Truth and Fiction

Jessica went over her story for a second time, letting the information sink into the minds of the three rulers sitting before her. They were shocked and confused but remained calm on the outside as the puzzle pieces came together.

"All of the times that I saw the world disintegrate around me… that was you, what, starting over?" Virgentarth asked her.

"Exactly! I erased the scene and started over. I do that when the scene is boring or the plot is lagging."

"Prove it," Catira waved her hand, producing parchment and a quill. "Write something."

"Got it!" she smiled brightly as she quickly wrote something down. Suddenly, Virgentarth jumped up and grabbed Soraya's wrist, pulling her up into his arms and pressing his lips against hers.

Catira grabbed the parchment and read aloud. "Suddenly, and without hesitation, the emperor dashed up to pull his beautiful empress into his arms, his lips brushing against hers in heated passion," she began to laugh. "That was heated passion."

Virgentarth pushed away from Soraya and turned to Jessica.

"How long have you been in our world?" Catira grilled her.

"A few days."

"The day we felt as though we had been freed," he turned to Catira. "It was as though the puppet strings had been cut."

"I remember thinking that I needed for my characters to write their own story. Then, I fell asleep and now I'm here. This is a dream. I'm going to try to remember as much as I can because damn. This love story is hot. I love it."

Soraya frowned as she looked away for a moment.

"Sorry," she murmured.

"So you're telling me that my feelings for him… were not written by you?" Catira asked her.

"Everything you've experienced the past few days has been your own doing. This was the first time I wrote something since I arrived. I've been far too busy touring the palaces, amazed at the details I have forgotten I even created."

"This can be useful," Soraya finally spoke up. "She has the ability to change the lives of everyone in Adhara."

"We need to assign guards to her," Catira agreed.

"I want to go by Aiden," he huffed.

The women all turned to him; eyebrows raised.

"Virgentarth is just… awful. I prefer Aiden. Please," he pressed his hands together.

Soraya pinched the bridge of her nose as Catira closed her eyes and sighed.

"You are Lady Delilah as of this moment, and you are not dreaming," Catira explained to her. "I will have my priestesses look into it, but I feel deeply that you have joined us for a purpose that is your own."

"However, there are other empires and kingdoms that would love nothing more than to use you to conquer us all," Soraya explained. "We will keep you safe, but you must not tell anyone of your ability."

"You are not to interfere with the story unless explicitly commanded by me," Aiden rose to his feet. "Only write what is happening, as if you truly are a biographer."

The three rulers rose to their feet and looked down at her, their strong, regal auras suffocating the woman who was out of time, and out of place.

"This is when you show respect," Catira whispered to her.

"Oh!" she dropped to her knees and bowed lowly.

"Overkill," Soraya held a laugh.

"I'll have my secretary send for you the day after tomorrow. Tonight is Holy…"

"Holy night, the entire empire will have tomorrow off to spend with family," she spoke over him with a nod. "I know. I created it."

He raised his eyebrows, his blue eyes shooting lasers at her as she rose up and walked backwards out the door.

Again, the three rulers quieted.

"That was the most insane meeting I've ever taken," Catira pressed her hand to her forehead.

Soraya burst into a fit of giggles.

"I'm just happy to finally know that I wasn't going crazy. I witnessed the erasure of our world several times," Aiden rolled his eyes around in thought.

"So…. Would that make her… our creator?" Soraya turned to Catira.

A chill climbed her spine as she contemplated her words. "This knowledge would cause mass chaos. Our people believe deeply in their own spiritualities. My entire life is in the service of the Ancient Ones whom I just discovered are a work of fiction. Yet... it does not change the fact that I have a connection to them."

"We are no longer being led by her will, but by our own. We can change our destinies if we so desire. What an amazing gift," she glanced around the room with a new set of eyes.

"She was brought here. What happens when she returns?" Aidan asked them. "Would… she change our feelings for the sake of her story? Would she honor our feelings?"

"I believe that we should take advantage of our current freedom," Soraya answered him. "You never know when she might… erase it."

He turned to Catira, determination in his eyes as he nodded his head.