'What are we doing about Heiki?' Rachel asked the moment of arrival, near hyperventilating, to no one in particular. 'What was that thing she did with her hand I don't know what that meant was she saying how we can save her?'

Serpantha swallowed a lump in his throat. 'It was sign language. It means I love you.'

Rachel looked as if she had been punched in the stomach, about to throw up. Tears flooded her eyes. She shook her head. 'No…no… What are we doing about it?'

'Rachel…'

'No! We're saving her!'

'We need to work out what to do about Yemi first.' Serpantha said with forced calmness. 'Mother? What do we do about Detriar? Good name, I might mention.'

'I never wanted this.' She said firmly.

'I know,' Serpantha replied evenly. 'and you're my mother and I love you, but it still happened. Now what do we do about him?'

'I don't know.'

'We kill him.' Calen said.

'You've done enough of that.' Larpskendya said. 'We can't kill him.'

'We can you just don't want to.'

'Calen you're being to look psychotic and you're covered in blood we aren't going to take you seriously.' Oriliagh said.

'What else is new?'

Larpskendya caught everyone's attention. 'What do we do about Yemi?'

'I can't harm him, I can't.' Serpantha said. 'It isn't fair we need another way.'

Rachel had calmed enough to speak. 'Do you think he has enough magic to revive Heiki? I mean he's done things no one should be capable of surely…'

Oriliagh lifted the sword, Safeke's blood still on it, and tears fell down her face yet again. 'I can't harm that boy, I love him.'

'Well then have fun dying, I'm going home.' Calen turned to walk away, but Yemi stood in her path. 'Oh.'

Everyone turned to see the child stood before them.

'Please,' Serpantha pleaded. 'Look at my son—' he gestured to Venibilles '—he's the same age as you, but look at him, he looks different. Biologically he's older. His eyes a different. He's a different species to you, look at Rachel, Zina, Heik—' Serpantha took a moment to process Heiki wasn't there, and then forced emotion away so he could continue. 'You look the same. You're human, and my father took you from your home because of your power. Just let us explain, please.'

'If that explanation is true am I supposed to be less angry?' Yemi scoffed.

I never thought I would feel threatened by a child, Calen thought, trying to judge a way out.

'Now run!' Yemi ordered. 'You get a head start, didn't you listen?'

Serpantha looked to his brother for confirmation of what they should do, and an unspoken agreement was made.

Serpantha didn't look at him or anyone. 'As you wish.'

Yemi disappeared again.

Serpantha couldn't bring himself to speak, so his brother took over. 'Follow me. Be quick. We're leaving.'

Larpskendya continued to lead them until the exited the white hole, and took refuge on an asteroid just outside.

Serpantha took his mother's hand, and Larpskendya took Serpantha's.

'Are you sure?' Oriliagh asked, face raw from tears.

Serpantha didn't reply, and nor did Larpskendya, the two merely began to spell, and Oriliagh joined in.

'What are you doing?' Venibilles asked.

The white hole began to twist and contort, expanding and contracting. They were closing it. With Safeke gone, it was weak enough to do so.

'What about Yemi?' Rachel asked. 'And Heiki…there'll still be a way to get her back, right?'

The white hole eventually closed.

The moment it did, Calen's form shifted into her again, and she gave a sigh of relief. Her dress was ruined but that didn't matter right now.

'What…what did you do?' Rachel barely dared to ask.

'Closed the white hole on him.' Venibilles answered. 'What does that mean – for him?'

'I don't know.' Serpantha answered, pulling his hands free. 'I don't know.'

'What about Heiki?' Rachel asked.

Serpantha looked at her, which was reply enough, and the two of them both wept over the loss.

Calen lifted herself from the ground to fly away.

'Where are you going?' Larpskendya asked, noticing her form had changed to that of a Witch, the complete opposite of before: she kept her brown skin, but her figure was fuller this time, with wide hips and chubby arms and legs, and a round face to match, her hair was thick, black and curly, coming down to her shoulders.

'Home.' She answered numbly.

'Where's that exactly?' Calen didn't respond. 'Come back with us. Please.'

'No.' Calen crossed her arms. She never felt exposed or vulnerable, no matter how little she was wearing, so she knew that couldn't be the cause of how she felt.

'Yes,' Oriliagh said. 'You're coming home with us, what you chose to do then is a different matter but you need looking after right now. Also we have no idea how safe anything is.'

Larpskendya put his arms around Rachel, and they both sunk to the ground together, Rachel sobbing in his arms. 'What do you think happens when you die?' she eventually asked.

'I don't know, no one does.'

'What do you believe?' Rachel had to force the words out.

'I'm not at liberty to say.'

'That isn't what I asked,' she snapped. 'What do you believe? Personally.'

'I don't know, Rachel,' Larpskendya said eventually. 'After everything I've seen and the people I've lost I'm not sure what I want to believe. I'm not sure whether I'd rather believe that Athena is gone for good, or that she's waiting for me somewhere else all alone.'

Rachel paused for a long time, staring into the distance, and only spoke once only a few tears fell down her face. 'Do you think Heiki and Athena would have liked each other?'

'They were both equally head-strong, so yes and no.'

Rachel smiled before bursting into tears yet again, and then a thought came to her. 'What year are we in?'

'We should be in the time we left, or something near.' Larpskendya answered.

'Then I want to go home. I want to see Eric and Morpeth and my mum and dad.'

'Of course,' Larpskendya answered. 'Orin Fen is closer, stop there to rest first – you need to recover. We can get a message to anyone you want.'

Rachel nodded. 'Could you get Eric and Morpeth to Orin Fen instead?'

'I'll work something out.'

'What about Heiki? I mean she deserves some kind of remembrance—' Rachel was unable to complete the sentence.

'There's a place where Rakafae's have been buried for generations.' Serpantha added.

'Thank you.' Rachel said. 'But there isn't even a body…'

Oriliagh said as gently as she could, 'It's tradition if a body isn't found their name is carved onto the wall – only bodies we have are entombed and have statues above them.'

'No,' Rachel choked. 'She was bolder than a name on the wall.'

Much bolder, she thought.

When they arrived back on Orin Fen, Owlola was waiting on the beach. Needless to say, she was shocked to see Zina, and the lack Heiki. By the time she saw Oriliagh she no longer had energy to react. There was no time to dwell, Calen was stood their and covered in blood. Owlola quickly summoned her sister to take Calen to where she lived, in Say'Ban, and look after her. Calen was reluctant until she saw the thin yellow snake coiled around the Witch's arm. Nylo.
Calen no longer cared about where she was, she thought he had died, that Safeke had killed him. But she wasn't alone anymore now, she had one last loved one. Calen looked around in bewilderment, wanting explanation but also not wanting to engage. Oriliagh gave a small nod and mouthed, 'You're welcome.' Calen, a lot more willingly now, went with the Witch to Say'Ban.

Once all that happened was explained to Owlola, she had her own news.

'You've been gone two years, which isn't as bad as it could have been but it's still not perfect.'

Rachel didn't have the energy to react. It didn't matter now, nothing did.

'Eric told the truth to his parents their memories returned and needless to say they're pissed, and…' Owlola swallowed. 'Our baby was stillborn.'

'What?' Serpantha backed away from her.

'I'm sorry.' Owlola grabbed his hand. 'She didn't make it.'

'In the reality we saw our child had been born,' Serpantha knew something was wrong, but couldn't work it out. 'Male, too.'

'A false reality, Serpantha, just come lay down.' Owlola then looked to Rachel. 'I am sending Volüsa to get Eric and Morpeth from Earth.'

Rachel nodded.

'Where is she?' Serpantha asked.

On cue, Volüsa shifted onto the beach behind her mother.

Her hair was cut into a short bob that got longer at the front, and died black. Her make up was thick, she had tried to pale her face and had dark eye shadow, thick eyeliner and black lips. Her face was covered in piercings, and she wore a short black dress with skulls over it. But she ran to hug her father, and didn't let go until she was satisfied. When she did, she gave him a small smile and said, 'I suppose I should go to Earth. How do I look?'

'Beautiful.' Serpantha smiled.

Volüsa hugged him yet again.

'You shouldn't wear foundation like that,' Zina said, catching her attention. 'If you 'ave tan skin don't cover yerself in it to get a pale goth look, contour your face and get a smooth look. Trust me on this I went through a punk phase.'

Volüsa grinned at her. 'Could you show me how?'

'Sure, but you better get to Earth for now.'

Volüsa gave a sad nod and shifted away.

'Why does my daughter look like that?' Serpantha asked Owlola as soon as she left.

Owlola shrugged. 'Earth culture, she's with Eric and he's the same, I don't really understand it. I think she looks ridiculous too but if we can get Zina to stylize her she should be OK.'

A few days later, Rachel visited the tomb of rulers. Heiki's statue had been built. The moment Rachel saw it, she fell to the floor, barely aware of the tears that fell down her fare, changing the colour of the stone below.

'Heiki. Heiki…'

For a while she simply stayed slumped on the floor, a mess of tears, not bothering to wipe her face, the water in her eyes blurring her view of the statue. Blinking tears away from her eyes, she looked at the statue once again. It looked like Heiki – down to the stern expression on her face. As much as Rachel would prefer her to be smiling, she knew it would be too fake and unlike Heiki. Heiki's right hand was signing 'I love you'.

'Hey,' Rachel said to the stone with a small smile, feeling too sad to feel ridiculous. She gave a quick look around before turning to face the stone Heiki. 'It's funny…when we first met you were made of stone.' Another rush of tears swept through Rachel. 'I wish Calen would come along again and take you away from me. She lived, you know. Of all the people that deserved to die…' She paused. 'I know I said I'd never kill anyone, no matter what, but…I'd kill a thousand people if it would bring you back.' Rachel wiped her face on her sleeve, a dress she borrowed from a woman on Orin Fen. 'I shouldn't have made you protect me. If I knew, Heiki, I could have fought Safeke, even if it cost me my life. Then I wouldn't have to live without you.'

Rachel, again, broke into tears, screaming this time. There were so many things she wanted to say: that she was sorry, that she loved her, to even say a formal goodbye would be nice. A memory surfaced in Rachel's mind which made her unable to breathe for a few seconds. Soon after they became friends, Heiki told Rachel what it felt like as the realisation she was going to die hit her. Rachel had feared she would die, but she never thought her death was certain, she never felt what Heiki felt: the shock followed by pure heartache as you realise you'll never be able to do everything you wanted. You won't grow old, be happy, or do so many things ever again. That's how Heiki felt as she suffocated, Rachel realised.

'I'm so sorry.' Rachel wept from the floor, between gasps of air. 'I'm sorry…I'm sorry…'

Once she was gone an hour, everyone expected her to return. She did not. The evening meal was prepared and eaten without movement from Rachel. Eventually, Larpskendya decided to go get her. Entering the temple, Rachel didn't notice him, she was too busy talking to the statue.

'You would like Zina,' she said, wondering why Zina got to come back to life and live when Heiki died. 'She's as outspoken as you but she's such a pacifist, still, I think you'd get along. Everyone misses you, even Venibilles – you managed to make an impact on him in such a short time. I know you never felt like it, but we all loved and cared about you so much. Serpantha's barely left his room for days, you know, I'm worried about him. He told me you loved me. I…' Rachel choked on the lump in her throat, unable to continue.

Larpskendya knelt behind Rachel, and as he placed his hands gently on her shoulders, she burst into tears, yet again. Rachel turned around and fell into his arms.

'How long does it take to get over this? To move on? Let go?' Rachel asked, half-deluded with exhaustion.

'You don't ever really do that,' Larpskendya answered, 'You don't stop hurting, and love doesn't go away, you just keep living and eventually it gets pushed away in your mind, and it no longer consumes you every day. It still hurts, you still miss them, but you begin to forget the details - their voice, the details of their face - and you miss those things. But on a day to day level you know you're OK...sort of.'

'I don't want to forget.' Rachel replied. 'I want Heiki.'

'You need to come have something to eat,' he said, lost for words, knowing no words could sooth such a loss. 'It's almost dark.'

'I'm not hungry.' She replied hoarsely. 'I had a late lunch.'

'Yes – because you wouldn't eat that either.'

'What's your point?' she replied apathetically.

'Please just come inside.' Larpskendya said in defeat.

Rachel ignored him and took time to calm herself before saying, 'I'm staying with Heiki.' Her voice cracked before she added, 'I've been telling her everything that's been happening.'

Knowing it was no use, Larpskendya reluctantly left Rachel, not wanting to leave her in such a state but knowing he had to. Everyone was scattered in their own activities. Eric and Volüsa laid in her room to watch the sun set from the bed, Zina and Owlola talked about all Zina had missed, and Zina was still not fully up to date, and his half brother was in his room. Oriliagh had just left his room after attempting to comfort him – it was no good. No matter what she said, or how many times she held him and let him cry like he did when he was a child, nothing helped.

'I don't know what to do with Rachel,' Larpskendya said to his brother when he entered to room.

'You have to let her grieve, that's life.'

'I don't know what to do about you, either.'

'Leave me alone?' Serpantha offered.

'Couldn't you talk to Rachel?' Larpskendya asked. 'Nothing I say helps, you were closest to Heiki, after all.'

'What can I say to her?'

'Just…please. You both need to look after yourselves.'

'Fine, when she comes in I'll talk to her.'

An hour later, when Rachel went to talk to him, he was still laid in bed. Upon seeing her enter, Serpantha began to slowly wake himself up, getting out of bed for the first time in days. He stood before her, rugged, hair shaggy and curled, his facial hair unshaven, and he wore nothing but a wrap skirt.

'Don't look at me like that,' Serpantha said, 'I've been told the rugged look suits me.'

'You should take better care of yourself than that.' Rachel replied with genuine concern. She looked to the white line scars all up his forearms that matched the ones on Heiki's legs. Serpantha usually had them covered by long, tight fitting sleeves with gold jewellery on the cuffs that he could attach and ring to so the sleeves stayed down. Serpantha caught her staring as he was pouring them both drinks.

'Don't even think about it, my father made my life unbearable, and I turned to anything that helped ease the pain, but the things we think are he;ping us aren't always doing so,' he said, and then quickly changed the subject. 'Look in that top draw, mother's been bringing me all kinds of sweets, help yourself.'

Rachel wasn't really in the mood, but as sick as she felt, she was hungry. She took a small bite of a soft red square, and then quickly grabbed the packet, eating them one after the other.

Serpantha handed her a drink, which she was grateful for, and he drank his own in one gulp, and began to get dressed. 'What do you say to going to the middle of nowhere with a decent supply of food, alcohol, and we can just stay up all night talking about whatever you want until we fall asleep. Me and Heiki used to do it all the time.'

Rachel's eyes watered, and she nodded. 'I'd like that.'

Serpantha finished dressing and took her hand. 'We're going to get through this together, I promise.'