by Walls, Devri
“Alright,” she said. “Let’s go.”
Emane held the light out before them as they entered the cave. The light was helpful but only showed so far. The darkness was thick and almost palatable, swallowing up any light that tried to force its way through. The limited range forced them to walk slowly, picking their way amongst the rocks. The further away they got from the entrance the thicker the black became, and the lighted circle of safety pulled in tighter around them.
She walked closely next to Emane grabbing onto the side of his shirt occasionally, less for balance than for comfort. She was trying to withhold her fear from Emane. It had worked so far, but every step required great effort on her part to hide the terror brewing within her. It wasn’t just the darkness, something kept poking at her consciousness, warning her.
She had no idea how long they had been walking but her ankles and the sides of her feet were throbbing from the uneven terrain. Her back was throbbing from all the bending and crouching they had done and her head still hurt from the overhanging rock that the torch had failed to illuminate.
“How long do you think we have been in here?” she finally asked.
“Two hours, maybe more.”
“It feels like ten. Do you think Arturo wanted us to go this far in?”
“Maybe we should stop and rest. You can summon something to eat and drink and then we can keep going.” Emane held the torch out to see as much as he could. “Come.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her over to an area that looked as flat as any they had seen. “Here, sit down.”
She eased herself down, groaning as her tired body protested.
“I can’t imagine he intended for us to just sit in a dark cave, surely there is something back here,” he said peering into the dark.
“This adventure just keeps getting better.”
Emane laughed as he sat beside her. “You never planned to be in a cave looking for who knows what with me?”
“Nope, can’t say that I had.”
“What had you planned?”
Kiora stared into the darkness wondering whose idea it was to get to know each other anyway. “I’m not sure.’ She hesitated. “I had two sets of plans I suppose.”
“Go on.”
“One was to run away to a place nobody knew me, where I could start over. Where I wouldn’t have to see my sister look at me as the one that had killed our parents.”
“Run away? That doesn’t sound like you. What about the other one?”
She sighed. “It does sound like me, or at least it used to.”
They were interrupted by a blood-curdling scream coming from down the cavern. Emane leaped up, the scream echoed and bounced around the rocks. Placing himself in front of Kiora, Emane stood with his sword at the ready, alert for any movement. Kiora felt a thread inch its way through her heart. It was, different— magical, and yet, not good, or bad. Decidedly neutral.
“Help me, somebody help me!’ The cries sounded like that of a child. “Please please help me,” the voice sobbed.
Emane looked to Kiora, “How does it feel?” he asked holding the torch out in front of him, swinging it back and forth, searching for anything.
Kiora focused on the thread running through her. “Fine.” she said getting to her feet. There was no evil attached to it at all. “We have to help them.”
They moved as fast as they could through the cavern towards the source of the sound. The ceiling of the cavern varied in height from about three feet, forcing them to crawl, to soaring ceilings that the light could not touch and seemed endless. They stumbled over the rocks that were scattered all over the floor trying to reach the sound of the child.
“Help me, help me please! Don’t let him hurt me!” The voice cried out again and again.
“I think we are getting close,” Emane panted.
They entered into a large cavern within the cave. It was much larger than the light would illuminate. But the child’s voice echoed around far above them giving them a hint as to the sheer enormity of it.
“Please, help me!”
“Where are you?” Emane shouted waving the torch around, trying to find him.
“Over here.”
Emane turned to face the direction the voice was coming from. “Come on, Kiora, I think he’s over here.” They walked towards the voice still swinging the torch back and forth trying to locate the child. And then they saw him, a small boy in rags huddling against a rock. He was filthy, covered in dirt and mud. The only clean parts on his body were the lines on his face where his tears had washed the dirt away. Kiora ran over to him.
“Are you ok?” she asked. Kneeling in front of him she ignored the pain of the rocks in her knees as she searched him for any injuries.
The little boy was trembling and shook his head no.
“What is it, what’s wrong?” she asked, reaching out to put her hand on his. The thread was still confusing her. It was different— not human, but magical. And the neutrality of it confused her. But the sight of the child was breaking her heart and she pushed the thread aside to deal with the task at hand.
“Please,” he whispered, “don’t let him hurt me anymore.”
“Who?” Emane demanded. “Who is hurting you?”
The child’s arm raised and he pointed into the darkness behind him. Emane spun around sword raised to meet whatever the child was pointing at. Moving the torch back and forth in front of his face he searched for the perpetrator. At first there was nothing, but then a shadow stepped into the circle of light. He was tall and was wearing a long dark cloak.
“Hello, Kiora. Hello, Emane.”
Kiora froze, she knew that face.
“Who are you?” Emane demanded.
“Dralazar,” Kiora said, the color draining out of her face.
The hooded man drew closer. “Very good, Kiora.” His voice oozed out like poison.
Kiora reached over to grab the child’s hand again, to give him comfort. But her hand fell empty. Looking over to find him, the child had vanished. She spun around, frantically looking for him, but he was not there.
“What have you done to him!?” Kiora yelled.
“Temper, temper” the hooded man chided. “I have not done anything with him.”
Kiora ran to stand beside Emane. “He’s just a child!” she screamed at Dralazar.
“Yes, as are you,” Dralazar retorted.
Kiora struggled with what to do, her training had included bubbling, shields and lighting a fire. She was not equipped to deal with Dralazar, and she knew it. Remembering her gift from the Guardians she went to grab it, but the thread nudged her again, and again it was off. Something was wrong, very wrong. She leaned into Emane and whispered, “Something is not right.”
“Emane!” Dralazar yelled. “Why do you travel with this child, she is nothing but an impostor and a fraud.”
Kiora could feel Emane bristle at the words. He took a fighting stance. “And you are a coward who preys upon children.”
Kiora’s mind was racing, something was wrong here, so very wrong. The confusion drowned the anger back out of her as she grappled for the answer. What was it? She could hear Dralazar and Emane yelling at each other but was too deep in her own world to make out the words. She had felt something about the child, something magical. She had felt threads since they had entered the cave, not good or evil, they felt neutral. She turned her attention to Dralazar’s thread, it was magical and very… very… neutral. Neutral? She was trying to make sense of it but could not do it. She ran through what she had been taught in her mind. Threads were either good or evil depending on what one chose. The Fallen Ones had once been Guardians, with threads of good. After they chose, their treads turned. Dralazar was not neutral, how could he be? He could not have changed that much since her vision earlier. She looked up as Emane shoved the torch into her hand and began to circle Dralazar. Something is wrong the voice inside her head was screaming. Why isn’t he attacking, he could have taken out Emane already. This is not… Dra
lazar. This is not…
“EMANE!” she screamed, “STOP!”
Dralazar took advantage of the distraction and threw Emane across the room. Emane slammed into the cave wall and slid to the floor.
Kiora ran to him, dropping the torch on the ground as she knelt down. “Emane, are you ok? I am so sorry, Emane! Emane!”
Emane was gasping for air. “Look… out,” he coughed pointing.
Kiora turned to see this neutral Dralazar descending upon them again. She threw up a shield to protect the both of them. The shot intended for Kiora bounced off and slammed into him, throwing him across the room.
“Emane are you ok? Please talk to me.”
“Kiora,” he croaked, “what is wrong with you? I had him, why did you stop me?”
Kiora’s shoulders relaxed, he was ok. ‘If that was really Dralazar, you would not have had him. That is not Dralazar.”
“What are you talking about?” he coughed. “You were right. That is the same man we saw the other night, I would remember that face anywhere.” He struggled to sit up, his face twisting as he did.
“And I would remember his thread anywhere,” she said grabbing his arm to help him. “And that was not it.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Neither do I,” she groaned pulling him to his feet.
Emane looked around, “Hand me the torch.” Bending down she handed it back to him. He took a few steps forward, waving it as he went. “Where did he go?”
“He’s gone,” Kiora whispered. “Just like the little boy.”
Emane turned in a circle breathing heavily, lighting the cavern as he went. “This is very strange.”
Kiora summoned some water in a flask and offered it to Emane. “Here, you need to drink. I don’t know what is going on, but whatever it is, it is not over yet.”
“You first,” Emane spoke, his eyes still searching the cavern.
Kiora drank quickly and passed it to Emane. Her senses were on fire, searching… feeling. She could feel more threads gathering. All magical, all neutral. She could sense them coming from every direction. This was a test, she didn’t know how she knew that, but she could feel it. A test of her feelings and Emane’s loyalty.
“Emane, I need you to promise me something,” she said grabbing his arm. “Whatever happens, you must listen to what I tell you, it’s a test.”
“Okay,” he said off handedly, focused on his environment.
“NO!” She said it with such forcefulness that Emane dropped the flask. It clattered on the rocks at their feet. “You don’t understand. Whatever I tell you,” she said squeezing his arm with urgency, “no matter what it is, you have to trust me.”
He stilled, “What?”
“You have to trust me! Please promise me that you’ll trust me.”
He nodded slowly his eyebrows furrowed. “Ok, Kiora, I understand. Do you want to tell me what is going on?”
“I don’t know exactly. I can feel something coming, and it is going to be hard, particularly for you.”
“For me? How do you know that if you don’t know what is going on?”
“I don’t know, they are questioning you.” She gripped her head, it was aching from feelings that kept slipping in among her own. It wasn’t like talking to Arturo. More like an instinct that you couldn’t explain, but you can’t ignore. “I can’t explain it, it’s just a sense I get.”
The room went from black to being completely lit without warning.
Emane yelped covering his eyes. “What is going on?”
Kiora didn’t answer, but blinked furiously trying to adjust to the light. She could feel the threads continuing to multiply and they were getting very close. She wanted to see what was going on, see what was coming. And as things came into focus she wished she wouldn’t have seen anything at all. Standing before them was the most frightening thing Kiora had ever laid eyes on. She wanted to look to Emane but was too scared to take her eyes of the creature.
This creature was created and draped in nightmares. It looked like a cross between a dragon and a serpent. Six heads, all moving independently of each other, weaving and hissing, baring long sharp fangs. It was scaly and changed colors as the light hit it, brown to green and back again. Each head had three horns and two enormous ears. It took one thunderous step in their direction. Kiora needed time to think and she wasn’t going to get it if they just stood here. She grabbed Emane’s arm and threw up a bubble. The creature screamed out in protest.
“Run, Emane!” She grabbed his arm and headed straight towards the creature.
“Why are we running at it?!” he yelled as she jerked him along.
“Because it’s the last place it will look for us.”
The creature drew each of its heads back and all six blew fire out into the room. It barely missed the Kiora and Emane as they ran straight underneath it and to the back wall. The creature continued to spray the room with fire trying to flush them out.
“This isn’t going to last forever Kiora!”
“I know! I just need a minute or two to think. Watch him.” Kiora closed her eyes and tried to purge her memories of what she had seen. Focus, she thought. Focus on the thread. She could feel it now, pulsing through her. And it was the same thread. Her eyes flew open; they were all the same thread— the boy, Dralazar, and now this thing.
“He can change himself,” she whispered.
“What do you mean, ‘change himself’?”
“They are all the same,” she said, the pieces were starting to come together. “The boy, Dralazar and now this. They are the same person… or thing.”
Emane shook his head. “I don’t understand, but I believe you. So now what?”
“I have to tell him that I know. I think that’s what he wants. He wants to test my abilities, to see if I can feel the threads clearly enough to put aside what I see with my eyes.” She stopped as the final piece fell into place. “It is a test. That’s why we’re here, alone. That’s why Arturo didn’t tell us anything.”
“What are you going to do, walk out there and tell him you know what he is?” he asked not tearing his eyes off the creature. “And what if you’re wrong?”
“That’s exactly what I have to do.”
“And what about me?” he sputtered, turning towards her. “You just want me to stand here and watch as he sets you on fire?!”
Kiora realized the rest of the test. “This test isn’t just for me, it’s for you too, Emane. To see if you will trust me.” She grabbed him by both the arms, looking into his eyes. “No matter what happens,” she said very clearly. “Do not hurt that thing.”
Emane just stared at her, wide eyed, with his mouth hanging open.
“I mean it Emane,” she glanced out into the room where the creature was swinging its heads back and forth, spurting fire in every corner and around every rock it could find. “This could look… bad.”
“Look bad!” His face was turning red. “Getting blasted by that thing doesn’t just look bad Kiora, it is bad!”
This was going to be much harder for him, she could tell. She leaned over and kissed him. “Please, Emane if you are going to be my Protector you have to listen to me!” She grabbed his face between her hands, “No matter what, do not hurt him.” Kiora didn’t give him a chance to argue, she dropped the bubble and ran out into the middle of the room.
“HEY! I am over here.” The creature stopped and slowly turned all six of its heads to look at her. “I don’t know what you are,” she yelled “but I know you are the same creature that I met earlier. I can feel your thread, and it is the same as the boy and Dralazar. I know this is test. You are not evil, and I will not fear you.”
The creature stepped closer towards her and she could see Emane step towards her as well. She held out her hand towards Emane. “Stop,” she commanded, “let him come.”
Emane froze but Kiora could see the panic written on his face. The creature got closer still, each step rattling stones along the ground. Growling it
brought down one of its heads to her, peering at her with one eye. She held its gaze, trying to breath slowly despite the hammering in her chest. Looking into its eyes she knew its intentions. There was no time to explain.
“Emane!” She screamed, spinning around to face him. “DO NOT HURT HIM! I KNOW WHAT I AM DOING!”
Chapter Twelve
ALLIANCES
EMANE WATCHED AS THE creature pulled back the one head that had been staring at Kiora. It pulled itself up to its full height, opened its enormous mouth and flew down heading straight for her. Emane held his breath. Surely there would be a bubble or a shield or something. But there was nothing. Kiora sat there smiling at him with an apologetic smile as the creature came down over the top of her, and then she was gone. The creatures jaw snapped shut and tossed its head back up to swallow.
“NOOOO!” Emane screamed. “NOOO!” He reached for his sword and charged at the creature. He ran, envisioning his sword running through the creature that had just taken Kiora. Taking the life that had just taken her away from him, away from the kingdom. He had just found her, he couldn’t lose her, not now. As he pulled back his sword two memories barreled through his mind— Epona first and then Kiora saying, “trust me.” The two words wrenched him to a stop. “Trust me.” The creature was now within striking distance. He held his sword up, ready to strike, his arm shaking. He wanted to kill it so bad. Every nerve in his body was trembling, wanting to strike. “Trust me.” His hand loosened and his sword clattered to the ground. He looked up at the creature, defeated.
“I don’t know what you are,” he said through clenched teeth, kicking his sword between its giant feet. “But I promised her I wouldn’t hurt you. So, if you are going to eat me to, let’s get it over with.” He dropped to his knees, looking up to meet the creature’s eyes. If this was going to be the end, he was not going to be looking at the floor when it happened.
All six heads were staring at him but none moved to strike. The creature shuddered and started to shake. Its heads twisting and pulling within its body. The body was shrinking and changing shape as it went. It looked as if it was unraveling at the same time, colors changing, heads spinning, popping and cracking. There was a flash of light much like the one right before it had arrived. Emane shielded his face with his arm and then all was quiet. He lowered his arm to see Kiora standing there next to a man he had never seen before.