The Choice
Standing in the hallowed halls of the place she once called home many years ago, Zara could still feel the energy of the lives that were once lived here. So many people once used to grace these halls with warmth and light. Fingers brushing against the stone, she heard giggles and footsteps approaching as she turned to see the haunted vision of two little girls running. Both children blonde with bright blue eyes and brightly colored robes befitting two children of power and status. One smaller than the other, chased after the elder with fervor.
“Wait for me, Aure!” she called out. “My legs are little and you’re too fast!”
Tears threatened to spring in the corners of her eyes as she remembered all the times she chased her sister in these halls, begging for her to wait so she could keep up. Memories that she had held at bay for so many years to keep herself strong now came flooding back to her as she saw visions of herself and Aurelia. Teasing each other with their newly learned spells, running away from their father as he chased them laughing, and so many more. Overloading her senses all at once as she collapsed to the floor.
It’ll all go away. Just trust us.
You’ll see your sister again.
Your daughter.
Each of the whispers were growing stronger and becoming more difficult to keep at bay. The thought of seeing Aurelia and her little Relia were enticing and Zara wanted them both so much. Her heart ached for her child and yearned to see her sister again as she had been so alone. Aurelia had told her to wait, but she had waited so long already and she been without any family for over eight years.
The last few years had been the loneliest of her life after the loss of her child and her husband’s abandonment. When Jaelthos came to her, his words were quick and harsh as he berated her for going out alone, blaming her for the loss of their child. He told her she was a failure as a wife and left. Believing herself to be at fault, she exiled herself and began to study other types of magic with the sole purpose and hope to give herself peace of mind somehow. The Void found her in her studies and began to make promises. Promises she clung to.
“You said I would see them again...where are they?” she asked aloud, looking around her to the cold stone walls as if they could answer.
Come child, you will see them again.
Zara stood, holding the wall for support as she felt weak and unsure of her footing. Pressing forward, she came to a door and pushed it open. New memories flooded her as she saw a young version of herself with Aurelia, excitedly talking about their lessons and ideas for their futures. Both had high hopes of continuing to learn and pursue knowledge with the desire to help others and develop their abilities further. Choking back her emotions, she realized how close she and her sister had been. Once they had been able to tell one another everything without a single worry in the world. Those days were long since gone. Slender fingers touched the fabric of the sheets, moving the dust that had accumulated as she sat down. So many nights she had spent here, giggling in the dark with her sister about their studies, dreaming of what could be for them in their futures. Never did she imagine the horrors that awaited them. Her eyes slid shut as a tear escaped down her cheek.
“Mommy?” a tiny voice called.
Zara’s eyes snapped open as she looked around desperately, instinctively knowing it was her own child’s voice she heard. There was no one in the room, save herself, but she knew that she had heard her child. Relia’s voice was clear and loud and she knew that she had heard it. How could it be anyone else?
“Relia?!” she called out. “Relia, I’m here...please come out.”
The whispers had promised her...they had said she would see her child again. And she had heard that voice as clear as any. Standing, she looked around the room and found no one but herself. Her hands shook as she frantically ran them through her hair, unsure of what was happening to her. She felt as if she was losing control and knew that she was going to give in, finally.
“Okay...okay, I’ll do it,” she gasped, unable to take it anymore. “Please, just let me see my daughter!”
Come to us.
Reaching deep within, she conjured a portal to a place she had only seen in her mind. The voices called again and she nodded, stepping through the portal, leaving behind the sanity she knew and the home she once loved.
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