Chapter 319 Dark Clouds

Chapter 319 Dark Clouds

Dakaath didn’t fight back, allowing her to get her anger out. When she punched him, he let her, not caring that he heard a bone crack. When she started to shift, Aarshon stepped in, grabbing her. Dakaath didn’t care if she had killed him. If she had, then he would be with Ailive.

“Nix, honey, please, can’t you see that he is hurting just as much as you?” Aarshon tried to get her to see, but she couldn’t. She was blinded by her grief.

When the door opened again Lindaat came in with more flowers to put around Ailive. The moment she saw her mother had shifted and Dakaath had a broken nose, she started to cry again. The flowers fell to the floor, forgotten as she tried to deal with her mother.

“Mother, you didn’t have to harm him. He did everything he could to save her. He broke both his hands to try and get to her.” Lindaat told her falling to her knees to pull her mother into a hug.

“Why did this happen?” Aarshone asked, looking at the two of them.

“We have no idea, just that one moment she was with us, the next she was pulled into the cave. It was so cold.” Dakaath told him as he looked at Ailive again. She had been right there in his arms. Alive and laughing, then gone, pulled away from him.

“Xylia isn’t speaking to anyone. Not even her mom. Ehlark keeps trying to get her to talk to but she just cries.” Lindaat looked from her mom to her dad.

“She is really taking this hard,” Aarshon told her as he went over to the bed. Taking his daughter's hand, he kissed it lightly. Putting a flower in her hand. “How did we lose you, little light?”

Dakaath couldn’t take it, as he looked from Aarshon to Nix. He broke down again, tears dripping down onto the floor. Blood was dripping from his nose. When Nix took human form again, she looked at Dakaath, then to Ailive.

“Lindaat I can’t bear this.” Nix sobbed as she held Lindaat close. Her heart was broken in two.

“I know, Mom,” Lindaat told her, holding her close, trying to stay strong for her mother. She had lost her best friend in the world, the one friend who had been with her from the start of her life. “Is she really gone?”

Two days later, they traveled with Ailive back to the Seelie castle. The one home that she had known. The Queen had escorted them back. A long parade of elves with lights walking through the forest. A carriage carried the body of Ailive. Dakaath walked behind the carriage. Nix with Aarshon rode in the carriage with Lindat. Dakaath had been asked to ride with them, but he told them that he should walk.

Xylia with Ehlark rode in another carriage along with Seiveril. It was a long trip, but once they arrived at the castle, Aarmeris welcomed them with tears on his face.

“Please tell me my little light didn’t leave me,” Aarmeris asked when he saw Lindaat and Nix.

All Nix could do was cry as she walked past him. Aarshon helped her into the castle, leaving him with Lindaat. When Aarmeris looked to Lindaat she walked with him to the back of the carriage, where Ailive was. Aarmeris looked down at his granddaughter and felt fresh tears on his face. The ground shook the sky darkened as he let his feelings show.

“Where is she?” Aarmeris asked, looking for Xylia. He already knew that Nix wouldn’t have spoken to Xylia. Rayne had taken care to talk and try to care for her. Aarshon had sent word that Xylia wasn’t taking the death very well.

Lindaat walked with him to the carriage that Xylia was sitting in. Ehlark was holding her as Aarmeris came to the carriage. She couldn’t look at him when he came to stop at the side of the carriage.

“Xylia, come here, child.” Aarmeris put his hand out to her. Fear clouded his mind for a moment that she wouldn’t come close to him.

Xylia took his hand, slowly stepping out of the carriage to go to her grandfather. Shaking like a leaf when he folded her into his arms. Holding her close, letting her cry. He knew that she didn’t ask for any of this. It wasn’t her choice, and she had fought so hard to stop it.

“My little light, you didn’t do this out of malice. She was like a sister to you, and if you could have stopped it, you would have.” Aarmeris told her as she cried.

“I tried so hard,” Xylia whispered into his chest. The first time she had spoken since they brought her out of the cake.

“I know my little light,” Aarmeris told her, holding her as she cried. He could only hold her as they both cried. When Aarshone came out of the castle, Aarmeris looked up at his son. “How is Nix? How are you doing?”

“Not good, she isn’t taking this well at all.” Aarshon looked down at his daughter. “I have to be strong for her.”

“This shouldn’t have happened. Where is he?” Aarmeris asked, letting Xylia step away from him. Lindaat showed him where Myrddin was. “You have cost my family a great deal. I shall be sure that you are punished in a way that all will see. That they will know that harming my family will doom you to pain and suffering.”

“Aarmeris,” Seiveril called his name softly with grief in her voice.

“Dear Seiveril, it is good to see you again. Terrible circumstances that bring us here.” Aarmeris told her as tears slid down his face. “It did my heart some good to hear that you didn’t have anything to do with this. Ailive was a beautiful girl.”

“I know her sister is an amazing woman. If her sister was anything like her, then the Goddess did bless your family.” Seiveril bowed as she looked toward her son. “Dakaath isn’t doing well. Not eating, drinking. He won’t leave her side.”

“He loved her?” Aameris looked toward him as he guarded the carriage, keeping people from getting too close.

So many of the citizens had loved Ailive. She had given so much to the people. The twins had given so much to the townsfolk.

“Yes, he loved her a great deal. I do believe we would have had a wedding if she had lived.” Seiveril told him, looking to her son with sadness. “Dakaath, please come inside.”

“I won’t leave her,” Dakaath told her with a grunt.

“Let him stay where he is.” Aameris led her into the castle with Lindaat following them in.

Dakaath stood at the carriage waiting, knowing that a few of the servants would come out to move her. When two male servants came to move her, he stiffened.

“You will not touch her.” He told them.

They bowed and knew that he would say that. Letting him lift her off the bed of flowers and silk. Dakaath was led into the castle.