A strange blue mist pervades the ghostly shapes of the world around me. I walk past transparent outlines of buildings, cars, even people. I watch as a boxy vehicle pulls up in front of my destination. Several glowing forms rush forward towards the vehicle. Inside are several more forms, each with a different coloured glow… except one. Inside the center of the one laying on the bed lays a darkness I haven’t seen in this realm for a very long time. I watch as the glowing people rush the woman with darkness inside her into the building, a hospital. I frown as I feel a familiar present behind me.

“What brings you here Phoenix?” I voice, the sounds disturbing the mist that pervades everything.

“Same reason as you, Spectre,” a entity drastically different to everything around us answers. Her flames causing even the mist to quiver away from her. The flames of eternity that all phoenix’s carry exuding from her avian-like humanoid form. 

“Not often is one with a shard of the void born,” I comment as we step across the threshold of the building. Following the one who should not exist.

“And yet, here they are.”

As the form of the mother travels through the transparent building, a streak of fading darkness is left behind. I make an effort to avoid my sisters destruction. It won’t kill me, but I don’t exactly enjoy its feeling.

Looking around, there are many other glowing forms to be found in this building. Most with fragments of death cleaning to their forms, or souls. Even as I pass through the building, I can feel death’s present as one of the souls finally succumbs. Their form going dark and dimming, but not completely fading. Nothing ever fades fully in this realm, not as long as it exists in the other realms.

“As one who knows the fates,” I address the burning avian next to me. “What awaits her fate in this world of no magic?”

“Suicide by the age of 16,” Phoenix replies instantly.

I sigh, looking at the mother who has scars that are only visible in this realm. A father who cares not for either of them. And a child standing outside the room, destined to hate them. 

“Of course you would pick her,” I mutter angrily. “A realm where none can stop your influence of destruction. A realm shunned by all others. A realm ruled by a mad god claiming to be all powerful. Of course your next target is her.”

“There is a way you could prevent it,” Phoenix says next to me. “It is a dangerous option that is liable to fail, but you could do it.”

Cautious, yet curious, I look at her. “How?”

“Place your shard in her body before it is born. It will cancel out Void’s influence and will allow the child to at least have a chance.”

“And sacrifice myself, leaving this realm unguarded for who knows how long?” I retort back angrily. The air chilling enough that the forms in the other realm start shivering.

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Phoenix just stands there silently. Her eyes on the oddity before her. 

“You are not the only one who has noticed Void’s work,” Phoenix finally answers. “The mark of Anarchy has been placed on them already. Not to mention, the shifters plan to use her as an entry point into the sealed realm. Should you stay here, this realm and many others will fall. Especially since the great guardian Viseper has fallen.”

I can only stare at her. Anarchy, the mother of all vampires has marked her. The shifters wish to use her, and the guardian is dead. 

“So why are you here?” I ask Phoenix. “Why are you messing with fate?”

Phoenix’s beat bends ever so slightly at the edges as she looks at me. 

“The last time this many eternals have taken an interest in a mortal on this realm was the arrival of Christ. The mere fact we can influence events warrants influencing. The mad god’s grip is weakening and this void marked is the key we’ve all been looking for. Now, we just have to ensure Void fails. Your sister has already claimed too many worlds.”

I look back at the mother and notice that it is almost time. Anarchy, the shifters, Void, and now the Phoenixes are all trying to control someone who hasn’t even been born yet. I won’t allow it, even if it means erasing myself. Phoenix may think she has cornered me, but I get to choose my fate.

“Fine, I’ll giver her my shard, but I will make sure none can influence her until we are of age.”

Phoenix nods and in a flash so hot it sears the very mist, disappears.

I turn towards the souls and walk. I pass by the doctors rushing around the room. The nurses exclaiming obscenities that never disturb the mist. I pass it all. I stand over the mother, a mother whose soul is laced with drugs. A soul that wishes for it all to end. I step forward and place my hand on her soul, letting a current of purity wash away the despair and pain and replacing it with love… it won’t last. It never does, but hopefully I can make the next few moments moments of happiness.

I shift my attention to the darkness in her womb. I have done this spell many times, normally only when this form is about to pass. This time though, not all of me is going. I can’t if I want to keep the others away. I must erase everything that is me or else the protection will fail.

I place my hand on the void shard and reach inside me, grabbing my own shard. The source of my soul. I feel as my essence is erased by the void. As it tries to consume me. I feel my body grow weak as my soul is consumed, my shard of creation not replacing it. I chant words that should not exist and drive my soul into the womb. Briefly I see it and the void shard entwine, not quite consuming each other, but becoming something more. Yet, even as they fight, I feel myself grow faint and dizzy. 

“Let’s see if you planned for this Phoenix,” I mutter as darkness takes me. My form dissolving into the mist.