Page 9 of Between Soul and Vessel
She wasstunning.
An intricate, ornate crown, forged of crystals, sat upon her gently floating blonde hair. Her body was a rich landscape made of feminine curves, the dips and valleys outlined in the colors of a dawning sun. That same glow encased the exquisite gown she wore, surrounding her completely in the light of divinity. The wispy, pastel-green fabric of her sleeves draped downward, spilling past the throne onto the polished floors.
She was no mere woman, nor was she just a goddess. She was the mother, the ruler, the beginning and the end, all of which had been featured in the tapestries that surrounded this incredible room.
She was—
“Empress Avena,” Priestess Avriel said with great reverence as she and Imari dropped to bended knee, just before the dais.
A dozen shirtless, masked men lounged around the empress’s throne—their bodies chiseled with muscle, their sleek skin glistening with oil. Some of them were giants, just like the empress. Some held gold platters, trays chock-full of food—fruits, breads, cheeses, and various meats. Two held wine jugs. The other ones simply stood there, their masked faces fixed on us. The masks looked like they were made of iron, each one different—some had been inspired by the faces of animals, while others looked more demonicwith wicked horns.
Horns.
The empress had a pair as well, but hers were antlers. They were beautiful. Majestic. The ivory bone elegantly curled up and out, stretching into multiple polished points, like branches of a tree. Intricate gold chains draped from them, linked to teardrop-shaped diamonds.
The giant’s gaze roved from the priestess to Imari and then to me. Her eyes flared wide, and the huge goblet slid from her hand. It struck the stone floor, the sound louder than thunder. Wine sprayed out everywhere, dousing one man’s leg and foot in dark-red liquid.
He didn’t move an inch.
He didn’t even look.
He just remained there, perfectly still.
Slowly, the empress stood, her attention fixed on me, while mine was drawn to her wrist. On it, a thick cuff crafted from gold and decorated with an ancient dialect—the words worn by the caress of time. Although it was lovely looking, something about it felt . . . off. The empress’s hand stretched toward the arm of her throne, her fingers not quite touching, but ready to grab hold in case she needed it for balance.
“I knew this day would come, I just never imagined it would take so long.” Her voice was like velvet—smooth, rich, and alluring. “But now that it has, it is almost hard to believe,” she remarked to herself. “I have so many,manyquestions.”
Silence swallowed whatever time passed next.
No one dared make a sound.
She glanced to one of the masked men, gesturing to the spilled wine, and said, “Clean this up.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” he spoke in his deep timbre—warm and enchanting. He was muscular and tanned, his hair blond and curly. With a wave of his hand, a bucket and a mop appeared beside him, sudsy water sloshing over the brim. With a swirl of his finger, the mop lifted from the bucket and began to scrub the floors.
The empress turned her attention back on us. She began her descent down the stairs, her gown trailing behind her. As she moved toward us, her body became smaller, stopping when she was about six feet tall. Reaching us, she commanded in her regal, enchanting tone, “You may rise.”
Swiftly, Imari and the priestess stood.
The empress looked at Imari. “How did you find her? Were you alerted to her passing into this realm?”
Imari shook her head. “I’m afraid not, Your Majesty. Somehow, this soul must have slipped through the screening system. I did not realizeshewas of importance to you. Otherwise, I would have flown much fas—”
“Silence,” the empress cut her off. “All that matters is that you found her and brought her here. For that, you will be rewarded.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Imari said, bowing.
The empress gave a regal nod of her head, before her eyes shifted to mine. “She is conscious,” she said, although, unlike the others, she did not seem surprised.
“Yes. That is why we knew to bring her to you,” Imari said. “We knew she was different.”
“She is,” the empress assented.
“Who was she?” Priestess Avriel asked, taking a step forward.
“The question is not who was she, but rather, who has she become? It is a question we must gain an answer to, swiftly. There is one person who can help us with that. Follow me,” the empress said before she started forthe doors.
Avriel
