"…Now live… And take my life from me…"
It wasn't until later that evening until the wolves discovered the bodies of their two fallen comrades. Clouds had begun to cluster in the sky. This was a very unusual scene. Ferithium looked to the sky then to her partner.
"We must hurry, all hope is not lost." She stated solemnly.
As they approached, she saw Ashley's wound bursting through the back of her clothing. Blood had soaked the ground around her and appeared as if it had been completely drained from her body. However, as her eyes followed upwards, she noticed that Ashley and Xavier were bonded together with their fingers still entangled. She shared with him the tiniest bit of life force she had possessed in her dying moment.
"Their heart beat is faint even if their veins run clear. Quick Darkane, retrieve Xavier." Ferithium ordered.
Darkane strutted to his side and quickly observed the situation. He clamped his jaws around the pole, barely above Xavier's abdomen. His teeth crunched through the metal and twisted it off, tossing it into the ground. He nudged his snout underneath his back and gently lifted him from the pole. Darkane snapped his head back swiftly, rolling Xavier's limp body onto his massive back. He repositioned him so that he was lying on his stomach with his limbs dangling over his back. Ferithium repeated his action, only she had to bury her snout into the ground before lifting Ashley onto her back.
The earth trembled as the clouds bellowed with the sound of thunder. They both paused and looked to the sky. Something was terribly wrong.
"We must hurry. I think I know of someone who can help." Darkane informed after turning away from the storm that had begun to emerge.
They galloped into the distance, getting farther from the storm. They traveled far from Serrios and into the rugged, almost inhabitable, terrain. The wolves hopped effortlessly over the mountain, leaping gracefully from one rock to another. Darkane led the duo as Ferithium trailed silently behind. He paused for a moment before jumping onto a small even ledge. Atop the ledge was a small opening in the clay colored rocks. The wolves slowly crept their way into the darkness.
"Are you sure here can help us?" Ferithium asked hesitantly.
Darkane turned his head back and forth in the darkness, looking for some form of life.
"I would trust this man with my live if need be. Even if he is a bit… unusual at times."
All was silent. Not even the slightest evidence of any creature stirred in the darkness.
"LEPIOS!" Darkane howled into the bowels of the cavern.
It only took a second before a fire ignited and illuminated the face of the mysterious man.
"Darkane! What a surprise! I would have never expected you just drop by." He chuckled, his voice old and hoarse.
He smacked his hand roughly on the wall, sending a wave of glowing energy across the room. The energy rested in preset torches and lit the room with a warm glow. His meager appearance was now visible. His tattered dark clothing fell loosely over his frail body. His face was thin and contorted but only on one side. Half his skin was scarred and cratered like the moon but rest was smooth and flawless. His hair was black with gray explosions pouring down his long locks and over his shoulders. The split carried the same trait across his eyes for only one was a dark gray while the other was cloudy white like a blind man. He locked his eyes onto the positions of the wolves as the emerged from the darkened entrance. He noticed their situation but oddly disregarded it.
"Ferithium! You too! It's been too long… too long. My, I haven't seen you since you were no more than a pup. I see you and Darkane have finally hooked up…"
"We have no time for this!" Ferithium growled loudly over him. He quickly snapped his mouth shut in surprise, but only for a moment before smiling again.
"I apologize. I see we have guests." He approached them, gliding his withered hand across the old wooden table. He walked next to Darkane and stared attentively at the lifeless body. "So… who might this young fellow be?" He questioned, still examining the injuries.
"This is Xavier." Darkane replied.
Lepios lifted the body from his back effortlessly and placed him on the beaten table. His fingers glided over his abdomen and the torn folds of flesh. Blood clung to the tips of his finger and stained the dark wood.
"My, this is a nasty wound. What was the cause?" He asked, not removing his concentration.
"He was found in the Traitor's Graveyard.'
"Ooh… that's lovely. That is Deimos territory. Quite a nasty bunch they are."
"Well tonight, you will be servicing his daughter." Ferithium stated in a low voice. She approached him cautiously, only moving enough as not to disturb her.
"Oh my, I haven't been this close to royal blood. Not since my run in with the graveyard quite some time ago. Left quite a mark on me I should say."
He lifted the brown robe to reveal a puncture mark in the middle of his rib cage. The skin to the left of the scar was sickly blue and transparent, even the small veins and muscles were visible.
"Those spikes have a curse they do. Even if you manage to survive, it will always haunt you." He dropped the robe, realizing he had startled her. "Lets have a look, shall we?"
He attempted to approach her, but when her reached for Ashley, Ferithium growled and snipped at his hands.
"Ferithium!' Darkane snapped.
He frowned and scrunched his brow, nudging his head towards her. She sighed then hesitantly pointed her nose toward the ground. He approached her once again and removed Ashley's body, placing it next to Xavier's. The two bodies lay motionless side by side, sharing only the tiniest bit of color in their fingertips. Lepios [aced around the bodies, studying Ashley's wound as well. The cut was clean with little tear.
"Her wound was not from the same cause, am I right?" He questioned.
Darkane cocked his head to the side. "We are guessing as much. We don't really know what happened? How did you know?"
"Simple. Take a look at Xavier's wound. See how the flesh protrudes outward and how the opening is spread open? That indicates he was thrown onto a sharp cylindrical object and gently slid down. But over here! Hers is more precise. Clean in. Clean out. Must have been caught off guard. I'd say there must have been a fight between her and this… unknown assassin."
"Do you think it could have been Ulesca?" Ferithium stated to Darkane.
"Probably not. She is too violent to be that precise."
They contemplated for a moment. Who else could have been there?
"I think a naughty daughter had a little run in with daddy." Lepios concluded, still studying the wound. "I've seen this kind of wound before, almost always fatal. Anyway, it is similar to Deimos's sword. It burns the edges of the wound leaving a clean incision. Also, it prevents it from closing so the victim usually bleeds to death."
Ferithium and Darkane glanced worriedly at each other.
"Now, now. Fear not. You have come to the right person for this kind of wound. I have personal experience and, moreover, a cure that no one else has."
He walked over to the wall and opened the doors of a small wooden cupboard. He stared for a moment then removed a small glass vial that contained a blue, with a small hint of violet, herb. The herb was finely grounded into tiny particles. He opened the jar and wafted the aroma into his nostrils.
"Ahh… the smell of Giravan. It is an ancient herb used exclusively for medical emergencies by the elite. Only those of royal blood were allowed to use such a delicate substance."
"Then how did you get your dirty hand on it?" Ferithium scowled.
"Ah my dear friend, I was once a high ranking noble within the house of Deimos. That is until the scoundrel accused me of plotting against him and his family. I was banished to the graveyard and left to die. Luckily, before hand, I stole the last bit of the Giravan and use some to revive myself. As you can see, its abilities are limited. This is the last bit I have so be thankful that I'm willing to share."
"Why can't you just get more if you run out?" Ferithium asked.
"That's the problem. What I stole from him was the last of its kind. This plant is extinct, just like the rest of this land." He placed it on the table next to her lifeless form. "I'd rather not take any chances seeing as no one has found any for thousands of years." He paused for a moment, as if studying their reactions. "Well now, shall we get started?"
He reached over and slowly lifted the clothing away from her wound. Dried blood still caked the area around the opening. He grabbed a damped cloth and carefully wiped away the mess. After placing the cloth down, he reached into the small vial and gently sprinkled the small grain into the open flesh. His knotted hands appeared so delicate as they massaged the herb into the infected area. Hope had begun to rise as the herb melted and absorbed through the layers of skin.
It only took a few seconds before the healing powers of the Giravan began to spread. The hint of color in her fingertips crawled through her veins and up her arms. It swirled and curved, cascading over her body like of wave of energy. When it reached the wound, the muscles stretched out like tiny fibers. They connected to the other side and pulled the wound together, forming new tissue and skin that sealed the opening. There was no scar, no evidence left in its absence.
Suddenly, her body began to glow, illuminating the cave in a soft white light. A small breeze flushed over her hair, swaying it in all directions. As it flowed, it began to grow, flowing over the table and fading into a deep violet color. The wolves watched in astonishment while Lepios backed away from the table in fear. The breeze lifted her from the table with her chest thrusted forward and her limps dangling below. She floated off the table with her pointed at the ground. Softly, she touched the tips of her toes to the ground, and then fully relaxed onto the stone. Her arms gently landed at her sides and her eyes opened for the first time in days. She turned slowly and noticed Xavier lying on the adjacent bed. As she reached for him, Ferithium attempted to call out to her. Darkane quickly nudge his nose into her neck.
"Don't… she does not know we are here. She is not Ashley."
She approached Xavier and slowly glided her fingers across his face as she leaned closer to his lifeless form.
"She is now Archemy."
She stared deeply at him. Her eyes filled with sorrow as she observed him closer. He caressed the edges of his pale lips with the tip of her thumb.
"Why do you always end up in these situations? You poor thing… All because of her…"
Archemy moved her hand over the protruding wound, peeling away the blood caked garment. She placed the palm of her hand just high enough to combine their energies. The glow emitting from her body began to condense into her hand.
"If only I had told you sooner. Had I not pushed you away…maybe things could have turned out different. We could have kept our promise to each other. We could have run away together." Her other hand glided through his hair as she attempted to create a smile. Her eyes became remorseful as the pain swelled inside them. "But I ran away from you. I wanted to protect you… hoping he wouldn't find you… but you… you went straight to him, became a puppet to his plans. But why? For me? … No… it was for her. Even if we are the same person, you could never love us both. And if that is the case, then let me bring you to her. The truth will be known about the past. And know that I will always love you."
Tears poured down her face before she realized it. The white glow she once emitted now rested solely in her palm.
"Now live… And take my life from me."
In that moment, the light shot from her palm like a beam and into Xavier's body. The light spread over his body as the cells began to rejuvenate and flourish. Blood quickly filled his thirsty veins and his heart found the strength to beat again. Finally, the wound began to close and new tissue sealed away any sign of scarring. His skin now glowed the same vibrant color it once had and his lips returned to their full rosy appearance. Archemy, on the other hand, was drained and soon fell feebly onto his chest. Xavier's soft breathing had comforted her enough to dry the tears away.
"This is all I will be able to give you… It is all I have left." Her voice chimed weakly.
Just then, a warm hand softly glided up her spine. She turned her head and noticed that he had finally regained consciousness. She was overjoyed but too weak to express it. He rubbed her gently and slowly forced the soft words from his mouth.
"Archemy, it was always enough for me… just to see you here."
"Xavier…" she smiled warmly before losing all her strength and collapsing onto the floor.
Xavier jolted from the table and onto the ground. Though he did not have much strength, he found enough to lift her from the ground. As he rose, he saw the eyes of his comrades staring upon him in disbelief. After a few moments of silence, Ferithium finally eased herself toward the distressed couple.
"Is she going to be alright?" She asked quietly.
He nodded his head gently in reassurance.
"Yes, she is just exhausted from her awakening. I believe this time the past has truly awakened inside her and she now knows the real truth. A truth that neither you nor I will know until the time is right." He paused to stare upon the vacant face of the only two people he ever loved. "And now the Archemy has broken her bonds to join Ashley as one, I no longer know what to expect. We will just have to see what awaits Masskis's future with the destruction of the young king and the creation of the new leader."