Orin Sarnec
One hundred twenty years later and the sound of his laugh still haunted her. Every time she closed her eyes, he was there and in the quiet moments she found, she could feel him around her. Would it never end? Would he never find his peace? Was this her punishment? Breezes stirred her curls when there was none, a warm brush against her cheek when she was alone and the smell of oil and leather surrounded her when she was feeling most alone. He was still here. Luukos wouldn't have taken his soul but when she'd spoken to a High Priestess of Gosaena, she said his soul had not passed through her Lady's gates.
She was pouring over the text in front of her, her candle light growing dim, when a rush of wind swirled in her room. Her curtains whipped in the air and the candle went out. Slender fingers gripped the dagger at her side and her gaze snapped up, focusing in the dark. A familiar chuckle, yet somehow different, echoed around her and she jumped to her feet, sending the book on her lap to floor. Turning towards the sound, her breath caught in her throat and her heart skipped a beat.
"Orin.." she whispered, her blade falling from her loosened grasp and landing on the rug with a soft thunk.
"Hello, Princess." the apparition replied, that same crooked grin tugging at his lips. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
He took a step closer and she took one back as if they were caught in a dance. Her eyes narrowed in confusion as she tried to calm her rapid heart, to slow her panicked breathing. This wasn't happening. He couldn't be here, right now. He was dead, she watched him die, she still watched him die every night. The Eve of Reunion was months away and yet, here he was.
"Nyssia.." he murmured, holding up his hands to show he meant no harm. "It's me. I promise you this." He had always managed to read her so easily.
"Stop." she breathed, shaking her and swallowing. "Stop it. You're not him. He's gone and has been for a very long time."
The spirit's features changed, sadness replacing the amusement that had lingered there, his form flickering in the dark.
"We used to run in the meadows outside of the City together. Your grandmother introduced us. I saved you." He paused for a moment, taking another step. She stepped back and stumbled as she hit the desk behind her, fingers gripping the edge of the desk. "I need you to save me now. I've been watching you. I know you can. Help me, Princess?" He moved closer, reaching a hand out to her. Her eyes close and she drew in a shaky breath.
"What do you need?" There was no question that she would help him. He gave his life for hers without thought, without question, but he died with a lie on his lips.
"A soul for a soul." he whispered, her eyes opening as she sought out his face. "I can't leave this place, I can't leave you, until that happens." Her thoughts spun behind her eyes, pieces falling into place quickly.
"Luukos." she breathed, her grip on the desk tightening. Orin's features grew solemn and he nodded faintly. It took her a moment, a brief one at that, to speak again. "If I.. If I do this, you'll find your rest?"
A sad smile was offered. "I may need some help finding my way but I know you can do that too. You're stronger now, so much stronger than before. You'll be able to handle this."
"When?"
"Soon. As soon as you're able."
She took him in once more and his familiar scent surrounded her. Tears pricked at her eyes and she shut them, giving a faint nod. "Tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow." he agreed, nodding as well. "Princess?" She opened her eyes, meeting his gaze. "I loved you more than life itself, and I know you loved me, but you need to let me go. Things will work out." She opened her mouth to reply but he was gone, leaving the smell of oil and leather behind and an uncertain future.
She was pouring over the text in front of her, her candle light growing dim, when a rush of wind swirled in her room. Her curtains whipped in the air and the candle went out. Slender fingers gripped the dagger at her side and her gaze snapped up, focusing in the dark. A familiar chuckle, yet somehow different, echoed around her and she jumped to her feet, sending the book on her lap to floor. Turning towards the sound, her breath caught in her throat and her heart skipped a beat.
"Orin.." she whispered, her blade falling from her loosened grasp and landing on the rug with a soft thunk.
"Hello, Princess." the apparition replied, that same crooked grin tugging at his lips. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
He took a step closer and she took one back as if they were caught in a dance. Her eyes narrowed in confusion as she tried to calm her rapid heart, to slow her panicked breathing. This wasn't happening. He couldn't be here, right now. He was dead, she watched him die, she still watched him die every night. The Eve of Reunion was months away and yet, here he was.
"Nyssia.." he murmured, holding up his hands to show he meant no harm. "It's me. I promise you this." He had always managed to read her so easily.
"Stop." she breathed, shaking her and swallowing. "Stop it. You're not him. He's gone and has been for a very long time."
The spirit's features changed, sadness replacing the amusement that had lingered there, his form flickering in the dark.
"We used to run in the meadows outside of the City together. Your grandmother introduced us. I saved you." He paused for a moment, taking another step. She stepped back and stumbled as she hit the desk behind her, fingers gripping the edge of the desk. "I need you to save me now. I've been watching you. I know you can. Help me, Princess?" He moved closer, reaching a hand out to her. Her eyes close and she drew in a shaky breath.
"What do you need?" There was no question that she would help him. He gave his life for hers without thought, without question, but he died with a lie on his lips.
"A soul for a soul." he whispered, her eyes opening as she sought out his face. "I can't leave this place, I can't leave you, until that happens." Her thoughts spun behind her eyes, pieces falling into place quickly.
"Luukos." she breathed, her grip on the desk tightening. Orin's features grew solemn and he nodded faintly. It took her a moment, a brief one at that, to speak again. "If I.. If I do this, you'll find your rest?"
A sad smile was offered. "I may need some help finding my way but I know you can do that too. You're stronger now, so much stronger than before. You'll be able to handle this."
"When?"
"Soon. As soon as you're able."
She took him in once more and his familiar scent surrounded her. Tears pricked at her eyes and she shut them, giving a faint nod. "Tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow." he agreed, nodding as well. "Princess?" She opened her eyes, meeting his gaze. "I loved you more than life itself, and I know you loved me, but you need to let me go. Things will work out." She opened her mouth to reply but he was gone, leaving the smell of oil and leather behind and an uncertain future.
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