by Cara Violet
Levon’s body contorted and the Sprite dropped his blade from Kaianan’s spine and fell.
Kaianan was not affected by the sound like everyone else. But the louder it got the more people kept screaming. She had no idea what to do—
If things couldn’t get any worse, blinding white light began streaming upward and out from a point right in the middle of the platform. Kaianan raised her arm to protect her eyesight. What was going on? Her heart was pounding in her chest. Cries came from the mountain in various directions, she thought she heard Arlise’s voice…Hang on, where was Chituma—
At that moment pain seared in her temple, she staggered back and became disoriented. Her brain forced her to listen to the hissing words coming from the light:
By the stroke of bright light,
The sacrifice will be revealed.
On that day of reckoning,
Hidden no longer the cracks to Holom’s door.
Her serpents flinched as the thunder boomed around them. All Kaianan could see was white. With the searing pain still pounding in her brain, the screaming of the others became faint. How could she help them? What could she do? She clenched her Rapier, making an effort to keep moving…
She just had to keep moving—
The pain took over; it was like everything in her remote vicinity ceased.
Light-headedness had her in a trance. It wasn’t until she started to notice her own body beginning to fade that panic stabbed through her. She was disappearing. “No!” she cried, as her tail vanished, “Stop!”
She sunk down and clawed her long green fingers and gold nails into the ground to stop what was happening to her. It was a useless attempt; within another minute her whole body had vanished and just like that the scene in front of her abruptly disappeared.
Chapter Sixteen: Back in Time
In addition to the visual of dark space and tiny stars flurrying past her, Kaianan, on all fours, began spluttering and coughing, staring into the cloudy smoke under her. Back in preform, she had to recalibrate how much lighter she was than her Gorgon form and adjust her own strength before she did something stupid and pull a muscle out of whack. Lifting her head slowly and regarding her surroundings a second time, she squished her nose up—she was in a Euclidean Vector. Immediately panic set in.
“You’ve gotten further than I thought.” The voice came from the distance, and Kaianan was only half surprised when the figure capped in beige robes, whisked himself forward and reached her.
“Boku Jove.” On her knees, she panted in exasperation, and lifted her elbow and knee up to get a better look at him. Her eyes narrowed at the smiling white-haired and white-bearded old man, believing if she had enough strength right now, she would have tried to kill him. Albeit, not concerned if all her muscles tore from the action. “If I had the right words to speak to you at this moment, I would delve deeply into my mind to forsake you.”
Boku Jove simply smirked. “Kaianan, you ran an alternate course to a destination. You reached it vicariously.”
Her temper flared. “The light?” She lashed out. “The bright light—the sacrifice will be revealed? Who is it? And the cracks to Holom’s door open? Ancient man, explore the grim options I have before me. I heard the prophecy: am I destined to die? Will I not save my sister?”
“You must never act on predictions, Kaianan. I can tell you what can happen, but we still get given a choice. Which is perhaps the single most powerful tool that alters the course of the future.” He gestured to the space around him. “We all have many paths. I wanted you to experience that one,” he added.
“Experience it? What does that mean? You told me I could save lives: was it Arlise? Was I supposed to save him? I’ve turned him to darkness. And Dersji Brikin was in my way,” she was growing hysterical, and spitting blood she had to refrain herself from dropping to the ground, curling up in a ball and crying her eyes out.
“Kaianan you walked that path, exposing your soul to its destination.”
“Why are you doing this? What Giliou-forsaken purpose does it have? There was more that I needed to do, that needs to be done. How will I know the outcome of my sister?”
Boku Jove’s expression renamed unchanged, “You have a choice. A big choice to make, and I wanted to allow you to see different possibilities. You will have to deal with the outcome yourself, but at least I’ve given you a view at an alternate universe and choice. Giliou the Wise has allowed me to turn your time back.”
“Boku Jove, you’re a foreseer, you tell me my future is in my choices, then why do I need to see an alternate universe for? There is simply no need for it!”
“It’s your decision, Kaianan; your decision that ties you to the universe. Can’t you see? You need to understand the ramifications of not only what you do, but who you are, who you choose to become.”
“I would skin you alive like a Seevaar right now if I could.”
He was taken aback. “Dear child, those words don’t belong in your mouth.”
“Then where?”
Even as she asked him, she knew her hostility was getting her no-where. But she had to somehow control this burning anger, gnawing at every inch of her.
“Put your energy into your choice,” he said smugly.
“What blasted choice?” she said scornfully. “You sound as if this is important. As if I should know what I’m doing? Well I don’t. What if I choose wrong? Even after you give me all this extra time? It all seems ridiculously pointless.”
“Just don’t chose wrong. We may all face a fate much worse than we had ever imagined.”
“Oh, just great, you place a heavy burden on my head, like I don’t have enough weighing my shoulders down already.”
“It is only an encumbrance if you believe it to be, young Queen. Contemplate affirmation in your notions and you will envisage a divergent product. Refrain from becoming your own worst enemy. I give you words to reason.”
“I beseech you Boku Jove, this is limited reason and conceivably pushes past the boundaries of my good nature…” Good nature? Ha. She knew that had deserted her. “The bearer of bad news you are, perhaps. But I don’t have time for this. Where must I go now? Will you not give me some warning?”
“One more life Kaianan, that’s all I’m asking, one more life. I have envisioned a prosperous life for this person … You will know exactly what to do.”
Was he not listening to a word she was saying? “All I am worried about, Boku Jove, is my damn sister; I am wasting ample time on others.”
“You will arrive at your destination as predicted, Kaianan. Step back, it’s time for you to visit option two.”
The Euclidean Vector opened slowly. Kaianan, overly emotional and fatigued, tried unsuccessfully to stop herself from entering the exit threshold. In a matter of moments, the sharp cold had filtered through her body like lightning on a rod and within another few seconds she was gone.
With a swish of air, Kaianan landed in a dark, charcoal-painted bedroom. Frankincense tingled her nose. She scanned the messy room, turning her eyes to the dark stained Miry furniture, a four-poster bed, a desk, charcoal pebbles walls, then to a snow-covered, and red draped curtain window, and to – she stopped – it was someone’s spine, their grey skinned back, covered in horrific slash wounds. The masculine figure moved an inch toward a wardrobe, and she caught her breath, making a dash for the curtain next to the window.
Was that …? No way. The Vector opening had sent her inside a bedroom? When had that ever happened? Using the material to shield herself, while her heart pounded out of her chest, she tried to think. Damn you, Boku Jove.
How was she going to get out of here?
She cursed and the next thing she knew, the dark curtain began fluttering and shifting, soon becoming taut and wrapping around her, without her even getting her hands up in time to stop it.
She frantically scuffled her fingers through the material, trying to remove the hand that had suddenly grasped her throat. There was more moving of fabric,
red sparks blinded her, all the while she was struggling to breathe… …. Within a few seconds, her vision was free, dreary grey hair over burning red eyes greeted her and she murmured, “Ju … lius.” Not sure if he heard her because she could barely inhale let alone speak.
He released his grip almost immediately and his aura diminished.
Kaianan caressed her neck in pain and noticed him drop his head. The feelings flooded her cheeks and hands in colour and shakes; her heart beat faster just by looking at him. Studying his torso, his smooth grey skin, and analysing his reserved behaviour, Kaianan felt like she was right back on Earth in her dormitory. Even though his Necromancer form possessed him, there was something about Julius that, first, paralysed her, and, second, made her want to hug him. She was tempted to reach out and stroke his long charcoal hair, but shook her head and thought the better of it.
Given what had happened between them on Earth—one encounter after another—and what had happened back at the Manor, she was not sure what was running through his head. Odds were, he wasn’t going to lovingly embrace her, especially after he had concealed who he was and was indirectly responsible for the death of her parents, but he might, instead, be aggressive, not forgetting they were natural enemies.
Heart pumping in her ears, she looked him over again. Right now, he wasn’t showing anything. Blank faced, yet still as attractive as ever, he pressed his lips together in concentration.
“What are you doing here?” he asked in a quiet rasp, his hands still on her arms and waist, wrapped in the curtain around her.
It felt like an eternity since she’d heard his voice and that hearing his voice felt like home.
“I don’t know,” she said distantly, “I am having difficulty moving forward in time.” It was the truth.
“You can’t be here,” he said flatly.
“Why?”
“You just can’t.”
“Tell me the truth. I deserve that much after everything, don’t I?” Kaianan hadn’t realised tears had formed in her eye sockets.
Julius looked away from her. He was moving his jaw about in unease. “It’s my coronation. I’m going to become King today.”
Kaianan breathed out, her heart was still racing, tears were still stinging her eyes.
“But why?” Even as she spoke the words, she wondered what had changed in him. He seemed more insipid then she recollected; the sparkle in his eyes was gone, and it wasn’t just that they were red now and not green. He scrunched the curtain up tighter at her lower back and his mouth got closer. The paralysis was in full swing through her body, her eyes directly on his lips. She had been in this position before, being unsure about who he was and sceptical about what he wanted from her. Could she allow herself to feel this way again?
“I thought you said you didn’t want to be like your family?” she said. “I thought you said you wanted to change?”
He looked to her eyes. His eyes were just as watery as hers when he spoke, “you shouldn’t be here.”
His words were not in sync with his actions. Kaianan could see his enlarged pupils and feel his hands still on her, invading her space—he definitely wanted her here. Something was occupying his mind… She distinctly remembered him mentioning, on more than one occasion, how he was someone trying to make a difference. To not be like his parents.
“You told me when I first met you, that you had a mentor, someone who advised you to save me and protect me. Who was that? Why aren’t you listening to them anymore?”
“That was a Giliou man, he ….”
“He what?”
“He means nothing to me now.”
“Who is he? Why did you keep me alive?” Kaianan felt the tears right on the surface, but she refused to cry. “Why did you lie about who you were? Why did you bother even helping me?!”
“Because I said I wanted to. If I lied, I would have killed you, Kaianan. That was my father’s orders. But I didn’t, I didn’t want to kill you, I mean …” Julius’s lips were so close hers, “I feel for you, you’re a beautiful person, what could I do?”
And then she felt the tears fall from her face. She pulled him closer and her tears dropped onto his chest. He held her, breathing heavily. It felt like an endlessness of time, just holding each other.
Her head turned when she heard music resonating through the windowpane. “Why are you here?”
She wiped her nose up and stopped sniffling.
He finally walked away from her, leaving her draped in the curtain, and stood by the snow-covered window. “I’m going to become King of Sile and help end this madness.”
Kaianan breathed out and flicked the curtain back in its place.
She studied the lash wounds across his back and almost burst into tears again. But anger consumed her more readily than the upset did. Her fist reactively clenched and she was irate enough to want to skin alive the people who did this to him.
“And you believe the madness will stop there? By becoming King?” she said cynically, “this was your plan, was it? To pretend your obligations back home don’t exist, and then help me, only to come back here and give in to the family you’ve been trying to rid yourself of? Search inside your mind, your wits, you know better, the people around you want death and destruction. Look what they have done to you.”
“You’re wrong!” he spat with spite, pivoting around.
She retreated a step, knocking her spine against the wall. “How am I wrong?”
“You think I haven’t studied the dictatorship of the Drake.”
“If you had,” Kaianan said brazenly, “you would know you’re doing the wrong thing, becoming an authoritarian.”
“I’m a damn socialist, you should know that by now, Kaia.”
“Your system is broken.”
“And what, following the Felrin means yours isn’t?”
Kaianan took in the information. “It does not matter if the Universal Order isn’t perfect, it’s a democratic right for people to be free.”
“You keep telling yourself that.”
“In this hierarchy, we do not torture people for punishment.”
“No, you just trial them to a death sentence by three Principals of liberal choice. I will be King and I will do good by ruling my way!” He shouted so loud, Kaianan was sure he was going to explode.
Then tears began to stream down his face. She stiffened and shifted uneasily—was she supposed to feel a certain way about this? If she was, it wasn’t working. She did not pity him. She could see the confusion in him, deep under his bubbling surface.
“I feel so strongly for you, Kaianan,” he was sobbing. “But I know it’s wrong. It’s not what I am designed to feel. I am half the man I intended to be. I am torn. We have been through so much, my father tried …” he paused.
Where was this coming from? Why was he pouring his heart out? Does he think himself a victim? Kaianan wasn’t sure what to make of it. Was he trying to justify to her the role they allowed him to play? He was doing what he thought he must, she was sure of it. Boku Jove must be able to foresee this. Was this what he had envisaged?
“I have no more to tell you, Julius,” she approached him slowly.
He slumped his shoulders against the windowpane and sighed in defeat, wiping away the wetness on his cheeks. She got to him and tried to smile, but only one corner of her mouth rose.
He glanced up and suddenly hugged her. He pulled back, caressed her cheek and whispered, “We could escape you and I, start a new city. Rule together, Kaianan, rule Rivalex.”
He laid a soft kiss on her mouth and she froze while her imagination got the better of her. A new city in Rivalex, a city of diversity, a city with Julius at her side, assembling a new way to govern multiple races. It was the perfect way to start peace … But then again, she didn’t want to be a leader of this. The hierarchy cannot remain, she thought, there are still so many left disadvantaged. Arlise was right. She was realising she didn’t want control of anything that left others with less than what she h
ad, let alone responsibilities to administrate those around her. What was so wrong with wanting equality?
She pulled away, taking his hands away from her face. “No, we won’t,” she replied emotionlessly, “With everything we have been through Julius, I would have expected so much more than this. Has your prior nature deserted you?”
“Don’t you see how we can help people, Kaianan?” Kaianan heard desperation in his voice.
“How?” She said annoyed. “By dictating to them what they deserve?”
“Aye, we are capable enough.”
“My people—all people—have the right to make decisions, Julius.”
“They don’t know any better, Kaianan.”
“I have belief.”
“What, faith in all those around you? They don’t want to decide, they want us, those in control, in power to demand reform. I know you want that too.”
“In a completely different way.” She said, trying hard to get her point across. “My people are worthy of choice.”
“So, you don’t think I will be able to do better for Rivalex?”
“I’m not saying that, I’m saying it’s not up to you.”
“That’s your opinion …” he begun, closing in on her, “… and what about the way you feel about me?”
It took only a few seconds for the paralysis to kick in, but as he got closer to her, something inside her clicked—she did not look at him through foggy lens’s anymore: she could see the fear written all over him. “I see you, now, and perhaps I hold not the same naivety I did on Earth.”
“So quickly you dismiss me? I loved you, Kaianan!” His voice boomed and reverberated around the entire room. His breath was heavy out his nose and she felt her heart tighten. Did he just say that? “I’ve known it since I met you,” he went on, his voice reasonably quieter, “when I was ten years old, I’ve always known it. You think I escaped to be at your parents’ parties for any other reason. We would play, have swordfights, we were inseparable …. No matter what you think of me right now, I will always hold a place here for you.” He put his hand on his heart, across his grey skin. Kaianan felt the tears pouring down her cheeks again. “But if you can’t accept that this is the life I want to live, then you’re missing out on me.”
