by Idella Breen
“Pine Blush?”
“Do you know her too Snow Bennett?”
Snow shook her head and had to hold back the laughter because she knew Aria was dead serious. “I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting her.”
“Well, Pine Blush is great. I’m sure you will love her. Just follow me and I’ll take you to my home.”
“Is it in this forest?”
“Why of course it is Cait Fallon.”
“How do you know my name?”
Aria paused and looked at Cait in honest confusion. “I’m not quite sure. But I do know you in one way or another as well as Prince Beck Falray.”
Beck seemed to freeze at the title and very slowly looked at Aria with a keen interest that hadn’t be present before. “I don’t go by that name anymore Ms. Aria. I am simply Beck.”
“Alright, Beck. But, yes I know of you three. As you are the reason I stayed with Taz for so long. As there were only three choices to choose from, I went with the one that I thought was best as I always do but I will admit it was a bit of a longer wait than I had expected. But no matter of that. Just follow me and I will help you along with what I can.”
Cait, Snow, and Beck all exchanged glances before slowly following after the crazy elf who might not be so crazy after all.
Chapter 14
Aria led them through the forest, skipping and humming, for a good hour before she paused to stare at a moss covered rock. She touched the rock, then pat it gently, then pushed it forward. Snow was about to ask what on earth she was doing when the forest in front of them seemed to shimmer for a moment. Aria pushed the rock all the way forward until it tipped over and the forest in front of them shimmered then seemed to disintegrate to reveal what seemed to be a small village. Several elves stood before them, some carrying spears while others had swords at their belts. Snow was shocked still until Aria giggled. “Hey, long time no see, everyone! Where is Pine Blush, the high priestess.”
One of the sword-carrying elves stepped forwards. “May I know who is asking?”
Aria bowed slightly and grinned. “Aria Stormwind wishes to speak with her aunt.”
The elves around them all dipped into bows once her name was announced and seemed to take on an air of reverence towards the woman Snow had thought of as a bit wacky but a nice person once you got to know her. What was happening before her was not what she was expecting in the slightest.
“Aria Stormwind has returned!” one of the male elves cheered and it was soon met with cheers from the rest of the group who all ushered them further into the village. As Snow was pulled forward she couldn’t help compare this village to the goblin town. Where the goblin’s built their town of stone, their buildings cold, dark, and illuminated only by dim orange lights, the elven village was lush with greenery and the setting sun glittered on the horizon peaking slightly through the canopy of trees. She smirked at the fresh pine scent that hung in the breeze and the cool air that was a nice change from the clouds of smoke she had been subjected to while underground.
They were pulled along and towards one of the huts, that was elevated above the rest, and shown inside. Even indoors, light still filled the rooms as there were several open windows. The huts they had been forced into seemed to be a place of ceremony as there were pillows lining the floor but in the back was a woman with long blonde hair that reached down to the floor but was held just above it with a small hair tie. She looked up from where she had been standing next to a bookshelf and smiled widely.
“Ah, Aria you have indeed returned.”
“Aunt Pine! I have found what I was seeking and brought what I have found.” Aria moved forward with a skip to meet Pine in a hug. The older elf seemed to grasp her niece tightly and hold her for a moment longer than necessary.
“I missed you, my love. We have all missed you a great deal.”
“Oh, I wasn’t gone that long, was I?”
Her aunt gasped out a laugh and Snow suddenly felt like she was intruding on a family moment but she didn’t want to leave and seem rude. “You have been gone much longer than you know. Much longer indeed.”
“Ah, I see. Well, all's well that ends well as mom used to say. I made my choice and followed through. I will soon be presented with more options once again so I might not be staying around very long.”
Pine nodded and finally pulled back before giving her niece a watery smile. “I know my dear. Your burden is a great one to bare but bare it you must.”
“As I will.” Aria nodded and spun around. “Here is what I have brought back for your part to play.”
“Indeed,” Pine said as if noticing the three other people in the room for the first time. “They are who you were waiting for? A scorching flame, the bitter cold, and the feather plucked that will grow again. If I remember correctly, that is what you said all those decades ago before you skipped out of the village without another word.”
“You have such a good memory, Aunt Pine! But, yes these are who I sought. Cait Fallon, Snow Bennett, and Beck who only goes by Beck now.”
“I see. Well, then I suppose you three would like some answers.”
“Snow is cursed with the reapers curse!” Aria said this in an off-putting cheery voice and Cait couldn’t help the growl that tumbled out.
“Ah, forgive my niece, she has never understood tact. She means no disrespect.”
Cait shook her head. “No, forgive me for my lack of control.”
Pine studied Cait before nodding and smiling. “A scorching flame indeed. Come here, Snow. I would like to see the curse.”
The brunette walked forward and presented her arm to the high priestess without hesitation. The woman gently touched her hand and leaned forward to study the tattoo. “Yes, it is the reapers curse,” she said and looked up to meet Snow’s hesitant gaze, “but that is not why you are here.”
She released Snow’s hand and motioned towards the rest of the people in the room. “I wish to speak with Snow alone. No, Cait. Not even you may be present. I have my duty to my niece and I shall carry it out. No harm shall come to your mate but I must speak with her alone. Go play in the lake if you will.”
“Yay! I haven’t played in the lake in what seems like years.”
Pine smiled sadly. “It has been longer than that my child.”
Aria ran forwards and grabbed Cait and Beck’s hands before dragging them out of the hut. Cait spared Snow a helpless glance before she was pulled outside.
“Now then, where shall we begin.”
Snow turned back to the elf and couldn’t help but feel like she wasn’t going to like what the woman had to say next.
* * *
“I suspect you wish to know more about this curse as well as my niece?”
Snow nodded.
“The reapers curse is a tricky one to break. Honestly, most never do but you are in luck for my niece will be your answer in time.”
Snow was about to ask for her to clarify but Pine held up her hand to silence her. “Will you listen to the worries of an old woman?”
The brunette frowned but nodded so Pine continued. “Aria is not who you think she is. Actually, she is not who she thinks she is but I believe that some part of her is also aware of this fact.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Have patience, my child. I will do my best to explain.”
Snow nodded.
“What do you know of the Great Book.”
The brunette frowned. “The one that is the dark blood’s book of prophecy?”
Pine nodded.
“Not much honestly. I believe my mother told me something about King Xavier turning a seer into a dark blood and forcing her to write the book a long time ago. Why?”
“Why do you think?” Pine asked softly.
Snow frowned and was about to ask another question when things slowly started to click into place. Aria was waiting for them in Taz’s dungeon for decades. She had made a choice to wait for them and she knew exactly who they were, even what Beck’s re
al name supposedly was. “Aria is the seer?” she whispered to which Pine only nodded.
“My niece is the seer that was forced by Xavier to become a dark blood and write their book of prophecy.”
Snow frowned she remembered something. “But, Aria is an elf.”
“She is.”
“No, I mean, her eyes are green. Very green. I thought dark bloods had red eyes.”
Pine nodded. “They do.”
“Then why—”
“It is her demon, her cross to bare so to speak. Aria is a very special case as she was turned by Xavier himself but she was also very powerful even when she was young. He was not able to turn her or thrust her into complete despair as she was able to split her mind.”
“Her mind?”
“Yes. The Aria we were speaking with is the side she was able to preserve through sheer willpower. But, should she ever give into the despair buried deep within her heart due to Xavier’s tortures, then she will finally be consumed by the dark blood hidden within her. I assure you every day she fights with this inner demon that craves pain and destruction. Since Xavier was her sire, her dark blood side is especially malicious. Combine that with her Power of Three and she will become a great foe.”
“Power of Three?”
“Aria is a seer, but unlike Lidia, she does not see exactly what will happen. Instead, when she is hit with a strong vision, three options present themselves and she must make a choice to get the desired outcome. But, as you can see, this gift comes at a cost. She is at its mercy and must make a choice no matter what. Even to not make a choice is to still make the choice of inaction. When she was first turned by Xavier, before she managed to split her mind, she was given a vision of great detail. That is what the Great Book contains, but what is known by only a few is that the book contains only one of three outcomes. It was the outcome Xavier most desired. The other two, only Aria knows but since she split her mind to preserve herself, not even she could tell you in any great detail what those other two options contain. Do you understand?”
Snow nodded. “I think so. But, how does she live with so much pain in her heart?”
Pine nodded. “People are in pain every day. You could venture to say that pain is the proof of our existence as well as the price for life.”
Snow frowned. “But how does she find the strength to suffer through it?”
The elf tapped her chin. “How do you find the strength to get up and live every day?”
Snow shook her head. “It’s different. Her pain seems much greater than mine.”
“The depth of pain is subjective for each person. Answer my question honestly.”
“I don’t know. I’ve never really thought about it. I guess it’s because of my responsibilities. It’s because I have a beautiful daughter and a loving wife. I have ambitions and reasons that every day when the sun rises I am able to find the strength to face it.”
“Good child. You speak the truth, so I shall answer in kind. She finds her resolve from similar motivations but I would say that the greatest reason for her strength is a very simple one.”
“What is it?”
Pine smiled. “Above all else, Aria is as stubborn as a mule! She has no desire to give in or it’s more accurate to say that such thoughts leave her mind as soon as they appear. As things become more challenging she rises to meet them. Of course, even she has weak moments but she has built strong bonds to those close to her and they lift her up when the pain is unbearable. But, at the end of the day, she must decide to step forward because the path she has chosen is a difficult one but she chose it over the alternative.”
“What was the alternative?”
The elf’s face became blank. “Death.”
Snow shuddered at the hollowness in the woman’s voice. “Wouldn’t that have been easier?”
Pine shook her head. “Death is always the hardest and most painful choice. It is also the most wasteful. Child, do you know the value of life?”
Snow shook her head.
“The value of life is as sudden as a heartbeat, as vast as time and space, and as great as belonging in a place meant for you. Pain is paid to breathe new life, suffering is paid to keep it, love is paid to hold it tight and death is paid to reap it. You must treasure life and admire those fighting daily to survive. Most importantly, you must know when to reach out your hand and offer it to the person in front of you. You never know the value of your kindness until the moment it is accepted and passed along.”
Snow gazed out towards the lake where Cait, Beck, and Aria were sitting with their feet in the water. The seer was sitting outside of the water next to Beck and seemed to be listening intently to what the tengu was saying. “Are you asking me to reach out my hand to her?”
The priestess hummed. “I’m but an old woman with many nonsensical things to say. What you chose to do after I say them is your burden to bare. But, know that there will be a time when you will be faced with a difficult decision. What you decide will have great and far-reaching ripples in this world. Do not make that choice lightly.”
Snow nodded and smiled when Cait kicked some water up at Beck and Aria making the latter squeal. “I won’t.”
Pine nodded. “Good. Now, I have said my piece. Come with me. I wish to give you something that will be of great use to you in your journey.”
* * *
“The six will count down until it reaches one and on that day, the reaper will come to claim what it has been promised. But, on the third day, it will visit you.”
Snow frowned. “Why?”
“To tempt you,” Pine answered as she dug through an old wooden chest.
“Tempt me?”
“Yes,” she said absently. “ Death is not a patient master and he will send the night reaper on the third day to offer you a deal.”
“What?”
“If you go with it then, it will spare those you love.”
“What do you mean by spare?”
“Ah ha!” Snow jumped at the sudden exclamation as Pine spun around holding a necklace. It was a small silver dainty affair and Pine held it out for her to take.
“Wear this.”
Upon closer inspection, Snow realized that it was a flat silver coin with strange symbols engraved into it. She looked back up at Pine. “What is it?”
“A Saint Pot.”
“A what?”
“A Saint Pot. It’s an enchantment that draws all ill intentions to the one that wears it. When the night reaper comes on the third day it will tempt you, but so long as you wear this, you won’t have to worry about it attacking your loved ones. Its anger will be directed at only you and since it can’t take your soul until the sixth day you too will be safe.”
“Thanks,” Snow said as she took the small chain and clipped it around her neck. “I feel like I’m getting a lot of jewelry lately.”
Pine laughed and ushered her towards the exit of the hut. “Let’s meet with your mate. She has been burning rather hot from where she waits.”
“She has?”
Pine smirked. “Your mate always burns hot when you’re concerned.”
Snow blushed but allowed Pine to drag her towards the lake where her wife and friends were patiently waiting.
Chapter 15
“Let us treat you to a feast,” Pine said as she waved towards the main section of the village where a tantalizing scent of the mentioned feast was coming from.
Cait’s stomach answered with an angry growl making the woman blush. “It’s been awhile since we ate anything, huh.”
Snow and Beck nodded while Aria giggled. “I don’t even remember the last time I ate anything. I dare say I might have forgotten what food even tastes like.”
Everyone paused and Snow studied the elf trying to decide if what she said was true or not but Aria’s face only contained the steadfast smile that never seemed to waver. Snow thought back to what Pine had revealed and couldn’t help but shudder. How much torture would a person have to suffer through before t
hey were forced to split their personality to keep some semblance of their humanity? The kind and slightly innocent smile on the elf’s face was suddenly more endearing than creepy. Snow found herself wanting to protect that smile and help the elf with her inner demons. If what Pine hinted at was true, then she might have to face the elf’s inner demon before this was all over.
“Come this way then.” Pine led them between huts that were built from stumps of trees. The place looked much like something out of a fairytale and Snow couldn’t help the giddy feeling it evoked as she walked past toadstools and small gardens filled with ripe fruit and vegetables.
As they come out of the cluster of homes, it opened out into a small patch of forest that was usually probably bare except for the few trees but this time was filled with laughter, music, and an assortment of meals. Cait’s stomach grumbled at the sight and Snow smirked. Her wife’s appetite was voracious. Honestly, she was surprised the woman had lasted as long as she did without a real meal.
Pine showed them to their seats next to her in the circle and handed them all wooden goblets of something that smelled strongly alcoholic.
High Priestess Pine Blush stood and raised her cup. The cheerful chatter, as well as the music, stopped and she quickly had everyone’s attention. “My friends, I’m am happy to welcome my niece, Aria Stormwind back home at this fine feast.”
A round of cheers erupted from around the circle and Snow was once again surprised at the love these elves had for Aria. They quieted down quickly when Pine held up her hand again. “With us, we also have some of Aria’s friends.” Pine pointed her cup towards Cait, “the scorching flame,” she moved to Snow next, “the bitter cold,” her cup finally rested on Beck, “and the plucked feather. I welcome you three as our guests. My home is your home, our food you sustenance, and our wine your’s to make merry. Let us feast!”
Another cheer, this one even fiercer than the last, broke out among the circle as elves clanked wooden goblets together and drank from their cups. A man came up to Snow, holding a wooden plate containing an assortment of fruits and vegetables. Cherries, watermelon, grapes, and slices of apples, were prepared in a sweet syrup that made her mouth water. A small bowl of dark purple, red, and green leaves decorated with tomatoes, cucumber, and long thin dark brown stem that smelled strongly of vanilla tantalized her senses. He placed the food in front of her as two more elves handed food to both Cait and Beck. They all bowed respectfully before moving back to help serve other people in the circle.
