Chapter 2
Emilia logged onto her online math class, sitting at her desk.
She had been full-remote ever since the run-in with Jul. She only left the apartment when she needed to, like for work and going to the store.
She hadn't seen Cameron for a while, but she didn't worry too much. He could take care of himself.
Emilia sighed as she remained in the Zoom waiting room. The teacher must have been absent. She closed out of the tab and leaned back in her chair.
She had written a lot since the incident. Mostly, it regarded Fertes and Jul.
She knew he would come for her again soon. He would likely take her captive because he was a god, and she was, well, her. There would be absolutely no competition betwixt them.
Emilia attempted to focus on her assignment, but she had too much on her mind.
When would Jul come for her? Why hadn't she heard from Cameron since the attack? And why was everything that had happened making her head pound?
Nothing made sense anymore. Emilia's world had turned upside down in less than 24 hours.
Emilia closed her math textbook. She couldn't work right now. She opened her desk drawer, pulled out her pencil and notebook, and started to write.
Fertes sat on the edge of the cliff, her legs dangling over the edge.
Lee walked up to her. He sat down beside her, and their shoulders touched.
Fertes glanced at him. He had stayed with her through everything: the hurt, the betrayals, the battles. He was a good spirit, and she was fortunate to have him.
The two looked at the sunset, hoping for a future better than the past.
The End.
Emilia finished the last line with a flourish and set her pencil down. It was so refreshing to conclude a story.
She heard a ringing and picked up her phone. It was Cameron.
"Hello?" she said.
"Emilia? Is that you?" Cameron said breathlessly.
"Mmhmm," said Emilia. "Who else would it be?"
"I don't know, but you have to help me. Jul has taken me captive."
Emilia bit her lip. How did he even know Jul's name? It had to be a counterfeit call.
"I know it's you, Jul," she said. "Stay out of my life!"
"You're making a mistake," Jul said, dropping all pretenses. "We could be friends, you know. We were trillions of years ago."
"No," Emilia said. "We weren't. And I'm not that old." She ended the call.
Why was he trying to trick her? And that comment about them being friends trillions of years ago made zero sense. She was barely sixteen.
Emilia plopped down on her bed. Jul was the worst.
Her phone dinged, and she rolled over with a groan. Who was bothering her now?
Emilia snatched up her phone and looked at her message. It was from her best friend, Aria.
Aria: Hey, Em. Just checking in. How are you?
Emilia: Fine. I was resting.
Aria: Oh, sorry. I just wanted to show you this video I found.
Aria: Video Link
Emilia clicked on the link. A beautiful rural scene graced the background of the video.
"Salve, mundum. Iul nomen meum. Ego novi princeps vester. In diebus quinque, infans et ducam in terra. Nisi forte soror Fertes manus ipsa mihi. Central Park in tribus diebus in occursum mihi, Fertes. Aut aliud terra meus erit."
What language was that? She opened her translation app and popped in the text.
She read the English version aloud. "Hello, world. My name is Jul. I'm your new leader. In five days, I will take over Earth. Unless, of course, my sister, Fertes, hands herself over to me. Meet me at Central Park in three days, Fertes. Or else Earth will be mine."
Her hands trembled. She texted Aria.
Emilia: When did they make this video?
Aria: Two days ago. Why? It's not real.
Emilia: I don't know if that's true. Thanks.
Aria: No problem.
Emilia started freaking out. One day until Fertes needed to meet Jul, or else Earth was toast.
Where would she even find Fertes? Did she know her? Were they friends?
Emilia started to pace around her room. 24 hours. That was too soon. There wouldn't be enough time to find Fertes.
She kept pacing. There had to be a way.
She tripped and hit her head. Black spots danced in her vision as the world went black.
--
A woman swam in Emilia's vision. She had her dark brown hair worn in a long plait down her side.
"Who-who are you? Where am I?" Emilia asked apprehensively.
"I'm you. We are in our earliest part of existence, back to the beginning."
"You can't be me. We aren't one. And what do you mean 'back to the beginning'?"
"We are back to when we first came into existence, or at the very least, the same state of mind. I am you, no matter what you believe. I existed long before this form of myself."
"Who are you then?"
"I already said I am you. But I will assume that you want to know my name. I am Fertes, goddess of air."
Emilia gaped at her. Impossible. There was no possible way she could've found Fertes this quickly.
"You have to come with me to Central Park. Please. Otherwise, the world will end."
"No," said Fertes. "You must go to Central Park. You are me, and I am you. You are Fertes, and Fertes is you."
"That doesn't make any sense!" Emilia shouted. "You are you, and I am myself. We are different."
"Then explain how you knew of the existence of the gods and goddesses. Mortals never believed in us, specifically, until you came along. How could you know unless you were one of us?"
Emilia stared at Fertes. It did make sense--but she couldn't be a goddess. She would've been able to save her parents if she was a goddess.
But what if Fertes was right? She would be putting Earth in grave danger. And Jul had attacked her. Why would he attack her if she was mortal?
"I suppose you're right," Emilia said to Fertes.
"Of course we are."
Emilia shook her head. This "we" stuff was starting to annoy her.
Fertes walked over to her. "I'm going to activate your dormant powers. It'll probably feel weird."
Emilia nodded and closed her eyes, bracing for the weirdness.
An explosion of energy almost knocked her over. She felt peace, love, hatred, pain, every emotion possible all at once. Then the melding started.
Emilia cried out as she and Fertes became one once more. It was equal parts burning and freezing, a never-ending cycle of opposites. Memories flooded through her brain, and she understood.
Air was existence. It was one with her. She did not control it, for she merely was it.
And with that understanding, she realized how to defeat Jul.