Dark Enlightening

by Shawnna Lea

  Sylvia raised his chin then, staring him in the eye. He looked after Whisper, the boat just visible. Then he spun back to Sylvia, the sight finally reaching his brain.

  "Sylvia! You're... wrapped in a tarp..." She raised an eyebrow, trying to keep back a smile.

  "You may want to consider doing the same."

  Chapter 26

  Avic watched Angel walk away. She didn't stop when the landlord called after her. She kept walking without a parting gaze for him. Whatever had been in the letter had given her both happiness and grief. Avic hadn't read the letter. He had been tempted. It wasn't sealed. Just tied with a string to keep it rolled. It would have been easy. But that wasn't his way. Whisper had known that, entrusting it to him.

  He walked back to his family's estate. Much of city life was back to normal. The nights were still wild with celebration as the King had declared a new holiday spanning the whole week. Of course, there was also an element of mourning. Many of the nobility had been killed or maimed.

  He shut the door behind him, nodding to the servants as they took his jacket. He peeked into the lounge area where his sister and Sylvia were talking. He smiled at that. Tarren had always wanted a sister. Well, Sylvia wasn't exactly young but made a good older sister. She was excited to return to her family. Sylvia noticed him and motioned him in.

  "We were just discussing our recent adventure." His sister broke in, her enthusiasm never matched.

  "One thing I just don't understand is what happened to the other power! It simply vanished before any of you could use it!" Sylvia shrugged, but Avic smiled.

  "It was never there." They both looked at him in confusion.

  "What do you mean?" Avic leaned back, letting the memory come back, a soft barely audible voice.

  "It's something that Whisper said. I think he had it figured out all along. There are great powers in this world. Terrible but great. No one man should wield it. And no one man can stand against it. It takes everyone." Sylvia slowly smiled, understanding dawning.

  "WE were the opposing force."

  "Everyone. We are to support one another, not tear down. The clue on the cave wall showed both man and animals on a vast world working together to keep balance. It was art then but deep symbolism to me now. No one is alone in this world." Tarren sighed, propping her chin in her hands.

  "You've grown a lot, Avic."

  "I hope so. I do hope so."

  He ascended the stairs, stopping at his father's door. It was open, a few of the maids sewing while his mother read aloud. He watched silently from the doorway for a minute more before heading to his room. He threw himself on his bed, staring at the ceiling and kicked off his boots.

  The city was being rebuilt. One good thing had come from Traz's declarations of injustice. Social status didn't seem to matter so much anymore. Peasant, noble, baker, butcher. There was an element of respect shown to the lower class now that made Avic smile. Of course, there would always be snobs but they could be ignored. All knew in some way they were important. The city now worked as a team for they all knew they needed everyone else.

  It was weeks before his household was back to normal business. Avic found himself busy with overseeing the estate. His father was taking it easy, enjoying the time with his family. So Avic assumed more responsibility than he'd ever had before. It felt good to take care of those around him. Every now and then he would see Angel in town. She had left her old job and looked like she was living well. He wondered if she had found some rich merchant to marry. The opportunity to ask never arose, however.

  Sometimes he would wonder where Whisper was. He hoped if Whisper returned to the city he would visit.

  His thoughts were interrupted, and he turned from the river view. A young lady was having trouble with a sac and a few boxes. Avic headed over to help. As he bent to pick up a fallen package his eyes met the most beautiful shade of seagreen he'd ever seen. She smiled and that simple act lit up her face.

  "Can I help?" Her smile grew bigger.

  "I thought you would never ask!"

  He picked up the fallen packages and she handed him the bag as well. Carrying all her things, he walked with her as she painted pictures of grand places in his mind. His smile grew. Whisper would approve of her tactics.

  Chapter 27

  The sea was an unpleasant thing. Whisper hated getting wet, and the salt stung his wounds. He floated on his small boat under a tarp for shade, nibbling at a piece of cheese and wondering how much longer it would take. He really hated this waiting. The globe beside him pulsed constantly. It was one thing he was very proud of. His creation would conceal the Dark Star's power, and Traz's lightning spell would hit anyone who touched the orb he put it in. He would still get rid of it, however. But it needed to be somewhere safe.

  A splash made his heart leap. He scanned the water for the thousandth time since arriving. More than half of his fresh water was gone, so now would be a good time. The boat rocked slightly, and a slapping sound made him spin about. Whisper couldn't help his grin. Nereids were always a welcome sight to sailors but to Whisper Millini was even more welcome.

  "If it isn't our long lost Kipro come back to the water after all this time." She pulled herself up to sit naturally on the side of the boat, water trailing off her skin and from her hair. Millini was as beautiful now as she had been when he was a child. He rolled out of his cover to sit beside her on the side of his boat.

  "Of all the Nereids to come up, I'm glad it was you, Millini."

  She raised her eyebrows skeptically.

  "You left without a parting word. A mother doesn't easily forget that. Anf saved you after that wizard dumped you in the ocean, and you forget about us!" Whisper cringed. He regretted that actually.

  "You're not my mother. And I HAD to leave Encante. Uh... They kept getting me wet." He dangled his feet in the water, casting her a bashful look. He knew she knew he was lying. But she wouldn't be mad. Her stern expression vanished and she ruffled his hair.

  "I'm just glad you decided to come back. Anf keeps bringing you up. Never by the ocean, he says. What brought you now?" Whisper glanced back into his shelter. He felt a little guilty as to his reasons but the people of Encante would be safe from the human magic. There were others of course like himself from the surface. He would have to ask the Council's permission, but he thought they'd agree. He'd made it quite pretty after all. Millini listened intently to his story, gasping or laughing at all the right times.

  She really was the closest thing to a mother he had. He'd been taken from his birth mother at four by wizards and had lived in a cage till his escape.

  "So, I thought, what better place to hide it than where no uninvited guest can get?" He waited for her answer. If she didn't think there was a chance he had another plan. She kicked her slender feet in the waves, a thoughtful expression on her face for some time before turning and taking his hands in hers.

  "It won't hurt to ask." She gestured for him to get his things, and he hurriedly stuffed the globe into a bag. Anything of significance to him was tucked in his pockets already. He joined her at the boat railing, and she leapt gracefully into the water, the sun playing on her curves before she disappeared. She was nice looking, but his thoughts jumped to Angel, wondering if she were going to be alright. Water hit his face, breaking him from his thoughts. The dark sea horse neighed at him, seeming to almost laugh as it beckoned him into the water. Millini surfaced on the back of another, it's white scales sparkling in the light.

  "You'll have to get wet, I'm afraid." She laughed as the horse dove under. The other drifted back and forth beside the boat, waiting with growing impatience. With a last look around at the world he loved, he leapt onto its back. It slowly slipped under the water and Whisper took a deep breath before going under with it. Tiny fish and other sea creatures circled them, enjoying the mystical creatures’ presence. A few of the fish nibbled at Whisper's clothes and he almost laughed.

  It was beginning to get hard to hold his breath when before them
the realm of Encante emerged. He knew they'd come up in one of the many streams so he enjoyed the sparkling view of giant twisted shells and bright colored plants, creatures appearing and disappearing all around it. He supposed this time he might have to stay. But then again, things were never constant in Encante.

  The End…for now