Page 74 of Detonation
"You might have some form of power but you have no idea how to use it. It pales in comparison to my powers, gifted by a god."
Fight, Ash. You could pick her up and leave this place behind you. Your family could be whole again.
Hot tears leak down my face as I picture us back home, together and happy. When did things get so difficult?
The twins leading their prank wars against me; Zedd sitting in his window nook, reading a fantasy book; Hale in the armchair, watching over everyone like a parent; and Lana, sweeping through each section of the house, giving us all her time and attention so no one feels neglected.
"No!" I yell as my white ball begins to fade, turning grey as the black tendrils of his powers encompass in my core.
"Yes, human. You were never meant to live this long. You should be thanking me for letting you have one last moment with her before your death."
"I will never thank you for anything and I will never give up. I don't care how far you try to bury me in the void because…” I strain to keep control and groan before finding the strength to carry on. “There is something that will always pull me back to Lana and you will never have that with her. You will never understand what love feels like."
I feel the shift in my core as my white energy is snuffed out and my connection to my body fades.
A deep laugh rumbles before he speaks aloud, "She will learn to love me as her king. We have forever for her to see that I can give her more than all of you ever could. We are bound for eternity.”
That will never happen.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Lana
Goosebumps break out along my skin as I look at Gaia, nervous. "What information could I possibly have had as a child that would cause a goddess to feel fear?"
She smiles, tears pooling in her eyes. "You feel it, don't you? Deep in your soul, it's telling you."
I shake my head and look away from her, refusing to meet her gaze. "I don't know what you're talking about."
She grips my hands in her own gently, forcing me to turn my face towards her as she nods, lifting her fingers to my forehead. "Please close your eyes and let me in. I will show you the past from my eyes and you will know it all."
I swallow a knot in my throat as I stare at her for a few seconds. Do I want to know? Will I be able to live with myself if I don’t take this chance? Reluctantly, I nod and follow her instructions.
My head swims, lightheadedness overcoming me as I become disoriented. I throw my arms out to catch myself as I fall and my eyes fly open.
I look around, spinning on my heels, taking in my surroundings.
I'm no longer in the white room. In front of me, Gaia swims through the pale pink ocean of my realm before the war. She looks so relaxed, backstroking through the water, her copper hair dark and swirling around her.
"Is swimming in the ocean going to provide me the answers?" I call out. She doesn't answer so I try again, "Gaia? Hello?"
Still nothing.
I watch her frolic around in the ocean for a few minutes before a shining tether snaps into place, attaching to the center of her chest.
"What is that?"
She ignores me as she stops swimming and walks out of the water, clad in a wet, white dress, transparent as it clings to her curves.
I close my eyes, feeling like I'm intruding on her privacy, but the whirling of the wind gets the better of my curiosity and I open my eyes again. She's now completely dry, her long, copper hair shining, falling perfectly down her back in neat waves while her dress blows lightly in the breeze, kissing the floor in its length.
Facing the castle, she walks in that direction. I look down at her feet, shocked that she leaves no trail in the sand.
I jog to keep up with her, peering over at her, startled once again at how similar we look. A dainty nose, a smattering of the freckles on her face, complete with a sharp jawline and high cheekbones—she’s practically an older version of me.
Her lips appear to be moving and I strain to hear what she's saying. "Has my keeper of this realm finally surfaced? This pull feels similar to the others but not quite the same."
Keeping in step with her, I wave my hand in front of her face when it finally hits me that she can't see or hear me. She pulled me into her memories and I'm just a bystander, taking in the events of the past.
