BOOK FOUR: THE KINGDOM BEYOND THE LAST GATE
Chapter 18: The Consequence
Riva couldn't move.
The creature standing before her had her face.
Her eyes.
Her voice.
Even the small scar near her eyebrow.
But there was something deeply wrong about it.
Its smile was too calm.
Too empty.
Caelan stepped in front of Riva.
"Stay behind me."
The creature laughed.
"You always do that."
Caelan tightened his grip on his broken sword.
"Who are you?"
The creature looked at him.
"You've asked that before."
"Seven times."
Caelan froze.
Riva stared.
"What are you?"
The creature smiled.
"I told you."
"I am the consequence."
---
The Eighth Flame flickered.
Riva felt something inside her pulling toward the creature.
Like a piece of herself had been torn away.
"You're connected to me."
The creature nodded.
"More than you know."
"Are you another version of me?"
"No."
"Then what?"
"I am every choice you refused to make."
---
Silence.
The creature continued.
"Every time you chose love..."
"I became anger."
"Every time you chose life..."
"I became death."
"Every time you chose forgiveness..."
"I became revenge."
Riva whispered:
"You're my rejected choices."
The creature smiled.
"Exactly."
---
The First Aurelia appeared behind Riva.
"Don't listen to it."
The creature looked at her.
"You should know me better than anyone."
The First Aurelia's face became pale.
"I destroyed you."
"No."
"You tried."
The creature laughed.
"You created me."
Riva turned toward the First Aurelia.
"Is that true?"
She nodded.
"When I removed Choice from you..."
"I had to put everything you couldn't choose somewhere."
Riva stared.
"And that became her."
---
The creature stepped closer.
"Every version of Riva created me."
"Every world."
"Every ending."
"I survived them all."
Riva's voice became quiet.
"Then why are you here?"
The creature looked toward Elara.
"Because she changes everything."
---
Elara stepped forward.
"How?"
The creature's expression softened.
"You're the first person who was born from Riva without being controlled by the Gate."
Elara frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"You were born from her choice."
"Not from the Gate."
"Not from the First Aurelia."
"You were born because she chose to love someone."
Elara looked at Caelan.
Riva's face flushed slightly.
The creature smiled.
"That's why the Devourers fear you."
---
Aren suddenly understood.
"The Devourers don't want Elara because she's the lock."
The creature nodded.
"They want her because she proves something."
"What?"
"That the Gate can create life without controlling it."
The First Guardian whispered:
"If that's true..."
"Then the Gate can be replaced."
---
The creature laughed.
"Exactly."
Riva looked at it.
"Then why are you helping the Devourers?"
"I am not."
"Then what do you want?"
The creature looked directly into Riva's eyes.
"I want you to make one final choice."
"What choice?"
"Kill me."
Riva froze.
"No."
"If you destroy me..."
"You destroy every rejected possibility."
"The worlds will become stable."
"The Gates will close."
"The Devourers will disappear."
Riva stared at her.
"And what happens to me?"
The creature smiled.
"You become complete."
---
Caelan stepped forward.
"She's lying."
The creature looked at him.
"Am I?"
"You want her to kill you."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I'm tired."
For the first time...
The creature looked sad.
"I have lived every life she refused."
"I have watched every world end."
"I have felt every death."
"I want silence."
Riva's eyes filled with tears.
"You don't have to die."
The creature shook its head.
"That's the problem."
"What?"
"You always want to save everyone."
Riva stepped closer.
"Maybe that's not a weakness."
The creature laughed.
"Then prove it."
---
The creature attacked.
Riva barely blocked the strike.
The impact sent her across the courtyard.
Caelan rushed toward her.
"I'm okay."
The creature appeared behind him.
He turned.
Too late.
A black blade pierced his side.
"CAELAN!"
He collapsed.
Riva screamed.
The Eighth Flame exploded.
The creature disappeared.
Then reappeared beside Elara.
Elara didn't move.
"Don't touch her."
The creature looked at her.
"You are the reason she won't choose me."
Elara stared back.
"Then maybe you're asking the wrong question."
"What?"
Elara took Riva's hand.
"Mother doesn't have to choose between us."
The creature froze.
---
Riva looked at her daughter.
Elara smiled.
"She can choose both."
The Eighth Flame became brighter.
The First Flame answered.
The Seven Flames rose again.
But this time...
They didn't return to Riva.
They surrounded everyone.
Caelan.
Aren.
Eva.
Aarvi.
Lucien.
The First Guardian.
The Queen.
Elara.
Even the First Aurelia.
The creature stared.
"What are you doing?"
Riva answered:
"Choosing everyone."
---
The creature stepped backward.
"No."
Riva continued.
"I won't sacrifice you."
"I won't kill you."
"I won't erase you."
"You are part of me."
The creature shook its head.
"If you keep me..."
"The cycle continues."
"Then I'll break the cycle."
"How?"
Riva looked at the Eighth Flame.
"By accepting you."
---
Riva reached out her hand.
The creature stared at it.
"You don't mean that."
"I do."
"You'll have to feel everything."
"I know."
"You'll feel every death."
"I know."
"Every mistake."
"I know."
"Every version of yourself."
Riva smiled.
"Then I won't be alone."
---
The creature slowly reached for her hand.
Their fingers touched.
The world disappeared.
Riva saw everything.
Seven lives.
Hundreds of choices.
Thousands of deaths.
Every version of herself.
Every version of Caelan.
Every version of Elara.
Every kingdom.
Every war.
Every moment she had forgotten.
And she finally understood.
The Gate had never been a prison.
It had never been a weapon.
It was a mirror.
It showed people what they were afraid to choose.
---
Riva opened her eyes.
The creature was gone.
Instead...
A second shadow stood beside her.
It slowly merged into her.
Riva screamed.
Then silence.
The Eighth Flame disappeared into her chest.
The First Aurelia stared.
"You accepted it."
Riva nodded.
"I did."
"Then you are complete."
Riva looked toward the sky.
The Devourers were gone.
The Gates were closing.
For a moment...
Everything seemed peaceful.
Then Elara suddenly screamed.
"Mother!"
Riva turned.
Elara was staring at her own hands.
Black veins were spreading across them.
Riva rushed toward her.
"What happened?"
Elara looked terrified.
"I can hear something."
"What?"
Elara looked toward the closing Gate.
A voice whispered from beyond it.
"The consequence was never the enemy."
Riva froze.
Another voice answered.
"The real enemy has finally awakened."
The Gate stopped closing.
And something enormous began pushing its way through.
End of Chapter 18