31

  “Omar!?” Luna continued to tug the shoulder of the Diborn to fetch a response. He didn’t give any sign of consciousness back. He remained on his back beside the door. The rain fetching a louder pitch, as he grasped the harsh stone.

  Luna turned to Natasha, who already worked on translating some symbols on the floor. She hurried towards her, as the room lit up with black flames casting a gray foggy light around them. They entered a chamber, that much was true, based on the old stone ruins surrounding them. Statues of a slim figurine with a finger over her mouth indicated they were in the tomb of the Whispering Mother. The same one Cassiel said he would send them to.

  Skulls were mounted up on the walls like interior decorations staring holes into them. From each small corridor window, mountains of skulls were stacked up small mountains. Four pillars held the room together, cracked stone which was less than trustworthy.

  “Anything?” Luna asked Natasha, who was transcribing the three-floor tile symbols in front of a staircase leading to another corridor.

  Natasha glanced back at Luna ticked off by the question alone. “I am unsure. Ancient Gaia text takes longer.” She rolled her eyes, turning to Omar. “I will have answers soon. We just need everyone to get on track.”

  Luna nodded. “Understandable.” She sheathed her dagger, looking over the shoulder of Natasha at the symbols. She dangled around her, before moving to her side and crouching to whispering distance.

  “I’m sorry about Magnus. He is… a great man.” Luna wheezed.

  “Was.” Natasha restated. Luna looked distressed, as Natasha shook her head. “He was a great man. Eventually, you guys will say I was a great mage or historian too.” She offered a half-hearted smile. “All on a chance to save the world, right?”

  Luna jerked her head back, moving away from Natasha. “I understand he was close to you. But I don’t think how you are dealing with it is the right way to go about it.” Luna crossed her arms.

  “And Omar’s princess knows more than I do? You just got here. Do not forget that. You know so little about not only this world but the three of us who came here with you.” Natasha snarled. “And – “

  “Enough!” Omar raised his voice. He used the door to help himself up. “Magnus gave his life and you don’t know how to act. I wasn’t guaranteed a free pass either. For all we know…” Omar grabbed a skull with his hand crushing it. “We may join these very same people who came here seeking the power against the Spectors.”

  Omar rallied, grabbing his sword and moving to the women. “I am cursed with a power where I cannot weep a man I called brother. Dying sure sounds a whole hell of a lot better than being stuck with this curse any longer.” He moved away towards the entrance to the next room. “What do the symbols speak of Natasha?”

  Natasha and Luna sat infatuated by his reaction. Anger spewed from every pour on Omar’s face. The power was indeed a curse. Many men searched for power like his, others ran from it. And the ones who possessed it never wanted it. Omar banged his fists against the wall and the roof shook. Anxiety built inside of Luna, for she never has seen the vicious side of Omar. Only the side that possessed a sliver of chivalry and kindness.

  Natasha gulped, finishing the scripture. “It…” she calmed herself, staring into his eyes made the hairs on the back of her neck rise. “The next trial is of two lovers. Erabusa and Nyxe. From books I have read, Erabusa was a miser who sect the safety and comfort of the Whispering Mother, but his wife Nyxe leader of a shadow clan resisted. The tale of their love story was as is. Erabusa left his love for protection in the shadows, so she searched for him, only to find herself in the Gaia islands. Nyxe died searching for her husband, and the Whispering Mother's fangs ensued in Erabusa, trapping him as they say here forever in her love.”

  Natasha finally read the three symbols after explaining the history two Omar and Luna. She slowly brushed her fingertips on the symbols. “And this trial is of two lovers. For when answering to her whispers, shall we all face judgment by her shadow miser. Her lover who committed adultery.”

  “Erabusa. The miser is who we must go past.” Luna restated. She blew a quick sigh. “No problem. Just need to defeat a cheater. Easy enough.” She tapped her nails together walking in circles as her nerves rattled her again.

  Natasha’s fingers trembled on the last symbol. Her lip chipped her tooth, as a crevice of pain showed. She shut her eyes, while Luna calmed herself down, as if no one noticed her anxious breaths elevate.

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  “What else, Natasha?” Omar noticed her hand by her waist clench up in a tight fist. Her hand formulated that orange flame color she used up outside in the forest.

  Natasha didn’t want to believe he noticed her. She sighed hoping it was an illusion. However, her head turned to him and she saw that cold stare with his arms crossed waiting on her. She dropped her hand from the symbol and turned her body laterally towards the both of them. Her palm blew fire in anger as a small tear fell down her face.

  “Whichever soul either walks through the gate first or deciphers her words must sacrifice the very mana inside of them for the chosen to continue forth,” Natasha muttered.

  Luna’s head whipped in terror. Panic gripped both her and Natasha as their hearts raced each other, with each breath now shallow and quick. Every beat from their heart felt like a threat as their last. The shadows at the door and ahead loomed larger than life itself. A primal instinct kicked into them urging them to flee from here, but they were paralyzed by fear. They were stuck in between the shadows now. Everything between was a blur, consumed by the need to make it to morning now.

  Luna shook her head. Adrenaline surged through her veins, sharpening her fists like the fire on Natasha’s. She smacked her head in disbelief. “I walked through the door first.” Her eyes bawled. The silence between the three was deafening. Her breaths became uneven and her heartbeat echoed in her ears like a city bell. “Omar!” She grabbed hold of him with a tight hug.

  Omar could feel the pounding on his chest, but it wasn’t his. It was hers. “I don’t want to die.” She whispered, gripping him tightly. The grip increased like the walls around them closed in on them and they needed more space to breathe. She was suffocating but still could breathe. Her mind suffocated on her greatest fear. Dying too early.

  A shallow thick breeze huddled the three together. Natasha dropped her notebook looking as disastrous as Luna did. “And I deciphered her words.” Her pain was silent. The chaos inside of them brewed to its boiling point. The shadows danced ominously anticipating who would be their prey.

  Omar wrapped his arms around Luna’s waist. He took the hand of Natasha and grabbed the back of her head hugging her also. He could feel the weight of their fear holding him like an anchor. Omar stumbled on his words. Whatever he could say now wouldn’t matter. Someone had to make that sacrifice and it was not him. For he was the chosen and they were truly marked for death so he may have a chance.

  “Luna. Natasha. I am truly sorry.” His words hung in the air for so long they only breezed by. “No one should suffer because of me. I promise. I will carry this burden forever.” Their hands squeezed him tighter.

  The lights around them cast a silverly light in the catacomb, directed towards a key fob by the door. For the next section to open towards Erabusa, someone needed to place their hand there. That much was obvious.

  The shadows loomed over them all. Impending doom was a scent they were used to now. The curse of the Diborn could only do so much. Omar kept his creepy calm demeanor when the old him would weep the same as the two ladies. This version of him needed to be present. Natasha finally calmed down and her face no longer was flushed in fear. But confidence.

  “Luna. You are a gifted woman. And one day should be named Queen. Death hasn’t earned you yet. Neither has any man's love. Keep dreaming and fighting for what you believe in. I hope when the light of this world wins, I can look down and see you waving at me in the heavens.” She nudged her head against Luna.

  “What are you saying?” Luna anxiously asked. “Nat – “

  Before she could finish, Natasha’s hand changed from cool flames to a flash of quiet lightning that stunned Luna unconscious. Luna fell in the arms of Omar, fast out of it. The silver light brushed against Natasha’s hair as if she made a style change. The weight of the world finally passed her by and she found her final resting place. Omar held Luna’s carcass prone on the ground.

  “Natasha.” Omar calmly spoke her name. “Tell Magnus…” his eyes begged what his vanished heart wouldn’t allow him to.

  “I will.” A tear fell from her face. “Omar. No matter what. I want you to know that whatever darkness you have been through. You're never alone truly. Someone able to pull themselves from their own darkness can defeat whatever darkness the world throws at them. Remember that.” She smiled.

  Omar didn’t say anything back. He nodded slowly.

  “Tell Luna, I made my choice. Tell her I wasn’t scared. When I walked into the shadows, tell her I was brave and true as I faced my final chapter in life. Tell her though my body is no more, my soul continues on in you both.” Natasha unsheathed all her weapons, putting all her books in Luna’s bag. “I walked my final path, to my journey's end, and though I will never see you both for awhile, know I will see you on the other side when your tickets are punched.” She slowly made her way to the hand on the wall.

  “Goodbye, Natasha.” Omar quietly muttered, walking up the stairs into the next room. “Until our souls reunite once more.” He promised walking into the corridor. Natasha allowed her magic to flow through her into the key. Omar raised his voice one last time. “I will tell you were never scared and always looked forward.”

  From behind him, Omar could hear the quick pout from Natasha. He wanted to turn back, but just as she screamed, the corridor doors in front of him with a creak protested against centuries of stillness. The doors finally shifted for the abyss to enter. The doors opened to a new ray of light spilling from hundreds of torches in a room about as thin as paper. The corridor was long and hollow, but the open space still haunted Omar.

  “Nraghhh!” The doors closed and a scream from the other side of the room intensified. A man screaming in agony.