Chapter 68

I blink, laying in a meadow that seems to reach for miles. My head was on my arms, finding shapes in the clouds to occupy my thoughts. It feels nice here. It feels peaceful.

I tilt my head to the side and reach out towards a Daisy when a familiar voice reaches my ears. "So, you're finally awake," I jump slightly, shocked by the intrusion into my thoughts. My mind and body relax instantly, recognising the voice.

"Oh, it's just you. You scared me!" I accuse, a smile splitting across my face. She tilts her head, her arms wrapped behind her back, holding her smile.

"Really? I'm sorry," she giggles, not at all sorry.

Standing up, I brush the dirt off my dress only to tilt my head staring at myself for what feels like the first time. My hands, legs and feet - they're small?

I realise I'm a kid again.

Wait-... again?

"I think I've been dreaming," I speak my thoughts without fear, holding her soft hazel orbs with my amethyst ones.

"Why do you think that?"

"Because I can swear, I was a lot bigger. And Father-... well he was a monster a-and I killed him. I had a mate. I made friends - I saw you! I had a sister, she was evil, and then we fought and-... I-I must've woken up," I chuckle, unable to recall anything after.

She giggles, her hand sitting over her lips, "wow, that sounds like quite the adventure," I nod, clasping my hands together.

"It really was! Come on, let's go home. I'll tell you all about it!" I take an eager step forward, but she holds her hand up to stop me.

"Valerie-... wait," I stop, confused. "It was real."

"What was real?" I laugh.

"The dream, it was real. I should know, I was there. Remember, Elias. Jaxson. Sophia. Grayson. Dylan-..." my brows knit together, confused.

"H-How do you know their names. I didn't tell you their names?" I ask, confused.

As I take a hesitant step back, the memories flood through my mind. Reality suddenly hits - I'm dead - this is death! But then-...

My gaze travels up to meet hers, "I'm dead. How are you here if I'm dead, Theia!?" I ask.

"Because you're not dead, Valerie," I don't know whether to be relieved, confused or scared. "I managed to reach you before you fell into the black hole."

"Reach me? What the hell are you saying?! We're going to die," I breathe. It isn't me I was afraid for - it's her. She wanted so much, an adventure - a life! Now because of me, she's about to die!

"I want to tell you something, a story about a girl who died before she could take her first breaths-... and how she was cursed to live over and over again, destined to die before she could ever grow. Paying for the mistakes of her mother."

Theia whispers the words like a soft hymn. I listen - confused.

"With every life, she took a different name. She took various identities - *always*. She would lose her parents. It could be by anything - childbirth, murder - it didn't matter. She would always end up alone."

Her tone remains soft as if I'm the one she's comforting.

"She wouldn't remember her past lives, not until the age of five. Then she'd remember everything, and she'd wait for her inevitable death. Only to be reborn and repeat the same story - a painful story."

Tears sting the back of my eyes as the wind wisps past our bodies. Theia's black dress float with the wind and grows longer. I blink, and no longer is there a girl standing before me, but a gorgeous woman.

"That girl is me."

Her long ash-brown locks reach her waist. Her hazel gaze seems so inviting and warm.

"No..." I whisper. "No! You would have told me-... You should have! B-Because we told each other everything-... Right?" I breathe, holding her gaze for even a little assurance.

Theia smiles. It's only now I see the maturity and knowledge hidden within her eyes.

"Why... To only burden you with more problems? I couldn't do that, Valerie," she answers, "you see, every time I'd awaken and remember everything, there was always one thing I looked forward to the most. One thing that made it all worth it."

"What could possibly be worth all that?" I growl.

"Why you, my beautiful, independent, strong, little sister."

I catch my breath, realising why she looks so familiar. She looks like my mother.

Gentle strokes of the wind carry away the Daisys. "It was you. It was you all along."

"Yes - for we are the three king of Orion - otherwise known as the three sisters. The prophecy was never about the planets - it was about us. About our union on Lilah's field."

Theia smiles and kneels to pick a daisy. She stands up and holds it close to her chest, "it was all worth it, Valerie. You were everything I hoped you'd be and more. I'm so proud of you. I'm so proud of the woman you've become. Don't change, don't change for anyone."

The meadow starts to melt away like someone just threw a bucket of water onto a fresh painting. Theia sinks to the bottomless pit beneath me, and I reach out for her with greedy hands.

"Don't, don't. Please-... Please, just let me do this! Let me!" I pleaded, reaching out for her. "You've suffered enough. You don't deserve this, Theia!"

A sob quakes through my body as I try to reach out for her. She only smiles and releases the daisy. The small flower float towards me, and I cup it with a heartbreaking sob, suddenly older again.

"So have you, Sister. Don't be scared. It isn't your destiny to die today - it's mine. It always has been."

Suddenly, I'm in Eldora. I'm no longer attached to Freya. My body falls from the sky, watching Theia's small figure hold onto Freya.

"Y-You!" Freya whispers - fearfully. "Y-Your dead. I-I-I killed you."

"No, sister. You did something far worse," Theia sighs, the black hole engulfing Freya's body first.

"Theia!" I scream, trying to warp to her, but something is stopping me. Why the fuck can't I go to her?! Her eyes find mine, a bright, breath-taking smile splitting across her face.

"It's okay. I'll be okay - I promise. Goodbye, Valerie."

But it's too late, I saw it - the fear lurking in her eyes as she stares back into the black abyss. Its shadows reach out to steal her innocence, her life and trap her for eternity with Freya.

And she's gone. The black holes disappear as The sky heals itself. The world returns to normal, and my knees clash with the ground - my mind, body and soul - numb.

I keep my eyes glued to where I last saw her, waiting for her to return. To appear out of nowhere and scream *'boo.'*

I wait to see her smile - her eyes. To feel her warmth and to hold her close.

But she doesn't return - she stays gone. Forever.

She leaves me with only a daisy as my only connection to her - as if this small little flower will make up for her absence.