The Blind Witch
Chapter 33

Darkness is not the end, as Erebus thinks. It generates new life, new worlds, new beginnings. I created universes in my long, forgotten past. I filled the darkness I made. His goal is to conquer, yet mine has been to create. I wish I had seen what he would become. I would not have nourished his gifts. I would not have nourished the love that developed between us—so many regrets.

Clarissa groaned as she awoke. Her body was stiff and painful. Her right hand reached up to her left shoulder; there was scarring across her mark. It was also tender to the touch. She winced as she sat up in the bed. A warm hand reached out to her, caressing her hips.

"You should sleep some more," Aiden said as he groggily opened his eyes.

"I don't think I could sleep any longer if I tried," she sighed.

"Then I shall have food brought in," he replied as he sat up. "You did not get a chance to eat last night."

Clarissa put her hand on her stomach. She had not eaten for several days, but she did not feel hungry. At least she was not hungry for food. There was a hunger within her, but it was within her soul, within her very being.

Being eternal can take its toll. You are always hungry, always thirsty...

"Issa?" Aiden said. She jumped slightly as she blinked her eyes. She had not heard Aiden getting up from the bed. She had not noticed when he stood in front of her.

"Yes?" She asked as she looked up at him.

"Are you alright?" Aiden inquired as he moved the hair from her face. "Are you hurting? Should I get you something?"

"No," she answered, shaking her head. "I'm just thinking. Can you help me dress?"

"Of course," he smiled as he helped Clarissa to her feet.

Aiden helped dress her, and afterward, he got her to nibble on some food. Yet, for Clarissa, the food was bland. It felt foreign in her stomach. But she ate only to please Aiden. He was worrying over her; he wanted to ensure she was comfortable.

"Would you like to go for a walk outside?" He asked once she was done eating. "We are still waiting for some of the human kings to arrive, so we have some time for just you and I."

"No, I think I might return to the bed to rest a little longer," she answered. "Why don't you go check on how things are going?"

"I'm not going to leave you," Aiden growled. "Not again."

"You would just be across the palace," she smiled as she reached out, touching his arm. "Go. I'll be fine."

"Are you angry with me?"

"No," she reassured him. "I am simply tired. I was chained to a cold floor for several days. My magic just needs time to replenish."

"Alright," he sighed. "I shall come check on you in an hour."

Aiden reluctantly stood from his chair. He gave Clarissa a light, tender kiss before he left. Though he wanted to stay with her, she was right. There were things that he needed to handle. Some of the human kings that had arrived were anxious, wanting answers. He would go and speak with them and explain the gravity of the situation.

Once Aiden left, Clarissa sighed. She felt different and had no way to explain it to him. Since creating the sun yesterday, she has been changing. She looked down at her hands. She could see a faint outline of her fingers. She was not just orbs within her vision. At first, she had wondered if she was gaining the ability to see, but Aiden was no different. He was a mass of orange and red orbs. It was only her that was changing.

"Good Morning, child of the eternal," a strange voice whispered to her.

Clarissa shot up in her chair, but she stilled. She saw a familiar figure standing near her. The white face, with black voids throughout. Upon his head was antlers, and his body was cloaked with darkness. It was Labraid, the God of Death.

"Who is dying?" She questioned harshly.

"No one," Labraid replied as he stepped closer. "I am here for no one."

"Then why are you here?"

"I came to speak with you, child of the eternal." He answered as he gave a low bow.

"Why do you call me that?" Clarissa questioned curiously. She had been called many things, but this was the first time she had been called a child of the eternal.

"Nyx had told me that you were a curious one. That you had no qualms in asking questions of the gods. Even Eir was meek as a child. Tell me, why do you think I call you that?"

"Because Nyx created me." She answered softly.

"Do you know what it means? To be created by Nyx?"

Clarissa stood there, unsure of how she would answer. Deep down, she knew what it meant. It would mean she was a child of a goddess. That she was a goddess. Nyx had been whispering it to her for years now, but she had refused to acknowledge the truth. But why? Why would it matter if she were a goddess? Perhaps, if she did not accept it, then it would not happen. She would not become an eternal being. She would die a mortal amongst those that she loved.

"You look nearly identical to your mother," Labraid said, pulling Clarissa from her thoughts.

"You knew her?"

"I did not know her, but I met her. The night that she gave birth to you, I was there, amongst most of the other gods in this realm," he answered as he stared at the girl. "Eir and I kept your mother alive and in as little pain as possible. She made a great sacrifice bringing you into this world, so we sought to reward her by allowing her to hold you just for a moment."

"Did she know what I was? Did she regret having me?"

"No," he smiled. "She did not regret. Frigg and Eir made themselves known to your mother during her labor. They stood by her side, explaining everything that you would do. She cried tears of joy as she listened. And once she had held you, she passed you off to Frigg. Eir and I made sure she died quickly and that she did not suffer. Then I took her soul with me, and now she rests comfortably."

"Thank you," Clarissa whispered as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. "Thank you for coming to tell me that."

"That story is not why I came," Labraid said as his voice deepened. "Erebus has gathered many and turned them into vampires."

"How do you know?"

"To become a vampire, you are taken close to death. It summons me. But I was not summoned once. I was summoned over a hundred times and can still feel it now. He is creating more as we speak."

"Where is he?"

"At Thresnora, within Nyx's temple." He answered. "But you must hurry. He cannot fight with fresh vampires; they take days, if not weeks, to rein in and control. If you are to fight against him, do it soon. I do not know how many more he plans to make, but you will not stand a chance should he continue."

"Thank you for the warning," Clarissa said as she wrapped her sword around her waist.

"Good Luck, child of the eternal," Labraid said as he vanished.

Clarissa hurried to the door, pulling it open with enough force to startle Victor. He was in the corridor, guarding her.

"Where is Aiden?" She demanded as she gasped for air.

"In the council room. Why? What has happened?" Victor questioned as he looked at her. He could see the concern on her face, the fear that was washing over her. Something was wrong.

"Are there enough shadows for you to get me there quickly?"

"I think so," he nodded as he gripped her arm.

Victor took Clarissa, jumping from shadow to shadow. It took only a minute for them to appear in front of the closed doors to the council room. Clarissa pushed them open, not waiting for the guards to do it for her. She could see Aiden at the far end of the room, as well as wolves that were gathered around. On the other end, she saw several witches standing close to one another.

"Tasaeyoule," she whispered as she began to walk to Aiden. She was able to see humans that were sitting around the table.

"What is wrong?" Aiden questioned as he pulled her to his side.

"Erebus is at Thresnora, and he is changing others into vampires," she answered as she looked at him.

"How do you know this?" Someone asked.

"The gods have told me," she answered as she turned to face everyone else. "One came to me, telling me of what Erebus was doing. He warned me that we had little time to act."

"Who is this Erebus?" Another inquired. "We have heard his name all morning, but we do not know who he is or where he hails from."

"Erebus is a god, brought to life in our mortal world. He seeks to destroy everything, to bring about a neverending night that would not only swallow this world but all the worlds in all of the known universes."

"Are you proposing we fight a god?"

"He is no god, not at the moment. His essence lies within a mortal's body. He can be hurt, be killed, like all of you. And he shall not hesitate to bring about your end. Aiden and I request that you supply us with your armies. We need to go to Thresnora now! He needs time to gain control over the new vampires, so we need to force his hand; we need to attack him while he doesn't have much of an army."

The room was silent. They were almost paralyzed with the realization of the fight that was to come. They were not just fighting against witches or vampires. There was a deity amongst their ranks. Mortal body or not, the thought of facing him on the battlefield made many tremble. But while some were scared, some were skeptical. Why would they give their armies to two children to command? They had not been King or Queen for more than a week.

"Why should we fight with you? Do you honestly think that you can bring down a god?"

Clarissa whispered as she pulled her sword from her sheath. These men knew nothing of her magic, of her powers. They knew nothing about her. As she held her sword out, fire began to spread across the blade. The fire was fervent, causing those closest to her to move away. But there was not just a fire; there was a wind that surrounded her. It was intense; it was hot. She turned her sword and pointed it at the men around the room.

"I have stood against Erebus once, at a time when my power was weakened. But the next time I see him, I shall be at my full strength. Who among you would stand with me? Who among you is ready to rid our world of the darkness that has been looming overhead for over a thousand years?"

"The Coven of the Lode Star stands with you, my Queen of Queens," Craigen said as he stepped forward.

"The Witches of the Sacred Mountain stand with you, our Queen of Queens."

"The Amber Sky pack stands with you," replied an Alpha as he stood.

"The Kingdom of Rovia stands with you!"

The men in the room stood one by one, pledging their armies to Clarissa. Only a few remained seated, refusing to fight. But there was no denying that many were still missing from the council. Some were greedy, whose ambitions aligned with the Requiem. There was no doubt that they would face them at Thresnora. But they could not dwell on the thoughts of fighting against some of their own. This battle was bigger than them. They were to fight not just for their own packs and kingdoms but for the entire realm. And now they needed to get ready. It was time to put a stop to Erebus and his calamitous darkness.

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