Truths from the Past: Book 5 of the Kinstone series

We turn towards the door only to hear the heavy and forceful sounds of a battering ram as it slams against the barred doors. To be honest, I thought the response time of anyone left in the palace was going to be quicker. Especially when you take into account we just killed their king.

I smirk, coiling my tails, “Well…not getting out that way.”

“Agreed,” replies Celes.

Yeah…not gonna lie, I really don’t like the idea of having to fight our way back out of the palace. Given how fast we raced up ten stories, fought through endless hordes of undead soldiers and knights, and then finally dealing with the king and his elite guard, going out the front door really isn’t that much of an option at this point.

The door bulges again with another heavy strike to it thanks to the battering ram. The sound of wood splintering echoes through the empty throne room.

I pan around, thinking of our options, only to settle on the window.

“Hey…do those crystals work even if someone isn’t touching the ground?” I ask

Celes turns and stares the window, “They do,” then looks to me, “you cannot be serious about what you’re suggesting we do?”

I smirk, looking to her, “Well, it’s the only option we’ve got.” I then look to our wolves, becoming worried about them.

No doubt this is probably one of the craziest ideas I’ve ever had. If I could fly, no biggie, but this is a lot different and I have a lot of people to carry, even with the wolves hopping into our shadows. Plus there’s the having to fly back home with any semblance of speed to take into consideration. Simply put, too little time, and hell of a lot more things to do.

I could also create a fairy road, but even that would take me fifteen seconds in order to summon the necessary fae magic and then maintain it while in transit. All that while having the doors being broken down with unknown numbers of enemies on the other side. Given what happened the last time I opened on under duress…not happening.

I watch as Celes pulls a rope out from her back and walks over to Athena. She then loops it around her wolf several times before securely tying herself down. “They will be able to teleport with us if we are firmly on them.”

I nod, leaping onto Fenris, tying my tails around his body, being careful not to restrict him too much. He looks to me with a worried face. I smile, knowing we both know this is beyond crazy, even for us.

I pan up towards the window and fire an Orb at it, shattering it. I sigh softly, lamenting that I had to. It was rather pretty, being a stained-glass window, no doubt centuries old.

The sounds of the doors giving way echoes again, now with the bar beginning to splinter. The room shakes again, causing our wolves to stagger for a moment before recovering.

Celes turns to me as the doors now begin to shatter with each consecutive blow. Her eyes bear an equally concerned look, which is shared by Athena.

She shakes her head, “This is still crazy, Aria.” She then tosses me one of the crystals. I shrug, quickly catching it. “To activate it, all you have to do is infuse magic into it and then wait two seconds. No need to worry about thinking of our destination, it’s already imprinted into the crystal.”

I nod, looking to it and then towards the window. I feel a rush of wind as it howls from the shattered opening. Even with the sounds of the doors being bashed in, I take a moment to consider what we’re about to do.

I take a long, deep breath and exhale.

“Let’s go.”

The both of us then tap on our wolves who then charge towards the open window just as the door finally gives way. Behind us, we hear the voices of dozens of soldiers shouting at us as they pour into the throne room while others stop in place as the sight of us racing towards an open window.

Celes and I then grasp the crystals tightly, infusing magic into them and watch as they glow the moment we leap out into the open air. Down below us is an over hundred foot drop and nothing for our wolves to leap onto or even enough time to summon sheets of ice to accomplish the same task.

Time itself however begins to move slowly as we freefall. Fear begins to swell up within me as the ground begins to slowly creep towards us. I reel back and hold my breath, having over a thousand thoughts race through my head as the crystals finally activate, enveloping us in a cocoon of white light and teleports us away.

The cocoon of light fades as we land inside the courtyard back home. Our wolves hop and skid to a stop. I exhale heavily, yet feel something churning within my stomach.

“Aria. Celestine,” we hear being called out. My ears flick up as I see Tyrion rushing over to meet us.

We unwrap ourselves from our wolves and dismount. The churning in my stomach swells to the surface as I drop to my knees and puke onto the stone tiling. I pant heavily as I heave yet again, feeling hot and extremely puffy in the face. Yeah…what we just did, not the best of ideas when you’re already stressed out.

Both Celes and Tyrion kneel beside me and begin to stroke my back. I start to feel a little better as Fenris and Athena join in, gently nuzzling my face. I smile softly at their attention.

“What happened?” asks Tyrion.

“The mission was a success, Uncle,” replies Celes. “However, the soldiers began to break down the doors to the throne room, barring our escape.” She then strokes the back of my head, “That is when my sister devised the truly insane idea of leaping out the window and teleporting here.”

Tyrion looks to me, “Crazy fox.” I grin, with my face still feeling hot. He strokes my shoulder, “While indeed an act of sheer lunacy, I am still grateful you all returned safely.”

That’s saying it mildly.

“Also,” continues Celes, “Vikarion is dead, slain by both Aria and Fenris’ doing.”

Tyrion looks to her and Fenris in shock but relents, “It had to be done. If he and his house had their way, we all would be dead now.”

“He was not truly of the living,” says Fenris.

My uncle’s eyes grow wide, “Impossible. Nethune would go that far?”

My bonded nods, and then nudges my face with his cold wet nose. I smile, finally having my stomach settle back down as I pull down my hood and take off my mask, hooking it into place on my right pouch.

My body still aches from all of the fighting, not to mention the adrenaline is starting to wear off as I feel blood and pain streaming from various wounds.

My ears then swivel about, not hearing any of the wolves, nothing. I look up, sensing none of them. Why? Where are they? My worries then gravitate towards Leto and Nelly.

I then pan over the see the knights from before still at their posts along with a squad of soldiers. I sigh heavily, as pan up to my uncle. “Where are they others?”

Tyrion nods, “On Serasfall’s orders, most of the knights left to aid in the evacuation of the city. A few...remained here to help guard the estate and those within.”

I look to them, hoping the others made it out.

I then pan back to my uncle as I see tears streaming down his face.

“We…we grew worried when Serasfall’s body returned,” he says. “With no clue of your status, we nearly left, only for us to hear the sound of the crystal humming loudly, even this far out. We then knew something had happened.”

I nod, as we stand up. His face grows solemn, “We then laid her to rest in the family crypt, so now she rests with our ancestors.”

I clench my fists tightly, “Selene was the one who killed her.” I bite the inside of my lip, trying not to cry more than I already have. The memories of that moment are still incredibly fresh in my mind.

He nods solemnly.

The ground shakes again, now more violently.

“The two of you need to leave the city,” says Tyrion.

I look to him in surprise, “You’re not coming?”

His smiles, shaking his head. “No. My family must remain here in order for any stragglers to think that no one from our family managed to escape and were caught up as the city falls.”

I shake my head in disbelief. Please no, no more of this. I pan over to see my cousins and aunt all standing by the front of the main house.

He smiles, and then looks to Celes, “The portal is ready.”

She nods, appearing on the verge of crying but bites it back. “Thank you, Uncle.” She then looks to me, “We have to go.”

I shake my head, “No. Not like this.” I don’t want to leave like this, not with everything that’s happened. I then look towards the where the cemetery is. “Can…can I at least say goodbye to Serasfall?”

“JUST COME, ARIA!!!” she yells. Her voice chokes with each word.

I look to her in horror. She’s never yelled at me, never like this before. I stare at her, only to seeing even more tears flowing from her eyes.

I shrivel into a small child, dropping my head and nod.

Tyrion then pulls me into a tight embrace, hugging close to him. I cling tightly to him. In four and a half months, I grew closer to this man as my uncle than ever thought possible. I still recall our chats together and the dinners I had with him and his family over the past four months.

“I’ll miss you,” I chokingly let out.

He squeezes me even tighter. “And I you. I have never been more honored and proud to be your uncle, my beloved niece.”

I choke up even more as tears stream down my face, clinging even tighter to him. His words cut deeply into my heart. “Thank you…thank you for everything, Uncle Tyrion.”

He smiles brightly, places a kiss onto the top of my head, right between my ears. “I love you, Aria. Forever shall I love you.”

I look up to him with tears in my eyes, smiling as best as I can. “I love you too.”

We squeeze each other one last time before we separate. Tyrion then pulls out my bag and hands it to me. I hold it tightly, staring at it before stashing my journal into it.

We look to each other one last time and then part. I then quickly hurry over to the waiting arms of my aunt and cousins, looping my arms through the straps.

They hold me tightly with Veylana pressing her face against mine. “I will miss you terribly, Aria,” she says sorrowfully. “I am forever grateful to have had an incredible little cousin like you come into our lives.”

I giggle softly as her tears drop onto my face and mix with my own. “Thank you. I’m going to miss having lunch with you at school.”

She smiles, clinging to me, “Heaven knows I would love nothing more than to come with you. However…I know my place is here in order to protect you and Celestine.”

Why can’t she come with us? If Celes and I only leaving the city, then why not have Veylana at least come with? I know I want to protest this, but know I’d get shot down in an instant. This day has already been harder than it should be.

I nod, feeling the lump in my throat growing larger.

Both Galen and Darius hug me tightly as they pull me away from their sister.

“Remain strong, dear Aria,” says Galen. “You have become more than a blessing upon this family, more than you shall ever know.”

I look up to him and his brother who smiles to me. Darius strokes my hair, “I for one shall miss having someone on your level to talk with.”

I giggle painfully through the limp in my throat. His brother scoffs only to chuckle softly. I smile, tearing up even more.

Galen leans over as my tails swish softly on the stone. “I for one shall miss seeing your beautiful tails.”

I giggle, blushing softly, coiling them around me.

Darius presses his forehead into mine. “I shall miss hearing that wonderful laugh of yours.”

I giggle even more, clinging tightly to them. They smile, hugging my tightly for a moment longer before letting me go.

I smile to my cousins, as their wives and my aunt pull me into them. I stare up at their soft faces.

“Sweet, sweet little Aria,” says my aunt. “Oh how I wish I could hold you longer. Alas, I know I cannot.”

I nod, clinging to her arms.

Ilia and Sofia each lean over and kiss my cheeks. I blush softly.

“Be well, Aria,” says Sofia. “You have done so much for this family.”

I smile, and then feel Ilia caressing my face. “We love you, Aria. Do take care of yourself. Although…I wish we could have taken you shopping more often.”

I giggle softly, still biting back the lump in my throat.

I feel my aunt planting a kiss on the top my head. “I wish I could hold onto you forever. Yet I must let you go.”

“Aria,” I hear Celes call out. “We need to go.”

I nod, tearing up even more as all three women finally release me. I step away from all of them and smile as even more tears flow down my face. “I love all of you,” I say chokingly. “Thank you again for everything.”

They smile with tears down their faces.

“We love you too, Aria,” says my uncle. “Now, go to your sister.”

I nod, stilling smiling, “Goodbye.” I wave to them and then disappear inside.

Celes and I stroll through the manor, with me hanging close to her. I peer up and look around, recalling my memories from over the past few months. So many good ones filled with happiness and joy. Even in the short time I’ve been here, it felt like I was living a normal life with my real family. In this short time, while brief, this place truly became my home.

My mouth quivers, still feeling the warmth of Serasfall’s smile as we pass by the Study. I peer in, almost wanting to see her sitting at the desk combing over matters of state delivered to her. I can even see her peering up and smiling to me, only for the image to fade away.

With tears still in my eyes, I turn away, following close behind Celes.

We turn down a hallway and enter a different part of the manor. It’s similar to the path Serasfall and I took when she and I head down to retrieve my crystal for my new sword.

We come to a clock to which Celes presses on a stone tile, revealing a hidden door as the wall retracts. I nod softly yet start to question why we’re heading down this way.

We slowly descend the winding stone stairs, only lit by crystal light. The further we go, the more my heart aches, with my increasing desire to say one least goodbye to Serasfall. However…I know I can’t, no matter how much I want to.

As we pass by several doors on the way down, Celes remains quiet. I fold my tails into one to help better traverse the narrow passageway, despite the fact of how small I am in compassion.

She then stops, causing me to nearly slam into her. My sister then turns, looking to me. Her eyes are soft and yet full of the love I’ve come to know from her.

“I apologize for yelling at you earlier,” she says. “I was on edge and my emotions were erupting to the surface. I do hope you can forgive your sister.”

I smile, feeling the same as her. “There’s nothing to apologize for.” For whatever reason, it feels like she wants to clear the slate between us, leaving no regrets behind.

She brokers a soft smile, and reaches for my hand. I smile taking it, only for her to pull me into her, hugging me tightly. I cling to her, resting my fox ears against her. I blush softly, listening to her heart beating in her chest.

She smiles, stroking my hair, feeling her hands gently gliding over my ears. “You and I are truly sisters. Not merely by blood, but by so much more.”

I nod, clinging to her even more. Why does this hurt so much? Why does it feel like there is something else to this? Just…why to everything?

The ground shakes again, feeling the hallway shift with dust falling around us. Celes plants a kiss onto my forehead and slowly releases me. My heart trembles as her hand lets go of mine, it’s almost painful.

We then resume our trek down the staircase.

We reach the very bottom the stairs, going even further than where the crystal caves are. Standing before us is a large, heavy wooden door. It’s not ornately carved like the rest of the manor, looking rather plain in all honesty. In fact, it looks as though it was only recently uncovered, with dust marks on the floor showing signs of recent movement.

I look up to watch Celes twisting a wrought iron knob, listening to it click open. She then pushes on the door, shoving it forward and walks inside. Curious, I follow in after her. By the way…what did Tyrion mean when he said that the “portal” was ready? Is there really a portal the leads out of the city?

Lights from even more crystals pop on, revealing a small room, littered with bookcases and a couple tables. I look around, seeing papers strewn about as they poke out from various thick books.

I pan forward, seeing a strange blackened archway. I tilt my head the more the stare at it. It’s strangely familiar the more I examine it. In fact it’s very similar to the one in the library at the Outpost. But…why?

I step closer to it, “So…what’s this?” pointing to it.

“The way out,” she replies. My ears flick at the sound of something clicking behind me, sounding like gears turning in a lock.

The archway then roars to life. My eyes then grow huge. Wait…this is the same kind of portal that sent Fenris and I here in the first place.

“Goodbye, my sister,” whispers Celes in my ear.

Wait, what?!?!

Before I can turn and respond to her, I feel her shoving me hard into the portal.