CHAPTER 9

My head was throbbing. I think I blacked out. But I remember seeing him crash into a tree and a claw driven through his friends back. 

I tried to sit up, but the pain came again. I winced but still tried to help myself up. The lights were dim and Fofo was here, staring into space and muttering words.

"Hey." I whispered.

He snapped out of his thoughts and looked at me.

                🍁           🍁         🍁

"What happened?" She held her head in her palms.

"You blacked out. You're stressed, go to bed."

"Who were they? Why did they die? What happened to the woman? Why...?" She trailed.

"You're weak, go to bed or we could go get dinner."

She nodded. I helped her up and out of the room but as soon as we got to the door, she fainted again.

             🍁            🍁          🍁

I knew I was somewhere familiar but I really couldn't tell where I was or why I recognised it. The trees around me were, in a way, guiding me, like I was a friend. I continued to walk as they directed me but I kept trying to point out where I was and why it was so, strangely, familiar. I saw a cave from afar, with a pink light shining in it. Like it was beckoning to me to come. I knew who it was immediately, Diana. She was summoning me.

I ran to the cave, I didn't need the direction of the trees anymore. As I ran towards the cave, the light became brighter and brighter until I entered the cave and it faded out.

"I summoned you here with the last of my energy." She whispered weakly.

"Diana!" I searched the dark for her.

"I cannot tell you much. Wester land needs you, I need you. You're our only hope. Defeat Zuka. make it your priority. Don't rest till you finish this fight. Fight till you spill the last blood."

"I don't think I can do this alone."

"You're not alone. Your powers, they lie deeply inside of you. And when you begin to doubt yourself..." I felt a hand on my shoulder.

The cave lit up. I saw Diana, her black hair covering her face and her pink gown, all worn out.

"Know that I'm with you." She whispered.

"Smorus expollus nisata maeterana."

I closed my eyes. The feeling of a mighty wind rushing into my mouth, down through my whole body. It felt like power was surging through me, it was almost like I could feel every joint, bone and muscle was soaking in power. But, at the same time, I felt that the force was too weak and that made me weak. I fell to my knees, my legs couldn't hold me, my eyes were drooping, my breath became labored. I looked down at my arm, writings that looked like spells written with  red ink that shone it's light, lighting up the cave.

My hair fell loose from it's pony tail. I forced my eyes open and saw myself outside my own body. I looked down and saw that I was above the ground. I closed my eyes again, taking deep breathes over and over again. I opened my eyes again and found myself outside the cave in a forest. The trees were not green but a pale yellow and red. I was studying them when I heard my name. I turned around and found the same man with the green eyes.

"Arterisa, it's me."

"Who are you? And how did you know my name?"

"It's your dad."

"Dad?"

"Surprise."

I ran into his opened arms and stayed there for a long time.

"I missed you, my little goddess."

I pulled away from him, reluctantly. 

"What about mummy?"

"She's inside of you." He had a small smile plastered on his face.

"Diana is my mum?"

He nodded. He reached for my hand, taking it in his.

"Arterisa, I'm happy that you're alive. And so am I. But I can't get out of this place. I'm waiting for you Arterisa."

"I'll find you, dad. I promise that I will end this war."

"I know you will. I made you something."

He let go of my hands and reached into his pocket. He retrieved a golden bracelet with a golden heart on it. I reached out to collect it.

"I made it for you so i could give you on your birthday. I know it's not your birthday but i want you to have it."

I nodded in response, a smile on my face.

"I love you, Arterisa." He said, slowly fading away.

"I love you too, Dad." I whispered

                 🍁             🍁           🍁

She kept on turning and tossing in bed. She muttered words I couldn't hear. She dropped a tear, said a spell and halted.

I thought it was over but she started tossing again. This time, violently. Her mouth was sealed shut. The nurse came in and gave her another dosage of the drug. Autumn finally stopped moving. The nurse walked out of the room, not before she gave her the look of pity.

Lena came in some minutes later. She sat beside Autumn. She sat in silence observing Autumn closely.

"Nothing must happen to you. I've made a promise to take care of you. I've never failed to keep my promises, i won't start now."

She sat by her side for a while, taking Autumn's hands in hers. 

"You'll be fine." She whispered and left.

I stood by her bed side. Autumn was like my best friend. Since childhood when she was born, we would play hide and seek in the castle, make fire for our castle camp, make the crowns disappear and appear. We had fun together. And now, the pressure is on her. Everyone is counting on her, it is almost unbearable for her. I know because literally, I am her.

I reached for her hands, holding them close.

"You'll be fine."

Then I saw the writing on her hand, glowing. I was inspecting them, making sense of some of them while the others I didn't understand. All I knew was that, she has found it. She has found the way. She has discovered her inner power. I smiled to myself. 

Unexpectedly, she woke up. Thinking I was an intruder, she shot a red plasma stream at me pushing my back against the wall.

The noise must have been heard outside because Lena and the nurse rushed in. I managed to look at her eyes and found a bright red mist covering her eye balls. 

"It can't be." i heard Lena whisper.

I didn't need a anyone to tell me that she had returned. Diana has returned in Autumn's form.