Sanctuary

[Jen]

Tension was thick in the air as bodies hovered near Isabella's sanctuary. They knew that there was one incredibly important person behind that door -- they knew that she was okay, but they worried nonetheless.

"Where is my mother?" Caela jerked her head up as she heard the voice of a woman behind her. Part of her was angry that anyone would impede on the situation at hand, a life so precariously balanced. When Caela focused, however, she realized who had spoken.

"Kahlan is resting, she has cleansed your father." She watched the woman nod, her hands folded in a docile manner -- not unlike a priestess. "You may go see her if you wish, Igraine." The figure nodded again, Caela understood the look on her face -- this woman was unsure of what she would be met with.

"Don't worry, she's whole." Caela glanced up at the sound of her mother's voice as she stepped through the door to her sanctuary. "She will need some tending though." Isabella hesitated as she looked at her daughter and then back to Igraine. "Thank her for me, and if she's up to apologies, tell her I'm sorry she feels like hell has descended on her."

"Willow...?" Igraine said one word and watched as the entire room, immortals all, stiffened. "Ah, I see. The reason for my mother's current predicament I presume." Igraine stepped into a pool of firelight and smiled. She looked a hybrid of Vylrath and Kahlan -- though all of their better parts. That meant that she looked quite a bit like Kahlan -- and held most of her serenity. Vylrath's calculating eye and rash manner would come out when she became irritated. Wheat blonde hair and milk pale skin glistened in the light as she passed by Vuri and Demon alike, sliding through the door to the Sanctuary just as Vylrath was exiting.

"Hello, Father." It was all Igraine said to the man as she crossed the room and knelt by her mother. It was obvious that Igraine had grown to a ripe young seventeen year old girl.

Caela focused her attention on Vylrath as he slid the door closed and spoke in hushed tones.

"The sword? Oh, Father it has been hidden for so long. The only person that knows where it is, and the only person that can access it is Kahlan. I wanted to make sure that no one could take it after the previous Xexorian failure."

Caela watched as Isabella handed Vylrath his armor, her strength still amazed the young woman. It still astounded Caela that her mother died giving birth to her -- the woman she watched from day to day could never succumb to such a thing again. Then again, none of them were quite sure how they would reproduce now with their new bodies and power.

"We can ask Kahlan, maybe Igraine can help." Isabella perked one eyebrow, as if to challenge the pair. If there was one thing Isabella had always been good at -- it was making decisions.

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"What should I do?"

Mikhael rocked back and forth, clutching the sword to his chest like a madman. His face was serene -- but that meant he was thinking. A thoughtful demon like Mikhael was as dangerous as a viper.

He wanted revenge.

"Can I shred him?" He spoke to the sword as if it were alive. To him, it was.

His voice begged the sword, and it was pathetic -- he had loved a mortal and as sinful as that was in his world...

He couldn't go back on it now. Death was the only answer.

Vylrath had to die.