Did You Sell Aurelia?

Watching the golden star shimmer with radiance upon the land, Eachann heard a soft groan escape the little bun he placed upon a log to rest. Holding a tanker of water by his waist, he knelt, putting it to her lips.

"Drink," He uttered softly, "You look terrible."

Tasting the icy water, with the slight aftertaste of whisky entering her throat, Aurelia gagged, tearing up at the terrible taste. Shooting to her feet, her eyes opened with a hint of awareness flowing from her stance.

"Where? Where am I?" She hastily asked, touching her back noticing her staff missing. "Where is it? Where is my staff?"

Surprised by the tension around her, Eachann did not break character. He smiled, patting her head, "Calm girl! slow down and look it by your side, just at your feet."

She paused, turning to gaze at the corrupted staff overflowing with a seductive charm, "Sorry papa, Aurelia... Aurelia was just scared."

"Bad dream?" He asked, lifting his stare towards a shadow in the distance watching. Noticing the shadow of a nocked shape of a bow and the glint of an arrow, he tried to maintain a smile that appeared quite strained.

"I dreamed I killed a knight. Took his head clean off," Said Aurelia softly, lifting her staff off the grassy earth. "It was so real. I could hear his skull cracking, his flesh ripping from his neck. I could even hear the echoes of his last breath.

"Was only a dream, Girl," uttered Eachann without much concern. "Why not tell me of your travels while I was away. Has Duke Blackwater been treating you well?"

Finding a smile that seemed to lack confidence, Aurelia semi-noded with a hint of hesitation, "Y-yes. I think so."

Looking up at her father's warm face, Aurelia suddenly frowned, "Papa?"

"Hm?"

"Why did you sell Aurelia?"

Dropping his jaw, Eachann froze, in a manner befitting an innocent man, 'ME? Sell you? The bloody hell are you saying, Aurelia? You are my daughter! DId Zireael tell you that? Did he tell you I sold you?"

Staring with sharp eyes, Aurelia attempted to peer through his lies, finding nothing but a look of a hurt father. Studying the anger building upon his face, she muttered, "So Zireael lied?"

"Of course he lied! By Azalea's Divine Wisdom, why the hell would I sell you? You are my world. I left you there temporarily. Duke Blackwater had asked me to find a strange herb in order to give you a bright future. He is a lier, Aurelia."

"Liar? Yes, Yes, he is indeed a liar, a bully, and a baddie," Aurelia muttered with hallow tears taking a step back with a broken heart. "But Aunty Talia is not, nor is Master Innis. They took care of Aurelia, trained her, and protected her from Zireael."

"Aurelia," muttered Eachann with a broken heart, "I swear in Azalea's name that I am not lying. I swear, to the divine. Please, you must trust me."

"AURELIA!!!!!" Howled the child-like voices of Ella and Sionn.

Not bothering to turn towards them, Aurelia's steps continued to retreat as more and more tears fell. "You did sell me." She said as the words of Zireael from all those months ago appeared within her head.

"By the end of this trip, you will kill your own father."

Covering her mouth, a faint feeling gripped her mind; as her voice began to crack and her heart began to burn with such heat, she felt herself grow dizzy.

"Aurelia," Eachann bitterly muttered, lowering his head, hiding the wicked smile upon his lips. "You disappoint me."

"Eh"

Sensing the alert spell scream, from two points, a golden black flash sprung from the young girl's small body.

Weaving the arrow that was heading for her spine, Aurelia twisted her small, nimble body with such precision she could feel the piercing air of the arrowhead against her ribs as it struck the ground.

BOOOM!!!!

Tearing her off her feet, Aurelia was blasted from off the ground skidding over the ground like a ragged doll.

Rising with scraps from all over her body, blood hot like fire flowed from her chin onto her snow-white tunic.

Rushing to her side, Ella and Sionn stood with their weapons drawn, ready for battle.

"Aurelia, you good," Shouted Sionn arching his iron shield high.

Pushing her body off the grassy pain, Aurelia spat a sliver of blood from her mouth with a dark expression. Spewing a golden black aura from her body, a dark chill slowly began to enter Sionn and Ella as they watched the radiance around Aurelia grow darker.

Pushing her way from behind Ella and Sionn, Aurelia approached Eachann with slow steps that seemed to echo out into the world. Crushing the grass around her, the eldrich staff began to hum with an evil aura, sucking the life from the elements around her.

Withering the grass and tree's around them, the dark aura within Aurelia's golden radiance began to grow and meld into her.

"My Daughter," whispered an almighty voice only heard by Aurelia approaching with a betrayed expression, "Rise, pass the Fallen we are, and ascend to the throne I failed to take. Rise, Aurelia Morningstar! My Golden Star!"

"Why did you sell me?" Uttered the Golden Fallen, with her eyes burning with the sin of wrath.

Taking a step back, Eachann shuddered in dread, finding his legs unable to move before the golden black eyes of the Fallen etching closer.

"Was I worth only so much?" She asked, raising her voice with each step she took, 'Was it not enough to sell me, you had to return?!"

"No! It wasn't like that! The knights forced me! Zireael too. We are just their pawns, darling. You must listen to me. I am your father!" Eachann howled, in fear, sensing his body rapidly beginning to age and wither away the closer she drew.

"He was right," cried the young fallen, with tears black as coal dripped from her eyes, "He is always right, you know. I hate him, but now I hate you more."

"You mustn't do this," Eachann begged, feeling his very blood melting away. Tasting the ashes of brimstone upon the tip of his tongue, he felt the echoes of the Hells calling his name from within the burning eyes of Auralia.

"Goodbye, Eachann."