Aaric and Luna watched Velka for a moment before departing the sphere, gliding back toward the island on their stag.
"I wish I could bring Daphne and our friends with us," Luna said wistfully as the wind tugged at her pale hair.
Aaric raised an eyebrow. "You can't? How did you bring me here, then?"
Luna smiled, squeezing his hand. "You came to me in my dream first. That made it easy to find you."
Aaric chuckled. She kept hold of his hand as they descended toward the island, and landing lightly near the great tree.
"I wonder what else these fruits will do," Aaric muttered, glancing up at the massive glowing fruits hanging from the branches.
"Do you want to explore with me?" Luna asked hopefully.
Aaric shook his head and poked her nose. "Go ahead. I'll join you in a bit."
Luna hopped back on the stag and rode off, humming as she wandered toward the other side of the island.
Left alone, Aaric noticed something strange near the old well. Two golden links floated above it, gently spinning, radiating a faint light.
A subtle tug in his chest told him they were somehow connected to him.
Curious, Aaric leaned closer and took them in his hands. One link had a small opening, while the other was perfectly whole.
As he inspected them, a soft pulse rippled through the air from the tree itself, as if it wanted to speak.
"I think I know what these are," the tree's voice came, tinged with excitement what Aaric placed his hand on it.
"Oh?" Aaric tilted his head.
"They are meant to connect us. You and I will be able to speak more freely with their help."
Aaric raised an eyebrow. "So… how do we use them?"
"Place the open link on me," the tree instructed.
Aaric pressed it against the bark. The link dissolved into the tree like melting gold.
"Now place the other on your chest."
He did, and the complete link pulsed brightly before sinking beneath his skin.
Aaric blinked, patting his chest. "I don't feel anything."
"You will," the tree promised. "When next you sleep."
Before Aaric could respond, a calm, polite voice spoke behind him.
"I hope I am not intruding."
Aaric turned sharply. A slender, middle-aged man stood there, wearing an immaculate black suit and a perfectly amiable smile.
Yet every instinct in Aaric's body screamed wrong. Something about the man wasn't human not just unfamiliar, but fundamentally incorrect.
"Who are you?" Aaric asked, taking a half-step back.
The man bowed slightly. "Call me Arkham."
Aaric didn't blink, didn't look away. "Leave," he said flatly.
Arkham's polite smile never wavered. "I understand this must be frightening, suddenly finding someone behind you. I apologize for the shock."
"Leave," Aaric repeated, voice sharper now.
Arkham gave a soft, airy laugh and his tongue, disturbingly too long, flicked briefly across his lips, dripping with blood that fell on the ground.
"My, so direct," he said lightly, raising his hands in mock surrender. His gaze drifted past Aaric to the tree and its fruits.
"You are fortunate," Arkham murmured. "These trees are rare. Even in the Dreamlands."
Aaric stayed silent, every muscle taut.
Arkham sighed, feigning disappointment. "I do not wish to harm you. I only seek a small request."
Aaric's jaw clenched.
"There is someone dear to me," Arkham continued smoothly, "who needs help in the waking world. Would you be willing to rescue them?"
"Don't care," Aaric said coldly. "Leave."
The man's pleasant mask cracked. His lips peeled back in a silent snarl, and for a heartbeat, Aaric thought he would lunge.
Then warm, gentle hands wrapped around Aaric from behind. Vasuki's voice brushed against his ear, soft as silk.
"Don't worry," she whispered, stroking his hair.
Aaric relaxed and the tension left his body "close your eyes." Vasuki said.
Aaric exhaled, closing his eyes and nodding.
In front of him, Arkham's voice quavered with sudden terror.
"I… I wasn't going to harm him—"
A sickening, wet tear split the air, followed by an unearthly scream.
"You worm," Vasuki hissed, her words vibrating with divine fury. "How dare you."
Another scream, louder, wilder.
"I will make an example of you," Vasuki continued, voice rising like a storm. "In front of your whole rotten pantheon. In front of the Blind Idiot himself."
Aaric flinched at the sheer wrath in her tone.
"Aeloria," Vasuki called.
"Yes?" Aeloria's melodic voice answered, calm but taut with readiness.
"Take this filth and cast him before his court. I will join you shortly."
"Yes, my lady."
Aeloria's presence approached, warm and brief. She hugged Aaric tightly, kissed his cheek, and then there was the sound of great wings unfurling.
A final, wheezing gasp escaped Arkham before it was abruptly cut off.
Vasuki turned back to Aaric, gathering him into her arms and cradling his head.
"He is gone now," she whispered soothingly.
Aaric hugged her back, trembling slightly but asking no questions. He didn't want to know. Not about Arkham. Not about what Vasuki had done to him.
His heartbeat slowed as her warmth seeped through him, safety replacing fear.
"Is that what you meant," Aaric murmured, "when you said gods can come and go freely in the Dreamlands?"
Vasuki hummed, brushing his hair back gently. "Yes. But do not worry. After this… none will dare approach you without your permission."
Aaric said nothing. He simply held her tighter, letting her soft hand on his head calm him completely.
After some time, Vasuki kissed the top of his head.
"I must go," she said softly.
Aaric reluctantly released her. She cupped his cheek, smiling tenderly, before dissolving into motes of radiant light.
Author's note: please leave your thought on the chapter.
Power stones and reviews.