Chapter 58 The Last Gamble II
"How long?" I inquired. A hollow voice. "How long do we have?"
"Three hours. It takes an hour to complete the ceremony. Then—" She paused. "After that, I won't remember either you or myself. I'll be wiped, unmade. However, I carry the curse with me—broken, devastated, and lost forever.
"Can we adequately say our goodbyes? Is that something we can have?
"Yes. We have three hours. Make good use of them.
Footsteps reverberated as she departed to get ready. As she prepared herself for death and faced what was ahead, each second became heavier.
I was standing in the hallway with Kael. Heartbroken.
"We have to stop her," he muttered. "We must come up with an alternative. "We—" "There is no other way."
She traveled through time. She would be aware. I put my body against the wall. "Our daughter is with us for just three hours."
Then she's gone forever. That's the price she paid for her sacrifice.
"I can't believe that. She must not be allowed to die. He struck the wall with his fist. Stone broke. "She is eleven years old. This is unfair. Not right.
"I know." I took hold of him. held him as he shattered. "I am aware. However, we do not have other options. She made a decision. Either we respect that or we disregard all we taught her.
"I detest this. I'm sorry she found out from us. We hate that sacrifice is ingrained in us. I detest everything about this.
"So do I." I retreated. However, we've got three hours. We don't waste them on hatred. We use it to show her how much we love her.
Nyx was calm, attentive, and prepared when we found him in the ritual chamber, creating symbols and getting everything ready.
I said, "Can we help?"
"No. I work alone on this part. However, you are welcome to stay. While I'm working, talk to me. Tell me stories. Make the final hours enjoyable.
So we did. We sat down with our daughter and told her stories of how we met, how the blood tie formed, the battle, and everything that had lead to her birth.
She paid attention. grinned. I laughed. sobbed. For these final hours, she was a kid rather than the ancient, strong being she had grown into.
"I wish I could have grown up normally," she replied. "Had companions. attended school. been merely a girl rather than a weapon.
"You were never only a tool. Our daughter at all times. Our miracle. I apologize that we were unable to provide you with a typical, secure, and happy upbringing.
"I got love from you. That's better than usual. She gave me a hug. "I'm grateful. For everything. For being the most wonderful mother a child of a strange time-walking vampire could ask for.
"As a daughter, you were the best. Even if you were a terrifying person.
She chuckled. Then they looked at Kael. "Papa. I am aware of your anger. You want to end this, I know that. But please. Let me take care of this. Allow me to rescue everyone. Let me have the courage you taught me.
"You were courageous at all times. Too courageous. Just like your mom." He dropped on his knees. eye level. "You have my admiration. Extremely proud. And for the rest of my life, I shall miss you every single day."
"All right. That implies that I was important. that I was authentic. My existence had purpose.
The hour arrived. In the middle of the circle was Nyx.
Her words were, "Do not watch," "Leave. Let me handle things by myself. When you still love me, let your faces be the last thing I see. When I'm being unmade, no.
"You will always be loved by us. "Always." I gave her a forehead kiss. "Baby girl, good bye. I'm grateful for everything.
"Mother, good bye. Father, good bye." She grinned. "I'll meet you in a different timeline. when the situation is different. where we have more time. There, wait for me.
We went out. It would be more difficult to stay. She would hesitate. It would put the ceremony at risk of failing.
We stood outside, just by the entrance. As she chanted, I listened, to generate energy, to distorting reality.
Then there was quiet. Whole. Unquestionable.
The curse had been lifted. I sensed it. the hunger I had been experiencing. The shadow waits. Absent. destroyed. deleted.
Nyx was, too. Our daughter. Our future. Everything about us.
My legs gave out . Kael caught me. We clutched each other as the world came to an end.
The door opened.
There stood Arianna the Younger. Violet eyes once more. Not black. The curse was gone.
She asked, "Where is Nyx?" "What happened?"
We told her everything. Observed the breakdown of her face. Observed her come to terms with the cost of her deliverance.
"She's gone. She traded herself, she broke the curse. to keep us all alive."
Arianna fell to the floor. "No. I didn't want this at all. I did not want a child to die for me.
I didn't—"
"She made the decision. Knowing the cause. She was fully aware of the consequences. I helped her to stand. "We respect that decision. We lead fulfilling lives. We give meaning to her sacrifice.
"How? Knowing that a child gave their life to save us, how do we live? How can we avoid drowning in that guilt?
"By transporting it. collectively. By keeping her in mind. by improving as a result of her.
Kael's voice seemed insincere. "By surviving when all we want is to follow her into the dark."
We remained motionless. A toddler rescued three adults. Three individuals who would always bear that burden.
Reality itself appeared to tremble a few moments later. Around us, the world shifted, twisted, and reformed.
A person emerged from the warped air. tiny. Known. Not possible.
Nyx. However, it was distinct. younger. Seven years old, perhaps. Violet eyes. human-like. There was no power emanating from her.
She blinked. looked around. "Where am I? "Who are you?"
"Nyx?" I exhaled.
"How do you know my name?" She took a step back. terrified. "I've never met you. "Where is my mom?"
My heart stopped. She couldn't remember. Her memories had been stolen by the ceremony. Her strength. She lost everything.
However, she was still alive. Somehow. It's real but impossible.
"I am your mother," I declared. Kind. Be cautious. "You're at home. You're safe."
"You're not my mom. My mom died. When I was three, she died. Nyx gave Kael a look. "You are the Blood King. I've seen your picture. I'm in the palace, but why? Why—"
"The ritual backfired," said Arianna, the grandma. looking taken aback. "It was meant to destroy her. Erase her. Rather, it reset her. returned her to the age of seven. took away her abilities. kept her alive.
"Is it possible to bring back her memories? Her abilities?" Kael inquired.
"I'm not sure. Perhaps. Perhaps not. The purpose of the ceremony was to unmake. This outcome is—unexpected. Never before. Not possible.
I responded, "But she is alive," not the same. but still alive.
"I want to go home," Nyx declared. little voice. I'm afraid. "Please. I want my mama.
"I am your mother." I got down on my knees. "I am aware that you can't recall. However, I am. You're also at home.
And I promise to prove it. I promise to help you recall.
I swear—"
"You are a stranger. All of you are strangers. She broke down in tears. "I'd like to return home. Let me go home, please.
I was pulled back by Kael. "Give her room. She's afraid. Perplexed. "Lost."
"She is our daughter."
"She is a young girl who has no recollection of being our daughter. We cant to compel her. He gave Nyx a look. At this diminutive, frightened version of our girl. "We begin anew. We demonstrate our worth.
We assist her in remembering or making new memories. Either way, we won't lose her.
Not entirely.
"But her abilities. Her expertise. Her—everything. It's gone.
Perhaps. Perhaps not. However, she is still alive. That's what counts. That's what her sacrifice paid for. Life. For us all. She is among them.
Nyx caught my eye. at this unattainable treasure. This is a second opportunity.
"Welcome home," I murmured. "We have a lot to discuss. Much to explain. However, you are secure in this place. I swear.
She didn't think I was real. didn't have faith in me. didn't recall loving me.
However, she was still alive. And that was sufficient. For the time being. For now.
The rest we would work out. collectively. As usual.
Even if it took a very long time. even if she didn't remember everything. Even in the event that everything changed.
She was alive. Home. Ours.
This was the only miracle that mattered. The only one.
Nothing else did.