Betrayal? Within a month, those words became the truth of Aleira's life. How did such things come to pass? She who was known as the Goddess of Wisdom and Truesight failed to see her own downfall. Now the world will crumple whilst everyone cry out for her blood. No matter how she looked at the strings of fate, there was no escape from the world's end. They have won and soon she will meet her death at the hands of-

"Aleira, there is no escape! At the very least, face your punishment with some grace and dignity," echoed a voice, one that reminds a person of a hot summer's day. A simple thought pushed to the surface of her panic, we are all dead anyway. Why did no one believe her? Even in times like these, no one wanted to take responsibility. Even her parents cast her out instead of allowing a moment to explain herself. The one person she had hoped would listen, now hunts her down as though she was a wild animal.

"You were always right, weren't you?" Aleira called out, taking a step forward to reveal herself from behind her pursuers. Yes, there was no escape, her end was coming soon, by the hands of her lover or the inevitable razing of the world. At least here, she might have a moment to speak, just like they once did below the canopy of a tree beside the lake. One last wish was all she wanted, but surely, even down in the pit of the stomach, she knew that it was lie. The eyes that bore into her was full with the fires of wrath, but also pain.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"Aleira to think I believed you, but all of this was your doing. To use me in killing my own brother, you'll pay for it all," the woman clad in gold spoke, the voice filled with the heat of a raging sun. Yes, she had convinced her to kill her own kin, but that was to protect the world. Has she really forgotten the way that bastard had attempted to cut her down? All that was behind those eyes was a deep rooted sense of disgust. 

"It wasn't my fault, I-"

"You, you used everyone, killed any who were in your way. For what? So you can reap the lives of all living things? To think, I thought you loved the world, that you were one of the few that actually cared," her angel turned reaper spat. The accusations had cut deep, before Aleira knew, the 'evidence' had already been thrust into her. Truth no longer matter, muddled into a web of lies that she had simply walked into.

"Enough running, at the very least I will put an end to it, to us."

The last two words broke what little defiance remained in her heart. She crumpled to her knees, only tear streaming from her eyes. The figure simply strode forward, with the purpose and grimness of an executioner. Soon a searing blade pierced through her heart, tearing into her very being. The last thing she remembered was the sound a world breaking, as ground broke free and the rumbling of distant destruction. She thought of what could have been, the happiness that was so close to them, together, a family. 

Betrayal? Yes, at that very last moment, she realized. That was not a smile from a person wronged. The sun seemed so much dimmer now.