SCARLETTE'S POINT OF VIEW
"But why?" I asked which made Asher's smirk fade away. "Why did they keep it from me? Dad told me that my mom died after she gave birth to me and . . . her name is not Er but Ellaine. Why did they hide it?" I was very confused to the point that a tear fell from my eyes down to my cheeks. "Our world is too complicated, Scarlette, and always in danger. They could not risk you," he sincerely said.
I closed my eyes and sighed. "Tell me. Is my father in Hetarnia? Is he really dead?" His face turned grim. Or was it just me who was imagining it? "He is not there." My mind could not process it. "What do you mean?"
A part of me was filled with hope because of what I heard. I thought that he is still alive but . . . all of those vanished because of the next thing Asher answered. "His soul is missing."
'Dad is missing. How come?' He is dead and yet, he is missing. "Hey." I blinked at Asher who pulled me out of my thoughts. "I am sorry," I uttered and sighed. "Spacing out, huh?" I nodded. "This feels surreal."
He just stared at me with his worried eyes. He did not say a word. I shifted my gaze to my plate. The cheeseburger kept shouting at me to eat it but I felt like I had no appetite.
"It is very hard to believe it," I continued. "I still cannot believe that my mother is a goddess and my father is . . . a swordsman." I returned my sight to him.
"Do you want to see your mom?" he said, out of the blue. I did not answer immediately. I was shocked. "Come on." I was confused even more. "H-huh?" He smiled. "I will take you to your mom."
"H-how?" I felt my heartbeat fast. Excitement filled my system. He did not respond to my question. Instead, he asked, "Do you trust me, Scarlette?" I stared at him for a few seconds. The smile was gone. All I could see was his seriousness. I nodded and smiled but it also faded when he grinned.
He chuckled. "Do not blame me then when you wake up." My eyebrows furrowed because of that. I did not receive any follow-up explanation. As I stared into his eyes, it felt like I was being swallowed. I felt dizzy. My vision became blurry . . . until I lost consciousness.
"Hey. Sweetie, wake up. We are here." I slowly opened my eyes. The blue sky greeted me. I felt light like I was being lifted by someone. 'Lifted by someone?' Huh?
"Did you enjoy the ride?" My eyes widened as I stared at his smiling face. 'Asher is lifting me! And for the gods' sake, my right hand is clinging around his neck!' He moved his face closer to mine which sent me into a panic. "Damn! Bring me down!" I screamed in annoyance. He laughed. "Okay." He carefully did what I said. "You are heavy as ever."
I shot him a glare. "Not my fault. You were the one who lifted me. I can walk. And it was not my fault why I lost consciousness—" I stopped when I realized something. I shot him another glare. "You were the one who made me sleep!" He clapped and smiled. "Yup!"
"Why?" My eyebrows met in curiosity. I could not discern his reason. "I do not want you to experience how dangerous it is to go here." I raised my left brow. "Dangerous?" He nodded. "Uh-huh," and heaved a sigh.
"Forget about it. What is more important right now is that we are here. Look." I followed his gaze and I was enchanted because of what I saw. In front of us, there was a huge golden gate of a very huge castle! "Is this real?" I whispered. "Of course."
The gate slowly opened by itself like it is welcoming us. All of sudden, Asher ran to the gate and faced me. He was smiling widely. "Welcome to Hetarnia – the sacred place of gods and souls!" he shouted. "This is our place, Scarlette."
I was about to run to his side when someone hugged me tightly from the back. This warmth . . . this is the warmth I am longing for.
"My daughter," she whispered, almost lost in the wind. "M-mom." Is this true? Is my mother really hugging me right now? I did not expect that this is going to happen. "Mom, is this really you?" I asked. "Yes, Dear." A tear fell from my eyes as I heard those words from her. I faced her. "Mom . . . " I stared at her face. She looked like me. I touched her cheeks with my right hand. "Mom, is this really you?" I asked again. She smiled. "Yes, I am."
"Mom, I did not expect this." I hugged her back and cried on her shoulder. "I did not expect to meet you. All of my life, I thought, you are dead. Mom, I missed you a lot. I missed you." She caressed my back gently. "I missed you, too, Scarlette. Sorry for making you believe those things. It is for your own good. You should understand us." I nodded and nodded as I hugged her tighter. 'Mom, do not leave me. Please.'
ASHER'S POINT OF VIEW
I watched them in their mother-daughter moment. I am very glad for both of them, especially Scarlette. From being alone, now, she has her mother to rely on.
"Mom, let us find Dad." I was surprised to hear it from her. Even her mother was surprised, too. Aunt Er looked at me but I avoided her gaze. "We will find him. We will."