Chapter 54: Daisy's Vision

Reika sat by the window, moonlight casting long shadows across the courtyard. Beyond those walls, somewhere, Riftan was locked away, in all oblivion of his sister's struggle with his fate. A knock on the door startled her out of her abstraction. "Who's there?" she called out-the sharpness of her tone having even surprised herself. "It's Daisy," came the weak tone through the other side. Reika's heart sank as, hurrying to the door, she yanked it open; pale and wan, Daisy leaned on the frame. "Daisy!" Reika exclaimed, drawing her inside. "You shouldn't really be out of bed." "I had to find you," Daisy whispered shakily. "I had a. a dream." Reika guided her onto the bed, easing her down. "A dream? What kind of dream? Daisy's face quivered; her eyes scanned the room as if daunted by the shadows. "I saw you, my queen, standing by a river, holding a dagger. You looked so sad." Reika's body went cold. "What else did you see? 'There was this man," Daisy kept talking. 'I couldn't see his face, it was blurry but he was crying. And then…", she paused 'You dropped the dagger into the water, and the river turned red." The words sent a chill down Reika's spine. She forced a smile, brushing a strand of hair from Daisy's face. 'It was just a dream, Daisy. You're tired and unwell." "But it felt so real," Daisy pleaded. "Please, my queen, promise me you won't do anything that will hurt you." Reika's throat swelled, but she nodded. "I promise, Daisy. Now let me take you back to your room." >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>+ The dungeons were colder than they had been, a damp chill clinging to her skin. Riftan was awake when she came, his back against the wall, his eyes narrowing as she approached. "Back so soon?" he drawled, heavy with sarcasm. "What now? Come to accuse me of something else?" Reika ignored the tone and stepped closer to the bars. "We need to talk." "Talk? Or judge? "Do you ever regret what you did?" she asked suddenly, catching in her voice a little. The smirk that had been on Riftan's face fell. Eyeing her warily, he replied, "What do you refer to? "All of it," she pursued. "The girl you hurt, the choices you made, the pain caused." He clamped his jaw and refused to meet her eyes. "You think I do not repent it? Each damn day, I do think of that. But does it change something? Does it really?" "No," she whispered, her fingers wrapping around the cold iron bars. "It does not." He turned to her then, his face softening. "What is this, really, Reika? You have been different of late. Distant. And now you are here, asking me these questions. What are you intending to do?" Her heart thundered against her chest. She could not tell him the truth, not yet. "I just needed to know whether there is any part of you worth saving." The laughter that issued from Riftan's lips was bitter. "I think we both know the answer to that." >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Back in her chambers, Reika paced ceaselessly. Riftan's words gnawed at her. But hadn't she changed? She was no longer the quivering girl from her former life, a helpless girl letting the tide of fate beat upon her, carry her on to where it would. Harder now, and coming with a price. 'What do I do now?". A knock came from the other side of her door. "Who is it?" she called. "It's Lyra, Your Majesty," came a soft reply. Reika opened the door to find Lyra holding a tray of tea. "You didn't eat again," Lyra said, setting the tray down. "You need your strength." Reika shook her head. "I can't eat. I can't think. Lyra hesitated, then sat beside her. "Is it about Daisy?" Reika nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "I don't want to lose her, Lyra. But the price…" Lyra laid a comforting hand on hers. "Sometimes, the hardest decisions are the ones that define us the most. But your majesty, whatever you choose, please do it wisely." Reika squeezed Lyra's hand, finding strength in the words. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>≥> That night, Reika wandered into the gardens. Above, the moon cast its ghostly, glowing sheen upon flowers. Aimlessly, she strolled, her feet leading where they would as her brain stormed on. Then from the bushes ahead, leaves rustled. Her feet froze right there and then as her hand instinctively went to the dagger concealed within her cloak. "Who's there?" she said gruffly. A figure emerged from behind the bushes, and the face was not seen. "Your Majesty," he said, low, slow, and familiar. "I bring news." Reika's heart beat furiously in her chest. "What type of news?" He closed in, inching forward in a way that deliberately was not hurrying at all. "There is a way to save Daisy, but it involves. another sort of sacrifice altogether." She hitched her breath up into her chest. "Wha-what do you mean?" He lowered his hood and revealed one of the messengers of the Moon Goddess, the flash of gold within his eyes gleaming with the softness of moonlight. "The Moon Goddess has her eye upon you, Reika," he began. "She has watched your struggle and your pain. She can grant an opportunity to change destiny, but such shall not be given without some sort of price." Trembling hands asked, "What is it?" His expression was grave, "You must make your choice soon, or the decision will be taken from you". Naturally, she had little time to say anything before he faced and vanished into the shadows, leaving her into cold moonlight. By the time Reika stood at the edge of the water, clucking the ceremonial dagger into her hand, the dawn was well up. Before her, the river ran quietly, ripples stirred across its face by the dawn's first light. Her eyes fixed upon her mirrored face, her brain whirling around 'maybes'. "What if it had another way?" But deep inside, she knew better-how time was running out, and this chance would close. Trembling, she let the dagger slip into the river, sliding along down to the bottom. "Moon Goddess," she whispered, with tears streaming over her face. "Guide me." And the river surface glittered as if in response to a prayer.