Special Black Chapter 01
Prelude:
As night followed its unchanging cycle into day, the light of the morning crested the cloud line, scattering pink and orange highlights across the peaks and valleys of the clouds. The floating island of Aureus Eyrie was quiet in the early hours of the morning, majestic and serene in the dawn. Spires topped with shining glass rose from between a ring of seven mountains, catching the beams and casting them back in multi-hued rainbows. Outside the transparent walls, birds flew through the canopy of trees from well-tended gardens and forests. Inside the towers, the sun lit upon intricately tiled floors and suspended tapestries.
Atop Zenith, the highest of the Central spires, Patron of the Bright Selestarri stood in the middle of a large chamber, the sunlight embracing her body with its warmth. The brilliant white-feathered wings of her race extended from slim shoulders, stretched wide to absorb the full heat of the sun. Behind Patron, a cloaked and hooded attendant brushed her long hair while others waited with the early morning meal.
/Messenger has arrived, / the Selestarri nearest the door announced, her telepathic voice as calm and perfectly balanced as the landscaped scene beyond the window.
From the open archway the sound of footfalls preceded the arrival of the Selestarri known as Messenger. Bowing low, she quietly stood before Patron, her rose-colored hair matching the exact shade of the runes and embroidered trim on the voluminous robes.
Folding her wings, Messenger smiled at Patron. “You sent for me?”
Patron looked upon her greatest friend and confidant, returning the smile. “I am sending you to see Akio and Hisashi.”
The Bright arched a delicate eyebrow. “Do you have a task for them?”
Patron nodded and Messenger sat in one of the low, upholstered chairs nearest her friend. Leaving the tray of fruit and toast untouched, she dismissed the attendants with a wave of her hand. Once the room was clear, she turned to Messenger. “In order to explain, I must ask you to recall an event from the past.”
Closing her eyes, Patron carefully drew four patterns in the air, her face a mask of concentration behind the blindfold of the seers. Flickering slightly, the complicated magical emblems hung suspended, tinted around the edges with sapphire. Following the movement of her hands, the patterns merged into one and a thick, pulsating fog flowed from them like a spigot, quickly spreading over the floor. Where the mist met the tiles, ghostly figures manifested.
A transparent Selestarri robed in deep purple stood next to Patron, her thick white hair pulled into a long, sweeping ponytail and her eyes covered by an orange blindfold. Around the rest of the room, phantasms of other Selestarri appeared, adorned in outfits representing the various corners of the world. In the center of the fog knelt two humans. Bruised and beaten, the two females clung to each other, trying to look brave despite the obvious trembling of their frail bodies.
“I’ve read of this in the Chronicles,” Messenger said, glancing at the figures. “That’s the Sidereal Oracle Idaeynia so I’m assuming the humans are Reisu and Kimi. We gave them gifts of our magic and charged them with defeating Kribensis, the Emperor of EbonReach.”
Patron said nothing, but the recall spell abruptly shifted and the chamber dimmed. Shrouding the top of the tower was the illusion of a large stone room lit only by candles. The human girls, Kimi and Reisu, wielded the weapons that the Selestarri had given them. Fresh welts covered their exposed skin, and both bled from multiple wounds. Stalking across the chamber, his silver sword blazing in the semi-dark, was Kribensis.
Slim, muscular body draped in the silks and furs of royalty, the Emperor glared at those who dared to challenge his authority. With hair the color of his sword, piercing indigo eyes, and flawless alabaster skin, he appeared much too young to rule an empire that extended over half the continent’s population.
The spell continued to run its course as Kribensis sent Kimi’s sword flying and then turning to battle Reisu. He turned again just before the streaking rapier passed through the green-haired girl’s chest and into his, pinning them together. Yanking it free, he ignored Kimi as she staggered and coughed, moving instead to fight her friend despite the rushing blood that stained his tunic. Weapons locked, neither escaped the jolt of electricity from the glaive, smoke choking the air as it burned into their flesh. Desperate, both Kribensis and Reisu swung one last time, the sharp metal of their blades rending exhausted flesh and muscle. The damage dealt and the battle over, the Emperor limped to the base of his throne before collapsing. Before either girl could react, two Dark Selestarri, one whose wings were made of metal, appeared and removed his lifeless body.
Reisu crawled to her friend and slumped against the wall. Even in the ghostly throne room they seemed small and frail, sitting in pools of spreading crimson.
“They defeated him, as our ancestors recorded all those years ago. They did not understand the fail safes placed on the weapons and that’s why they were injured by our gifts,” Messenger commented, watching the intangible figures of Kimi and Reisu. “The Chronicles did not mention that it was those two Dark in particular, though. Their reputation is still…unpleasant.” She turned to her friend. “I don’t understand how something that happened a thousand years ago could have anything to do with Akio and Hisashi.”
“Wait,” Patron quietly said.
“Did we really kill him?” Reisu’s phantom voice echoed through the tower chamber.
Kimi turned to her friend, eyes blank. “I don’t know, maybe. Those people, were they Selestarri?”
Reisu was silent for a long time. “Don’t know,” she finally replied. “And I won’t live to find out.”
“If he’s not dead, and manages to come back, I want to fight again,” Kimi whispered, almost inaudible. “We promised to kill him, we have to see it through to the end.”
“We will, Kimi,” Reisu promised, weakly taking her friend’s hand, but Kimi remained lifeless, her ghostly body empty.
As the words settled over the glass chamber, the apparitions winked out, leaving only the shining morning light. Patron looked at Messenger as the magical pattern fizzled into blue sparks. “Twenty years ago, the pact was fulfilled as Kimi and Reisu were reincarnated to fight Kribensis once again.”
Messenger’s face registered a brief moment of surprise before she regained her composure. News of either the rebirth of Kimi and Reisu or the return of Kribensis had not reached her ears. “Did they succeed?”
Patron nodded. “Yes, but it was very close. Just as before, they were not accustomed to their weapons, but they are dedicated, so there is hope.” She took a strawberry from the tray and ate it, daintily licking the juice from her fingers before continuing. “Do you remember reading why the Bright Assembly chose to champion two humans against Kribensis instead of sending one of us?”
“There was the suspected involvement of the Dark Selestarri.” Messenger replied. “At that time, we could not afford a war with them.”
“Yes,” Patron said. “It was agreed that our only choice was to send the humans. When the fighting between the girls and Kribensis started again recently, I sensed the Dark’s interference. What they hope to gain by summoning someone so long dead is unclear and more than a bit unsettling. The easiest way to disrupt their plans is to destroy Kribensis. Although it is dangerous for us to become involved, I fear we cannot afford ignorance any longer.”
“That’s why you want to send Akio and Hisashi? So that we may stop the Dark without provoking a war?”
“We are not responsible for the actions of the Streaked.” Patron ate another berry and frowned. “There is also the problem of Kribensis’ power. It has increased from the last time he walked the Earth. I cannot give Kimi and Reisu new magic, and I do not want the Bright Assembly to know about the problem just yet. The political hoops I would have to jump through are much too complicated. Therefore you must commission Akio and Hisashi to help the girls.”
Messenger nodded wearily. Dealing with the Bright Assembly would take much too long. By then, Kribensis could defeat Kimi and Reisu and begin to carry out whatever plan it was that the Dark had given him. However, if the Assembly discovered that Patron had taken such a risky chance without their knowledge, it could cause a political struggle that the Bright could ill afford.
Studying her longtime friend for a brief moment, Messenger sighed. “I’ll go to London immediately.” She stood and bowed once more to Patron before turning to leave.
“Send them to the city of West Central as soon as possible.” The white-haired seer said, her blindfolded gaze trained on Messenger’s retreating form. “Tell them that they must not allow Kimi and Reisu to know who they are. The Dark do not need any more excuses to track them down.”
Long ponytail swinging behind her, Messenger stopped and turned to face Patron. “Sending Hisashi near anything that involves the Dark may prove to be very dangerous. You know how close he is already.”
Patron nodded. “Akio will contain him. I have faith both in their bond as partners and in Akio’s inherent goodness.”
A look of pain swept across Messenger’s face, but she quickly recovered and disappeared through the archway.
Gazing up into the morning sun, Patron silently hoped for the success of her gamble. If they could not defeat Kribensis, she feared that war would come to the Selestarri, and that could destroy not only Aureus Eyrie, but also the Earth below.
Thread One:
Cold winter air slithered through the open window, carrying splashes of rain in its frosty wake. Beyond the pane of glass, only the dim lights of London spreading across the landscape broke the dark, foggy night.
Ignoring the chill, Aki watched the apple peel slid smoothly over the blade of the knife. As he stared, mesmerized by the separation of skin and flesh, his sight grew hazy and the Vision overtook him…
Darkness engulfed all and the commingled smells of blood and decay filled the musty air. Aki squinted through the dark, straining to make out his surroundings. The room was windowless, but large cracks spread over the walls and let the wind and cold seep through. Trash and animal manure piled in the far corners, adding to the rank sourness permeating the high-ceilinged space. Along the wall opposite the doors were four animal stalls, empty of their occupants.
Harsh laughter pulled his attention as three men emerged from the last stall, the tallest buckling his belt as the others dragged a limp form across the bare dirt floor. Dirty and unkempt, greasy hair a tangled mess and clothes a mismatch of threadbare, oversized garments, the men stank of sweat and the pungent spices used to flavor food. Aki instinctively stepped aside as they walked by, remembering only as the closest man’s shoulder passed through his chest that the Visions made him intangible, a ghost in a recollection he didn’t want to relive.
Trapped until the Vision released his consciousness, he grudgingly followed the men, sighing as the nine year old memory unfolded. As usual, it was sure to leave a bad taste in his mouth.
On their own accord his eyes swept to the furthest wall, seeking the younger version of himself chained to the cold stone. Beaten and bloody, his body was a mass of burns and poorly healing wounds. Swollen, red-tinted skin wept trails of yellow-white fluid from his side, mingling with caked scarlet to stain his filthy pants. Purple-ebony bruises marred almost every inch of visible skin, and his shoulder was twisted at an unnatural angle.
His younger self wearily raised his head as the men approached, dumping their burden on the floor and refastening the heavy iron manacles. Blackened eyes watched as two of the men lit a small brazier in the corner. Ever vigilant, the third man, a short, rodent-faced individual with lanky black hair, noticed that he was awake and approached with a malicious smile on his face.
“Upset that we’ve played with your friend and left you out?” He sneered, fist smashing the brown-haired boy’s nose, blood splattering them both. “Sorry, but you’re just not as pretty as he is.” Sliding close, he smeared the leaking crimson across Aki’s face with his thumb. Laughing as the helpless boy winced, he drove his fist into the unprotected stomach. “Don’t worry though,” he whispered, patting Aki on the head like a dog, “we’ll return in a few moments and you’ll get our full attention.”
Leaving him gasping for air, nose broken, the three men laughed as they pulled open the thick barn doors, a frigid wind spilling forth before they exited.
A sudden and desperate thrashing drew the gaze of both Akis, identical blue eyes shifting to the writhing figure on the floor. Bound to the adjacent wall was Sashi, panting hard as he strained against the iron bindings. Raised welts and lacerations left dried blood crusted over the tanned skin of his chest and arms. His thin pants were torn and through the rents fresh garnet-hued liquid congealed down his thighs in thick bands. Sweat matted the thick, shoulder-length dark hair and the bite of the metal produced scarlet streaks that seeped from his wrists and down his forearms to drip on the dirt floor.
“Sashi,” the younger Aki whispered. His partner’s head snapped up, peering through the slanting shafts of light. His eyes were wild and chaotic, like that of a cornered animal.
/I can’t…can’t take any more of this…/ The ragged telepathic words echoed through their minds as if Sashi had spoken aloud. /I want to fight! I want to go home! /
Across the room, Aki shook his head, blood streaming from his nose. /I know, but we have to believe that they’ll figure out what happened, that we’re being held captive and can’t use our magic. Someone will be sent to help us soon. /
Sashi slumped against the wall, eyes closed. /No one will come. We’re going to die. /
Aki stared at the two past versions of Sashi and himself, remembering exactly how terrifying this entire nightmare had been. While helping innocent women and children flee an approaching rebel army, they’d been captured and tortured, the days and weeks blurring into unending pain and humiliation. The rebels had tormented him with knives, whips, and fire, seeking to break him physically, but Sashi had received the worst of their torture, subjected to the lustful side of their brutality. The helplessness he’d felt, the ache at not being able to protect his partner haunted him still, waking him in the middle of the night, shaking under a layer of cold sweat.
All eyes shifted to the door as it creaked open, the ragged men quickly stepping over the threshold as the wind slammed against the barn. One rebel tended the brazier, dropping two long-bladed hunting knives into the flames while the other two crossed the bare dirt floor, kicking Sashi in the legs as they passed.
Although bloodied and exhausted, Aki met his assailants with a calm that betrayed the fear plaguing him internally, glaring at them from beneath the fringe of his brown bangs. The man who had broken his nose drew a short, serrated knife, teasingly running it over exposed ribs. A satisfied grin revealed rotten teeth as a hiss of pain rushed from Aki, blood trickling over his stomach to stain his dirt-streaked pants.
Bored, the second man’s eyes slid toward Sashi, the beaten boy pressed against the wall, his face angry. “Leave him alone,” Aki warned through gritted teeth.
Grime encrusted fingers threaded into his hair, yanking viciously. “Are you going to protect him?” The cold voice taunted. “I’d worry more about myself if I were you.” He reached over his shoulder to accept the knife that the third man had brought. Reversing his grip, the rebel plunged the knife into the dislocated shoulder.
From the far side of the room, Aki watched as his younger self writhed and screamed, the heated blade searing flesh, blood sizzling as it met the hot metal. Laughing, all three men crowded around, taking turns punching and kicking, ribs snapping audibly as their victim choked and coughed, the screams turning to gurgling whimpers.
“AKI!” Sashi cried, desperate and terrified as his partner gasped for air.
From his unique vantage point, Aki stoically watched as Sashi renewed his frenzied struggles against the manacles. The raven-haired boy yanked hard, uselessly pulling against the fastening bolt set into the stone. Sweat broke out on his shoulders, tears streaming over dirt-streaked cheeks as he clawed at the rough wall, fingertips bloodied, lungs heaving with exertion. Golden light flickered over the gray eyes, on and off like an old television, and he collapsed to the floor, weakened body no match for such strenuous efforts.
Lying in the dust, his face turned toward a large crack running through the mortared rock, Sashi became strangely calm as all the noise from the other side of the room faded to eerie background static. The skin on Aki’s back prickled as a sudden shift in the atmosphere rolled over the barn with the strength of a gathering cyclone. Like a thousand stampeding horses, it sped toward them, and Aki swore the building began to shake beneath his feet. With a rolling crack like thunder, magic, wild and violent, exploded from the prone boy, manifesting with the light of the midday sun.
Squinting, Aki could barely see Sashi, free of his restraints and standing beside the extinguished fire. Raw, unconstrained power surrounded his dark-haired partner, his eyes afire as the flow of energy engulfed him. The rebel who’d broken Aki’s nose stiffened as if he’d been stuck, veins bulging as he clutched at his head, ripping out chunks of hair and gouging bloody cuts into his face, terrified eyes begging for help. Screaming, he fell to the ground, scarlet pouring from his nose and ears.
“For what you’ve done, you will all pay.” Sashi’s tone was cold and unemotional, the words spoken not only aloud but also ringing thorough their minds.
“No—“ His younger self pleaded, gaze riveted to the convulsing man at his feet, but his voice was lost in the roar of the untamable magic.
The magic-possessed boy turned and seized the nearest assailant by the throat, silencing the frantic shrieks as a sickening crack announced the splitting of his windpipe. The man thrashed and clawed at his arms, shredding skin, but the only response was a smile and the slow tightening of power-infused fingers. Outside, a chorus of screams echoed through the town as the thunder rolled.
“SASHI!”
Fresh, stinging pain cut though Aki’s wrist, cracking the Vision and bringing him back to the present. As his eyes refocused, he saw that the knife had sliced deep into the heel of his hand. Blood leaked over his wrist, staining the exposed flesh of the apple.
Tossing the ruined fruit in a nearby wastebasket, Aki turned to find Sashi sitting in the middle of his bed. His partner’s gray eyes shone with concern, but he said nothing. Holding his bleeding wrist away from his shirt, Aki smiled weakly and stepped into the small bathroom adjacent to the flat’s two bedrooms.
How long had he been in the Vision? Sometimes it was hard to tell. Moments could feel like hours, and minutes could last an entire week. The power of postcognition never held to a standard or even made sense, for that matter. It was a rare and unpredictable gift, if you could label it as such. Aki sighed as he twisted the knob of the cold-water faucet. Sometimes he wished he’d never been born with the ability to see the past and the future. It often caused more trouble than it was worth.
Gritting his teeth against the sting of the chilled water, he opened the medicine cabinet and awkwardly rummaged through the contents with his uninjured hand. A bottle of cough syrup slipped over the edge of the shelf, dropping past the lip of the sink and toward the tiled floor. Aki desperately grabbed for the amber-tinted container, feet slipping on the worn throw rug, pitching him forward. The beige tiles rushed upward just as strong arms encircled his waist and held tight.
Thick drops of purple liquid scattered over the floor and wall as the bottle shattered. Caught in Sashi’s arms, his face pressed against thick, dark locks that smelled faintly of soap, Aki barely noticed the sticky mess. Soft skin grazed his cheek and warm breath tickled the tiny hairs of his neck, sending a slight shiver fluttering down his spine. Strangely, Sashi’s presence seemed to drive the unpleasant psychic aftertastes from his mind, a reminder that it truly was a thing of the past, a mere ghost that could only disturb him if he let it.
A long moment lapsed and they stood locked together, the only sound the splash of water on porcelain. Then, almost as if they both realized their positions, they mutually pulled away, a furious blush painting their faces.
Sashi retrieved the box of gauze and bandages from the cabinet and Aki shut off the spigot. Applying a generous bit of antiseptic medicine, Sashi gently wrapped Aki’s wrist. He was so different from the cold-blooded killer of his Vision that Aki sometimes found it difficult to believe that their imprisonment and torture had really happened. The postcognitive magic, however, seemed intent on constantly reminding him.
/Another Vision? / Sashi asked, gray eyes remaining intent on his task.
Aki nodded. /Yes. /
/That’s not supposed to happen. /
/I know. / Aki replied, looking down at his partner. The bandages were in place and Sashi’s gaze met his through tangled locks of dark hair.
/Was it the same thing? /
Aki nodded again. “I don’t understand what it means,” he said aloud, reaching for a hand towel to clean up the splattered cough syrup.
Sashi sighed. “Me either, and unfortunately we don’t have time right now to figure it out or to clean up this mess.” He glanced toward the door. “Messenger’s here. She wants to see us both.”
It was Aki’s turn to sigh. Messenger’s arrival never indicated anything good. Leaving the towel, he reluctantly followed Sashi out of the bathroom to meet their guest.
The Bright Selestarri known as Messenger sat on the couch in the small living room. She had draped her white-feathered wings over the cushions to dry and was holding a steaming cup of tea. As always, the oversized hood of her robe was pulled close, keeping her face in shadow. In nine years of meeting with her, neither Aki nor Sashi had ever seen Messenger’s face. She never paid social visits, appearing only when there had some kind of task from the mysterious Selestarri known only as Patron.
As he entered the room, Aki felt the expected wave of familiarity wash over him. It was if he knew Messenger, but couldn’t determine where they’d met. He always got this feeling around her, it wasn’t evil by any means, but it made him uncomfortable not to understand its origins. Sashi claimed that he felt nothing from the Selestarri, not even her thought patterns.
Exhausted from the strength of the Vision, Aki dropped onto a nearby chair, swinging his legs over the side and closing his eyes. Sashi settled down on the window seat, as far from Messenger as possible.
“Are you all right, Akio?” Messenger’s light, musical voice flowed from under the hood.
Aki nodded, his eyes still closed. “I had a long day at school, and it made me tired.” The first part was true at least. He had been at the university the majority of the day, attending class and then waiting for Sashi to finish with soccer practice. “I’m just tired,” he repeated, opening his eyes and smiling in reassurance.
Messenger looked at Sashi, patiently waiting until he acknowledged her with an icy glare. “We’re getting ready for exams,” he grudgingly muttered.
“Did Patron send you to see us, Messenger?” Aki asked, glancing in Sashi’s direction. His partner was looking out into the dark, rainy night, apparently deciding to ignore the presence of the Bright.
“Yes,” Messenger replied, setting her tea on the side table. “But first, Patron sends her greetings and hopes of your continued well-being.”
/I’ll bet she does. / Sashi’s voice whispered in Aki’s head. He bit back a laugh, scolding the sarcastic boy while listening to the Selestarri as she continued to speak.
“She has a very important mission for you, something that will protect the Earth and Aureus Eyrie.” For the next half an hour, Messenger related the story of the two humans and how they had been charged by the Bright to defeat Kribensis. It seemed that they were needed to help complete the promise that had made a thousand years ago.
“There are very serious concerns about the motives of those who aid the former Emperor. We feel the quickest and easiest way to eliminate these threats is to destroy Kribensis. However, it is imperative that those who swore to fight are present because it is their destiny, and things such as that are not to be ignored.” The faceless hood considered each of them for a long moment before she asked, “will you help them?”
Aki turned, waiting for his partner’s answer, but Sashi continued to look out the darkened window. /I don’t really want to do this, / he finally sent, staring out at the city.
/Babysitting for two humans championed by the Bright Selestarri? No, thanks. /
/There isn’t really a lot of choice. /
/Why do we keep taking missions from them? Nothing we’ve done so far has helped us at all! /
/We don’t know that for sure, Sashi. Anything we do can only be beneficial in the long run. /
/So we keep taking orders from two people who refuse to reveal their true identities. What if they are really Dark? /
/They explained before that helping us might endanger them. Besides, you know as well as I do that no one practices shapeshifting, not even the Dark. /
/Lets just say no and see what she does. If they are truly helping us then it won’t matter if we do these silly tasks or not! /
Aki sighed out loud and played his last card. /The only way to end our banishment is to complete these tasks and prove that we’re true. /
Sashi’s head whipped around, his gray eyes angry and staring straight into Aki’s blue. “Fine,” he hissed through gritted teeth.
The shared gaze lasted only a moment before Aki turned to Messenger and nodded. “Where do we have to go?”
“To West Central, a city in America.” The Bright Selestarri rose from the couch, spreading her wings to their limit and shaking them once before folding them behind her. “You’ll need to leave as soon as possible. Three weeks at the most.”
“How will we know these people?” Aki asked, sitting up and sliding from the chair.
“Enroll yourselves at West Central University, and you’ll find them,” Messenger replied.
“Will they be able to contact Kribensis again?” Sashi asked, his head still turned and eyes focused beyond the window.
“Kribensis’ blood calls to theirs because of the magic we gave them. They will always know where he is.” Crossing to the kitchen area, Messenger opened the door and stepped onto the tiny balcony and into the drifting fog.
“One last thing before I leave you,” she said, the rain soaking into her clothing. “It is of the utmost importance that they do not find out who you are.” A flick of her wrist produced two masks in the likenesses of a fox and a rabbit, carved of wood and adorned with feathers. “With the involvement of the Dark, the very last thing you need is to draw attention to yourselves.” Her head turned momentarily toward Sashi before she nodded to Aki and climbed to the top of the railing. “Take care, Akio,” she said, sounding almost sad. “And watch over your partner.”
Powerful white wings beat the air twice as she launched into the night-darkened sky.
Interlude One:
/Kribensis…Kribensis… / The silver-haired man stirred, his body aching as the patronizing voice echoed through his mind. Fighting through the pain, he forced his eyes to open.
Thick, milky fog surrounded him, obscuring all but the immediate surroundings. Struggling to a sitting position, Kribensis squinted and peered into the drifting white, trying to find the source of the voice. Dark, crumbling rock stretched to the left and right, the stone standing out from the swirling mist. Despair threatened to take hold, but he angrily pushed it away. He had returned to the damned familiar ruins.
Running his hands through matted silver hair, Kribensis searched his thin memories. All but the recent past remained closed, leaving only wisps of thought and image floating in his mind. He remembered fighting those humans, the sharp, bright pain as the glaive sliced through tissue and bone, the burning agony of his blood spilling to the floor…
Although he’d visited this place in his dreams, there was no mistaking that this time he was truly standing in the mists, the icy, decaying stone of a crumpled building pressed against his back. The layout of the structures seemed familiar, as though he’d walked here before. Slowly shifting to a standing position, he moved carefully though the fog, and in some forgotten, spider-webbed piece of his mind, the pattern of the buildings flared to life. In a brief instant he saw a map of the entire area, crisscrossed streets and alleyways, gardens and fences, sheds and barns, all outlined in amethyst-hued light.
A hard edge of rock collided with his shin and Kribensis stumbled, the shred of memory cracking like glass, the snap audible as the pain in his head and back exploded. Struggling to remain upright, he tripped again and landed hard, mud splashing his face and soaking into the thin shirt.
Wiping the dripping muck from his eyes, Kribensis caught sight of a figure sitting atop a high, imposing wall of fieldstone. The fog swirled thickly, all but encasing the mysterious person. From his memories the teasing sensation of familiarity rose once again.
“Kribensis, I’m disappointed in you,” the voice said from the shifting white. “The slaves have beaten you twice now.” The mist writhed like a swirl of smoke, wrapping around the deteriorating walls like a blanket. “You dishonor those that have given support, and they begin to doubt their choice.”
Involuntarily, Kribensis shivered as the voice floated down to him. Although he could not see the eyes of the shadowed being, he could feel them staring through him. Hoping more would be revealed if he stayed silent, Kribensis remained still and stared into the fog.
“Are you truly this weak?” The question was mocking, meant to stir his anger, but he refused to cooperate. “Did we protect you for all these years only to see failure upon failure as reward for our efforts?”
Gathering his strength, Kribensis stood quietly, determined to keep what dignity he still had intact. Even if there were something about this person that rubbed at his locked memories, he would not stand to be criticized for things that were beyond his control. Those witch-whores had been aided by unseen forces as well, but it appeared as if they had been given stronger magic, while all he received was talk about his destiny, a head full of emptiness, and blood-soaked black feathers. The odds were stacked against him and now this stranger calls him disappointing and weak! Although they never answered his questions and their cryptic speak was exasperating, he found he immensely preferred the dream animals to this pretentious little shit. Anger surged through Kribensis, who dared to treat him like this? He had ordered people put to death for less.
Buttressed by indignant rage and fueled by a streak of courage, he narrowed his stare and glared at the figure on the wall. “They increase their power, while mine remains the same,” he spat between gritted teeth.
An eerie silence dropped over the fog, the shifting of leather on leather the only immediate response. “You forget to whom you speak, Kribensis,” the shadow-wrapped stranger hissed from its perch, imminent danger lurking in its voice.
Wind gusted through the ruins with the strength of a tornado, kicking up small stones and leaves, and the ground bucked and jumped, a cloud of dust rising as the wall behind Kribensis collapsed. Chips of stone cut into exposed skin, thin trickles of blood warming his face and neck. The magic in the air became so thick he could taste it, ripping at the fog and rock and pulling at his hair and clothing as he fought to keep his balance. Squinting, he caught a glimpse of his tormentor, the mysterious person untouched by wind or shifting earth, the wrapped shadows hugging the dark form.
The force of the display washed over Kribensis with a force that instantly quelled his anger. He dropped his gaze, looking instead at the base of the wall. “I’m…sorry,” he managed to grit out
“It doesn’t matter,” came the reply, the tone indicating that the misstep was apparently placated by his apology. “We have decided to give you another chance. For your own safety, I suggest that you do not fail.”
The figure, cloaked in limitless darkness, floated down from its place on the wall. Driven by the sudden knowledge and fear of the power that the stranger had at its disposal, Kribensis reeled back, desperate not to come close to this new enemy. Despite the thick layers of mist he began to run, quickly determining how difficult it was to maneuver through the unpredictable rock patterns.
Grasping claws seized his shoulder, piercing delicate flesh as he was sent spinning. Smashing hard against a decaying wall, he gasped as the already tender wounds on his back reopened, hot fluid coursing over abused skin. The menacing figure drew close, huge and threatening in the shadowy fog, slamming its arms out to either side of Kribensis’ head and effectively blocking any chance of escape.
Kribensis could feel the shadow’s hot breath on his neck as it moved its head closer. Even this close, darkness covered its face, obscuring all but hallowed, burning eyes. Amused laughter echoed in the tight space between them, as if the sadistic bastard had enjoyed the chase. Terror momentarily overrode the pain and he scratched at the confining arms, uselessly peeling away layers of flesh, euphoric for a split second as blood trickled forth before realizing despondently that the dominating figure was unmoved by the attack. Obsidian claws dug forcefully into his cheeks, fresh scarlet coating his hair and neck, the grip intensifying as he was forced to look directly into the fiery gaze.
“You will succeed or you will die.” The words left shadowed lips with a staccato punctuation that clearly indicated a lack of patience.
A small whimper was all Kribensis could manage, distantly feeling his own legs give out, as any last shred of control was lost. The harsh grip on his face was released and the broken emperor slumped to the ground, eyes still riveted on the figure above.
“Pathetic.” The spat word stung deeper than any physical attack could. He almost wished to be beaten rather than endure this any longer.
A clawed hand roughly lifted Kribensis by his shirt. He felt himself dangle for a moment, the air cold against the congealing trails of gore spread over his back and throat as it whipped around his body, the shadowy assailant sending him crashing against another piece of mortar. Sliding toward the ground, a heeled boot was planted roughly against his chest, keeping him pinned against the brick. A fresh explosion of misery wrenched a scream from deep within, shoulder blades afire as course rock shredded the fragile, weeping skin.
A delighted chuckle came from above as claws glinted in the fog, stretched high over both their heads. A ball of energy began to form, slowly lighting up the shrouding mist. Unable to avert his eyes, Kribensis watched as the whole scene played out in slow motion. The magic twisting and sparking, snapping in the moisture laden air, the glow of the burning pits staring down, excitement ratcheting to new heights as it watched him shake with fear. Reflexively, his eyes clamped shut when he saw the hand begin its descent. Unable to move, he braced for the inevitable blow.
As the blast of energy made contact, it burst into a thousand streaking sparks. Hellish pain splintered through Kribensis’ chest, burning through every nerve and turning his vision black. In aftermath of the excruciating agony rode a surge of power, so terrible and yet so electrifying that he knew not whether to fight it or let it overtake him. Overwhelmed, he relented, allowing the intense magic sweep through his stricken body.
As his vision cleared, the energy subsided until it was only a tingling pulse that beat in time with his heart. Kribensis smiled as he looked down at himself, taking in the shredded clothing and the angry red scorch marks on his chest. It was a very small price to pay for the power to destroy his enemies.
Recovering, Kribensis glanced around the foggy ruins, but the stranger had disappeared. “When will I leave this place?” he called out.
“Your loyal twins will free you soon,” was the response, the voice fading until it was barely a whisper. “We will not allow another failure.”
Sitting on a nearby piece of dew-slicked rock, Kribensis studied his hands as the magic spiraled through his body. Watching as the nearly imperceptible glow traveled down his arm, he began to laugh, the sound echoing through the unending mist. With this new power, those two bitches would surely fall, and he would be free to once again establish his rule.
Thread Two:
226…228…230…234…sighing, Aki stopped in the center of the hallway. He’d been up and down the hall four times, looking for room 232, but it didn’t seem to exist. Glancing at the crumpled piece of paper in his hand, he interpreted Sashi’s scrawling print for the millionth time, but it didn’t change the fact that there was no room 232 or anything even labeled as the psychology department’s animal lab. Maybe Sashi had gotten the number wrong…
As a class in the room beside him let out, Aki stepped to the side of the hall and leaned against the wall. The last month had been nothing short of exhausting. The press to withdraw from classes at Staffordshire-on-Thames, and then trying to arrange a move overseas was much more involved than he had originally anticipated. Even after managing to get most of it straightened out, they still had ended up leaving most of their possessions in London.
The only good thing that had come out of the move so far had been an improvement in Sashi’s mood. His partner had initially been upset about going to America, which held nothing but sorrowful memories for both of them. Although it had been two years since they’d last lived in the States, the pain associated with the murder of their friends in a robbery hadn’t eased. Sashi had been badly hurt by the thieves and lost control of his telepathy under the strain of feeling their friends shot to death. Aki received the backlash, unable to do anything as the two other teenagers bled to death on the pavement. Even after they’d left America Sashi had never bothered to make friends again, fearing perhaps a reenactment of losing them. Given the circumstances, Aki couldn’t really blame him.
However, it seemed that the old memories had not resurfaced, at least not during the two weeks that they’d been here. Overall it made Aki’s day a little better. Dealing with Sashi when he was in a bad mood was not something he enjoyed, even if they had been partners for many years.
The flood of people entering into the hallway increased, drawing Aki from his thoughts. It was almost time to meet Sashi. Pushing his way into the crowd, Aki checked the room numbers again as he passed. Room 232 had to be around here some—
A flurry of papers and books flew into the air and scattered across the floor as he collided with a thin, purple-haired girl. She hit the ground hard, landing amidst the fluttering white sheets.
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” He apologized, helping the girl to her feet. “I guess I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.” Pushing light brown hair from his eyes, he smiled down at her.
“No, you weren’t,” snapped the green-haired girl at her side. “She could have been hurt.”
“I really am sorry,” Aki repeated, bending down to collect the girl’s belongings. “I’m new here and I was looking for the psychology animal lab.”
“It’s all right,” the girl reassured her friend as she knelt down to stuff the papers back into a folder. “I’m fine.” She turned to Aki, her green eyes meeting his blue. “You’re new here?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I’m actually transferring and taking some classes this summer. Next fall I’ll start full time in the mathematics department.” Grabbing the last paper, he handed it to the girl as they stood up. He held out his hand, “I’m Aki.”
The girl slid her palm against his, the skin warm and soft. “My name is Reisu. I’m studying to be a social worker.”
“Wow,” he said, generally impressed. Social work was a difficult, thankless, and stressful job. One had to be very dedicated to helping others to deal with what it entailed.
Reisu’s worried companion extended her hand. “I’m Kimi,” she said, stretching around her friend to shake his hand. “I’m majoring in English lit.”
The crowd around them had begun to thin out. Aki glanced at his watch. If he didn’t leave now, he’d be really late in meeting Sashi. “It was nice to meet you both, but I’m supposed to be meeting a friend, so I’ve got to run.” Turning, he found himself face to face with cool gray eyes.
“Hey,” he greeted the dark-haired boy, stepping back. “I’m glad you found me, because I have no idea where that room is.”
Sashi didn’t reply, only glanced at the two girls who still stood on Aki’s right.
“This is Reisu and Kimi,” he said, and then turned to the girls. “Sashi and I are transferring together.”
“Hey,” Sashi said, his flat gaze sweeping over the two college co-eds before returning to Aki. “You ready?”
Aki nodded. “I’m sure we’ll see you around campus,” he told Reisu and Kimi.
Leaving them standing in the hall, he followed Sashi’s already retreating form. “You know,” he said, reaching his partner’s side. “It wouldn’t kill you to be friendly once and a while.”
Like dark thunderclouds, the gray pools met his blue. “You’re right, it may not kill me, but others haven’t been so lucky.” Sadness tinged the heavy words, and Aki winced.
“What happened was not your fault. You can’t stop a robbery when you’re bleeding on the sidewalk,” he said, cursing himself for getting anywhere near this subject.
Sashi pushed open the outside doors, shivering a bit as the cold air pressed against heavy jackets and scarves. “I couldn’t control my magic and the backlash stopped you from helping them,” he pulled a knit hat over the raven locks. “We both know that nothing good has ever happened to those I get close to.” The dark eyes caught his again. “Even you.”
“Sashi, that’s not—“ Aki’s words were cut off as his partner slipped the iPod headphones into his ears and the faint strains of music ended the conversation. Sighing, he let the matter drop; too tired to chase a subject they’d disputed hundreds of times. After all the years they’d spent together, there were still moments where Sashi was impossible to understand.
The walk home was conducted in silence.
~ MAIN ~ NEXT ~
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