Quick note: I read over this update today and I found a few grammatical errors that needed to be corrected, so I reloaded the epilogue.
Disclaimer: I do not own SSO.
Author's note: So, this is it… the final chapter. It may seem confusing now… but trust me when I say I know what I'm doing ok? Let's just get on with the story…
Epilogue
Jeremy had disappeared. Another time and place, the Angel thought grimly, We shall finally meet face to face, Eran. The Angel of Life and Death turned to face Orphen's companions. Still, they stared at her. A smile touched her lips and she seemed to glow; her beauty was radiant. The group were warmed by her presence, even in the deathly quiet.
It was Azalie who spoke first. "Can you save my brother? Can you do anything at all?" the woman asked with pleading eyes. The Angel made no reply.
"Please," Majic begged and took a step toward her, "You have to save, Master! You have to save him, Cleao!"
The Angel smiled serenely. "He may be the Catalyst, but it is not yet his time," she replied enigmatically. The group were taken aback by this comment. What was She implying? "Besides," the Angel continued as she closed Orphen's eyes and held his body in his arms, "Cleao would not have me let him die." Without another word, the Angel's divine wings closed around them both. They were hidden from view beneath white feathers flecked with gold and a vibrant light erupted from within.
He was smothered in darkness. He felt like he was suffocating. Where the hell was he? He needed to get out of this place. He needed to see Cleao; to see if she was all right. Through the darkness, Orphen could feel a powerful force drawing him in. And he couldn't help but go to it. Suddenly, a brilliant luminosity appeared and Orphen, with fast reflexes, shielded his eyes.
"You're safe now," a soft voice called to him, compelling him to look up. Orphen saw a silhouette of an angel.
The Angel of Life and Death had reached Krylancelo; he was going to be ok. With her job done, the Angel retreated and Cleao returned. Orphen lay unconscious and Cleao lay beside him. The girl slowly opened her eyes. Turning on her side, she faced Orphen. Cleao put a hand on his chest and was relieved to feel his soft breathing.
"You're safe now," she whispered softly in his ear. Cleao unexpectedly felt drained. With all her energy gone, she allowed herself to fall into unconsciousness.
Majic rushed to Cleao and Orphen as soon as his legs would obey. Hartia and Azalie quickly followed.
"The Angel's gone," Majic observed as he knelt by Cleao's body. "And Cleao's back," he continued with a warm smile.
Azalie stood beside Orphen. There's so much blood… All of Krylancelo's blood…, she thought, trying not to wretch. Heavenly Being or not, Eran will pay, Azalie's eyes turned cold. She knelt close to Orphen, ignoring the stench of blood that filled her nostrils and its sticky moistness that slowly soaked through her robes. Azalie pressed two slender fingers against Orphen's bloody wrist. Relief overwhelmed her when she felt a faint pulse beating beneath her fingers.
"How is he?" Hartia asked quietly.
"Alive," Azalie replied, her whisper sounding loud in their quiet surroundings. That one word brought relief and happiness to all their hearts.
"I still don't get what's happened," Majic admitted to the others.
"I guess we'll find out when Cleao wakes up," Hartia responded as he bent down and picked up Cleao's weak body in his arms, "So let's go home."
"We'll see you at the house then," Azalie said to the boys before teleporting her brother and herself to the Everlasting mansion.
"Grab on, Majic," Hartia ordered and they did the same. The Ruins of Kohan was soon deserted.
Cleao stirred in her sleep and her eyes gradually opened. Giving herself a few moments to get her senses going, she slowly sat up. She observed her surroundings attentively and a grin appeared on her face when she realized that she was in her room. I'm home! I'm really home! She jumped out of bed and rushed to her dressing table. Cleao's grin spread from ear to ear when she saw her reflection. I'm back! Cleao squealed in delight at the sight of herself. Her azure eyes sparkled brightly and she flicked her soft, golden hair across her shoulder. Cleao was ecstatic!
Still looking at her reflection, she could hear the muffled voices of her family and friends from below. Everyone's here! But… Cleao's smiled faded, Where's Orphen? Why can't I hear his voice? Deciding to go on the hunt for Orphen, Cleao quietly tiptoed out of her room, across the hallway and silently headed for guestroom number one. Better not let everyone know I'm awake. I don't think I can handle their overwhelming joy at me being up just yet. Cleao slowly turned the handle of the door, surprised at how quickly she was getting tired. Making sure not to let the door creak, the blonde soundlessly made her way into the room. Cleao smiled gently. Just as she had thought, Orphen lay sound asleep. Cleao sat herself down in the armchair by the bed. He looks so peaceful, Cleao thought wistfully. Her mood suddenly changing, she lowered her eyes. I'm so sorry for everything… for all the trouble I've caused you… I hope that one day you'll be able to forgive me. And even if you don't, I want you to know that I'm yours forever. I'll never leave you again… Cleao sighed, Now if I could just say all that to his face.
Cleao looked up just in time to see Orphen beginning to arouse from his deep sleep. "Orphen?" she whispered his name softly as she left the chair to stand by the bed. She gazed at him expectantly and watched as he opened his red-brown eyes.
Orphen opened his eyes to see Cleao's face a few inches away from his own. "Aah!" he exclaimed, making Cleao squeal in fright as she jumped back. Orphen cursed under his breath as he sat up in bed.
"What's wrong, Orphen? Are you ok?" Cleao asked in worry.
"Not if I wake up to your face," he muttered.
"Excuse me!" Cleao asked indignantly.
The sight of Cleao brought a faint smile to the sorcerer's lips; seeing her standing there eased his heart. I'm glad you're ok, he thought in relief.
Cleao's anger slowly subsided as she gazed at Orphen's face- the look in his eyes were puzzling and was that a smile that touched his rugged features? "You better start apologising," she told him sternly.
"What the hell for! I didn't do anything wrong," Orphen defended with a smirk.
"Oh, is that right?"
"That's right."
Cleao's blood began to boil, "You selfish, ungrateful, self-centred, good for nothing sorcerer! To think that I was actually glad to see you alive! I want you out of my house right now! Get out!"
"I'm wounded. I can't move," Orphen informed the fiery blonde, amused at how easily she was getting worked up.
"I don't care if you're injured or dead! Get out!"
"No."
Cleao grumbled in frustration as she glared at Orphen with murderous eyes. Orphen stared right back. Where's Leki when you need him?
The blue Wolven cub looked up at the ceiling upon hearing Cleao's loud yelling and he began to wag his tail excitedly, ready to run upstairs.
"Not yet, Leki," Tistiny told the cub gently, "She'll come down when she's ready." Leki whimpered, but stayed in place.
"They sure are lively this morning," Mariabella smiled and took a sip of her herbal tea.
"I'm just glad that the two of them are up," Hartia grinned as they all continued to listen to Cleao and Orphen bickering, "It's been how many days that they've been sleeping? Three?" They were all just thankful that Cleao and Orphen were alive and safe.
"It sure seems like everything's back to normal though," Majic observed with a content sigh.
"Almost," the sorceress among them stated quietly.
"Well, we'll just have to make the most of it then, won't we?" Tistiny replied, not allowing that one word to dampen their moods. But even so, they all knew that the worse was yet to come.
Author's note: This concludes Life and Death: Yours Everlasting. But fear not, there is a sequel- Life and Death: Destiny Awaits. Confused? Sorry! I would have kept on writing, but I thought it would be best if the story was separated into two parts. So, that's what I've done... Anyway, keep an eye out for that one… I still have to write it though…
Thank you for reading and/or reviewing (I would list you all, but there are too many!). Your constant support has been a great help throughout the writing process of this story. I didn't receive any flames, so that's good. And everyone seemed to enjoy the story, which is even better!
Writing Life and Death: Yours Everlasting has been a blast for me. This was my first ever posted fanfic and I'm very proud of it! Thanks again for all the support and hopefully I'll hear from all of you once more when Life and Death: Destiny Awaits is posted. Happy reading to you all!
Summary for Life and Death: Destiny Awaits- The transformation is nearly complete and Eran must be stopped but how? With everything out in the open, destiny will bring all things to a close.