“You believe in Fate?” Brielle asked, a hint of disgust in her voice.

The Princess of War was now standing next to a tree of red pears. She reached up and removed an emerald pin from her crown. Her hair immediately swung low to her knees. She placed the pin on the sleeve of her left shoulder.

“Don’t you?” Manar responded quietly.

Brielle’s eyes darted to the side. “If Fate is real, why hasn’t It revealed itself among us?”

Manar snorted. “Maybe Fate does not desire to be known.”

“Or maybe Fate is a lie.” Brielle countered quickly.

Manar let out a small sigh then folded her arms across her chest. “A believer of Free Will, I shouldn’t be shocked.”

Brielle frowned. “What does that mean?”

“You’re a Princess of War, darling.”

“And?”

“Your God of War, Inr, embodies pride and glory.” Manar laughed.

Brielle rolled her eyes then grabbed a pear from the luminescent tree.

During the nighttime, the pears produce a warm, red glow. In her hands, the pear’s glowing shadow lit up her face. Manar could now see the scar below Brielle’s left ear clearly.

“May I ask you something?” Brielle asked loudly, then took a bite of the pear.

A tiny moan escaped her mouth.

Manar quickly looked away. “Ask away.”

Manar craved conversation. It had been forever since she talked to someone other than her family.

“How did you get like this?”

Manar raised her eyebrows.

“I mean…..” Brielle paused, then waved her hands towards the young woman. “How did you become the Snake Whisperer? The Guardian of Vanar.”

Manar turned her gaze back towards Brielle, a slight crease between her eyes had formed. “I am a Princess of Fer and the eldest daughter from the Third Family. This is my birthright.”

“Third Family?”

Manar pressed her lips tightly together before opening them. “Are you serious?”

Brielle began walking towards Manar and the bench. “Did I say something wrong?”

Manar lowered her head and began shaking her head.

Manar turned her gaze back towards Brielle, who was now sitting next to her. Manar’s eyes slowly travel to the woman’s glistening lips. The essence of the pear fully covered her full, slightly parted lips.

When she realized she had been staring longer than expected, Manar lowered her head then cleared her throat.

“Are you ok?” Brielle asked softly.

When Manar’s eyes met Brielle’s again, she noticed something in Brielle’s eyes. A flicker of mischief. But then it was gone.

“Interesting.” Manar thought to herself.

“Manar, you were saying…” Brielle spoke softly, breaking Manar out of her thoughts.

Manar slowly nodded. “Where was I?”

“Third Family?”

Manar clasped her venom carrying hands together. “Are you not familiar with the Families of Fer? Our traditions in the East?”

“I…..I am aware your traditions are very peculiar.” Brielle stuttered, cheeks growing red.

“It’s okay. We are a secretive bunch, aren’t we?” She murmured, then slowly hitched the hem of her dress up until a tattoo on her inner right thigh was revealed. The Symbol of Rebirth. A white spiral with a red lotus inside.

“Fer, our Goddess of Fertility, Mother of Life, is responsible for many things. Arla’s fertility, mortal life, our wildlife, our Afterlife, and Syrianise.” Manar began slowly. “Creating someone to not only guard her kingdom and manage Arla fertility, as well as protect the afterlife and Syrianise was too much of a task. Too much power in one’s hands, she didn’t particularly like that idea. So the three families were born. Our—-”

“I am sorry.” Brielle interrupted suddenly, voice shaky. “Did you say, Syrianise?”

Manar smiled. “I’ll get there.”

Brielle nodded.

“The Three Families, or courts like we refer to ourselves, were created two days before the Gods left.” Manar continued. “First, the Court of Preexistence was created to guard Syrianise. This court would be led by Her Highness, Keeper of Syrianise.”

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“I am sorry.” Brielle interrupted again, visibly confused. “Syrianise is an actual real place. In schooling, they say it’s a myth.”

Manar laughed. “Of course, they say it’s a myth. It’s a realm of great power and fear.”

Brielle suddenly stood and began pacing. “If that’s true, that means we are being watched. If that’s true, that means…”

“There exists someone that can reach inside of you.” Manar confirmed smugly. “It’s hard to connect with her though. Syrianise is an unforgiving place, and there’s more to it than the stories.”

Brielle stopped pacing. “What do you mean?”

Manar slowly shook her head with a smirk plastered across her face. “You haven’t earned that yet.”

“Then why tell me at all? Why confirm that Syrianise is real?” Brielle rushed out, her head was starting to pound.

Manar shrugged her shoulders childlike. “Maybe I should get back to the story.”

Brielle clenched her fists. Even though a part of her wanted to leave, for some reason, she couldn’t….as if something was forcing her to stay.

“Go on.” Brielle said through gritted teeth.

“After the Court of Preexistence was created, the Incarnate’s family was chosen, the Court of Living, and we know that story. The Incarnate was chosen to manage the Eternal Gardens, the Kingdom’s doors, Arla’s fertility, and the souls in line ready for life.” Manar explained quickly, before her face hardened suddenly. “But after, something much painful was created.”

“Your family.” Brielle said slowly.

Manar nodded. “The Court of Rebirth was created to guard and protect Vanar, who is the doorway to Gardenia, our afterlife. And in order to ensure that Vanar would be protected, Fer decided she had to create a deadly pact between Vanar and the chosen family, a family she created out of her bare hands.”

Manar eyes suddenly began to well.

“The chosen family was told to sacrifice the eldest child. And as a gift for protecting Vanar, that child would be granted extraordinary power.”

Brielle’s jaw dropped. “You were sacrificed.”

Manar turned her head up towards the sky, Brielle immediately followed her gaze. A fire worker in the shape of a blue flame quickly made itself known. Sensing was one of those powers. A power she sometimes ignored.

When the firework dissipated, Brielle turned her attention back to Manar. Her face and eyes softened.

“You were sacrificed.” She repeated.

Manar gently wiped away a lone tear from Brielle’s cheek. Brielle didn't even know it was there until Manar’s fingertips brushed her cheek.

“I was thrown into Vanar’s pit and left there, yes.” Manar confirmed. “He drained me, then cured me. But you have to understand, Brielle. Vanar was created by Fer then touched by Death before Fer gave him a new life. Their essence combined…. it created something beautiful. He is more than the doorway to Gardenia.” Manar rambled, her eyes bouncing across Brielle’s face. “I was at Death’s door steps, then he saved me. He is a giver of new life. We share a conscience. I know his secrets and he knows mine.”

Brielle dropped her hands to her side. “Manar, you were sacrificed. How can you be happy with that?”

“It’s better than being the Keeper of Syrianise.” She responded coldly.

“What do you mean?”

“The Keeper of Syrianise is made of wood, flowers, and water. There is no heart, no eyes, no pleasure. Only power…only pure c—.”

“Consciousness.” Brielle gasped.

“Yes.” Manar confirmed. “At the center of each life is not a soul but a consciousness. In Syrianise, there flows the primordial source.”

“The Consciousness of Fer.” Brielle exhaled.

“Every consciousness in the living realm stems from hers. Mother of Flesh and Consciousness. A part of her exists and flows in Syrianise where the keeper manages it. Prepares it for new bodies. No ordinary person could withstand that power that flows there, that connection. The wood is the only thing keeping the keeper alive.”

“Is she mortal?”

“No.”

Brielle’s eyes narrowed. “And you? Did Vanar give immortality?”

“I am still mortal.” Manar confirmed quietly.

The two briefly fell into silence, sitting only inches apart when a cold wind brushed against them. Manar quickly wrapped her arms around herself.

“I don’t know why I'm telling you this…” Brielle began, breaking the silence. “But I think something is wrong with our world.”

Manar turned her entire body towards Brielle, and placed both of her legs on the bench behind her. “What do you mean?

“I just….I can sense that something is wrong.”

Manar slowly leaned back. “So, it is true.”

Brielle cocked her head.

“Descendants of War have abilities too.”

Brielle quickly turned her head.

“You can sense disruption in our realm?” Manar probed, visibly excited.

“We are not secrets Incarnates.” Brielle clarified quickly. “But yes, we can sense when things are going bad.”

“Tell me what’s wrong then.”

Brielle began to rub the back of her neck. “I don’t know.”

Manar gently poked Brielle in the shoulder. “Come on.”

“I—-” Brielle stuttered, before rambling. “Where did Shioban disappear to? Why did Rosar betray her own army for Stefan? Why does Mesyla’s eyes glow differently? What happened to her brother, really? Why is Emmar cozying up and bedding the Isle Queen every night, the same crown that stole her birthright? Why did the Desert War really start? I don’t really buy that war starting over land. That doesn’t make sense. And where are the missing Incarnates?”

Once she was done, Brielle placed a hand across her chest and blew out a huge breath.

“Was that a lot?”

“What exactly is going on in that head of yours?” Manar laughed, then turned serious. “Maybe Fate has a plan.”

Brielle jumped from the bench. “Not this again.”

“In Death, you’ll understand.” Manar said proudly.

Brielle slowly turned her head towards Manar. “You really are a believer, aren’t you?”

Manar came to a standing position. “You have no idea the secrets that exist beyond Rebirth.”

“What does that even mean?”

Suddenly a lighting strike appeared in the night sky, followed by a clash of thunder.

Brielle and Manar both turned their gazes towards the now purple sky.

Then it happened again and again.

“Something is wrong.” Brielle murmured.

“I must go.” Manar mumbled after her, and quickly exited the garden.

Brielle was left standing there on her own……

until a Crow appeared.

The Call of Death.

To be continued next Monday