Measures Taken
Reis
"That can't be right...Thalia doesn't even have powers...she doesn't even know magic. What was I thinking?"
Leifa
"You can't blame yourself, master. Hellhounds have no magic sense as far as they knew she was the only person alive during the spell's activation. Please, calm down. There's still more news."
Reis
"What do you mean more? How could things possibly get worse?"
Leifa
"The fact Resa is still alive."
Reis
"...Alive? Resa is?"
My emotions were in complete flux. For the most part, I was sure Lei was speaking like normal, yet the news of Thalia and Resa rendered my brain numb. The fact Resa was alive, I couldn't process if such a miracle was worth celebrating.
My hands and forehead were plastered with sweat as I felt myself instinctively grab the weapon beside me. Dark thoughts tugged at my mind, toying with my morality at the possibility of having to silence innocent Resa.
Leifa
"Mast-" "Reis," I felt Lei's calm voice flutter against my ear, her hands placed atop mine as she took the weapon lifting my chin, "None of that, I won't let you become that person again, ever. I promise."
Our hug lasted a few minutes longer until I ceased shaking completely. Slowly Lei broke away unsurely as if I'd break down again without her. Grabbing my hand, I saw her sporting her usual calm and warm demeanor as she led me to Thalia and Resa.
Finding the rooms, we walked for minutes before finding them in the living room talking over their nerves with tea while a light fire burned beside them.
Resa
"I was worried you didn't survive...it's a nice relief to see you awake."
Reis
"L-Likewise. Glad to see you're up. Are you alright, sis?"
Thalia
"Yeah...I'm good. No need to worry, onii-chan."
Reis
"Thank goodness."
Everyone managed a slight smile, but the little gesture of warmness wasn't enough to cut through the heavy tension weighing down the atmosphere.
No doubt the four of our minds were tormented with vivid flashbacks of the attack but none of us spoke a word, none of us had a clue where to start.
The crackling of the fire begins to spark and die down much like our will to keep living...eventually it went out, and Resa soon followed finally breaking down in loud sobs.
Reis
"R-Resa."
Resa
"Sorry. I didn't want to worry any of you, but I just couldn't hold back anymore. Everything that led up to this has been my fault."
Reis
"That's not completely true. I'm just as guilty as you, maybe even more. I knew the spells wouldn't merge and yet I still gave into your pleading. My ignorance to believe in your misplaced optimism is all to blame...and that's not even the worst of it."
"Sis...I... there's a lot I need to tell you, stuff about mom, about us." Her blind eyes gazed at me confused and scared. "Please, Thal." I pleaded, tightening my grip around her hand warmly.
With just a slight nod as indication, I lead her outside the house into the furthest part of the garden passing various statues, flowerbeds, and arrangements before disappearing into a maze of roses.
Thalia
"Brother when mentioning you wanted to talk, I didn't think you meant in the garden. What's out here exactly?"
Reis
"I forget this is your first time here. I can't tell you everything cause I'm not entirely sure myself, but everything I do now is lying beyond the flowers."
Thalia
"Does Leifa know?"
Reis
"..."
Thalia
"...I see, guess I should've known. Leifa knows you best after all."
Reis
"Thal..." The heartbreak was clear as day when she spoke and the feeling of her hand losing its firm hold against mine brought more feeling of guilt upon my shoulders.
Unsure if anything I'd say could mend her faith, I kept quiet and continued forward, apprehensive if Thalia and I would still have the same bond after the revelation ahead.
...
Leifa
"Sit here please."
Resa
"Thanks...um Leifa right? Where exactly are we?"
Leifa
"The cellar, the lowest part of this mansion. The room is soundproof so anything that goes on here won't be heard. What I'm about to tell you goes to your tomb understood?"
Resa
"Is this a game of secrets? I'll be honest I've never been good at keeping things disclosed."
Leifa
"I had a creeping suspicion that was that case. I was hoping there wouldn't be a need for plan two."
'CLICK'
Resa
"H-Hey what's going on, what did you do?!"
The chair Resa occupied suddenly sprang cuffs around his wrist rendering him immobile as Leifa approached with a sympathetic gleam coloring her eyes.
Leifa
"Sorry things have to be this way, but for their sake, I can't take any chances...not when there are promises I have to keep."
Resa's agonizing screams filled the room before fading into the background overtaken by an ominous light and Leifa's demonic chanting as both individual's eyes grew hollow glowing purple before all went silent once more.
…
Reis
"We've arrived."
Pushing aside the last brush of roses I pull Thalia through unmasking a corridor brimming with magic.
A grand white bride stretched out for miles farther than the eye could see while pale blue lights flickered in the air on either side like fireflies in the night.
The deeper my and Thalia's feet traced along the magic-infused path the more our bodies seemed to react, absorbing all the energy that seeped out.
Behind me, I could feel my sister's gaze moving left to right in awe of the void before us as if she could see everything that lay within.
We walked in harmony for what felt like hours until finally, an eventual end came in sight.
The bridge came to a stop presenting an endless black chasm on the other side. The blue lights were nowhere to be found almost as if the gloomy frostbitten air sucked its life away into the ruinous void.
Thalia
"Where...are we?"
Reis
"My home, what's left of it."