The Celestial

Part 6

It was the same scene when I first visited it in its chamber.

The Celestial faced me as it stood still in the center of the room. Jayve lingered somewhat behind me, watching, but I put him out of my mind for now. He won't remember this either way.

"It has been three days, just as I said, Celestial. What is your decision? I hope you thought wisely."

It stared blankly as if it was a statue.

"Still you refuse to speak to me, even when I know you are not mute? Your songs interest me greatly, by the way. They give me a little glimpse into your world. I wish my wife would be able to listen to the majesty your voice is in her healed self."

Jayve didn't make a sound.

Seconds passed as I waited with as much patience as I held for the thing to speak. When still it did not utter anything, my face daunted a scowl, and my voice dripped with venom.

"You may not understand the ways of Efisia yet. With me as Resundre, it is your duty to speak when I order you to, and I order you to give me your decision."

Its eyes shifted the tiniest bit, signaling that it was focused on me, but still its lips remained shut.

My dagger was to its chest the next second, my other head gripping its face to look up at me.

"Speak, you worthless object! Or I will tear out your gem myself."

I wasn't sure if there was even a flicker of fear in its damned blue eyes.

"No!"

I froze. Slowly, jaggedly, I looked over my shoulder to see Jayve. He had his own dual daggers drawn. A gift from me before I claimed the title of Resundre.

"No?" I echoed, drawing the single word out.

He stood his stance.

"Leave her be."

The sentence forced me to release my grip on the Celestial as I laughed. "Her? Jayve, just because it looks like a her doesn't mean that's it's actually a her." I paused. "Don't tell me you've become" - I raised an eyebrow in farcical disbelief - "attached to some otherworldly being, not to mention sinful."

He shifted the hilts of the daggers in his hands.

"I told you that this one was different, Resundre. I wasn't lying."

So, one of my most loyal guards, willing to die for some being that doesn't even belong to his world? I never saw it coming.

I fully turned to face him, carelessly waving my weapon.

"Might as well get it over with now, Jayve. You already know too much, and now you're going insane with falling in love with a Celestial. Really, I'm doing you a favor."

I saw it in his eyes the moment before he lunged. I easily dodged his first attack, and a swift hit with my elbow to his back caused him to stumble long enough for me to yank his shoulder back and throw him to the ground, his blades clattering to the stone floor beside him. I kicked them across the way with no contest.

He had been a perfect loyal guard, really. Blindly followed, though only good with surprise attacks. His dead mother would probably be better with one-on-one combat.

I raised my dagger and brought it down.

"Stop, please!"

There was a clang as the blade secured itself deeply in the crack between two cobblestones. Jayve was pinned to the floor by his clothes.

I spun around.

"Well, well. It looks like, perhaps, Celestials can have feelings. And different from what I would initially have thought."

It had taken a pace forward, its shoulders tense, its fists tight, its eyes stricken with alarm. With fear.

Its voice – different when not in song, but still smooth and crystal-like – came in gasps.

"If you leave him alone – if you let him live – I will give you my gem."

I crossed my arms as I thought, running my gaze all along it as I did, taking it in a new perspective. It spoke the language flawlessly.

"I suppose I could always have another Celestial found and give it the same option as I gave you. Of course, it won't be you who I send out." My gaze scorched powerless Jayve.

I held my hand out, palm open and up.

"Give it to me, then. Now."

The Celestial hesitated shortly before tearing at its collar, the delicate red fabric easily ripping, to reveal its lower chest. At first, there was nothing, but then its skin seemingly peeled away to reveal a royal blue gem at the spot where a human heart would be. I could not suppress the slightly heavier intake of breath I took through my nose. The Celestial gripped the gem with its nails then, grimacing as it worked the gem free. Finally, with a last great effort, the gem yanked free. The Celestial loudly gasped, its eyes widening, as if it was just realizing what it was doing.

But it was too late now to change its choice.

I waited, my palm still extended, and watched as it walked across the chamber to me, one step at a time. Its hand rested on mine, and for a moment the warmness of the gem – warm from either its body or the magic it held within – was the only thing between our hands before it pulled shakily away and returned its hand to its side. I enclosed the gem in my fist, feeling its individual power fully, before slipping it into a pocket inside of my coat.

I closed the short distance between us and gently caressed its cheek, running my thumb against its spotless skin.

"Thank you. I will make sure your sacrifice was not for naught."

In one quick movement, I grabbed a second dagger from my hidden sheath, spun, and threw it directly into Jayve's stomach.

Ignoring their cries, I walked to the door.

"I'll leave you two lovebirds alone in your dying moments."

I locked the door behind me, aware of a slightly heavier weight in my pocket than I am used to.