20

                                    

                                          
Dani
'Sometimes, we inflict the worst pain on ourselves and others when trying to shield from another,' her unci once told her.
They had been going to the sweat lodge to start the purification for her first hembleciya (vision quest). She had been seventeen and eager to realise the path her life should take. It was a rite of passage for her mother's tribe, and Dani had been preparing for it for years.
When Nana had touched her forehead, she had found herself in mists that reminded her of the sweat lodge. Only instead of steam, the mist was pure magic. She could feel its vibrancy, taste its flavour, but most of all she could hear its song. It was a song that held notes she had never heard before, notes she suspected had been lost to time. 
As Dani ventured deeper into the mist, the song grew louder, enveloping her in a symphony of forgotten melodies. Each note seemed to resonate within her very soul, awakening memories and emotions she didn't know she had. The mist swirled around her, forming shapes and patterns that danced in harmony with the music.
Without being told, she realised it wasn't a song, at least not entirely, it was magic. She had sensed it in Dragonheim but not to this extent. It was more here, more vibrant, more potent, more aware. She shivered, realising it was somehow a part of her.
The mists cleared and she found herself in a dark throne room. Not dark because there was no light but dark in its decor. Strangely, it straddled that fine point between overdone and balanced. The golden pillars leading to he golden throne were relieved from being gaudy by the obsidian nature of everything else.
She startled as she saw herself standing before Eric. Well, someone who looked remarkably like her. Was that Song? She wondered as she drew closer to the other female. She looked exactly like Dani. The same height, high cheekbones, curvy athletic figure and even the tilt of her chin.
From that tilt Dani knew the figure she was looking at was deeply hurt but cloaking herself in her pride and sense of worth. Dani smiled ruefully, nothing seems to change, she thought.
Song wore a gown of a design Dani had never seen before. White, its design married the simple elegance of ancient Greek designs with the elaborate intricacies of regency royalty. Her hair was coiled in thick braids that intertwined with delicate silver threads, creating a shimmering halo effect around her head. 
The braids cascaded down her back, adorned with tiny, sparkling jewels that caught the light with every movement. Her gown flowed gracefully to the floor, the fabric whispering softly with each step she took. The bodice was fitted, accentuating her figure, while the skirt billowed out in soft, elegant folds. Song's presence was both regal and ethereal, a vision of timeless beauty that left Dani in awe.
She found herself doubting that Song looked anything like her. Dani had never had that kind of presence, that regality to her.
Yet the Eric lookalike, obviously Chaos, seemed unaffected by her beauty. He sneered at her, dismissed her. Dani felt the dart of every word he said to Song . Even though Song didn't react as if it were painful, Dani knew herself well enough to see the devastation on Song's face.
Dani took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart. She wanted to reach out, to apologize, but the words seemed to stick in her throat. Song’s eyes, held a distant, guarded look.
“I’m sorry,” Dani finally managed to whisper, her voice trembling. She knew Song couldn't hear her but she felt the need to say it out loud.
Song though rallied against the pain Chaos was causing her and promptly rejected him. Dani staggered as she was torn apart by the backlash of her denouncement. She saw Chaos wince, his face becoming ashen as he felt the it too. All the blood drained from her face as the enormity of what Song had down settled deep inside her. Dani looked at her, wondering how someone so powerful could be so ignorant of what she had just done.