Chapter 7: Spirit Release

[Armon's POV]

"Just up ahead." Thomilson announced, moving aside some snow flower branches. "I can smell the blood."

Nodding, I braced myself for what I was sure to see. Given Moyra's condition when she was found, I knew that her clansmen were similar, if not worse. What I did not expect, was the amount of crimson red blood that stained the freshly fallen snow around the ice fae grounds. Not to mention the pieces of shredded wings and then the bodies themselves.

"Sir," Thomilson hissed. "Their eyes."

"I see."

Each corpse was missing their eyes, meaning Frenrick was not only after the Eternal Fountain.

"We need to collect these bodies and get back quickly." I growled.

Whatever Frenrick was up to, it wasn't good and I needed to report it to my head of military as soon as possible.

Nodding, Thomilson began to pick up the corpses closest to him and place them on the cart we had brought with us. We continued our task until we arrived at a large tree whose limbs were burned, making it look eerie sitting there in the snow and blood.

Attached to the tree were a male and a female fae that clutched each other tightly. The woman's features resembled Moyra's, and I knew in that moment they were her parents.

"These should be the last." I sighed, feeling an odd pang shoot through me as I pictured the woman as Moyra. "Get them down and let's go."

Turning, I tried to make sense of the odd emotions I had been feeling since meeting the injured and almost blind fae woman.

So lost in my thoughts, I almost missed the shocked intake of breath from Thomilson.

Confused, I looked back to see what had shocked him.

"That..." I gasped, fixing my gaze where his was. "Isn't that my parents' precious quartz?"

From what I knew, they had given that away long ago to the family of the woman they chose for me to web one day. Why would members of the ice fae have it? Did they steal it from the noble family it was given to?

Bending down, I picked up the stone and sucked in a breath as my parents' familiar energy rushed from my hand to my heart.

"Put them with the rest and let's go." I growled. "Once we finish completing my promise, I have some questions for that damn woman."

When we arrived back at the compound, the grounds were alive with the hustle and bustle of the end of the day.

Above, the sky was beginning to turn a bloody red, indicating that tomorrow would promise storms. It was becoming the norm, slowly drenching the once vibrant and flourishing Hachia. I could only guess it had to do with the growing strength of the demon race. A promise of the darkness that would surely come if they weren't killed once and for all.

Shaking off my sense of foreboding, I began making my way towards the execution yard to see if El and Damien had completed their tasks of setting a large fire and cleaning and treating Moyra's wounds.

It didn't take me long to find the large Damien standing shirtless and covered in sweat.

"Damien," I called, closing the distance between us as Thomilson followed. "Why haven't these logs been lit yet?"

"The fae woman requested to say a prayer to her goddess before the fire was lit." Damien explained.

"Then where is she?" I growled, beginning to look around the yard.

"Right there." El smirked, pointing towards the compound.

Turning my gaze in the direction she pointed, I felt my breath hitch.

She looked ethereal, cleaned up and dressed in a long white gown with a golden rope tied around her waist. Nothing like the broken Fae woman I had found.

"Why are you letting her navigate herself?" I hissed, snapping out of my daze. "She can't see."

"Wait," El urged, giving a smirk.

Stopping, I gave her a questioning gaze before turning my attention back to Moyra. That was when I noticed that she was confidently navigating the area. It was almost as if she had no trouble seeing. What?

"How is she able to suddenly see?" I demanded, whirling on El.

"She isn't seeing." El explained, rolling her eyes. "She is sensing."

"Sensing?"

"That's correct. She can sense our energies and she is using that feeling to navigate her way."

Opening my mouth, I prepared to question El's explanation, but stopped as Moyra approached with a serene and solemn look on her face.

Up close, I was reminded of the hell she went through thanks to the golden patch that covered her missing eye and the bandages that wrapped around her skin.

"Have you brought my people?" She asked, easily locating me.

"I've kept my word." I assured. "Now that I've done that, can we get on with this?"

Once this kindness was finished, we could go our separate ways and I would be rid of the unpleasant emotions I felt when she was near.

"Of course." She responded, giving a sad smile. "May I say a quick prayer before the fire is lit?

"Please."

Nodding, Moyra turned her attention towards where the fire would be set and hung her head.

"Tatiana, mother of the fae. Please open your gates and welcome these souls that have passed on too soon. Allow them to flourish and grow in your loving arms in the land of Nirvana. Help them heal enough to once again be born into this world. And please forgive me for not joining them, despite all they did to keep me safe. Please punish me if you see fit for surviving. Thank you. In your name, I pray. Amen. "

Lifting her head, she waited with icy tears as Damien and El began to light a roaring fire.

"Fly high." She whispered as Damien and Thomilson threw the first fae corpse into the flames that were greedily licking towards the sky. "Until we meet again in Nirvana, please find it in your hearts to forgive me."

A low sob escaped her as she spoke, but she continued to look stoic, unwilling to let on how badly she was hurting. After all, that was the way of the fae. They never gave way to what they truly felt or thought. That was why they could never truly be trusted. But despite knowing that, I couldn't stop the desire to know the woman more.