CH-2
Hundreds — thousands of times she had tried to step inside, but all she had managed was till here, this exact spot, just a few steps from the rusty gate.
It was hard to miss someone you have known only in your childhood. Somewhere in her heart she had grieved for them, had remembered the day everything and everyone she loved had been taken away from her, and promised them over and over the vengeance that was due. She had named stars in their memory and looked up to them and let them guide her. But, they had never been dead to her. She talked to them almost all the time, they were living in her mind and heart. Seeing their physical remnant would give away the illusion of their nearness. Seeing their graves would feel like detachment, the final goodbye, the final proof that they were no longer in this universe.
She couldn't bear that.
It was impossible not to think about the alternative, the world where her parents were still alive. Aelin took in a sharp breath. No. It was too painful. And futile. It would do no good mourning now, but she couldn't help but wonder what they might think of the woman she had become. She was afraid of the answer.
The melody pulled her arms, and she was surprised that it actually pulled her, like it was some invisible force. She was a step closer to the gate. She looked over her shoulder to catch the trick, but there was only moonlight filtering in through the fine mist.
She faced the cemetery again, and the invisible source pulled her arms again. She came another step closer. She looked at her hands and saw her palms were glowing. Her eyes widened. This was the first time in months that her powers had made any appearance. She had felt their warmth but had been unable to summon them until today.
Again the mysterious force pulled her but this time she saw that the glow had turned into embers and the flames were pointing in the direction of the gate. Whatever it was inside, was controlling her powers. How was it even possible? Who was calling her? She hesitated. The possibilities were too high. Her thoughts were jumping in all directions.
She clenched her fists and made her way slowly inside.
She walked barefoot. The moss was wet. The smallest of disturbance made her reach for her dagger. After all, the being summoning her had to powerful and it surely would've set up enchantments.
She passed her ancestors.
Her grandfather, great grandfather, the whole lineage of the Ashrvyers and Galathynius resting in peace.
And there it was.
Two identical headstones.
Her parents.
Dead.
The realisation stuck her as hard as she had expected. She now felt the absence of the love of a mother and father. She missed them so much that her heart ached.
Suddenly there was a swish of movement behind her. She turned quickly with her blade directly pointing towards the intruder.
The knife slipped through her fingers and fell to the ground.
"Father" her voice came out as a coarse whisper. Aelin dropped to her knees.