Chapter 40 - 40 Prism of Illusion
Eritrea brows knitted together, her thoughts becoming zigzag. Despite her attempts to stay clear minded, she still fell deep into the darkness lure.
Cold sweat trickled down her neck, the eerie sensation crawling down her skin. " You can join the fun too." A screech echoed in her ear.
" Never mind, I'm here to take her back." Eritrea said, her voice a little shaky. She swiftly conjured her sword, engulfed with flames. Her eyes shone fiery gold.
Aaargh!
A scream erupted from her mouth, a surge of fire illuminating the space. The flames clawed through the suffocating void, peeling away layers of shadow. Figures writhed, their screams merging into a bone-chilling wail as the fire devoured them.
"Release her now." Eritrea yelled.
"We cannot... we saved her from death" Hundreds of shadowy figures tilted their heads in eerie unison, their empty sockets leaking a thick, ink-like substance. "She is ours," they murmured in overlapping voices, each one laced with glee and hunger.
" The sacred flames cost her life, weren't you naive to think you can control it, an essence of an emperor god.... Aren't you a little more than yourself?" The darkness asked, laughing eerily.
Eritrea's face scrunched up, as she battled with her guilt. Eritrea's grip tightened on her blade. Was it true? Had she done this to Olivia? Had her choices condemned her?
No. This wasn't the time for doubt. She knew exactly what they were trying to do, make her lower her guard. But she wouldn't let them have their way. Her eyes shot open. " That's why I'm here to make things right."
Eritrea lunged forward, her blade searing through the darkness. The moment her flames struck, the figures recoiled with a screech, their ink-like forms bubbling and writhing. But then... they didn't die.
Instead, the shadows swarmed back, crawling up her legs like living tar, whispering in her ear.
"You think you can take her? The flames belong to us now." The whispers grew louder, clawing into her mind, pulling at her worst fears.
"You will fail her, just as you did before."
......
" Olivia, look what we got you" Sophia's cheerful voice rang in Olivia's ear.
Confusion smeared on Olivia's face. She curiously gazed at the interior design of her surroundings. It was her home, the deep chocolate colour of the dining table, the greyish wall decorated with balloons and happy birthday banners, the velvety rugs. It was really... home. The smell of the baked pies and turkey wafted through the air, invading her nostrils, making her salivate.
" Olivia." this time her father's voice snapped her out from her stupor.
Olivia's confused gaze fell on the people sitting on the dining table, her mother, her father, and Freya. And they were all looking at with affection, a feeling she has always longed for. They all had a party cone on their head.
Sophia stood from her place, she affectionately held Olivia's hand, leading her to sit with them. Olivia mindlessly followed her lead, her gaze locked on her mothers hand, it felt warm and nice.
There was warmth... but also something wrong. Like touching wax that had been left out in the sun too long, just a little too soft. Cold shivers skittered down her spine, goosebumps forming all over her. " What was wrong?" Before she could dwell on that, a voice disrupted her trail of thoughts.
" Hurry up Olivia, I'm hungry." Freya pouted.
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A chuckle vibrated from her fathers throat. "It's both your special day, you shouldn't be impatient." he playfully teased.
" Open your gift Olivia." her mother coaxed.
Olivia blinked at the gift mindlessly, before looking at her mother again, ' They got me a gift? They are so nice to me, they are even celebrating my birthday together with Freya?' her eyes locked on the butter iced cake in the middle of the table. " Happy Birthday Freya and Olivia' she silently read the words written on the cake.
Her eyes darted back to their faces, there was no scrutiny, not even a look of belittling her, except that of pure love.
Her fingers shakily brushed over the package before taking it from her mother. As Olivia's mother handed her the gift, something in her chest twisted. It was... too perfect. And yet, she wanted to believe it. Just this once.
" Thank you." she said, her voice low, hoarse and grateful.
" What do you think about our outfits?" Freya cheerfully chimed in.
Olivia looked down at her dress, a knee length blue sparkling dress, that clung to her body. She realised that she was wearing the same pattern of clothes with her twin sister.
A tear unknowingly rolled down her cheeks. " Beautiful" she muttered, her voice almost drowned by the emotions building inside her.
" And not just that." Freya swiftly got off her seat, and ran out of the dining room. Olivia gaze followed her disappeared figure, before returning back to her parents who were just as confused as her, her brows slightly furrowed.
"Where is she going?" Olivia asked.
Before her parents could reply to her question, Freya dashed back into the dining room, but with a mirror on her hand.
" Look," Freya's voice came out in grasps as she was nearly breathless, her hammering in chest from the little exercise.
Hesitantly, Olivia pried her head closer, she saw a beautiful figure staring back at her. It was her. Her hair stylishly packed to one side of her neck, cascading down her shoulders. She wore makeup, her green eyes contrasting against her fair skin. Her hand shakily touched her face, it was flawless.
" We are wearing the same makeover and the same hairdo." Freya happily said, smoothing the end of Olivia's hair.
Olivia's green eyes locked with her sister's blue one. There was no hatred or malicious glint in it.
But deep within, Olivia felt something was missing, it was like she was missing an important person in her life.
" Girls take your seat, we need to continue with the party." Sophia said, chuckling in between.
Freya returned to her seat. Olivia fists clenched, was this how her family was? Her eyes flickered back to the gift.
"Mom, Dad thank you, I love my gift." Freya said, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction, her voice pitched as she brought out a royal blue necklace from the box.
" We thought it would look good on you." her mother chimed, the skin beside her eyes wrinkled as her cheeks widened.
Then, all heads turned towards her. Each looking at her with anticipation.
