The Goddess Crystal

Chapter 17: Cracked Gaze

The world is dark—scratch that. Black. Total and complete blackness engulfs me. My eyes are open—or are they closed? I can't really tell. Am I upside down? Lying down? The darkness is only lifted after what seems like ages, by only a small pinprick of light that slowly but surely expands. It isn't light.

It's that reflection.

A lady in a sheer green outfit stunningly similar to the one I wore at the Goddess Festival stands in the middle of the light, which surrounds her like a halo. So I must be standing. Am I dead?

The lady, who has green hair and blue eyes tinted with purple, laughs. It sounds exactly like the ghostly giggles I heard while at the rebellion's base and while in the cavern. "Do not fear, Jillian; you haven't perished."

Her voice reminds me of rivers and wind, light and breathy. Airy. Where am I? My head pounds and my throat feels dry. When I try to speak, all that comes out is a horrible croaking sound. I groan as my throat grates.

"Save your energy, dear Jillian," she says, flickering in and out of existence like an ethereal butterfly. "You will soon need it."

I give up trying to talk. Why can't I wake up?

She smiles. "You have been shot in the head, Jillian." She pauses, as if feeling my resentment of being called that. "Jill. Do you not recognize me?"

Goddess? I think, still so utterly tired.

"Yes. But I must leave soon," the Goddess says, and she flickers, as if to prove her point.

Why?

"I've spent much of my energy saving you, through my Crystal."

Reality comes crashing down. I destroyed the Crystal!

"No fear, for it was the right choice." She pauses for a few seconds, staring off into the distance like she's hearing something I can't, before looking back at me. "Forgive me. My brother calls."

You have to leave now?

"The Harvest King isn't one to make wait, dear," she says, giggling, before adding, "But I will leave you a parting gift."

What? You've saved my life already! What more can you possibly give?

"It was a simply spell, believe me. But I will tell you something I've only told to one other mortal, and you must safeguard it."

Why are you telling me, Goddess? How do you know I won't spill?

"I trust you, Jill. And please, call me Sephia." And with that, she's gone. I'm left there in the dark, blind, wondering what it is she told me before realizing. She told me her name.

"Jill? Jill! Please, Jill, wake up! Don't die!"

When I wake up, I'm laying on a Hospital cot. In the Hospital.

I jolt up before groaning as the room spins. How many times have I been in a Hospital bed in the past months? Three?

"Jill! Thank goodness you're awake!"

It's Skye. He's close to tears, a fresh pair of clothes on and face washed and wounds taken care of. He freezes.

"Skye? What's wrong? Aren't you going to tackle-hug me?" Looking around the small bare white room, I ask, "Where are we?"

The room is clean and white, just like every other room in the Hospital. My head hurts, but much more than it would if I were shot in the head, surely. How am I not dead? My gaze lands on the metal container resting on the bedside table, before my eyes widen and I pick it up, staring into my reflection.

What happened to my eyes?

How are they different colors?

Instead of their normal purple color, my left is an icy-blue color that I swear looks exactly like the Goddess'—I mean, Sephia. Jagged lines run through the blue color, a green hue, like the shattered Crystal.

Is this what happened to me because of the Crystal?

Tempest Bound: Short, huh? Haha. It was only because I thought that the cliffhanger was too good to pass up.

Onto more interesting news, I've started my novel. Yes, a legit novel that I wish to get published. It's about 7000 words right now, and it's still unedited. I was hoping for someone on fanfiction, if they'd like, to read it over and give suggestions. Any volunteers? Meh. Might as well ask, right?

Anyways, (to HD) I've changed my idea from what it was originally and scrapped that one entirely. But I'm glad with this one.

So, PM me if you'd like to beta/critique it, or even just read it. Please, be warned, though-I still haven't edited it at all except spelling.