~9~Your Life was always Mine.

Welcome to chapter nine! Or as I like to call it, the chapter where everything finally comes together! Do you think I forgot all those things I casually mentioned in the story and never really brought up again?

Hehehehehe.

Also, this chapter is SUPER LONG. But yeah, the next, maybe, three chapters are going to be super long and going help everything slide into its final place. Well, some of the stuff, and, no, I'm not ending the series yet. A lot of folks were worried about AAD ending, but no, this book will probably be as long as the last book.

But yeah, this chapter is super long and unedited. So, enjoy!

Biana's hands shook as she slumped down on the floor, her breathing short and hiccuped.

"What just happened?" Biana breathed slightly as Filomena paced.

"I'm guessing that the crystal leads to Foxfire, and the homing beacon is now active, meaning the Neverseen have our location-"

"No, Filomena, I mean... how did she know where this Foxfire crystal was in the first place? How did it get there? Why did she know there was a homing beacon in the nursery? Why were the crystal and honing device so conveniently close to one another?" Biana rattled off questions. With each question, Filomena's face only grew darker and darker. Biana stopped her babbling when she saw Filomena's face turn stern and empty with stale eyes.

"Filomena?" Biana asked.

"There really is only one explanation." Filomena pathetically chuckled.

"That crystal was never there when Vespera was captured, we made sure the nursery was safe for the children, and we would've spotted it. And Vespera knew exactly where it was and how to navigate to it before we could catch on in time. The fact that it was so close to a honing beacon too... and then, Amalia explained the fact that the Neverseen have detailed notes and blueprints on the Mirthless, almost like they had the book we captured at Exiullium, someone must have given copies to them." Filomena straightened her back, her eyes dark and clearly upset.

"We have a traitor among us." Filomena breathed.

Everything clicked in Biana's mind, and she only hummed in surprise and thought.

"What do we do?" Biana asked, getting up from the floor.

Filomena bit her lip; Assassins come piling in from outside the nursery after hearing the commotion.

"We keep it to ourselves; we try to root out the traitor before Amalia and those in battle figure it out; that way, they don't need to worry. But by now, I'm sure Vespera has arrived at the battle, and they know something is up... but we have to find the traitor before the Vatarian leaders return when Amalia returns. That is definite." Filomena decided.

The Assassins listen as Biana and Filomena explained what happened, and they all paled when Filomena explained with a shaky voice that five lives were taken today in their very home, the four guards protecting Vespera and the Caretaker. They all agreed with the fact that there was a traitor and the fact that they should keep it from the others on the battlefield right now to avoid panic.

"Biana, you seemed to gravitate towards the children; they liked you. Maybe you could help them calm down? They are all terrified, and not all of their parents are here." An Assassin proposed. Biana nodded vigorously and silently walked towards the door, her brain running at a million miles per hour.

"Miss Vacker?" Filomena called out. Biana turned, looking at Filomena over the shoulder.

"Even though the events weren't' the best, thank you so much for your help. I believe you saved lives today." Filomena smiled. The compliment warmed Biana's heart, making her smile, but she walked back into the halls, her smile turning cold again. The word traitor echoes in her mind, bouncing around and branding the terrible word into her head like hot steel.

Traitor...

Traitor...

Traitor...

Biana's steps turn cold. Her friends arrived at the same time when Vespera was captured. And that timeline is when the traitor placed the Foxfire crystal...

Is it possible that one of Biana's friends planted the crystal, that they are the traitor?

"No... no," Biana breathed, shaking her head, mad at herself for even thinking that. Biana turned into the main hall, where all the children were sitting with one another.

"Miss Vacker!" The little lith boy claimed happily, his bunny ears perking up. Biana smiled as the children got up and all piled around her, obviously calming down slightly. Biana leaned down as the lith boy gave her a big hug, thanking her for helping him. Biana hugged him back, helping him with his still shaking and scared body.

Biana didn't have time to deal with the traitor; the Assassins asked her to take care of these children, to help them with their trauma.

But the echoing fear of a traitor chilled Biana's spine

Mansi clutched onto the back of the chair, focusing on her breathing.

"Are you running out of power already?" Alvar asked.

"Yeah, but I can keep going-"

"No, you are burning up," Alvar whispered, rubbing her back.

"I'm a Pyrokinetic, Alvar, that is what I do." Mansi chuckled.

"Yes, but you are burning up more than normal." Alvar countered.

From the other side of the room, the councilors were whispering, but Bronte spoke slightly louder than the others.

"There is a reason that Pyrokinetics are outlawed," Bronte whispered, looking worriedly at the wall of fire. Mansi scoffed and looked at all of them.

"Yes, you outlawed them because the elves are too weak to control it, and your little egos couldn't possibly allow that to happen." Mansi snapped. They all looked at her, startled.

"And even if you tried to control it, you all were too scared of them to try to provide the proper safety and training. So instead, you all banned what you couldn't control, and hundreds of innocent children with a wonderful ability were forced into your backward talentless shit show. But right now, it is my wall of fire keeping the bloodthirsty Mirthless and insane Neverseen members away from you pompous jerks. So stop being so stubborn and keep helping your people." Mansi spat. All of them were quiet, including Mansi and Alvar.

"Hell yeah babe, you tell 'em." Alvar chuckled. The councilors nodded slightly, and they all dispersed.

"How could you stand living with them running the place?" Mansi asked Alvar, leaning on him as her body grew weaker and weaker.

"Mansi, seriously, you need to take it easy," Alvar whispered.

"No, no, no-"

"Mansi, sit," Alvar commanded, guiding her to a seat. Alvar kneeled by her, tucking strands away from her sweat plastered face, whispering to her. On his hand was a solid band of bright silvery metal, which matched the beautiful glittering jewel on her finger.

"Why is your power running out so quickly?" Alvar whispered. Mansi shook her head.

"I don't know, I have been sick recently. But nothing that bad, a scratchy throat, throwing up every once and a while." Mansi breathed.

"Throwing up? When?" Alvar asked, annoyed she hasn't told him.

"Before you wake up. Alvar, I'm fine, really." Mansi smiled, putting a delicate hand on his cheek.

"Can you try to stay out of the fight? When the wall does go down? At least for as long as possible." Alvar asked.

"Alvar, we don't have that luxury. Lia needs everyone out there holding them back-"

"Lia would agree with me if she had known you were sick," Alvar argued. Mansi bit her lip.

"Fine." She lied. Alvar looked at her in suspicion, but he glanced at his parents, who just seemed to notice him. He was obviously torn about the issue, but he knew his fiance, and he loved her enough to know that she wasn't budging.

"I should probably-"

"They deserve to see you again, Alvar, they have been through a lot. I'll be fine." Mansi breathed

"I love you," Alvar breathed.

"I love you too. Now talk to your parents, I think they deserve to know what their son has been up to."

Mansi watched as Alvar nervously got up and walked over to his parents, who bundled him you in their arms and spoke to him in frantic but hushed tones. Mansi focused on her breathing, focused on her fire being intense and hot. But the firey wall started to flicker and grow smaller, no longer thick enough to block out the images of Mirthless and Neverseen soldiers roaring and waiting on the other side.

"Mansi?" Fitz asked, walking over.

"Hey, how are you?" Mansi asked through panted gasps, trying to distract herself. Her future brother-in-law kneeled by her side, and sweat dripped off her head and splattered onto the ground below.

"I'm worried. About you. The wall is going to go down eventually, and you should be okay to fight once it does."

"What are you talking about? I'm fine." Mansi smiled at Fitz. Fitz puckered out his lip and shook his head.

"Elwin, Linh? Do you mind helping out?" He called out. Linh and a dark-haired man turned to him and came over.

"What do you need?" Elwin asked, wiping his hands off on his jacket.

"Her stamina is running out too fast; we are worried something may be off," Linh explained, she overheard the conversation from earlier.

"I have never treated Vatarians before." Elwin sighed, a hand on the back of his neck.

"Could you just try?" Fitz asked. Mansi placed a hand on Fitz's shoulder in thanks, and Elwin nodded. The Elvin physician flipped down his glasses, running a ball of light over Mansi's shaking body.

"Her cells and internal structure look fine, but she has a bad fever, and her digestive system-" Elwin stopped dead. He squinted his eyes at her abdomen, and his face blanched. He looked like a gaping fish, as if trying to figure out what to do.

"Elwin? Is she okay?" Ling asked, squeezing Mansi's hand.

"A doctor's order, I'm giving you a doctor order." Elwin repeated, his face gaunt, "You are not going anywhere near a battlefield." Elwin stated, getting up and pushing his glasses up his nose.

"What?! No, no, I need to be fighting out there. Amalia needs me to help-"

"But," Elwin cut her off, his voice quiet but sharp, "I don't think she would approve of sending a pregnant woman to battle." Elwin breathed.

Mansi's jaw dropped.

Sophie's mouth was agape as she and Vespera drifted in the black plane, no gravity holding them to the center of anything. Their hair drifted around as they both glanced around.

"The hell-"

"Don't address them like that!" Vespera snapped. Sophie glared at Vespera, rolling her eyes slightly.

"Who? And what the hell is this place?!" Sophie scoffed.

"Please, relax, Amalia. It will all make sense in a moment's time." The voice called out again, echoing through the empty abyss. Now that Sophie could properly focus again, the voice sounded distinctly female, a cold crisp voice with the slightest hint of warmness. Sophie whipped her head around, trying to place the sound. Vespera let go of the golden cord, taking small steps around them. The rope just floated in the air, as if stuck in time. Sophie let go of the wire as well, carefully twirling around, trying to grasp where she is.

"My lady?" Vespera called out. Sophie whipped her head at Vespera, watching as if Vespera was addressing someone who was floating above her. But there was no one there at all.

"Uh, Vespera?"

"I did all of this to come to meet you!" Vespera sighed, still talking to the ghostly figure.

"Vespera-" Sophie's words went in one ear and out the other.

"I'm not assertive, my lady!" Vespera whined. Sophie decided to stop trying to get a hold of Vespera and instead listened to her mindless babbling.

"My lady, please, just listen to my requests-"

Silence sounded as Vespera cringed, almost like the mystery figure snapped at her.

"No! Requests, not demands!" Vespera bartered. Sophie carefully watched as Vespera's face morphed from impatient bartering to snapping annoyance and anger.

"Is this truly how you treat your Heiress?" Vespera asked, crossing her arms. Sophie's lip puckered out as Vespera asked that.

What the hell was an Heiress?

"Wait! My Lady-" Sophie scrambled back as Vespera desperately reached out to where the mystery figure was supposedly hovering in the air. Vespera slowed in her reaching pose, her legs and arms outstretched, and her hair whipped around her head. But nothing moved, Vespera didn't even blink.

Vespera was frozen as if she was a stone statue. Sophie gulped, tapping Vespera on the cheek, trying to get a response. Her naturally deathly pale skin was warm, so she was still alive-

"Amalia." The female voice called out. Sophie straightened, she stopped trying to look for a source to the sound.

"Who. Are. You?" Sophie seethed, angry about being left unnoticed and dragged into this abyss against her will.

"Amalia, look at me. There, you will find your answer." The voice answered. Sophie felt the warmth of a hovering body right behind her, but Sophie didn't turn. She continued to glare at Vespera.

Whatever this was, it was beyond her world. Vespera was so still it was almost like she was a porcelain doll.

"If I do, are you going to freeze me like her?" Sophie asked.

The woman simply chuckled.

"I thought you didn't like Vespera?" She asked cooly.

"I can't stand her, but I am going to use her as an example to take precautions with people who can freeze time. I'm logical, not empathetic to her." Sophie countered.

"Amalia Hera Morretti, turn around." The woman commanded, her voice steady and sharp. Sophie bit her cheek, but she slowly turned on her heel, glancing at where the source of the warmth was coming from.

Hovering above her, floating as if she were underwater, was the most beautiful person to ever grace Sophie's eyes.

Her skin was as pale as clouds, her hair stark white as it fell around her back in a mass of loose strands of hair and braids scattered amongst the white hair. Her ears were in sharp points, complimenting the four dark blue, so dark they looked black, set of curling horns. One set of the horns curled around her ears, the other pointed backward, almost laying flat against her head. Around her body were decals and tattoos of swirling winds or small pointed jewels, glowing brightly with white light. Her body was almost entirely bare, but a continuous big fur wrapped around her chest and hips, leaving her stomach and legs exposed. The only other clothing was the jewelry on her bare feet, small golden chains spreading from her toes to her ankles. Her eyes were so pale blue, they looked white.

Sophie had no clue who the hell she was. Her brain raced with possible answers, but when she spoke, her words came out naturally, as if she knew the answer all along.

"Kynareth." Sophie breathed. The floating woman simply nodded her head in recognition. Sophie's breath stopped, her hands shook, and she ran her hands down her face in shock.

"Wha- how- How is this possible?! What happened to the battle?" Sophie breathed.

"The golden cord is a rare object, an object created at the dawn of time. It was given to the Vatarians, the only thing that is capable of contacting the gods. The last link between the gods and mortal plains. Right now, you are in Limbo between the godly realm and mortal one, as the cord brought you here." Kynareth explained, her cold face uncrackable.

"When the elves decided to separate off from the Vatarians, the Vatarians gave it to them as a parting gift. The Vatarians felt like it would be safer for the cord to be in the hands of the Elves, as the war between the Dunmer and Vatarians was beginning, and they were worried about it getting into Dunmer hands. Here it has been held in the school for thousands of years." Kynareth chuckled.

Sophie's mind racked for questions to ask and answers to demand.

"Why did Vespera want to try to contact the gods?" Sophie asked.

"She believed she was my heiress," Kynareth stated plainly.

"Heiress?" Sophie asked.

"Every godly figure has the ability to select one if wished. We select them as they are born into the world or if they owe a debt to us. They hold our powers as well, a small wedge of our ability, the strength of them unimaginable by your standards. They are known by many names in many cultures and tongues, but the Vatarians see them as Heirs. Anybody who has been touched by our power is considered an heir." Kynareth explained.

"Why did Vespera think she was yours?"

Kynareth was quiet, her pale eyes scanning Sophie quietly before she snapped her fingers, and the scene changed.

Sophie gasped as her eyes set on Inalia.

Well, it was Inalia, but it is different. The buildings didn't have the scorch marks from the Fall of Inalia; some of the buildings were still standing. The clothing was a little bit older than what Sophie knew, their palla's shorter and darker colored, or their sandals laced with black leather instead of brown cord.

"Inalia?"

"Inalia from your father's time. You can tell, evidently, different clothes, different trends, and such compared to your time." Kynareth answered. Sophie heard a familiar laugh from the flashback, whipping her head around staring at the sound. Draped across a bunch of crates and barrels, was Allesandro Morretti. Sophie's hands flew to her mouth as her father laughed with Maria and Leto, along with his other large crowd of friends. Allesandro had to be around 16, Maria maybe 15. Maria's brown hair still fell in gorgeous curls and silver pins, holding a few delicate stands out of her face as she casually and happily adjusted the ruffles of her dress. Allesandro was much more rough around the edges, just as Sophie knew him, a loose white shirt with dark brown trousers and grimed boots.

Her father's hair was shorter than what Sophie knew him in. It was straight with small curls that bounced loosely around his head and bright brown eyes. He didn't have a cut going through his upper lip, which made him seem even younger to Sophie. He didn't have any of his aged wisdom or his stress wrinkles around his forehead or nose.

Hell, he was younger than Sophie in this flashback.

"You are mad, Leto!" Allesandro laughed. Young teenage Leto was carefully balancing on a wobbling barrel that was heights above the bank of the canal. His hair was to his shoulders, held out of his eyes with some of it

"Do a flip, you coward!" Maria laughed as Leto carefully tried to balance himself, their large friend group laughing with her.

"I don't see any of you up here!" Leto snapped. They all chanted Leto's name as he yelped and lost his footing, falling right into the dirt canal.

"AHA!" One of their friends celebrated, holding his hand out as Allesandro begrudgingly smacked some coins into his hand. Some girls called out Maria's name from the market, waving to her. Maria waved back, and Maria's sea-blue eyes set on a girl who was just leaving the library behind them.

"VESPERA!" Maria called out. Young Vespera gasped, panicking as the popular Maria waved to the quiet girl. Vespera gave her a little smile back, but Maria waved her over to their large group, and Vespera desperately shook her head. Maria rolled her eyes and looked at her friends, who were laughing as the soaked Leto broke the surface of the canal.

"One-minute guys." Maria smiled. Maria hiked up her beautiful periwinkle dress and ran over to Vespera, who greeted her shyly. Maria looked bewildered at the stack of books Vespera had.

"Even more research?" Maria asked. Young Vespera shrugged, tucking a strand of raven black hair behind her ear.

"I just like learning about other cultures and stuff, nothing big..." Vespera smiled at Sophie's excitable aunt. Vespera was so quiet, her hair chopped at her shoulders with small braided golden strands pulled out of her face, another traditional Inalian hairstyle. She was maybe 5'6, her frame smaller, and her skin had a porcelain tinge. Her eyes were bright and full of ideas. But one thing caught Sophie's eyes...

Pointed ears.

Vespera was a young teenager here, how did she have pointed ears? And not all ears pointed when Vatarians aged.

"You and your father aren't the only ones born with genetic mishaps. Vespera was born with naturally pointed ears, which is a great cause of her shyness during her youth. They didn't pass through her DNA to her son however, unlike you and your father. But you know that already, you are very close to her son, from what I know." Kynareth whispered, Sophie squeaking a little bit. Sophie gaped at the young Vespera, still trying to wrap her mind around it. This Vespera was lovely, shy, and happy.

This Vespera was nothing like the one Sophie knew.

"Well, maybe you could relax with us for a little while?" Maria asked.

"What?!" Vespera breathed.

"Yeah, you are so quiet in class, and you were fun to work with during that group project! I'm sure my friends will really like you!" Maria smiled. Vespera's eyes set onto Allesandro, who was laughing with his friends, and her cheeks tinted slightly. But enough for Maria to notice.

Maria whipped her head around, matching up where Vespera's eyes were, and she gasped.

"My... brother?!" Maria stuttered.

"Shush! Don't announce it to the whole world!" Vespera panicked.

"Seriously... Allesandro? You can do so much better than him." Maria groaned. Vespera cocked her eyebrow, watching as woman flocked around Allesandro, him paying little attention to them and continuing to mess around.

"Yeah, Maria, I just don't know-"

Maria hooked her arm with Vespera's.

"Too late!" Maria smiled, skipping over to her waiting group of friends.

"Maria-"

"Where did you run off to?" Allesandro asked, lounging on his back and watching his sister approach. Sophie swore she saw Vespera turn into a tomato at the sight of Sophie's handsome father, who was just as clueless as his daughter and gave the shy girl a sparkling smile, his hand running through his hair.

"Everyone, meet Vespera! We worked together on a school project." Maria introduced the practically shaking Vespera. They all greeted her warmly, Allesandro smiling at Vespera and Leto still hauling himself out of the canal. Vespera awkwardly smiled at them, waving kindly. Vespera sat on the barrels as they all continued to relax, somewhat uncomfortable, but everyone was kind to her, and she was relaxing.

"Why are you showing me this?" Sophie asked, her eyes never breaking from her father. He was so relaxed and young, if Sophie was right and he was 16 in this flashback, it was a whole three years before their family was killed, and he revealed the family secret. Sophie's father still had a feeling of youth around him when Sophie knew him, but it was somewhat weird to look at her dead father when he was younger than even her.

"We can so I can show you that even the kindest of the heart can become the most corrupt," Kynareth answered. Too soon, Kynareth waved her hand again, and the scene changed. It showed Vespera older, continuing her studies of other cultures and becoming more and more obsessed with them. Another scene of Maria visiting Vespera in the clinic where Vespera worked, Maria worrying about her shy friend. Then the scenes changed, it showed Vespera decaying in her years of study, her freaking out over the treatment of Vatarians.

"She convinced herself over her years of studies that Vatarians are the best race, and she was angry with the way they were treated. Why they were the ones in hiding, why they were the ones turned away at inns, why children would stare at Vatarians in fear." Kynareth explained as Sophie watched scenes of Vespera change from a young girl working at the clinic to an emotionless renegade who hated everything. Sophie dealt with it all the time whenever she left the Vatarian cities. People would cower from her, or sneer and yell at her, demanding that her kind wasn't welcome. It was easier to pretend she was just an elf, but the smallest sliver of Sophie's damaged heart, sympathized with Vespera's ideals.

"She tried to explain her opinions to the other Vatarians, but clearly, the concept of Vatarians be the overarching race above all others was not very popular," Kynareth explained, showing an image of an elder Vespera trying to explain to a group of disgruntled Vatarians in a shifty pub.

"Vespera wanted to Vatarians to conquer the other races," Sophie answered for her.

"She then joined the small and pitiful group called the Neverseen, rose it to great heights while also being a spy in the Vatarian cities. Her obsession with your father only grew more and more unhealthy, as he was the only thing keeping her emotions alive while her empath powers ate away at her sanity. Until your mother, Eumelia, figured out her connection to the terrorist group. She had all memories of the location of any of the Vatarian cities and kicked out of Inalia. She pretended to be an elf, making it seem like she was thousand of years old due to her naturally pointed ears. During this time, she had her son Ruy Ignis with King Dorian of the Dunmer. But Vespera and her son were both exiled when the Elven Council learned of her actions, even though her son was very young during the time and was not inherently guilty, they exiled him aswell. Her images of the Vatarians running everything in sight was growing out of control, and she tainted the Neverseen with her ideals, though almost everyone thought of her as an elf." Kynareth explained.

"And because of these ideals, she believed herself to be doing the god's work. She started to associate herself as my heiress since I am the goddess of freedom, night, and stealth, among all the other things you associated with my being. All the things she thought she represented."

"But you don't have an heiress, do you?" Sophie breathed, not knowing if she should feel bad for Vespera or only more angry for watching her transition into insanity.

"I have selected one, around nine years ago. One who truly stands in my light, even if they realize it or not."

"Why have you selected an heir?" Sophie asked.

"Because we need one, due to the chaos Vespera has caused, the Dunmer resurfacing, and more corruption taking over every day, I needed someone to hold my word true."

"And who would that be?" Sophie asked, hoping she might be able to hunt down Kynareth's heir and recruit them. Kynareth gave Sophie a knowing smile, which only made Sophie more confused.

"Kynareth?" Sophie asked. Kynareth just cocked her eyebrow, and it clicked in Sophie's head.

"No, no, no, no, no, no-"

"Amalia, there is a reason you were brought here today-"

Sophie turned glared at Kynareth was snarling teeth and golden eyes, her Pancras form ripping through Sophie's poorly contained bonds. Kynareth continued to look at her plainly.

"I am no heiress of yours! I am my own person, carrying my own word! Besides, you can only choose your heir if they are born or if they owe something to you, and I haven't made any deals with you."

"Yes, you have; you simply don't remember it. Do you realize that your lightning is much more power after the Fall of Inalia? Or how, when you use all of your power together, the clouds and the sky seems to almost bend to your will? Or how, when you create storms of frost in the pitch of night, the moon and her shadows stand by your side? Amalia, the shadows, stars, and sky are yours to wield, that power doesn't bend to just any Vatarian." Kynareth argued.

"They say intense situations can help hone your skill, the fall of Inalia-"

"Amalia, you need to understand how much power I have in this situation, I can make your mortal plains shake at my power, send my scaled fire-spewing children onto your cities." Kynareth snapped, referring to the dragons. Sophie didn't back down. Kynareth has put Sophie through so much shit, and Sophie wasn't going to do anything for her, much less be her heiress.

"Watch, and you will see how much I already know of your past and your future. That will help you learn your damned place." Kynareth snarled, snatching the sides of Sophie's head in her hands and blowing a crisp breath that sounded like howling winds in the peaks of the tallest mountains.

Sophie watched as multiple different scenes flashed before her eyes, so fast she couldn't see all of them. But she could feel them; some were loud and cold, some were quiet and warm.

One of Sophie cradling a woman's broken body, her sobs loud, and her hair draped over her own face and the face of the dead woman.

An image of Sophie smiling as she twirled around with an unknown dance partner in a flurry of other dancers.

A shining vision of Sophie as she wiped the blood that splattered on her face, her face stone cold as if she just finished a job.

Sophie as Edaline and Grady held her tight, all of the smiling with tears running down their cheeks.

An image of Sophie bareback, swirling whorls of an inky tattoo she didn't recognize ripped open by long gashes oozing from her back.

Sophie and Lilac sitting next to a crackling fire, Ricin curled around them both of them happy and relaxed. Around their shoulders was a silk blanket of deep marigold orange.

Vespera shrouded in green fire, her face cold as she wore traditional Vatarian clothing. Vespera's pupils were gone, her raven hair looking charcoal against the flame licking around her

An image of Ruy screaming at something, his blue shields were crackling around them as he shouted over a vacuum of sound, his beautiful face and body mangled and damaged.

Alexios, Sophie, and Lilac going on a Morretti family trip, all of them gathered around a big fire as Sophie and Lilac laugh at their brother.

Maha wearing thick Avriman garb, richer and more profound than anything Sophie has seen her in before.

One of Alexios as he held his throat, blood spilling from his lips and his eyes wide.

An image of Sophie, Ricin, Alexios, and one other cloaked figure standing atop of snowy peaks, Sophie's cloak was ripping in the violent wind.

Sophie, her body bare as she was unconscious upon a black gravel beach, her hair in it's snowy white Pancras form.

One of Ruy holding her jaw in his palms, looking at her with eyes of love and warmth, their hair wild and skin flushed, and both of them wearing a very minimal amount of clothing.

Sophie wearing ancient Vatarian clothing, her hood pulled up and her body scattered with weapons. She looked almost like a gladiator readying for battle.

An image of Ruy bareback, him looking distraught but also in bliss. All along his shoulders was interesting etchings of a tattoo. He was overlooking Inalia from a building Sophie didn't recognize, but he was casually resting his hands on the sides of the large window. His ears had a mysterious point to them.

And one final image that made her stop.

Young Amalia and Leto, lying dead at the bottom of a ditch.

Sophie gasped, cradling her arms tight, realizing she was back in reality, with Kynareth hovering above her.

"The last image..."

"You don't have a choice to be my heiress or not, because you owe me a life debt. So does Leto. And if I claim a debt, I can make them my heir." Kynareth explained, her voice echoing through the empty chamber.

Another image flashed in front of Sophie, the image of her and Leto falling of the horse as it was shot down, both of them screaming as they hit the ground hard, hearing multiple nauseating cracks.

"We-we," Sophie couldn't form words through her stammering. Kynareth flew in front of Sophie, yanking her chin up Sophie looked at Kynareth in the eyes.

"You have put it together now," She breathed, her lips so close to Sophie's face she could see her snarling teeth.

"You didn't survive the Fall of Inalia." Kynareth smiled.

Sophie looked up at the goddess, her eyes full of unfiltered terror.

"And you are mine," Kynareth whispered. Before Sophie knew what was happening, she felt a searing pain up the crook of her spine, where her hand-inked tattoo boiled with pain. Sophie screamed, falling to her knees as her throat went raw from her screeching. Kynareth only looked down at Sophie with a blank face, watching as Sophie's back only grew hotter and more painful. Kynareth leaned forward and looked at the writhing woman with an emotion Sophie couldn't place through the tears of her brown eyes.

"You will thank me for this, my heiress."

Big boy chapter today! Things are slowly coming together in the way I see them! Also, what do you think of Kynareth? That's right, she is real! Is she too shifty, or maybe she has good reasonings?

Please remember to vote, comment, share, and follow!

_Sibylline_