Page 89 of A Rising Hope

I marched through the chateau, blinded and defeated by the broken rage within.

I wasn’t sure where I walked to. My legs just carried my body. My thoughts whipped my bleeding soul without mercy. Like a curse, Zora’s words replayed in my head again and again until I couldn’t bear it anymore.

My body crumbled, and I fell to my knees. My face hit the harsh, unkempt stone of the courtyard. The oxygen in my lungs was dangerously tight, my skin prickled as if covered in a thousand needles. The armor I was still wearing felt was suffocating on me, the iron weight now more like a coffin, burying me alive.

But I couldn’t get up. I couldn’t move even a single finger.

I couldn’t even utter a word, as I laid flat against the ground, convulsing.

My body shook violently. Bile seeped out of my tight lips; my jaw clenched shut.

But I welcomed the agony.

I welcomed the destruction, succumbing to its alluring call.

56

FINNLEAH

The silver veil moved, Death parting the way for me to see beyond.

Four beautiful women, dressed in simple white gowns, smiled at me softly.

“Hello, Finnleah.” The taller and younger one of the group, took a step forward. A little shiver ran down my skin and though I didn’t know her, I knew with certainty that she was a warrior. “I am Diamara.” Her sharp brown eyes wrinkled in the corners as she welcomed me.

I glanced over my shoulder to Death. She nodded, allowing me to step beyond the veil. And I did.

A shimmering spell kissed my skin, and I glowed. My body, as if absorbing the magic beyond the veil, shined like the moon and stars.

“So beautiful,” one of the ladies grinned at me. My brows furrowed as I realized the glow was only radiating from me. My figure illuminated in translucent light.

“Wha—” I opened my mouth to question.

“The light of godhood,” the eldest answered. “You are no mere mortal, Finnleah.” Her matching silver eyes and silver hair, met mine. Her words imprinted on my mind.

The most gorgeous woman I had ever seen interrupted the lady with a wise beyond the stars appearance. “All in due time, Petra.” The stranger smiled at me. Her bright azure eyes made her look almost enchanted. “I am Railin, my dear.” She gave me a curt nod.

“As in Railin the Fair, the High Lady of Creators’?” I stared at all of them, realizing. “And DiamaraBellator, the Destroyer Empress?” A little chill ran down my skin. She nodded.

Four women.

Destroyer. Creator. Seer. Healer.

I looked around again.

“I am Ocsanna.” A full-bodied woman with perfectly rosy cheeks and a set of freckles sheepishly waved at me.

“Healer?” I asked. She grinned in confirmation. I turned to the oldest woman with dark green eyes and silver in her hair. “And I suppose that would make you High Lady of the Seers?”

“Correct.”

All the questions I had turned into incoherent gibberish in my head, and I couldn’t come up with a single complete sentence. I opened my mouth and closed it a few times, unsure of what to ask, what to say, where to even begin.

“I am sure you have lots of questions.” Diamara met my lost stare with illuminating kindness. “And I am sorry we couldn’t answer them sooner. But we shall answer as much as we can in this little glimpse of time we’ve carved out. Come.” She extended her hand to me, and I took it. Her hand felt cold. The tight calluses on her palm were similar to mine.

The white matter around us shifted and with a blink of an eye we appeared on a shore near the deep turquoise waters of an endless ocean. Calm seas rolled lazily in the smallest waves.The crystal-clear water reflected the bright light of the large twin suns above.

“Let’s go for a stroll, shall we?” Diamara pointed with her chin towards the endless strip of sand.

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