Chapter 19
For the End is Near
Isaac ran down the stone passage Felix, Ivan, Sheba, Hydros and Leon at his heels. They'd all heard a scream, they didn't know how though; they had already crossed over into Ancient Lemuria again. But they'd all heard it.
"There!" Ivan shouted, pointing ahead at where the doors were. Both mammoth walls of ice were still wide open, the mists from before had dissipated. Isaac felt his heart leap into his throat as his spotted a large mound just inside the doors. Isaac fell down next to his friends as he came up, Felix coming down next to him.
"By Gaia..." The other Venus-adept breathed, looking over their friends. He reached over and carefully removed Piers' arm from where it was around Mia. Leon went ghostly white as he carefully turned his nephew over, holding his head in his lap as he felt around Piers' neck. The Lumurian glowing slightly as he summoned his strength and a dusting of blue light clouded the air, what almost looked like a small fairy skittered through the energy before vanishing. Hydros was bending down to do the same for Mia.
Isaac kept his attention on Mia; he was terrified by her condition. She was lying in a pool of her own blood, her skin so pale she looked almost dead. It seemed as if something had torn through her shoulder, cutting down to the bone. There was a deep gouge across one of her cheeks, the blood turning black as it scabbed over, her hand also black from her own blood. The skin around her neck was cracked and peeling, blood seeping though slightly. At her ankles Isaac saw trace amounts of blood seeping though her ruined boots.
"Oh gods," Sheba whimpered, "we should never have let them go in there..." Ivan stood at her side; he had one arm around her shoulder tightly, trying to comfort her.
"He's barely breathing..." Leon chocked, Isaac glanced over and saw the pained expression on the Lemurian's face. He swallowed hard and turned back to Mia.
"Come on, Mia," he muttered, focusing his own energies and firmly taking hold of that warmth within himself. He funneled it down through his arms and hands and into her, as thickly and potently as he could hoping to knit flesh back together, heal those horrible burns. "Come on, you guys can manage this, just don't give up."
"I doubt that will do him any good, Felix." Hydros said calmly, Isaac glanced over again and spotted the small glowing vial his friend held, golden liquid swirling inside of it. "Mia is the only one with injuries," Felix regarded the King a moment.
"We have to try everything, anything we can." He said calmly, Hydros considered before nodding slightly. Isaac, without a Water of Life with him, resorted to deepening his own efforts, reaching farther into Mia's prone form, into the heart and lungs to stimulate them keep them going.
It felt like hours before the silence was broken.
"I think the bleeding's slowed," Hydros said, Isaac wasn't sure how long it had been, his energies completely drained as Felix nodded.
"There's little more we can do for either of them here. Let's hurry and return them to the ship."
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He couldn't explain it really, amidst to turmoil inside of him there was still a scrape of peace. Piers didn't feel any cold, barely able to notice when he lost the feeling of Mia next to him.
He stood in a vaulting hall. One wall was made of solid marble, reaching up at least twenty feet. It shone brightly with the golden light coming from the other side, which, instead of something solid, the wall to his left was made up of mighty pillars or the same polished stone. Dark wooden panels were embedded into the solid wall, various scenes carved into the ebony.
He reached up with one hand to touch one of these carvings. For some reason he could not see how his storm-weathered, battle-worn hands, were somehow different in this place. They bore none of the scars from his travels and unsafe life. Piers blinked,
Wait, why would they be scared?
For some reason the answer eluded him. He knew it to be something painfully obvious, so why could he not grasp it? He shook his head, not seeing the point in worrying over it.
'I hope the others are all okay.' He thought solemnly, his brows then furrowed slightly.
What others?
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'Mia? Mia, please wake up. Please, show us you're still here...'
'Mia, come on, you can pull through this. Just try, come on.'
'Unnnn...?'
'M-Mia, come on. P-please don't die! You can't! N-not yet...'
'Wha... M-Mist?'
Mia felt her eyes open, but everything was so bright that she had to close them again.
"Mia?" The voice was little more than a high squeak, but Mia knew it instantly. She forced her eyes open again, keeping them half closed so the light wouldn't hurt her again. She was just able to make out Mist's small form as well as those of Sour, Fizz, Sleet, Hail, Fog, Gel, Balm, Eddy and Serac.
The Djinn were all around her where she realized she was lying in bed. Blankets had been carefully wrapped around her to keep her warm. For a moment she couldn't remember anything, nothing more than feeling pain before everything cut out. She couldn't remember what had hurt her though, or why she hadn't been able to stop it. All she was sure of was that it was a miracle she was alive.
"…What happened...?" She murmured, feeling so drained, the Djinn jumped and she heard them moving around on the bed.
"Are you in any pain, Mia?" Eddy asked softly, Mia remained silent for a moment, she had one hand tucked under her head, and could feel bandages over her cheek.
Was she in pain? She couldn't tell really, everything seemed so far away. Closing her eyes, Mia remembered dimly the places she had been hurt. Her back felt fine, her ankles sore but alright as she flexed them experimentally. Her shoulder was numb, though not paining her, and there was little feeling on the right side of her face. She couldn't tell what condition her neck was in, she was too drained to try and move her head.
She remembered what had hurt her most, the blinding pain over her heart. Mia moved around slightly, trying to touch the patch that had been branded. She could have wept when she felt nothing again. No pain as she pressed on the skin, it was scarred though, badly. But from what she could feel it was nothing to important, nothing below the skin was hurt.
"Mia?" Eddy repeated, she smiled and shook her head,
"I-I'm fine," She managed, "I'm exhausted, but I'm fine." The Djinn seemed to relax a bit.
"Every one was so worried, Mia, they all burnt out there psynergy trying to close the wounds. But now that you're alright, then they can all just focus on—"
"Shade! SHHH!"
"Mia, what do you remember exactly?" Fizz cut in, trying to shift her attention from the others who were at the moment ganging up on Shade. Mia kept her eyes closed as she tried to think back.
"Th- I ran into the Deity that was tormenting Piers when he was asleep. She trapped me somehow, and I couldn't help him." Mia paused for a moment, opening her eyes to see the Djinn listening closely. "Whenever I tried reaching out, I was hurt, but I just kept trying. Over and over again until he saw me, but he couldn't help me, and I blacked out." She paused, remembering something else, something the chilled her blood. Mia noticed the Djinn tense slightly.
"Where… where is Piers?" She asked, her voice shaking, remembering Babi standing over him, ready to strike. Her eyes sought out Shade. "Where is he, Shade?" the Djinni jumped slightly, backing away from her. It became hard to breathe, "Shade?" She couldn't keep the slight amounts of desperation from her voice.
"He, he's on board, Mia." Serac said, curling up against her trying to sooth her. Mia wouldn't have any of it.
"Where? Where on the ship?" She asked,
"Mia, you should rest now," Sour urged, Mia shook her head,
"Not until I see him. Now tell me where he is." She said simply. As the Djinn remained quiet, Mia forced herself up, needing to know Piers was still alive, even if just barely.
The blankets slipped down and off her bare shoulders as she pushed herself up, Mia just realizing she hadn't had anything on. She gave it little thought, but enough so that she began glancing around her small cabin looking for her bag.
"Mia lay down! You shouldn't be moving around like that!" Hail shrieked, jumping up and hovering in front of her to keep her from getting up. It was un-necessary though. As Mia twisted in order to sit up properly, holding one of the sheets around her, she pulled at the wounds on her back. Her head instantly beginning to spin however, and she felt herself falling.
"Mia!"
She cringed as she felt the Djinn propping her up, all of them scrambling furiously to keep her from falling to the ground. For some reason she couldn't find the strength to move, all of her half-healed wounds suddenly flaring to life again. She felt blood seeping through the wrappings on her back.
"Is she awake yet yo—Mia!" Jenna let out a horrified screech as she rushed from the door to her friend. Mia felt her friend's hands on her shoulders as she helped move her back down onto her side. Jenna instantly covered her again, murmuring to her softly as she scolded the Djinn at the same time. Mia couldn't hear what she was saying exactly, her mind unable to focus on anything past how badly she was hurting on the outside, and how she wanted nothing more than for Piers to help her...
"Jenna?" She whimpered; she felt tears streaming down her face. Jenna left the bed for a moment, coming back with something soft to wipe her face. "Jenna… is he alright?" She managed, Jenna's hand stopped, "Is he alive?"
"Oh, Mia," Jenna said softly, one hand gently rubbing her friend's arm, careful not to go to high because of the wound on her shoulder. Mia heard the door crack open,
"Hey is everything alright in h—"
"GET THE HELL OUT NOW, GARET!" Jenna roared as she jumped to her feet. Mia unable to see the comedy in the situation as the world's colors shifted and a plume of flames launched themselves from Jenna's hands and Garet's panicked foot-steps leading away from the cabin door. Jenna changed completely, reverting back to her calm self as she took Mia's hand "He's alive, Mia," She said softly "I promise you that, but..."
"But he's fading..." She finished. Mia felt herself shaking as she sobbed into the covers around her. "I have to see him," She choked; she squeezed the Mars-Adept's hand. "Please... Jenna I have to see him..." She whispered, nearly begging. Jenna bit her lip and looked away, thinking for a moment.
Mia kept crying as her friend let go of her hand and stood again. For a moment Mia thought Jenna was going to leave, but was relieved as her friend moved around the cabin for a moment. She was so relieved when Jenna came back to the bed and gently helped her up. Mia looked at what the other Adept was holding. It was one of her night gowns.
"You'll need help," Jenna said flatly looking over the Djinn, "Be careful of your wounds, call me if you need anything, I'll be right outside the door." Mia was still crying as she nodded to her friend.
"Thank you, Jenna." She said hoarsely as the Mars-Adept stood and made her way to the door.
"No problem, Mia." She replied softly. On the other side, Jenna rested her back against the wood. Making sure she was able to keep her tears in check. "I'm not going to keep you away from him, Mia. I know how much you'll need to be there if he doesn't make it..."
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The carvings on the wall pulled at him, tugging at something he couldn't quite remember. Piers ran his hands along them, walking slowly down the hall, feeling no hurry what-so-ever to reach the end. So many scenes, so many memories, they were all so familiar, as if he had lived them himself.
Hadn't he? Maybe, some of the things he saw... No, it couldn't be him. Piers shook his head, bemused, and unable to come up with a straight answer as he looked over the scenes.
Where he was now, was a mighty storm, tossing a dragon-headed ship in the waves. Wings were protruding from the sides, and a pillar of light ascending from the deck.
Just after that, there was one of the same ship. Battered and abused from the storms, crews working to repair it. Piers couldn't tell how he knew they were fixing it, but again, something just pulled at him. Looking over the life-like faces, he could almost hear their rough conversation. But it wasn't the main part of the carving, for this one it was of the pair below decks. Again, something pulled at him, stronger this time, but still something that only just grazed his consciousness. The two were talking to one another, laughing and enjoying each other's company. So familiar, but still so far away.
Piers took his time with each and every carving, knowing he was missing something, but unable to put a name to it. There was a familiarity with what he was looking over that confused him. Forced him to ignore that more persistent power, that demanded he forget about them and make his way towards the end. It was telling him that he had earned the right to be there.
Be where? He didn't know this place. Something about it called to him, made him feel so undeniably welcome. But he didn't know it, it wasn't right.
He must have spent hours pouring over the carvings, by now he was more than half-way through it all now. Piers could swear there was a pair of eyes watching him and growing annoyed with his slow progress. But he shrugged it off, he would get to the end soon enough, he wanted first to take his time, fully enjoy this.
Some how he knew he could only walk this way once.
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Mia leaned heavily on Jenna as she stumbled down the hall, Felix following close behind to catch her if she fell. Even with the Djinn it had been almost too much for her to get dressed, and the short walk was draining her more so. Mia didn't know where the others were. According to Jenna and Felix, everyone else was in the city with Hydros and Leon. Lunpa seemed to have sealed himself away in his tower again.
"Here you go, Mia." Jenna said softly as they came to Piers' door, Felix moving in front of them to turn the knob and let them in.
"Thanks." Jenna said as they passed him, he nodded without saying anything and watched as Jenna continued to help the weak Mia to the bed where Piers lay un-moving under the covers. Mia swallowed the lump in her throat as she saw how pale he was, his cheeks hollow and dark circles under his eyes.
"Thank you, Jenna..." Mia managed; voice thick as she tried not to break down again. Her friend settled her down on the edge of the bed before backing away slightly, making sure she was strong enough to keep herself up.
"Are you alright on your own, Mia?" Felix asked quietly from where he stood in the door-way, "Do you want either of us to wait outside in case you need anything?" Mia shook her head, not trusting herself to speak as she clasped Piers' hand. She only half-heard the siblings leave the room, the door clicking shut as their foot steps faded away.
She felt her vision fading a bit again, hating how such a short walk from her cabin to his drained her so badly. Mia lowered herself down next to him on the bed; she placed her head on his shoulder, before moving closer and resting above his heart. Letting the rhythmic pounding sooth her slightly. Not wanting to think about what had happened, so much all at once.
She couldn't take thinking about how, only a few weeks ago, their biggest worry had been where to go next around the world...
Mia fought tears for a short while, then let them fall, allowing them to stain the pale blue shirt he wore. She wrapped one arm around him, careful of her injured shoulder. She closed her tear-filled eyes and listened to his heart beat. Casting all thoughts of it slowing from her mind.
'I can't loose you now, Piers... Please, come back to me again. Just one last time...'
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Piers stumbled back in the hall, staring at his hand in shock and horror.
There was blood staining his skin, like he had held his hands over some gaping wound.
Piers glanced between his hand and the Carving he had touched. It showed the same man and woman from every other picture. In this one the woman has bleeding in his arms, a woman made of mists holding the weapon. The man had his hands over the woman's wound, her blood staining them as he tried to help her.
He'd felt it, he couldn't explain it; it was like he'd been there, in that man's place. He had the blood on his hands to prove it. Piers shook his head in denial. He couldn't have been there,
Could he?
He shook his head to dispel the idea. He would surly remember if such an event had ever occurred.
Wouldn't he? Piers wasn't so sure anymore... He could remember nothing from before he'd come here, where had he been? What was here anyways? He tried to ignore the sinking feeling in his stomach and continued on.
Tried and failed as he continued on, and saw only the woman crying, weeping, always in some form of pain. Why did this dig at him so? He didn't even know her!
...Right?
He shook his head, no more of this nonsense; he was done with these images. No more of this second-guessing, he turned on his heel and strode confidently down the hall, averting his eyes from the wooden panels.
"PIERS!" He spun at his name, eyes searching the vast space for the source of the cry. He stood frozen for a moment, listening to the echo fade away, he knew that voice. He knew it. He'd heard it so many times before, why couldn't he remember now?
"No! Piers behind you! Get up! Please, Piers; just get up!" Desperation, fear, sorrow, all of it carried through the screams. Piers glanced around wide-eyed, sweat beading on his forehead as he couldn't figure out what was happening. His eyes darting to the wall again, to the last panel.
It was her, the woman,
"No..." That voice...
'Mia, that-that's Mia... Oh god, wh-what's going on?' It was her image in the wood. He saw her, blood pouring down her slashed back. A man holding a chain around her neck, and fire racing across it to burn her skin. Another woman holding wires around her ankles to slice through them. Piers couldn't beat back the terror that leapt up in him. The wood, no, it wasn't wood, it was a window, showing him the past. He knew what was coming next.
"Leave him alone!"
No, no he couldn't watch this again, not again...
"PIERS!"
No... He couldn't tear his eyes from the window, everything taking on its normal color, not the dark shadows of the ebony panels.
"Piers!"
Not again, never again... The woman moved so slowly, in her hands was a long bar, a flat disk attached to the end, it glowed menacingly. Piers turned away, he didn't know why or how, but he did. The two beings walking towards him paused for a moment, he hadn't heard them, but he'd known they were there.
"Piers you can't give up now!"
The man's robes swept down to his feet, golden locks curled around his head, he beamed like the Sun itself. Sol, the God of the Day. At his right was a woman, her hair, a bright, silver, though not from age, hung unbound around her shoulders. She was dressed in every conceivable shade of blue. Luna, the Goddess of the Night. She smiled at him; they both did, welcoming him, like they were rewarding him for something.
The two who had killed Mia expected him to be grateful.
"Come, Piers." the woman spoke, her vice echoing ethereally, with all the grace of the night. She reached one hand out to him, welcoming him.
"No." He said clearly, teeth clenched in anger. No, not after what they'd done. After everything they'd done. Sol blinked,
"No?" He repeated, unsure as he regarded Piers a moment.
"I never wanted this, any of it!" He shouted, he was shaking, waiting on edge to hear her scream, to hear as her life was torn away again. "You and your meaningless Prophecy, my father died because of it, my mother nearly lost the will to live!" He spat, Luna looking surprised at his anger, Sol beginning to seem annoyed. "You've put my family through more pain than we've ever earned! You dragged my friends into this hell-hole for no reason at all! Mia is dead because of you!"
"You are confused, it is understandable, Mercurian. You are still mortal a—"
"And that's how it's going to remain." Piers said sharply, cutting the Goddess of in mid-sentence. Luna blinked at the interruption, his reaction clearly not what either had expected.
"Do you realize what you are doing?" Sol asked him harshly. "You claim to love the mortal Mia. As a God you would know pleasures ten times that which you value in your present state, are you so willing to lose this? That which thousands have tried, and failed, to attain? Is this your choice, Mercurian?"
"Yes. I don't want it, any of it." Piers said, his voice shaking, he was still tense as he prepared to hear Mia's scream at any time, "Take it away, I can't stand it. I don't want anything to do with it. Take away my Psynergy if you have to, just leave me alone..." Luna looked saddened as Piers bent his head, he felt his defenses crumbling. Piers shook violently as he waited for their answer.
"Then go." She said simply, Piers glanced up and saw her looking away from him, one hand gesturing vaguely back the way he had come. "Go back to the mortal realm. There shall be a price to pay for your defiance, Mercurian, but I am sure you are aware of that." Piers glanced over his shoulder nervously, then back at the Beings before him, neither one sparing him a glance now.
He ran, he spun on his heal and ran as fast as he could. Mia was dead, he knew it, and it was killing him. But he'd felt it, she'd been like ice, she'd held no warmth. He didn't care though, there was still the rest of his friends, he could still see his uncle. Banishment was nothing; he just couldn't take walking away from them all.
For power...
'There will always be power, and there will always be corruption,' He didn't know where he'd heard the words before, but he had. The two at the end of the Hall were testament to that. They had tormented three generations of his family for their own amusement. If that was not corruption, then what was?
Piers faltered as he reached the end of the hall, screaming, he fell to the floor, withering in pain as he felt afire. Unable to figure out what was attacking him, he felt something being torn inside of him. There was an instant release though, and he climbed to his feet, coughing violently, the sound of paper fluttering filled the air.
Piers glanced back in time to see Luna reach out, and caught the bloody parchment, under the slick layers of red it shone with a dull golden light. He watched as Luna took hold of it, and had it vanish into the sleeves of her billowing robes.
"You are free to go, Mercurian." She said simply. "You blood-line shall never have a chance for such power again. The seal placed in your Ancestor's blood has been removed. You have lost all claims to the rank of God." Piers faced the both of them, a bit unsteady as he tried to recover from the pain. He understood her though, and nodded in acknowledgement.
He didn't spare the Hall one last look, as he stepped through the arch-way at the end. Returning to life he wanted. Returning to a life of pain.
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Mia gave a start; she blinked away film over her eyes as she tried to remember what was happening. That she'd fallen asleep was obvious, what had woken her up; wasn't so.
She glanced around the small cabin a moment, before dismissing it as being one of the Djinn knocking something over. She placed her hand over Piers' heart, almost to convince herself that he was still alive. She felt tears pricking her eyes as she felt it still beating rhythmically. For now.
Mia gently moved to place her head back down on his chest, when she felt a flare of power inside him. Piers tensed for a moment, waking Mia up completely now as he cringed in pain. Worry pushed through everything else she was feeling, and Mia reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face against him.
Mia gave a small gasp as he began to shimmer, slowly becoming enveloped in a soft golden light. She had to let go of him, the light coming through her eye-lids even as she squeezed her eyes shut. She shielded her eyes with her arms, she was only barely conscious of it fading away, leaving a bright after-image as she opened her eyes again.
She looked over him expectantly, hoping to see him give any sign that he had come back to her.
'What if he just—?' She smothered the thought, not willing to believe he hadn't been able to return. But then again, to be a God, Immortal, Powerful. Who would give that up? Just for a woman? Just for her?
Mia felt that same sadness welling up again; and she wrapped her arms around herself where she knelt on the bed. She could hope, she could wish, but, would Piers really come back if he was offered all that?
"Mia?" Her head snapped up at her name, she stared, her blue eyes over-flowing with tears, as she saw his half-lidded golden ones looking out at her. "Is that you?" He asked, his voice was hoarse, but it was still his own.
Suddenly he looked so different, or rather the same. His skin instantly regaining its normal color, no longer making him appear sickly and his eyes seemed to shine brightly again, like they had since the day she'd met him.
Mia fell against him in pure relief, her fingers gripping the front of his shirt as she sobbed against him,
"Stop doing that!" She cried, burying her face against him, his arms closed around her instantly. He held her so gently though, as if she were a porcelain doll that would shatter. "Stop scaring me like that, Piers. Just stop it. Don't die and come back just so you can die again. It hurts too much when you do that..." She sobbed, Piers rocking her back and forth gently.
"Then we have an agreement." He said, sounding chocked, tightening his grip on her. "Neither one of us is aloud to almost die and then come back." Mia felt him shaking slightly, she just held on tighter, her sobs only just beginning to weaken as she felt his strong arms around her. "I saw you die, Mia..." He said hoarsely, placing kisses in her hair. "I heard you scream, and I saw you fall. I swear; a part of me died when I saw that..." Mia moved her arms back up around his neck, pulling herself up again so that she could place her head against his neck.
"I love you, Piers, and I'm not going to leave you again." She whispered.
"I need you in my life, Mia." He said softly, placing soft kisses along her cheek, searching for her mouth, "There's no point without you here." she turned her face against his, both of them savoring the other in their first real kiss.
Mia felt a slight tingle as his tongue rubbed up against her lips, wanting to be let in. She couldn't deny him; she felt the warmth of his tongue as it slid past her own. He raised one hand up to her face, as if to brush the hair from her face. His fingers brushed across the bandage on her cheek though, and she felt him pause briefly.
Piers waited a moment, before he slid on arm behind her, feeling the bandages on her back as well. He pulled back from her, still keeping her in the circle of his arms as he regarded her with his soft golden eyes.
"Does it hurt at all?" He asked softly, Mia shook her head slightly as she felt a flare of psynergy inside of him. Dimly, she tried to remember the last time it had been simple psynergy that he'd used; she didn't like how far away it seemed. Mia relaxed against him again as she felt him heal her. She couldn't tell why it seemed to work better than the other's attempts.
It didn't matter though, not now, she was a bit more interested in what they were doing than in the others.
Piers kissed her on the lips again, then moved from her mouth across to her cheek, following the shape of her face down her jaw bone. Mia leaned back onto the bed, letting him move himself over her. Piers ran one hand through her hair as he nuzzled against her throat affectionately before rising again to just kiss her. She was happy enough with just that, just being near him and having their first real moment.
Mia broke the kiss this time, turning her head away, eyes closed as she smiled contently, savoring the feel of him over her, feeling his hands running across her. She opened her eyes lazily and—
"Oh shit."
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Piers' head shot up, since when did Mia swear? Had he done something—
"Some body's feeling better."
"Piers, I don't think your hands are supposed to be up there." Spring commented dryly.
Of course, Piers then almost forgot about Mia, and she in turn nearly forgot about him, as both of them were a BIT more preoccupied with explaining this, compromising, position to the nearly twenty mercury Djinn crowded around the bed for a peek, golden eyes staring at them both over the edge of the covers.
This was of course made all the more memorable, the mood more thoroughly shattered, as the door swung open to admit Garet, Isaac, and Ivan.
'Oh gods this isn't fair...' Piers thought miserably as Isaac's eyes grew three sizes. Garet abruptly shoved Ivan out the door, the Jupiter-Adept not taking this to well as he shouted something about Sheba being right. Piers then watched as Garet carted the stunned-speechless Isaac out of the room, firmly slamming the door behind him and muttering about Jenna... with a burning chain?
Piers didn't wanna know.
"Damn it..." Piers groaned, taking the Djinn who were still in the room, and the red in Mia's cheeks as a few good signs that he should get off her. Rolling over and onto his back, Piers and Mia both shot the Djinn threatening glares.
After a few minutes the all seemed to get bored, realizing nothing was happening; that Piers had mixed emotions about. As the Djinn all took their leave, Piers clasped Mia's hand and he closed his eyes again, rolling onto his side to stay near her. Mia edging closer to rest her head against him. Maybe they could keep this development in their relationship to themselves for a while.
"YOU WALKED IN AND THEY WERE WHAT?"
Then again, maybe not.
They lay like that for a long while. Piers shifted slightly as he realized Mia had fallen asleep. He smiled and ran his fingers through her hair, glancing up as there was a tap at the door.
"Yes?" He answered, trying not to wake Mia as he looked over her head. Piers tried to sit up as his Uncle poked his head in through the door.
"May I come in?" He asked softly. Piers smiled.
"Of course. She's sleeping though." Leon carefully entered, closing the door behind him quietly. "Is something wrong, uncle?" Piers asked, noticing how worn his uncle looked; the other man shook his head.
"No, of course not it's just that..." He glanced up, his golden eyes haunted. "I almost lost you again, Piers, no one can say you have a safe life." Pier nodded solemnly.
"Even a simple trip home has proved to be one of the most dangerous things I've ever done..." Piers replied quietly, he held Mia a bit closer, "I defied the Gods, I saw Sol and Luna and I cursed them... I was in danger of just dying before, now I must worry about damnation..." Leon walked over to the bed and placed one hand on his nephew's shoulder.
"Do not worry about that now, Piers, you and Mia are both safe." He said reassuringly. Piers nodded, resisting the urge to bury his face against Mia's soft hair. Wanting to wait until his uncle had left before moving against her like that again. Piers glanced back up and noticed the confused look in his uncle's eyes.
"Is something wrong?" He asked again, his uncle paused for a moment, his eyes slipped shut and his hand on Piers' shoulder tightened its hold on him.
"Are you... feeling alright?" His uncle asked cautiously, Piers blinked at the question, thinking for a moment before answering.
"I feel a bit drained from what happened, but other than that I feel fine." He replied, watching as his uncle's brow furrowed. "What is it?" He asked. Leon gripped Pier's chin slightly, the elder Lemurian bending over the bed to look into his eyes.
"You feel... different..." Leon muttered, "Your aura, it's... changed somehow. It feels more like what one would feel from some one born outside the walls, instead of inside like you..." He mulled over this for a moment as Piers blinked a few times, confused. His uncle shook his head quickly, "It-it's nothing." he said, glancing back at Piers, a small smile creeping over his features.
A real smile Piers realized, not one of those forced one's his uncle had been sporting for so long. He was relieved to see the change. His uncle bent over again to clasp his shoulder.
"Rest, you're both safe now. I should have known better than to disturb the two of you." Piers smiled over at him,
"I don't mind, Uncle." He said tiredly, "I'll take care of myself if you promise to do the same." Piers settled back against the covers on the bed, feeling drained as the other man turned and left the room quietly. Piers waited until he heard the door click shut before he buried his face in Mia's soft hair. His uncle's words bringing something less comforting to mind.
'There will be a price for your defiance, Mercurian, but I am sure you are aware of that.' Luna's voice echoed in his head as he thought over what his uncle had said,
'Your aura it's... changed somehow. It feels more like what one would feel from some one born outside the walls, instead of inside, like you...' Piers bit his lip, it not taking very long for him to realize the price he was paying.
He'd already been cut off from the fountain, that shortening his life by many years. Now he knew that, like it had been written on the Banishment,
He was no longer Lemurian...
Piers shook his head slightly, feeling Mia shift against him. He focused on the warmth coming off her, smiling as he felt her burying herself against him. His smile didn't waver as he felt sleep pulling at him, his body wishing for a quick rest. Piers placed a soft kiss on Mia's head as he relaxed completely against the warmth of the bed.
Banishment was nothing, just as his shortened life.
It was all okay as long as she was by his side.
Fin.
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