Chapter 13: Sage 

I apologize for this, I just watched a super sad episode of the series I'm into, and currently very sappy and emotional. So uh…..yeah enjoy I guess.

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For the longest time, no words are spoken. No problems are mentioned. No thoughts are shared. We simply sit in the warm embrace of each other's presence. 

Lance sits in the empty, white space with his legs spread apart. I sit between them, curled up against his chest. His arms are wrapped around me, his cheek pressed into the top of my head. His dark leather jacket is cool against the side of my face as I close my eyes and listen to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. His breathing is slow and comforting, his entire chest expanding and shrinking with each one. 

"So," his Irish laced voice fills the empty void. "I think my Converse's held up pretty well these past years, yeah?" I try not to laugh as I look down at the worn, mint shoes. 

"Yea, right. It's almost like the sole isn't half peeled off from the shoe." I chuckle. 

"Is not! I keep these puppies in peak condition!" 

"Ha, yeah I believe it." I say, studying the old stains, worn threads, and faded colors. We fall back into a brief silence before he breaks it again. 

"You know, I have been doing things. I haven't just been sitting up here with a martini glass and shades, lounging in a beach chair." He says. I pull away, but not far. Just fair enough to get a good look at him. 

"Lance, is that what you've been worried about? You're in heaven! Even if you were doing the whole martini thing I definitely wouldn't be mad about it." I answer, folding my legs in front of me, my knees on top of Lance's outstretched lower limbs. 

"Ha! Thank you, my green girl, but I'm not worried about it. I just wanted you to know that while you've been suffering and leading down there, I've been doing my own thing." 

"And what is that?" I ask. 

"I've been working with the Goddesses. They've entrusted me as their personal advisor, for whatever reason. That's why I was allowed to come here, to The Inbetween, and see you." He answers. 

"Really?!" I ask, surprised. "What things do you work on?" 

"Well, I'm not allowed to tell you much, since your still-not-quite-dead-yet brain would probably implode, but I can tell you this: we're trying to figure out the difference between our old home, and Eladea, and how people come over." He answers. I blink a few times before responding. 

"Wait, but I thought the goddesses did it? They chose people with a great destiny and brought them over?" I ask, tilting my head in confusion. 

"Well, that's half correct. They do choose people, but then they just show up. They have no idea how we get from the Other Side, over here. It just sorta…happens! That's why we're investigating, to see what we're dealing with and if whatever barrier there is can be sealed, and or broken down." He explains with a passion I've only ever heard when he would talk about maps.

"Oh wow. I mean, that's amazing! But it's weird thinking about how three all-powerful beings don't know something." I say, tracing patterns on his dark pant leg. 

"I know right? They seem like these mystical beings but then you actually talk to them on an equal plane and they suddenly just seem like humans with some added perks." He shrugs. 

"Have you seen them?"

"Oh, Goddesses no! Sage, I'm nothing but a spirit, in heaven, my body dead on the ground, and I would incinerate the moment I saw it. Simply blip into nothingness. Seeing a goddess is the only thing that can kill a dead person. They merely communicate through my mind." He says with a laugh. 

"That can happen?! You can just cease to exist by looking at one?!" I say with exasperation. 

"Don't worry, green girl, they never show their face. It's not like I can open the door to my house and boom! A goddess is standing right there and now I don't exist." He laughs again. 

"...you have a house?" I mumble under my breath. "Well, that makes me feel a bit better." I say. I scoot a little closer to him. He sits back, using his hands to prop himself up. He looks down his chest at me, smirking in a way that gives me butterflies no matter how many times it happens. 

"So, how's the gang doing? Ren and V?" He asks. 

"You've been watching me but not them?" I say with a raised eyebrow. 

"What? I have a busy schedule!" He chuckles. I roll my eyes. 

"Well, Ren found a mate a little over a year ago, and V found Myshica again." 

"His childhood friend/crush that he assumed to be dead?! Talk about a plot twist!" He smiles and holds back a giggle. 

"Yup and they have four kids, triplets and an adopted daughter." I say. 

"Wow, he's got his hands full there." 

"Yeah, he does. But he's not that scared little dragonette you remember, he's grown up a lot." I saw with a fond smile. 

"I'm glad. I worried about that little guy."

"Oh, he's not little anymore!" I say with a chuckle. He gives me a questioning look. "He's like thirty feet tall now." I say, rounding up to make more of a wow factor. His draw drops open. 

"He was like seven feet when I died! Now he's thirty feet?!" 

"Yup! All grown up." I chuckle. He shakes his head in disbelief. 

"And Liam? Has he also grown 23 feet since I last saw him?" 

"No," I say with a laugh. "Though he is your height." 

"Of course he is." He says with a sigh. "I just can't stand the tall one, can I?" 

"Nope! Though, I am worried about him." 

"How come? What's wrong?" He says, scrunching his bushy eyebrows. 

"With the whole me in a coma thing, I don't know, I just think the pressure will be too much for him. He wasn't ready to lead before, but now he is forced to in my absence. I hope he's ok." I say, turning my eyes downwards. A pale finger finds its way under my chin, gently lifting it up to meet his gaze. 

"Sage, from what I've seen you have trained him and prepared him as best you can. But there's only so much you can do. He has to figure a lot of stuff out on his own as you did. You do what you're able to but in the long run, a lot of it is just experience, and he can't get that without leading himself. But he can do it. He's got your blood, after all." He says with a soft smile. 

"Yeah, you're right." I say with a sigh. "There's not much I can't do from here right?" 

"No, unfortunately, there isn't. But, what you can do is hope." 

I look into his swirling grey orbs, his soft thumb caressing my scar. His eyes trailed over my features, taking me in. I shift closer to him. He swoops down surprisingly gracefully and closes his eyes, placing his lips onto mine. It barely lasts a moment but leaves my skin tingling. I bring my hands up and trail the back of my fingers down the ridge of his nose and onto his cheek. 

"I still can't believe you're here." I whisper. His other hand slithers around my waist, pulling me tight against his chest. He leans down, his lips brushing my ear. 

"Believe it." He makes his voice deeper, and laced with his accent it creates a sound that makes my heart beat faster, my breath quicken. When he pulls back I take my turn and place my lips against his, starting a slow kiss that quickens. 

He leans back on his forearm, pulling me with him so I'm half on top of him. I place my hands against his chest, his free hand placed firmly around my waist. We eventually pause for a breath, leaving both of us panting, yet still craving more. 

"Goddess I love you." He says with a huff. I smile fondly at him, taking in his every feature. 

"Lance Griffin, I love you too." I respond. He smiles before leaning down and kissing me once more. 

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Word count: 1457

Ok, that wasn't as soppy as I expected. 

Also, I know it's a little shorter chapter but I think it works :3

Sooooo any thoughts? Questions? Theories? Thoughts on the characters? I love to hear em! 

Cya next week!