* * *
An eerie silence fell over the mangroves. Diokles was alone in the secret room off his den. He stared into the pool watching Cole race towards his daughter. Diokles felt a mix of anger and remorse as he watched events unfold for Arlana and Cole.
Arlana’s mother was very dear to him. Sophia was the only human that had ever touched his soul. Her betrayal had caused him more despair than he could have ever imagined feeling. He knew it was wrong to ignore Arlana all these years but she was so much like her mother that seeing her brought back the despair.
He should have never allowed Marika to push him over the edge. If she had not been involved perhaps he would not have created this ridiculous curse.
He hadn’t seen his mother in a millennia. The fact that she crossed the barrier into this world proved that Arlana was important. Why had he not seen it? She was the 8th generation of the eighth child. Eight is a powerful number to his people. The last time such a person existed his world was thrown into darkness for centuries. That is why such a child was forbidden. He was the only one of his kind in this place and there was no one to keep him in check. How was his mother able to visit him now? Had his people lessened the rules of his banishment? Diokles couldn’t think on that now, his concern was for Arlana.
Arlana was at a very impressionable age right now. Her experiences could either keep her good or turn her bad. From everything he knew of her she was truly a pure and good soul. As he watched her current situation he worried that it would darken her.
His curse allowed no loopholes. The only tampering that could happen was where Cole appeared in each new time period. He had attempted to send one of his men down to protect her but the curse was too powerful. No one can travel to that time period while Arlana is there.
Diokles had always excelled at curses but this was much more potent than anything he had ever done before. It was as if there was something or someone else interfering. Diokles closed his eyes and shook his head. That was impossible. There was no one else with his kind of power. A millennia ago there would have been two others with a power similar to his but he had destroyed them.
All he could do was watch and hope. Arlana was a survivor and Cole was a warrior. If anyone could overcome Diokles’ rage he had faith that his daughter and Cole would succeed.