Part 18
Holding Illestra's hand, Xarth listened as Iblis explained all he could about the nights events. His face grim, he looked down at Illestra laying upon the table. "Don't worry, my dear, we'll get you someone" he assured her before turning to Iblis. But his order to go find a victim to feed her was cut short.
"No." Illestra's voice was strong with conviction, halting Iblis as he started out the cave entrance. Then again, softer, "No. There will be no more death for my sake."
Knowing that nothing would change her mind, Xarth nodded his acceptance of her decision. "Very well" he said as he started to roll up his sleeve, bidding Iblis to give him a dagger. But again Illestra stopped him.
"No, Xarth. No more death. No more blood." She smiled softly, her eyes taking on a faraway look as she stared up at the ceiling of the cavern. "I see it, Xarth... Dark and light. Good and evil. Man and beast. I see the perfect balance. There is peace here... tranquility." She turned her head to look at him, her eyes shining. "It's Golconda, Xarth. The path Khross started me on... the path Seifer helped guide me... I've reached it's end. And what I find here is more beautiful than I ever thought it could be." Her voice weakened and Xarth felt her hand trembling. "I but need to rest some... to regain my strength..." she tried to keep her voice light, but a sad look crept into her eyes. "I fear my sleep will be a long one... very long."
"What is a little sleep when we have eternity?" Xarth tried to smile reassuringly and was rewarded with her own grateful nod.
"Talon," she called softly. The large eagle fluttered onto the table to stand beside her, gently nudging her shoulder. She smiled as she stroked his golden feathers. "You brought me to this place. For that I am eternally grateful." Focusing her thoughts, she silently bid him to watch over Iblis in her stead. Looking in his eyes, she saw his agreement and smiled.
Lifting her head, she looked at Iblis still standing near the entrance. "Remember, my son, what I have told you" she whispered as he came close. "Tis my blood in your veins now. I will always be with you, childe."
Worn from her efforts, she lay her head back down and closed her eyes. A soft smile curved her lips. "So beautiful... so peaceful..." she murmured as she drifted off to an eternal sleep.
"No." Illestra's voice was strong with conviction, halting Iblis as he started out the cave entrance. Then again, softer, "No. There will be no more death for my sake."
Knowing that nothing would change her mind, Xarth nodded his acceptance of her decision. "Very well" he said as he started to roll up his sleeve, bidding Iblis to give him a dagger. But again Illestra stopped him.
"No, Xarth. No more death. No more blood." She smiled softly, her eyes taking on a faraway look as she stared up at the ceiling of the cavern. "I see it, Xarth... Dark and light. Good and evil. Man and beast. I see the perfect balance. There is peace here... tranquility." She turned her head to look at him, her eyes shining. "It's Golconda, Xarth. The path Khross started me on... the path Seifer helped guide me... I've reached it's end. And what I find here is more beautiful than I ever thought it could be." Her voice weakened and Xarth felt her hand trembling. "I but need to rest some... to regain my strength..." she tried to keep her voice light, but a sad look crept into her eyes. "I fear my sleep will be a long one... very long."
"What is a little sleep when we have eternity?" Xarth tried to smile reassuringly and was rewarded with her own grateful nod.
"Talon," she called softly. The large eagle fluttered onto the table to stand beside her, gently nudging her shoulder. She smiled as she stroked his golden feathers. "You brought me to this place. For that I am eternally grateful." Focusing her thoughts, she silently bid him to watch over Iblis in her stead. Looking in his eyes, she saw his agreement and smiled.
Lifting her head, she looked at Iblis still standing near the entrance. "Remember, my son, what I have told you" she whispered as he came close. "Tis my blood in your veins now. I will always be with you, childe."
Worn from her efforts, she lay her head back down and closed her eyes. A soft smile curved her lips. "So beautiful... so peaceful..." she murmured as she drifted off to an eternal sleep.
posted by Shadowsong | 6:52 PM
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