" Be that as it may," Iris took a deep breath, " She was merely a victim of circumstances. She doesn't deserve to die. As for your children, I apologise. It was only out of necessity, not out of pleasure. I did not enjoy slaying them," It was true. Means to an end. She was unaware she was overstepping her bounds once she'd set foot into that valley. The Lords didn't bother to tell her, perhaps, hoping she wouldn't survive the valley and the monsters in it.
"You stole from me, came into my home, and left nothing but destruction in your path. They didn't disturb anyone. The Shaddow Lords, their caretakers are no more because of your deeds. They have failed in their task to protect my beloved children,"
A trace of sorrow could be heard in its tone. Whether it was real, or not it didn't matter at the moment. She was once more entrapped with an all-powerful entity and with no means to escape.
" I'm sorry," She whispered, looking around trying to see if its temper had mellowed. No flame this time around.
" It was you who was whispering to me," A certainty, not a guess.
"It was me, and everything you have buried inside you. What haunts your dreams, and what shadows your days?For there is nowhere left to run, Khia. Daughter of a coward, Queen of Shame, Guardian of Nothing," It was all true. Lund had run away to save his kind but abandoned those who couldn't follow him, even so, he was held in high regard. A savior of some sort. She felt the shame for having burdened Azra and sealed his fate. Ellora was no more.
"Your blood is tainted with shame. It was never pure. Not worthy of the power you have been entrusted with. And you have failed to protect those who have entrusted their lives to you. Pitiful creature," There was no fighting it. Clutching her dress, Iris took a long deep, cleansing breath. Changing the past, she would, if only she could.
An eternity with that voice barking at her would drive her mad.
" I might be pitiful, but I never hid. For an all-mighty being, you are quite scared. What shameful deeds are you hiding?" Iris smirked when the flames erupted closer to her this time around. It was on the edge, on the verge of losing its temper.
"How dare you?" It raged and made its displeasure known with another flame even closer this time around.
" To insult me," It seethed viciously, another flame erupted before her crossed legs, bigger, bolder.
" I did not insult you. I'm merely stating the facts. You, as did I failed to protect those under our umbrage. I fought tooth and nail, and failed," Iris mockingly chuckled, " You use subterfuge and trickery, and frankly I'm tired of being constantly reminded of how many mistakes I have made. I know, now put a sock in it, come out and fight me," The increasing size of the flame that appeared at her feet was the only answer she received from the owner of the voice.
"Pesky little creatures," The voice hissed, " You should bow to me, for I have offered you providence from certain death,"
" And yet here I am. You have provided me with nothing. It was only to serve your purpose. Whatever that is, it is still lost on me. Vengeance, is what you seek? You want to punish me? Have at it. You mocked Lund for being a coward, but you are no better. Hiding. You are no better than any of us, despite what you think. And judging by your words and actions, you must think mighty highly of yourself," No answer, and silence settled in the darkness surrounding her. If it was the Hollow then Ian as its Guardian should be within her reach. Their bond was still intact. Or at least she hoped it was. It had been so long since she last saw him.
" Tell me," A clear, yet sharp voice cut through from behind her, " What gave you the right to enter my Gardens and slay my children? My creation," Creation. Helm.
" I never said it was my right. I only said it was a necessity. A solution to a problem. I tried to avoid it, but the Shaddow Lords refused to help," Iris slowly pushed herself up, not quite ready to face whatever it was behind her.
" The end does not excuse the crimes you have committed in the name of aiding a soul that has been condemned long before it took a form," She finally worked up the courage and turned around to face the entity that judged her so harshly.
" I'm faceless. I am nameless. I'm the essence of those who have been long lost, long forgotten, unforgiven, cursed. I do not have a master, " It stopped speaking, and it wasn't fibbing. It had no face and no corporeal body, it simply hovered, a blob of black gloop constantly moving.
" And what do you want from me? Yes, I have taken the liantur stone, but it is no more..." Iris stopped speaking when the blob encased itself in blue flames.
" You have taken much more. The power you wield is not yours. It is mine," It settled to a more steady form. Disgruntled creature.
" Oh," Iris tittered, " Maybe, share," She sheepishly grinned, and shrugged, " But if it is all that important to you. You can have it back," It was one way to settle the matter and she could go back to where she came from.
" You can't. It has attached to you...they have attached to you. You can't see it but they are clinging to you. They are feeding off you and they do not belong in the living world. They belong here with me. And since I didn't know how to undo what you've done, you'll have to stay here with me," Iris grunted in frustration at the blob's words. It can't be happening. Not again.
" What is this place? The Hollow?" It was her best guess. And the most probable one.
" In some way, it is and it isn't. It is called the Great Chasm. A cruel creation for those who are so corrupted that they do not belong in either place. I'm its keeper," The blob slowly lowered itself onto the floor, became one with it, and vanished...Not good.
" How do I get out of here?" Her voice echoed in the great void, several times until silence reigned once more, but there was no answer from the blob. She knew it was right. She could feel them cling to her, draining her every bit of strength whenever she summoned the flames. An unwanted gift. A burden.