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Her Light - Chapter 8
🕑 Added 2025-01-30 21:54:57 +0000 UTC------------------
The doors whispered shut behind Kaela, leaving her alone with the Prophetess.
She glanced around, her gaze darting to the towering walls of the chamber. Warm light bathed the room, but it didn’t come from any visible source. The glow seemed to radiate from the golden scripture etched into the walls—soft, soothing, yet overwhelming. The floor was a mosaic of intricate patterns that gleamed faintly underfoot, depicting scenes of triumph and sorrow woven together like a story.
Kaela’s heart raced. Don’t trip. Don’t say something dumb. Definitely don’t say anything about alien hieroglyphics…even if I’m thinking about it. Cool. Be cool. This is only like…the president of a mysterious holy land. No big deal.
The Prophetess led her gently to a pair of low seats near a circular window overlooking the distant spires of Sanctaria. From here, the entire city stretched out like a painting—an endless, surreal world of serene beauty and unfathomable mystery. Despite the darkness taking over the horizon, the bell cast its soft glow over the pristine city.
Kaela took a slow breath, trying to absorb the sight, though it only made her feel smaller.
“Please, sit,” Serelith offered, her voice inviting, a soothing lull that felt like warm water washing over Kaela’s frayed nerves.
Kaela hesitated before dropping into the chair like a sack of bricks. At least, that’s how she felt after seeing the graceful and beautiful woman take her own. She looked ethereal. Ageless.
Her hands fidgeted with the folds of her borrowed gown as silence stretched between them. She avoided the Prophetess’ gaze, focusing instead on the patterns in the floor, the designs twisting and shifting like illusions in her peripheral vision.
“So,” Kaela finally blurted, voice cracking awkwardly, “I guess this is the part where you hit me with some ancient prophecy about saving the world, huh? I’ve been marked for some grand adventure…and I may never see my parents again? But this is cool, so…just accept it.”
Serelith’s eyes creased with a sad smile. “No. There is no prophecy. This isn’t a fun adventure to lose yourself in… This is a dangerous prison that attempts to slowly crush you, mind, body, and soul. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. There is no destined path carved out for you here, Kaela.”
Kaela blinked. “Oh. Well, that’s…disappointing, I guess? I thought you know…you people lived for that kind of stuff.”
A lump formed in her throat as she tucked under her bottom lip, tears welling up in her eyes as she reflected on the last thing she said, what she did to her father.
“I guess…it really is my fault for being here. Because I was a spoiled brat… Because I wanted to know what was more important than me.”
Serelith scooted closer, wrapping her arm around her shoulders and pulling her in. No words, yet a warmth spread through her as she was pulled into her bosom, the quakes coming on soon after. It felt like her mother’s arms, despite how far away she’d become. How far she’d pulled away from her to forget she had daughters.
Words spilled out, gushing forth as the dam broke.
“I just wanted to feel something… Trying not to give into my thoughts. I wanted them to see I’m hurting too. I was lonely. Nothing was working. I wanted them to tell me everything would be okay… That it’s not my fault. I just wanted them to see me…to hear me instead of running away when I wanted to talk about her. But now they’re gone… Oh, God.”
She pulled back, vision blurry as she stared at her shaking hands. “Oh, God… I’m gone. What if they think… Did I kill my mom and dad? Now…they’ve lost two daughters. Everyone’s gone… I killed them…”
Serelith’s gentle arms formed around her, holding her fast. “Have faith in your parents, Kaela. We live for many things…and few things bring parents together faster than the plight of their child. If you have faith, you can see the truth in the light of Her grace.”
That hit differently than Kaela expected. Swallowing the sticky saliva in her throat, she looked up into the divine woman’s face. “I can see what… I do know my mom and dad love me. They do, but…I just wanted to hear it…to see it. I don’t know what I wanted but…I wanted something. What am I even supposed to do?”
The woman slowly lifted a hand, a soft glow illuminating it, her voice steady, confidence in her bright eyes. “Ask in faith, and it will be given. Not faith in Altheria, but in your parents.”
Vision squeezing shut, she clasped her hands together in Serelith’s lap. “I believe.”
Kaela’s breath hitched as a wave of warmth spread from the Prophetess’ hand resting gently on her chest. Her heart pounded fiercely, but the suffocating pressure of fear eased. Darkness peeled back like a veil, and for a moment, she felt suspended between worlds. Her vision shimmered—blurring the boundaries between memory and something more.
A shimmering woman’s face—a glorious being of pure light—stood between them, bound with threads, painful threads, yet she smiled and directed her onward.
“Even in the darkest nights, there is always light for those of faith.”
She saw her father, Dr. Evren, bursting into their house. His appearance shocked her—disheveled, wide-eyed, and frantic. His normally calm, sleep-deprived, and depressed demeanor had shattered entirely. The door slammed behind him, rattling in its frame as he stumbled into the living room.
“Kaela!” he gasped hoarsely, his chest heaving. “She—she took it! The finger—she took the finger during our meeting! She’s gone!”
Her mother appeared from the adjoining room, her hands still holding clothes that she was folding to leave for her parents’ house. “What?” She stepped forward, dropping the dress to the floor. “What do you mean, Jonathan? What finger—the source of the energy my department’s been studying? What happened? What is it?”
“The artifact,” he rasped, pacing wildly, running both hands through his hair in agitation. “Yes, the one we were studying separately—the entity AEGIS contained—one of the corrupted samples. It’s…it’s taken her. She’s gone. It must have—she must have opened it. God, I told myself it was secure. It was handcuffed to my damn wrist! I thought—”
Her mother’s face paled as the words sank in. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, she stood frozen. But then her eyes sharpened with fierce resolve. She grabbed his arm, grounding him with her firm grip.
“Stop,” she commanded quietly, though her voice trembled beneath the control. “Panicking won’t help. Think. This isn’t like you! What does that mean? Don’t let it get in your head. We know it’s a corruption type. Does that mean there’s a chance? Is there any chance that she’s still alive?”
He stopped pacing, staring at her with wide, glassy eyes. “It’s connected to another dimension,” he breathed, rubbing the sweat from his forehead. “We know that. You’re right, Sam. The data confirms it. If she’s there…if she was pulled into its space, she could still be alive.
“But I don’t know how long she can survive or…if she’ll ever be the same if we do get her back. It’s linked to a place not even AEGIS has set up a forward base in. The void eats everything…”
Her mother inhaled sharply, closing her eyes for a brief moment before speaking again, her voice quieter but no less intense. “If there’s even a chance, we have to act. But Jonathan…if AEGIS finds out that thing was released without full containment—if anyone knows we lost control—they’ll shut everything down and scrub it. We’ll disappear. And then who will save our daughter?”
Kaela was already bawling upon seeing her father grit his teeth, desperation clawing at him. “You’re right. AEGIS can’t find out. But I know someone who can help. Someone we can trust.”
“Who?” she demanded, her voice taut with fear and hope. “Who could possibly help us with something like this that would go against AEGIS protocol?”
Her father looked her directly in the eyes and spoke a name like a lifeline. “Dr. Immortal.”
A tense silence fell between them, the weight of that name settling like a stone in the room. Her mother’s eyes widened slightly, but then she nodded, her grip on his arm tightening.
“I’ve heard of her, but she’s practically a ghost in AEGIS. No. If you think you can get in contact with her. Do it. We do whatever it takes to get her back. We’ll find her, Jonathan. We’ll bring her home.”
Mom… Dad. I’m so sorry.
He exhaled shakily, his body sagging as though the weight of the world bore down on him. His hands trembled as he pulled his wife into a tight embrace, burying his face in her shoulder.
“We’ll get her back,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “I swear it. We won’t lose her.”
Tears streamed down her own face as the vision began to dissolve. Her mother’s quiet sobs faded into the distance, the warmth of her father’s words echoing in her heart like a beacon.
Her eyes fluttered open, and she found herself once more in the serene glow of the Prophetess’ chamber. She gasped softly, clutching Serelith’s hand for support as reality slowly came back into focus.
“They’re looking for me,” she whispered, her voice hoarse with emotion. “They’re not giving up on me…”
Serelith smiled gently, her thumb brushing Kaela’s knuckles. “You see now. Faith, Kaela. Not in what is seen, but in the love that binds us. Your parents’ light still shines for you through the Heart of Darkness. Let that truth anchor you.”
Kaela let out a trembling breath, nodding slowly. For what seemed like an eternity, a small ember flickered to life in her chest.
“They’ll find me,” she whispered again, more firmly this time. “My parents are amazing… They’re smart. They’ll find me.”
Serelith nodded, her eyes filled with warmth and reassurance. “Yes, Kaela. They will. But what choices you make now will affect that path… Everyone has a choice. And you still have choices to make here. You are in control of your own light and destiny.”
Kaela sat quietly for a moment, gripping Serelith’s hand as though it might tether her to reality. The soft light from the walls seemed to breathe gently around her, warm and comforting, yet she still felt the ache of everything she’d seen and heard. Her parents were out there—desperate, hurting—and, unlike her, they didn’t have Altheria’s vision to comfort them.
Abruptly, everything she’d done. All the heartache she’d caused. The fights, the shouting, the trouble she’d brought to their doorsteps punched her in the chest.
They always were holding on and not letting go of me…but I kept fighting them. Hand rising to press against her chest, her throat constricted, feeling as if she had something dark, festering deep within. I caused all of this…
The word choices lingered in her mind like a thorn. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, fidgeting with the edge of her gown.
“Choices,” she muttered under her breath. “Yeah, that’s funny. Every time I made a choice, I screwed it up. And now I’m here. In this—this weird world that doesn’t make any sense… Am I even worth fighting for?”
Serelith tilted her head slightly, her gaze both soft and piercing. “That is an excellent question… Are you?”
The question was like a sharp point breaking through her heart, making her bottom lip tremble. “…Not…what I expected you to say,” she said, sniffling and choking back more tears. “It hurts. It hurts a lot. I know I messed up.”
Serelith’s gentle fingers lifted to cup her cheek and guide her to meet the woman’s loving eyes. “The truth often hurts…and also heals. The answer to if you are worth fighting for is not something anyone but the individual to answer… What would your parents say?”
The chill that ran down her spine reverberated like two worlds colliding.
“Yes… They’d say yes.”
The woman’s small smile grew. “As would I. As would Gideon… As would our First Sister, which is why she didn’t let go of you within the darkness,” she whispered, drawing her gaze to the glowing symbol shining through her dress.
Making eye contact again, the prophetess squeezed her hand. “Now, you must make choices that make you believe… The choice to hang on, despite the shadows crawling within you that tells you to fall. You must choose to find worth in yourself.”
All she could muster was a nod, unable to get the words out.
Serelith drew her close again, holding her for a moment before whispering, “You believe you have no control over what’s happened to you. That this place—this journey—was forced upon you. And, perhaps the circumstances that brought you here were beyond your control… But what happens now—what you choose to do with the time you have here—that is yours to decide. For us. For those who walk with Altheria, choices are all we know.”
Kaela barked out a bitter laugh. “Yeah? And what if I just want to go home?”
Serelith didn’t flinch. “It’s natural to want that—to wish for home. I won’t fault you for it. But choice, Kaela, is the greatest gift given to all living beings. For reasons known only to Altheria, the path back has not been revealed to you.
“Why? That is something you must uncover for yourself. I can only share what She has entrusted to me and guide you where I can. But one thing I can promise: you will always have a place here in the Dominion, for as long as you choose to stay.”
The words cut deep, hitting a nerve Kaela didn’t realize was still raw.
“I…still don’t know anything about you people…or Altheria. For all I know, that vision could have been just sweet words. Things I wanted to hear.”
Kaela’s shoulders sagged. She rubbed her eyes with the heel of her hand. “It’s hard to believe in love or faith when you’ve spent so long feeling…invisible. Like nobody cares unless you’re perfect or doing something right.”
The Prophetess nodded slowly, her voice calm but resolute. “I can see you survived something few others have in your world. That survival carries weight, whether you asked for it or not. The darkness sought to claim you. Yet, you resisted. You reached out for the light. Why?”
“I—I don’t know!” Kaela’s voice cracked as the memory of that moment clawed at her. “I was scared, okay? I didn’t want to die. Isn’t that enough?”
“Fear can be powerful,” Serelith acknowledged. “But there was more to it than fear, which the darkness feeds upon. In that moment, you called out. For something—for someone—to save you. For protection. Altheria cannot act to save where the door is closed. You opened your heart to the possibility of light. That is not something to dismiss.”
Kaela froze, her breath catching in her throat. The scene replayed in her mind: the crushing void, her terror, the plea she hadn’t realized she made.
I did call out… But that doesn’t mean it was to Her. It couldn’t have been. Right? I didn’t know she existed.
She shook her head, her voice trembling. “I don’t get it. Why me? I’m not special. Like you said. I’m not…some chosen hero. I’m just me. A screw-up who put her parents through hell.”
“No one expects you to be a hero,” Serelith said softly. “The light doesn’t demand perfection. It asks only that you take one step forward. What matters is not where you stand, but where you choose to turn. You could stand in the presence of the light and still fall into shadow… Or find yourself deep in the abyss yet grasp onto a single rope, climbing hand over hand through the agony, refusing to let go. It is the belief in the possibility of something greater that guides you upward.”
Kaela stared at her hands, exhaustion settling into her bones. She didn’t have a sarcastic comeback. “I don’t know how to do that. I don’t even know where to start.”
The Prophetess rose gracefully and walked to a small table near the window, retrieving a basket of treats. She returned and offered one to Kaela—a simple piece of sugarcane that glimmered softly in the light.
“Start,” Serelith said gently, “by accepting that you do not have to face this alone. I have chosen to stand beside you…and so have many more.”
Kaela hesitated, the faces of Gideon, Isolde, and the other soldiers she’d interacted with over the past day coming to mind. After a moment, she took the sugarcane and turned it over in her hands, her fingers tracing the rough surface. Slowly, she bit into it, the sweetness spreading across her tongue. It was strangely comforting, grounding her in the present.
“I guess that’s…a start,” she murmured, glancing up at the Prophetess with a faint smile.
“Indeed,” Serelith replied warmly. “The light will not abandon you, Kaela. She cannot abandon those who trust Her…because then She would not be Altheria anymore but a fraud. Nor will those who walk beside you leave. Trust in that… In us, as we have trusted in you.”
For the first time since she entered the chamber, Kaela felt a weight ease from her chest. The grief and guilt didn’t vanish, but there was space for something else now. Maybe…just maybe…she didn’t have to carry everything alone. Maybe she could take things one small step at a time.
“…Okay. Maybe I don’t really trust Altheria yet…but I trust you, Gideon, and Isolde.”
Serelith clasped her hands at her front. “One step forward. It’s done,” she chuckled. “See how easy that was? Now, I am here to answer any question you have. Your place. What choices you have. All that comes in the knowledge and truth of where you are…”
Taking a seat beside her again, she handed her a handkerchief and looked out across the starless, dark skies. “Allow me to tell you the story about how we’ve come to be here, and what options are before you.”
Kaela dabbed at her cheeks and blew her nose, heart firming with the realization that she did have a journey before her. She may have been forced into this world, but how she walked within it was her own choice. Now…what did she want to do?
Settling in, she listened to the story about how the Dominion came to be. How this realm of darkness and corruption challenged Altheria’s light, invading their home, and thrusting them into this gauntlet.
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