it can spread and threaten everything.”
“At what cost? Your life?” Sebastian asked Guardian.
“I’ve died too many times to be afraid of death.”
“In that reality, not ours. Why don’t you try reaching at least one eternity of life on this side before you decide to throw your existence away?”
“I’m a Falcon. My blood demands that I bring change, balance,” Guardian spat back.
“Compromise,” a younger voice said.
“Indeed,” the older voice said. “You two have never disagreed on anything beyond this. We cannot move forward until the two of you are in agreement. Sebastian, you do not want Guardian or Aliyanna to return to the dark reality, and Guardian, you do not want to take Aliyanna to the council to bear witness. We all know that allowing Guardian to pass through The Fall with the threat of it being closed is not something we can easily accept.”
They both nodded.
“I propose that the two of you go to the council. State your case. If that fails, then we will partner with The Selected to find the safest course for Guardian to do as he feels pulled to do.”
“Father,” Sebastian stated.
“It’s the only course of reason now,” the older voice said, pointing at Guardian. “He respects you enough to let you exhaust every option, for you to do whatever you feel is necessary to keep him safe, but if it truly is his fate to be there, circumstance will demand that he return no matter what we may or may not do.” The older man paused. “The council is stating that the oracles have relayed that The Fall must close, that only the chosen can pass through. You have to convince them that you are the chosen, that your soul has stated as much. Then we will have no fear for Guardian and Aliyanna—for if they fail, they will send an army to carry them home.”
“You expect me to leave Genevieve here alone, to care for this home and all those who have sought refuge here? Without protection?”
I was so sick that I leaned forward on my knees. I kept shaking my head from side to side, knowing I did not want this to happen, that I feared this decision for reasons I could not understand.
“We’ll protect her. We’ll never leave her side,” the younger voice said.
Sebastian stared forward at the floating sphere before him. “And what are we to do if they do not listen?”
“The two of you are gifted speakers. Our name has long been respected. I have no doubt that you will prevail. If you do not, then we drop our alliances and aid The Selected. Work with them to find peace. I would believe their seers far easier than the council’s.”
“Why must we do this now?” Sebastian said with a clenched jaw.
Guardian looked away. “It feels wrong to stand here, brother. Aliyanna and I both feel that way. We started something over there, and I need to get back to it. Every minute I stand here equates to years over there. If we wait any longer, everything I began to repair will be in ruins. You don’t have to speak to anyone. I’m prepared to tell you goodbye. That alone should tell you how serious I am when I state I have to go back, with or without permission from this family, that council, The Selected, or God Himself.”
Sebastian stared in the direction of the images I could not see. “You don’t leave her side. Ever.”
Silence engulfed the room.
Sebastian said, “Dawn,” then turned to leave.
This is the end I had been dreading. I knew. I just knew. They would never return.
This must be what my night terror was forecasting: not the death of the life I did have, but the death of the life I wanted to live again.
The images vanished around me, and I stood there in cold silence, trying to understand even the smallest part of what I’d overheard. Even though it was the first time I’d overheard something like that here, it all sounded so familiar somehow.
I turned to leave the study, and at a slow stroll I made my way down the hall to the bedroom.
I heard Sebastian and
“At what cost? Your life?” Sebastian asked Guardian.
“I’ve died too many times to be afraid of death.”
“In that reality, not ours. Why don’t you try reaching at least one eternity of life on this side before you decide to throw your existence away?”
“I’m a Falcon. My blood demands that I bring change, balance,” Guardian spat back.
“Compromise,” a younger voice said.
“Indeed,” the older voice said. “You two have never disagreed on anything beyond this. We cannot move forward until the two of you are in agreement. Sebastian, you do not want Guardian or Aliyanna to return to the dark reality, and Guardian, you do not want to take Aliyanna to the council to bear witness. We all know that allowing Guardian to pass through The Fall with the threat of it being closed is not something we can easily accept.”
They both nodded.
“I propose that the two of you go to the council. State your case. If that fails, then we will partner with The Selected to find the safest course for Guardian to do as he feels pulled to do.”
“Father,” Sebastian stated.
“It’s the only course of reason now,” the older voice said, pointing at Guardian. “He respects you enough to let you exhaust every option, for you to do whatever you feel is necessary to keep him safe, but if it truly is his fate to be there, circumstance will demand that he return no matter what we may or may not do.” The older man paused. “The council is stating that the oracles have relayed that The Fall must close, that only the chosen can pass through. You have to convince them that you are the chosen, that your soul has stated as much. Then we will have no fear for Guardian and Aliyanna—for if they fail, they will send an army to carry them home.”
“You expect me to leave Genevieve here alone, to care for this home and all those who have sought refuge here? Without protection?”
I was so sick that I leaned forward on my knees. I kept shaking my head from side to side, knowing I did not want this to happen, that I feared this decision for reasons I could not understand.
“We’ll protect her. We’ll never leave her side,” the younger voice said.
Sebastian stared forward at the floating sphere before him. “And what are we to do if they do not listen?”
“The two of you are gifted speakers. Our name has long been respected. I have no doubt that you will prevail. If you do not, then we drop our alliances and aid The Selected. Work with them to find peace. I would believe their seers far easier than the council’s.”
“Why must we do this now?” Sebastian said with a clenched jaw.
Guardian looked away. “It feels wrong to stand here, brother. Aliyanna and I both feel that way. We started something over there, and I need to get back to it. Every minute I stand here equates to years over there. If we wait any longer, everything I began to repair will be in ruins. You don’t have to speak to anyone. I’m prepared to tell you goodbye. That alone should tell you how serious I am when I state I have to go back, with or without permission from this family, that council, The Selected, or God Himself.”
Sebastian stared in the direction of the images I could not see. “You don’t leave her side. Ever.”
Silence engulfed the room.
Sebastian said, “Dawn,” then turned to leave.
This is the end I had been dreading. I knew. I just knew. They would never return.
This must be what my night terror was forecasting: not the death of the life I did have, but the death of the life I wanted to live again.
The images vanished around me, and I stood there in cold silence, trying to understand even the smallest part of what I’d overheard. Even though it was the first time I’d overheard something like that here, it all sounded so familiar somehow.
I turned to leave the study, and at a slow stroll I made my way down the hall to the bedroom.
I heard Sebastian and
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