Chapter 127 — The past merges with the present
Selene didn't stop till she stepped into the crumbling remains of Aria's birthplace.
“This place…” She finally mumbled, “steeped in the echoes of ancient power and forgotten sorrow. The air whispers of long-dead witches…”
The witches looked at each other, confusion clear on all their faces.
She pulled a small, silver dagger from thin air. With a deep breath, she drew the blade across her palm, allowing her blood to flow freely.
She walked in a slow, deliberate circle, the blood pooling in the dirt, forming a boundary around her. As the circle closed, a low hum of power resonated through the stones, a signal that the ancient magic was awakening.
Selene settled in the center, her hand resting protectively on her swollen belly. Around her, the gathered witches stood in stunned silence.
Selene's eyes were dark and intense, scanning the group before she spoke. "This is a rite as old as our kind," she said. "The birth of this child will be unlike any other. It must be done here, within these sacred boundaries, where the ancient powers can witness and aid."
The Witch Mother bowed as she stepped forward."But why alone? Why in such a place of desolation and danger? This body is still weak and vulnerable.”
Selene smiled, a secretive curve of her lips. "Because it is here that the past and future converge. It is here that the old magic will rise again. And it is here," she added, her tone growing fierce, "that I forbid any of you to interfere. No matter what happens, no matter what you hear or see, you must not cross this boundary.”
The witches exchanged uneasy glances, their uncertainty palpable. "But," Brianna protested, "what if something goes wrong? What if… ”
"No," Selene cut her off sharply. "You must not intervene. Even if I scream, even if I beg, you will do nothing. This is my command.”
A heavy silence fell, broken only by the distant rustle of leaves and the murmur of the wind. The witches nodded, though their expressions were etched with reluctance.
Selene turned her attention inward, her hands gently caressing her belly. She could feel the power surging through her, mingling with the life force of the child within. "The baby is coming," she whispered, her eyes closing as she centered herself. "And it will be a spectacle unlike any you have ever seen.”
The witches stood at the edge, their breaths held, their eyes wide with a mixture of dread and fascination.
Selene's breathing deepened, becoming rhythmic as she focused.
She felt the ancient magic swirling around her, its presence both comforting and overwhelming. The ground beneath her seemed to pulse with life, the boundary glowing faintly with an eerie, ethereal blue light.
The sky above darkened. The air grew colder, the whispers of the past growing louder, more insistent.
“ Aaahhhhhh! ” Selene's cries of pain and exertion filled the space, but the witches held firm, remembering her command. They watched as the magic within the circle intensified, a luminous glow enveloping Selene and the unborn child.
As Selene's labor progressed her body convulsed with each wave of pain, sweat mingling with the blood from her palm and birth canal, now pooled on the ground.
The witches, standing just outside the boundary, watched in awe and horror.
Minutes stretched into eternity as Selene's screams echoed through the ruins, resonating with the ancient power she had invoked. Her breath came in ragged gasps, her strength ebbing with each passing moment.
“The child... protect the child!"
Selene's voice was hoarse, barely audible over the chaos of magic and pain. Her eyes, once fierce with determination, now flickered with fear and desperation.
Brianna, hesitated for a moment, tears welling in her eyes. She glanced at the Witch Mother, who nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of Selene's plea. With trembling hands, Brianna stepped forward, just at the edge of the boundary, her heart torn between obedience and compassion.
But Selene, catching sight of her movement, shook her head weakly. "No... stay back," she managed to gasp.
Selene's body arched in a final, agonizing push, her scream piercing the gathering darkness. The ground trembled beneath her, the boundary glowing brighter with each passing second.
Then, in a burst of blinding light, the child emerged, tiny and fragile, covered in blood and magic.
Selene collapsed, her breath shallow, eyes fluttering close. The witches rushed forward, breaking the circle as they gathered around her fallen form.
Brianna cradled the newborn in her arms.
"The child..." Selene's voice was barely a whisper, her hand reaching feebly towards the baby. "Protect... the key..."
The witches bowed their heads, solemn vows on their lips as they vowed to protect the child with their lives. The air hummed with residual magic and then Selene was gone.
The body fell on the ground with a thud, absolutely limp.
Brianna let out a howl as she stepped back.
The child howled louder.
“ Is she? Gone? All these years of waiting… all our hard work… Selene, our Messiah... Witch Mother! ”
She yanked the hunched-back woman towards herself, “ How can this be the end? ”
***
David stood inside the hut, disoriented, his mind swirling in a vortex of confusion.
The encounter had left him reeling, searching desperately for a sense of purpose, a lifeline in the chaos.
Suddenly, a shrieking howl pierced the air, the cry of a newborn slicing through his foggy thoughts.
“Aria," he whispered, the name was a lifeline. Memories tumbled back like a cascade of dominos, each one hitting harder than the last. Her smile, the way she laughed, the gentle touch of her hand. And now, the fragile life they had created together. His heart pounded, thrusting against his ribcage again and again.
"No," he muttered, shaking his head as if trying to shake off the fog. "No, this can't be happening.”
He understood he was thrown into the past. It was Selene's sorcery. So he wouldn't interfere with her plans.
The cry echoed again, more desperate, more urgent. He grabbed his head, the pain of realization sharp and clear. "Aria! Noooo!" The cry tore from his throat, raw and anguished.
He was about to lose her. Forever.
Without another thought, he bolted from the hut, his feet barely touching the ground. The marketplace was a blur around him, faces and colors blending into a chaotic swirl. He darted through the crowd like a bullet, his mind racing faster than his legs.
David's motion seemed unstoppable, that is until he collided with a solid figure, knocking him off balance. He staggered back, and as his vision cleared, he saw her.
"Mother?" he gasped.
His mother, her face a mask of calm determination, gripped his shoulders firmly. "David, you must come with me.”
“But, Mother…" he began.
"I know what's up, my boy. Aria needs you to be strong," she interrupted. "There's only one way to save her.”
David didn't hesitate once after hearing the name. But it was impossible for his mother to know about her. She was long gone before Aria’s birth.
She led him away from the bustling marketplace, into a narrow alley where the noise dimmed. David's mind spun with confusion, but he followed.
Once they were hidden from prying eyes, she turned to him, her expression grave. "Selene's sorcery is powerful, but it has a weakness.”
David stared at her, the words barely penetrating the haze of panic. "What are you talking about?"
"Unrequited love," she said softly, almost to herself. "Selene thrives on it, using it to bind her power. But it's also her downfall.”
David's brow furrowed. "I don't understand."
She reached into her cloak and pulled out a small, edged shell. Its surface glinted ominously in the dim light. "This," she said, pressing it into his hand, "You must use it to kill Selene.”
David recoiled, horror flooding his features. "Kill her? But killing her would kill Aria…"
"No, it won't. You need to trust me. It's the only way," his mother insisted, her eyes locking onto him with fierce intensity.
"Selene's magic brought you here, into the past, to keep you from interfering. She knew you would try to save Aria. This shell," she gestured to it, "is made from my own bones, one that can nullify her magic, even if it's temporary. You can use that window to finish her off.”
He looked down at the shell, its sharp edge pressing into his palm. "But... how do I know this will work? Aria's is at stake! "
"You have to trust me," she said, her voice softening. "If you don't, you'll lose Aria forever. Selene won't stop until she has everything she wants. And what she wants is to see you suffer. She hates you, your father, me our entire bloodline…”
The words struck him like a physical blow. His grip tightened around the shell. "Where is she?" he demanded, a new resolve hardening his voice.
His mother gave a small, sad smile. "Follow the path north out of the village. You'll find her lair in the old cave. But be careful, David. Selene is more dangerous than you can imagine.”
He turned to leave, but paused, looking back at his mother. "Thank you," he said, his voice thick with emotion.
It was after ages that he had heard her voice, probably for the last time. It was their last, proper goodbye.
He ran back, hugging her, pulling her into a tight embrace.
"Go," she urged, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "Save Aria. Save yourself. Save your daughter!”