Missing

"What do you mean they are gone?" Devrim held his breath. 

Surely he didn't mean...

Hanna grabbed Justum's tunic. "You better tell me what happened up there right now or so help me!" 

"I don't know!" Justum said quickly. "We went up to the pool, and I showed them that the place where the Source was stowed had disappeared. There was nowhere for the Seed to be planted. But that stubborn Empress! No offense..." 

Devrim grunted. He didn't want to get into an argument just now. 

The Fate continued, "The Empress slid down to the pool to place the Seed inside a crack in the basin. Then she and the princess fell asleep waiting for something to happen. I checked on them a couple of times and nothing changed. But the last time I went-- The women were nowhere to be found." 

"Why didn't you stay with them?" Hanna hissed. "They probably went in search of you to get help!" 

"Maintaining the Spires is a lot of work, especially when I am the only one doing it. I don't know how Asha manages..." Justum stopped when he saw all of the angry faces around him.

Seeing Justum appear, Brinn, Reyan and Alaron ran to join the group.

"The magic! It's back. Rory and Princess did it!" Brinn cheered. "Where are they so I can thank them?" 

"That is what we are trying to figure out. Justum had just gotten to the part where he lost them." Devrim's voice was filled with frustration. 

"I didn't lose them. They...are lost. As I was saying, they were not in the tower when I returned. I waited for them, thinking that they would surely come back. But then that bright light showed up. It was blinding! I guess the Empress did the right thing to plant the Seed where she did. The Magic has been revived." Justum dipped his head. 

Hanna marched over to the other Fates. They glowed in the morning light, feeling renewed.

"All of you to the Spires at once! The human Empress and Princess are missing!" Hanna disappeared from view.

The move had happened without much thought, and she was glad it had been successful. Last time the lady had jumped locations it had nearly killed her.

It was more proof that things were returning to normal.

Other blue-skinned beings soon appeared around her.

Hanna nodded at their arrival. "Justum lost the ladies somewhere in the Spires. We have to find them!"

A frantic search ensued. No bedroom went unsearched or hall went untraveled. Yet, in the end, the ladies were nowhere to be found.

"I'm sorry," Hanna's eyes swirled with sadness when she returned to the ground.

"How could this happen?" Devrim began to pace. "Perhaps there is some hidden place you have not looked."

"No such place exists up there," Hanna frowned.

"Could they have returned to the falls when the light began?" Devrim glanced up at the beacon still blazing from the falls. After the momentary dimming when the water started, it had been burning brighter than ever.

Even though it was late morning, it rivaled the sun for its brightness.

"We went up there and called out. No one answered. All that is there is water." Justum sighed. Though he would never admit it, he felt responsible for the ladies' disappearance.

"I don't understand. What even caused the light?" Renat shielded his eyes to look upwards.

This had been his focus to keep from worrying too much about Mairwen. Sometimes focusing on one mystery helped solve another.

"That is a very good question," Hanna hesitated.

"You know something!" Devrim had seen that face on the ethereal being before.

"I don't know. I merely suspect." Hanna pursed her lips. "I suspect that the light was started by Aurora and Mairwen…"

"But how could they do that? Justum said they were not there?" Renat glanced at the imposing Fate. Was he lying?

"We found something!" Ime appeared suddenly.

In his hand, bandages metal and wood were all wrapped into a tangled mess. Devrim recognized the item immediately.

"Aurora's leg brace! Where did you find it?" The Emperor took the item in his hand.

"We tried going back to the falls to look for clues when I tripped over this. When I could stand the light no longer, I picked it up and headed straight here." Ime looked at the dirty cloth. It had been through a lot.

"Why would she leave this behind?" Devrim held the brace close to his chest. "Can she even walk without it?"

"If my belief is correct, she doesn't need it anymore." Tears came to Hanna's eyes.

Devrim didn't understand, but he didn't like the woman's tone. "What is it that you believe?" 

"I don't think that the ladies started the light up there. I think they are the light." Seeing all the confused faces, Hanna continued. "Think about it. We found the brace but all the Fates cannot find two humans within the Mystic Spires. There only other thing that changed was that light. Either the ladies are in the light or they are the light..." 

"How can that be? People don't just transform unless...." Devrim's words caught in his throat. "I don't like it. Take me up there. Now." 

"It would be better to wait down here until the light recedes," Justum's words only upset the Emperor further. 

"Take me up there or I will use the Palace White. The choice is yours." The grey-eyed man glared at the Fates. 

"I want to go too," Renat took a step forward. "My wife is also missing." 

"I will take you," Hanna answered when Justum remained silent. "But do not get your hopes up too high that you will be able to see anything. Not even I can keep my eyes open up there." 

"I'm ready." Devrim placed his hand on his sword, steeling his nerves. 

"Me too," Renat stood stalwartly beside his father-in-law.

All at once the world was gone and they were surrounded by the white stone of the stair. 

"Take a deep breath before you go in," Hanna warned. "The air in there is...different." 

The men obeyed, and then they pushed forward in the chamber. Devrim knew that there should be a pool near the center and a drop-off far to his left. But all he could see was white. 

He was forced to close his eyes. 

The air was different, but not in the way he had expected. The deep breath of air before had prepared his lungs for the overly pure air in the chamber. It was as if the light was taking it and making it as potent as possible. Small breaths were necessary to keep him from getting lightheaded. 

With his eyes closed and his lungs burning from the richness, Devrim stayed still for a moment to get his bearings. It would be a problem if he fell off of the edge. 

A hand grabbed his arm. It must be Renat. The scientist had never been here before and needed a guide. Dervim patted his hand to let him know everything was alright. 

Together they took a few steps to the edge of the pool. Devrim could hear the water bubbling and lapping against the edge in little wavelets.

Should he go into the pool? Hadn't Justum said that the Seed was planted in the center? It would be terrible if he kicked it and ruined all of his wife's hard work! 

So the man remained where he was and called out, "Aurora! Where are you? Can you hear me?" 

"Mairwen! We are looking for you! Are you up here?" Renat squinted only to shut his eyes once more. 

Silence. 

The Emperor tried again. "The Fates have looked everywhere in the Spires and have not found you. If you are here, please let us know." 

Only the lapping of the water answered him. His heart sank. 

"I am sorry," Hanna sighed. "Would you like me to take you somewhere else in the Mystic Spires? You can help us search."

The Fate managed to find Devrim's other arm but he would not let her grab it. Pulling away, he took a step into the water. "Aurora! Answer me. I will not stop searching until I find you. I love you!" 

The water around him bubbled and a warm sensation filled his soul. 

"My love," an exquisite voice answered. "I am here."