It was painless.

At least until the rift opened up and spit them out. The stranger held onto her body, his hands wrapped around her waist, as he landed on his back, cushioning her fall. The air was knocked out of her lungs as her body hit his hard chest.

She groaned.

"Do me the courtesy of allowing me to try before you make sounds like that," he hoarsely whispered. Her eyes fell on his pain-stricken face, the smug smile lingering at the corner of his lips. Immediately, she pushed against his body, wiggling to escape his hold. "Or...," he grunted, "on second thought, don't stop on my account."

Eira blushed. "Let go."

Chuckling, the stranger released his hold and she quickly rolled off, scurrying back to her feet.

She was about to ask him where they were until her eyes fell on the black canvas filled with stardust. Her mouth gaped open as she took in the colourful galaxies spread across the cosmos. It was like staring into the soul of the empyrean, the highest heavens. Flecks of white gold were scattered across a darkened tarp, heavily painted with wispy strokes of maroon and navy blue. It was as though clusters of supernovas collided, merging together to form a breathtaking galaxy filled with remnants of planets forgotten; their shadow selves orbiting the space, and spiralling across the vast unknown.

Eira gasped. She stood on top of a grassy hill, on the highest peak of the mountains, all extending as far as her eyes could see. The sky above her felt so close, as though it was within reach. Like, she could run her hand through the dark mass, swirling the twinkling balls of light around with just a finger, and blend together the lonely hues to create a masterpiece of her own. One that could offer endless solace, eternal peace. "Wow."

She heard the stranger laugh.

Eira's head snapped toward the source of sound. He sat against a thick trunk, his gaze fixated on her. She shook him off, as her eyes followed the large stalk, trailing upwards. The tree was enormous, topped with heavy shrubbery, resembling a mushroom cloud. Neon coloured vines fell over the edge of its head, sprawling out in every direction, like coarse tangled locks, seemingly hindering the view of the sky. It was then she realized that she was standing on the only hill with any traces of life. The other dunes stood barren, brown and ashy like an abandoned minefield.

"Where are we?" she asked.

He ran his hand over the empty space to his right, motioning for her to join him. She took a few steps towards him and then stopped, crossing her arms. It was like, in that moment, every bone in her body was screaming at her for being reckless, throwing up red flags and condemning her foolishness. She was, after all, in the middle of nowhere with a perfect stranger.

Dead or not, this was a new level of stupid even for her.

"I won't bite," he mused.

"I know!" she shot back. But every caution sign instantly disappeared, and she found herself wanting to appease the man before her. Eira put on a brave face, conflicted by the sudden change in feeling, and slowly made her way to his side. As she sat down against the wide trunk, she made sure to maintain a safe distance between them.

He let out a sigh acknowledging her hesitation. "We're in Sh'vistu."

"Sh'vistu?" she echoed.

"A realm of universes that have lived through their lifecycle," he said, staring at the panoramic view. "Dead, abandoned and forgotten."

"But you remember," she pointed out.

He shrugged. "I enjoy solitude."

She could understand that. A better part of her mortal life was spent in seclusion. It was lonely but she was more at peace in the midst of isolation than with the madness that had encompassed the world around her.

"Are there more realms?"

"Yes," he answered.

"How many more?"

"Many, many, more."

"Have you been to the others?"

"No."

"Okay," she mumbled. It was clear he didn't want to speak.

Soon, a layer of silence fell over them. Her eyes glazed over the surroundings and she took in the flickering specks illuminating the raven skies. She basked in its beauty, ignoring the lingering colours of death and chaos. She pictured the parched knolls quenched with vibrancy, each filled to the brim with tender blades of dewy grass, exuding an earthly scent that screamed life.

She sighed in contentment.

"What are you thinking about?" His voice broke through the quietness.

Eira shook her head. "Nothing in particular. It's just, it's been awhile since I've felt so...in the moment? I didn't expect to feel this way, I mean...I was hoping to, that's kind of why I wanted to die...but with these trials, and my obnoxious guide, and the weird wisps, and–" she eyes widened as she recalled the monster, "and what was that thing anyway?!"

He mimicked her bewilderment before he broke into a roaring laughter.

Eira furrowed her brows, crossing her arms. "What?"

"You just," he paused and looked at her with keen interest, "you are fascinating."

The warmth in her cheeks intensified. "Ah, thanks," she stammered, "but you aren't answering my question."

He huffed out a breath, holding his hands up in surrender. "That was a Jho."

Eira's frown deepened. "That still doesn't answer anything."

"Clever too," he responded with a smile. " Jhos seek out distraught souls, and bring them back to the Underworld."

"Underworld, as in...hell?"

He eyed her, revealing a crooked smile. "Yes, something like that."

"So it was after us?" she asked, turning her body towards him. She crossed her legs under her and leaned forward, anxiously awaiting his response. She couldn't believe he was answering everything she threw at him. It was surreal, and for a fleeting moment she even entertained the idea that she was back in the room Kai had left her in, sleeping, and this was all nothing more than a dream.

"It was after you," he corrected, leaning his head back against the trunk and closing his eyes.

"How do you know?"

His response was blunt. "I just do."

Eira contemplated urging him to explain, but quickly decided against it. She didn't want to push too hard and jeopardize potential answers. What if he stopped responding altogether? He seemed to be the only one out of the people she'd met willing to give her more than ambiguous nonsense. "Okay then, why me?"

"Because it has an acquired taste for unmarked souls. Not many around here like yours."

"I don't understand."

"I don't expect you to," he responded. "I don't either," he muttered, opening his eyes to look at her, "but it seems like you are a special one."

His words ignited something in her. Her mind shook with giddiness, and a swarm of unexplainable feelings passed through her body.

"What do you mean?" Eira breathed.

Immediately, he jumped to his feet and held his hands out for her. She grabbed onto them and, in one swift motion, he pulled her up to her feet. Her chest was against his, and her heart began pounding violently. She tried to nudge him away but he held onto her hands, keeping their bodies in close proximity.

A knowing smile spread across his features. Eira diverted her gaze, blushing profusely.

"Do you really want to know?" he asked in a husky voice.

"Yes," she adamantly answered, still unable to look into his eyes. It took everything she had not to stutter her words. "I do."

In an instant, she was backed up against the tree. He released her hands and placed his arms on either side of her shoulders, caging her body in. "Are you sure?"

Eira gulped. "Y-yes?"

"You don't sound sure," he quipped, whispering into her ears. "Are you sure?"

"Yes!" She hated that he was able to manipulate with her feelings and she had absolutely no control over her reactions. "I'm sure. Just tell me."

He chortled, taking a small step away from her. "Okay."

Eira released a small breath, relieved.

"All souls radiate an energy. New souls," he gave her a pointed look, "have a murky, grayish aura surrounding them." He began pacing back and forth as he continued to explain, "It signifies their emotional turmoil upon their arrival. Whether the soul is new, or fallen, they all emanate an aura. All except wayward souls. Much like the beast we encountered, a translucent darkness surrounds them. It is almost nonexistent to the naked eye, but it is there. You, however, do not have an aura, nor is there darkness around your soul. Now tell me, love," he said, stopping in front of her, "how is that possible?"

Eira looked down at her body. "What do you mean I don't have an aura?"

He stayed still, staring at her. "You do not have an aura. I do not know how to simplify that any further."

She sighed, slouching her shoulders in defeat. It seemed like wherever she went she stood out like a sore thumb, and the afterlife was no exception.

He approached her, curiosity glimmering in his pupils. "What?"

"I'm an anomaly," she blurted, incredulously. Even as the words came out of her mouth, she found it hard to believe them. "In limbo!"

A cheeky smile found its way back on his face. "And now I understand."

"What?!" she demanded.

Shaking his head, he gently pushed her back to the tree. A look of curiosity covered his face as his body hovered over hers, his lips inches away from her own. "You're special."

Eira's anger instantly dissipated. She was certain her cheeks were redder than a ripe tomato. To prevent further embarrassment, she stayed silent, diverting her attention back to the stars.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know what to do," Eira softly admitted. "This is all too much."

He place his thumb on her chin and brought her face back to his. "What do you want?"

"Answers," she let out, exasperated.

"Then ask the right questions," he quietly shot back.

"Okay, fine! What did you mean when you said it wasn't safe?"

"Did you miss the part where the beast was coming at us?" he queried.

Eira frowned. "That's not what I mean!"

The stranger smiled and repeated, "Then ask the right questions."

"Or you can just tell me what I don't know," she grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest. "Since you seem to know what the right questions are."

He chuckled. "Very well. What's your name?"

"Eira," she answered.

"Eira," his grin grew wider, "ask me what my name is."

She bit her lip, a cloud of humiliation forming above head. "What's your name?"

"Silas," he said, using a finger to pull her lower lip from between her teeth. "What are you?"

"What are you?" she echoed meekly, completely captivated by the amount of power his voice exuded. A part of her wanted to push him away. She would have never let a man get this close to her this soon, much less touch her the way he had been. It was clear that he was messing with her mind in one way or another. But she couldn't find the will to do it. Something about having him around put her at ease.

"A drifter, a wayward soul," he answered, his mouth still curved up. "What is a wayward soul?"

"What is a wayward soul?"

"An anomaly as you so eloquently put it." He snickered.

Eira stood perplexed. Did that mean he was just like her? Had he somehow evaded the trials and escaped eternal damnation?

"As much as I enjoy this game," he continued, "we really should bring you back to your room. Time is...subjective around here, but it will not stop your guide from checking in on you. And if he thinks you're missing, let's just say... we don't need a brigade of guardians on our trail."

"Guardians?"

"Warriors, but they're more like behemoths...with wings," he muttered in disdain, "all brawn, no brains." He took a moment and looked at her with sincerity. "For your sake, Eira," the way he said her name sent shivers down her spine, "I hope your guide eases up a little and lets you in on the secrets of Ethereal. It might just save you."

Eira chagrined. "You're being cryptic again."

"I know." He smirked. "Time to go."

She huffed, attempting to push her frustrations away. "How?"

"The same way we got here, obviously."

Eira bit her lip, frowning. "And how exactly did we get here?"

"I can't figure you out." Silas shook his head as he unplucked her lip from between her teeth, and used his other hand to brush out her creased brows. "Are you unobservant or dense?"

Her mouth dropped open. She heard the playful tone behind his words, but she was still offended.

"I said exactly!" Eira emphasized, brushing his hand away. Her mind was consumed with the small possibility that Silas thought she was a complete moron. "You just don't listen to me."

He chuckled, running both his thumbs over her forehead and softening out her newly-formed frown. His eyes bore into hers."You don't know just how wrong you are."

And just like that, he left her feeling mystified. She didn't know how to respond to that.

Eira's mind was buzzing with endless questions. Did he know what he was doing to her? Was it just some twisted game to him? How could she feel so much for someone she'd just met? How he managed to both draw her in and push her out at the same time was beyond her comprehension. But she knew one thing–she was fully, and irrationally, putty in his hands.

"Y-you said s-something about needing t-to leave?" she finally sputtered.

He hummed in response.

She cleared her throat, shaking her nerves. "How?"

"Magic," he answered, grinning. And his cockiness brought her back to reality. She rolled her eyes in response, fighting a smile. He pulled out the object she had seen him use to open the rift, and held it out to her. She gingerly took it, being careful not to touch him–she didn't need to lose all her senses again. "It's called the Key of Realms. You just think of a place, or rather a realm, and jump in."

Completely awestruck, Eira inspected the cold object in her hands. From afar, it looked like it was made out of heavy metal, but it was surprisingly light–like an ornament, seemingly more delicate than glass, and coated in a colour darker than onyx. Its thin, stiletto blade gleamed underneath the starry night, tapered off to a needle-like point. It resembled a featherless quill pen with a long blade, but it could have easily been mistaken for a dagger. The edge closer to the narrow hilt was serrated, as though providing its user the option to graze an opponent if deemed necessary.

"Not a dagger then," she joked. "And here I thought you'd use it to defend us against the Jho."

He laughed. "No. Just a keepsake equivalent to a weapon of mass destruction."

Eira softly smiled, shaking her head. She didn't even want to know what he meant by that. "So, any place?"

"Don't get your hopes up. The realm has to exist, and the human realm is off limits." His eyes lingered on the object as he continued, "It's useful but it isn't perfect."

Eira shrugged. She didn't really care about the human realm. The memories attached to her former life were less than pleasant. There wasn't anything left for her to go back to. "I wouldn't go back even if I could."

Silas didn't comment. She wasn't even sure if he'd heard her. His eyes were still glued to the Key of Realms, but they weren't... present. He seemed lost, and more than anything, Eira wanted to peer into his thoughts and figure out what had left his mind so consumed, and his eyes so vacant.

She cleared her throat. "Penny for your thoughts?"

He gave her a strange look.

Immediately, she felt an overwhelming need to justify her words. "It's, uh, it's a type of currency humans made up, I mean, like, y-you use it to buy things, like a barter system," she rambled on,"but...with money, and a penny is a type of curren–money! And what I said is just an expression humans made up, it means–"

He put a finger to her lips, stopping her short.

"I know," he said, a faint smile appearing on his lips. He glanced at the Key of Realms and then back at her. "Shall we?"

She handed it to him, but he shook his head. "You're the only one that can do this," he reminded her. "You've been in that room, only you know what it looks like."

"Ah, okay," she said, nodding. Her nerves had awoken and they were not very cooperative. "Should I just think of that room?"

"Yes."

Eira closed her eyes and pointed the object to her left, holding it out like a wand. Her mind obsessed over the tiny details of the room, from the bed to the side lamps and the windowsill–basically anything and everything she could remember. With a deep breath, she sliced through the air. To her surprise, there was some lag, as thought she was actually cutting through something. She wanted a visual affirmation, to see if it was working, but she couldn't risk diverting her thoughts and failing to open the rift altogether.

"Open your eyes," Silas said.

Eira blinked, adjusting to the discord radiating from the portal. It looked exactly the same as it had before–chaotic and beautiful.

"So now we jump?"

Silas nodded. He moved closer to her and circled his arm around her waist, pulling her body into his. Automatically, her hands wrapped around his neck.

"Wait!" Eira cried as he was about to leap into the chaotic gateway.

He stopped, staring at her quizzingly.

"Before we go back, you have to tell me something, please," she implored. "If you're a drifter, how did that come to be? How did you avoid eternal damnation?"

"Who said I'm not damned," he grimly answered. "I'm as damned as they come." Eira bit back the pang of disappointment. It wasn't the answer she was expecting, but strangely enough, not getting the answers she wanted had begun to seem normal. "Eira?" Her eyes fell on his face. "Do not tell anyone about me."

His voice rang a thousand warning bells. She didn't miss the hard edge, or the intensity in which he spoke, but with the way he was looking at her, she was convinced he could get her to do his bidding whenever he wanted, without a moment's hesitation.

"I won't," she said, breathlessly. Her grip on the Key of Realms tightened.

"Good." He grinned, strutting his infamous smile. Before she knew it, he'd lifted her into his arms. Her protest was swiftly cut off by his words, "Because I would like nothing more than to see you again."

___________________________________________

An update on time, yay! ;D I hope you enjoyed reading Chapter 6.

If you did, please don't forget to VOTE! Votes show me that you're enjoying the chapters/story! And I absolutely love reading comments, so feel free to tell me stuff...even if it's criticism, haha.

What do you guys think about Silas & Sh'vistu?

p.s. I've edited the prologue (added stuff to it - so more on Wren and Zarana!) and marked it as Chapter 0 (for the moment!) If you want a little more insight on the Key of Realms and the characters, please do check it out! Thank you! <3