...

Chapter Five

Gradually, Lyssa and I became close; I like the caring older sister and she like the imitating younger. Each day I taught her the technique of painting while she eagerly took heed, and when the evening came about we sat either beneath the willow tree – which I had begun calling my willow tree as it would seem I was the only alter that gave it attention, besides Lyssa and, previously, Lillith – or at the foot of the hill just outside the sunflower field. Contrary to my reclusive temperament, Lyssa was very talkative which was quite all right by me since this meant I would have no need to search for conversation topic. There was always something she had to talk about and the emotion in her tone was never in short supply. I truly wondered how a relatively new alter would have so much to say, unless she happened to be a remade alter with tiny remnants of the life she lived previously.
However, all dialogue stopped for the viewing of the sunset; we had an unspoken agreement that no words should interfere with the sun’s exit performance. One night, I sat beneath my willow tree and Lyssa stood – she’d been rather energetic all day – while the sun slowly crept below the horizon. All day I was reminiscent of my time with Lillith, every little thing reminding me of what we shared. Even when Lyssa turned quickly to smile at me in appreciation for the beauty of twilight, was reminded of Lillith and her comparable love for sunsets.

“Thalia?” Lyssa spoke once there was just a thin line of light above the horizon. “You look sad.”
“Do I? Forgive me… I’ve been remembering someone all day.” I sighed while rising to my feet. Lyssa knitted her brow together in thought, then stepped closer to me.
“Who?”
“Someone important.”
“Obviously, but who?” It seemed either she would accept no hints that I preferred not to talk about the matter, or she couldn’t grasp that fact. Reluctantly, on my way down the hill, I told her.
“Her name was Lillith. We spent much time together and I loved her, as she loved me… however, she was assigned so… now I am alone.” Lyssa paused from following me and grumpily placed both hands on her hips.
“Alone? Alone? What about me!” She inquired, sounding genuinely offended.
“Well,” I chuckled, “Not truly alone, but without love.”
“That’s not true, either. I love you, Thalia.” This time I paused and Lyssa ran the small distance that had come between us to stand at my side. I stared down into her eyes from my extended height before moving a hand in to tousle her hair. It was something I did often, so this time she caught me before I had the chance.
“I know you do, Lyssa. But I mean love in a romantic sense.”
“Oh, right, right. You’re into that sentimental, can’t-live-without-you type of love.” She teased. Although she easily quipped in my expense, something in her eyes put me off.

Chapter Six

When the day of my assignment came, I initially kept it a secret from Lyssa. Together, we went along with the normal routine of the day, however I was unable to keep the news of my assignment concealed from her; it was as if they had written the information upon my face.
“Did you think I wouldn’t have found out…? You were going to leave without saying goodbye, weren’t you?” Lyssa cried, unable to refrain from pacing.
“I hadn’t given it much thought…” I could only mumble, feeling much like a jerk for giving consideration to the thought of simply vanishing from Lyssa’s life without a word. After that we said nothing to each other; Lyssa couldn’t even look at me.
“Please try to understand… see it from my standpoint. Wouldn’t it have been easier for me to just leave…? Goodbyes are hard enough as it is…” I watched Lyssa for a moment in attempt to determine whether or not she understood my rationalization. When she looked at me with tear-filled eyes, I still couldn’t guess if she had a grasp on why I planned on leaving unnoticed to her, but I could tell that it pained her deeply.
I said nothing when I pulled her into my arms, hugging her tightly to comfort her sorrow. Her face became buried in my shoulder and I felt the warm dampness of her tears. Before now, it never dawned on me that Lyssa had developed such a strong connection with me – yes, I had grown fond of her but in the back of my mind, Lillith still had control over everything I did.

“Thalia.” The voice was stern and slightly impatient and I already knew before turning to see who it was that the time to leave was upon me. Lyssa clutched me tightly, refusing to let me step away from her. She then murmured inarticulately into my shoulder and clasped her hands at the middle of my back, tensing when the Light Chamber escorts tried to pry her away.
“Lyssa,” I whispered gently, managing to pull her back just enough for us to make eye contact. “Be good for me… I’m counting on you.”
“But I can’t—” She choked on her words and her brow furrowed and mouth turned downward into a frown. After kissing her forehead tenderly, I pulled against her slowly until she finally freed me of her grasp.
The escorts led me to the entrance doors of the Light Chamber, making me feel rather nostalgic about my first day being introduced into the world of the Alter Realm, into the chamber of Light, to meet Lillith and Lyssa… Outside the Chamber doors, we stood in an entirely different hallway of the Alter Realm than what I remember – apparently the Light Chamber never stays in one place. The corridor seemed to stretch on forever and every five seconds it seemed a Lesser beast would show itself, apparently thinking either I, the escorts, or all of us perhaps were intruders. They backed off every time however, so eventually I was unconcerned with them when they would appear.
Suddenly a strange draft blew about my face, and the further we walked, the stronger it became. Soon it was a full gust of wind, blowing my hair about my face and rippling my clothes against my body. Here stood the Gate Keepers, tall as mountains and still as statues clutching in their hands spears as thick as tree trunks and superior to them in height. The spears were crossed to bar the path of where they guarded – the Human Realm. As soon as we got close, the Gate Keepers came to life, their eyes shining like rubies, pulling their weapons apart to grant me access. Before I left, the captain escort left me with a reminder:
“Keep in mind, Thalia. You enter this realm to fulfill your purpose of creation… The Alter Realm insists you succeed.”