The Esoteric Design

by A. R. Crebs

  “And it’s a bit hypocritical to say those things in such a venomous tone when you, yourself, color your hair.” He poked at the woman. Aria gave the man a heated stare. She began to speak, to really let this Sorcēarian have it, when she was interrupted by a small whimper.

  “She’s awake.” Dovian’s attention diverted.

  Large, blue eyes slowly opened with fluttering eyelashes as the woman, Ivory, moaned quietly. Slender fingers gripped Aria’s pant leg as she warily lifted her head. She stared at the fire momentarily and then lifted her gaze, looking at her surroundings. After a minute, she finally brought her attention to Aria. The woman’s eyes dropped to her hand that was gripping Aria’s clothing, and she quickly let go, pushing away onto her backside. Her frightened eyes met Dovian’s, and she yelped, quickly trying to scramble away. Aria took notice of this reaction. Dovian remained very still.

  “It’s okay.” Aria lifted a hand. “We’re not going to hurt you.”

  “W-w-where?” a frightened, young voice sounded from the woman.

  “You are in a small home on the island of Ives,” Aria said slowly. “Do you know how you got here?”

  “I-Ives?” She looked over her shoulder nervously. “I don’t know. How did I get here? Who are you?”

  Aria glanced at Dovian. He sighed, lowering his gaze to the stone floor.

  “My name is Aria. I work for Bio-Tech Military Corporation. I’m a class A-5 operative. Everything will be okay. You are safe with us. I promise,” she tried to reassure the young woman.

  “And who are you?” Her blue orbs drifted to Dovian. A shuddering breath passed her lips as she felt scrutinized under the Sorcēarian’s icy stare.

  “I am Dovian,” he introduced himself, rising from his seated position.

  Ivory’s eyes only widened when she saw how tall the man was. She gasped and let out a cry, pulling her arms up to shield herself. “Stay over there!” she shouted, slowly scooting away.

  Dovian quickly melted to his seated position beside the alarmed Aria. He had forgotten how menacing his first impression could be to unknowing persons. The young woman continued to back up, colliding with the body sleeping behind her. A low groan sounded from Gavin as the woman ran into him. She screamed, fully waking the pilot. Gavin’s chocolate eyes popped open, and he shouted in fright at the proximity of the other body beside him. The cries then alerted Troy, who awoke with a start. In a second, Troy had his weapon in hand and aimed at the frightened woman. How quickly everything turned into a disaster.

  “Whoa! Wait!” Aria pushed to her feet. “Ivory, calm down!” She motioned for the woman to calm herself. “I need you to calm down.”

  “W-What?” she stammered.

  “What, what?” Aria asked with equal confusion.

  “What did you say?” she asked timidly, looking around at the two baffled men on either side of her. Troy had quickly shouldered his weapon, but he remained alert.

  “I told you to calm down,” Aria repeated. What was wrong with this woman?

  “No, you called me Ivory. Is that my name?” The blonde trembled.

  The room was silent a moment, excluding the heavy breathing coming from its occupants.

  “You don’t know your name?” Aria asked finally.

  “I–” Ivory paused. Her face fell, and suddenly she looked very lost. She reminded Aria of a child. “I can’t…I can’t remember anything!” Warm tears gathered at the corners of her eyes. “Who, who am I?”

  She lifted a sleeve to her eyes, trying to dry the tears. Pulling back, she stared at the strange golden-seamed red jacket decorated with shiny threaded designs. Patting down her torso, she eyed the garment and trailed her fingers over the metallic woven belt. Seeing Dovian’s concerned stare, her face contorted, and she sobbed. “And where are my clothes?!”

  Ivory was pitiful–a tiny-framed thing with a head of messy curls and now rosy cheeks covered with giant, falling tears. Shuddering breaths shook her body violently as she cried into her hands. Troy and Gavin exchanged worried looks. Together they pointed and gestured at one another until Troy sighed and apprehensively reached toward the woman. His hand on her shoulder jolted her. She bounced to the side, gaping at him miserably as he slowly kneeled beside her. He didn’t say anything, but his face held a look of concern. After a couple of sniffs, Ivory sobbed again as she wrapped her arms around the man’s neck and cried into his chest. Troy hesitantly put his arms around the woman. He looked at Gavin with a wide-eyed stare; his friend smiled and gave an enthusiastic double thumbs-up. Troy’s cockeyed grin quickly faded when he felt the searing glare from the other woman in the room—Aria.

  After a few awkward minutes, the blonde finally detached herself from the male soldier. She took a couple slow, steady breaths and spoke, “I’m sorry. I think I’m okay now.”

  “I was beginning to wonder,” Aria muttered.

  Ignoring the rude comment, Troy spoke quietly to Ivory. “Are you alright, physically? I mean, are you aware of any injuries?”

  “No. At least, I think I'm okay.” Ivory shook her head. Her small, shaking hands tugged on the corner of Dovian’s coat. “I can’t remember.”

  “Do you have any idea how you ended up out here?” Troy asked.

  She shook her head again. “No. Like I said…I don’t remember anything. I don’t know where I am, where I came from, how I got here, or who I am.” Another small whimper sounded from her, but she quickly composed herself. “I don’t even know what Ives is!”

  “Ives is my home,” Dovian spoke up. Ivory gaped at him nervously.

  “Y-you live here?” her tiny voice cracked. She looked about the room in curious wonder.

  “Not here in this house, but I live on this small continent. It’s supposed to be banned from any humans entering. The terrain and weather conditions alone are nearly impassable….” Dovian glanced at his new comrades. “Until now that is.”

  “Humans?” Ivory looked at Troy, Gavin, and then Aria. “You mean you’re not a human?”

  “No. I am not a human,” he answered.

  Ivory’s stare enlarged. “If you’re not a human, then what are you?” her voice squeaked. She hid behind her sleeves, looking up at the sorcerer.

  Aria watched Dovian. He gave her a sideways glance and a small, crooked smile. Was he trying to scare this poor girl?

  He watched the frightened Ivory from over the fire. “I am a Sorcēarian.”

  “…What’s a Sorcēarian?” Ivory asked timidly. Dovian’s amused expression quickly fell. Aria snorted a laugh.

  “He’s a magician!” Gavin chimed in.

  “A magician?” the woman’s voice perked up a bit.

  “Yeah, he can use magic and stuff. Come on, Dovian! Show her a magic trick.” The pilot grinned.

  Dovian huffed, “I’m a sorcerer, not a magician.”

  “Aw, what’s the difference?” Gavin feigned ignorance, trying to irritate the older man.

  “I don’t pull rabbits out of my hood,” Dovian answered dryly.

  “…But you could?” Gavin pointed.

  Dovian chose to ignore the man, turning his attention back to the flames.

  “I-I like magic,” Ivory spoke up. “I mean, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen it before, but it sounds lovely.”

  Aria smirked. “Come on, Dovian. The lady wants you to show her a magic trick.”

  Dovian’s glare slowly faded as he met the hopeful eyes of Ivory. The woman had an innocence about her that Dovian hadn’t seen for most of his life. He sighed, realizing that the only way he could gain Ivory’s trust was to try not to frighten her. He patted his hand on the stone floor beside him. “Come over here.”

  Ivory froze, not sure if she should leave Troy’s side or not. She gazed at the soldier beside her.

  “Go on; he’s not going to bite.” Troy gave her his charming smile, which Ivory easily met with one of her own.

  Carefully, the woman stood and crept warily over to Dovian’s side, bare feet padding against the ston
e. Her hands nervously gripped the silver dog tag around her neck. Dovian’s brilliant, electric eyes dimmed slightly, and he patted the stone again. Ivory quickly plopped herself next to the Sorcēarian. She stared at him, chewing on her lower lip.

  “Let’s see,” Dovian groaned to himself as he reached behind him to grab his silver and gold plated staff. He rolled it between his hands, showing Ivory the golden wings and orb on one end. She admired the craftsmanship, smiling eagerly. “Do you like butterflies?” Dovian asked.

  “Butterflies?” Ivory thought a moment.

  “You’ve never seen one?” His face fell.

  “They’ve been extinct for a while now. We only get to see old images of them in schools and museums,” Aria replied.

  “They have a funny name,” Ivory added.

  “Okay.” Dovian smirked. “How about I show you a butterfly?”

  “That would be lovely! You can do that?” Ivory leaned forward.

  The other three humans tilted forward as well; all were obviously interested in what Dovian was planning.

  “Hold out your hand,” he spoke softly to the woman. Ivory complied without much hesitation. Pulling the staff to the side, he held the ball in his own hand as he mumbled something in Legacy. Ivory’s eyes widened as the man spoke the strange language. Soft blue lights flickered inside the orb, rotating around each other like small atoms. Speeding around, creating a whirring noise, the particles burst into a wave of light, taking the form of a flapping butterfly.

  “Whoa!” Gavin laughed, slapping his hands together.

  “It’s wonderful!” Ivory giggled. She eagerly leaned across Dovian, looking into the glass ball. The blue butterfly danced wildly inside.

  “Hand.” Dovian lifted the woman’s hand and turned it palm up. He tapped the ball against her fingers, and the butterfly bounced through it in a burst of light, landing in her palm.

  “Look at it,” she whispered to herself. “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” Its wings flapped madly, casting bright-blue lights across the woman’s face. Quickly, it lifted and fluttered over the fire. “You can create life?”

  Dovian’s face hardened momentarily before answering, “No. I can only imitate it.”

  The butterfly fluttered in a full circle before annihilating itself into the flames of the small fire before them. Ivory gasped. She quickly looked at Dovian with sadness in her eyes. “But, sometimes imitations can be just as good as the original, right?”

  The Sorcēarian watched the flames. “No,” he replied in a low tone, “imitations are never as good as the original.”

  “Aw, come on! Don’t be such a downer. You just pulled a butterfly out of your ass! That’s pretty awesome if you ask me!” Gavin cheered, trying to lift the mood.

  “I pulled a butterfly out of my ass?” Dovian inquired. “Your expressions are quite odd.”

  “And you talk like an old man,” the pilot jeered.

  Ivory giggled.

  “Do you find me amusing?” Dovian eyeballed the blonde beside him.

  “Well, you are a little strange,” she chimed.

  “You’re all weird. I’m the only normal one here,” Aria scoffed.

  “Oh, please! You’re far from normal!” Troy pointed accusingly at the woman. “Ivory, this woman here…she’s got the biggest stick up her ass you’ll ever see!”

  “What?” Aria snarled.

  “Aw, that’s what makes her so great!” Gavin scooted against Aria, putting his arm around her shoulder. “She’s full of sass!” He shook her gently and leaned forward, his lips pressing against her ear. “And we’ve got a date when we get out of here, right?” His warm breath sent shivers down Aria’s spine.

  “Gavin!” She tried to push the man away, her face beet-red.

  Ivory gawked at the two.

  “Trust me! She’s as sassy in all departments of life if you catch my drift!” The pilot winked.

  “Gavin!” Aria shouted again, shoving the man off of her.

  “Ew! No! Aria, you didn’t!” Troy gasped mockingly at the military leader.

  “Why do you two insist on making my life a living hell?” Aria covered her face in embarrassment.

  “Oh my.” Ivory giggled, holding a small hand to her lips.

  “What’s so funny?” Aria looked over her hands at the blushing blonde.

  “Are you two dating?” Ivory pointed at Aria and then Gavin.

  “Why, yes we are!” Gavin hooted loudly as Aria shouted, “No, we’re not!”

  “Well, I think you two would make a cute couple,” the skinny blonde beamed happily.

  “Hear that, sassy cat?” Gavin nudged the black-haired woman beside him. “We’re cute together.”

  Aria ignored him, looking off to the side to stare at nothing in particular.

  “Well, are you seeing anyone?” Troy asked Ivory.

  “Me?” She pointed at herself. “I, uh, not that I can remember.” A small, nervous giggle passed her lips.

  “Good! Cause I think you and I would make a cute couple.” Troy jumped to sit beside the woman and slung his arm over her.

  “Oh.” Ivory blushed.

  “Why do I feel as if my IQ has dropped fifty-percent in the last two minutes?” Dovian grumbled.

  “Don’t worry Dovian, we’ll find some hot female frilled monitor to hook you up with.” Troy waved dismissively at the Sorcēarian.

  Once the joking and laughing subsided for the night, the crew slowly fell into slumber one by one. Morning came far too quickly; the air was humid and thick, leaving a sticky feel to everything. Pale morning sunlight eased through the holes in the ceiling and broken windows. Quiet cicadas and birds chirped in song. The soft howl of a breeze echoed in the tiny home, rustling the leaves and dust. Aria shifted and rolled over. Blinking, she rubbed the sleep from her eyes and yawned quietly to herself. Everyone appeared to be asleep. Nothing seemed out of order. The sight made the woman relax. Another breeze rolled through, and all the singing abruptly stopped. Aria froze, listening to the silence surrounding her. Nothing moved, nothing chirped. She quickly reached for the sleeping Dovian beside her, tugging on the black sleeves of his robe. Her eyes fell on his face, and he was looking back up at her, finger pressed to his lips and staff in one hand.

  A loud shriek filled the air as the door to the small home flew open. Coming from the outside, the creatures from Dovian’s cathedral darted through the front door, windows, and holes in the ceiling. Aria immediately opened fire with her 36C; her weapon was joined with Troy’s M4. She sighed with relief, knowing Troy was as perceptive as she was and ready for battle. Dovian sent a shockwave toward the front of the room, sending multiple targets backward whence they came.

  Gavin, alerted from his lazy slumber, quickly rolled to Aria’s side. He reached into his knapsack and pulled out a small handgun—a new military-issued item. It shot liquid acid rounds, auto-aiming for the pilot. The military had gotten lazy over the years; all their new weapons had auto-aim capabilities and a multitude of different ammunitions. The weapons had their pluses and minuses, but they at least allowed inexperienced soldiers like Gavin to defend himself.

  “Get behind me.” Aria tugged Gavin behind her legs. He crouched beside her, shooting at the beings in the back of the home.

  A shrill cry sounded as Ivory was grabbed by one of the creatures. Quickly, clawed hands gripped the collar of the red coat and drug the frightened woman down the hallway, the monster snarling. Dovian chased after the beast, slamming a shockwave into the room and disabling all of the others for a few moments. Reaching the back bedroom, he aimed the staff toward the growling creature as it climbed the wall, dragging the alarmed woman with it. Dovian shouted, sending a lightning bolt of energy toward the beast, hitting it in the chest. The thing fell backward over the wall, dropping Ivory in the process. Dovian rushed to the young woman.

  “Are you alright?” he asked her. She gripped his arms and nodded quickly as he lifted her to her feet. “Stay close. We need to get o
ut of here.”

  Falling back into the main living area where the other soldiers commenced their firing, Dovian had to ward off leaping attacks from the roof. The area was too confined to fight like he wanted. Spinning, he held the woman close to his chest as he slammed the end of the rod onto one creature’s head. It fell to the floor in ashes. He followed up with a twist, tugging Ivory with him, and made contact with another that was behind. Darting to the center of the living area, Dovian smacked his hands together against the staff, and yet another burst was sent out, disabling the beasts.

  “We need to leave now!” his voice boomed.

  Luckily, the others had gathered their things and were making their way to the open door. Dovian continued firing from his staff, sending wave after wave against the creatures, knocking them back. Gavin took the lead, leaping into the Hawk 90. He had it revved up with propellers moving in seconds. Aria and Troy backed toward the copter, firing relentlessly at the hoard as Dovian swiftly lifted Ivory into the cabin.

  “Sit. Buckle up,” he ordered. Ivory quickly complied. “Get this thing in the air!” he shouted.

  Troy and Aria climbed inside and continued firing as the Hawk quickly lifted off the ground. A dozen beasts crawled out of the small ruins like an infestation. Slowly, they faded away like little ants in the distance as Gavin flew the team toward the sea.

  “Oh!” Aria sighed aloud as she dropped heavily into the seat.

  Troy followed her actions. “That was the worst alarm clock ever!” he groaned.

  “What were those things?” Ivory whispered.

  “I dunno. They just started attacking not even a week ago. We’ve never seen these things before, and they seem hell-bent on trying to take our military out,” Troy said.

  “You haven’t seen these before?” she asked. Troy shook his head. “Have you?” She looked up at Dovian.

  “Not for a long time,” he answered slowly, sitting beside her.

  “So you do know what they are, right?” Troy asked; his face held a weary look.

  “I’ve already told you.”

  “Demons?” he scoffed. “Come on, really?”

  “After all you’ve seen? You still don’t believe?” The Sorcēarian gave the man a look of incredulity. “No wonder your world seems so upside-down.”