The Aurora Stone (28 page)

“Maybe if we all try, Caleb and Eli on one door Jericho, and myself on the other, Eve can be ready to insert the stone and then…”

“No,” Eve said cutting Winter off mid flow.” That won’t work. The void is activated the only way to stop it now is if I jump into it with the Stone.”

“Well that isn’t happening, not after everything you have been through. I only just found you! Please let us try!” Eli begged, his eyes pooling with tears. Eve smiled at her twin and stowing the stone in her pocket, she put her good arm around him.

“It is the only way, Brother,” she replied. Her own tears spilling silently down her face. Caleb was not going to let her die; he swiftly moved to her side reached into the pocket and took the stone, immediately moving away from her towards the doors. Eve turned to him, her eyes beseeching.

“I won’t let you die, I can’t go through that again, and you have sacrificed enough for all of us, and for Orea. I will go in your place; your blood is already within the stone the conditions have been met.”

Caleb swallowed back the tears that threatened and knowing this was to be his one and only chance, strode over to the girl he loved. Taking her in his arms, he gazed into her beautiful turbulent eyes. “You have my heart, Evangeline,” he whispered then, bending forward, he touched his lips to hers. It was bittersweet; their first kiss was also to be their last. Releasing her, he stroked her cheek.

“Give me a smile to take with me; this is going to be the ultimate adventure.” His shaky smile and bravado were poor covers for his fear and heartbreak. Eve gave her best smile and tried to step towards him. Caleb knew he would give in if she touched him again. Quickly he glanced at the others. “Take care of her… Ooof!”

Caleb doubled over the wind knocked out of him. As he fell onto his side, he dropped the Aurora Stone. It lay on the ground inches from his face, its orangey pink colour changing to red and golds and back again before a huge paw swooped down and picked it up.

“That’s quite enough Caleb, I will not allow you to do this, it will be my honour to undertake this task. Be brave Eve and tell our story to all of Orea!” With that, Jericho drew his short sword and clutching the Stone close to his chest, he stepped back into the void, the last they saw of him was his face, a huge smile cast upon it, his sword arm erect the blade held high. Just before he was completely consumed, They heard his fierce battle cry;

“For Orea!”

Eve would never forget the events of that day. Indeed, she would never forget any of it. After Jericho’s sacrifice, they had searched the fortress for a way to free the souls in the pits. Caleb managed to decipher an old text in Nimayaorin’s Book of Shadows and the thousands of souls inhabiting the pits were able to pass onto the realm of the dead. Amongst them were Eve and Eli’s parents. Eli had insisted on cataloguing each soul so that their family could be informed and memorials held. It took weeks; by the time the last soul had passed on, Eli’s hand was sore and his eyes burned from concentration. The final document was enormous! A complete account of every soul they had freed.

They half expected to encounter demons willing to defend the fortress; Winter discovered why they hadn’t. Their lives were tied to the darkness so once he was gone, they too perished. It was completely surreal to know they had won. Winter wanted to leave the corpses to rot but Eve said that unlike the fallen creatures that lay strewn like macabre rag dolls all over the fortress, they were honourable and therefore, they would build a funeral pyre and cremate their fallen adversaries. Winter rolled her eyes and muttered something about a waste of time and how gross it was to lug about dead demons, but she made her way to the nearest one hauled it over her shoulders and turned to Eve with a fanged smile. “Where do you want it?”she asked sweetly

The huge funeral pyre burned for many days. Eve watched as the flames danced and thick acrid smoke billowed in dark, ominous plumes overhead. Though the scene was horrific, so many dead being burned, it gave them all a sense of peace. The enemy had been defeated, and now they could think about the future.

Before they left for the return journey home, Eve wanted to search for the box she had seen in her vision of the young man. After much searching, she finally found it locked away in a dusty room. Picking her way carefully across the broken furniture, she saw the box sitting on an upturned urn. Picking it up, she gently wiped the dust from the lid.

Caleb found her there, a short while later. He had come to tell her they had found the portal room and could head directly to any realm they wanted. He stopped short when he saw the box.

“What’s that?” he asked.

Eve looked over at her true love, how lucky she was to have him after all the trials they had been through, both had been changed and yet they remained the same in each other’s eyes. Maybe love truly was blind; Eve didn’t care, he completed her, and she was never letting him go.

“It’s memory box,” she replied. Caleb knew whose memories and he wondered why Eve was still holding it.

“Please tell me you are not going to open it?” Caleb asked, he had had quite enough excitement to last him several lifetimes.

“No, I’m not going to open it, I am going to take it to the border between our realms and bury it. He and his siblings were halfling’s it seems fitting they be buried there.” Not quite understanding but willing to accept what she said. Caleb closed the distance between them and took her hand.

“Come, we need to get home; your mother will be waiting for you,” he reminded her stroking the back of her hand with his thumb.

“I can’t go home just yet, we need to return to Gloria and make sure Bobby returned home. I also need to inform Maximus and the Protectors of the loss of two of the bravest creatures, I have ever known and how without their help, we would not have succeeded.” A single tear escaped and rolled down her cheek. Caleb then explained that Eli had already left for Gloria to find Bobby and inform the Royals of their victory, he would then travel to Olia under the protection of the Royal guard to deliver the news to Maximus and the Protectors.

“I know you would like to go yourself, but right now, Hermoria is in ruins. I think we need to get there as soon as possible and help where we can. Winter is waiting in the portal chamber; she didn’t want to leave for home without first saying goodbye.”

Agreeing, though reluctantly, Eve allowed Caleb to lead her to the portal chamber where Winter was waiting for them.

“So I guess this is where we say goodbye. It was an experience. I guess, maybe now I have helped save the world, my father might lay off me getting hitched for a while!” Winter laughed. Eve smiled at her new friend; she was always making jokes when the situation became emotionally charged or difficult. Walking over to her, Eve embraced the vampire princess.

“Thank you for everything. I know what it cost you to come here, and I am so sorry I could not return the stone to you.”

Winter just shrugged. “It’s ok, I got to battle the ultimate evil, sire a halfling and score major brownie points back home. I know my mum would be proud, and that is all that matters.” She smiled at her two new friends, then turning to the midnight blue portal she gracefully leapt into its swirling depths.

“I know we will be seeing her again,” Caleb said chuckling, “If only for her sense of humour!”

Eve suddenly remembered something, the moonstone! Maximus had said it was a key, turning from Caleb she ran back through the fortress to the copper vault, her bag banging against her hips as she ran. Once in front of the copper doors, she removed the moonstone from it hiding place. She looked over the doors intricately carved surfaces.
Where is the hole for the stone? there had been on for the Aurora Stone so surely there must be one here somewhere!
Caleb shot into the room looking ready for battle. Seeing that there was no danger he walked over to Eve and put his arm around her waist.

What is it? What caused you to dash back here of all places so quickly? He asked Eve showed him the moonstone.

“Maximus told me this was also key, and I thought since the stone of the morning opened this, I thought perhaps the moonstone might lock it forever.” She replied, feeling a little foolish for thinking such a thing. Caleb stared in wonder at the girl he would have died for, she was completely right! Taking the stone from her, he held it against the seam of the doors. “Cal, what are you doing?” Eve asked. Smiling back at her he just continued to stand holding the milky stone to the doors. Eve then realised what he was doing, but he was missing a vital part of the key, her blood. Drawing her dagger from its sheath, Eve bit her bottom lip and drew the bladeacross her palm. Moving quickly, she placed her bloodied hand over the stone. The result was almost immediate, the moonstone glowed with a beautiful pearlescent light, as it drew in Eves blood the light turned a rose pink. “Beautiful” Caleb muttered.

“Let the stone go, Cal, it knows what to do, I can feel its need to change, to become what is was destined to be,” Eve said. Not questioning her, Caleb removed his fingers from the stone, as soon as he had, it began to melt, filling the seam of the door and then finding its way into the carved surface. They watched in awe as the doors turned from copper to silver. Eve sighed.

“The prophecy has been fulfilled. Take me home Cal.”

Holding hands, Eve and Caleb made their way back to the portal chamber. Together they walked across the room to stand before another portal “This one was Green like the new leaves of spring”. Eve said she made sure the box was secure under her arm, then turning to Caleb, she smiled then said.

“So I guess you are the first suiter I have ever brought home to meet my mother.” Leaning down to place a chaste kiss on her soft lips, Caleb replied.

“I will also be the last!”

With that thought hanging between them, Eve and Caleb stepped into the portal.

The rebuild and subsequent memorials of all who fell during the Battle of the Darkness took many months. During that time, Eli made his first visit to Hermoria and helped his kinsmen rebuild their homes, and their hope. Grace was overjoyed to have Eve return to her. As promised, she baked a huge cake, which Eve ate a hearty portion of. She was so thankful her mother had survived the conflict.

Gwen had had the foresight to gather the children of the village and flee to Reena’s home where they had been safe. Though she was pleased to have saved so many young, Gwen was plagued by nightmares of all those who had died. Caleb was a great distraction for her; she kept hinting about weddings and being a grandmother. Eve and Caleb just smiled. Maybe in time, those things would come, but right now they just wanted to live in the moment.

One month after their return, Eve received a missive from Olia, it was a request for her and Caleb’s attendance at the memorial of Jericho and Sapphire. So once again Caleb and Eve prepared to enter the realm of the owl riders, only, this time,, the trip was a lot quicker, the travel by ley line, and knowing where they were headed also helped.

Maximus seemed much older than the last time they had seen him. The great Miscurt was greyer, and his eyes had lost some of their sparkle. The ceremony was to be held on the lakeside, Jericho’s most treasured place. It was where he had taken Eve to meet Sapphire almost two years ago. There were many Protectors there, to honour both Jericho and Sapphire. Maximus took the stand and spoke of a great warrior, leader and warm-hearted kinsman.

“We shall all miss Jericho’s presence here; you could not have wished to know a better creature than him.” Eve was moved to see tears pooling in the Miscurts eyes. Taking a breath, Maximus continued, “it is hard to lose one you are so fond of, it is harder still, to lose your only son. I wish I had spent more time showing him how much he meant to me.” With that, Maximus broke down.

Eve rushed to his side, “I am so, so sorry; I wish we had known. Please just know that Jericho died as he had lived, with a smile on his face, a sword in his hand and hope in his heart.”

Maximus looked into Eve’s ever-changing eyes and gave her a watery smile. “You are a good girl, I am pleased to have met you, and I know my son would not have laid down his life for someone unless he thought them special. You will always be welcome here. Both you and Caleb. “

“Thank you: we will visit often. And if you permit it; regale your mighty people with Jericho’s quest to save not just Olia, but the whole of Orea.” Maximus nodded his thanks and then left to speak with others who had attended. Eve moved towards the Protectors; she just wanted to tell them how sorry she was, and how much she missed dear Sapphire before she reached them she felt one of them prod at her telepathically. Opening the connection Eve allowed the words to flow freely.

Please do not be sad, Light Carrier, Sapphire met her destiny, we are honoured to have been a part of your quest and know that you and Sapphire shared a special bond. Hold that bond close to your heart and she will never truly leave you.

Eve just nodded her tears choking her, and turned back to where Caleb was waiting for her. Taking her in his arms, he kissed the top of her head. “Let’s go home.”

“Yes, I know. We are expecting Eli, Bobby, and Winter any day now, so I want to be prepared for their arrival,” Eve said, some of her sparkle returning at the thought of seeing her twin and the vampire princess. Caleb chuckled. “Yes, I cannot wait to hear all about how many brownie points she actually scored saving the world. Now hold tight.”

Eve gripped her soul mate and felt the bottom fall out her stomach as they shot upward to catch the emerald green ley line that would carry them home.

It is important to remember that even though this battle of light and dark is over, there will always be another enemy of the light. But no matter how mighty the army or how terrifying the foe. The light will always prevail.

Darkness cannot survive when light is cast upon it.