We have been playing for a couple of hours, and I haven't been playing like this since I came in here. It was nice; I could say that I feel more alive than I used to back in the pack. I smiled, relief washing over me until the wind rustled the entire area.
I looked around, savoring the tranquility I was experiencing, and then smiled. "You're good at this despite being here for years," I complimented. Before she could respond, I added, "You did a great job in your area. I could get used to this place."
'Well, thank you.'
"So what do you want to talk about?" I changed the subject.
'You tell me what you want to know.'
"Why did the old man, Gilmesh, send me here?" I asked directly as I leaned over the tree before adding, "I had no clear idea why, except that it was a family trial."
'He's referring to your spirit. Your golden light spirit is paving the path for you.'
"A path?"I frowned. Clearly, I didn't understand what it meant, and I asked again, "What path, and why is my baby paving a path for me?"
'It's a path to your spirit soul. The sole core of your spirit—that's what it was paving for.'
"Did it have something to do with my dreams about a midnight blue Fenrir?" I asked softly, and based on her sudden serious expression, she knew who I was referring to.
'There's only one midnight blue Fenrir I've met before I sealed myself here. She was young, talented, and promising in leading her tribe to abundance. But her life was also close to danger and could never be bound into one place unless fully mated.'
"Is she? I mean, fully mated?" I wondered, as my heart started to drum hard.
'Sadly, no. But she had the same mark as you, a half mark.'
Upon hearing that, my heart drummed against my chest, trying to break free, and my ears became deaf, and my throat went dry. I'm speechless. I didn't know what to say except, "Sage."
'Yes, that's her. Sadly, she's no longer here. But whispers said that her ghost remains, waiting for her lover, and some say she came for revenge. But neither left any proof of her existence.'
I closed my eyes, recalling every moment and dream I had with the Fenrir, which was always pointing at her, Sage. Then I felt her hand wipe my tears that I hadn't realized had fallen. "Sorry about that. I remembered something."
'Don't worry, the spirit residing in you doesn't change who you are, but it will be a part of your change.'
I chuckled sadly before guessing, "In short, that old man sent me here to be sure of what my spirit is becoming."
'You already had guessed it before he could even assess you.'
Elizabeth Fraye was right. I've seen the dots already and connected them, and I was afraid to take it seriously because of my fear. "You're right. I'm running away from it because I'm afraid that I won't be able to accept it as a part of me, or afraid of failing myself again." I released a humorless laugh and cried. "I'm scared, Lady Fraye. I'm scared of myself."
'It's natural. You're being a human—well, partly. Anyway, it's alright to be afraid of yourself, but remember to see through it. See what lies beneath it. It may only be trying to remind you about a part of yourself that you'd been forgetting. See yourself through your heart.'
I cried, but I wondered, "How? How can I possibly do that?"
'Close your eyes. Focus on your breathing. Relax. Then, start feeling your heart. Listen to how it beats, see yourself in it, and feel it. Accept it openly.'
I did what she had instructed. I controlled my tears as I closed my eyes. I focused on my breathing, which helped clear my mind and calm me down. Then I placed my hand on my chest, feeling every beat my heart made. It was hard to see past it, but slowly, I did. I see every version of me, until the most recent one. I tried to see what it meant. Then I saw an unbound orb finally morph into a Fenrir form, a majestic midnight blue Fenrir, and it was staring back at me, nodding with assurance.
I felt my lips curve, not a full smile, but it was a smile of knowing that I could do this. I opened my eyes and thanked her. "Thank you, Lady Fraye. It calmed me."
'Your spirit wolf is nearly on the bridge of full awakening. Embrace it; it will help you get through everything that might come in your way.'
I nodded. Then I sighed, slouching on the tree before I reached my hand up to the air, grasping nothing but determination. "I'll make it work, somehow."
'You will just have faith in yourself.'
I quickly sat up straight, facing the lady seriously before asking, "Ahm, Lady Fraye, can you help me overcome it?" Her gaze was steady, reminding me of how my wife's eyes lingered on me as if undressing me and making me fidget. I scratched the back of my neck, pleading shyly, "Please?"
Elizabeth Fraye stood up and twirled as her sophisticated clothes turned into a comfortable battle training suit. She was grinning, stretching her hand out, and by the time I took it, I was flying off the field. I landed badly, but due to the harsh impact, I stumbled, backing myself up on my knees.
"That's harsh…" I muttered, but before I could even steady myself, her hand landed on my throat, which I broke free from when my blades came to save me. She scratched me, and I was coughing a little, but her smugness was taunting. "Now, I get it."
Elizabeth Fraye Knightrose has been a stunning vampire with confidence and fierceness. But she's a bloody battle junkie. The way she fought was a complete disaster, although her attacks were precise and powerful. But recklessly all over the place. It was truly hard to see where they were coming from or going to land, but it got me excited. I didn't only use what I've learned so far; I also infused what had been stuck in my mind since I was little, watching my biological parents train themselves.
'You're good. But can you still keep up?'
I felt challenged and responded. "Just watch me."
Our swords were clashing with combination attacks that were equally matched. I used my Sigbin malice, making my speed blend in the wind and my strength triple. Darkness and blood spread throughout the area as our blades made contact, releasing an enormous wave, turning the place into a sea of blood. But none of us cares.
'More. I need more of you.'
She chanted, laughing in hysteria as she showered me with her thousand bloody blades in all directions. She even strikes my blind spots. I managed to dodge a few and faced the rest, where I found myself releasing something I didn't think I had in me.
With a fascinated grin, I challenged her. "Then feed on me."
I began to do my acrobatic stances with increased speed, sharpened reflexes, and heightened senses, where my instincts played well. I began to see every reckless mover, which made me counter with precision. But I could not land a perfect hit on her. She's challenging, and I grow to love it.
We're both having fun, releasing our might, and fighting fiercely, and in one powerful blow, I was done. Everything ended.
I was lying on the sea of blood, and she was towering over me, sucking my lips, feeding on me. When she was done, she kissed me as my wife kissed me, but I trembled when I felt something touching my core. I muffled a moan, making her pull away. I stared at her eyes; I saw how clear and deep her silver-grey eyes were, yearning for something. My heart reacted, desiring to protect her. It was a split second, but there was something there that none of us named.
Then she began grinning mischievously, making me sigh.
'Your lips were delicious. I wonder how many times that brat has kissed you already.'
My brow shot up. Then I teased as I sat up while she still straddled my lap. "Why, are you jealous?" I wished I hadn't teased her like that, because when her eyes met mine, I heard a wolf howl, chains locking in place, and a bloody tree. I whispered. "A bloody tree?"
'Bernila, don't go there. If I answer that, you'll be stuck with me.'
Her voice was soothing, steady, and hopeful. I shivered as I closed my eyes before meeting her eyes again. Then I said. "I felt it, though, so say it."
There was silence as her eyes searched mine before she glanced over the tree. I felt strange energy spreading throughout the area, passing her body, and then she sighed.
'He left. My second-chance mate left me already, and he wished for my happiness. But that tree behind you is withering already, and so will I."
I frowned. My heart squeezed, not liking the sound of it. I grabbed her arms a little too tightly before asking, "Why?"
'He left a blood tree curse on me. To stop me from turning the land into a sea of blood, he absorbed it, killing himself in the process, and when I got him here, he turned into a tree. Now that he's entirely gone, it will wither.'
She showed her hands that were slowly fading, and my heart twisted in anger, frustration, and longing. I cried silently, but she leaned her forehead against mine. We savored each other's warmth and coldness until she lifted my chin and kissed me.
I felt it. I felt everything—her power, her coldness, her warmth, her breath, her heartbeat, and her blood. All of her being was bathing me. I was not drowning; I was sailing, and the heat was remarkable. It wasn't displeasure or confusion; it was binding. I could feel the heat rising, but grounding at every touch she left against my body. It felt like coming home from a long journey, and I don't want to lose it again.
'If the chaos hasn't erupted before, you'll find me here.'
Her words echoed like a melody in my ears, taking me to a moment where it should have been us. She showed me the possibilities and us finding each other—nothing like this. I cried in her arms, calling her name as I turned the tables and returned what she gave me. I didn't hesitate and made her chant my name until I saw it. I felt a pleasuring sting on my chest where the sea of blood began spreading like a root from a tree—her blood tree.
The next thing I knew, I woke up beneath a dead tree.
I jolted as panic surged in. I sat up, looking around, and tears were threatening to fall. "She's gone…" I mumbled softly, my heart started to ache, and I sobbed. "She's gone…she's gone…"
"And you're naked."
I know that mischievous voice. I turned slowly, hoping that I was not hallucinating. I wasn't. My hand covered my mouth, trying to suppress the tears, but I'm failing miserably. She was there, standing smugly at me, and I couldn't stand it. I ran into her arms, and surprisingly, her temperature was like Mirxalyn's.
"Whoa, want another round?" she teased.
I blushed instantly, hiding myself in her arms. "Shut up," I groaned gumpily, and she chuckled. Before I pulled away to see her, "You're here. You are here."
"I am now." She held me protectively and tenderly kissed my forehead before whispering to my ears, "Alive for you."
I blushed, but I needed answers. I pulled away before asking, "But how?"
"You accepted me completely," she answered, giving me spare clothes to wear as she continued, "You gave me enough blood to return to life, and I'm not going to take it for granted."
I like how she made it sound like a vow. Then I wondered, wearing my clothes and coat, "Then you can come out with me after this?"
"Pretty much." She nodded, grinning.
But I stopped, making a space between us, before worrying, "But I'm married to Mirxalyn?"