by Kade Cook
What is going on? Gabrian smiles instinctively at the display and lifts her hands in front of her face. She is shimmering with it as well. She twists her hands front to back. It is reflective light and her eyes search for the answer. Even the massive marble cylinders staggering the hall seem to even be decorated. Following the dancing light, she lifts her sight to the ceiling and finds the culprit. The twinkling stars of the Covenant of Shadows pepper the ceiling with otherworldly gems. They light in waves of glowing embers in a display of beauty reminding her of an Aurora Borealis from the Northern skies.
Her breath catches in her lungs. Has it always been this way? Certainly, she would have noticed. Her body treads circles, caught in a trance, and stares into the depths of the ceiling with childlike fascination. She watches the façade of the sky shift and sway until face-planting the back of Ethan’s shoulder.
A soft low chuckle escapes him as Gabrian’s reality returns to the present. “It is lovely, isn’t it?” he whispers to her, mouth wide and curled sweetly. The pinched edges of his eyes warm her heart.
No longer afraid or caring about what she saw in the woods between Ethan and Kaleb, Hell, she is—was—a bigger monster than either of them. Gabrian speaks, needing the company of her friend—her curiosity taking precedence in the situation of her profound and peculiar experience. “Has it always looked like this?” She glances upward to the mock sky then back to her friend. “I mean, everything is so utterly beautiful.”
Another soft chuckle escapes him. “Now I understand what Tynan was talking about.”
Gabrian, confused, narrows her eyes at Ethan’s avoidance of her question. “What?”
“Other than your obvious physical appearance.” He smiles, swiping his hand across her shaved marble head. “You really are different.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
A Trail of Crumbs
Another steadier but annoying beep sounds in the silence of Rachael’s dimly-lit hospital room. The drawn curtain cloaks the faded colours of the dying flowers, their blooms low enough to hang over the edges of the ceramic vase they sit in.
Still swimming within a world neither here nor there, but not lost anymore, strings of her subconscious web tether Rachael to her physical form. A strange beacon of light shines from her chest, and she reaches to touch it, fingers tracing over a soft metal. She lifts the locket. Her eyes swim over the smooth stone, caught in its delicacy, bound with secrets of the universe. The soft glow beams outward, wanting to chase the faded visions dancing in the shadows. It calls for her to follow. Her mind swirls, thoughts of lives lived before pulling her in and out of reality as they busy to reminisce with her soul.
She floats through the memories of her lives, finding friends and family members not seen in centuries. Her heart is tender, feeling all the ties of her soul’s encounters, and embraces with lost loves along the way. Drifting inward, through washed out images, she walks through them all. Connections to each of them pull her closer—reminding her of things she is and was. The vividness of her past shifts and clings to her, pushing her forward to a place she has longed to find for so many years—a place her heart longs to remember.
Up ahead, a light grows in its intensity, so bright she has to raise her arm to shield her eyes. It eats up all the colour sweeping around her and blinds her from it. The light rushes through her, tearing at her mind. Soft impulses beg to be remembered and Rachael clutches her head at the strange invasion. The balance between her sense of being fights with her reasoning of existence as the world around her spins. Her stomach flutters as she is zipped through a portal at speeds that send her reeling.
Then it stops, spitting her out, and she falls into a darkness of honey browns and chocolate. The scent of orange blossoms tickles her nose and the soft warmth of velvet caresses her skin. Words of sweet nothings whisper in her ear, and her heart flutters through the muddled words she cannot understand, echoing with endearment that melts her soul.
Sweet flirtatious glances are exchanged with an ebony shadow, cooing with gentle hushes as they pull near then fade away. Rachael gasps at the consumption of this memory. It is hers. She knows it because she can feel it with her entirety. It is clear, euphoric in every measure of its being, and yet, it brings a twinge of sadness. She clamours through her mind in search to find it again, to fall deeper into its embrace.
In a breath of time, she is removed and placed once more in a different fragment of the memory. Windswept leaves and beams of sunlight reach through the tall sycamores dance on her face. She walks down an earthen, flowery aisle. Her body, draped in a white cotton dress, and her hair the colour of sand, is done up behind her head in a crown of wildflowers that frame her smiling face. Chairs set among the trees are filled with bodies of people she doesn’t know but loves with all her heart.
Her bare feet drift slowly forward, carrying her closer to an opening in the trees. Tresses of draped flowers sway in the drifts of salt-kissed air rushing in off the ocean, sleeping on the horizon. Every step on the mix of dark, tanned earth and the litter of white sand is a trail of crumbs leading her to the future, bringing her closer to the beach. The sand blushes with hues of crimson and tangerine in her arrival, a wedding blessed by a setting sun.
She remembers the fullness of her heart as it swells, wanting to rush the memory forward to gaze upon the soul that awaits her arrival. The memory fades and Rachael cries out. Her chest contracts, aching as her heart longs to hold on. Tearing at the empty air surrounding her, Rachael tastes the sear in her throat, raw from screams of agony.
A sweet flowery scent pulls her from her tears. The soft gentle coos of a familiar voice whisper I love you as kisses touch her neck. A glass of wine is accompanied by the crackle of warm crimson embers within a fireplace, reminding her of the heated sparks which burn between them. Rachael mouths out I love you, Ry...
Her mind slips away and bashes her into a fierce battle. Sharp images implode within her eyes. Millions of images bombard her as she slides from his warm fingers, his impenetrable hold on her arm slipping into nothingness. She loses connection to her world as her mind is shred into a million shards of intruding energies. A loud roar rings through her ears, begging her to hold on, to reach out for him while thousands of years of secrets, unknown realities of the universe, surge and overload her mind.
Her ability to comprehend anything is lost and diluted into the mere ability of breath. Floating in a void, alone and uncaring, the severe loss of everything swirls within a body—her body, one which cannot respond. Swallowed up in an abyss filled with her screaming, not one sound escapes her petrified corpse, and she is unable to find her way home again.
Rachael lurches forward and screams, her monitor screeching back at her. The wildness in her chest thrums, forcing adrenaline through her veins and pound in her ears, blocking out the sound of thundering footsteps rushing to get closer. She pants, staring wide-eyed and frightened in the dimly-lit room.
She lost him…she lost him, again.
The doors of her room bust open, two men in blue hurry toward her, frantic in their advance. “Are you alright, Miss?” They scuttle around in a frantic buzz of concern. “Please, lie back down.”
Her eyes flutter, sweeping back the tears burning and rushing to the surface. Weeks of being still and unmoving produce unflattering results of aches and pains. Sluggish and malnourished muscles surface their discordance and announce their lack of cooperation.
“How are you feeling? Is there any pain?”
Is there any pain? How can she answer this in truth? These are loaded questions and the answers, like swords, are sharp and double-sided. She has just lost the man she would love forever somewhere within her dreams.
As the orderlies check her pulse, and ease her frigid and exhausted body to lie down, her mind rushes to catch up to her reality. Her mouth relaxes and curves at the edges. Rachael’s eyes soften and shine in the dew of her understanding and her heart steadies, easing the duty of the monitor that has been keeping watch on h
er.
She is not really listening to the people in blue. Her mind whirls with her new discovery of her found past, clutching to the fragments of emotions that sting her soul, manifested nearly half a millennium ago. She may have lost him in her mind, but she is back.
All of her.
Every memory she has ever had is whole. The nagging feeling of misplaced time she had carried with her in every rebirth, the one she could never remember, is found and very much alive.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Miraculous Transformation
Standing doe-eyed at Ethan’s strange words, Gabrian’s arrival has been noticed. “Gabrian, dear, we are so happy to see you looking so well,” Vaeda chimes, her eyes alight and dreamy as she glances around at the other Elders who nod in accordance to her statement.
Wow, what is going on? Gabrian fumbles with all the new strangeness of her world. Yes, Vaeda has always been airy and glamorously kind to her, but it is like she stepped into a fairy tale and Vaeda exudes an iridescent glow that would make Glinda’s sparkling personality pale in comparison. But Gabrian has a hunch that Tynan may be partially to blame for her new leveling up in shimmery awesomeness.
“Your uncle mentioned to us that there had been some new developments in your rehabilitation and recovery, but I never would have guessed this kind of miraculous transformation to be possible.”
Gabrian smiles but it resembles more the qualities of a smirk. They are supernatural works of life. How could something like this be too much to imagine? It was Magik. Anything in this Realm is possible.
Right?
Or is this just another show of her being a freak of nature? Ugh, whatever. She sighs as her eyes roll under her raised brow. The shyness she normally hovers in has dwindled. She has been to Erebus and back, and somewhere in her travels, the meaning of shyness has been lost and does not really fit into her world anymore. Allowing a slight snarky chuckle of distaste for their naivety to escape her lips, she replies, “Thanks, I guess.”
Gabrian scans the crowding Elders who are eager to lay eyes on her abnormal recovery. A bit overwhelmed with the intense attention being allotted her way, she runs a reflexive hand over her head, missing the long dark locks that once draped her scalp. The attention is not heavy and deep. It is of awe and curiosity. Gabrian smiles at this new revelation and lets her eyes volley across all those who stand loosely huddled around her.
They are all as different as she is. Their faces are soft and glowing with the gentle hues of their Fellowships, smiling mouths curved upward with playfulness and joy glinting in their eyes. The Zephyr Elder before her is much transformed herself, her eyes light and filled with a girlish glow.
This is really weird.
Gabrian grins as her confidence lifts and lets her guard down. No more hiding who she is. Gabrian is too tired to pretend anymore. The crowd of Elders shift, and she instantly regrets letting herself relax. The strain of her muscles clenching all at once along with her adrenaline is torture and her jaw aches with a reflexive grind of her teeth. Sucking in air, Gabrian gasps as a bright blue hue hovers just behind the Elders, making its way into the circle.
“Hey, Gabrian,” he says.
Blinking and trying to regain her composure, she responds, “Hey Manny.” Her eyes widen and sparkle as she exhales, trying to hear through the drumming of her heart as it slams in her ears.
He smiles at her as she draws near.
“What are you doing here?”
Glancing nervously around at the Elders listening to their conversation, he straightens his shoulders a little—or as much as his good-natured ways allow him. “I am—” Manny grins, his eyes sparkle with pride. “I was invited.”
“Oh?” Her brows lift, happy to see him but still confused.
Ethan steps forward, sporting a grin on his lips. “Maniek is our new elective for the Elder of the Hydor Fellowship,” he hums, patting Manny cheerfully on the shoulder.
Manny’s grin grows into a full-blown smile.
“Oh.” Gabrian exhales, pondering the idea. “That is great. Congratulations, I think,” she says, half-happy and half-wondering if he knows what he is getting into with this new level of regard in his life choices. Her lips smile but her mind wanders to a boat trip they once shared and her eyes search his for something—a sign, a glimpse of some unspoken information about someone they share in common.
She longs to ask Orroryn but there is too much shame. Gabrian hurt Shane badly and he still risked everything to save her. No, she cannot look in Orroryn’s eyes and see the truth of what she has done—the pain she has inflicted. No, she is not strong enough yet, even with her miraculous transformation. Not while Shane lies heaven knows where, fighting to cling to life. No, she just cannot go there.
But she will ask Manny.
He will know, he has to know, and at the next opportunity, Gabrian will find out.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Trial and Tribulations
“Alright, shall we get started?” Vaeda hums, addressing the room, but her velvet eyes reach for one soul in particular. Once she finds the large Schaeduwe, a slightly flirtatious grin slides onto her lips as she turns and glides forward, unhurried and touristic almost under her flowy elegant turquois gown. Everyone shuffles to follow her lead, but Tynan drops back to walk with Gabrian. Draping his arm around her, and gathering her small rigid form under his wing, the gentle giant begins his plea and tries to coax her into joining in.
“There no reason for the pouty face,” Tynan teases his niece, glancing down and seeing her twisted lips as she tries to fathom what on earth she is in for.
“I am not pouting,” she snaps in a hushed tone. “I am merely contemplating.”
“Is that right?” He chuckles. “Well then, what is it that you are contemplating?” he says, a grin tugging on his lips. “If it is an escape plan, you might as well forget it. The only way out of here is through the Shadows and unless you have managed to manifest this gift as well you are out of luck.”
Gabrian growls at her uncle, rolling her eyes at his suave grin. It is a bit unnerving to see him so cheery. Beautiful, but still unnerving.
“You know what I think you should do?”
“Not sure I really want to know.”
Tynan rubs his hand across the top of her head then gives it a kiss, pulling her back into his protective hold as he moves her forward, toward the group that has left them behind. “Relax. Have some fun.”
“Fun?” She huffs. “That is not exactly the word I would use to describe my visits here or this place.”
Even though she is not officially being seated on the stone chair, as per norm, she is still in the hot seat so to speak. This is no pleasure cruise they are on. “Torturous, unpleasant, mal-intended, yes. That about sums it up.”
Tynan’s faces lights up. He releases a loud chuckle and pulls her tightly to his side, noogying her head. “Alright, alright, fair enough. I get the point. But I hope today helps to change your opinion of this place and what it represents.”
Gabrian wrinkles her nose and smirks at him. “Somehow, I highly doubt it.”
Continuing their trek in silence, Gabrian carries on with her gazing. Everything is so different. She cannot fathom it all. Gabrian studies the Great Hall. Her eyes bounce loosely over the walls as they stroll through the edifice. Glowing in the distance are cauldrons burning, warming the cold black and white-speckled stone. Their fires cast soft, welcoming hues of multi-coloured shadows as they draw nearer.
The magical but invisible binds that keeps them all on even playing fields within the sanctity of the Covenant are there, she can feel them, but it is as if today they do not apply to her—making her curious to test this hypothesis. Gabrian drops her eyes to her hands, feeling the familiar tingle at their tips just from her thoughts.
Feeling her uncle’s hand on her arm pull her to a stop, Gabrian lets go of her intended experiment and looks up. The group is strangely all spread out, gathered in front of the large ston
e cauldrons ablaze with the different colours of the Fellowships, well…all but one.
The same cauldron has been barren ever since her first visit here—the one which represents the Silver Mages. The moment her birth mother, Cera, left this world for the Veil, the fire has been absent and today would be no different.
A soft lyrical voice cuts through the hum of souls murmuring all around her. “Gabrian, dear, please come forward.” Vaeda holds out her hand, and Tynan gives her a quick hug, smiling down at her wide unknowing eyes.
“It will be fine, trust me.”
“I trust you. It is everyone else I am a little leery of.”
Dropping a quick peck on her bristled head, and wearing her down with a boyish grin, Tynan releases her from his sheltering arm and guides her forward with a coaxing hand. “You will be fine. I am right here. What could go wrong?”
“Really, you had to ask that?” she grumbles, half teasing, the other half dead serious. She knows exactly how things could go wrong.
Stepping forward, away from her Uncle’s safety net, Gabrian’s fingers blister. She curls them inward to hide any lightshow they may decide to display. It’s not something she cares to explain to anyone right now. Reaching the line of Elders, she steps to the side to see them all, meeting their smiling eyes.
Weird. This it is just too weird. What in the hell are they so cheery about? Gabrian narrows her gaze, and inspects the faces of those gathered beside her. Still no tell signs for her to see what is coming. Hmm, maybe I don’t want to know.
Vaeda steps out, waltzing to the center of the half circle of Elders, midway between them and the cauldrons. The dark speckled marble floor beneath her sparks then grows into a ring of light. A flare of airy fire ignites around her, matching the shimmery glow of her aura. She peeks over her shoulder at Gabrian and smiles. The Zephyr Elder’s eyes light, catching Gabrian’s full attention. Their centers glow to match the fire swirling lazily around Vaeda.