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The Rowanoak Ring
He looked troubled."Class is over." he said, and left.
"But, Basil-" began Eddie, but he was already out the door.
"Well, that was weird." snorted Pollux.
Inwardly I felt a dread, he was going to see Eva. And it was all my fault. I ran to follow him.
I grabbed his arm, and forced him around. My grip was firm."I know you feel betrayed, but that night - Basil! That night I HEARD her. She was so troubled, she was sobbing saying that she was scared of them! You don't know what I saw!"
Basil's jaw locked his eyes never left mine, "I can't endanger your sister."
"She's trying to protect my sister!" I shouted at him.
"Or is she helping them out?" he asked quietly.
Tears filled my eyes. It wasn't true. Somehow in my gut, I knew she was innocent. As innocent as a child. She couldn't help her birthright, like I couldn't help being a princess, and Megan couldn't help being a Moonshadow.
"Basil," I said, "please don't. I swore to her, and you should know of all people how dedicated she is."
He trembled, "I know, but that doesn't solve who she is. She's a Dark One, and that changes everything."
Rage filled me, "So you're going to kill her because that's what her parents were? That's like saying someone's going to kill you because you were born telepathic!"
Hurt was evident in his eyes.
"I won't kill her," he said softly, "but she will have to be held hostage until I know I can trust her." then he tore me from his grip, and walked away.
It was amazing to me, that I could have so much defense for a person a few days ago, I was bent on hating. The real monster at the end of the day, would not be me or Eva though.But Basil. Basil. And at that moment I hated him with a flaming passion. He didn't kill her, but locked her in a cell. And that aroused attention. With mixed results. Some sided with me, some with Basil, some undecided. But, I saw Eva one week ago. It was like a dagger had cut through my heart. She sat in a cell, haggard, and distant. Her skin, paler, her gray eyes misty like she was crying inwardly. There was a plate in the cell, some cheese and a piece of bread, but she didn't eat.
"Do you hate me?" I whispered.
She didn't look up, but her chains rattled as she shifted. "You have done no wrong, so I have no cause to hate you." Her voice was dry and aching like she was going to burst out into tears. "They're right you know, I'm a monster. This is where I should belong."
I shook my head, "You're not a monster. You're Evangelica, magic seamstress, Crindle-whiz, knife-throwing girl."
She stared at me and I gazed hastily away. "You can't say that because you don't know yourself." she said lowly. Her chains clanked, "But I should expect nothing more."
"What?" I asked.
"A Dark One can not expect to have friends, princess, that's what they taught me when I was younger. That in the end, your allies betray you. And when someone you trust betrays you, you really betrayed yourself." she said.
I remember shooting daggers at him that day, but he seemed immune to any feelings. I recall having a discussion about it with Astar once."He's hurt," she said biting into her baloney sandwich.
"How hurt can he be when Eva's the one being treated like an animal?" I snapped.
"I'm not trying to justify him, I'm just putting it how it is. He's confused on what to do. Is his friend a friend? Or a foe? He's trying everything to make sure the first is true. He visits her everyday, but some times she can't talk-"
"Because she thinks it'll be no good!" I burst.
"No! Her health is declining! She's no longer well!"
"Then take her out of confinement."
"Dangerous."
"Give her some air!"
"She could run away."
"Astar!"
"Kaleigh, if I had my way she would be out of prison by now. But, it wouldn't be the same."
You heard her right.Zinnia left the infirmary maybe about five days previous to this conversation. Amazingly she seemed extra sour, and I found out that Eva was one of her combat buddies. I don't know if she felt the string of betrayal that attached Basil, or if she too believed that Ev' was innocent.
When our lessons resumed I couldn't tell whether or not she liked Megan either, but I believed she was more fond of her than me. She wasn't as easy as Astar yet I can't expect that. She's Zinnia for goodness' sake! But nothing much changed for several more weeks.
Eddie still remained Megan's favorite while Pollux reluctantly acknowledged it. Iris and Astar were cheerful, but more silent after Eva's captivity. Basil still remained patient and calm. A mask no doubt to hide his own inner turmoil. But, let's face it. All people wear masks to hide who and what they are or feel. The hardest part of all is taking off that mask. That silly feathered thing to let people see your real face.
Eva's was forced. Some, I suppose like the Dark Ones were deliberate.
Even I wore a mask at some point in my life.
But as I sat there doing a task, I would look up at Eva's hold and grimace. For what a mask she wore, and we all weren't sure what to make of it.
"Eva," I said my heart sinking inside, "You can't keep doing this!"She didn't say anything. I was frustrated! If only she would tell Basil every thing! Then he would unlock her and this would be over! But then, she spoke,
"These walls will drive me mad, but I do not come out. Or else they'll get me. They stare at me in the shadows, waiting. You do not know. You won't even try to know. But they're here, but they do not attack."
My eyes widened, "What about Megan?"
"Can't. I've protected her, only way destroy it is to break me. Train fast, for I will break some day. And I will not be me, they will have me."
My hand flew to my mouth."Suck it up buttercup," snapped Melody after Astar gasped, "life isn't all rainbows and unicorns. She deserves to die!"
"Most I remind you," snorted Pollux, "This is the girl who was here before you Mel. In fact she's practically our heart. If she wanted to kill us she could have done so ages ago."
Melody let out a loud laugh, "That's what I'm saying! She had to get on your good side. Look at Basil here - brooding about with sunken eyes! This is what betrayal does to a person. He wouldn't suggest death unless he MEANT it." Her fist slammed unto a table surface.
"But he doesn't!" cried Astar shrilly, "I know she's good! Even Kaleigh does!"
"Ha! That's the problem with you two you're both too naive." Melody said.
"Yeah, call me naive and immature, even Kali, but that's not the point," said Astar mildly, "so Ev's got some weird history. We all do! We're all outcasts! Abandoned for dead. I agree with Pollux she could've knocked us out years ago if she WAS bad. Which she isn't."
"But we don't know!" shouted Basil as if on the brink of giving up.
"Chatter all you want," came Zinnia suddenly, "it's not going to do anything. I say, if Evangelica is good let her prove it. And if she's bad - come what may. Otherwise, we're loosing a valuable teammate." my heart swelled for that girl.
Pollux left after that as well, leaving only Basil and Astar inside."Please Basil," croaked Astar, "give her a test. That's all I want."
There was a silence, and then, "So be it."
I almost squealed in excitement and raced to the prison yard, picked at the lock, and raced inside practically shouting Eva's name.
"Tests!" I cried happily as I reached her cell, "There going to test you Eva!! They're going to test you!"
Eva, haggard, and worn looked up wide-eyed.
"Now you can prove your good!" I continued, "You won't die."
Instead of shouting for joy, Eva's face turned in horror, "What?" suddenly she leapt from her chains and grasped my hand, "No! Say they're not!"
I missed the message by a landslide, "Yes!"
"No! No! No! No! NO!!!!" she yelled, and sat down burying her face in her hands.
I was stunned, "What do you mean?"
"They kill me, my chants are broken. They let me out? Oh no no NO! They're going to die! They're going to die!" she wailed.
"Who's going to die?" I demanded.
"You!" she wailed tears streaming down her face, "Basil! Zinnia! ASTAR! Pollux! Iris! I'll kill them all!"
"Your going to kill me?" I responded shock.
"Don't you remember?" she cried, " THEY'LL have me. THEY'LL get me. My body will not be my own! I will be an empty lump of flesh and bone controlled by them!"
I was stunned. "What can I do?" I asked trembling.
She furiously wiped away tears, "Grab my stone."
"Your WHAT?"
"My Soul Stone," she clarified, "In my room, in the trunk, in a box with the key underneath my bed. Then, go in the woods, and look for the willow tree at the bank of the river. Under the willow, vertical to the knot in the trunk you'll dig, and you'll find rocks with symbols. Crush my Soul Stone."
There was an eery wind that entered, but Eva didn't care she was still instructing, "Crush it unto peices and put the small shards on the rocks. One for each. With the rest of the shards go to underneath the Moonshadows window where more rocks with symbols are. Put more of the fragments on them. The willow's rocks are for border protection, the rocks underneath the window are inside protection for the Moonshadow. With the last glass shard, a large chunk, fashion a necklace and give it to your sister. She must always wear it. That large stone with activate the small shards around it bringing her protection. She must always wear it." she pressed that last bit heavily.
"Okay, and with this she'll be safe?" I asked, and Eva nodded, "but what about you?"
She smiled softly, tears appearing in her eyes, "By tomorrow, I will not be, or ever be. The Soul Stone is my being, when you crush it, you... " she left it hanging, "but since the Soul Stone is broken my spirit will live in the fragments keeping the spells activated. Only if the Dark Ones find Megan's stone they'll make it default, and in a way kill me fully. But, otherwise I'll be here."
I looked down, "Will it hurt? When I crush it?"
A tear trickled down her cheek, and she touched my hand, "I don't know," her voice trembled, "but if it did, I imagined it would be over soon."
Tears fell on my own cheeks, and as I left for Eva's room I trembled in a terrified awe. Because Eva, had given me her very life. And now, I would destroy it with her very permission. What she must be feeling, probably far surpassed my own.
It cut in half cleanly. Goosebumps snaked up my arm, and most painfully I can imagine Eva going limp. The willow seemed to creak in pain. Taking a deep breath, I saved one small corner of it for the necklace, and crushed the other part if it. Then I placed a small peice of the stone on the rocks, and most miraculously the Soul Stone sunk in leaving a small sapphire circle against the gray.But it wasn't that which shocked me, but that when I picked up the small fragments that used to make up a cool stone, it was warm. I buried the rest of the rocks with the Soul Stone embedded in it, and picked up the rest. The blue stone was still warm in my hand as if radiating Eva's spirit. But then a word - no a name - came to me.
Lumina.
That was Eva's name. Her real name. Her stone glowed within my palm as if remembering it too. Making haste, I found Megan's window, put the rest of the small stones in the rocks, buried them, and with the shovel and the last stone I headed back. The shed was my first stop where I put the shovel away, and then I went to my room. I pulled out a locket that I had bought out in the market a few weeks ago, and I opened it. I knew the stone wouldn't fit, but I thought I'd try anyway.
As soon as the stone hit the silver, it melted until it had reached the circle-shape of the locket mold. The leftover stone absorbing. I shut it satisfied, and looked at the front. It was clear, as if to give view of the content inside, so I could see the brilliant blue stone within. It was beautiful, I tried to open it, but it was permanately stuck so it couldn't be removed. But that still didn't demean from it's worth. And then, only then, from the prison yard did I hear someone scream and shout.
I wanted to cry and puke at the same time, for my suspicions were confirmed by the sobbing Astar. Eva -or Lumina rather- was dead. And I held her Soul Stone in my palm waiting for my sister.
(She's not really dead. She's in the stone.)
(They tell her she's dead. To kill a Dark One you need to destroy their stone. Kaleigh didn't destroy it, she only cut it, oh yes - Eva's not going to have a body, but her soul is still in the stone. I was thinking maybe someday that they could peice all the shards together and get her back. Just an idea)
(It's fine, I didn't want to kill her off entirely either)
(Haha! Guess it's your turn now to deal with the drama XD)
(And I was thinking Eddie and Megan could be friends! *frowning* I kinda like this Edward Antonio.)I woke up in my bed a few hours earlier, the stone necklace on my dresser. I felt miserable. Not the 'my heard hurts' miserable, not the 'my life is terrible' miserable, but the 'I feel guilty' terrible. I didn't do anything wrong, I had saved practically everyone. Heck! Even Eva-I mean Lumina- wanted me to! But was it right?
Eva was buried next day. No one bothered with a coffin, or to get some kinda priest. Nope. In fact no one even bothered with a tombstone. I, of course, picked out the biggest, and smoothest rock I could find and carved her name. Not Lumina of course, because well, I don't know. Maybe I just felt it was personal. So I wrote 'L. EVANGELICA' - leaving out her birth, but wrote her death just to be fair.
It was barely readable anyway, carving was hard, and took several hours of work, but it was the best I could do. I also gave Megan the necklace. She smiled and said, "It's not my birthday you know, but thanks for the gift."
But it was never my gift. It was only from that girl in the grave with her heart in a shard.
Iris stared a long time at the grave, and then turned and smiled,"I always envied her for having wings." She stated.
"Why?" I asked. She looked at me incredulously in response,
"Because if I had wings I could fly anywhere I wanted to."
I didn't know what to say. Eva had wings to fly, but she was never free was she? I barely noticed Iris was still talking,
"She made a promise to me once," she said slowly as if recalling, "she said that once the Moonshadow had delivered us from the Dark Ones, and no one would care about our gifts that she would fly me all across the world. That we would see everything. I haven't told Pollux this yet, but a few minutes before Astar screamed I thought I heard her. And do you know what she said?"
My voice was caught in my throat, my eyes brimming with tears, so I only shook my head no.
"She said that she'd come back. She said that she was going to come back, and when she was done she would tour me around the world. Just like she promised. And then I knew, that she wasn't really gone. Because Eva never breaks a promise. Never."
Then right there in the trees I saw a shadow. It attempted to take a step onto the line, but let out a terrible ear-splitting screech. I fell to the earth."Kaleigh?" asked Iris scrambling to my side, I covered my ears, I felt like my ears were about to bleed. Then the shadow turned to me, and I could feel it's rage sweeping into my soul.
'You did thissss...' it hissed, other dark shadows appeared next to the trees and they pointed their dark arms at me hissing in chorus, 'You won't lassst long.... Lumina can't hold you forever. You die...'
"Iris!" I said faintly, "Don't go in the trees."
"What?"
"Don't go in the trees."
"Why?"
"Dark Ones." My eyes never left them, they looked at me with persecuting red ruby eyes.
"Where?"
"Everywhere." I whispered.
"I don't see any."
'Run... you can't hide... essscape... you'll find no rest...' they hissed. I grabbed Iris' hand and fled. Their cries growing louder.
I didn't have enough time to scream though, instead I snatched the girl up, and cradling her in my arms I continued to run.
My hands flew to my mouth in horror.
"Am I dead?" her red eyes looked up at me painfully."No no." I said comforting her a bit awkwardly. Was she... a Dark One now?
"I don't feel to well," she mumbled then she leaned over and threw up, "I feel like something's inside me..." she threw up again, and looked up at me. I caught a flash of her brown eyes, and then it went back to ruby stones. Then it hit me. She was possessed.
As we ran, I became sorely troubled. Luminous's spell must have had a flaw in it. The Dark Ones couldn't come in physically, but through another they could. The only meager advantage we seemed to have is that the Dark One inside Iris, was making her sick because of the spells boundaries. Which certainly meant that Dark One wouldn't last long. Right?Iris' hand seared mine as I ran to Basil's room and knocked frantically. It swung open. He looked even more disheveled than he had been before, "What?" he asked.
"Iris is possessed."
His room was average. It wasn't as big as mine, but it was simple. Bed pushed up in a corner, a few trunks, three shelves lined with books, and a writing desk. He sat Iris down at the bed and peered at her eyes.After a moment of silence he said, "It's true. Her thoughts are jumbled. Not in a good way either. I can't read a Dark Ones mind, especially an one whose sworn to loose their original form." he paused, "but it's having trouble adjusting oddly. It'll be out soon it appears." he turned to me, "How did she get like this?"
"We were at Eva's grave, and I saw the Dark Ones in the shadows. She must have got too close to the trees..."
He looked puzzled, "You saw Dark Ones?"
"Yeah."
"Did Iris see them?"
"No."
He hesitated, "But then how do you see them? No one can see them unless they reveal their true form."
I was perplexed right then. How? How did I see them. Then something came to mind: The Soul Stone. They had gone over it in history a few months back. Something that when you crush a Soul Stone -if the owner is willing- the destroyer will be given a gift or curse. Lumina! Lumina could see her kind in whatever form! That was the ability I was given. An ability to protect Megan the way she would've done!!
"...Kaleigh?" he repeated slowly.
"I can see them because I crushed Eva's Soul Stone..." I said without realizing it, he looked at me in terror,
"You crushed her Stone!" He practically shouted, then his eyes softened, "Right." He took an intake of breath and turned to Iris.
He gave me instructions to take her to the Infirmary for further tests, but before I left I said,
"She wanted me to do it you know."
He looked up, "I'm not angry at you. Just at myself. I thought I listened to her, but in truth I heard only what I wanted to hear. And now, I didn't even have a chance to say sorry."
So THAT was it. He wanted Eva's forgiveness.
"You know," I said carefully, "I don't think it'll be the last time we see her." and then I shut the door, taking Iris to the Infirmary leaving Basil stunned.
Ok. So I totally understated that. It is a huge problem. But, I didn't feel comfortable shouting fifty feet away about how terrible his sister's situation was. But, he jogged over. I explained to him everything on the way, Iris' face a mix of calm. Her eyes flashing from chocolate brown to red circle stones. Pollux of course, was horrified that his sister was possessed, and also that I was the cause of Eva's mysterious lapse of life."So you crushed her stone?" he asked for the umpteenth time.
"Yeah." I answered trying to keep that annoying guilt from clawing at my tone. I couldn't seem to shake it. I mean when you look at it from symbolic tones: I crushed her soul. It's not a very glamorous or proud statement. In a normal sentence you might think I crushed her dream or ambition. But, I literally CRUSHED her SOUL. I can't think of anything more literal to describe it. It sent chills down my spine.
"Wow." he said, again, "What did you do with it?"
I didn't give specifics, only that I buried some of it, and the other I saved for Megan. His eyes widened,
"So she's wearing it?" he asked.
Then I began to dread. Eva said never take off the necklace or else everything would default. Maybe Megan took off the necklace for one brief second so the Dark One was able to come in, then she put it back on so now it was struggling.
I made a mental note to check on her later.
I was horrified. "Zinnia!" I screamed. "Astar! Eddie! Basil!" I shouted everyone I could name, except for Megan. It would be to risky."KALEIGH!" bellowed Pollux, he obviously could crush Iris, but that would risk injuring his own sister so he only pushed her away.
"I'm trying!" I exclaimed, my voice sore.
'Call,' came a voice, 'Call.' not the Dark Ones but someone else. Eva.
"Call who!" I shouted.
'Call,' repeated the voice, 'Call...'
"Eva!" I cried in exasperation, "Who!!!"
"KA-LEIGH!" shouted Pollux as Iris bared her teeth attempting to bite his finger off.
'Call me,' whispered Eva patiently.
I took a deep breath and just as I opened my mouth words came out. It was like Eva was giving me them.
"Listen, Listen Evil One
I Know Your Name
I Know Your Sound
Listen, Listen Evil One
Be Still
Leave Now
Little Evil One
Let the Harmless Child be Still
You Crossed the Lines
You Cross Them Now
You Cross Your Kind
You Cross Her Will
You Say You'll Kill
Leave Little Evil One!"
I chanted it over and over and then I heard the same ear-peircing shriek, and slowly a gray fog pooled from Iris' mouth, then different words came:
"She Made a Promise to That Child
That She Would Take Her By Her Side
How Dare You Cross
And Try To Break
A Promise She Will Keep and Make
Be Gone!
Be Gone!
You Evil One!"
It continued to scream and wither until it was no more. I felt my legs buckle and black out. Before I collapsed I could've sworn Eva was by my side, smiling, 'Remember My Call, and I will come.'
Astar's 'couple of friends' made four whole teams. Yeah. She practically invited a half of everyone that's here, but hey! I'm not complaining. And Astar was kind enough to part me with some people that I know, so no complaints. Our team consisted of Pollux, Eddie, me, Megan, Saundra -water weilder- and Cathy -animal shapeshifter. Of course Megan hadn't deviated from Eddie very much these last months. Turns out, they were instant BFF's - a match made in, well, wherever we were at the moment. And, they had a lot in common. They liked the color green, they liked pineapples (Megan liked eating them, Eddie liked slicing them), and both spontaneously saying jokes... it's kinda cute. But, needless to say at least she found a friend. Which is really hard for both us seeing that we're rather sheltered. Pollux, however, completely unaware of their friendship, looked a bit jealous when Megan whispered something in Ed's ear and they fist-bumped. Probably some inside joke I assume.
(It's OK, XD)"Play it cool?" he repeated.
I glared at him, and he held up his hands in surrender, "FINE!" he muttered, he turned to addressed the rest of the group, "Alright, here's the real plan. Cathy, your hair is dark enough to pass for Iris's. So you'll infiltrate Group 3. Saundra and Eddie take over Group 1, and Megan and I will head for Group 4, Kaleigh you'll guard base."
Saundra pushed her gigantic glasses up from the ridge of her nose, "Question."
Pollux nodded impatiently.
"Shouldn't we have someone more capable of protecting the flag?"
I blushed.
Pollux glared long and hard, "Fine, Megan will protect the flag."
Saundra gasped, her glasses nearly falling off, "But- she's still training!" she blabbered.
Pollux grinned, "Then Kaleigh stays. Move out team!"
I plop a lemon head in my mouth -I'm not stealing! I prepaid!- and hid the flag underneath the counter. I wish Pollux would've sent me so backup, but alas. He had his mission with Megan. I just prayed the game would be over soon.
Think Kaleigh! THINK!!!! "Ha!" I laughed, "You fell for it."Iris was taken aback, "What?"
"You fell for it," I snickered, "The flag's not here."
Iris glared, "Of course it is, why would you be in here?"
I shrugged and feigned stupidity, "Pollux told me to wait here until he gave me the sign to sneak up on Group 1."
Iris shrugged, "Then I guess you'll be a Captive now."
Shoot. Captive. Right. With lightening speed, I grabbed the broom next to me and jabbed it in Iris' ribs. Then, I tackled, pining her down. And sang "CAPTIVE! And try to shape-shift all yeah want, but don't move too fast," I snatched a jar full of peppermints, "Or I must just knock you out."
I had no idea how to bash someone on the end with glass, so I just hoped she wouldn't test me to see if I was serious.
Megan slapped me."Darn! Kaleigh! You OK?"
"Yeah," I said groggily, my head hurt.
"Gosh I could hear that scream from miles! Are your ears ringing?"
"Yeah," I said again, everything was dull and muffled. A slight ringing in the background. "Wha' happened?"
"Well for starters, they stole our flag."
I groaned.
"It's OK! Fault in plans, not your fault."
She looked kinda annoyed, but rather pleasant. She explained once Pollux was out of ear-shot.
"It was so awkward," she told me, "I was, of course, keeping an eye out, but he kept trying to think of stuff to say. I don't know. Think I'm taking this game a bit serious?"
I chuckled at her asking me for advice, "Maybe. But you're rather competitive."
Megan pursed her lips, "I'm serious! He was rambling on about different flowers and he nearly got us caught!"
I snickered trying to imagine Pollux talking about roses and daisies. But the subject was dropped when Pollux came back. He looked grim.
Said Megan smiling. Pollux got the message right, and smiled back."Yeah, sorry 'bout that. But we got some good news at least. Eddie and Saundra caught the flag."
Megan beamed, "Way to go Ed!" she exclaimed cheerily raising her fist in victory.
"And Saundra." I coughed.
(XD - Alrighty then.)"So are we going to steal back our flag?" I asked.
"Of course," was Pollux's response, "Once Eddie and Saundra arrive anyway. I'm going to need Megan and you to protect that flag while we go get ours."
He was trusting me again? Well, at least he was decent enough to leave me with backup.
"Yeah right," snorted Megan as she stuffed a long tootsie roll stick in her mouth, "And if she was how would you know?" she looked up frowning and in mock horror said, "Oh dear me! You're not a traitor are you?"I stifled a laugh.
"Maybe." Pollux said giving a devilish look.
Megan rolled her eyes disbelievingly.
"Yeah! Yeah! She'd be crazy enough to come back here anyway." Said Megan waving him away.
(Why would she? She's already got their flag so there's no point in coming back. Besides Iris is too sweet to beat someone up)
(I was planning on them loosing the game anyway, but if you want you could)
"Nope," I grunted rubbing my throbbing head, "And let's try to keep it that way. I think I have a goose bump on my forehead from hitting the floor so hard."Megan grinned, "Eh, it's probably for the best anyway. We don't really have anything of worth to steal at the moment do we?"
"Not really," I muttered looking around, I had to blink again to get my vision into focus again. Everything was turning in circles and I couldn't exactly concentrate. One half wanted to me go to sleep, the other wanted me to stay awake.
I plopped down, "That might be best."
I waved her away.In truth I found out that I had a concussion. Apparently I blacked out, Megan freaked so she stopped the game, and they got me to the infirmary.
I can so imagine it:
'Oh yeah. I'm the Moonshadow's big sister. I black out a lot.. so um... yeah. Sorry you're disappointed.'
I mean after all, she started it!Megan visited of course, company reasons I assume, but otherwise Astar shooed her out.
I kept dreaming about Megan. And it was always like this:I was overlooking a room. It was dark, but the room was dome-shaped, and made out of crumbling stones. In the darkness I could make out my sister, and a darkly clad woman with a shadowy staff that didn't seem solid. My sister battled this woman with powerful words, but the woman kept strong. A smile curling as she advanced. Tired, and exhausted Megan was spent. Fumbling and gasping for words. With one swift movement she pished Megan to the ground and ripped out Eva's necklace. Pinning Megan down with her staff.
"Well what do we have here," the woman tisked in amusement, "where on earth did you find such a lovely... necklace?" her eyes gleamed in triumph.
"My sister gave it to me," Megan rasped.
The woman looked smiled, "Oh I highly doubt that," she murmured softly, and stroked the locket fondly, "What a waste.. what a waste.."
"Waste?" goggled Megan.
"Oh Moonshadow! I expected much more from someone so accomplished," she smirked, "Honestly you can't tell me that you didn't know you had such power," her smirk widened, "Pity."
"I don't understand..." fumed my sister, "It's just a necklace."
She roared in laughter that went down to an amused chuckle, "Really? Just a necklace? I beg to differ." with a wave of her hands iron chains pinned Megan to the ground. She walked over to a platform and put the blue necklace on the table. "Consider this... a lesson of magical chemistry," the woman said dumping liquids into a large bowl. "These liquids, aren't dangerous," she began and turned to Megan slightly, "Not now anyway. They're harmless when they're alone, but mixed with other liquids and you might find they are very dangerous. Your 'necklace' will be very useful when I dip it into this mixture. Useful to me anyway." she waved her hand over the necklace and the top fell off. But how could she? I could've sworn it was locked! She took out the stone and held it to her eye. Then she plopped it into the bowl.
It sizzled, and fizzed, and crackled, and snapped. It boiled, and smoked, and then- a scream. Megan gasped.
"You see Moonshadow," the woman spoke as the scream grew softer, "Your stone is a very interesting one, with very unique properties. It does not decay, or weather, you can't melt it either. In fact one might argue it's not a stone at all. It thinks, it breathes, it knows. And occasionally, if you do it right, it brings power. And this one.. is very powerful. Unfortunately it's not very.. cooperative, so a bit of persuasion is needed. Two of these liquids will dissolve it's unimportant exterior, therefore taking it's heart's protection. Once it is dissolved then the heart will crack. Releasing that scream. The mixed liquids will seep into the crack turning it - in a word, very evil. Once the damage is done inside it will heal itself with it's new interior." with tongs she extracted a small smoking silver ball. "Beautiful," the woman murmured faintly, then without warning she picked it up and threw it on the ground shattering it. Megan gasped. The woman smiled as smoke began to curl upwards.
"I'm quite sorry to say, but I will not be able to finish you off myself," began the woman, "but, I am pleased to announce the one who will," a shadowy form began to appear, I stared useless and shocked, "I introduce to you the rightful leader, Princess Lumina, or as you know her Evangelica."
Pale arms appeared out of the shadows, and emerged came Eva. But she was not Lumina. This Lumina was different. This Lumina was dangerous. This Lumina would kill.
"Megan!" I screamed, but no one heard.
And Lumina grinned wickedly as she opened her wings. They were darker, and more intimidating. Her black eyes giving off a gleam.
And it ended, just like that. Every time. I shivered and I realized that was a warning from Eva. There was someone who wanted her. Badly. One of her last words to me was never let the stone fall into the hands of the Dark Ones. She was serious. She was a powerful one that got a way. And they wanted her back.
Another warning perhaps...But the stone was blue not green.
Then words came to me,
'They will try to grab or spy
They are more than meets the eye
They are of service to the Night
They steal what they have no right
They replace it with things that give appearance
To that which is stolen as an interference.
They will steal that which is mine
And take it to the spine
If this happens watch ever closely
For one wrong move and the Moonshadow's downfall comes quite quickly.
The other stone will have a fault
It will not save her all about
So if harm ever comes her way
Beware! Beware! And find it soon
Or else the Moonshadow we'll loose
And I will not be the same
Neither nice or tame
And they will regret I ever came.'
And that was it. But Eva! I thought impatiently, she didn't make any sense and I didn't have TIME for riddles. But, it was all I got, so I went to the library and picked up a book about the Dark Ones searching the pages for any mention of servants or help - and then I caught it.
Night Imps.
'That is it!' came the voice, 'That is them who trick!'
I thought you could keep them out, I thought tartly.
'Night Imps are not the same. They're clever and quick. They know ins and know outs. They go in numbers and they stick together no matter what the fix.'
'They search for the necklace, they want me back.''I know that!' I thought angrily, 'but WHAT does it mean? WHAT do I do?'
I heard nothing.
"Eva?" I said.
Then I heard something. A scramble outside the library.
"Eva..." I repeated softly as I neared the door. I swung it open and I saw three hideous things clutching - Megan's necklace. They looked burnt and frazzled. The sun, they hate the sun. They burn in the sun that's why they're hurt, I thought in horrified fascination. Eva's stone pulsed in their hands, they saw me and made guttural clicks.
They're here.
They looked at me. At then one gave a sort of screech. Then they ran down the hallway."Wait! Stop!" I shouted, but they kept running, me chasing after them.
"Now, it's best if you do this exercise sitting down." he said, and we all sat down. Megan motioned for Eddie to sit down with her, he complied with a broad grin on his face. Pollux appeared to be ignoring them, but I could tell he was pretty annoyed.
"Alright, now I need you to shut your eyes, and imagine a barrier. A wall if you will. Cinder, marble, brick, stone, whatever helps you to think of a wall."
I imagined a cinder wall of course, imagining it's gray imposing height over my mind.
"Now, that wall is going to shield you, but you need to make it come to life. Make it have a purpose. One by one, I will go in your minds and you'll have to block me off. Guard everything you can, and don't give in. Gradually, I'll do some attacking in the lessons to come, but for now I'll just push the barrier lightly to see where you're at. Remember, the stronger your wall -or the desire to keep the things you want hidden- the stronger your defense. Ready? Let's begin."