Chapter 74 Chapter Seventy-Four - Gabriella
“Because a long time ago, Fretez chose to put her hope in you. A hope that you would be able to help me restore a balance that was once lost.” There’s nothing but compassion in her eyes, but I don’t feel comforted by her words. “Thirty-thousand years ago Fretez confronted Azadou in battle, trying to find a way to temper the darkness within him. Fretez believed, as I do, that Azadou deserved a chance to learn to harness his power and join us. Fretez was determined to find a peaceful resolution. During their battle, she was badly wounded and confronted with two options. Destroy him or imprison him.”
“And she locked him in a cage and threw away the key,” I huff, crossing my arms. “I know this story.”
“You may know the story but not the reason behind her actions. In that moment she saw what the future held. She knew if she destroyed Azadou, Jartre would die and the eyti would continue to grow in numbers and consume the Earth, plunging it into darkness until Merlos decided to stop them, if she decided to stop them at all.”
“Merlos?” I ask in confusion.
“Despite what Jartre likes to tell himself, Merlos is the most powerful God among us.”
“Jartre can tear through the fabric of existence,” I point out.
“And Merlos can consume all of existence in the blink of an eye, including the Gods themselves. Thankfully that’s not something she has an interest in.”
“…Yeah…he neglected to mention that in our little Q and A.”
“Before her death, Fretez saw you and knew instantly you were her vessel. Even though she knew it would be many years before you were born, she knew that your birth was inevitable.”
“How could she have known I was her vessel before I was even born?”
“Because all Gods can recognise their vessel. It’s a kinship unlike any other and one not forged by the Gods but by the cosmos itself,” she explains. “Fretez not only saw you but foresaw the day I would create the bond between you and Jartre, and so knowing that… she made her choice. She focused her magic on sealing Azadou and all the eyti she could, deep within the earth, which meant she couldn’t defend herself from Azadou’s final attack. She made that sacrifice so she could place a time lock on the seal and preserve her essence in the Orraikam, to be kept safe until the day you were ready to receive it. She preserved her magic not only to save all those her magic has touched, and to preserve Azadou’s seal, but for you as well.”
“Back up a second, what do you mean a time lock?” I ask suspiciously.
“Fretez tied the sealing spell to the bond I would make between you and Jartre, allowing it to break the day you and Jartre completed your bond.”
I look at her in shock, only to start laughing incredulously. “So not only are you saying that if Jartre and I complete our bond I’ll die but that Azadou and his army will be unleashed?!” She slowly nods. I gasp and splutter pacing about the living room unable to comprehend what the fuck she’s saying.
Suddenly an idea strikes. I stop in my tracks and turn to face her, placing my hands firmly on my hips. “Fine, then I just won’t complete our bond and I won’t accept this transfer of power. Life is pretty good as it is. I have no complaints, so why mess with a good thing?” I shrug confidently.
She gives me a kind smile as she rises to her feet, walking over to me and placing her hands on my shoulders. “Gabriella, can you truly live a life feeling so close to him and yet so far away? Do you think Jartre could ever function the day you eventually grow old and die while he lives on?” she gently asks.
“Well, whose fault is that?” I ask pointedly.
“Very well, let me ask a different question. Would you feel right knowing you’re the reason Azadou would forever remain sealed away?” she asks, raising a pointed eyebrow.
Damn, for the Goddess of Peace and Love, she can be fucking brutal.
My arms go lax at my sides as I take a step back, “That’s not fair. I didn’t start any of this.”
“You’re right, you didn’t. But you can help me end it.”
I feel like I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place. Complete my bond and doom the earth or don’t complete the bond and destroy Jartre. Let me know when I’m having fun.
“This isn’t fair. You want me to bind myself to Jartre so a shadow army can be let loose? Why would you or she ever want something like that?” I question in disbelief.
“I never said this was fair. None of this is fair. Chaos has reigned every day as a result of Apaki’s actions, and if she were alive today she would be revelling in every last second of it. I am trying to set this right, but I need your help to do it. I still believe there is hope for Azadou, and if there is hope for Azadou then there is hope for the eyti,” she presses.
I look up at her as I slowly start to understand what she’s saying. Or at least I think I do.
“It’s not just Azadou you want to save…you’re trying to save all the people he infected…” I whisper in stunned realisation. She takes a breath nodding fervently.
“Gabriella, I can’t make you choose this, and I won’t. If you make the choice to live your life as a human and remain half-bonded until the day you die, then I will respect your wishes and press no further,” she says sincerely.
I look up at her suspiciously. “You’d let it go, just like that?”
“Free will is worth fighting for and I respect yours. I suppose I’m what you humans would call an idealist. I see pain and suffering and I try to find ways to heal it. Many think I create the bonds I do just because they’re helping people find love, but it’s so much more than that.” She sighs and steps back from me. “I will never force your hand. I can hope for you to make what I feel is the right choice, but it’s still your choice and if your heart isn’t in it, then it’s as simple as that. I know I’m asking a great deal, so the least I can do is give you time to decide.”
“What would happen if I refused? If I stay human and half-bonded?” I slowly ask.
“Azadou will remain forever imprisoned along with the eyti sealed alongside him. The remaining eyti would continue to roam, with the raitruum and Jartre killing many over time, but they’ll never truly be able to get them all. And you will live a human life, grow old and someday die.”
I gulp down the lump forming in my throat as I fight back the tears in my eyes, “And what would become of Jartre?”
She sighs, “That future is unclear. It would either lead to the destruction of all things, or to self-destruction. The outcome is unpleasant either way.”
“And if I do what you’re asking?” I ask with trembling hands.
“Some lives will be lost, but in return, millions could be saved. It’s a delicate tapestry and I have been weaving each thread for thousands of years. A single thread is pulled, and it all falls apart.”
“But Fretez’s magic would continue to hold him, right? If I refuse.” At this point, I’m desperately looking for a Hail Mary, but something in my gut tells me it’s pointless. A Goddess wouldn’t come to me begging for my help if she had another option.
“Fretez’s magic is sealed in a celestial crystal, one many have worked to protect for thousands of years. One of my daughters died trying to protect it,” she says, her voice sounding pained as she says this and tears forming in her eyes. She quickly shuts her eyes and takes a shaky breath. “The Orraikam was damaged five years ago when a makkari attempted to absorb its magic, which had they succeeded would have killed them instantly regardless. If the Orraikam is ever destroyed and Fretez’s magic set free, then everything her magic has ever touched will cease to exist. Azadou will be set free and the eyti will roam free and if that happens, none of us will be able to stop him. I’m not even sure if Merlos could by then.”
“Wait, what if you take the Orraikam back to your world?” I say hopefully. “If it’s back in your realm then it would be safe? Right?”
She gives me a gentle smile, reaching out and lightly caressing my cheek like a mother would a child. “As soon as the Orraikam would return to our realm, without a vessel, the magic would be absorbed back to whence it came. Gabriella, I don’t blame you for trying to find an alternative option, I’ve been doing that for thousands of years. I have seen more futures than you could imagine and worked tirelessly to ensure the best one each time. If there is hope for a better tomorrow, then we only have one chance at this. I realise the pressure that puts on you, but again, your free will is important. You’re not responsible for anyone else, so please do not feel guilty if you chose a life free of this drama.”
“This is like Doctor Strange telling Tony he only saw one future where they beat Thanos,” I sigh despondently.
“I don’t quite follow you,” she frowns in befuddlement.
I shake my head, “Forget it. It doesn’t matter.” I take in a slow, deep breath. “Jartre is going to lose his mind when he shows up and realises you’ve been here,” I snort, remembering how he acted when Ezillus dropped by.
“Jartre will never know I was here. I cloaked myself from him.”
“What if he reads my mind?”
She steps towards me, places a gentle kiss on my forehead and smiles down at me. “Now if he tries to read your mind, any thoughts regarding me or the topic of our conversation will be blocked from him.”
“You think of everything, don’t you?” I say half-heartedly.
“It’s easy to think of everything when you can see everything,” she says playfully. She sighs, once again looking upon me with compassionate eyes. Never pity, just compassion. I couldn’t handle it if it were pity. “Whatever you decide, I will respect. I’ll leave you to think this over, but for what it’s worth, I’m glad to have met you,” she utters before disappearing, leaving me feeling cold and alone.
I feel borderline catatonic as I walk over to the sofa and sit down, pulling my feet up and curling into a ball, tears falling as I let the avalanche of emotions finally crash over me.