Time seems to slow while Brianna and Atepa's arms hold each other, hours slow to the sound of their breaths and sighs, the once stillness in their chests, now there are two hearts as one. It is a moment in time, where nothing exists but the two of them. And when it reaches it's final crescendo there is only the sound of a long sigh, the sound of thousands of years spent waiting, searching, and longing. They rest in each other's arms drifting to sleep-- a vision comes to Brianna, unbidden and yet gentle.
Brianna stands in a kitchen, the smell of food waftes about her. The clay floor is warm to her bare feet as she turns to see Atepa-- he quietly slips his arms around her. "It was the longest day without you in my eyes."
Brianna smiles, returning his embrace and resting her head on his shoulder. "Perhaps you should not spend such long days away, love.." she says.
Suddenly something is different, his chest turns cold and metalic his hands become rougher and a voice that is not Atepa's strikes into her.
"The perhaps you should have joined me when you had the chance, Apprentice. All this could have been yours."
Brianna gasps, stumbling backwards, staring with horror at the figure before her. "NO!!" she screams, voice filled with horrified anger.
She awakens with a start to find herself still in bed, Atepa's arms around her, her body covered in sweat. Looking about her it is still nighttime-- she has been asleep perhaps an hour.
Brianna takes a shuddering breath, whimpering low in her throat. She hides her face against Atepa's shoulder, trying to block out the memory of that voice, trying not to see that Atepa's features have returned to normal, and Ahuru has faded away.
Brianna hears a cackling in the back of her mind that slowly grows louder until she can't ignore it anymore.
"Foolish Brianna! Look at what you could have had-- the Master offered you your most cherished dream, and now you suffer in a war-torn world, not even sure if Ahuru will completely return to you! You may have lost him by refusing the Master's gift! The Master only gives people what's best for them-- he is merciful and kind! Just ask Cliodhna what he did for her mother! It is so like you to choose the path of suffering, Brianna. It is your destiny to only love men who will not or cannot return that same love to you! Look at Atepa laying there...remember the pain in his eyes when he saw the wounded Wraiths? How his innocence was shattered in a heartbeat? You did that-- you took him into battle with you! You reminded him how to use weapons that injure and kill! Now when you look in his eyes and see the pain and worry, you'll know that you put it there!"
Brianna's Shadow continues to cackle, expending all its rage at having been shut out of what has been going on between Brianna and Atepa.
Brianna shuts her eyes tightly, cringing. Her self doubt and turmoil boil up to the surface of her mind, shrieking at her with along with her Shadow.
She sees Atepa on the battlefield, fighting against the Spectres with astonishing ease. Then she sees him afterwards, face a mask of sorrow. Then again, looking at her in confusion, the stranger laying next to him in bed.
It seems her world would crumble, but the memory of Ahuru staring at her through Atepa's eyes brings the shrieking voices in her head to a sudden halt.
"I do this for him," she says softly, quietly, fearing to wake Atepa. "You and your kind know nothing of self-sacrifice, of the nobility of the soul, concern for the welfare of others. It is Markova who brings the pain and suffering to his eyes, not me."
Brianna's Shadow laughs softly this time. "But you could have removed yourself AND him to a life of peace, Brianna. Do you think that your precious Necropolis' entire balance lies with Ahuru? That if he and you were to leave and live a private life of happiness that the Shadowlands would fall? Courage! Have more faith in your fellow New Yorkers! They can do this without him! All you have to do is give me the word and the Master will again offer you the chance you turned down before. Think of it, Brianna! You still have a chance to change your mind, even now!" The Shadow's voice is infectiously excited as it presents this offer before Brianna.
"If his presence is so unimportant, then why does your Master fight so hard to take him away?" Brianna retorts softly, feeling strength of will returning as she treasures her memories of the stolen moments with Ahuru. "No, I turned Markova down before and I shall do it again. I have faith that Ahuru will return to me, he will."
The Shadow hisses and all pretentions of friendship evaporate. "Fine, Brianna! The offer is retracted-- permanantly this time! I think you will live to regret your decision! With or without your precious Ahuru my Master will rise from his slumber and conquer the petty Shadowlands, enforcing order and law wherever his shadow falls! You know you need my Master and cannot destroy him, because of the vision you received! He will be the Shadowland's ONLY defense against the coming storm...a storm that once dispelled by my Master will make you fall to your knees and weep at his FEET in gratitude!" The Shadow shrieks, and then falls eerily silent...its voice and words echoing in Brianna's mind.
Brianna moans and covers her face with her hands, trying to banish the voice, the visions of her prophecy, and the hollow feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach.
Wraith Side-Story 2: "Into the Labyrinth"