BOOK FOUR: THE KINGDOM BEYOND THE LAST GATE
Chapter 5: The Woman Behind the Gate
Riva woke to the sound of rain.
For several seconds, she didn't move.
She stared at the ceiling above her.
It wasn't the palace.
It wasn't Elaris.
It was a small room with white walls.
A candle burned beside her.
Her friends were gathered around the bed.
Caelan sat closest to her.
The moment her eyes opened, he stood.
"Riva."
She slowly sat up.
"The Gate..."
"It's closed."
She looked at him.
"And the woman?"
Caelan's expression darkened.
"We don't know."
---
Riva touched her wrist.
The place where the mysterious hand had grabbed her still burned.
A silver mark had appeared on her skin.
It looked like a crown.
Eva examined it carefully.
"This wasn't there before."
Riva stared at it.
"I know."
The Last Unwriter stepped closer.
"This is a warning."
"From her?"
He nodded.
"Or a claim."
---
Aren entered the room.
He looked exhausted.
"The Gate is still sealed."
Riva looked at him.
"How?"
"The Seven Flames."
"They created a temporary barrier."
"How long?"
Aren hesitated.
"Not long."
---
The Queen entered.
She looked at Riva with fear and sadness.
Riva immediately noticed.
"You know who she is."
The Queen stopped.
"Who?"
"The woman behind the Gate."
Silence.
Riva stood.
"Mother."
The Queen closed her eyes.
"Yes."
---
Riva's voice became quiet.
"Tell me."
The Queen walked toward the window.
"Her name is Lyra."
Riva froze.
"Your name?"
The Queen nodded.
"She was me."
Riva stared.
"What?"
"Not exactly."
The Queen turned.
"She is what I would have become if I had opened the Last Gate."
---
Riva couldn't speak.
The Queen continued.
"Every time someone opens the Gate..."
"The Gate creates another version of the person who opened it."
"One who belongs to the world beyond."
"One who remembers everything."
"One who cannot return."
Riva whispered:
"So she's me."
"Yes."
"But older."
"Much older."
---
Eva opened her notebook.
"Then how old is she?"
The Queen looked at her.
"Older than Elaris."
Eva's eyes widened.
"That's impossible."
"Not beyond the Last Gate."
---
Riva sat down.
"Why does she want me?"
The Queen answered:
"Because she wants to come back."
"And I'm the only way."
"Yes."
---
Caelan stepped forward.
"Then we destroy the Gate."
The Queen shook her head.
"You can't."
"Why?"
"Because the Gate is no longer outside."
Everyone looked at her.
She pointed toward Riva.
"It's inside her."
---
Riva looked down.
The crown mark on her wrist pulsed.
A faint voice whispered:
"Open."
Riva immediately covered it.
Caelan noticed.
"What did you hear?"
"Nothing."
The Queen shook her head.
"Don't lie."
Riva looked at her.
"I heard her."
---
Suddenly...
The candle went out.
The room became dark.
A voice whispered from the corner.
"Riva."
Everyone turned.
Nothing was there.
Then a second voice.
"You promised."
Aren's eyes widened.
"That's impossible."
The voice laughed.
"Everything is possible beyond the Last Gate."
---
A silver mirror appeared on the wall.
The surface rippled.
A woman's face appeared.
Riva's face.
Older.
Scarred.
Tired.
But still beautiful.
She looked directly at Riva.
"Hello."
Riva stepped closer.
"Who are you?"
The woman smiled.
"You already know."
"You're me."
"Yes."
---
Riva stared at her.
"What do you want?"
The older Riva looked sad.
"I want to come home."
"This isn't your home."
The woman's eyes hardened.
"You don't get to decide that."
"This is my life."
"It was mine first."
---
Caelan stepped forward.
"Leave her alone."
The older Riva looked at him.
Her expression changed.
"You still protect her."
Caelan frowned.
"You know me?"
"I remember everything."
She smiled sadly.
"You were the first person who promised never to leave me."
Caelan froze.
Riva looked at him.
"Caelan?"
He couldn't speak.
The older Riva continued:
"And you broke that promise."
---
Caelan stepped toward the mirror.
"I don't remember you."
"You will."
The mirror flickered.
A vision appeared.
Caelan and Riva.
Older.
Standing beneath a black tree.
Caelan was holding a sword.
Riva was crying.
Behind them...
The Last Gate was open.
The vision disappeared.
Caelan stumbled backward.
"What was that?"
The older Riva whispered:
"Your future."
---
Riva looked at her.
"You said you were me."
"Yes."
"Then tell me what happens."
The older Riva shook her head.
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because the moment I tell you..."
"The future changes."
Riva stared at her.
"Then why contact me?"
The older Riva smiled.
"Because I need you to make one choice."
"What choice?"
The woman's face became serious.
"When the time comes..."
"Do not save me."
---
The mirror cracked.
Riva stepped forward.
"What?"
The older woman continued:
"If you save me..."
"I will destroy everything."
The mirror shattered.
The room returned to silence.
---
Nobody spoke.
Finally...
Aarvi whispered:
"That was creepy."
Eva looked at Riva.
"But she sounded sincere."
Riva stared at the broken mirror.
"I believe her."
Caelan looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because she looked afraid."
---
The First Guardian suddenly entered.
His face was pale.
"We have a problem."
"What?"
He looked toward Riva.
"The Seven Flames have disappeared."
Everyone froze.
"What?"
"They're gone."
"The Gates aren't responding."
"And Elaris..."
He swallowed.
"...is beginning to disappear."
---
Riva ran outside.
The entire city was fading.
Buildings became transparent.
People vanished.
The crimson moon cracked.
The palace began dissolving.
Riva stared in horror.
"What's happening?"
The First Guardian answered:
"Elaris was never meant to exist in this world."
"It's being pulled back beyond the Last Gate."
Riva looked at her wrist.
The crown mark burned.
A voice whispered:
"Come home."
Riva closed her eyes.
Then...
The black Gate appeared above the city.
And this time...
It wasn't opening.
It was falling.
Straight toward Elaris.
End of Chapter 5