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Chapter 26
"What are you saying, Mircea?” Lady Stoica asked.
“I wish to die for our granddaughter and son,” Lord Stoica said.
“Father, I cannot accept your sacrifice,” Gabriel said.
“That’s unfortunate, as I do not plan to change my mind. I didn’t need a sage to help me understand the dream. It was clear to me from the beginning. But his confirmation sealed any doubts one might have. It is decided. If you do not include me in the ritual, I will drag myself with my bare hands to the closest cliff and throw myself off it.”
When Lord Stoica meant business, he meant business. I feared even breathing in his proximity.
“Father, I will try to find a way to turn without your sacrifice,” Gabriel said.
“You can try, my boy. But things written with the fates’ quills cannot be erased.”
Lady Stoica slowly descended into apathy and could barely control her tears. Gabriel kneeled beside her and said, “Forgive me, Mother, for I have hurt you greatly. But believe me. It is not by choice.”
She caressed Gabriel’s cheek and said, “It is not your fault, my son. But now I must mourn the two of you.”
“I might not be the same, Gabriel, but my life will not end.”
“Your life as a human will end, my son. And I will make sure to grieve it. But I will expect you to see me once in a while.” Lady Stoica smiled wryly.
Mothers remained the same, even for future immortal beings.
“I will, Mother,” said Gabriel and leaned on her lap, “I will.”
“Take care of my son, Milady. You’ll be the only one left so close to him.”
I walked to her as she clutched my hand. “I will, Mother. Thank you for everything you’re doing for us.”
“It is not by choice, Milady. But if my son is to become an unnatural being, he must, at least, be the strongest ever to exist.”
Some things about Lady Stoica didn’t change.
After our heavy talk with Gabriel’s parents, we went home. In a way, we were relieved we found a substitute for Athena, but at the same time, our hearts tightened at the idea of losing Gabriel’s father.
“What do you think about your father’s choice?” I asked.
“I’m going to find a way to turn without him,” he said, but we both knew it was near impossible.
“How are you going to do that?”
“I’m going on a journey across the entire Other Realm in search of the answer. Do you wish to travel with me?”
“A car and helicopter wouldn’t hurt in such a case, but yes, I will join you.”
For the following month, we traversed the lands of The Other Realm from all sides. We visited Tiberiu’s werewolf lair. After the surprise of meeting us again, he and his ever-fighting sons welcomed us at their abode. At the fire, we explained our wish not to sacrifice Gabriel’s father, but unfortunately, he didn’t have an answer for us.
We even paid a visit to the Wine Pitcher Lady at the village tavern, Solomonarul’s favorite place, before he married Teodora. Given she met many people and sometimes otherworldly beings, maybe she had an answer on how to get through a ritual without a sacrifice. She sat us at a table, placed three clay cups before us, and filled them to the brim.
“Excuse me,” I said. “But it’s just the two of us.”
“The third one is for me,” she said. “Now, what’s your question?”
“Have you ever heard from anyone if a sacrificial ritual can be done without the sacrifice part?” I asked.
The lady looked at us inquisitively and downed the cup of wine in one go. Then poured herself another. “From what I’ve heard, sacrifices are there for a reason. It’s an exchange made between life and death. Though they are intertwined at their core, given as they’re both born from a soul, there is a difference. Death is final. Thus, one cannot expect to be granted a new life without paying the price of a soul. For the circle of life to begin anew, it must borrow from another.”
