Shadows at the Dawn - Part 36
"Zeeda!"
Pluto's elation at seeing her sister-in-law quickly faded as she took in Zeeda's appearance. The right side of her face and neck were bruised and marred by small cuts, and the arm in the sling told the tale of injuries far more serious. Then her thoughts flashed to Remmus.
"Remmus ... is he ..."
"Pluto ... I ... I'm sorry." Zeeda's voice croaked in a hoarse whisper.
"No." Pluto's eyes dimmed, her head slowly shaking back and forth. It was not true, it could not be true. Remmus was not gone, she could not have lost him. It just was not possible.
"No ... No ... NO!"
Zeeda could not contain a cry of pain as Pluto's palm connected with her right cheek. The force of the slap sent her back a few steps, and she felt some of the stitches on her wounds gave way.
"You promised! You said nothing would happen, that he'd be safe!" Pluto cried, anger flaring as she beat her fists against Zeeda's chest. "You promised!"
"Plu ... please ..." Zeeda gasped in pain, a warm wetness spreading down her arm.
"He promised! He ... he told me he would never leave me alone like this." Pluto wailed, her anger slowly fading as Zeeda pulled her close with her left arm.
They stood like that for a long moment, Zeeda wincing as every sob from Pluto sent pain shooting through her right side. But she was not about to let go. King Pluto rushed into the room, shocked at the sight before him. Blood was starting to soak through Zeeda's tunic, and her face was growing pale. Pluto still clung to her, violent sobs shaking them both. Wordlessly, he gently pulled Pluto away from Zeeda wrapping his daughter in a tight embrace. Zeeda closed her eyes, feeling dizzy and exhausted in every possible way. Gentle hands led her towards a chair, and she looked up again to see Queen Serenity looking at her with concern.
"I'm fine." Zeeda stated quietly.
"You will be in a moment," Serenity replied, helping Zeeda sit down. "We do have some talent in that area."
Queen Serenity smiled lightly at the confused look on Zeeda's face. She knew the warrior would never ask for healing, or help, but anyone with eyes could tell she needed it right then. Her skin was pale, her eyes sitting on top of deep shadows. Summoning a portion of the great crystal's power, she placed a hand on Zeeda's forehead. Zeeda had no idea what was going on, she only knew that deep within she felt warm, with a slight tingle. Whatever it was, it felt good.
"There, that should help." The Queen said with a slightly tired smile.
"And now you're the one needing a chair." Zeeda replied.
"Your injuries were worse than I first expected."
"You ... you healed me?" Zeeda's brows drew together.
"Normally, we'd just let it happen naturally. But I have the feeling we don't have that kind of time."
"Thank you, highness." Zeeda tested moving her arm, surprised when there was no pain.
"How did it happen?" King Pluto interrupted quietly.
"We ... we made a stupid mistake. We let our guard down, thinking it was over." Zeeda winced, at the pain in her heart this time. "It just ... so fast ... we couldn't get to him in time."
"Where is he?" Pluto murmured, slowly pushing herself away from her father.
"He's at the house. I wasn't sure ..."
"The ..." Pluto couldn't bring herself to say the word. "Tomorrow, at our home."
Zeeda nodded, giving the grieving woman one last searching look before she slowly turned and left the room. She would not be surprised if Pluto never wanted to see her or speak to her again, and that realization hurt just as much as loosing Remmus.
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After Remmus died, we didn't have much time left – though we didn't know that then. I can't really tell you what happened in those two years. I know there were battles. Some, I fought in, and others I heard about from the constant stream of refugees trying to get away from the front lines. Those lines were following their retreating steps, so it was a useless struggle.
About a month after Remmus' death I received a message from Queen Serenity that contact with Pluto was no longer possible. They'd stripped her memories of us - of Remmus - away at her request, and that was the end of it. Someday, they might come back to her, but right then they didn't need anything triggering them early. I should have been expecting it, but it was still a blow. We were also forced to send Hura and King Saturn back to their own home, things were getting too dangerous. And so, a beloved sister, and a child I nearly considered my own were taken from our lives – leaving an empty feeling behind them.
Yes, I still had Lienta, Husel, and quite a few new neighbors, but it just wasn't quite the same anymore. Too much had been lost, too much we could never get back again. And while we might win a battle here and there, the war was turning against us. It had been against us from the start, really, we just hadn't seen it then. Perhaps we hadn't wanted to see it. Can you really blame us? For that, I honestly don't have an answer.
I live those last few moments over – again and again. I can't get away from them. I have tried, for a few thousand years now, but they etched themselves upon my soul. Yes, the end was coming soon – but it wasn't the end of everything. There was still hope, I know because I saw it in the pained tear filled violet eyes of one with a burden as great as mine. That is possibly the only thing that has kept me going all this time. But I am growing weary, things are growing cold and dark around me finally, and I don't know how much longer I can hold it at bay.