by Jeremy Dwyer
Pradrock was still in disbelief, and decided it was time to approach the island. “We’re going to the island now. Perhaps we’ll learn more there,” Pradrock said.
“I disagree. This could be immensely dangerous. What I just saw in the sky, and what they’re saying about spirits and suns, tells me something exceptionally bad just happened, and going closer to it is going in the wrong direction,” Claudia said.
“If what we observed was real, then we need to know what it was by going to that island – lack of knowledge about a significant event could easily destroy us. If what we observed was an optical illusion, it’s a good reason to get to land, where we won’t be as affected by the visual distortions caused by these dark waters. Either way, sailing this ocean much longer is not the optimal choice,” Pradrock said.
“We could just sail away from here,” Claudia said. She was assigned to protect Pradrock, and took the assignment seriously.
“Our main adversary – Victoria – is still a danger. This is no time to lose focus, or run, which would only put the danger at our backs instead of where we can more closely observe it. We need to learn and not be caught unaware,” Pradrock said.
“I can only protect you from certain kinds of dangers. We can’t directly confront every challenge,” Claudia said.
“I agree. Going to that island may be the worse choice,” Akantha said.
“The challenges will come to confront us if we wait long enough,” Pradrock said.
They continued sailing toward Udovedaj-Pren Island.
~~~
On the ship with Rayner, Brant, Zoe and Ovid, the four (4) saw what had happened, and only Rayner could make sense of it. Except, he couldn’t make sense of it. “The dark waters are playing tricks on the eyes. But at least we can see,” he said to them. Rayner was not worried, because he didn’t believe in being worried. However, being a drinker of the waters of the Atrejan Ocean, and thus being sensitive to the positions and movements of the suns, he knew something went terribly wrong – he knew that there was now one (1) fewer yellow sun in the sky. This was a dangerous situation, indeed.
Ovid watched the sky and saw the increased brightness of two (2) yellow suns and the streak of fire, writing them into his book. This was eventful, and so he felt justified in having selected this group with which to travel, enriching the historical account.
“You can see the island? Let’s go to the island,” Brant said.
Zoe, however, had watched the play of light in the sky. She was a drinker of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean, and she knew that something visually had occurred that should not have occurred. Whereas she did not know the suns themselves, she knew much about light, and could see enormous displacements of light occurring in a pattern. The visual distortions caused by the dark waters of the Ikkith Tar Ocean were one matter. What happened in the sky was another matter. And she saw hints of it on the island.
“I don’t think we should go there. Something went onto that island – something wrong. Turn the ship around,” Zoe said.
“I thought we were looking for this crazy killer woman – Victoria – you remember her? Don’t we still have to smash her before she breaks us to bits or drowns us or something?” Brant asked.
“There may be a far larger problem,” Zoe said.
“It’s lights in the sky. Why’s that a big deal? What are you afraid of more than the queen of crazy and her tiara?” Brant asked.
“I can imagine worse things,” Zoe said.
“I can’t. Let’s find her and tear her to pieces. The light is just right for finding her!” Brant said.
Zoe laughed nervously. She knew Brant had a limited imagination, but he might be right.
“All right. Time to find this Victoria. Let’s go straight ahead,” Zoe said.
“On our way,” Rayner said, and he steered the ship toward the island.
Ovid estimated an increasing probability of a confrontation and needed to prepare to record all events at a very high speed. He drank anew of the waters of the Ursegan Ocean that were in a vial on a chain he wore around his neck. Ovid was energized and the flow of time changed for him, enabling him to perceive fast-moving events as if they were slowed down, so that he could record them in detail, no matter how quickly they might actually occur.
~~~
The Ihalik fleet, under General Serafina, also saw the events in the sky. One of the star-readers approached the general and said: “General: The sky has changed. The stars no longer give the same account as before, and there is one (1) fewer yellow sun, which is alarming.”
“What does that mean to me? My eyes can see a clear path to the island. Can yours?” General Serafina asked.
“My eyes can see a clear path to a dangerous place. I don’t think we should proceed,” the star-reader said.
“Ask the other star-reader to give his opinion,” General Serafina said.
The second star-reader was called for and approached.
“What is your opinion? Can we safely approach the island?” General Serafina asked.
“I advise against it. The abnormal solar events in the sky may seem to assist us, but they indicate a greater danger. I no longer trust our ability to navigate,” he said.
“Very well. I will trust my own eyes. I won’t have you discouraging my troops with your doubts. I don’t care about the suns, or your opinions,” General Serafina said. At this, she drew a sword and decapitated both star-readers, and then threw their bodies into the sea.
“Steer the ships to the island,” General Serafina ordered.
The Ihalik fleet made their way toward Udovedaj-Pren Island.
~~~
Lady Onora and Caroline were also traveling the seas with Captain Guillermo. They all saw the fire in the sky.
“Since when are the suns so bright?” Caroline mused out loud.
“Signs in the sky tell of things to come. They’re how God warns of changes underway,” Lady Onora said.
“There you go again. This might be a change, but there’s no need to assign any religious meaning to it,” Caroline said.
“We’ll just have to look at it more closely,” Lady Onora said.
“Finding my daughter is what I care about. I’m looking closely to find her,” Caroline said.
“The skies are not normally this bright. Things have changed in the suns, and the world is in motion. It is mysterious and fascinating all at once. With the bright suns, the way ahead is now clear. Perhaps I could escort you both to the island, and we can discover its secrets together,” Captain Guillermo said.
“Why, I would be delighted to travel with you, captain,” Caroline said.
Under the circumstances, Lady Onora saw no reason to refuse his offer. “That is quite polite of you, captain,” Lady Onora said.
They continued sailing toward Udovedaj-Pren Island.
~~~
From where she stood on Av’Tovenka Island, Victoria could feel the reduced warmth due to the absence of the yellow sun in the sky, without knowing what had occurred. She had seen the streak of fire, and was mystified. The world was cooler, and she thought it delightful. Perhaps, she thought, it was a sign that the inferno was ending.
“Many thousands great grandmother, I feel the world has cooled. The inferno may be ending soon, making way for our empire,” Victoria said.
Tanith Orenda had seen the streak of fire, and was deeply worried, but did not wish to discuss what it might mean. However, Victoria was unjustifiably pleased, not understanding the implication.
“No, many thousands great granddaughter. This is not a good omen at all…not for us. An enemy has approached us, from the kingdom of the sky,” Tanith Orenda said.
“We will deal with them as we have the others, will we not?” Victoria asked, mystified by what the ancient woman was saying.
“No. This enemy is no mortal. He is our opposite. A deadly nemesis, immeasurably greater than any threat from men,” Tanith Orenda said.
“Should I be afraid?” Victoria
asked.
“Yes. Our plans have been threatened,” Tanith Orenda said.
“Is there hope of success? Please tell me there is. I so enjoyed destroying that man, slowly ripping away his flesh with the dagger. I want to do that to all men, everywhere, by the power of our empire,” Victoria said.
“Our empire has not yet ascended, many thousands great granddaughter,” Tanith Orenda said.
“Will our master not help us?” Victoria asked.
“This enemy is a danger even to our master,” Tanith Orenda said.
Victoria became afraid, and then she became angry. However, she did not know what to say or do at this point, and so she remained silent.
Tanith Orenda, as ancient and wise as she was, also became afraid and angry. She remained silent, awaiting an opportunity to influence world matters in favor of the rise of the Ahitan Empire.
~~~
Within Baron Ottokar’s castle in the Citrine Desert, in the western region of the continent of Volaraden, Indigo had been listening to the sounds of the stars from her private room. She learned that two (2) of the yellow suns had become significantly brighter and that one (1) had left the sky. She was so alarmed by this that she hurried out of her room and down the hall to the private study of Baron Ottokar.
“What is it, Indigo?” Baron Ottokar asked when he saw the clearly exasperated girl.
“Baron, two (2) of the yellow suns have become much brighter, while one (1) yellow sun has altogether disappeared from the sky,” Indigo said.
“Think for a moment. Could this be a lack of clarity? Is the increased brightness of the two (2) yellow suns attributable to the other yellow sun – which purportedly vanished – aligning so closely with them as to become indistinguishable?” Baron Ottokar asked.
“I will drink the Atrejan waters again to be certain, Baron,” Indigo said.
“Yes, please do,” Baron Ottokar said.
Indigo drank anew of the waters of the Atrejan Ocean from her vial and was energized. She concentrated and listened for the sounds of the suns, carefully recounting each and every star of the sky.
“There are now only twenty-three (23) yellow suns in the sky. I am certain of this. For some standing in the proper location, they may even feel the loss of its warmth,” Indigo said.
“What does this mean?” Baron Ottokar asked.
“That powers far beyond my understanding are at work,” Indigo said.
CHAPTER 22: Illusions of Love
Sebastian knew Madeline to her core – her sick, twisted, emotional core. He knew that everything about her was false. She drank the waters of the Lujladia Ocean, which gave her the powers to manipulate and generate light and, thereby, create illusions of all sorts, even around her very person. However, he could read her very thoughts like a book, and knew what was true and what was false. She did not know he could read her so clearly, and this was to his advantage.
He had a key to her large estate that he had taken on his previous visit, so he faced no obstacles. When Sebastian entered the lavish home, he did so alone, and he knew just where to find her: in her library. Before entering, he drank deeply of the waters of the Elanatin Ocean from the vial he carried, and these energized his emotional powers anew.
The library was where Madeline kept financial documents of many sorts, which she could alter using illusions and use them to deceive others into signing away their assets. She also had maps and stories of family histories, so that she could research the true holders of wealth. Her servants copied many documents stored in Emeth, which were copies of documents from banks around the world. Acquisition of wealth was a full time occupation. Yet, she had far more than she needed to maintain her lifestyle. It had become a hobby to research, defraud and destroy the wealthy. Some had earned their money dishonestly, even by murder, and so it might be argued that a deadly meeting with Madeline, under false pretenses of a proper business deal, was a well-deserved consequence of their evil lifestyle. Others, however, had worked smart and hard for their riches, and were most definitely not deserving of the fraud and the final illusory fright which would stop their hearts.
Sebastian knew all these things about Madeline, and found her distasteful, except for the fact that he was no better. He manipulated the woman, by projecting his positive emotional aura which affected her, and made her act favorably toward him.
“My dearest, sweet Madeline, I have returned,” Sebastian said, smoothly. His emotional powers radiated from him, and he projected love.
Madeline felt the love, and craved it. Her natural appearance was hideously disfigured, so she maintained a constant illusion to be that of an attractive woman. No man had truly loved her because of this, and she resented it. She also resented having lost out on wealth because of her brother’s gambling and her parents’ favoritism toward him. The waters of the Trerada Ocean almost certainly would have helped her looks, but by the time she was nineteen (19) years old, she had received so much rejection due to her appearance that she grew to simply hate most men, and did not want to do something as personal and fundamental as choosing her waterbinding based on pleasing them. Instead, she decided to take more and have more, and she knew how she could. By drinking the waters of the Lujladia Ocean, she could have any appearance she pleased, be it beautiful or hideous, whenever she pleased. She could also alter the appearance of things around her, including that of wealth and money, and thereby deceive people into giving her what she wanted. This was the real power, and she knew how to wield it better than anyone. Her innate potential was fantastically high, much like her hatred for most people, except Sebastian. She just couldn’t hate him, and she didn’t know why. In fact, she actually loved him.
“My love, you have returned,” Madeline said to him.
“You are beautiful,” Sebastian said, and he held her from behind, kissing her neck, gently, up and down.
Madeline was soothed by this, and thought that she could take him to be her husband.
“I wish to speak with you about something important to both of us,” Sebastian said.
Madeline thought this might be the time he would move their relationship to the next step. She expected a romantic proposal. “Yes, please tell me,” Madeline said.
“You have so much to offer,” Sebastian said.
“Oh, that I do,” Madeline said, smiling, thinking of this man she wanted. He was young and handsome, and she felt desire.
“You shine like a jewel, like the finest crystal,” Sebastian said.
“Thank you for appreciating me,” Madeline said.
“Diamond is my favorite. You glitter like many diamonds, my sweet love,” Sebastian said.
“It’s all for you. Take what you will,” Madeline said.
Sebastian had noticed the fine diamond necklace Madeline was wearing, and slowly removed it while kissing her. She didn’t notice as he planted the kisses on her neck, cheeks and arms. The diamonds were rare and flawless, and Sebastian estimated the necklace to be worth, perhaps, twelve (12) million platinum coins. While he kissed her, Madeline was in ecstasy, and didn’t notice anything else. The necklace did not enter her mind, simply because Sebastian’s emotional aura was so powerful, so loving and so misdirecting.
Sebastian kissed her more and more until he felt that was putting too much effort into the matter. He knew Madeline was hideous underneath her illusions, because he could read her mind and see her self-image. It was that hideous self-image that didn’t truly attract him. He only wanted her wealth. She had no ability to read his thoughts, and believed that her illusions were actually working on him, and that he had fallen for her. Perhaps, Madeline thought, it was worth the effort to keep the illusory appearance about her, if the kisses and the romance kept coming.
“Those were the most wonderful kisses you have ever given me,” Madeline said, completely delighted. She wanted him to stay, and she wanted more kisses and romance.
“I love you. I want to show you, in so many ways,” Sebastian said.
“Try as
many ways as you like,” Madeline said.
“I will. My imagination is running wild,” Sebastian said. This was true, but his imagination was running about the house, wondering where her other wealth was. Surely, Sebastian thought, there must be more diamonds. He was reading her thoughts, but her thoughts were of love and passion, rather than the location of the precious gems. He would have to lead her thoughts there, carefully.
“Let’s explore our feelings for each other,” Sebastian said.
“Yes! Let’s do that,” Madeline said.
“We can play a little game,” Sebastian said.
“A game? That sounds so interesting!” Madeline said.
“I want us to walk around the house, together, and explore every room,” Sebastian said.
“I like this. You can explore every part of me as we go,” Madeline said.
“You will close your eyes, the whole time, hold my hand, and tell me where to go, so I can walk with you, close together,” Sebastian said.
“Yes, hold my hand,” Madeline said, closing her eyes and taking his hand, expecting something sensual.
“In each new room, I will give you more and more of those kisses,” Sebastian said.
“Yes! Let’s walk together. Kiss me suddenly. Take me by surprise,” Madeline said.
They walked through the house, room by room, and Madeline suspected nothing. Sebastian had won her over, and her thoughts only turned to him.
In each room, Sebastian casually and carefully looked about to see what was of value, and his eyes were never on her illusory beauty, precisely because it was illusory. He found fine diamond rings, and bracelets and earrings and walked with Madeline to get closer to each. He would kiss her passionately, focusing his emotional aura toward her, so that she felt his love, which was as false as her appearance. As he kissed with his lips, he took with his hands, pocketing many diamond jewelry items worth millions (1000000) of platinum coins. She never opened her eyes, because he had her under his spell. He even kissed Madeline’s eyelids, and she liked it, so she kept her eyes closed.