Rivelle felt herself returning to the real world and wished she could stop it. Where she’d just been, what she’d seen and felt, had felt so warm, welcoming, and wonderful. Until it hadn’t. She slowly shook her head from side to side, trying to remember what had altered the new reality and made it scary, and strange. But she couldn’t seem to remember.
She suddenly heard cries around her and felt warm arms envelop her. She could smell her father, feel his relief, and hug him even closer to her.
“Thank the stars!” He kept repeating as he held her and stroked her hair. “Thank the stars,” he whispered. He took her face in his hands, his grip strong, but gentle. “Are you ok?” He asked. She nodded as best she could.
“I’m fine,” she told him. She brought her hands to his and squeezed them. “I’m ok,” she promised. Their foreheads touched and she could feel her father’s breath slow down. “Can we go home now?” She asked, and he laughed.
That had been two days ago and she still hadn’t been able to make much sense of what had happened. Why had she been knocked unconscious when she’d touched that strange man? Why had he also? She could remember snippets of what she’d felt while unconscious, but not much. She needed to understand more. Though it was still light out, she climbed into bed, determined to fall asleep and remember. She lay back and closed her eyes when she heard her bedroom door open.
“Rivelle? What are you doing?” It was her mother. She heard her footsteps bring her swiftly to her bedside. “Are you unwell daughter?” Rivelle quickly shook her head, no.
“I’m fine,” she told her. “I just need to rest.” She felt her mother's hand on her forehead and cheeks.
“You look fine. What’s wrong?” Both her mother and father had been fussing over her since she’d returned. She understood why and couldn’t blame them, but it was very annoying. She sighed.
“I need to remember,” she told her. Perhaps being honest would be best, she surmised. Perhaps telling them everything would help them to feel less concern and fear. Her mother's hand left her cheek.
“Remember? Remember what?”
“I want to tell you, but I need you to listen with an open heart and mind. It likely won’t make sense to you.”
“Rivelle, you’re scaring me.”
“That’s not my intent, Mimsy.” She sighed. “I know things have been strange since I lost my sight and gained these… these new…”
“Abilities?” Rivelle nodded, grateful for the word. She felt her mother stroke her hair. “I know it hasn’t been easy on you.”
“Nor you, or father. But something happened when I touched that man.”
“What happened?”
“I don’t know how to explain it. It’s like I was transported elsewhere. To another place, or time, or realm. I’m not sure.” Her mother didn’t respond or move. “Please don’t think I’m losing my mind.”
“Of course not. You are my daughter. I will always believe you.”
“I saw and felt things, most of them warm and wonderful, until they weren’t. Something crept into the space. Some strange darkness filled with light.”
“Rivelle,” her mother started but Rivelle interrupted her.
“No, mother. It’s ok. I’m meant to do this. Don’t you see? It’s all connected. My sight, the man, the new… realm.”
“I don’t understand.” Her mother sounded frightened and Rivelle hated it. She wished she could do or say something to dissuade her fears, but she couldn’t. She reached out her hand and felt her mother take it.
“I don’t either, see? That’s why I have to remember. I can’t believe it was all just a dream. Not after all I’ve been through this last turn.” She sighed and let go of her mother's hand. “Please tell me you understand.” Silence hung between them for what felt like minutes but was likely seconds. Until she heard her mother take a deep breath and let it out.
“I won’t lie to you. I do not understand.” Rivelle felt as though she wanted to cry, but didn’t. “However, I understand you feel strongly about this, and that you feel you must do whatever it is you must do. And I will support you because you are my daughter.” Rivelle sighed in relief and reached out to hug her. She was grateful when she felt her mother in her arms.
“Thank you,” she whispered in her ear and her mother nodded. When they parted, Rivelle slipped further into her bed to ready for sleep.
“I will wait here,” her mother said. It was a clear and distinct order with no room for movement or negotiation. Rivelle smiled and closed her eyes.
The space and all around her was white, but not bright. Almost like a faded gray, like the color of the sky between bouts of rain. She could see! She looked down and could see her own hands and feet. She wiggled her fingers and toes and giggled when she saw them moving.
“How are you here?” A loud voice boomed around her. She looked around. There was no person present.
“Who’s there?” She called out, but she didn’t feel afraid.
“You’re the one they call Rivelle? The little girl!”
“And who are you?”
“My name is Zerik.” It was the man she’d been asked to touch and discern his identity. “Again, how are you here?”
“Where is here?” She asked, and Zerik gave a small laugh.
“That’s a good question, but one I cannot answer.”
“Why is it so… plain? There’s nothing to see.”
“Wait, you can see? I thought you’d lost your sight?”
“I did. But when I’m here, I can see.” She paused. “A shame really. I can finally see again, and I’m surrounded by nothing.” She started walking around but found no barriers, no walls, no furniture. All were bare and gray. “Wait,” she stopped. “Can you not see me?”
“To me, younger, you are in my mind.”
“What?”
“I am currently sitting in a dark cell in your village, by myself.”
“I don’t understand.”
“That makes two of us.”
“But how am I in your mind?”
“Well, I didn’t mean it literally. It’s a long story.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” The man, Zerik, proceeded to tell her a story of his almost dying in battle, but being saved by a woman named Soliyah. He told her how she’d kept him alive until healers could help him, but even they’d believed he was too far gone. He told her he’d actually died. But then a Nano, something she’d never heard of, intervened and used magic to bring him back from the dead. Using some sort of deep magic only Nanos have access to, he gave him life once more.
“But when I came back, I’d lost my ability to speak.”
“Perhaps that was the sacrifice you’d had to make in order to live again. How is it I can hear you, if you cannot speak?”
“You’re in my mind. Silence. “I can connect to Soliyah the way I’m connecting to you now.”
“You can speak to each other in your mind?”
“Something like that,” he told her.
“But is this real? Or am I dreaming?”
“It’s real to me,” he told her. “I’m not sleeping.”
“But I am. Why must I be asleep?”
“I don’t know.” She let the silence hang around for a time as she processed all he told her. It all sounded out of this world - a battle, death, magic used to return life to a lifeless body, and now some strange and magical connection.
“Can she hear me also?” She wondered.
“I don’t think so,” he answered. “I’ve tried to connect with her, to bring her into this conversation, but I’m unable to. Perhaps I’m only allowed to communicate with one at a time.”
“Do you remember what happened? After I tried to help you at counsel?”
“No. You either?” Rivelle hesitated. All she could remember was the warmth, the joy, and then the sudden change to fear. She finally shook her head, no.
“I think I remember feeling elation. Warmth and comfort. But then remember that changing. Some new presence altered everything, made it dark, and cold.”
“What else?” Rivelle scrunched up her face, trying hard to remember.
“I don’t know.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She could see Zerik, standing before her. And then their surroundings changed. They were standing among vast and beautiful trees of green, red, orange, and silver. The sun was breaking through the thick and luscious tree tops to shine down on them. It felt warm. She could actually feel it on her skin. She smiled up at Zerik who smiled back at her. “Are you seeing this?”
“What do you see?”
“You. And me. We’re standing in a beautiful forest. I’ve never seen leaves of so many colors.”
“What else?” As though on cue, a woman walked in to stand next to Zerik. She was tall and had long dark hair, tied back.
“Is that Soliyah?” She asked.
“I can’t see what you see,” Zerik reminded her.
“She’s tall, almost at your height. She has long dark hair, but it’s tied back to keep out of her way. She carries herself with confidence, and her eyes are a deep blue but look as though they’ve been sprayed by a sea of purple.”
“Yes,” Zerik confirmed it. “That’s Soliyah.”
“That’s the woman I rescued in the forest.”
“Rescued?”
“She told us her name was Vedra.”
“What do you mean by rescued? Is she with you now?” Rivelle shook her head, no.
“The village counsel took her. At least, that’s what my father told me.” Others began to join them in the forest. “I see a small man. So small,” she gave a small laugh. “He barely comes up to your hip. And he’s very dirty looking.” She gasped. “And a Gigan! He’s huge!”
“You see all of that in the forest?” Rivelle nodded.
“You’re all surrounding the one you call Soliyah. And there’s more coming. So many.
“Gigans?”
“No,” she told him. “All from different walks of life. Is she a leader, your friend?”
“No. Not really,” he didn’t seem so sure as he faltered over his own words.
Suddenly, the sun disappeared and the leaves of the trees changed color. Gone were the bright green, red, orange, and silver. Replaced with brown, gray, black, and all shades of ashes and soot. Rivelle suddenly felt cold. She wrapped her arms around herself, as creatures everywhere began to disperse or disappear. “What’s happening?” Zerik asked, a sense of urgency in his voice, as though he could tell something had changed.
“It’s gone dark,” Rivelle told him. “Everything and everyone is changed or gone.” She could see a light coming from afar growing bigger as it came closer. It was a strange light that seemed to shift in color and size as it moved. She, Soliyah, Zerik, and whoever else remained, turned toward the light, watching it. “It looks dangerous. Ominous.”
“What does?”
“The light.”
“No,” Zerik answered, confused. “Light is good. Light is what we want. Need.” But Rivelle shook her head, no.
“Not this light.” As it drew nearer she could see it was a large ball of flames. “It’s flame,” she told him. Alongside the flames, she could see strangers of all kinds. All were marked and looked ready for war.
“Flame?”
“Fire,” Rivelle explained. “And there are creatures within and around the flames. They don’t appear friendly.” The flames brightened to a point where Rivelle, Soliyah, Zerik, and the rest had to shield their eyes.
“Good comes from light,” Zerik told her. “Perhaps you’re mistaken.” When the flames’ brightness relented, Rivelle could see a form at the very heart of them all. It looked like a woman. She was wrapped in a heavy gray cloak that barely moved. Her hair was blowing in all directions.
“There’s a woman in the flames,” she blurted.
“A woman?” Rivelle nodded. “What does she look like? Do you know her?” Rivelle tried to take a closer look.
“It’s as though her hair is the source of the flames. She looks angry.” The coolness in the air intensified despite the flames growing larger and seemingly reaching out toward them. Rivelle felt she could almost reach out and touch the flames, but didn’t move. As they drew nearer and the woman came more clearly into view, a voice could be heard.
“I am the sun that won’t allow shadow
I am the light, I am the flame
I am the spark that will always grow
Bringing peace as it follows my name
Do not fear me, for I am a star
Torn from the skies to unite
Ally with me creatures near and far
Be with me in the light”
“Can you hear that?” Rivelle asked.
“Hear what? I don’t hear anything.” The voice began repeating it, louder, as the flames began to close in around them. While Zerik, Rivelle, and the others simply watched and listened, she could see Soliyah fall to her knees, her hands at her ears as though in copious amounts of pain. Rivelle slowly repeated the verse to Zerik as Soliyah slowly fell to the ground, writhing in pain. The flamed woman continued toward them until she stood over her. “Your friend,” Rivelle started.
“Soliyah?” Rivelle nodded though Zerik couldn’t see her. “What of her?” Soliyah continued screaming and convulsing in pain as the flamed woman stared down at her.
“She’s dying.”
“What?”
“I think she’s dying.” She heard Zerik yell out, though the Zerik she could see didn’t move or make a sound. Rivelle could only keep watching as the flamed woman knelt down to Soliyah’s side and reached for her. When her hand finally made contact with Soliyah, Soliyah’s screams intensified. Her body arched and bent in ways Rivelle didn’t think possible.
“I can make the pain stop,” a woman’s voice whispered. “Do you want it to stop?” It was taunting, teasing, as though toying with Soliyah. Rivelle wanted to run to her side, to help her, but she was frozen. Forced to simply watch.
“What’s happening???” Zerik’s voice yelled out in anger.
“Allow me to help you,” the woman’s voice whispered as the flamed woman brought her face down to Soliyah’s. As she drew closer, Soliyah seemed to calm down.
“Rivelle???” Zerik yelled.
“I don’t know! I think the flamed woman is going to save her?” She watched as the woman brought her lips to Soliyah’s forehead. It was a soft and gentle kiss, and Soliyah immediately stopped screaming and convulsing. “I think she’s going to be ok.” The flamed woman rose and looked down on Soliyah. She then turned and looked at them all. Her flames brightened and she began spouting the verse again. The creatures following her moved in closer. Rivelle looked back down at Soliyah. It was clear she was not ok. She was dead. Her body lay completely still and her eyes remained open, the deep blue and purple centers now black.
“Rivelle, what’s happening?” Rivelle finally turned away from Soliyah and back to the woman in flames. She was staring right at her. Even her eyes were filled with flame.
“What do you want?” Rivelle finally asked her. The woman smiled.
“To bring the light.” She looked Rivelle up and down. “I feel as though you’re not meant to be here.” Rivelle jutted her chin out and tried to look more confident. “You’re so young.” She turned to look behind her. She reached her hand out and someone took it. A boy. Slightly older than Rivelle, it seemed. He was tall, and well built, with dark hair and dark eyes. He let go of the woman’s hand and looked Rivelle up and down. “You still want to help spread the light, Gahllagh?” The boy looked Rivelle up and down again and then nodded. The woman looked back at Rivelle, smiling. “What better way than to create a new life born from light.” The woman moved her cloak to reveal a swollen belly. She placed her hand lovingly on it and smiled. Rivelle stepped back in shock. Was she actually insinuating what she thought she was? “Don’t you want to bring the light?” The woman asked her.
“I’m not sure I even know what that means.” The woman laughed.
“Rivelle? What’s happening?” Zerik’s voice thundered in her ears.
“To bring light is to bring good.” She stepped closer to Rivelle and Rivelle stepped back once again. “Are you afraid of me?” Rivelle didn’t answer. “Do you not see what I am? What I am doing? I’m bringing peace.” She smiled but Rivelle could see anger brewing underneath it. “Come,” she put her hand out. “Join us.” Rivelle remained still. The woman looked annoyed. “Come, now!”
“Zerik! How do I get out of here?” The woman looked confused.
“Uhhh… I’m not sure. Wake up?” The woman stepped closer and grabbed her arm. When her hand touched her skin began to burn.
“Let me go!” Rivelle yelled, trying to break free of her. The woman simply glared at her and her flames grew brighter and brighter. And then suddenly, they turned black. Everything around them disappeared. Soliyah’s lifeless body, Zerik, Gahllagh. All were gone. Only Rivelle and the woman remained, surrounded by her black flames. “You’re no light,” Rivelle said and the woman’s grip on her arm grew stronger and burned hotter.
“I am the light!” The woman said as her face drew closer to Rivelle’s. “And you will join me.” The dark flames grew taller until there was no way to tell which way was up or down, despite having feet on firm ground beneath her. It felt as though the woman’s hand was going to burn right through her skin and grab onto her bone. Rivelle screamed in pain, and she could hear Zerik calling out to her.
“Wake up, Rivelle! Wake up!” Zerik yelled! The woman pulled on Rivelle’s arm, drawing her closer and closer until she could feel her hot breath on her face. The woman’s eyes of flame bore into her as though ready to devour her soul. Rivelle tried to push her away but wasn’t strong enough. Before she could stop her, she felt the woman’s lips on her forehead. Her entire body filled with flame and Rivelle screamed from the excruciating pain. She could see the woman pull away from her, smiling as she let her body fall to the ground. She felt her body fall, and though her eyes and body were still, lifeless, somehow she could still see. The woman looked down at her.
“Such a shame,” she whispered, then turned back to her followers. “Let’s keep moving,” she yelled. “We must get to Efevra, so that our light can shine like a beacon for all of Serenia and beyond.” Without hesitation, question, or concern, everyone followed the woman as she walked on. There were hundreds of them, of all stages and sizes. It was like watching a river of creatures flow through an age-old path. The boy named Gahllagh didn’t even look down at her as he passed her lifeless body. They all marched, following the flames. But then she saw someone or something. It looked like a man, but was hard to tell, as he was hidden underneath a dark cloak. He stopped by Rivelle’s body and appeared to look down at her. He knelt down and reached his hand out to her face, gently forcing her eyes closed. His hand was marked, the skin dark and red, with white lines scattered throughout, like the roots of a tree. He stayed by her side for only seconds, as though wanting to say something, but then quickly stood and walked quickly to get back in line with the rest.
“Rivelle, are you there?” It was Zerik.
“I’m still here,” she answered and was relieved she could.
“What’s happening?”
“I’m not sure. I’m going to try and wake up now. I will find you.”
“Rivelle, I don’t think….” But before she could hear everything was gone. She gasped as she sat upright in her bed.
“Rivelle?” Her mother was right next to her, where she’d left her. She felt her hands on her arm immediately and Rivelle felt a calmness come over her. “Are you all right?” Rivelle nodded.
“I’m fine,” she told her as she felt her arm where the flamed woman had grabbed her. All seemed fine. “How long was I asleep?”
“It’s not yet morning, but it will be soon,” her mother answered. Rivelle nodded. Her mother moved to sit on the side of the bed next to her.
“What happened? Did it work? Did you get back to… that place?” Rivelle nodded, even more relieved that her mother was supportive and helping her. She nodded.
“I think so. It was… strange. Beautiful, and scary.”
“Tell me?” her mother begged her, but Rivelle shook her head, no.
“I’m exhausted,” she told her, and it was true. It likely seemed strange to her mother as she appeared to be sleeping, but Rivelle couldn’t explain it and hoped she wouldn’t have to. “I just need a few hours of sleep.”
“But…”
“Mother, please? I’ll need to speak with you and your father in the morning. I haven’t the energy now.” She could feel her mother’s hesitancy and fear, but she waited patiently for her to answer. Finally, she took her into a fierce hug.
“Sleep then. We’ll talk in the morning.” She squeezed her tightly and then let go. Rivelle was relieved when she heard her footsteps leave the room, and the door close behind her. She lay back down, ready for real sleep, hoping she could remember how to do it. She laughed, strange, the idea of forgetting how to sleep. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
“Zerik?” She called out with her mind. Nothing but calm and quiet. She sighed and shivered despite the warmth of the blanket in her. She closed her eyes, hoping to find a calm and gentle sleep, but could only see the face of the strange and dark woman, Soliyah dying, herself dying. She opened her eyes but found them heavy. She needed sleep. She took a deep breath and didn’t even realize she was already falling asleep.
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Ⓒ May 2023. Beki Lantos. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or transmitted in any form by any means without prior written permission of the author.