((Now, I'll turn this into a real post as soon as possible (I sincerely apologize for this), but I know even with a re-read I won't pick up on all contexts, because I'm an idiot, so could anyone please fill me in on whats up so I can hop back into the storybook? Sorry for dropping off the face of the earth for a few days as well. I'm done with my previous engagement now, though.))
Nila walked over to me."We going to attack tonight."she said. I flashed her a slight smirk before she dashed off to tell the others we going to leave.I walked over to the window,like to night before their was a full moon. I ran my hand over my ring it seem to grow warm.I could feel my parents here.
Cataluna Zara *She's going off to meditate and center herself for the battle.* Nila ran over to Zyrten and I. I was sitting next to him drawing comfort from his warmth and strength. "We attack tonight." She said excitedly. I bowed my head in reply biting my lip. I heard her run off and Zyrten wrapped his arm around me. "Are you alright?" He asked quietly. I shook my head and looked up at him. "They've got something... evil sick and perverted in there." I said my voice slightly strangled. He hugged me tightly and I buried my face in his chest. "We'll be ok just as long as we are together." He soothed quietly rubbing my back. I took a deep breath drawing strength from him and looked up at him smiling beatifically. "Alright just don't do anything stupid. " I said quietly standing up. "Where are you going?" He asked. I just smiled at him and walked away. I walked outside and sat down a few hundred yards from the house and I sat down stroking the sweet grass that grew there. Feverfew, honey suckle, ylang-ylang thousands of scents mingled together and I smiled. Mother Topaz had certainly been dedicated all of the plants were bursting into bloom and full of life though many of their growing seasons had long since past. I crossed my legs and closed my eyes and started to meditate centering myself calmly breathing in and out feeling my body relax and the power of the earth and sky mix into me slowly filling me with calm and strength. I was vaguely aware of my body now and I was in front of a crystal clear pool. I looked up and saw a familiar loving face. 'Crow!' I exclaimed unable to speak. 'Hello Cat you have done well u-we-tsi-a-ge-ya hu-tsa. I sense the Goddess is with you and your friends. She is proud of your path as am I.' She said smling gently. 'What about the battle?' I asked. 'You must stay true to yourself and your friends when it is said and done you must flee that place and find me. I will send you on your way.' She said quietly then I felt someone kiss my forehead. 'I love you little one stay strong and keep those who love you by your side.' She added and disappeared. I was back in Mother Topaz's garden breathing hard then I touched my forehead I still could feel Crow's lips and I smiled. She was proud of me as was the Goddess. *She calls Arthur's Grandma Mother Topaz out of respect*
"You are without a doubt, the worst pirate I've ever heard of."
I kept myself warmed up as I prepared myself for battle. Thankfully, Nanna's premonitional power came in handy. There was armor for everybody in the entire group. My armor was black and could disappear as completely as I could. Isis and Nefertiti were also armored. I said calmly to Isis, "This is where we become warriors, my friend. Nanna would be so proud." Isis said, "So would your mother, Master Arthur. I know she would be proud of you." She sat down. "You look like a true leader. No doubt the Goddess has filled you with leadership. What a man you've become." "Yes, Isis," I said proudly. "I've reached my manhood now."
Look down and show some mercy if you can. Look down, look down, upon your fellow man.
I walked up to Arthur and kissed him on the cheek. He turned my face to catch my lips, and slowly my arms went around his neck and I leaned against him. His arms went round my waist and pulling me closer, he tangled his fingers in my long hair. "Umm.. Arthur?" Jake said, standing behind us. We jumped apart. Maybe we shouldn't have been kissing in front of everyone...
"Umm yes.." Arthur said clearing his throat. He glanced at me, and I noticed his fingers were still wound around my hair.
I tried to move, but I got jerked back. "Arthur!" "Its not me! My armor," he gestured and I took his hand and unwound it from my hair. Then I grabbed the clip I had in my pocket and wound my hair into a messy bun.
I watched him from afar and felt the love for him that rested always in the pit of my stomach, rose into my chest.
It took me a few minutes to get Nila's hair out of my gauntlet. Jake almost caught me and Nila kissing, which was quite embarrassing to me. Isis chuckled and sang, "Arthur and Nila, sittin in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G." I threatened, "Keep it up and I'll kill you eighteen times over, Isis. I'm in no mood for that juvenile attitude." Isis said, "I couldn't help it. You and Nila make a divine couple. Besides, I know what's your problem when you're around girls." "No you don't. My girl problem is between me and my-" I stopped short. "You read my private Incantus behind my back, didn't you?" Isis grinned. "Yes I did. I know you're always too shy to even ask a girl out. That happens to the males of the human race all the time. Don't worry, Master Arthur. Your secret dies with me."
Look down and show some mercy if you can. Look down, look down, upon your fellow man.
I leaned against the wall, strapping my armor on. I quickly wound my hair into a french braid and tucked it under my collar. I turned at caught Arthur watching me. I grinned at him, and continued putting on my armor.
"Everyone ready?" Arthur shouted. We all walked up to him, and I moved to stand beside him. His arm went round my waist, but let it fall when everbody circled around us...
Azure Ashe was lying, flitting between sleep and wake. I had soaked a cloth in cold water, and I wiped his brow, bathing his forehead. He moaned and I bent down and whispered "Shh.. go back to sleep." The creases in his forehead disapeared, and smoothed out again.
I passed down everyone a box of stinkbomb potions. I said, "Whatever you do, don't throw this in the face of a staff member. Stinkbomb potions are very deadly if in contact with the mouth or the eyes. I recommend you throw the potion at a nearby wall to make the whole room stink. As long as the Institution staff are out of the building, we have until the smell fades to get Ashe and Azure out of the Institute itself. If you need to buddy up, then be my guest. Otherwise, we might have to split up to get the job done quicker. If anybody has questions, speak now or forever hold your peace."
Look down and show some mercy if you can. Look down, look down, upon your fellow man.
*As a pure shapeshifter Ashe is technically the King of the Were-Beasts, though it's not a responsibility he wants. Were-Beasts dwell on a seperate plain and can only be called to the human world by a pure shapeshifter. For those wondering a pure shapeshifter is one capable of taking many forms, instead of being limited to just one. As a child Ashe accidently summoned a Were-Bear, who then tried to kill him so he couldn't be sent back. Though Ashe survived, the incident has left him a little leery of dealing with his fellow shapeshifters.*
Ashe Breaker:
The Mists were dark and gloomy, swirling around Ashe and obscuring his view. Like always Ashe got the impression of many people lurking just out of sight beyond the foggy veils. Despite all the people Ashe sensed around him only one stepped forward. Amia wore a long sleeveless dark green dress. Her midnight dark hair was pulled back in a clasp, baring regal facial features. A flawless beauty, except for the glittering white scales on her arms.
She bowed slightly to Ashe, looking him up and down. Her lips curved in a not-quite-smirk as she gazed at the collar around his neck, an affront to any shapeshifter. "Well now my young Lord, you certainly have gotten yourself into trouble haven't you?" Amia's voice was sibillant, characteristic of a Were-Snake, but it didn't disguise her clear amusement at his predicament.
"Don't call me that." Ashe snapped at her.
Amia rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Whether or not you accept the title of Lord of Beasts you are our king Ashe. The first pure shape-shifter born in three hundred years. You are not limited to a single animal form and thus are the strongest among us, like it or not." Her voice turned almost pleading as she urged him. "Call us Ashe. Call us into the human world that we may free you and the girl. We would gladly do away with your tormentors."
Ashe almost said yes but memory rose, stopping him. The memory of a child's screams and a bear's roar. The sound of rending flesh and the scent of blood. Shaking his head decisively Ashe stepped back. "No Amia. The one time I summoned a Were-Beast he tried to kill and eat me. No offence but I don't really want to repeat the experience."
Mentally Ashe parted the curtain, forcing himself to wake from the mists. His voice echoed oddly as he spoke. "I am no fool Amia. Just as I can call you forward I can also send you back. There is nothing to stop you from killing me to close the gate once you're through."
Waking with a start Ashe opened his eyes to stare up at Azure hovering over him. He must have passed out at some point because they were back in the cell. Grimacing, Ashe levered himself up into a sitting position. It had been years since Ashe was last in the Mists, normally his will was strong enough that he could keep from entering them in his sleep.
Amia's parting shot whispered in his mind as he woke fully. "Trevan was a renegade, do not judge us all by the standard of a criminal. If you want reascurance look in a mirror, for you are no more human than we are Lord. The offer to help stands, if you choose to call."
Sighing Ashe pushed the disturbing conversation to the back of his mind and glanced at Azure. Amia was right about one thing. It wasn't fair for Ashe to hold back if it meant Azure stayed locked up too. He was used to the kind of methods his father used, Azure... wasn't. He smiled at her, reasurring her. "Don't worry Azure. I'm sure the others will come and save us soon. If they don't I'll think of a way to get us out myself." "Although I really, really, don't want to have to summon them. Hurry up Arthur. If I get any more backed into a corner it is not going to be pretty." Ashe thought, hoping his brother was listening.
DANCE- Like no-one is watching LOVE- Like you've never been hurt SING- Like no-one is listening LIVE- Like it's heaven on earth.
Please read and review my novel. The title is Fireborn. Here's the link.
"Hurry up, Arthur. If I get anymore backed into a corner, it is not going to be pretty." I grunted. I knew it was Ashe, but something was draining me of my strength. The armor on me felt heavier than I could handle. I grunted again and fell to the ground. Whatever was draining me was relentless, refusing to let me save Ashe. I whispered weakly, "Let me loose, whatever you are. I must save my half-brother, even if it means confonting my father for the first time in my life." A voice hissed, "You will not touch our Lord, human. You must never touch him." I called, "Isis, get Nila! I need help!" The voice mused, "Yes, call for help. You won't survive, human." Isis whispered, "You know you can do it. For once in twelve years, change into that cobra!" I knew what Isis meant, but I had to do something before I change. I confessed to Ashe, knowing he'll be listening, You're not the only one in our father's line to change shape, my brother. I'm limited to a cobra, but I know how to change.
Spoiler
In case anybody's curious, Arthur is also a shapeshifter but hasn't changed form since he was five.
Look down and show some mercy if you can. Look down, look down, upon your fellow man.
I was making sure everyone was ready, arming them with old fashioned weapons. Isis came hurtling towards me, and yelled "Mistress Nila!" I spun around and glanced at Isis, while fiddling carefully with a bomb. "Yes?" "Its Arthur! He needs you! He is losing.. You have more power than you realize. Help him!"
I followed her, and ran into Arthur's room, and saw him, with his face transformed into a snakes head. I screamed and backed up, fear gripping my heart. "Its okay!" the snake gasped. "Its me Arthur." I stepped closer and examined the head. Yes, it was Arthur, his kind loving eyes shone out at me, not a snake's cold calcuatating stare.
I bent down beside him, and felt my chest burn. I looked down and saw the tatto that had been there since birth, the mark of the Magi. I rubbed it, and felt the fire spread to my finger tips. I stroked Arthur's head and watched it slowly morph back into his head. I fell back, my power draining. I could fell my energy disapear, and I screamed in anger.
Arthur sat up and stared at me. "How did you do that?" I shrugged and leaned against the bed. "Nila! Are you okay?"
The fire was spreading all over my body. I began to shake and fell to the side, slumping against Arthur...
Cataluna Zara I was standing off to the side watching everyone with a very calm and calculating stare. Something was wrong something beyond the surface but I couldn't tell what. I pulled off my coral pendant and it started to twirl into a circle first one direction then the next. "Show me yes." I whispered and it swung slowly back and forth. "Show me no." I whispered this time it twirled in a circle to the left three times then to the right once. I bit my lip and then whispered "Are we going to lose?" It answered no and I breathed sigh of relief. "Are we going to escape with Ashe and Azure?" It answered yes and I smiled slightly. "Are we going to survive this ordeal?" It stopped completely and didn't even twirl in a circle and I bit my lip drawing blood. I put it back on and opened my bag revealing a large assortment of potions, gems, and herbs. I opened a light blue bottle and inhaled the soft sweet scent. I walked over to Zyrten. "Hold out your wrists." I ordered quietly he did eyeing me curiously and I dabbed two drops on each of his wrists and one on his forehead. "What is that for?" He asked nervously. "For mental clarity and protection against their weapons." I replied walking away determined to get to everyone.
"You are without a doubt, the worst pirate I've ever heard of."
Nila clung against me on the bed. It didn't take a genius to know that she was in pain. I put the healing potion on the bedside table and said, "Isis, get Nefertiti." Isis asked, "Why?" Rubbing my forehead, I answered, "I'm gonna do to her what Mother did to you." Isis gasped, "You can't do that. Are you nuts? If you do that, then you'll suffer the same pain Nila is." Her fur stood on end. "I can't let you do that." "I'm the master of the house, so what I say is law in this house. Now find that tabby cat and bring her here." Isis sighed and went to find Nefertiti. The latter just came unannounced, her thoughts on her mistress. Opening the Incantus, I recited a spell and felt dizzy. I drank a mouthful of the healing potion and gave some to Nila. I thought, If Nila freaks out because now Nefertiti can talk, Goddess have mercy on my soul.
Look down and show some mercy if you can. Look down, look down, upon your fellow man.
