Chapter Six
Acceptance
"Drevis Clinic." I read aloud as we stopped in front of the sign outside the cottage. I swiftly jumped off of the horse and lead it to the stables. "Thank you, boy." I whispered. As soon as I left the stables I broke out into a sprint towards the back garden, where I last saw Dio.
"Oh...God..." I covered my mouth as I witnessed the amount of blood on the floor. It was everywhere. I could feel the bile rising up in my throat. I forced myself to inch forward and follow the trail of blood into the house. "Dio?" I called out, "Dio? Are you okay?" No answer. I cautiously peered around my bedroom door, where the trail appeared to have turned into. Dio was lying on the bed. His eyes were shut and I couldn't tell whether he was breathing. Instinctively, I ran over to him. "Dio?!" My trembling hands were tracing the whole of his body, unsure of what to do. "I don't know what to do! Dio what do I do? Please! I don't know how to help!" I shouted desperately at him. But he was unresponsive, tears started to fill my eyes as realisation kicked in. "No.."
I felt the gush of wind behind me and knew Mother was with me again.
"What do I do..?" I asked between quiet sobs.
"Come with me."
What? Go with her? We can't just leave Dio here!
"We will take Dio with us." Mother said, as if she knew exactly what I was thinking.
"I don't... How?"
I heard Mother sigh sadly behind me. I turned to face her as my question was left out in the open. Her head was bowed down, avoiding my eye. "How?" I repeated.
"You have to go... To... The other side..." She hesitated. "And you won't be able to come back... It is the only way."
Silence filled the room as I registered what she was saying. What does she the mean the other side? Why is it the only way? Why can't I come back? My mind was in overdrive, full of unanswered questions, trying to calculate what Mother was implying. Then it struck me… She meant her side. "So I have to… Die?" I squeaked; my voice barely audible. I couldn't help feeling like something was wrong. Surely I should be worried? Or scared? Confused? Outraged even? But it didn't seem to bother me. I was almost… Okay with the idea.
Did I want to die?
I twiddled with my thumbs, processing that thought. "What will happen to Father and Nina?"
"I can't keep them how we left them forever, Aya; soon their curse will wear off and so will mine. They will stay in this world, living on as if things were normal. They may even try to find you, but Alfred will figure it out soon enough." Mother explained carefully. "Aya, my darling… I'm afraid we've run out of time. We need to go now." Before I could even reply, the familiar giant purple and black portal expanded out of nowhere. Mother stepped halfway into it before swivelling around to me, stretching out her arm. "Come, child." I stood up and took it, walking forward in synchronisation with her. As we did so a bright light flashed before my eyes, impairing my vision. A wave of peace took over my body, leaving me completely calm.
"We're here."