{No one cheats death}
Anastasia wasn't able to sleep, I mean how could she sleep knowing that moon will die very soon. She needed to act fast, she couldn't risk it. Couldn't risk letting Moon die for nothing.
She couldn't sleep last night. She couldn't even eat this morning, all she could think about is how she'll find this Isis of a lady.
Anastasia entered the library and buried herself in books, trying to know who this Isis of a person was. Then she found it hidden behind dusty shelves and old books. She found the one book she was looking for.
The map to the palace of the goddess of lust. All she has to do now is locate her but how would she do that now knowing that Azriel has people watching her.
The journey to Isis Palace is less than three hours.
Anastasia didn't tell anyone that she was leaving. She left, she had to find Isis.
So she snuck out of the castle. She climbed the tall walls and jumped out of the castle. If she was going to protect Moon, she had to do it on her own.
"Take a life to save a life" She muttered to herself. After what felt like hours of walking, she finally found it. The weird cave that was shaped like a falcon.
She entered the cave, passing Booby traps, shooting arrows and flaming swords. She finally found a door, unfortunately it needed a key.
She looked at the map one last time and then she found something on the door that wasn't on the map. She found a little statue that resembles a raven.
She found the raven, actually she found the raven in the library back at the castle. She didn't know why she picked it up.
Actually she didn't even know if it was going to be useful but she picked it up anyway. She placed it in her bag and began her journey.
So looking at the bag now she knew it had saved her life. She placed the raven and then it unlocked.
The door opened revealing a beautiful cave. That doesn't even look real. It looks like something you'll see in the movies or a fantasy or even in a dream.
The floor was covered in gold, the walls were covered in gold, the ceiling was polished with little diamonds that sparkles and when the sun hits the ceiling, It looks like the stars were scattered across the sky.
Up ahead, a beautiful lady sat on her throne . She had super long lashes, she had flowers decorated in her hair. She wore this beautiful gown that exposed her chest and her back, even her thighs
She wore gold accessories and her tiara was made out of real gold.
"Hmm, I was expecting you" Isis said. "You knew I was coming?" Anastasia asked. "What brings you to my castle mortal?" Isis asked slightly pissed.
"I'm here because I need your help. I want you to help someone... A little girl... She's just three months Old. She's what the ancient texts call the cursed child but she's just three months old and..."
"And... and she's vomiting blood. I was told that... the.... The curse is manifesting too early. So I was wondering If you could help me, help her so she could be okay. Please" Anastasia pleaded.
Isis laughed in amusement "How stupid could you be? I mean you came to my castle. You have no fear... You came to me demanding that I undo the curse for this child of yours?" Isis asked.
"No that's not.... I'm not demanding.... I'm pleading with you... I'm begging you to help me save her. I know you can undo it. I was told the only way to get rid of the curse is if you meet the person who place it there and you Isis are the one that placed it there. So please help me" Anastasia said.
"Give me one good reason why I should actually grant your request?" Isis asked as she stood up to take a glass of wine.
"Well I really want to save this little girl.... I don't know or perhaps I don't think the answer I might give you might be good enough. I know Moon is a very cute, chubby and beautiful baby girl. I'll do anything to protect her. So I ask you Isis.... No i beg you, save her"
"You are just like this Moon, I take it. You are cursed just like her but the problem is Nari saved you"
"How... how... How did you know?" Anastasia asked. "Oh please. Do you actually think that I wouldn't know? I know every child who is born with the curse. I let them live. So when Nari helped you I knew but that doesn't mean she saved you forever. The chains are still there, still wrapped around your heart.
"It's waiting patiently for the perfect moment to strike. You actually think it disappeared? You actually think you're free? No, the chains are still there and when the right moment comes, you wouldn't have much time to live. You know.... Death cheated you. He gave you a life that you'll end up dead either way. But don't worry your death will be quick and painless" Isis said.
Anastasia grits her teeth. "Why are you so bitter? Why are you so against helping me? Why don't you want to release the poor girl? Why are you hell bent on making people suffer because you refused to love"
"Because you gave a man.... You gave him a love potion.... You think that would make him love you even more? It makes him love you even less because at the end of the day once the love potion wears out, he'll know that you were never the one he loved in the first place"
"You are so bitter with the world because you were so foolish in love that you didn't even think about the consequences"
"You cursed his children because he refused to fall in love with you after the potion had worn off? What kind of a goddess are you anyway? You're shameless... Do you have any idea what it's like to love someone? Or what it's like to be loved? Anastasia asked in anger.
"You are lecturing me about love? What do you know about love? You spent your entire life being hated by the people who claim to love you. Your past life was shit.... Your present life is also shit... Do you think that for a split second just because you live in a castle..... Just because you're after the emperor's heart means that you're better than me? Isis asked.
"Well at least I didn't get to give him a love potion. I didn't get to force him to love me. I didn't get to be angry and jealous because he moved on and got married to another woman and had a child with her. I'm not as petty as you. Yes, I am fighting for the emperor's heart but at least I have dignity doing it" Anastasia yells.
"Dignity.... Dignity... you have dignity doing it? You, my child are living your life based on lies. What do you actually think the emperor would do if he finds out that you've been lying? That you have always lied to his face, now you are pointing your fingers at me because I gave my man love potion"
"Have you thought about the consequences if he finds out..... What if he found out the truth that you're lying? You're not Guinevere. You are not even Anastasia. You are Valerie.... You are pathetic little girl who grew up never knowing..... Never understanding the meaning of what it's like to be loved" Isis said.
"Oh please.... At least I know where to draw the line. At least I know how to read the hand writing on the wall and I know difference between love and lust... Look I'm not here to fight you..... I'm here to ask for your help...."
"This constant bickering won't get us anywhere. So please Isis, I just need you to save this little girl and after that we have nothing to do with each other. I will go my separate way and you'll go your separate way" Anastasia said.
Isis tilts her head. "Didn't Nari fill you in on everything? Didn't she tell you that the only person you have to meet to save the little girl is Death himself? If you want to save your precious little baby, then you must make a stop to see Death. He is the one that can help you. When you meet Death and if he attends to you then shall I remove the chains" Isis Said
"Where am I supposed to find Death? How would I know where he lives? How am I suppose...." Anastasia couldn't finish her sentence.
"If you want to meet death then you'll have to die. No living being has ever met Death or looked at him in the eyes. In order for you to save your baby, you must die"
Anastasia felt her pulse quicken. "You want me to kill myself?" Anastasia asks in surprise.
"No, it's quite the opposite. I am going to make you half dead, in order for you to meet Death. You'll have to go to the underworld and no one goes to the underworld alive. I will help you get to the underworld, If Death attends to you.... If Death gives your baby a second chance then and only then will I be able to lift the curse. Your baby is on the brink of death so I suggest you hurry" Isis said with a menacing smile on her face.
Anastasia took a deep breath. She knew, she had to do it. I mean, Luke only gave Moon two days to live. If she can't help Moon right now then no one ever will.
"I'm ready" Anastasia said to Isis. "Very well, Drink this wine" Isis said. "You want me to drink this wine?" Anastasia asked in confusion.
"Yeah, you want to meet Death right? Then drink the wine. You'll find yourself in the underworld and you'll find Death" Isis said.
With trembling hands Anastasia took the wine and drank it in one gulp.
Immediately Anastasia felt dizzy. She collapsed to the ground, when she opens her eyes she found herself in a place she didn't recognize. She saw a river that's pitch black.
She was in a boat, someone was rolling the boat. Anastasia saw a tall figure that had no eyes and no hands. It was all covered with a huge cloak.
He rolled the boat for a while. "Excuse me, where am I?" Anastasia asked the figured man.
The man remains silent "Do you know where I am?" She asked again. "You Are in the underworld" The man said.
Anastasia took a deep breath before speaking. "You must be Death..... I've been looking for you" Anastasia said. Death paused.
"You're looking for me?" He asked In amusement. "Yes I need a favor from you"
"A favor from me?"
"Yes" Anastasia replied. "What could that be mortal?" Death asked.
"I want you to save a friend..... Not even a friend, I want you to save a child" Anastasia calmly replied.
"Save? I think you're in the wrong place. I do not save anyone, I do not save people. I take their souls to where they're meant to be but I can never save one" Death said.
"Too bad because I'm here so you can save a soul and I am not leaving until you do" Anastasia said. "Then I shall take your life with me"
"You can't take my life" Anastasia said with pride in her voice. "Why is that?" Death asks surprise. "Don't you remember? Take a good look at me, I'm sure you'll remember" Anastasia said
"Nari" Death voice roared like thunder. "Nice to see you, old friend. I'm here for something very important. My friend needs you to help her baby, I want you to save her life" Nari said.
"Your arrogance has gotten the better of you goddess of war" Death said. "My arrogance has nothing to do with this, old man. Save the child" Nari commanded.
"A life for a life, you know that already Nari" Death said.
"I'm quite familiar with the terms but I'm here under different terms. If you don't give the baby back her life, then I'll take it by force"
"You want to steal from me? No one cheats Death and you know that by now Goddess" Death said in anger
"Oh, Oh, I know.... then I will be the first one. I'm not here to steal from you old friend. I am here for her soul and I'm not leaving without it" Nari hissed.
"Then you shall die and I would love dragging your filthy soul back to hell with me" Death said.
"Come on old man. You actually think you still got what it takes?" Nari asked.
Death brought out his staff within minutes. They broke out into a fight, well long story cut short Anastasia laid on the floor with Death on top of her.
He placed his blade on her neck. "Any last words Nari?" Death snorts. "How do you feel about fetch?" Anastasia asks.
"What?" Death asked in confusion. Anastasia kicked Death on the stomach and one thing led to another. His staff fell into the river. "Like I said I'm here for the soul and I'm not leaving without it" Anastasia said.
"You think you can steal from Death? No one can steal and get away with it" Death yells in anger.
"At this point old man, I do not give a fuck" Anastasia said. She grabbed a bottle from his cloak. Death charged at her but something pulled her back.
Anastasia slowly opens her eyes and she finds herself on the cold ground.
"Where am I?" She asked as she slowly stood up. "You're still in my palace" Isis said from behind.
"Oh" Anastasia Muttered. "All right I see you've gotten the Elixir" Isis asked. "I.... I guess so" Anastasia replied.
"Now that you have all the ingredients, I shall lift the chains but remember you stole this from Death and no one cheats Death"
"I'll take my chances" Anastasia said. "Return to your baby and heal her" Isis said. Anastasia returned back to the castle. She gave Moon the Elixir and she became better. "How did you?..... Where did you find?.... How?.... What did you do?" Luke asked in confusion.
"It's a long story" Was all Anastasia could say.