Chapter 50: Beginning of the end[2]

Time: A week after the war.
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Peace.
For the first time in months, I am waking up to an overwhelming sense of peace. Nothing matters anymore; nothing can bring me back. No death. No vengeance. Just peace.
In this peaceful place, there is no fighting; there is no sorrow. In this calm world of peace, I feel complete.
But there is one person that matters to me. This peacefulness cannot last forever.
I sit up, careful not to disturb the peace around me. I stretch my arms out, feeling the muscles in my back and shoulders loosen.
I look around, taking in my surroundings. It is a beautiful garden, surrounded by trees and flowers. The sun shines brightly, warming my skin.
I look around, searching for the source of the warmth. It is coming from a large tree in the centre of the garden. It is tall, the trunk twisting gracefully as a large red leaf rests on top of its head.
Slowly, I climb down the steps of the fountain I was lying in and walk towards the tree. My feet crunch against fallen leaves as I approach the tree.
Slowly, carefully, I reach for the branch above me and grab ahold of it. With a tug, I manage to lift the huge red leaf from its place.
My heart skips a beat as the soft green grass crinkles underneath me. Slowly I stand up, keeping the leaf in my hand tightly clutched to my chest, making sure it doesn't fall.
My eyes wander around the clearing, finding nothing but beauty. I sigh deeply and close my eyes for a second. My eyes flutter shut momentarily, before opening again.
Suddenly, I feel a presence approaching me and my head snaps up.
"Bellatrix," I hear a familiar voice whisper.
I turn around and my breath catches in my throat.
Standing in front of me is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Her long black hair flows freely down her back, framing her face perfectly. She wears a simple white dress, with golden sleeves. Her skin is so pale she looks almost ethereal, and the light reflects beautifully on her perfect skin, enhancing the light hues of green on her cheeks and lips.
Her piercing emerald eyes gaze at me, and it feels like they are looking straight through my soul. Her lips curve upwards slightly as her eyes soften, and the warm smile on her delicate face makes my heart skip a beat.
"You made it Bella, thank you for bringing the balance we craved for decades." She speaks gently, her voice soft like velvet.
"We were beginning to grow weak, to become vulnerable. But then you showed us that even the darkest darkness is lighter than the light. We found our strength in your love Bellatrix, our light in the dark. Now everything will be righted again." She pauses and then smiles, "It is time for you to go back now"
I open my mouth to speak, wanting to ask what she means, but when she turns to leave, it's all too late. I see her wings, glistening under the sunlight, spreading slowly behind her back.
The light reflects off of them brilliantly. And then, just as quickly, they disappear... As for me? I am falling.
††
"Michal died." Serves him right. "We never believed he would do something like that" Vas says.
"The white Lycan plunged his sword into Starkev's heart and it was so badass. But you should have seen your light, princess, it swept over the whole land and it healed us... It healed the injured warriors and it broke the almost finished orb Starkev had been creating" Blue is bouncing on her feet as she relays the war to me, apparently Tian too was in with Michal too and it was on Michal's orders he had approached me the first time to be sure I was the chosen. So much information.
I had just woken up two hours ago to meet Michal and Blue at my bed. I am in Astrid and Alec is long gone.
"Where is Trikan?"
"He is in a meeting with the elders and the King and Queen" The King and Queen. I instantly jump out of the bed, ignoring the pain that it causes to my leg. I need to see them, I haven't seen them in over ten years. I need to see them.
"Be careful, Princess" Blue calls after me.
I rush down the hall, taking every turn that I can. My footsteps echoing through the castle walls. I run past some of my friends and allies, they don't even realize it's me. Finally, I reach the room where the Kings meetings happen and I push open the heavy doors, bursting into the room. It is then I see them, tears blur my vision but I still recognize them, my family. My mother through the queen and my father the king. They are both staring in surprise, their eyes wide as if they aren't sure what I am doing here.
"Hello, Father," I say as quietly as I can, afraid that my voice will break under the pressure. "Hi, Mother" My father's response is equally hushed, his hands shaking slightly as he takes my hand. My mother's lips move silently as she stares at me, she looks at least 20 years younger, like she hasn't aged since the day she lost me. She opens her mouth once again to speak, but this time she doesn't make a sound. Instead, I am enveloped in a bone-crushing hug from my father. His hair tickles my face, causing an unpleasant sneeze but I ignore it. For now anyway.
Eventually, our hug ends and we stand there for a moment before he speaks. His voice is thick with emotion as he speaks. "Are you well, my princess?"
"I'm fine, Papà", I try to reassure him but I could tell it didn't work. He looks at my left leg, which is wrapped tightly in bandages as well as splinted. He gently places a hand on my shoulder. His touch is warm and gentle and makes me feel slightly safer. "Your leg is bruised" My mother speaks. It is the first time I am hearing her voice in a long time. Her voice is soft, almost like silk.
She turns to me and her expression is filled with concern, she reaches out and pulls me into her own hug. Tears spring to my eyes, but I force myself to look away, refusing to show weakness. When she pulls back I notice how similar we are, although her red hair is a darker shade than mine and her eyes are more amber in colour than hazel green. We have always shared our same eye colour, even after all these years. She cups my cheek in her hand, forcing me to look into her bright green eyes.
Her voice is still as soft as I remember it, but there are cracks, signs of age that I have not noticed until now.
"How have you been, little one?"
My voice cracks as I reply her, "You raised a strong girl mamaí, of course I have been well"
"Oh, goddess" She whispers inaudibly while she brushes a hand through my hair "you have gotten so tall! And your hair!" Her words come pouring out in a jumble as she tries to keep her cool, trying not to cry. She pulls me tighter against her chest, resting her chin on top of my head. Her arms shake as they grip me too tightly but I don't complain. I hold her back just as fiercely. She finally lets go and steps back.
"Your Papa and I worried about you... Thank goddess you are safe"
"Ishtar be blessed," Father says. He moves towards me slowly, reaching out his hands and pulling me into another hug, his eyes filling with unshed tears. "You're home, daughter" He whispers. I wrap my arms around him as best as I can, squeezing him tightly. I am home or not.
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Time: Four weeks after the war.
Everything has been put back in place and so my work on Astrid is done. I will not deny that it is the hardest decision I have to make, but my mate needs me more than the Fae realm. After all, he is the new Lycan King.
Mamai, Papa, Trikan, Vassily and Blue all stand at the transition door to usher me back to the mortal realm.
"I will come visiting," I tell them.
"Of course, you will, you better do" Mamaí smiles at me, but I can see the sadness and worries her eyes hold.
I take one last lingering look at Astrid before moving forwards. A wave of nostalgia sweeps over me as I step through the portal.
I know the path back, having walked this path countless times, but I still find myself surprised by how different it feels now, walking through Faerie's portals to the mundane world.
I smile as I step into the Winter Pack territory. Today is his coronation but he doesn't know I am here yet.
"Sis!" It is Karen, she comes running to me with a smile on her face. I laugh when she jumps and flails her arms around my neck in excitement.
"Are you here to stay?" she asks and I shrug.
"My place is wherever my mate is"
Karen grins at me, "Cool then, we have a journey to make!"
And so I am seated in a very fancy sports car on my way to the Silver castle.
Home. Who could tell, that eventually, home for me was going to be with Alec Knight? I chuckle to myself. How conceited.
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