Page 8 of Between Soul and Vessel
Movement captured my attention, pulling it back down to the doors. On them, two carvings appeared, depicting a smiling female and a towering, beautiful male—the most gorgeous one I had ever seen, a truth I was certain of. Crowns, crafted from bones and burning with a dark, shadowy flame, floated above their heads. The male wrapped his strong, powerful arms around her as he softly kissed her neck. She guided his ringed fingers to her rounded belly, filled with the gift of life. Roses bloomed around them, intricately linked by winding vines.
They were happy . . .
So very happy.
A feeling, one I had no name for, kicked at my numbness—like a fist knocking against a door. Although it might have been closed, I could hear it as it pounded away, screaming to be let in.
“It’s eyes are leaking,” Nemtuk said in astonishment, his voice plucking me from my thoughts.
Imari came closer, peering down at me. “Have you ever seen this before?”
“Never,” Nemtuk answered with a slow shake of his head. “The connection between soul and vessel is severed, and yet, somehow, they are still tethered.” With a curled, claw-tipped finger, he dabbed at my face, sweeping up the tear. He studied it.
“It’s rather peculiar,” Imari said, her attention shifting to the door. “Do you think it showed her something?”
“It very well could have.” Nemtuk nodded before his expression turned sheepish. Subtly, he probed, “Do you see anything?”
“I do,” Imari answered. “I see myself, standing in front of an applauding crowd, accepting a blessing from Empress Avena.” A smile caressed the corners of her heart-shaped mouth. She looked at Nemtuk. “What doyousee?”
His eyes drifted to the door, and his expression turned sheepish. “I’d rather not say.”
“You see me, don’t you?” she teased, letting out a soft laugh.
“I do not,” he blurted out.
“Welcome to Avolonia. TheDoors of the Heart’s Desireare quite something, are they not?” asked a female voice as she strodethroughthe closed doors. She was small in stature, but the way she carried herself, the certainty in her step, the upward tip of her jaw, spoke otherwise. She wore a silk robe, dyed the same color as the sky above. Aleather belt wrapped around her petite waist, and from it hung a small cloth pouch and a rabbit’s foot. A strip of white paint ran across her face, passing over her wine-colored eyes. Her hair fell in gentle waves.
At her approach, Imari and Nemtuk bowed their heads, but it was Imari who said, “Yes, Priestess Avriel.”
The priestess’s eyes slid to mine, her brows raising ever so slightly. “You have traveled all this way to deliver justonesoul? How come?”
“Because, it seems to be, well . . .” Imari paused for a brief moment. She leaned in and whispered, “Awake.”
The priestess shook her head. “That can’t be.”
“I would not lie to you,” Imari spoke swiftly. “Please, take a look.”
Hesitant at first, Priestess Avriel looked from Imari to Nemtuk, who still had his head bowed, then back to me. She took one step closer, eyes roving over my limp carcass as if I were some strange, dangerous specimen.
Then, she peered deeplyintome.
Suddenly, she let out a gasp. “The soulisawake! Come. Quickly.” Avriel turned swiftly, her heels clicking loudly as she charged toward the entrance.
Imari took my vessel from Nemtuk. In a silent goodbye, the two exchanged looks rather than words. Imari turned and carried me toward the doors—the man and pregnant woman still present.
Inside the palace, the soft, melodic tune of a harp echoed off the cavernous walls, accompanied by a beautiful female voice that harmonized with the enchantinginstrument. Statues, similar to the ones I had seen before but much smaller, were carved into the walls. Females, a medley of ages and species, lined the hallways, their whispered conversations stalling as we passed by them. One with the face of a cat caught my attention. She stopped licking her paw as her slit pupils fell on me. Her ears shifted backwards, her eyes widening.
“Open,” Avriel commanded as we approached another set of doors.
Two charcoal-skinned women, dressed in sleek, white robes tucked beneath silver armor, nodded in response. With a wave of their claw-tipped fingers, blue magic swirled into the air, curling around the cylindrical handles and pulling the doors open.
When Imari stepped through them, the world exploded in brilliant light. It shone through the thin vaulted ceilings, through the opal structure, sparking pure magic before my very eyes. A ballet of greens, pinks, purples, and reds. It was like the Northern Lights had been brought inside, the colors dancing with one another as if they were alive.
Elegant tapestries hung from the ceiling. A woman who possessed beauty unlike I had ever seen before was featured in each one. Her hair was spun of gold, her eyes the color of freshly bloomed lilacs, her skin a rich ivory encased in a golden glow. Although she was the focal point, the story told in each tapestry was different. Some spoke of reverence, while others told of great victories. At the far end of the room was a dais. Upon it sat a mountainous throne forged from the same dazzling gemstone as the rest of thepalace—
An opal throne.
The throne was enchanting, but the giant who sat upon it was beyond compare.
