True Spirit Forms

Aria, Ares, Garsam, and Ivy paused two hours into their journey. They stopped to find their bearings because Ares told them the goddess wanted to speak to them. "How did you know?" Aria asked. "Voices in your head?" Ares froze, then nodded. Everyone scattered to take a rest. Garsam nimbly climbed a tree. It was getting pretty cold as winter was coming. Aria pulled her coat closer. Before they left the pack, they had gone to her old house. It seemed like someone had gone there, but nothing was missing. They took some clothes and food before leaving. Ivy sat on the base trunk of a tree. Ares produced a small mat from his backpack and laid it on the ground. He patted it, indicating that Aria should sit down. On the tree, Garsam scoffed when she saw this. "Tch, the double standards are too blatant." Ares ignored her, and Aria gingerly sat down, a little embarrassed. "Thanks." Ares removed a flask and poured out a small cup of hot chocolate. Aria wanted to refuse, but he placed the cup on her lips, giving her no choice but to chug down the warm liquid. When she was done drinking, she took the flask and poured out another cup. She stood and took it to Ivy. Ivy, who had been trying to ignore their display of affection, looked up. She nodded thankfully and drank the chocolate. It warmed her up. She could taste a little magic. No wonder her whole body felt warm. "Thank you," she said both to Aria and Ares. Aria smiled, but Ares simply nodded with a cold look. He didn't want anyone drinking what he prepared for Aria, but he couldn't do anything about it. Aria also gave Garsam a cup. After they had drunk and warmed up, Ares called them together and had them sit cross-legged in a circle. "Close your eyes," he instructed. When they opened them, they were in the familiar clearing. They were in Vhail. The fire still burned. Selena and her wolf were waiting. She looked up when they came. "Ai, Ipne, Ur welcome back." Everyone bowed to her. It was a subconscious action. "Your burden has begun." "We're aware," Aria said. Selena looked her over. "Oh, I will miss your biting remarks." Aria stiffened when Selena pointed out their impending doom. "Is it not enough that I'm destined to die? Why did you get my sister involved?" "Why else?" Selena smiled. "To keep you in line, of course." Aria blanched. "I already accepted the burden. What more do you want?" "I need to make sure you're motivated so you don't give up halfway. Besides, it was fate that your sister became Virgo's vessel; I simply didn't interfere." Aria cursed in her mind. Then she spat, "She can't die!" Selena mused, "The thing is, a life for a life. If she dies, you will live." "Fuck you!" Aria yelled. How could she say such a thing? It is true; gods and goddesses are all too happy to mess with their subjects. "What do you have for us?" Ares interrupted. Aria was getting increasingly upset, and he will not allow anyone to upset her, not even the goddess that made them! "Hmmm," Selena sighed. She turned to Ares. "Ai, with the power to protect, you will the lives of others before your own." She turned to Garsam. "Ipne, beneath a gentle facade hides the strength of a thousand." Garsam groaned and complained. "Why do I get the weird name? What the heck is an Ipne?" Selena looked at her right in the eyes; her eyes were full of pity. "Ipne means a hidden one or one with a secret." Garsam stared at her in silence. Selena finally turned to Aria and Ivy. "Ur, the one who has the ears of the deities, the messenger." "So, Ares can protect, Garsam has strength, and Ivy and I are what? Messengers?" Aria grumbled. "To whom? From whom?" "You, my dears, are the strongest; their job is to protect you, your job is to deal the final blow." "...How?" It was the first time Ivy spoke. Selena smiled kindly at her. "With the word of your mouth because Urs true spirit split between you two; you can only use this power when you're connected when you hold hands." "What are we supposed to say?" Garsam said, "Obviously, you tell the demon to die or something." "Of course not; what if my sister dies as well?" "You cannot kill that which is already dead," Ares interjected. "Correct. You will say 'Dormir,' meaning sleep; remember, this can only be used once, so make sure it counts." "When you return, your true forms will manifest; I bid you swift luck in your final mission, my dear Acabi." "Oh, and remember, save your sister speedily; when Virgo finds her core, she and your sister will slowly merge; if you're too late, they will become inseparable." In the circle, Ares was the first to open his eyes. He slowly looked at everyone. When he saw Aria, his heart skipped a beat. She was so beautiful. Ur was beautiful. Aria's hair had turned grey, almost white; her porcelain face looked as smooth and as radiant as alabaster. She still looked like her old self, just more ethereal. Her clothes were different too. She was wearing a simple white dress with a silver sash and wide sleeves. Her eyelids fluttered open to reveal one piercing violet eye and one soft brown one. Ares felt heat rush his nose; he quickly looked away. Aria was shocked at their individual transformation. But nothing shocked her more than Ares. He was already handsome, but now he looked like he belonged with a choir of angels. His silver-white hair hung to his shoulder; one side was pulled back by a silver hair clip, revealing sharp jaws and violet eyes that made her knees go weak, especially when he looked at her like she was all he could see. A loud cough interrupted her perusal. "If you're done undressing him with your eyes, then let's go save your sister, you know, the one whose life might be in mortal danger," Garsam smirked. Aria turned red. "Who's undressing anyone?" Ares watched as her face tinted red; she looked even more charming. He sighed. Selena must be messing with him. Ivy and Garsam were transformed as well. Garsam heaved a secret sigh of relief when she saw she was dressed in pants and a dark shirt just like Ares. She wouldn't know how to explain if she had ended up with a dress. Ivy touched her smooth skin in awe. She felt so... beautiful. Subconsciously she wished she could see Thaen; she wondered what he would say. They felt their magic flow more freely too. "Say... should we hold hands and see what happens if we scream?" Aria asked Ivy as Ares led the way. Garsam scolded, "I reckon you'll destroy half the forest, so don't even think about it!" Aria rolled her eyes. When silence returned, she felt her heart thump with worry. She had been trying to distract herself, but now she couldn't help but be scared. If she died, her memory would be erased from her family's mind, but if Sue dies, her parents will certainly remember they lost a daughter. She tried to look at the positive side; at least they still have Jerry, the positivity didn't hold out for long. Sue couldn't die no matter what; she was her twin. Aria glanced at Ivy, remembering how the girl had cried when she sensed her sister was dead; she didn't want to experience that!