BOOK FOUR: THE KINGDOM BEYOND THE LAST GATE
Chapter 8: The Voice Inside Riva
Caelan couldn't move.
Riva stood before him.
But something was wrong.
Her eyes were completely black.
The golden light that had surrounded her moments ago was gone.
The crown-shaped mark had spread from her wrist to her shoulder.
Aren slowly reached for his weapon.
"Riva..."
She turned toward him.
The strange smile remained.
"Don't."
Aren stopped.
That voice wasn't Riva's.
It was older.
Colder.
And somehow...
Familiar.
---
Caelan stepped closer.
"Riva."
She looked at him.
For a second, her expression softened.
"Caelan..."
Her normal voice.
Then the blackness returned.
"Don't come closer."
Caelan froze.
"You're still in there."
The voice laughed.
"Of course she is."
"Who are you?"
The thing inside Riva smiled.
"You already know me."
---
The First Guardian suddenly dropped to his knees.
"No."
Aren looked at him.
"You recognize it."
The Guardian shook his head.
"That voice..."
He whispered:
"The First King."
Everyone went silent.
---
Riva's body suddenly trembled.
Her eyes returned to normal.
She grabbed her head.
"Get out!"
The voice answered inside her mind.
You cannot remove me.
"Get out!"
I was here before you were born.
Riva screamed.
Caelan rushed toward her.
She pushed him away.
"Stay back!"
"I can help you."
"No!"
Her eyes turned black again.
She smiled.
"He can't."
---
The Queen stepped forward.
"Riva."
The voice turned toward her.
"Mother."
The Queen froze.
The voice continued.
"You always hated me."
The Queen's face became pale.
"You aren't him."
"Don't I sound like him?"
"You aren't Aeron."
The voice laughed.
"Correct."
It looked at Riva's hands.
"I am older."
---
Aren raised his weapon.
"Tell us who you are."
The voice looked at him.
"You remember."
Aren's face changed.
"No."
"You do."
Aren stepped backward.
"You're the one beyond the Gate."
The creature smiled.
"No."
"I am the reason the Gate was created."
---
The First Guardian whispered:
"The First King..."
The voice nodded.
"Finally."
---
Riva suddenly screamed.
Her body collapsed.
Caelan caught her.
Her eyes were normal again.
"Caelan..."
"I'm here."
She grabbed his arm.
"Don't let me sleep."
"Why?"
"Because when I sleep..."
She struggled to breathe.
"...he takes control."
Caelan held her tighter.
"I won't let him."
---
The Queen rushed toward them.
"Take her to the Hall of Mirrors."
Aren looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because it's the only place where the Gate's influence weakens."
The First Guardian shook his head.
"The Hall was destroyed."
The Queen answered:
"No."
"It was hidden."
---
They carried Riva through the palace.
Everywhere they passed...
The walls changed.
Paintings moved.
Statues whispered.
Doors opened by themselves.
Elaris seemed alive.
Watching them.
---
Finally...
They reached a circular chamber.
Seven enormous mirrors surrounded the room.
Each mirror represented one of the Seven Flames.
But the seventh mirror...
Was completely black.
Riva opened her eyes.
"What is this place?"
The Queen answered:
"The Hall of Mirrors."
"Why are there seven?"
"Because every Keeper must face themselves before entering the Last Gate."
Riva looked at the black mirror.
"What does that one show?"
The Queen's expression darkened.
"Your truth."
---
Riva slowly approached it.
The mirror didn't reflect her.
Instead...
It showed another world.
A city burning.
The Seven Flames scattered.
Caelan stood alone.
Aren was dead.
Lucien was kneeling in the blood.
Eva's notebook burned.
And Riva...
Was standing on a throne.
Wearing the black crown.
Her eyes were empty.
Caelan whispered:
"That's the future."
The Queen shook her head.
"No."
"What is it?"
"A possibility."
---
Riva touched the mirror.
The vision changed.
Now she saw herself older.
Standing beside the older version of herself.
Both were holding hands.
Behind them...
The Last Gate was open.
Then another vision.
Riva alone.
The entire world erased.
Then another.
Riva and Caelan together.
A new kingdom rising.
Then another...
Riva killing Caelan.
She immediately pulled her hand away.
"No."
Caelan looked at her.
"What did you see?"
"Nothing."
"Riva."
"I said nothing."
---
The black mirror suddenly cracked.
A voice came from inside it.
"You saw the truth."
Riva stepped backward.
The First King appeared in the reflection.
"You're afraid."
Riva clenched her fists.
"I'm not."
"You should be."
The reflection smiled.
"Because every future you saw..."
"...is possible."
---
Caelan stepped beside her.
"Then we'll choose another."
The reflection laughed.
"You believe choice changes destiny?"
Caelan answered:
"Yes."
"Then prove it."
The mirror shattered.
Seven pieces of glass flew through the air.
One piece stopped in front of Riva.
Inside it...
Was the older Riva.
She looked terrified.
She whispered:
"Listen to me."
Riva stepped closer.
"What?"
The older Riva pressed her hand against the glass.
"The First King isn't inside you."
Riva froze.
"Then what is?"
The older Riva's eyes filled with tears.
"You are inside him."
Silence.
Riva stared.
"What does that mean?"
The older Riva whispered:
"Your entire life..."
"...has been a prison."
The glass shattered.
And Riva collapsed.
---
When she opened her eyes...
She was no longer in the Hall of Mirrors.
She stood alone.
A black throne was behind her.
The First King sat upon it.
He looked exactly like Riva.
Same face.
Same eyes.
Same silver mark.
He smiled.
"Now..."
He stood.
"...let's talk about your real name."
Riva stared at him.
"My name is Riva."
The First King shook his head.
"No."
He leaned closer.
"That was the name they gave you."
"What is my real name?"
He smiled.
"Aurelia."
Riva's breath stopped.
The First King whispered:
"Because you aren't the Key to the Last Gate."
"You are the Gate."
End of Chapter 8