Chapter 13
Bael was very careful with my memories and would pause for a moment at any bad ones. He allowed me to portray the memories and then proceeded carefully each time. I felt like I was rewinding my life like a movie and on the first day it had brought back my memories all the way to the death of my parents. I remembered all the experiences that happened but were erased by my grandmother.
I remembered Candy Ferris our neighbor coming to my door to play with me and my grandmother chasing her away. At that time I was very angry with her and my aura began to glow. The shock when I saw that was so great that I fainted. And my grandmother used this to strengthen her magic and erase the experience.
I remember that we had to move shortly after that and when we came to Salem I had bad dreams on a regular basis. In these dreams I saw my uncles, the princes of darkness or The Reapers as Ava called them. And everything made sense now. They've been looking for me since I was a kid, and grandmother erased my memories so I wouldn't use my powers...and the reapers wouldn't find me.
The first day remembering was exhausting for me, and after Bael realized it was getting difficult for me, he stopped. Avery was by my side the entire time, watching Bael and me to intervene if necessary.
And after Bael broke off and sent me to rest, Avery took me to my room. The thoughts seemed to become more and more and the memories lined up all at once. All that I had forgotten and all that were erased. I closed my eyes and held onto Avery as he lay down next to me.
His closeness and attention helped and comforted me. And the bond between us grew a little stronger. Every touch and kiss he gave me felt good, as if he were taking my load. And so I fell asleep in his arms and felt relieved.
On the second day after breakfast we all sat together in the living room. Bael knelt in front of me and even in that position he was taller than me. He looked at Devas and nodded.
"Iris...Bael wants you to know that if he realizes you're unwell, he'll stop immediately. But in that last part, forcing the memories will also take a bit of a physical toll on you." said Devas seriously.
"I don't like that!" Avery said, looking at me.
I put my hand in his and smiled at him to calm him down. He kissed my hand and looked at me anxiously. I released his hand and turned back to Bael and nodded. Bael put his hands on my head and a black cloud enveloped us. As I closed my eyes the memories began.
One after the other, unknown faces became known. Faces were given names and associated with events.
I remembered buildings, people, names, smells, joy, tears...and then I remembered my mother and father. The love from my parents, the talks and laughter we had. All the hugs and kisses. And then the fear... fear that was so terrible that my body cramped.
"Stop this now!" I heard Avery yell from afar.
When I opened my eyes I saw my bright red eyes shining in Bael's black eyes. Like a reflection in which I could see my eyes clearly. And in its black mist my red mist mixed and like a storm it roared around us.
"Let her remember...let her remember everything" I heard myself say.
My voice is low and harsh but not from a stranger....it was the voice from my dreams speaking through me.
Bael kept being pushed back by the fog swirling around us, but he held on with all his might. His eyes closed and with his full power he released my memories flooding my brain like a tsunami.
My body struggled and when I felt Bael want to pull his hands back I grabbed his arms and held them tight.
He understood what I wanted and continued until I felt my body floating and all the memories lined up. And the flashbacks seemed like they were smothering me. Like they were tearing me apart I heard myself scream and after a few seconds everything went quiet. I remembered who I was.
I remembered everything...everything!
I opened my eyes and felt my power.
I saw my power, I saw my aura. Bright red like fire around me.
Bael let go of my head and the energy I released erupted and threw everything around me against the wall. Devas created a shield and blocked my energy, but still everyone smashed into the wall.
I looked at them and with a wave of my hand they all got back on their feet.
I was no longer the lonely weak Iris from the bookshop.
I'm Iris..daughter of Liora and Baldur.
Sister of Aidan and child of Antaris.
I am unique and the only one of my kind. I am a demon with elven blood.
I'm full of anger and want revenge for my parents. And all the people who killed the reaper to get me.
I'm not Iris...I'm Rage.
And that's all I feel...Rage.
Till I look into Avery's eyes and I'm snapped out of the trans.
His touch makes me soft and his eyes open my heart in ways I didn't think were possible. As if I tied my body to his and knew his every thought. I could almost touch his feelings for me, I felt them so clearly. I embraced the bond between us and felt him within me.
His essence was bound to mine. He was made for me. He is mine.
And then I pulled him to me and kissed him with all the love I felt.
Love...that was indeed love.
I knew all about soul mates now...I remembered everything. And with these memories I released my banished feeling and attachment to Avery. And accepted everything as his soul mate.
Avery immediately felt the change in me and knew that I was finally feeling the same as he was.
We hugged and kissed like we hadn't seen each other for a long time. It was as if our souls were finally united and love and tenderness were the only way to celebrate this union.
"Well you two this is very nice but we're still here." I heard Devas say laughing.
I parted my lips from Avery's just to look into his eyes. And his eyes glowed purple and looked at me lovingly.
"My Love..." he whispered as he held me tight.
Aidan coughed loudly to get our attention and Devas laughed loudly.
I felt tired and my body gave out as I collapsed in Avery's arms. He held me tight and I felt his concern and fear for me deep down. I felt his feelings, I felt his pain for me.
Avery sat me down on the sofa and knelt in front of me.
" My Love...My Iris .I am here ! I am here my Love.You are so strong.My beautiful Iris." said Avery to me.
Aidan knelt beside me and smiled at me. My brother was proud of me too. I did it...I finally did it.
"Maybe it wasn't a good idea to do this. You two ransacked my house!" said Devas as he looked around the room.
Bael sat on the floor and nodded to tell me I did well. And just as I was about to say thank you, Bael turns his head towards the door. His eyes are wide and shocked.
"King Elior!" said Aidan as he greeted him.
The king looked around the room until he saw me and Avery and rushed over to us. But Bael's eyes stayed on the door where Ava was standing. Ava gaped at him with the same shocked look Bael had.
"Ava" I heard Bael say.
The first words he spoke aloud since his arrival were Ava's name. She ran to him and fell on her knees in front of him to hug him. His arms wrapped around her and he pulled her to him.
"You are here...you are actually here." came from Ava while she was crying.
The king paused and watched what was happening and looked back at me.
"What happened Iris? We felt your energy and this time it was much stronger than before. What happened my child?" asked the king.
"She can remember Father. Everything!" Avery said proudly as he stroked my face with his hand.
The joy on the king's face was visible and he breathed a sigh of relief.He looked at Aidan and Devas standing next to me and nodded happily.
"That's excellent news. I knew you wouldn't disappoint me." he said to Devas with a smile.
Then he turned to Ava and Bael and asked "And what's going on here?"