The unofficial fourth episode of the fantasy trilogy Guardians of Time by Marianne Curley.
The battle was over, the prophecy fulfilled. It was far from over however as the Guardians discover that Lathenia has been hiding her daughter Ellathea for years and now she takes up the mantle of the Queen of Chaos after her mother. She shows the guardians her mighty powers and desires nothing more than the total destruction of their organization. A new prophecy appears foretelling of four powerful weapons. In Ellathea's hands, they could undo Earth itself and so our Guardians embark across histories from all the corners of the world to find these weapons before the new Queen of Chaos. Will they succeed? Is there another battle to be fought?
Book preview
The battle is over. Both immortals, siblings who had spent their entire endless lives competing with each other, have finally killed each other. Their names will never be forgotten – Lorian and Lathenie. Their bodies are being carried to ancient Athens, where they will be placed until the Temple is built.
The forests echo with the desperate cries of Lady Arabella, whose grief affects everyone who hears it. She cannot come to terms with the loss of Lorian. The sorrow also affects the Guardians, including Arkarian, who discovers that Lorian was his father.
Arkarian looks at his lifeless body and tears stream down his face. After six hundred years he did not know the truth of his origin, and now he learns it too late. Beside him stand Matt, Neriah, and Isabela, Arkarian's soulmate. They all mourn Rochelle, who fell in battle after sacrificing her own life. Her death weighs heavily on everyone.
Matt notices her hand hanging from the stretcher and suppresses the urge to intervene. He then embraces Neriah and mourns in silence.
After the transport is finished, Matt asks about Ethan, who has disappeared. Ethan sits in the forest by a stone and refuses to leave until he is sure of Marduk's death. He blames Matt for Rochelle's death and sends him away.
A few days later Ethan continues to withdraw into himself and communicates only with an illusion of Rochelle, which he creates with his ability.
During a celebration in Athens, Ethan runs out of the hall and the others find him in the courtyard with her illusion. Matt and the others are overwhelmed by intense pain, and Ethan's despair culminates in collapse as they all share his loss.
