Palatinii Cycle

by G'vonni Avner

  “Did Oscurilina create herself an army when she destroyed those planets?

  “No,” replied Nayara, as if his question was unintelligent. “If those planets were carrying a fairy, they were killed with the planet. A planet must come to maturity for the fairy to be born.”

  The Queen searched along the shelves.

  “I can’t believe there is a library deep within the palace,” Ariah said quietly.

  Nayara did not reply but continued her search. Eventually, she pulled out a viridian colored volume and held it in her hand. It was in immaculate condition without even a speck of dust. There were three stars etched into its cover.

  “When a fairy-bearing planet dies, it will explode, creating a supernova in which a fairy will be born. If that planet were to implode instead, it would create a black hole, and the fairy will die. It was eons ago when a vast planet with a harsh atmosphere exploded. Despite its atmosphere, it was one of the richest planets and housed more species than any other during its life cycle. With its death, a pure-minded fairy was born. Her name was Bellina, and she is the god of all that is good.”

  Nayara placed the book on the altar and opened it. She flipped through its pages. It was written in dark ink and scribbles of an unknown language made up its pages. The Queen stopped when she found an entirely blank chapter.

  “The energy that was released was of such great a magnitude that its particles sunk back together, creating a black hole. Only the purest of evil can escape a black hole, and this is how Oscurilina was born,” Nayara concluded.

  She placed her hand on the blank page of the book. Her long black nails lightly scraped the pages.

  “Though sisters, Oscurilina and Bellina were unaware of each other’s existence. Bellina was occupied with creating peace everywhere she went. Oscurilina was wreaking havoc where she went. In time she was called to this planet by its own people. She claimed this temple we stand in as her own.”

  “Then how did she get trapped?”

  “I will show you,” replied the Queen. She forcefully pressed her fingers into the book’s pages. Ink revealed itself in a series of intricate illustrations that quickly changed form. When it was done, the light in the room disappeared and was replaced by lifelike images that swirled around, unclear, until Ariah found himself in the middle of nowhere, in outer space. Specks of stars were scattered all around.

  Ariah gasped and jerked his head to look at Nayara. She was untroubled by the experience and gave no attention to Ariah.

  The book was showing them the story it contained.

  A large planet came into view. Its lush was easily seen and was vibrant with color, despite its hazy atmosphere that ominously flashed around it. Without warning, the planet turned dark and exploded, sending out waves of light and fire so bright that all Ariah could see, even with his eyes closed, was pure white.

  Then all the light receded and was pulled back into the planet. It appeared whole for a moment, before turning into an invisible swirling mess.

  Off in the distance, a faint spiral, disk shape of the Milky Way could be seen.

  Ariah watched as a ghostly, dark fairy with translucent, lavender wings shot out from within the black hole.

  Then the scenery changed.

  Oscurilina’s back was to them. She was staring down at a galaxy. It was round-shaped, with swirling clouds of dust flying out from it before dissolving. Its planets, stars and faint clouds formed a crude hook shape. It then created a slight triangle, with uneven sides but then became a round shape once more.

  She placed her hands on her hips and formed a small black ball of energy with blue specks in it. It hovered in front of her threateningly.

  “Annihilare.” The word issued from her mouth slowly. The ball of energy rapidly shot towards the heart of the galaxy. It hit its center just as the galaxy was forming into a hook shape again. The flash of light lasted for only moments before the entire galaxy was no more.

  “That galaxy was called Purus.” At the sound of Nayara’s voice, the lifelike experience dissipated, and they stood once more in the small library. Nayara was already roughly shoving the book back on the shelf and removing another.

  “It wasn’t long after that that Oscurilina was called to this planet, and where Bellina found her.”

  This book was black and had no engravings or inscription. Nayara opened it to its first page and scratched at it with her long nail.

  The same lifelike simulation happened again. This time Ariah didn’t flinch. They were outside of the city of Oasi, though it was noticeably less populated. There were few houses and smaller structures but mainly was home to the palace in the mountain.

  Oscurilina flew out of the palace doors. Bellina was waiting for her.

  “You have destroyed too much,” said Bellina in a deadly voice. “You have wiped out most of my family and the goodness that exist in our universe.”

  Her mouth did not match the words she spoke, as if she were speaking another language.

  “You’ll be next,” said Oscurilina, her voice deep and hoarse.

  Oscurilina made a dark ball of energy, similar to the one she used to wipe out the galaxy and threw it at Bellina.

  Bellina snapped her fingers, and the ball disappeared. She rocketed straight towards Oscurilina. Oscurilina flew out of the way and headed into the palace. Bellina was right on her tail.

  She chased Oscurilina through the palace and into a room similar to where Nayara and Ariah stood in, though it was empty. Oscurilina shot out another ball, but Bellina dodged it. It exploded against the stone wall, causing the room to collapse.

  Oscurilina hastily left the room, but Bellina was still right behind her. Bellina chased her through a long hall and into a wide-open space, deep within the mountain. Molten rock layered the floor and a small volcano jutted from a wall. Oscurilina flew straight through the opening in the volcano, and Bellina followed.

  Though it was only a simulation, Ariah could feel that the temperature dropped several degrees. This room had dark gray rock and like most caves, had little light. Oscurilina was perched on top of a large stone. Oscurilina laughed and shot a green bolt at Bellina. Bellina deflected it and changed its course back towards Oscurilina.

  Oscurilina dodged it by shooting down. The stream of crackling electricity hit the rock, causing it to burn a bright pink and green.

  Bellina shot out a white ball with purple lines towards Bellina and said, “Incarcerare.”

  The ball hit Oscurilina in the chest. She immediately froze and turned into stone. The small rock figure floated into the standing stone where the Oscurilina was just perched and locked itself within.

  Bellina knew she had only a few seconds. She whispered something inaudible and closed her eyes. The stone stopped glowing. Letters appeared on the stone as if they were being carved with white ink.

  Ariah didn’t have time to read the words before they disappeared. Bellina watched the stone to ensure that Oscurilina could not escape.

  Out of nowhere, a dark ball bounced off the cave walls and hit Bellina. She vanished on contact, leaving only motes of dust.

  The library materialized once more. Ariah stared down at the book. “That was intense,” he said.

  Nayara walked away from the altar and through the other hallway without another word. Ariah quickly caught up behind her.

  Soon Ariah found he was walking on an uneven stone. Just ahead was the volcano. Ariah looked around. The room was no longer a river of molten rock and felt cold.

  There was a large basin that had served as the main place of the lava that previously spilled from the volcano’s mouth. They walked across the basin and to the edge of the room.

  Suddenly, as if planned by some other force, large steps jutted out from the cave wall and led to the opening in the volcano.

  Ariah and Nayara climbed the stairs. When they reached the mouth of the volcano, Ariah could see small particles of ash floating in the air. They walked through the opening until they reached a room with
craggy walls that glowed green. The room looked identical to what it had been so many years ago.

  The Queen walked up to the large, twelve-foot standing stone. Veins of pink and green light glowed from it. She inspected it with her hand, moving it slowly across its surface. Then the white letters appeared.

  Nayara read the inscription out loud.

  “Here lies the Shadow of the Universe, incarcerated for evil deeds committed throughout our universe, creating an influx of beings in Pluton’s Citadel.

  She had destroyed multiple planets that sustained life, eradicating several species from existence.

  Oscurilina, as she has been duly named, is to remain imprisoned here, trapped for eternity, with the help of Galbatrar.

  The Council of Oasi is to protect this place and ensure she is never freed. Oscurilina is to live, trapped forevermore in unknowing darkness, the likes of which she has bestowed in many hearts. ~ Bellina”

  “What does it mean by the help of Galbatrar? Who is he?” Ariah asked.

  “Galbatrar is an ancient city that no longer exists,” replied Nayara. “They are the ones who called upon Oscurilina. But they thought it was a mistake and called forth Bellina to put a stop to her.”

  Nayara withdrew a jade that was placed around her neck. “This is the key to release Oscurilina, hidden well within the city of Galbatrar. Bellina had the city keep the key safe, a price they had to pay for inviting Oscurilina to this planet.”

  The Queen ran her hand over the stone once more until she found a small indent.

  “There were traitors in Galbatrar,” said Nayara. “And we have them to thank for this opportunity to release Oscurilina once more.”

  The jade fit easily into the stone. Red words glimmered over the white writing Bellina had carved into the stone. Ariah did not see the words and Nayara read them to herself.

  The words vanished instantly. A silhouette of a tiny hand glowed in red inside the stone. It was Oscurilina. Nayara placed her hand against hers.

  Many memories flashed through Nayara’s mind, faster than she could see or remember. Then she heard the whispers.

  Release me. Release me.

  The memories stopped. The stone became normal again, void of words, with only its glowing veins.

  The colossal stone stood over them and somehow seemed bigger now. Crystals burned brightly behind it, placing the stone in a spotlight. Nayara took a step back and reached for the gold chain that belonged to John Dimes.

  She understood.

  Nayara straightened her back and stood tall and proud. Her hair rustled faintly, though there was no breeze. She stuck out her hand towards the stone.

  “Relaissare.”

  The room instantly went dark, and there was a loud crack. The glowing green and pink veins glowed brightly and turned black in a repeating cycle. When it glowed, a large, ragged crack in the stone tower could be seen. Each time the rock could be seen again, the crack became larger until it went through the whole rock. Ariah could hear the crystals behind it shatter like glass.

  A small figure rose from the stone as the ground trembled beneath their feet.

  “Oscurilina,” Ariah whispered, as though trying to not wake the sleeping fairy that so many feared.

  All the light vanished in an instant. The stone no longer glowed, and they were in complete darkness. Oscurilina could not be seen, but her presence could be felt. Minutes passed which felt like centuries in the immense suspense. Just when it seemed as if nothing would occur, it did.

  Oscurilina opened her eyes and they flashed like lightning in the absolute darkness of night. Her eyes twinkled with intense strength, wicked and brighter than the brightest star in the sky.

  Bonus Chapter

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