As will I," Theron said as he came up on the other side.

Kael walked silently over to Meris and Anya, taking his place beside them.

—

As always, we had to go through the Hall of Gifts on the way to the throne room. A sense of annoyance filled me as we passed the statues of the previous Chosens. One by one they stood, each carved with the same beautiful, youthful face. The message was being sledgehammered into my mind.

Yes, I get it. The Chosens all died young. As I know I will. Antara had already told me.

'We will be one soon enough.'

We entered the antechamber, and walked under the statue of the Aethelwing tearing up its prey. A shiver traced its way down my spine, an ominous feeling for what should be a simple visit with my parents.

The council table was gone, and in its place was a simple black chair that my father used as a throne. He was dressed in regal furs that circled his shoulder like the mane of a lion. My mother stood beside him in a long, flowing pale blue dress that hugged her figure.

They thanked and dismissed my attendants leaving only my family in the dark, empty room lined by walls of stone.

Mother walked up to me, her elegant fingers tracing over my face, from my jawline up to the corner of my eyes. "Daughter, I'm glad you finally woke. I had been worried."

I took her hand into mine and squeezed. "I heard you've been holding my hand every day. Perhaps the warmth of it guided me back."

Mother raised an eyebrow as she looked down into my eyes.

Is it so wrong to be happy that you care?

Her thumb touched my lips as she smiled sadly down at me.

"Uhm… Treasure, there's something important that we need to discuss," my father said from his slumped position on the chair. Even with the fur mane, he didn't look regal. Instead, he looked tired and defeated like back in the Royal Solar—their prison room.

"Is this about me being the Chosen?"

"You knew?" Father leaned forward in his chair.

"The halo around Astrid's Soul Seed was gone."

He closed his eyes and nodded. "Of course, you are a bright one, Treasure. I'm required to report this to the church. It's already been too long."

He's always such a pious man. His virtue. Look where that landed us.

"No, father. You don't have to report it. If you keep silent, I can hold on to that mantle just fine." Astrid snapped from beside me, she placed a hand on my shoulder. "She doesn't need to endure it. She already saved us. Does she not deserve the respite?"

I covered Astrid's hand with mine. "You can't, Astrid. Antara had already spoken to me. My fate is sealed."

Astrid stared down at me, dumbfounded, her lips parting but no words came.

"He talked to you?" Father's voice quivered. "What did he say?"

"That I was his Chosen."

Mother covered her face with her hands, turning away. Father pressed forward. "Treasure, do you know the true consequence of being Chosen?"

'We will be one soon enough.'

There was really only one way to be one with a god. I glanced over at Mother, sobbing into her hands, then my eyes moved up to Astrid staring down at me with watery eyes, and then they shifted over to Theron and his one good eye, slowly shaking his head at me.

"That I will be sacrificed in a few years' time."

The way Father closed his eyes and collapsed into his hands was all the confirmation I needed.

Antara, that asshole, he had it set so that I'd die at the same time on both sides.

"Tell me Father, did you stop me from getting lessons because of this?"

"I thought I could keep his eyes off of you. With no knowledge, you'd just have a simple rune. And you'd be safe."

"But what of Astrid? She's free if I take her place. Why go through all the trouble of saving the idiot daughter?"

"Because you are my Treasure!" he cried out. "When I first looked into your eyes I knew I couldn't let him have you. But he took you anyway." Father covered his face and his entire body shook with sobs.

I disentangled myself from Astrid, and walked up to Father's shaking, hunched over figure. I leaned over him and wrapped my arms over his back. There was only one thing I could say to him.

"Thank you, Father."

He tried. At the very least, he tried. Which was far more than I could say about my other father.

I slowly backed away from him and walked to the entrance.

Theron was already there, waiting for me. "Don't tell me you're just going to give in and go to your death."

"I'll do what I always do," I said, meeting his gaze. "Survive, learn, and fight."

He pushed away from the wall. "Good. I'll be there this time, my ally."

"I will help as well, Ela," Astrid announced as she approached my other side.

"Then that asshole better watch out."

—

…

Little Key had reached the bottom-most level. The light was dim and he was creeping over a large black pipe lying on its side. All around him rose the sheer cliffs of giant black monoliths. He was crawling through a valley of them. High above them, he could make out hazy green light spilling over the top. Many other pipes protruded from the sides of the cliffs. He could climb higher, but the heights scared him, and the surface of the pipes were slippery. He couldn't find much purchase with his tiny paws.

If he could have climbed a little higher though, and if his eyesight was just a little less poor, he would've seen the vast room that he was in. And the rows upon rows of pods with glowing green glass covers, stretching out into the darkness.