Chapter 257: Chapter 257 You and I
(Aeris POV)
The breeze ruffled my hair and cool against my skin. I stepped out of the portal, my wings trembling from exhaustion, and as I landed on a mountaintop. I had no idea where we were, but what mattered was that we were far away from danger.
The moon hung high above, casting a soft glow on the rocks and reflecting on the waterfall running down the rocks nearby, its endless stream was soft and calm, nothing like the cries and screams I had left behind. The rising mist brushed my face, cool against the pain burning in my chest.
I stumbled forward and lowered Damon onto a flat rock by the edge of the water. He hadn’t regained consciousness yet, the faint warmth lingering beneath his skin where my half-heart now beat for him, was the only thing that made me believe I didn’t mess up. I brushed a few strands of hair from his forehead.
My hand hung midway, my fingers trembling as pain rushed through my veins. My chest felt like it had been ripped apart... well it was. Every heartbeat accelerated the pain.
A cough tore from my throat, and blood sputtered from my mouth, its metallic taste spread across my tongue. My knees gave way, and I clutched my chest where the wound now glowed faintly with gold. Each breath was rasped, as if the world itself was pressed down on me.
I let out a cry, as the stabbing pain increased, and power surged out from me, cutting the air in waves. Golden light flared against the rock, the waterfall quivered under the force, droplets rose into the air before crashing down again. The winds howled, ruffling my hair.
I shut my eyes and tried to control the power, but it was stronger than me... even my body felt like a vessel.
"Aeris..."
The sound was soft, yet it was familiar. I opened my eyes and turned to my side, cold beads of sweat trickling down my temple.
Golden hovered in the air, its wings were weak and its light was dimmer compared to before, its body was breaking apart into sparks with every beat of its wings. It drifted closer to me, it was fading away like a flame struggling before the wind.
"Golden," I whispered, my voice cracking. I reached out with trembling hands. "I failed you."
Golden landed lightly on my palm. Its glow flickered, breaking into tiny sparks carried away by the wind.
"I’m sorry," I said, tears blurring my sight. "I couldn’t bring you home... I’m sorry."
Golden’s voice filled my mind, almost like it was in my head. "No, Aeris... you brought me home."
My chest heaved. "Home? I did? How?"
"Yes... Home is you."
My throat tightened, my brows furrowed. I tried to hold Golden together, but the more I tried, the faster it dissolved into sparks.
The embers circled me gently. "Golden..."
Before I could finish my words, the embers rose like a wave, before descending and rushing into my forehead. Warmth spread through me, and for the first time since the battle, my power began to calm.
The winds softened, and my head became clearer... almost as if I had been enlightened.
I stared at the water’s reflection, and my eyes were no longer burning purple and gold, they had returned to their ocean blue hue. However, what caught my breath was the butterfly glow on my forehead, it shimmered before disappearing. And the huge golden wings behind my back... they were breathtaking.
’I look so cool, what am I now? wonderwoman?’
I shakily touched my forehead, but there was nothing. My body gave out as awe mixed with exhaustion. A sharp gasp tore from me and I collapsed onto the ground. My wings flickered once before vanishing, leaving only a hollow ache behind my back.
I clawed at the earth, dragging myself toward Damon. Every move burned through my whole nervous system.
Finally, I reached him. His head tilted to the side, lips slightly parted. I pressed my forehead to his and let my tears fall onto his cold skin.
’Now I am an emotional freak, who cries in the arms of her unconscious ex who happens to be an asshole... maybe he was an asshole... not pretty sure what he is right now.’
My bloodied fingers traced his jawline, trembling as they brushed the rough stubble. My heart twisted at how still he was.
"Why do you always do this to me?" My voice broke, raw with pain. "Why do you make me hate you, love you, break for you... all at once?"
The waterfall sound was soothing to the ears. The moon shone silver light over us. My tears slid onto his cheek, mingling with the blood on his cheeks.
"You won’t leave me," I whispered, cupping his face. "I won’t let you," I muttered.
I pressed my palm against his chest. Relief washed through me, but fear stayed with it, because I knew what it had cost me.
But I didn’t care.
"I gave you half of me," I said softly. "So even if you try to run, Damon, you’ll never be rid of me. I’m bound to you now, whether you want it or not... And I’m going to torment you as long as I live."
A bitter laugh tore from my throat. I pressed my lips to his temple. "This time, you’ll suffer with me. You’ll love me... like I once loved you."
’The gods gave you a chance to run away from me, to forget me, but you refused... You brought this on yourself.’
I lay beside him, my hand resting on his chest, clinging to the faint beating of his heart.
’By the way, why do I feel like I’m becoming more of a psychopath like him... those words of mine, loving him, hating him, and breaking myself for him... It doesn’t sound like me, right? No, I just want only revenge, I take my words back, I don’t love him anymore, if there is anything I feel for him... that is hatred.’
And for the first time since the battle, I let my eyes close, my lashes were still wet with tears.