THE SAINTS HAVE FALLEN: CHAPTER 17

Ana.

They sat upon and around a large rock in the lake, singing with voices like honey. Compared to what I had seen when I first arrived, they all looked so angelically beautiful. It was almost as if I was in a trance and they were pulling me in. Yuri grasped my wrist, “It’s a lure.” He snapped me out of it, “Don’t be so foolish to fall for it. They consume anything with a beating heart.”

I turned to him with a smile, “Then you are definitely safe.”

“Come,” he ignored my comment and pulled me to the side just behind a thick tree. His eyes suddenly turned to a shade of red as he drew a large circle in the air before us. “Hold on.” He hadn’t let me go. Instead, he grabbed me closer and jumped into the circle he made.

A gust of wind slapped me across the face as somehow he was gliding over the lake of syrens. “Hold on tightly, if you fall you’ll be fish food.” He sterned. My legs were dangling in the air and the only solid thing near me was him. My heart was somersaulting within my heart. This was incredible and terrifying at the same time. He landed on a massive earthy rock-like mountain and released me. I wobbled back a bit trying to regain my balance as he looked up and frowned.

Below us was the lake where the syrens swam. They certainly could not reach us where we were unless they could fly that is. I turned my attention back to Yuri whose expression remained the same with knitted eyebrows.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, noticing his disapproved look.

“It’s locked.”

“What?”

“Someone sealed off the gateway back to Earth from above.”

He… he was joking, right?

“Are you saying that we’re stuck here?”

“No. I know another way. It’s longer but possible.” He breathed tiredly and began walking down the slope of the mountain.                                                       

“Are you sure this is safe?” I asked as I followed him down, “Won’t the syrens get to us if we go down?”

“No. They can only harm you on the other side of this mountain, their kind won’t be able to survive beyond this point. The water before us is like poison to them.”

“Why is that?”

“You’ll see.” He said while taking my hand to aid me down the last steep step.

The bottom of the mountain reminded me of a seashore. The stones beneath my shoes were grainy and sand-like. Before us was a wide, sea-like river. There was something quite eerie and strange about this river. Yuri, meanwhile, pulled a wooden dinghy out from beneath a small cave. “Do I need to extend to you an invitation to get in?” he asked as he pushed it into the water.

This place…

It feels so familiar…

Yuri must have noticed my silence as the boat flowed down the endless river. I was consumed with the depths of the dark water beneath us. Soft lights reflected from the stars above. Was it nighttime already? Time seemed to be slipping away from my fingers while I’m here. Yuri casually leaned against the frame of the boat in a tired relaxation. He stared at me.

“What?”

He breathed out the cloud of smoke which he had previously inhaled. “You’re quiet. It’s unnerving if I’m quite honest. Yet, you seem full of questions.”

“I- I don’t know,” I sighed, feeling the cold drift of air piercing through my body, “I feel like I’ve been here before.”

He smiled to himself a tilted his head slowing back, closing his eyes, and making himself more comfortable. “Because you have.”

I blinked shocked at his response.

“When a mortal dies their soul travels through this river to get to their destination.”

“Their destination?”   

“Whether it be to the heavens or hells. Some souls are reincarnated, some are lost here, some lose the essence of what they are and turn to water.”

“These lights-”

“Is not a reflection of the stars.” He corrected, keeping his eyes closed, “It’s a soul. The Otherworld is only a bridge.”

I sighed softly, keeping my eyes glued to the gentle water. “You said you knew the Gods.” I began in a gentle whisper, “Have you ever met Mathias?”

Yuri gave a soft bitter chuckle, “Of all the Gods, I dislike him the most.”

“Why?”

“Think human, is it wise to inquire about the God you so ardently devote yourself to?”

I smiled, “Nothing can change how I feel about Mathias. Nothing could break my faith in him.”

“He is the God of Fate and Wisdom anyway.” Yuri scoffed.

“Is he as kind and gentle as the stories portray him to be?”

“Depends on the story.” He answered unbothered.

“Is he-” I stopped nervously in a dream-like state while gently leaning over the edge of the boat and allowing my fingers to brush against the surface of the cool water, “Is he as handsome as they say he is? With sun-like hair and golden eyes.”

Yuri tilted his head towards me with an arched eyebrow, annoyed, “He is not nearly as handsome as his brother.”

“Who’s his brother?”

“You ask too many questions.”                                      

“On the contrary, I think I ask too little.”

He sighed, “I cannot phantom what is too much now according to you.”

I kept quiet for a little while as I enjoyed the feel of the water grazing against my fingers. Yuri looked so peaceful as he tilted his head back whilst leaning against the boat and closing his eyes. His long white hair tumbled down gracefully against his shoulders. It reminded me of a rare white wolf beneath a starry moonlit sky. I trembled, feeling a rush of cold air against my skin. Looking above me, I could see low grey clouds that fell within arm’s reach. I was about to touch it when he stopped me, speaking with his eyes still closed, “If you fall off this boat, I am not coming after you.” I stood carefully, stretching my arms out to feel the low clouds above us. It felt oddly warm and tickled against the palm of my hand.   

“I find it amusing that you kept yourself alive until you met me.”

I felt a rough little bump of waves beneath the boat so I sat quietly before him. “Well, I had a little help along the way. If it wasn’t for that man, I would have been forest food.” I began remembering Claude. His last words rang in my ears. Send Yuri my regards. I had almost forgotten.

“What man?” Yuri suddenly asked, his eyes piercing into my soul sternly.

The boat rocked roughly against the waves beneath us a little more intensely. A sudden jolt from the uneven waters pushed me forward into him. He held onto me with a frown and repeated himself, “What man?”

Other than my embarrassment, confusion swept over me seeing his serious expression. “Uh-” I began a little awkwardly as he didn’t let me go, “I believe his name was Claude.” Yuri’s expression seemed to tighten. His jaw clenched. “He pretended to be captured by the tree creatures. I thought he would have left me there but he didn’t,” I continued feeling the warmth of his arms around me, “Before he left, he told me to send you his regards.”

 I couldn’t explain that look on his face. It was tormented and angry at the same time. It was almost as if he wanted to kill him and then regret it after. His eyes suddenly fell back onto mine and directed his disdain towards me, “I told you to keep yourself warm. You’re freezing. If you freeze to death here, I’m leaving you.”

“What a gentleman.” I exhaled, sarcastically.

He suddenly pulled his coat around me, “You humans are truly an inconvenience.”

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