Chapter 26

A/N: The song used is: Whisper by Evanescence.
This chapter is probably one of my faves because I love the way I described Iris' thoughts!

- Notebook

Nyesh looked to Sheila and the rest of Sheeva Intre and felt a stab of deep remorse. Senka and Sheila, Yrel and Branwyn knew their children were going to walk right into a war. And with a sickened heart, Nyesh knew Karma would most likely be their target.

Like shadows, they slunk into the wood, searching.

Karma was packing their food while Nahun and Naosis did the tents and Mara the rest of their supplies. Iris was clearing the dishes, when she looked up and tensed. "What is it?" Karma asked, going to her side.

Beads of sweat formed on her forehead and Iris felt like knives were driven into her sides as her breathing subsided to a desperate wheezing. Karma went to help her to a bedroll but Iris shook her head and replied, "Don't…she'll take you too…"

"Who Iris? Who will take me?" Karma felt a surge of panic overtake her as Acelan ran to her side, sinking to his knees as she fell, limp. "It's Ecl." He whispered, "But someone is working magic…" Acelan touched Iris's forehead and drew back, startled. "She shouldn't burn like this," he murmured, "Her skin should be cold."

Catch me as I fall
say you're here and it's all over now
speaking to the atmosphere

Suddenly Iris writhed and cried out, clinging to her brother, like a frightened child as he plunged into Ecl. Mara yanked Karma back as she went to follow them. "You can't," The falcon-raven told her, "You'll fall to Ecl too fast." The woman explained.

Karma slackened in Mara's grip and watched, helpless as Acelan's body swayed back and forth, eyes closed.

Iris's POV

Have you ever wished to take back what you said or did? Has anything ever been simple for us mortals that walk the world, searching for questions unrequited? No. Nothing ever has and will be. Someone will always end up getting hurt, or forever scarred by the actions you carried out.

No one's here and I fall into myself
this truth drives me into madness
I know I can stop the pain if I will it all away

This kingdom, our kingdom, once was abounding with life, thriving with a love for peace. Gentle rolling hills of snow and great, towering mountains grace this land with the legends that walk beneath the soil. The huge stone castle is all that remains as the emblem that it once represented. Now it is a land torn, ripped apart by war. Winter's Heart it was called, and it truly lived up to its name, being in the middle of the snows. Temples and shrines made up most of the grounds but a small city also was built.

I remember walking the halls, and seeing maids scurry off with their rags and children run off calling to each other, laughing. Nobles and traveling merchants came to Winter's Heart to trade goods or to seal alliances. Truly, I loved the simplistic beauty of the temples and of the city, of the people.

But alas, it was over in an instant: Ashes scatter, play, through the wind and broken buildings, scarred by flame and blood, are empty of life, of any sense of harmony except for the slaves. Only teeming with silence, cold and eerie, as it echoes across the broken land, blending with the cries of our grieving people. It is only now that I realize that Winter's Heart was fated to dull and finally fade into silence, I should have known that this magnificent kingdom couldn't last, that the beauty would soon fade into shadow.

Don't turn away
don't give in to the pain
don't try to hide

It is the gods of the land I curse now and the and their stupidity and pride. They caused this to happen, they caused their prince and princess to flee, without any thought of the consequence, of the sorrow it would later bring. Well, they cannot redo, rethink, or reconsider now, for Fate has claimed their choice. We are frail beings, living in an unstable world of balance, of options and costs, and if that balance is upset, it could mean the end of us all.

Though they're screaming your name
don't close your eyes
God knows what lies behind them
don't turn out the light
never sleep never die

Now, I stumble blindly, through the ice, sinking into the water, bound by icy chains. I cry out, in fright, in pain, in hope of someone finding me. But the cries disappear in bubbles of wasted air.

I'm frightened by what I see
but somehow I know that there's much more to come
immobilized by my fear
and soon to be blinded by tears
I can stop the pain if I will it all away

I reach out to shards of ruptured white light and still the chains drag me down so I scream for deliverance, for Ecl to let me go.

Don't turn away
don't give in to the pain
don't try to hide

Though they're screaming your name
don't close your eyes
God knows what lies behind them
don't turn out the light
never sleep never die

I see her. Her face, composed and cold, stares at me with no love, no hint of praise and I am forced to meet her eyes as she frowns and reaches out to brush my cheek with her fingertips, her touch sending shivers of fear down my spine. Tears spill mercilessly down my face as I try ever so hard to back away, to run from her distant gaze but her magic takes hold and overwhelms me like a blanket of ice.

She taught me to be cold, to kill without love, but after seeing Acelan, I have seen the truth of her ways. Ramla is a twisted woman; both savior and demon, teacher and murderer. She has brought those considered angels, saints and saviors, to their knees.

Fallen angels at my feet

She whispers promises in my ear, futile words laced with false praise, and she whispers threats, spiteful words that are like drops of acid rain upon my lips. Chanting, she brings me dreams of darkness, visions of death, of hate and betrayal.

Whispered voices at my ear
death before my eyes
lying next to me I fear

I took her hand and found it to burn like fire, like ice, and I scream, the air escaping my lungs in a rush of pain, of sorrow, and I feel my body becoming numb, immobilized and tricked by her false words and by her magic.

She beckons me shall I give in
upon my end shall I begin?

I hear Acelan's cry, fall through my dazed state, and I look up to see that his amber eyes are blank with battling emotions. "Iris?" he says, his voice warm.

I smile at him, calm, but not welcoming, "What are you doing here, brother? Come to join me?"

He shakes his head.

I laugh, a high, screeching laugh that I don't recognize, "Simple-minded you are. Always looking out for me aren't you?"

Acelan gripped my wrist and the pull of his magic is too strong that I willingly fall limp in his grasp, the lull of Ramla's magic no longer possessing me.

Forsaking all I've fallen for, I rise to meet the end…

Instead, I feel the warm embrace of my brother as he brings me from Ecl. I fall into his arms, sobbing and I feel him hold me close, mindful of my shoulder.

I had been possessed in Ecl…

Could Ramla do the same in the Now? Use me as a vessel for her murderous deeds?