Time's Mistress

The tree, the legend

They had been following her now, for about two days. She refused to show interest in them or answer any questions. Though it was rather strange. In the night, they would watch her as she slept. She hardly ever breathed and she would only sleep for a couple of hours before she was up and moving again. She didn't eat, only drank water. Iris refused anything that they offered her to eat or drink. All she was concerned about about was that tree. They settled as the sun went down. She put some distance between her and them. She sighed as she stretched.

Iris looked at the group wondering how long they were going to follow her around before finally leaving her alone. They stared at her. Her sister noticed a mark on her neck. It looked to be growing every night. But it wasn't the mark of their people. It was something else. She wished that she could get a closer look, but Iris would not allow her too close. She would not allow any of them too close. She rarely spoke. She was a different person from who she used to be ten years ago. She wondered what happened all of this time.

She cleared her throat has Iris looked over at her. "I have to ask you, what is so important about this tree?" She studied her face for a moment before she spoke.

"It has all of the answers that I seek. It is the key to regaining all of the memories that I have lost."

"Wait, so you don't remember anything?" She asked.

"Only the last few weeks, since I woke up in that tank, with my arm gone." She sighed. "Someone told me about the tree and I have made it my purpose to find it."

"Well, we do know about the tree, but I can tell you that it is not to be messed with. It has a seal on it to protect all of humanity. Because on the inside, the demon lord is sealed." Her interest perked at that.

"Tell me what you know about this tree and this person sealed in it."

"Honestly, mostly what I know is a legend and stories that have been passed down through the generations. A long time ago, there existed only two realms. Our world and the underworld. But the two were constantly battling each other to have free entry into them when they wanted. But the demons always caused chaos amongst our world, so the gods that lived on our world closed the portals connecting the two. The war lasted for who knows how long. That was until the demon Lord offered up his daughter to the the God. They wanted the war to end. So they did what they always do, they offered up the union between their most powerful offspring. Both of their daughters. The two children fought against it endlessly."

"Until one night, they had an encounter that changed everything."

"Well, what was it? What happened?" Iris asked excitedly.

"I don't know. Our stories don't have the details. All I know is that after that, the two agreed to the deal. But on the night that they were to be joined in union, a traitor stopped everything and killed the god's daughter. The demon lord, who had already stepped down at this point, so the former demon lord's daughter went into a rage. So they sealed her into a tree for eternity. But since then, the peace was very little as the world was thrown into even more chaos. And the demon lord vowed that when she was set free, she would kill everyone responsible for the death of her beloved."

"But aren't gods immortal? She how did she die?"

"I guess that no man can kill them, only gods can kill gods." Something snapped into her mind then as a thought formed.

"So they were betrayed by another God that was conspiring against them from the start then."

"Most likely."

"Do you know where this tree is?"

"Well, technically yes. Our people have been protecting it for generations. But I've never actually seen it. There is talk that it is hidden away in our city."

"Then that settles it. We shall go to your city and locate this tree." Her sister looked at her in bewilderment.

"There is a problem with that."

"And that is?"

"Well you don't remember anything but you are Iris, the queen of our people. And you have been missing for the past ten years."

"Yes, that doctor did say something about me being asleep for ten years. But I cannot lead your people. I don't even know myself, or you or any of them," She said gesturing to her apparent brother and fiance.

"Asleep?"

"Well that's how that doctor put it." She shrugged then, not really fazed. "But about this city that you live in. What is it like and what should I expect when I enter?"

"Well it is the last great city of humanity. There are miles of canals and..." She got lost in her thoughts then. Iris cleared her throat. "Sorry, but you will see, it is a great place. You will love it and mom and dad will be so excited to see you after all of this time. It will be a day of celebration."

"But I am not the person that I once was. So I don't think that we should do any of that. I just want to go there to find the tree and nothing more." She nodded. "That is my only desire. After I regain all of my memories, then I will decide where to go."

***************

"I love how you continue to return to me. Night after night." She twirled a strand of Iris's hair between her fingers. "Your desire for me is growing stronger my love." She bent down to brush a kiss across her lips. Then continued stroking her head.

"I found out about the tree today. At least the story behind it. About the new demon lord being confined in it. Are you the demon lord that she was speaking of?"

"Who is this woman that you speak of?"

"She says that she is my sister. And one of the men with her, my brother. But the third claims to be my betrothed." She heard her lover growl. "Do not worry. I have no interest in him. Honestly, looking at him disgusts me. I would pick you if I had to make a choice. Though I am starting to understanding these emotions that you cause in me."

"And what if when you gain your memories back, you change your opinion?"

"I guess that you will just have to do something that then, won't you?" She smirked as she pulled her down for a kiss. "I don't think that I will ever understand how you have gained a hold on me in such a short amount of time."

"I told you, we are destined to be together. There is no other reason that needs to be explained."

"You have denied telling me about this tree. Are you in fact the demon lord?" She looked into her hands expectedly.

"Would it matter either way, honestly?"

"At this point, not really. But I was curious as to the answer. We have yet to truly understand each other."

"When you gain your memories back, you will see that you understand me more than I do myself." We kissed in goodbye.

"I must go now. I have to return to find where they have sealed you demon lord." They both chuckled and smirked at that. Iris stood and walked to the bed. "By the way, I learned my name. Apparently it is Iris." She kissed Iris softly.

"Just like the goddess herself has finally returned to me." She pushed Iris into the portal, watching her disappear.

****************

Iris's skin glowed in the morning light as she opened her eyes then stretched. She felt refreshed as always and stood. Her companions were already awake. Probably still doubting her intentions to go to their city. She gathered her things as they all stood.

"Iris, the city is in this direction. It will take a couple of days to get there, but it will be worth it." She nodded. She just needed to get there already. They started on their journey in silence. Iris was walking a little behind her sister to observe the scenery. Everything looked that same under the cloud cover. But even the desolate ground could look beautiful. When the sun peeked out from the clouds, the ground sparkled like diamonds. It was the oddest thing. But even beauty can be in things that we find ugly normally.

Her sister slowed down to walk next to her. "I never told you our names since you can't remember. I'm Cassie and our brother Sae and that man is your betrothed, Joel." She looked towards the back before returning her gaze. She nodded. "And you are our younger sister Iris."

The thought floated into her mind. Just like the goddess herself has returned. She smiled. That woman definitely had her interest.

"Well honestly, I don't have much interest in this man or anyone. I have my mission and that is all that concerns me."

"But you had agreed to be his bride before you went missing. You cannot just back out of that now." Cassie said defensively.

"It does not concern me. That was then and this is now. If you are so worried about it, then you marry him." Everyone stopped to look at her. She looked at them with annoyance. "It is fine that all of these things happened to me. But I have no memory of anything. I don't know who I was before but this is me now. So you must accept that. And if not, then there is nothing I can do about that. But my decision is firm. I am a different person from what I can tell, but this is me. If you don't like it, we will go our separate ways after we enter the city. I will figure everything else out on my own." She walked past them with confidence. This is how it is now and there is no going back, only moving forward.

"Don't worry Iris. When you regain your memories as you say, then you will see why we were together in the first place. We were happy before and we will be again." She smirked as she walked down the path.

"She shall see you dead before you lay a finger on me," She said lowly. They had heard her mumble, but didn't know what it meant. They looked at each other. How were they going to get Iris back?