Journee's POV
I wake with a gasp.
Cold sweat runs down my back and the sides of my body.
Where am I?
The last thing I remember is watching the past unfold with Ma'oz.
"Hello?" I call out but the echo seems to only return towards my direction. As if I am calling out to myself from the other end of this emptiness.
"Is anyone there?" I try again. This time, I see multiple versions of myself staring back at me.
Nearest to me, I see my mid-teens self. "Greetings, Journee. Isn't this wonderful? You have pulled yourself out of depression. Good for you!" She smiles at me and fades away.
On my right is 10-year-old me. "Did you ever meet our Dark Prince? Who is he?" Cheerful and filled with hope, her eyes shimmer with love. "Are you married to him yet?"
In front of me in the far-off distance, I can hardly make out who it is. She is dressed in white and gold. Hair teased into a low bun.
I know it might be dangerous. Keeping my distance would be the wisest move, but I have never been too wise. My mother used to tell me "Your impulsiveness will one day be your downfall."
If she had been here, I might have stopped to think. Unfortunately for me, she didn't appear.
Taking a step forward, I realised that I am actually floating.
"What in the world? Water?" I looked around. The other apparitions of me have disappeared. Only the one with her back to me is still there. I swim closer and her voice carries through the particles around me.
"Sweet water, Mother of Memories.
Forget not this foolish child. I am but one who has been swept by the current of love.
Here, in your hands I place my soul.
We are forever in your debt, my beloved and I.
With all my heart I make a wish on the falling locks.
Catch my heart, catch our fate, and entwine within your bosom."
"Hey…" I tap her shoulder, but she doesn't turn. Instead, I notice a reflection in front of me, but it is not of her and I.
As this mysterious woman with raven hair continues to sing, I watch the young farmer Ma'oz and I had previously watched leap through the portal, leaving the blazing hut.
He marches towards his young wife and his child, arms outstretched to embrace them. I can almost feel the love that exudes from him.
It feels so familiar. It's almost like my Dark Prince. One day, I hope someone would love me like that for real.
Each step he took, a piece of disguise falls off, revealing majestic shoulders, a handsome face that is so similar to Ma'oz's.
Water gushes out from every pore of his body, spiralling around him anti-clockwise. When it dissipated into the air, his tattered clothes were no more. Dressed in a navy-blue robe that reaches his ankles, gold threads braid the edges of its neck, wrists, and hem. Wrapped around his waist, a matching gold belt holds a plain Akinaka.
It seems that only I am shocked at the revelation. The young woman with her child still strapped to her shoulders ran towards this gleaming demon. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she crushed her lips against his, capturing it in a passionate kiss. As their tongues entwined, I looked away, embarrassed by how aflame I feel. It is as if I am the one kissing that glorious being in blue and gold.
Even with my eyes closed, the rapture that consumes them both is so vivid within me that I could dance to its tune.
The baby gurgled, breaking the passion that would certainly have had them making love right there within moments.
Smiling broadly, the demon took off the sling and cradled his child. Little droplets of water emerged from his hand and formed several different animals which drew little coos from the infant as it focused its eyes on the activity.
If I say the scene didn't touch my heart, I would be lying. Tears has formed in the edges of my eyes as I bit my lower lip.
Without a word, the young woman rushed to block the demon's back. A primitive knife from animal bone and wood flew through a crack in the portal, hitting her square in the ribs.
"Eden!" She whispered as she collapsed to the ground.
"EIREANN!!!" His scream sliced through the air.
Holding the child against his shoulder now, Eden, the demon rushed towards the bleeding woman.
"No, no, no…Eireann. Why?"
"I will always love both of you." A single tear fell from her the corner of her right eye as she glanced from her baby and met her husband's eyes.
"EIREANNNN!!" Eden's howl brought millions of other demons storming into the hall, ready with their spears, polearms, spiked mallets, halberds, and a host of other weapons to fight their lord's foe.
"Please…don't go. Please…" Eden placed the baby who had started fussing, aware that something is amiss and yet not fully understanding what has happened.
Setting his hands in the air, a flick of his fingers sent tidal waves sweeping through the hall, forcing all the demons to wash out.
"HEAR ME SISTERS FATE! I, EDEN TAPACHULA SUMMON YOU!" Eden's voice roared like a thousand thunders.
Within a heartbeat, smoke filled the hall. Like a treacherous python it snaked between the pillars and pooled before the demon.
"Who dares to command us?!" Three figures materialised.
In my nervous state, I giggled, and it seemed like the lady in the middle turned to glance in my direction. Clamping a hand over my mouth, I continued to watch the scene unfold.
The tallest woman on the left spoke "Think you time comes freely?!" She reprimanded in a soft voice.
"SAVE MY BELOVED!" Eden's voice has not come down from its high.
This time, the shortest and plumpest of the three women sighed. "Waste not the precious moments. What do you offer?"
"I GIVE UP ALL MY POWERS IF IT WILL BRING HER BACK TO ME!!" Eden replied hastily, still shouting.
"Pray tell, and should she be attacked again, what will you do as a powerless being?" Serious with her brows knitted together, the woman in the centre asked.
Not a moment spared, Eden answered. This time, his voice soft and steady. "I will gladly offer my life."
The Sisters Fate sighed and shook their heads. In unison, they give their final answer. "Our strong demon. Our precious one. Proud to craft the threads of your life, we spent extra moments to bless you.
The skinny sister on the left announced "I granted you Blue for the promises you will keep with faith in your heart."
"With the gaps within each of my threads, I blessed you with the promise of creating your own future." The plump sister curtsied.
The middle sister places her hands on her heart. "Gold is the colour of the Gods. Magnificence is your fate to bear."
At the very end of the sentence, the Sisters Fate disappear, melting into the shadows.
Tears fell from Eden's eyes. His face red with anguish as he bowed over his dead wife's body.
"I won't give up." He promised but it is clear to me that he doesn't know what to do. Eden, this great demon is at a total lost. He is heartbroken and his is in a total mess.
His infant on the other hand screams out loud. The force of his voice sends a gust of air upwards like a puff of white air.
It falls on to the ground, surrounding his parents like a spider's web. Weaving patterns that look like weaving spindles to me, they point to the 8 main directions of the compass. Within its threads, mini circles and other flower-like shapes take form. Right in the middle of the 8-petaled flower are his parents.
Ma'oz looks at the design in amazement and rises. With his Akinaka, he makes two quick slashes, one on each palm. Bright red on his left and deep blue on his right, his blood drips to the ground, tracing the ghostly pattern of his infant's sacred circle.
Upon storm clouds I weathered,
Towards brick, mortar, and sand;
Oh mortal, I am tethered,
Fare thee well, to hell, my land;
Red - your hair brightened with blood,
Red – these strings tie me to thee;
Red – my eyes cast to the dirt,
Tis' my fate, the one to be;
Our hearts sang and swelled with pride,
Our love unrivalled by the heavens, earth, and sea;
Together we will be, one in this tide,
Bound, my heart I give to thee;
Kilbrittain, Kilbrittain, hide,
Our truth, our promise, our lives;
Kilbrittain, we must abide,
To the Pole Star, bow in fives;
To the Rising Dragon, hide,
Treasure I will be forever yours.
That's it! He just said the missing part. But what does he mean by forever yours?! Isn't it supposed to be a hint on how to break the spell?
I see that Eden Tapachula is still chanting but I cannot hear what he says. A parchment appears and he tears off the last part.
I try to move closer to see what is written but the force around the magic circle pushes me back.
A wave of a hand and his child is carried through to another part of the hall. Where, I am not sure. My focus is now on Eden and Eireann.
Another wave of his hand and a portal opens. Eireann's bloodied body floats through it after him.
My consciousness follows them. This looks familiar…OH! It's the meadow I was in before reaching Kilbrittain.
It is a wonderous thing, magic. Within moments, Eden created most of the castle's frame. Deep in the ground, he forms a room covered with water. In the middle of it all, Eireann's body freezes into a beautiful crystal.
"I vow to find you in another life, my love. To the ends of the world, I will search. Even if I lose all my powers in the process, it will be worth it all. I will never let you go again."
Eden created a shrine of sorts. The marble statue I had previously seen in the underground room. I guess he selected this stone to protect his lover's fragile body for all eternity.
Resting on her heart, I saw the piece of parchment he had torn.
"Wait!" I shouted instinctively and rushed forward to read it, but I am not fast enough. The marble has sealed it in.
I turned to try to speak to Eden, but everything is happening too quickly. He has gone through a portal, and it is almost closed. I would never make it in time.
Ma'oz 's POV
It has been hours since Journee fainted, and I don't know what to do.
I feel my heart shredding with every second. The pain is unbearable, and I cannot hold back my tears.
I will give her my life if it would bring her back. If it needs my soul, everything I have, then please…take it and give her back. I vow never to disrespect her again. I will treasure this pure flower.
Silently promising any spirit, or god that can hear me, I finally realise it. The days we spent together made me respect her for her courage, her strength, her ability to cope. A rare jewel. I cannot help it, but I must admit it.
I can feel passion burning in my eyes as I bend over to kiss her lips. A desire I never knew I could feel overwhelms me as I simply wish to melt into Journee, to be one with her.
It should be wrong for me to ravage this lifeless body with my kisses, with my tongue, exploring the sweetness of her mouth. My hands gently tug on her hair, arching her head back to push her body against mine.
A small part of my mind warns me that if I do not stop now, I will make love to her. She has no way of consenting and I hesitate.
At that moment, her eyes half open, hazy but exuding a gentleness I have never seen. It moves my heart, and I am unsure if it is beating too fast or too slowly.
My lips still on hers, my tongue in her mouth. I dare not move in fear that she will reject me.
These moments seem so long that it hurts more than the punch I took during the test of becoming a Demon King.
To my delight, she slowly moved and melted into me, half awake, I can smell her arousal as her tongue moves, encouraging me to continue.
I almost burst with happiness as I continue to kiss Journee, pressing my lower body against her, asking for her permission to take her now.
In response, she wraps a leg around my waist. I take that as a yes. Moving my hands down her body, I reach for the buttons of her jeans, with great anticipation.
Suddenly, her body tenses and the next thing I feel is her fist coming in contact with my jaw. A mighty punch that turned my head.
Normally, I would have flown into rage. Instead, I turned to face the object of my desire. "I love you. I love you. I love you." The words rolled from my lips.
"WHAT THE HELL?!!"