"We are the daughters of the witches you burned!"
Abductions and murders are happening in the City of Strey, a place for all types of divine in the Veil. Protected by the Veil, a magical barrier created as a safe haven for the children of the Mothe...
She was Eytelis and she wasn't Eytelis. The woman in front of her had the same form as Eytelis but there was no light, no warmth anymore. She might have the form of Eytelis but Dana's dryad was no longer what made her her. She didn't remember them bringing her in or grabbing Eytelis' hand. She might as well not be inside her own body either. It felt like losing her coven all over again; her mother, her father, her little sister, her friends, everything.
Her dryad was gone and soon Dae would be, too.
"Dannie," a soft voice called. Curls filled her sight, it was Rosalyn. An unexpected bitterness lanced through Dana, the seed that had been planted earlier growing. If she'd tried harder Eytelis might still be alive.
She turned away from the Green Witch. She didn't want to talk with anyone, not right now and especially not with Rosalyn. A part of her that was trying compartmentalize knew she would say something she didn't mean if she were to talk now.
"Tigris meum, I think it's best we give her some space. She wants to be alone right now." An arm snaked from the corner of her eye to wrap around where she knew Rosalyn to be standing. Hari gently tugged her from the room but Dana could still hear Rosalyn arguing softly.
"She shouldn't be alone right now, Hari! She should have her coven with her, to be there for her and give her whatever she needs."
"Just give her a few minutes to be alone. If it were you lying there I would wish to be alone as well, no matter how good the intentions were."
Their conversation stopped as the door closed. She turned her watery gaze back to her beloved Moon. Dana choked. Her universe had rotated around Eytelis and Dae for so many years, since the dryad had pulled them from the burning rubble, she didn't know what would happen to her now besides the feeling of plummeting.
"I'm so sorry, Eytelis ... if I hadn't been there in that clearing then neither would have you and you wouldn't be here now." The guilt built, long since washing over her head and drowning her slowly. "You wouldn't be dead. You and Dae would be perfectly healthy."
It's because of me ...
A soft, heavenly warmth draped over her. Golden locks shielded her view of Eytelis. Dana would have jumped if she had had the energy, but she simply lifted her head and the world seemed to tilt.
"Dae?"
Midnight eyes twinkled sadly. "It's not your fault, stellus meus, and Rosalyn and Hari tried everything they knew and then some. It was a poison none of us knew how to combat, but I promise you, Dana, Eytelis never wanted to leave you."
"How are you here? I-I—" The magic should have taken him too. Maybe this was all a fragment of her imagination? She had finally snapped.
Dae held her close, fingers threading through her hair. He felt so real, this couldn't be her imagination. "Eytelis used the last of her magic to give me the chance to see you again, but I hadn't been strong enough until now to come to you. For that I am sorry. I should have been here sooner, for you."
"Daegmund ..." her mind couldn't wrap around the happiness she was feeling at the sight of him.
"It's been awhile since I've heard my full name," he pressed a tender kiss to the crown of her head, setting her back down. "But, I don't have much time before the magic asks for me as well."
"Please don't go, Dae ... I can't lose both of you." She couldn't continue, pressing a hand to her mouth to keep from sobbing. She knew it was pointless to beg; he had no control over the magic that bound him and Eytelis together. But, she couldn't stop herself from pleading.
Softly, ever so softly, Dae brushed his knuckles over her cheeks, tucking her auburn locks behind her ear. "Just listen, stellus meus, what I have to tell you is important."
She nodded, unable to speak through the lump in her throat. She had never seen Dae's dark blue eyes so serious before. Then again, she never thought she'd be sitting next to Eytelis' dead body.
"Before the magic takes me you need to know none of this was your fault or Rosalyn's or Hari's. All of this was already written in the stars, Eytelis and I knew this. All of this the stars foretold, but what we didn't know was that it would happen so soon. We both thought we'd have more time with you ... but since we don't, and Eytelis isn't here, the job has been given to me.
"Dana Elizabeth Amador, the Illusion Witch of Strey and the Stars, the time has come. The mantle of Sentry is bestowed onto you after I pass on you will become Eytelis' Sentry by the powers of the Moon, the Sun, and the Stars. I have always loved you and Eytelis and for the both of you I am not afraid to switch Eytelis' place with my own."
Fat tears trickled down her cheeks until the taste of salt was on her lips and coating her hands. No, she whispered, no, please don't. "Don't leave me—"
Dae's body shimmered. "I love you, stellus meus, my Dana. I am not leaving you, I'll always be within the magic—I'll always be with you and Eytelis."
Before she knew what was happening Dae's shimmering form, his midnight eyes twinkling at her, disappeared. He had taken Eytelis' place in death.
Life snapped within Eytelis. Magic swelled until it exploded in blinding light. Dana was knocked unconscious.
Eytelis was alive. The dryad lived.
Dae was gone. But the mantle of the Sentry lived on.
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Dana: Strength (and The Hierophant), through confidence, persistence tempered by patience, compassion, and inner calm the fortitude of the human spirit is able to overcome any obstacle; and strength and confidence is needed in standing against adversity and making a decision.
(I don't own the image—this card belongs to The Linestrider Tarot by Siolo Thompson—and I don't own the music video either :) )
