A shadow in the ember

The glow flared and then expanded, rolling out from Bele in a wave, an intense, powerful aura that became a shockwave. Wind roared around us, tugging at my clothing and hair. The floor shook—everything rattled as a bolt of light streaked across the sky above the open ceiling. Lightning.  I’d never seen lightning here.

The aura faded. The wind and shaking ceased.

Nektas made that soft trilling sound again, and Bele’s chest rose deeply as if she were drawing in a deep breath. I lifted my hands, too afraid that I was seeing things. But her eyes twitched. Lashes fluttered up, revealing eyes the color of starlight, bright and silver.

“Holy shit,” Rhain whispered.

Nyktos jerked, placing a hand on the crown of her head. “Bele?”

Her throat worked on a swallow. “Nyktos?” she whispered hoarsely.

It worked.

Thank the gods, it had worked.

A shudder of relief went through the Primal and me and then the entire chamber. Aios snapped forward, picking up Bele’s hand, holding it tightly between hers.

“How are you feeling?” Nyktos asked, his voice rough.

“Tired? Really tired. But okay, I think.” Confusion filled her voice as she looked over at me. “Did you…did you try to stab that bastard with a butter knife?”

“Yes,” I said, the word coming out as a laugh. “Didn’t work too well.”

“Crazy,” she whispered, swallowing again. “I…saw it.”

“Saw what?” He smoothed a hand over her forehead.

Her eyes closed. “Light,” she whispered. “Intense light and…Arcadia. I saw Arcadia.”

I clasped both of my hands together, holding them to my chest as Bele’s muscles relaxed, and her breathing deepened.

“Bele?” Nyktos called, taking his hand from her cheek. There was no answer.

“Is she all right?” Aios asked.

“She sleeps,” Nyktos replied, staring down at the goddess. Several long moments passed. “That is all.”

“That is all?” echoed Ector. His laugh was abrupt. “That is not all.” He was on his knees, the eather pulsing intently behind his pupils as he focused on me—as he stared at me with a mixture of awe and fear.

Slowly, Nyktos faced me. “What you did is impossible. An ember of life shouldn’t have been enough for what you did,” he breathed, searching my features as if he were looking for something. “You didn’t just bring her back. You…you Ascended her.”