That night, Acelan lay in bed, Karma sleeping beside him. It was quiet and he turned over to his other side and watched her sleep. Acelan couldn't imagine living without her, the ways she always seemed to mesmerize him when she danced, send his senses reeling with just her voice. And yet she was something any other man would call an ordinary woman.
Careful not to disturb her, he climbed out into the halls, past silent rooms and through empty hallways. Silently, he crept into his twins' room and watched them, as they shifted over in sleep. He went over to Iris and tucked her back in, smiling as she smiled in her sleep, a dancer's orange melos tied loosely on her wrist. Acelan turned to Aleya and chuckled as she clutched a little cloth doll, she had named it Beth, close to her chest. He remembered watching Branwyn as she stitched up the doll, and of how Aleya always kept it near her wherever she went.
Acelan picked up the doll as it fell to the floor. Both his daughters were so different, and yet so wonderful in his eyes. Years ago, he'd have never imagined being a father, but now, he wished he'd taken a glimpse into this future and seen the wonder that would come.
"Da?" a bleary eyed Aleya tugged on his slacks, looking up at him, "What are you doing here?" Acelan chuckled and picked her up, "The real question is why aren't you in bed?" He bent down, tweaked her nose, smiling, and she giggled, "I had a dream…a bad one."
Acelan took a seat on the bed, Aleya in his lap, "What was your dream." Aleya reached over and picked up Beth and held the doll close to her, "I dreamt I was on ice, skating with you, ma and Iris…the ice began to crack and—and Iris fell through…" Aleya wiped wet eyes on the back of her sleeve and her father hugged her tight. "What happened Aley?" he whispered, using his nickname for her.
The little girl continued, "Well, Mama told me to get off the ice, but I wanted to tell her I couldn't…because there was darkness and I couldn't fall!" "Suddenly there was a lady…she told me to come with her, that it was safe…I didn't go with her…then I woke up."
Acelan sighed and took small comfort in his daughter's presence as his second daughter slept peacefully across from them. Aleya had seen Ecl, but he hoped—prayed she hadn't touched it…
She was still too young to understand the horrors of the Void.
