Wild-Roze: This is the last chapter. I will take this small chance to say how cheezythe end is.. but hey, after a dark fiction I think an ending with a high feel-good factorr is in order :)
The three stood in silence for a moment, watching as the charred remains floated back down into Deep Sky like dark snow.
"Son." Ramirez said slowly after a moment. "Tell Marco that I want all those who arrived from the Dark Continent brought before me in the Throne Room." He said.
Vyse looked up at his father, then to his mother who stood silent, the world that she had know for the last two years was crumbling before her. He turned and withdrew his bloody weapons from where they had been lodged. As he did so the woman who had been presumed dead chocked quietly, a little more blood spilling over her lip.
Atai instantly ran to her, tears streaming from her eyes.
"Celeste….." She sobbed, gently touching the dark woman's cheek. Celeste tried to move her lips, but no words were formed.
Atai turned her distraught face to Ramirez.
"I gave you orders, did I not?" The Emperor said, his son instantly bowed and left hurriedly.
"Please," She whispered, "You can save her, you can heal her."
Ramirez narrowed his eyes, and did not move.
"Please!" She said again, fresh tears spilling, "You must do this, she's dying!"
"First," he said sternly, "I must do nothing, and secondly; why would I save the life of one I would gladly see dead?"
""Your wife died and so now you will force everyone to endure your pain?" She almost screamed, "I don't love you, no matter how you think of me, I love her, and I want you to save her, I know you can!"
He scowled. Looking into her desperate face, he could not refuse her. He knelt beside the black woman, his hand hovering inches from her chest.
"Moons…" He murmured, his emerald eyes sliding closed.
Atai watched as the silver glow engulfed Celeste, her cells forming new flesh which seeped across her wounds. Moment later, when the light had faded, the woman's breathing became stronger, and her eyes flickered open.
She lay there, looking into Atai's gentle face, and seemed to asses her situation, she glanced at Ramirez, who had stood and was glaring down at her, sore with loathing.
"Celeste…" Atai said, chocked. The woman ignored her and gingerly got to her feet, still locked in a battle of gazes with the Emperor.
"You have just condemned your lands, Dalamez will destroy this place!" She sneered.
Confusion was suddenly wrought upon her face as she saw Ramirez smile, then laugh. He motioned to the window, through which the final ashes drifted on the wind. Celeste felt her heart ache…
"No!" She moaned.
"Your prized gigas, has been destroyed, and now, you have nothing against me." He said, cuttingly.
She managed to compose herself, although it was clear she was distraught, and managed a snide smile.
"Nothing, Emperor?" She hissed, sliding her hand around Atai's hips.
"Guards!" He snapped. Instantly six men entered the room. "Take these ladies to the others who are awaiting my presence in the Throne Room. He watched them leave.
He sighed, turning to the open window, breathing deeply. He knew it was her… he knew it! But, how could he make her remember? How could he bring her back to him? He could only imagine how hard this must be for Vyse. There was a light knocking on his door. He turned, surprised to see Belle standing there, holding Fina's hand. As soon as the toddler saw him, she scurried towards him as fast as she could without falling.
His face remained a mask, stony, and desolate of all emotion, only his eyes softened a little, as he bent to receive his daughter.
"Da!" She said happily as he lifted her.
"I… I'm sorry your going through all this Emperor." Belle said, "But, I just know that she will remember you, she has to. She loves you."
Ramirez did not reply, he merely walked past her, the two year old on his hip.
Once again Atai and Celeste were led into the Throne Room, surrounded by the crew that came with them to Soltis. Darin has organised the men into ranks, which marched neatly behind the two ladies.
This time, there were not so many people in the Throne Room. The royal family were in their thrones, Fina for once staying put, although when she saw Atai, she smiled, and shouted "Maa!" pointing a small finger at the woman. The General Marco stood there, his heavily pregnant wife at his side. Then there was another boy, perhaps a few months older than Vyse, dressed smartly, standing beside a lady who was clearly his mother, a year or so younger than Atai was. The red haired woman noticed that these people stared at her, almost desperately… surely not all of these people could believe her to be the late Empress.
She looked to Ramirez, but his eyes were focused on the marble floor beneath his feet, clearly planning what was to be said. Vyse stared darkly at Celeste, clearly not liking the fact that his father her rectified what would have been his second kill.
Celeste stepped forward.
"So then Emperor, what is it that you plan on doing to us?" She asked, with arrogance.
Before Ramirez could reply Vyse stood, his voice a snarl.
"You should die! Like you should have on my blades today!" he amplified his words by drawing the twin cutlasses as if they were made for him. They drew the lavender eyes of Atai to them, for the first time.
"Boy, you will be silent. Now sit down." Ramirez said calmly. Vyse fell quiet, and lowered himself back into the throne, the blades across his lap.
"Let me ask you a question. What would you do in my position?" He said to the woman, leaning forward.
Atai didn't seem to hear the voices around her…. Those two blades, the very ones which had embedded themselves within her lover's flesh… something was calling to her. It was calling to her with a voice which seemed to be a breeze, blowing back the curtain in her mind, which concealed something. She saw a dark haired young man, he wore a scar across one cheek, and carried a pair of cutlasses. He smiled at her, and called her Aika. The memory faded, only to be replaced by another, it was dark, and below was a small island. She stood with this man on a balcony, she leaned across to kiss him…. Then this memory too went dark. She then saw, with a surprisingly painful pang, that same man lying dead, dead at the feet of the Emperor now before her. She then saw one heated night of passion… a desperate flight… incredible pain….. she birthed and raised a son… she then felt anger….. pain.. love… desire. She saw herself, standing on a platform of marble, overlooking the expanse of Soltis, watching the sunrise. She was heavily pregnant for the second time. She felt his arms slide around her waist, his breath tickling her neck. She turned and smiled, staring into his emerald eyes… they kissed.
"You know what I would do. I would not stand such actions in my own lands… but then, these soon will be my own lands. Mine and Atai's…" Celeste paused as she saw Atai slowly turn to her, and frowned slightly as she saw something strange in her eyes. There was anger, deep hatred, there on her face. She barely saw the fist, and only realised what had happened when it slammed into her nose, throwing her head back.
"Atai?" Screamed Celeste, clutching her bleeding face, shock now taking over.
"Aika! My name is Aika, bitch!" Yelled the woman, her fist once again slamming into the face.
Aika snarled at her, her hands itching to throttle her. Before she could do so, however, hands grabbed her from behind, and she struggled wildly. Marco held her back, at Ramirez's orders. A smirk graced his angled features as he stood.
"Your land?" He said, enjoying the look of utter astonishment and pain on the face of the woman. "As I said before, you have nothing against me. Not anymore." He did not know how, but somehow she seemed to remember. "Vyse," he said over his shoulder " See to it that these people are locked in one our foulest cells."
Vyse had no idea what was going on, but he obeyed instantly, summoning guards and escorting the group to the old slave quarters.
"Leave us." Ramirez commanded when they had left, "Belle take Fina."
The people left within the room grinned broadly, and left quickly.
Aika felt herself released and turned. Those eyes…. He stared at her. His green eyes as deep and mysterious as ever.
"Ramirez…" She breathed. She was before him in an instant, pressing her lips to his.
"You remember?" He asked when they parted.
"Yes…. Vyse's cutlasses…. I saw them and somehow… somehow I just knew. I'm so sorry. The mere thought of that woman… it makes me feel sick, I let her lie with me many times, but I remember never really wanting to. Ramirez…. You.. thank you, thank you for not giving up on me." She said, tears streaming from her eyes, as she rested her head on his chest.
"Fina is our daughter." Ramirez said.
"I know." She whispered, "I've always known, on some level."
She kissed him again, before smiling coyly, running her hands down his chest.
"So, my Master…. We have two years worth of catching up to do."
Ramirez smiled, a true smile, and drew her closer against him.
"You will always belong to me, Little One."
On hearing that his mother's memory had truly been restored, and thanks to him, Vyse had been overjoyed. He had flung his arms around her as soon as he laid eyes on her, sobbing unabashed. Aika instantly loved Fina, and agreed it was the perfect name for the beautiful girl, and found her devotion to Ramirez could be summed up in one word; adorable.
Life in Soltis finally began to resume where it had left off two years ago.
Ramirez left the fate of those from Alezmueres up to his Empress, despite the fact he dearly wanted to kill them. Aika set them free, and they were allowed to return to Deep Sky. All new technology had been stripped from their ship, and soon the whole armada was upgraded to be able to sink down to such altitudes. The Black Continent was claimed in the name of Soltis, and an embassy was set up there. A trading rout was established, and many from the city, came up to live under the sunlight.
Celeste had gaped in surprise at her freedom. But, had eventually flown home, Darin's arm about her waist. Aika still loved to stand on the balcony in the mornings, breathing the chill air, and taking in the view. At the bare age of 29, she still had all her life ahead of her, and she would live it at the side of the man that she loved.
The coronation had been beautiful.
The young Prince had been crowned as Emperor, on the day of his eighteenth birthday. Much had changed in the Kingdom. Word had come up from Alezmueres that Celeste was bearing a second child, her 6 year old son thriving. Marco was still the general, But his 6 year old boy, Vurg and Fina, who was now 8, were inseparable, and managed to cause quite a bit of trouble around Soltis.
Enrique and Moegi were expecting their first, and Galcian had grown to be an excellent Lord, and had been made Marshal of Nasrad. As yet, the highly desirable man who had become Emperor, had not found a wife. But he was very shy around women, and Aika had noticed the attraction between him and a girl a few months younger than him who had come from Ixa-Ness who worked in the Palace called Syna.
All of Arcadia was celebrating. Ramirez had gladly relinquished the Throne, and control of Zelos to his son. The boy had proved his worth time and time again, and would make a wonderful Emperor. At his young age he was already greatly respected, and known as a good, wise man who would rule kindly.
The world was entering a new era in history.
Aika gasped and arched her back. After their years together he still managed to alight a fierce passion within her.
As he had promised, they were visiting every continent, and on each one, they took pleasure in each other's bodied. Here, in the Lost City under the ice on the Purple Continent, could they be found, warm in their erotic embrace, despite the cold.
"This place isn't as uncomfortable as I thought it would be." She breathed in his ear, and his deep chuckle sent shivers of desire over her spine.
"Next is Nasr, and sand gets everywhere." He said.
She winced at the thought, hoping her didn't literally mean everywhere.
The two of them continued for many hours. The attraction between them had begun as something small that Aika viewed as consequence to the close proximity they had had to share. Something dark that she wanted no part of. But now, she understood that she could not deny fate… it was her fate to live and die with this man, the father of her children and the killer of her first love. No matter how much time passed, her heart would never truly forgive him for what he had done back then, and both of them knew this. But, her love for him overrode any and all adversities she had towards him. Their Dark Attraction would remain strong and beautiful until the Moons themselves died.
FIN
Thank you to every single person who reviewed this fiction, I'm glad my work is appreciated, perhaps one day I will write a sequel... perhaps not. Anyway, thank you, I would have given up long ago if it were not for you guys :)