The story so far:

---- Aija and the others are on the South-Land. They are waiting for the Leadership to attack. Aija finds out that The Gale was attacked on the Main Lands, and she worries for her brother - Rei/Goldstar. Goldstar is alive. They lost the Premiere, Leigh, Tailyn, Arah Lin. His leg is broken and his finger missing. Ze is getting better in his training. Ze and Ruyanir aren't married yet. Avery gets copies of the Leadership's experiments from Tailyn And feels bad for doubting Goldstar. Zuri thinks of the first time she met Aija. The Leadership attacks them and Zuri goes to protect the people of the South. Xan tries going after the others to help but soon realizes that he can't. He hates it. Zuri manages to get the shield up at the Zayr Settlement but a soldier fires at her. Luka goes with Var-Inu to fight and when seeking an Iernei shielder, an explosive hurtles to the ground towards him. Goldstar is weak thanks to his broken leg. he struggles in the battle. When a bomb comes hurtling towards them, Luka protects him. Thieron is with Aija and Ayr'i. They try and bring several jets down. When the Iernei spaceships arrive, the jets plunge into water, creating large waves that drag them all into the ocean. Aija and Ayr'i survive the ocean. The war comes to an end when Iernei spaceships arrive. Aija finds her brother Rei and Vincent alive. Nala finds Zuri in the Zayr Settlement. They go to the Core and find Luka, Aija, and Thieron.

----Aija and Thieron tell Goldstar all that has happened with them. Aija and Thieorn want to go to Ierne to give Aa'di Irih'va the Avo. Aija convinces Zuri to meet her family once before they leave. Luka didn't expect to survive this long. He now feels at home with Thieron and Nala. Zuri goes home. She asks her parents to go to the South-land with her. They refuse. Xan gets to the Core on the South back to the Aija and the others. He accepts Var-Inu's offer to get an Iernei body. Aija agrees to help and it works. Xan is now Iernei. 

---- Thieron goes to the Open to collect his family photo; Ieas confronts him. Aija saves Thieron. 

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****11.2THIERON****

Thieron drummed his fingers against his thigh, waiting. He knocked on the door a second time, nervous, unsure if he did the right thing. He needed to talk to her; needed to know what she avoided him. Had Thieron hurt Aija?

Aija opened the door; she peered through the thin crack of space. "Yes?"

"We need to talk," Thieron meant for his tone to be solemn, but it came out desperate; he balled his fists.

Thieron expected her to shut the door in his face, but she let him in. This room, identical to his, housed a narrow bed, a chair, a vanity, and a compact cabinet. Thieron inched inside, leaving the door open behind him.

All the while, Aija had her eyes on him, gaze intense like she'd explode into a tornado of words. And, Thieron would happily be carried away in her hurricane if it meant she spoke to him.

Aija sat cross-legged on the bed, already changed out of gear she'd worn to the Open. The black dress hugged her frame, showing off her tiny waist and wide hips.

Thieron sat on the chair, leaning on the short backrest, chair tiny for him. "Are you angry with me?"

Aija pursed her lips, crossing her arms across her chest, closing in on herself like she shielded herself from him.

"Aija,"

"Why didn't you tell me the truth?"

Thieron's heart skipped a beat at the unexpected words. "What? I told you everything,"

"I meant at the beginning,"

Thieron tried to make sense of her words.

"If you'd told me the truth when you took me, I'd helped you all along," her voice, earnest and soft, clawed at his heart.

"Would you have believed me?" he nearly whispered. "Me who killed humans, or Etrie who protected them?"

Aija didn't answer. She rested her elbows on her lap, arms still crossed over herself.

"I tried – on Ytèan. You nearly died; I realised I wanted you to know the truth. You didn't believe me when I said I wouldn't kill you. So, I decided on the next best way to prove it."

Thieron studied Aija, a whirlwind of emotions gripping his soul.

"You should've killed Alton a long time ago," she tilted her head, observing him.

He agreed. "I should've. I didn't know I could; I was bound to him. It took me a long time to figure out I could twist words." Thieron resisted the urge to tell Aija she was the reason for it, like he pushed away the desire to tell her Var-Inu had intended for them to meet. "Alton used me; Var-Inu played me. I was meant to get the Àvo, give it to Irih'va, make sure it wasn't used. Or if it came to it, use it to heal Earth. I never would've destroyed humans; Aija, I'm half-human. My parents died protecting humans from Alton. I needed to find Ayr'i, and Var-Inu convinced me to stay with Alton for it.

"I hated Harvesting; it made me sick. The methods I used were messed up –they'll haunt me forever. I wish I'd braved telling the truth, but would you have helped me Harvest?"

"I would've told you to kill him," Aija replied without a hue of hesitation, taking Thieron's breath away. "I would've told you to kill him; that I would help you find Ayr'i – that that was better than killing more innocent humans. If you couldn't kill him, I'd have asked Nala or Luka. They'd do anything for you, in case you haven't noticed."

Thieron stared at Aija, stunned.

"I don't know what you expect from me. You've...You...I don't know!" she raised her hands. "What did you want me to say? That it's ok even when you killed innocent humans?"

Thieron, against his better judgement, rose from the chair and sat beside her on the bed. Aija didn't leave but revolved to face him.

"I'm sorry, Aija. I'm not a good person; I never claimed to be. I've done appalling things."

She leaned closer, a breath away. "You did," she whispered. "I'm upset because you had a choice – have Alton killed, search for Ayr'i."

Thieron had put a blade to his heart after his first Harvest; he should've driven it in. He took Aija's hand in his; she let him hold her, their shared lightning sparking.

"I can't change what I've done; I know that," he told her. "My actions, my choices – they should've been different. Killing my uncle was the hardest thing I've done. He had my parents killed in front of me; I was a child. He took my sister, and he made us kill. And yet, I hated killing him. He ruined my life, and I found it tough to take his. I regret many things, but not meeting you. Etrie would've used you for his own treacherous plans. Aija, I'll never regret meeting you."

Aija's starlight eyes drove him insane, the depth of emotion in them. Thieron wanted Aija in his life.

"I'm sorry," she said, making Thieron's heart drop. "I'm so confused. You've done so much bad, but you're good, and I don't know what to make of it. Do I judge you on what you intended – save Earth? Or on your actions – killing innocent humans?" a few tears slid down her cheeks. Thieron put a hand on her cheek, wiping the tears with his thumb. "I hate what I feel for you, but I'm also glad you're a good person. But what is worse, Ah'n?"

Thieron's navel twisted at the sound of his Ytai name on her tongue.

"A monster without a heart, or a monster with one?" she continued. "A monster who knows not what he does, or a monster who knows and does it anyway?"

Thieron felt Aija's words wrench his heart. He wanted to tell her he was a monster. But he knew he had a heart. That made it worse for her; a heart that knew what it did and did it anyway; a heart that wanted a chance to do the right thing after all.

"You've seen the worst of me," he wiped another tear that escaped her eyes with his thumb. A spark flowered, bright purple. "I'm a monster. If you can't forgive me, I understand. I can't forgive myself either."

Her eyes widened; breaths quick, she placed a hand on his chest over his heart which grew maddened by her touch. "Then, start there," she whispered, tone warm, "you must forgive yourself first."

Thieron inhaled sharply. "Aija,"

"Ah'n," her voice thrummed through his defences. "I'm sorry," she told him. "I need time."

Aija pulled away from his touch, standing. Thieron nearly pleaded with her to stay as she walked out, leaving him to the darkness, alone.

Thieron was trying to change for her. He just didn't know what more to do; he left her alone, he'd stopped being rude, he'd stopped making threats. Thieron stared at his hand, thumb wet from her tears. He'd never meant to make her sad, ever. He only wanted her to be happy. If he only managed to make her miserable, he'd have to stay away.

And that's what he decided, to stay away from Aija.

****

Thieron flung his blade at the door, thinking of his conversation with Aija.

When he'd found out the truth about his uncle, he'd been made to believe he had no choice. Var-Inu had told him if he killed Alton, he'd never find Ayr'i. But the situation was more complicated. Irih'va, under the orders of the Ithi'hra superiors, was to ensure his people collected the Àvo and used it to save Earth. He hadn't wanted to kill humans any more than Thieron did, but everyone knew no one could go against the Ithi'hra superiors. They were directly under the Ithi'hra leaders, and no one said no to them; there were dire consequences for failing in their mission. Irih'va had asked if there was a way to eliminate Alton without the knowledge of the Ithi'hra leaders. By then, Thieron had been seriously considering killing him since he hadn't liked the idea of sacrificing Luka for the mission. He'd honestly thought doing Ithi'hra's work was right until he'd met Luka, and Irih'va's reluctance grew year by year. Irih'va strived hard to stay out of the Ithi'hra's control, and Thieron's understanding of it had taken time.

H'eon had grown on Earth, with numerous members all over the planet, and the Ithi'hra superiors kept strict vigilance over them. The orders to Irih'va were to ensure the Àvo was used to heal Earth – which meant Harvests needed to happen, meaning Thieron had to Harvest. And even if Alton was killed, the mission would've continued under a different H'eon member, and the Ithi'hra superiors would've let it endure. For all the Ithi'hra's values on life-preservation, they didn't care how they saved Earth. According to Irih'va, humans had been given too many chances, and the Ithi'hra were desperate to save the life-planet. Even at the cost of a few humans.

Thieron knew he wasn't under Ithi'hra's obligations, but he couldn't kill Alton. If he had Alton killed by someone else, he would invite the Ithi'hra's scrutiny, putting Irih'va in trouble, and H'eon would've unleashed chaos on Earth. Without a leader to keep them in check, they would've embarked on a killing-spree and destroyed humans for sure. Thieron had decided to hand over Alton to the Ytèan Ithi'hra instead, who were in no way connected to the Ithi'hra superiors like him. But he needed a force against the H'eon when he did arrest Alton; so, he'd let Ierne's Ithi'hra combatants infiltrate H'eon. No simple task; he needed members who could control their auras enough to lie to Alton, who screened every new member and had them followed for weeks. Thieron had lost several members because, though their auras didn't reveal their secret, Alton simply didn't like them. It had taken years of struggle; then he'd met E'mnrin, who he trusted enough to handle hiring new people. Later, A'ru had joined E'mnrin.

Thieron knew Irih'va would go under scrutiny now for his mistake of killing Alton and, worse – dropping the body on Ierne with Irih'va. But Thieron had been so stunned, and Ea had been with him; his first thought had been to go to Irih'va. He'd be questioned too, but he could always claim he didn't work with Irih'va, and he'd done it for revenge, that E'mnrin had told him to go to Ierne since E'mnrin was an Iernei Ithi'hra member. It was believable – Alton had his parents murdered, so Thieron killed him, and he didn't know anything about Irih'va's Ithi'hra mission about healing Earth using the Àvo. He'd wanted to save humans because his parents had died trying to save them.

Thieron had wanted Alton to suffer at the hands of the Ytèan Ithi'hra. Death was simple; final. He'd wanted Alton to anguish. Alton had still won, minutely. He'd apparently gotten some members to take care of the In'ealk in case the Mansion was attacked. It was imperative they found the In'ealk, else H'eon still benefitted.

Thieron retrieved the knives from the door and resumed throwing them. He could've told Aija how complicated it all was, but it didn't matter. Thieron had taken time to understand Irih'va's hesitancy when it came to the Ithi'hra, he'd continued to Harvest thinking he did right even when it made him sick, and he'd chosen to take corrective measures very late. His choices had ruined many lives.

The door swung open; Luka caught a blade with two fingers. "That's dangerous," he noted. "If it were a human, they'd have died."

"Humans knock before entering," Thieron pointed out.

Luka threw the blade at him. Thieron caught it without a glance. Luka sat on the bed, leaning back, supported by his hands, palms on the bed. He stretched his legs and yawned. "Where's Ayr'i?"

"Handing out lunch,"

"She should rest; she looked tired."

"She is tired," grumbled Thieron. "She won't listen to me." He cast a third blade to the door; it lodged exactly under the second, creating a line of knives. "I don't understand why so many of us need to go to Ierne."

Luka laughed, "Aija for the Àvo ist'we stone, Zuri because of Nala, and Xan."

"I'm sure Aija invited him,"

"They are close," Luka stated. "I can't believe he's sixteen; he's had a wild life. I'm glad he's alive."

Thieron picked the blades from the door and started flinging them again.

"Did you ever think we'd go from three to seven?"

Thieron didn't answer at once. He hurled all five knives in succession and glanced at Luka. "No, but I don't hate it."

Luka smiled.

****

Trepidation infused the air.

In front of the group headed to Ierne, stood Rei and Vincent. Rei appeared undisputedly upset about Aija leaving and like it took great effort to not ask her to stay.

Aija went to hug Rei once more and whispered, "Happy birthday,"

"Come home," Rei whispered back, holding her, tone so glum Thieron nearly forgot Rei had called Aija a dimwit days ago. But that's how siblings were.

Aija nodded and let Rei go. She hugged Vincent, who asked her to be careful, and came to stand with the group, a group of seven now. Hra'an, A'ed, and D'ea stayed back on the South-Land, making Thieron sigh in relief; them included would be too many.

Thieron hoped it wasn't midnight on Ierne. Their arrival would alert the Royal Guard with the Mux'xra Ust rune-charmed; any entry would notify every guard.

Knocks rattled the door. When it opened, Var-Inu and Ba'diur came into view. They entered but stood far behind Rei. Thieron ignored them.

"Be careful," Var-Inu appealed.

Thieron knew he looked at him, but he ignored the man. He told Aija, "Let's go,"

Aija took hold of Xan's hand. Xan towered over her; strange after seeing him as a cat, often in her arms. Aija took one last look at her brother and put a hand on the ist'we stone. Thieron knew she had the Àvo in the dark-grey overcoat she wore; his coat.

Thieron had used the ist'we stone before, but each time it was akin to a fresh experience. Their surroundings went blur, and he felt the uneasiness of being pulled apart and put back whole again. He heard Zuri and Xan gasp as it went dark.

Golden light all around hit them.

Thieron narrowed his eyes, the light too sudden, too bright. They were in the Throne Room.

"I knew you'd come," the voice echoed.

Irih'va sat on the Ro'ein Throne, relaxed. He wore red, as always regal.

Zuri whispered, "Whoa," as she found the Hi'er Emperor on the Throne. He was breath-taking, Thieron agreed. Luka and Nala bowed; seeing them, Zuri, Ayr'i, and Xan followed.

Irih'va descended the Throne and walked to them. "Thank you for coming," he told Thieron.

Thieron nodded, still finding it awkward to face his old friend.

"Ru'n Lwr'vyn will have you all settled," Irih'va motioned for the man, who'd been at the door, to join them.

Irih'va turned his attention to Aija; a pang of jealousy clutched Thieron. Irih'va bent and held Aija by the shoulders. "Aija, I waited."

"I'm here,"

Irih'va smiled. "Come here," he held his arms out to her.

Aija put her arms around him, and the Emperor lifted her; she giggled.

And, Thieron's heart broke. As he saw Aija smiling for the first time in days, he remembered his decision on staying away from her. He only knew to make her sad.

Ayr'i glimpsed at him, sad and confused. Thieron glanced at his feet, thinking maybe Aija was better off with his friend, not him.

Irih'va put Aija down and led her out of the Room by her hand. Aija didn't turn back, not once.

"Let's go," Ru'n Lwr'vyn cleared his throat, motioning the others to follow him.

Everyone followed him; Thieron stood back, Ayr'i with him.

Thieron had suffered a broken heart before. Now it had shattered.

Perhaps, this was what Var-Inu meant when he'd said loving Aija would only break his heart. Thieron would love Aija; she wouldn't love him. 

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