How It Ends 3

Ker's offer wasn't met with the enthusiasm that she'd hoped for, as the shikari took a step back.

Ker nodded, " So you have made your choice," Ker sounded disillusioned by the choice the shikari had made. There was no need to question why she made that offer or what was her endgame. After all, she must gain something other than their souls.

" What are trying to do?" Iris asked with furrowed brows.

" Butt out, prickly Queen. This is none of your business," But it was her business. Unless Ker gained something more than their souls out of the deal.

Stoking the flames, a few more cocoons splattered on the ground, hoping Iris would get her point across.

" What are you gaining from this?" Iris seethes placing the flaming sword at Ker's neck.

" Wouldn't you like to know," Ker smirked placing the tip of her finger on the tip of the blade snuffing out the flames in the blink of an eye.

" I am my daughter's keeper after all. They had their fun, now it's time for them to return home," The sisters shrieked, loudly. All the while the smirk on Ker's lips stretched wider as if she'd heard them. There was no hiding from Ker, not the sisters anyway.

" And you're losing your grip on them. Now," Ker clasped her hands behind her back all the while the little rope of energy swirled around her continuously. Other than snuffing out the flames, what other things could she do? Perhaps, relinquishing darkness?

" That is something I can do," She answered as if she'd read her thoughts.

" Not yours, theirs," She tapped on her head and pointed at the little shikari stranded on the side.

" He is small but powerful. He can't fully pierce the shield my daughters have placed around you, but he can still read your thoughts, " That was some hell of a skill to have handy.

" We need to hurry this along. I'm in a bit of a rush," Ker smiled and tilted her head slightly back to look at the shikari.

" And I don't have time for you two to bicker," She sighs, " Do what you have to do and get this over with. You're wasting precious time. You've made an offer, and so did I. Both were turned down," The finality in her tone, didn't leave much room to argue.

" Stop," A small voice rang in the room. For fuck sake.

This time Iris turned to get a look at the owner of the voice. It sounded familiar but it lacked the softness she was used to when Edýia spoke.

" Guardian of the Seven Seas. Hello Ruma. It has been a while..." Ker chuckled angling her head, trying to ascertain that her guess was correct.

" Ker," Edýia nodded, curtly and turned her attention to the shikari towering behind her, and Ker.

" Why stop?" Iris skipped the pleasantries. This was dragging along and the sisters were getting anxious. Whether at the prospect of returning to the valley to be locked up, or the need to sate their hunger was getting the better of them.

" I can send them back, and all of this bloodshed would cease," Now you tell us. Typical. Iris rolled her eyes.

" Only a Guardian can open the gate," As soon as the words left her lips it dawned on her. Azra was the new Guardian of Ellora. He could open the gate, but then again once opened, there was no telling if he could seal it again. And if he could, then he would have to remain on the other side. And if he couldn't, the chase would begin anew. There is always someone, somewhere, perhaps not now but at one point in the future, they will covet it and they will lay waste across realms to have it.

" He could," Iris frowned, " But it complicates things. This has been done before and I'm not willing to repeat past mistakes. We already know, how that ended," Edýia nodded not in agreement but in understanding.

" I will not part ways with my son once more. I have lost him once. So please, if you are here to advocate for them, then you are wasting your time," Was she cruel? Yes. Surprisingly as it was, she had made a selfish decision once more. Perhaps, she wasn't fit to rule anyone.

A shadow of disappointment flashed on Edýia's expression, before making her way through the shikari who haven't as much lifted a finger to touch her. Perhaps they sensed the power coursing through her, even though she wasn't manifesting.

" How is the babe?" Ker asked the moment Edýia stopped in front of them, taking in the mountain before them.

" We are not friends Ker. Go back to the void. You shouldn't be here," Edýia bit back, in a very unfriendly and unyielding manner of hers.

" Neither of you should be here," Iris chimed in.

" And yet here we are, " Ker smirked twirling a string of energy at the tip of her finger without a care in the world.

" Here we are," Edýia sighed, defeated as she watched the shikari step forward and bow her head before Edýia.

" We take whatever punishment you see for us goddess," Well that was easy.

" Gather all," Edýia said curtly.

" Release the boy. Release my kind and I'll show mercy," We've already talked about this.

" Very well, goddess," Corvin spoke, and glassy eyes cleared and the vibrant light that once twinkled in them, returned.

" Iris," He whispered as he pulled her into a hug, tight enough to stop from breathing.

" Awww isn't this sweet," Ker cooed, and the need to strangle her inched closer to becoming a reality than ever before.

Corvin pulled away and checked thoroughly that she wasn't wounded or hurt and turned to the others who looked around taking in their surroundings.

" That's one way to do it," Dakran hummed, as pulled Maya under his protective arm.

" Hello sister," Edýia lifted a brow, in question.

" Not my sister. Got it," Dakran nodded and turned his attention to the others, checking to see if they were alright.

The shikari began filling in one by one until there was no more room in the hall. The air was stuffy, and stifling, and a heavy smell of charred meat lingered in the air, courtesy of the flames Iris had used to keep an upper hand on the situation.