Page 113 of The Ballad of a Bard

She gasped out for air as it began to delve deeper, finding the small bit of immortality that already belonged to her and cradling it like a newborn babe. It surrounded every inch of power, examined it and deemed it not enough as it added small beads of light and love and power to it. She felt her magic as it became a heavy weight, flowing freer. There was a burst of white that exploded inside of her, transforming into flashbangs of red that she saw as stars exploded in her vision. Her sight blurred and she toppled over as her body convulsed.

“Crimson?” Her father called out but she could barely hear him. Her fingers twitched, her spine locked and her shoulder bent backwards.

Crimson was vaguely aware of the cry that left her mouth as everything turned to ash and bone and life. As those little bits of Muse’s heart fused with her own, coating her insides with the newfound grace and eternal youth. She panted through the pain, the tremors that broke out along her skin as the hairs on the back of her neck stood up.

And as it all calmed down like a raging storm on the brink of destruction, only to dissolve and fade away into nothing before true chaos struck, she found herself staring at her hands. They were still pale, yes, but she swore there was a faint sparkle to her skin like pure moonlight.

Because Dream had camouflaged the other Saints to look normal, to fit in with the other mortals. But she’d just become afull-blooded one, without any sort of glamour to fall into place over her. Crimson had never been a vain sort of person before, but she longed for a mirror now. To see what the transformation had done to her, to find the changes.

“Your eyes…” Her father exclaimed with wonder. “There’s flame in them.”

“I feel… stronger.” She turned to him, allowing him to see the full extent of the magic that roiled through her, still rounding her edges into sharper, more dangerous things.

“It’s going to take some time to get used to it, I imagine. I’ve never seen anyone become a full Saint before- after creating the others. And even then, it was an entirely different process.”

Now, there were six of them again.

The Imp, known for their madness and sanity all wrapped in one.

The Dreamer, the tether between living and dead, between reality and imagination.

The Warrior, for the blood spilt by men and their strength to fight for what they believed in.

The Heartache, to represent the matters of the heart and everything that came with it, good or bad.

The Northern Star, with his trustworthy manner that always led men to find their true north, and the night that followed with the brightest of lights.

And now Heartstrings, able to weave and control matters of the mind and hearts, whispering commands without so much as batting an eyelash in their direction.

Crimson felt alive.

“Thank you,” She whispered to the male by her side. “For this extreme gift.”

She wasn’t sure if it was forgiveness that blossomed insideof her chest, or if it was something even close. But over the years, she’d needed to know why he’d left and he’d given her an answer. One that made sense, one that she understood beyond anything else considering that she too would do anything for Cobalt’s sake. She’d given up her life to mother him, raise him, love him. She’d given up her innocence to fight and kill and win in order to afford a home and food and medicine for him. She’d even given herself up to Altivar for his life.

Connor had done the same.

Crimson turned her hands over, admiring the new thrall of power that vibrated down to her very core.

“I am so sorry for the trauma of leaving you behind.” Connor began with a sorrowful look on his face. “I never wanted to hurt you, my darling daughter. I hope you know that it broke a fundamental piece of me to leave you behind, but I knew that I could not lose either of you.”

She let his words flow over her.

“I know this won’t heal the damage I’ve created these last eight years, but let it be a start.”

“I missed you,” Crimson admitted to him, finding his gaze with her own. “Every day. I thought the weapons you left behind were your artefact, and every night for a full year, I begged you to come back with them in my clutches.”

He let out a shuddering breath. “I left that necklace with you, because you were the only one I trusted with something that powerful.”

She’d known it all along.

“Please don’t leave again.” She said quietly. “You’ve found Altivar and I will do whatever it takes to help you destroy the curse on Cobalt, but please don’t leave us alone again when it’s all said and done.”

There was that shred of vulnerability she showed him, allowing him to understand that she was willing to let the past fall away like a grain of sand on the wind, so long as he didn’t repeat his previous mistakes. There was still so much agony within her heart and head that she needed to sort out, but she could start here. She could allow herself the proper time to heal as long as he was there for it all.

It had just been her and Cobalt for so long that a part of her wondered if she’d even remember how to be a family again. If she could relax in her role of guardian and allow herself to fall back into the role of sister and sibling only, of a daughter once more.

Crimson wanted the chance totry.

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