Life of a Phoenix - Chapter 13 - Thoughts of the Past

Erdric was lost in thought as the group followed Aryun to the proper wing.

"This place is huge, isn't it, Aryun?" Nara asked as she looked out the windows seeing the sea.

"Yeah, Grandfather didn't want anything modest, but wanted something impressive that you could get lost in if you'd never been there."

"I noticed that with all the same style intersections. You don't know which way you're going."

"Well, it's not really that bad. Just look for the slight differences and you know whether you're closer to the chambers, the classes or the throne room."

"Strange."

"Well, when you're the main god and have people that want to kill you for your title, you get a little edgy."

"Ah."

"It's why Grandfather instituted the Tetrarch."

"The what? I heard you talk about it before, but explain please," Xristis pleaded as he watched her.

"Well, the Tetrarch represents the four main staples of life: Wisdom, Death, Rebirth and Truth, or Life and Light, and Darkness. KimVay is the God of Truth, Light, and Rebirth. Tyral is the God of Wisdom and Life, Thanatos is the God of Death, and Erebus is the God of Darkness. They balance each other, and to do anything, they must agree upon the basic need." Aryun shrugged. "It's strange, but it works."

"Will we meet the rest of your family?" Mara asked. "I liked two of the three so far."

Aryun laughed, waving her hands as she walked. "Oh heaven's no! They're no relation to me save for KimVay and Elysian. Although, you could count Lethe among my family."

"Lethe?"

Aryun laughed again. "The same he was speaking of before. She's a goddess of ritualistic purification and Child Birth. Strange combination, but it works none the less."

"But we will meet the rest of the Tetrarch?"

Aryun shook her head. "If they wish you to see them, then they will show themselves. If not, well, you won't see them." She thought as she turned another corner. "Than is serious . . . not prone to frivolities. Erebus is . . . well, like his name implies. He's dark, and it's hard to penetrate beyond that to his true self. And you've met KimVay and Tyral."

Mara tilted her head. "I'm not fond of KimVay."

Aryun chuckled. "Nor am I, Lady Mara. Nor am I."

Finally they arrived at a corridor that had several doors branching off of the main corridor.

"Well, here are the rooms. You can pick which one you want, save for the last one straight ahead. That one's always been mine. I expect that you'll rest for a while. I'll come and knock upon your doors when the rest, if they wish too, want to meet you. Deal?"

All nodded and thanking her, walked off to a door to check out the rooms, utterly trusting in their actions.

Erdric stood still, his fingers touching the pendant and didn't notice that his friends had left him in the hallway. His eyes were closed and his fingers caressed the silver, almost like a lover.

"Erdric, are you alright?" Aryun blinked at him as he came out of his trance.

"I'm fine."

"You seem out of it. Do you like the pendant?"

"Yes I do." His fingers strayed back to the silver.

"Did that choke off the feeling? You seem to be walking far better than when your went through the portal."

"I feel light headed. I guess that's better . . ."

"What were you feeling?" Aryun cocked her head to the side, studying the young man in front of her.

He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. Finally he sighed, looking upward at the ceiling. "Not good. Let's leave it at that."

Aryun sighed, rolling her eyes. "Fine. Last time I try to help you with a portal." She nudged him slightly with her arm, her voice gentle. "Find yourself a room, Lord Erdric. I think the only one left is the one near mine. If you don't mind, that is."

"No," his voice was quiet and subdued. "I don't mind at all."

"Come on," Aryun stated as she took his arm, taking him down the hallway to the last free chamber.

Erdric was still filled with hesitance, but allowed Aryun to lead the way to the last chamber. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, and felt those stirrings again. Erdric was drawn to her, and he honestly wasn't quite happy about it. He sighed silently as he felt the softness of her fingers though the soft cotton shirt as he remembered another soft touch.

He looked at her, studying her face yet again.

She looked like her father, but he thought she must look more like her mother. There wasn't that . . . coldness that KimVay possessed. He frowned slightly. He did not like KimVay at all nor the way he treated his daughter. Sure, Aryun may be cold, calculated and vicious, but that was no reason for him to treat her that way. He was still her father and he still had responsibilities. It wasn't like with him. His father was dead before he was born.

He sighed slightly as Aryun opened the door, not allowing his arm out of her grasp. Finally he just allowed her to lead him.

Aryun watched Erdric, seeing the tiredness within his face. He was hurting far more than he was letting on, but she did just the same thing so she had no reason to complain.

Silently she swung the door open and led him inside, her hand still wrapped around his arm.

The room was elegant, yet sparsely furnished. The floor was covered in a woolen rug that had delicate flowers woven into it, and there were several tapestries upon the walls to cover for the chill. A small round table was centered in the middle of the room, along with several chairs, as well as a small desk over in one corner.

The bed was fashioned from a deep red wood, and the drapes were pulled back from the edge to reveal the delicate silver blankets and pillows strew about the bed.

Aryun tilted her head after Erdric had swept the room with his eyes. He was inquisitive about his surroundings but placed it under a cool mask. Aryun felt a flutter within as she looked at his face, but she shook her head slightly, ignoring the feelings.

"Do you wish to sit down?" His muscles were trembling and Aryun thought he would nearly fall before he nodded his head and slipped into the chair with a trembling sigh. Aryun's hand trembled slightly before resting it on his. "Will you be alright by yourself?"

Erdric's eyes were closed as he breathed slowly. "Yeah. I'll be fine."

Aryun hesitated a second before she walked out of the room, leaving him lost again in thought.

Erdric sighed and fished out a pendant from the inside of his tunic. Slowly, he raised it into the soft light that poured into the windows.

The silver chain sparkled and the crystal glowed with warmth. Within the center, a delicate, lace-like flower stood motionless in time.

Erdric ran his thumb along the warmed surface of the crystal, remembering.

"Celia," he murmured softly as he wrapped his slender fingers around the crystal pendant and brought it to his cheek.

It could never replace her, but it was the only memento he had of her left in his life. This pendant and the flowers she loved so much.