Accidental Demon Slayers: Melody of Light pt. 32

Q couldn’t stand the way that Aria was looking at him. 

She wasn’t angry, or sad.  She was disappointed. 

“We could have helped them.” She stood there, watching him. 

He slumped forward unable to meet her gaze.  How could they have helped them? She was stuck in a crystal, and he was… he was terrified.

Aria seemed to go rigid.  “No.”

The word was a whisper. 

“They’ll figure it out.” He was mumbling. “Ashtyn said that they handled stuff like this all the time.” 

“She got another one.” Aria didn’t move, didn’t look at him.  Her mind was lost somewhere else.  “I can feel her, the woman that your mother took.  I can feel her close to me.  I… I can actually feel her, as if she was standing next to me.” 

Q sat up.  She said she felt something.  How could she feel something?  She had no body.  Unless…

“Aria,” he stood, “how can we help them? How could you help them?”

She looked at him, her face a blank slate.  “I know the way in.  She can’t get out, not really, but I know how to get in.” 

“Are you there?” He reached out, his hand hovering over the ghost of her shoulder.  “Is your body there?” 

She tilted her head. “Yes.” 

She said the word as if she didn’t fully believe it.

“Yes,” she nodded.  “I’m with them. “ 

Q had always thought her body had been destroyed, that his mother had killed her.  He always thought of the Aria in the crystal as a ghost, but now he wasn’t so sure. 

If there was a chance that he could bring her back, even the smallest chance, he had to take it.  Even if it meant facing his mother.  He had defeated her once, he could do it again.  He could make things right this time.  He could truly save Aria.

“How do we get in Aria?” He leaned in, his face inches from hers. 

“Her chapel.” Her words were a whisper.  “The black pool is the gateway.”

The next few minutes were a blur to Q. He was moving quickly, shutting down his machines, and carefully collecting Aria’s crystal.  The black pool.  He had seen it that afternoon, hidden away in his mother’s secret chapel. That small, disgusting pool overlooked by the Angel of Death. 

He knew he couldn’t do this on his own, not against his mother.  She was too powerful.  He needed help, and he knew just the place to find it.