Episode 218: An Ending (Aadya)

In over sixteen years of work, Aadya had made many decisions without the time to think them through. Even with luck, time mattered. Here, lying on a bed with contractions wreaking havoc on her body, she had a single moment to let her heart understand what her mind had already decided, what luck agreed with, what instinct knew.

“If you go, you’re going to die,” Aadya said, making sure Greg understood what was coming. “But they’re going to revive you.”

The statement was meant to say you’re going to hurt, but she knew he understood.

She was going to hurt too. She could break the bond, but not the elixir. It would be broken soon enough.

“I know. I have to. They’re my boys.”

“I know.” Aadya let tears sting her cheeks. She leaned up to kiss him, despite the pain. He met her, and kissed her, his hand on her belly once more.

“You have given me these two, their rights. You should go.”

He hadn’t, but he wouldn’t die before their births. She would have a c-section, she would heal. She wasn’t afraid.

“I’ll be back as soon as they’re safe.” Greg’s hand caressed her face.

“We’ve known each other… not long,” Aadya began, easing her way into some sort of goodbye.

A goodbye she never wanted to see come, and was here all the same. Her life was full of goodbyes lately, and all she wanted was an I’m here. Not a hello, not something new, she wanted stable and hers and at least longer than a week.

Greg’s eyes narrowed, his mind finding the same feeling she had, frustration filling each crack created by the scrunched posture. “We’ll see.”

She laughed a little, tears following. What mattered most to her was giving something to take with him – the power of her line and herself. He needed it in the coming weeks, he needed it because whatever happened he had found her and it wasn’t just luck, it was fate. She searched for a way to give him the magic, and settled on a spell she could create.

“Can you do me a favor?” Aadya asked.

He wiped the tears with this thumb then pressed his forehead to hers. “Yes?”

In another life, Greg could have been hers. She was born of the same volition as he was, though, and while they loved each other they didn’t need each other, his sons needed him.

“I’m going to give you something, it will only take a moment to make, and it needs to meet you in death. You can bring it back with you.” Just like Drey had sent robots and animals back; luck knew it would work.

“Okay?” His nose graced hers, his lips wanting and receding in the same moment. She put her hands on either side of his face, despite how terribly it had gone last time she had tried that move, and held him close so she could kiss him.

She kissed him through waves of contractions, and he held her. She pulled away and stood up, because she didn’t have time: a moment to decide, a moment to act.

She had him help her move to the room a door away, where Zero had moved various ingredients. She had everything she needed. She began mixing and measuring, based on luck.

“What is it?” Greg asked.

“It’s magic,” she said vaguely. “You’ll need it.”

“I…”

Aadya finished mixing and turned to hug him. “If I were you, and I didn’t have to be me, I would go. Anything for my children.”

Even as queen, there were limits to what she would push aside, for her children. For her family. It wasn’t right for Greg to choose her, and the regret would haunt them both if he stayed. Even if his sons were okay, it wouldn’t be because of him.

This… this would be powerful, for his own self-worth, for his own path.

“I don’t die,” Greg sorted. “And you don’t die, but we’re not going to be together again, I think.”

He was as puzzled as she was, and perhaps she shouldn’t listen to the luck, but to break free of one another was to allow the other to act in whatever capacity they needed, to be free. Even if freedom wasn’t what she wanted.

“I know.” Her voice cracked. “You’ve been one of the best things to happen to me. Worth everything.” She refused to bury herself in his arms. Instead, she used her magic to clear her eyes of tears and she lifted her chin in resolve. “We met at a crossroads and carried each other through it.”

Now, it was time to part ways.

He wrapped his arms around her and pressed his lips against hers one last time. “I’ll always love you.”

“I’ll always love you.”

She handed him the spell, a small package of ingredients. “Give the seed to Corban. He’ll find someone to deliver it to Drey.”

Greg nodded, took the seed, and left.

If he hadn’t left then, she knew he never would.

He was gone.

She caressed her belly, despite the pain tearing through her. They could do this, together.

She hadn’t told Greg Zero was out, that she would have to ask Spaden to do the c-section. She hoped he hadn’t guessed.

She knew he’d feel everything too.

She called Spaden, time racing against them. Her c-section, his torture, his death… somehow, they would survive. Apart, but alive.

<- Episode 217 | Episode 219 ->