Chapter 26: Curiosity

All her uncertainty and fear turned to curiosity as she approached the pedestal at the bottom of the chamber. Her amulet began to glow, and with each step, she felt the amulet pull itself closer to the pedestal.

At the top of the pedestal was a recessed shape that matched the amulet. She unclasped it and placed it upon the marble. The glow from the sapphire turned into a column of blue light that expanded and enveloped the entire chamber. Siannon closed her eyes against the intensity of the light. When she opened them slightly to see if the light had abated, the chamber appeared as it had before. She opened her eyes fully and heard him call her name.

“Siannon,” he said.

She turned and saw Dylan, looking as he did a few years ago before he grew sick.

“Dylan?” she said, hesitantly approaching him and reaching to touch his chest, expecting her hand to pass through him like a ghost, but she felt his heart beating beneath his tunic.

“Are you real?” she asked. “Or is this another illusion from my memories?” Before he could answer, she said, “I don’t care,” and she rushed to embrace him. Illusion or not, she felt his arms around her, and two years of grief and longing poured out of her, drenching his shoulder with her tears.

“I’ve missed you so much, my love,” she said. “I haven’t been able to move on.”

“I know,” Dylan said. “That’s why we’re here.”