Chapter 200
Cora and I make our way back to the tower room quietly. The corridors are dim, their bioluminescent lights flickering and casting long, wavering shadows across the walls like silent specters. The silence between us is thick but companionable, both of us lost in our thoughts. When we reach the room, we exchange a brief glance before I push the door open. The hinges creak softly, the sound echoing faintly in the stillness of the chamber.
Inside, Rhea lies curled on the bed, half-hidden beneath a tangle of silken sheets. The warm glow from the ceiling gently bathes her in soft light, though it does little to soothe the lines of tension etched into her face. She’s been sleeping a lot lately, but it’s the kind of restless sleep that offers no peace.
Even now, her brow is furrowed, her expression caught somewhere between discomfort and fear. When she’s awake, she looks haunted, disoriented, and barely able to speak. Seeing her like this breaks something inside me. She can’t be much older than Cora, yet she seems worn down by decades of suffering.
I move closer and gently place a hand on her shoulder. “Rhea,” I say softly. “It’s Phoebe. Cora’s here too. Would you like to wake up for a bit?”
She stirs slowly, her body reacting before her mind fully catches up. Her eyes flutter open, unfocused and distant, as if she’s still caught in some dream she can’t escape. I glance at Cora, who kneels beside the bed, her eyes filled with quiet concern. We wait patiently, giving Rhea time to orient herself.
After several moments, her gaze sharpens slightly. She blinks at us, her brow furrowing as she struggles to push herself upright. Cora quickly moves to support her, propping her up with gentle hands.
“How are you feeling?” Cora asks softly, her voice calm and soothing.
Rhea shakes her head faintly, her movements sluggish. “Tired,” she murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper. It’s hoarse, as though she’s spent years without speaking. “Everything… feels heavy.”
“We’re going to help you get cleaned up and dressed,” I say gently. “Maybe it’ll help you feel a little better.”
She hesitates, her eyes searching mine for a long moment, before she finally nods. “Alright,” she agrees quietly.
Together, Cora and I guide her off the bed. She moves slowly, her limbs stiff and unsteady, as though her body is unused tobeing upright. We help her over to the bathing pool in the corner of the bathing chamber. The water shimmers faintly, reflecting the ambient light in soft ripples. As Rhea sinks into the warm water, a sigh escapes her lips, and for the first time, the tension in her face eases ever so slightly.
I kneel beside the pool, carefully washing her hair, my fingers gently working through the tangled strands. Cora fetches fresh robes from a nearby chest. Rhea’s eyes drift shut again, but this time there’s a semblance of peace in her expression. My heart aches for her. How long has it been since someone cared for her like this? Since she’s had a moment of safety or comfort?
We help Rhea from the bath and into her robe. As she sits at a mirror and begins to brush her hair, i turn to Cora, “We can’t leave without making sure something is done about the Darklite.”
“Agreed,” Cora replies from across the room. “We’ll make sure Khale knows how dangerous it is. He won’t let this continue.”
At the mention of Khale’s name, Rhea stirs. Her eyes open halfway, and for the first time, there’s a faint spark of recognition in them. She looks at me, her gaze clearing. “Khale… my son,” she whispers, the words filled with a mix of wonder and disbelief.
“Yes,” Cora says gently, returning to kneel beside us. “We’ve arranged for you to see him, just like you asked.”
Rhea’s expression shifts to one of confusion and hope. “How?” she asks softly. Her eyes dart around the room, as if expecting to see guards lurking in the shadows. “Where are the guards? They… they never leave me alone.”
Before either of us can answer, the door opens. We turn as Khale steps into the room, his presence filling the space with calm authority. His eyes soften as they meet his mother’s, a mixture of warmth and sorrow evident in his gaze.
“There will be no more guards keeping you caged,” he says gently. “You’re free now, Mother.”
Rhea’s breath catches in her throat. For a long moment, she doesn’t move, her eyes wide and glistening. She stares at Khale as if he’s a mirage—something too fragile and impossible to be real. Slowly, hesitantly, she moves toward him. Her tail fins twitch as she glides a tentative few feet closer, then another. Her hands tremble at her sides, as though she’s afraid to reach out.
“Khale?” she whispers, her voice cracking with emotion. “Is it really you?”
Khale bridges the remaining distance between them and pulls her into a gentle embrace. “I’m here, Mother,” he says softly. “I’m really here.”
Rhea’s hands slowly rise to clutch his shoulders, and then she breaks down, sobbing quietly against him. She clings to him as if afraid he might vanish if she lets go. I feel tears sting my own eyes as I watch them. The years of pain and separation finally easing in this moment are almost too much to bear.
I glance over at Wake, who stands silently near the door. He meets my gaze and gives a small nod, his expression somber but understanding. I motion for us to leave, wanting to give Khale and Rhea the privacy they deserve.
“Let’s go,” I whisper to him.
Cora moves to follow, but Khale gently catches her wrist. “Stay,” he says quietly. “Please.”
Cora’s eyes widen slightly in surprise, but she nods without hesitation. “Of course,” she replies, stepping closer to him and Rhea.
As Wake and I quietly slip out of the room, I glance back one last time. The sight of Khale holding his mother, with Cora standing protectively at their side, fills me with a sense of hope.
And dread. Because nothing good lasts forever.
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