by Janeen Abdo
Wyatt stopped, “Belinda?”
A small smile crossed the woman’s mouth. “Wyatt, where have you been hiding?” Then her focus turned to me and her small smile grew, “Terra is that you? I believe many have been waiting for your return, 500 years since you have last made your presence known. Desdemona will be thrilled you are here.”
I recognize Belinda, the queen of serpents, and the memories come flooding back. She and her snake husband Sesha betrayed us and took sides with Desdemona. They gave the humans the venoms that weakened the Elementals. “Belinda, you are still with Desdemona, haven’t felt like betraying her yet” The innocent smile I laid on this thick.
“Where is Sesha, in all of this, surely he does not send you to face the both of us alone does he?”
Wyatt glances at me not sure where I am going with this. I am weaker than in my true from, but I have regained strength, enough to rock my sister out of hiding.
Fear is in Belinda’s eyes, she is sensing the swing of power in this little pissing match will change. I know who I am now and she was not expecting that. Sesha comes out to stand by his wife’s side, he is ready to transform into any serpent he deems necessary.
They expect me to shimmer instead I hold my head up and yell. “Rochas da terra, dividir as ondas e divider Tomé os pagáns aos seus condena e invocar a chama eterna a subir e unirse a meu lado!”
The Earth shook and small splits appeared in the dry terrains. Sesha eyes grew big he could not transform fast enough as the ground beneath split and swallowed him whole. Belinda screamed out as her husband disappeared in the earth. She was starting shimmer when a fountain of lava shot up from where husband once stood. She stopped in mid shimmer and jumped back. The lava rose above them and spun around until the form of a woman could be recognized. Sera laughed hysterically as Belinda jumped around avoiding being burned. The humans surrounding them dropped and prayed to Seraphina.
Belinda screamed at the humans, “Fools do not pray to her, she is an Elemental, they almost destroyed you all. Follow Desdemona, she saved you.” The humans continued praying.
Terra stepped over to Belinda, “why is it you live in this amazing palace and your followers dwell in the shacks that would barely cover them from the scorching sun. They feed you and worship you and you treat them as they do not matter. Why do you keep them?”
Belinda’s lips curved, “As if you cared, they are necessary for the future of this world, the ones you turned your back on for personal glory. Desdemona will make you pay dearly for this and I will avenge my husband” With this she shimmered in a snake and dived to scurry away
Sera walks over to Terra shaking her head, “About damn time. I was wondering when you would call for me. Didn’t that Queen send you to me, Wyatt you know I am in Zona? We are running out of time.”
Wyatt pipes in “We had to stop by the Fates.”
“Why?”
“Your sister is stubborn.”
“I am right here! Sera why are you so tall?”
Sera laugh as she looks at Terra, “Wow, you are still human size, aren’t you cute.” She picks Terra up as if she is a doll. “Why did you choose to go to the Fates after Wyatt and the Faye Queen both told you to come to me? What were you thinking?”
Terra puts her hands on her hips, “First put me down, I am not a toy. Looking for answers that went beyond what the Faye Queen gave me. I need to understand why my destiny is tied to hers. To learn where Adrianna is, we cannot heal the Earth without her.”
Sera put Terra down next to Wyatt, “I know where Adrianna and V is, you do not need to understand more about Adara’s destiny. We need to be together and take down Desdemona; you are not putting us through this again because you are curious and jealous.”
Wyatt stands next to Terra, “it’s different this time Sera, she knows. The Fates and I have told her everything. She knows we cannot follow the same paths. I cannot continue to watch her die and be reborn. We understand my fate is connected to the Queen.”
“No! That has not decided; we will rejoin our family and see what roads are woven. Then worry about destiny after the Earth back together. We must go to Adrianna now.”
“No we get V we need her to get to Adrianna. She flies with the Dragons, they stand beside us through this, and we need them as well.” Sera flamed up; her red hair glowed from the fires within it. Her caramel eyes dances with flames and shoots the fires through the air only lightning cracks through the sky. She grabs Wyatt and Terra and they ride lightning to the swamps.
Chapter 11: Ride the Winds
THE SWAMPS DIFFER FROM this side; trees don’t have the white bark as the other gateways did. The water is thicker with moss and seaweed. Bullfrogs survive over here. Life is not dead here as in the other parts of the swamp. Terra looks around the same swamp but very different. A puzzled look crosses her eyes as Sera looks at her and Wyatt. “Can you please make yourself human size; I hate you looking down at me like this.”
Sera’s laughter fills the air, “Terra, you and Wyatt are adorable this size, I do not think I could compete with such cuteness.”
Terra’s scowl caused Sera’s laughter erupt louder; as she shrunk to human size, but kept herself taller than Terra. Wyatt smiles as Sera shrinks, “thank you for letting me be the tallest like most men; you two can bicker later. The Dragons gateway is this way.”
“Why does everything look dead here worse than anywhere else,” Terra’s disappointment in her voice?
“The dragons keep the gateway charred so humans will not venture this way. This keeps them afraid and they will not wander into the gateway by mistake.”
Terra not convinced, “I do not agree with this being done to the trees and plants. It cannot be good for the soil.”
Wyatt takes Terra’s hands, “Look around, there isn’t soil anywhere but in the few gardens the humans somehow managed to grow. The Dragons have to keep these charred and keep the human’s back, if one should fall into the realm of the dragons, their world will be destroyed. You cannot blame them for protecting their realm. They stand beside us through all that happened as long as we help keep their existence a secret from the humans.”
Terra shakes her head understanding the need to hurt the trees. The sight breaks her heart to see the scalding marks charring the bark. The scorched branches are hanging into the waters of the thick swamp. She wades into the slough; the seaweed wraps around her legs and pulls her into the murky waters. She tries to pull away when she hears Wyatt yelling to her, “Do not fight the seaweed, and let it take you to the dragon realm.”
Terra closes her eyes and lets the seaweed guide her. The water, warm and relaxing, the seaweed massages her as it directs. She rises out of the pool of water and into yet another amazing realm.
The mountains reach so high she cannot see the peaks. There are clouds; it has been so long since she has seen a cloud. The air is crisp, yet warm and jasmine floats through the air. Each realm has been more amazing than the last; she understands now why the dragons want to stay a secret.
A man sat under a tree in front of the mountain. He is a plump man with a bald head and a pleasant face. Terra feels at ease at the sight of him. She knows he is a friend, and he is ancient. As he stands to greet her many names come to her mind as she remembers him. A smile crosses her face; he is a friend, a very dear friend.
“Terra, good to see you, it has been centuries since we last were together. Oh please call me Drake in this realm. My Dragon name protects me here and my wife is Kaliva, she should join us soon.”
His joyful voice makes Terra at home, she remembers him a long time ago. He has followers in Asia, and they were peaceful and wise in their ways. She liked them very much.
“Do you still have your monks; they were peaceful to be around.” This was more of a statement as Terra sat next to him. Wyatt and Sera joined her on the ground next to Drake. Greetings were shared, and then pleasant silence.
Kaliva appeared out of nowhere, she carried a platter of fruits and e
dible plants. Terra realized she was starving and had not eaten in days. Seems like years have gone by since she left the orphanage, she cannot believe it has been less than a week. So much has changed and yet it has all become real.
The odd fruits were so sweet and juicy; Kaliva sat next to Terra and smiled. She is a tiny woman. Her hair as black as the night sky, her pale skin and slant to her eyes, she was exquisite. Her voice was very soft; I could almost not hear her when she spoke. “You must rest; you have a long journey ahead of you. While you are created in peace and the beauty of the Earth, you must release your anger. You will have to take back what is once yours, and it will go against your beliefs.” Kaliva smiled and placed her hand on Terra’s reassuringly.
Wyatt pulled out his sleeping bags and spread them out for us to sleep. I slept restless, visons kept coming at me, not knowing if they are the past or the future. Feel the heat in the air, no wind, no water, the earth splitting. I am forcing the ground to crack, drop to the earth and tears fall, they fill the cracks, my tears of sorrow, pain from the Earth is weakening me. Adrianna calling out I cannot stop my tears from falling. The world needs me, I cannot move.
Morning comes; time to climb another mountain. Shimmering into the Giant eagle weakened me; I cannot shift again so soon. Sera walks over and place her hand on my shoulder. “We will get your strength back Terra, for now we will ride the dragons. They will take us to V.
Drake and Kaliva walk up to Sera and nod, they step aside to show a child standing between them. The child is small with black hair; about eleven in human years. He gave Sera a sweet smile before he shimmered into a giant green dragon. His caramel eyes reflected into Sera’s eyes. She reached over and touched the scales that shimmered on the dragon’s body. His horned head gave him a regal look that placed him way beyond the years she thought he was. He bowed his and gestured for her to climb atop him. Sera smiled as she climbed on his back and he soared straight into the air.
Wyatt and Terra stared in awe as they watched the transformation of Drake and Kaliva. Drake was a magnificent red dragon. His long snout, and sharpened horns, he was a remarkable creature. Sweet quiet Kaliva, shimmered into the largest of the three dragons, and as black as night. Her golden eyes shined through with a short muzzle, regal head. You could see where their son got his genes.
Wyatt climbed atop Drake, and I climbed Kaliva. They flew to the clouds, so close; I could feel the moisture on my face. We flew above the world to find V, the air icy on her face, as the dragons whip through the clouds.
The dragons flew so fast she was hoping the mountain they were heading to be far away. I can understand why V chose this realm to make her new home. I can sense that she is close and the winds blowing through my hair is just an amazing feeling.
The mountainsides came close but dragons banked around them with ease. They flew to the opposite side of the realm before they slowed to land on a ledge. There was a giant cave opening and stood before it was Venillia, in her full Elemental form. She was eighty feet tall with transparent skin. Her eyes were such a dark brown they looked black and her hair as white as snow and it whipped around her as if she was in a wind tunnel.
Sera joined her on the cliff and took her full form, she was just as tall again and her red flaming hair danced around V’s white hair. They were both smiling and laughing. I could see they had missed one another and their separation was my fault. It is my fault; I fell in love with the wrong man.
That can’t be right, the Fates could not have punished the world like that just because of me. Kaliva lowered me to the ledge to join my two sisters, and Wyatt was already getting down from Drake.
I stared at V in awe and she busted out with a boisterous laugh. “Oh my goodness, you are the two cutest little humans I have ever seen!” She picked me up and then grabbed Wyatt before he could run. “You cannot transform into your normal forms yet? Mum hasn’t released you yet?”
“The dark witch Desdemona still has Mother in that sleep, the Earth is nearly dead. The humans praise her and have cemented the roads and built buildings, tore down the trees, dried up the rivers. The earth is suffering; I think it keeps Mother too weak to awaken. I believe it causes Terra to become weaker as well. She can call on her Earth charms but only shape shift one time and she is too weak to do it again. Even in human form she should be able to shift more often.”
V gazes down at me, still in the palm of her hand, and then to Wyatt. “It’s not right” her voice gentle, a tear was forming in her eye as she stared at us. “How could the Fates be so cruel?”
I looked up at V, “I went to the Fates, they said they weave the road our choices are our own. I am not sure I understand how the road is woven, they can’t see what’s happening?”
She breathed deep “they see the roads, they do nothing to affect the outcomes, we decide and they let things happen. I think we should find Adrianna and then pay a visit to Desdemona.”
Chapter 12: Going to Zona
DESDEMONA WATCHED HER crystals as she saw her people in Zona praying to Seraphina. Anger filled her and disgust. She must go there and make right again, she must prove her power, until the humans are no longer necessary. She needs them to create her monuments and help her find more dark witches similar to her. All she has come across are those insufferable Wiccans and Druids.
She gathered her things and called for one of her humans, to come join her. Haresh came into the dwelling that Desdemona stayed “You called my priestess?” His humble soft voice spoke these words with caution in his voice.
She smiled at Haresh, “yes my dear. I need to go to Zona; I need to end the doubt. They still doubt me because I have not visited. Zona is far and I need someone that will take me there. Make sure I do not go without. Do you think you can do that for me?”
Haresh’s eyes became wide with anticipation, “it would be an honor to support you my priestess. I live to serve you.”
“Yes, yes, can you first find us transportation and something for me to eat?” She beams as she requests this, not all the humans no the secret to her power is the ingestion of blood, young blood.
Haresh bows and sets out to find her a young maiden to feed off of, and then he will arrange the transportation. He goes into the village, over by the saloon style places. He sees several young maidens and picks one that deemed worthy of his priestess. As he approaches her, he starts with a gentle smile. “May I ask your name dear?”
The young maiden is a startled by his approach but answers him, “Leta.”
“Well Leta, would you like an opportunity to serve our great High Priestess, Desdemona?”
“How would I do that, I have nothing to offer her?”
“Come with me and you will see she does not care for material things.”
She stands and takes Haresh’s hand and he guides her to his priestess. He bows as he walks the maiden to her. Desdemona smiles she pleased with his choice. “Thank you Haresh, could you please arrange our transportation now; while I get to know this sweet child”
Leta felt at ease with Desdemona and smiled in relief that the high priestess would allow her in her presence. Desdemona brought Leta over to their sitting room and ran her fingers through her hair. “Your name is Leta, is it not?”
“Yes ma’am, I was not aware you knew of me.”
“I try to know all of my children; did Haresh explain anything to you?”
“No ma’am just asked if I like to serve you.”
“We are going on a journey, and I need nourishment to sustain me while on the journey. You are the chosen one; you are here to nourish me.”
Tears came to Leta’s eyes, “I do not cook well your heiress.”
“No cooking,” with a wave of her hand and a crunch into fist form, the young Leta crumbled to the floor. Her bones shattering, her screams annoyed Desdemona, with the other hand she ripped out her tongue.
Desdemona awaited her meal to stop squirming she had gone into shock. Haresh walked in to see the young girl on the floor. The repu
lsion made him look away, “My priestess, I have found transportation.”
“Excellent, Haresh, now please bag her up so I may feed well the entire trip. Have my carriage attached; I will need plenty of rest while you guide the horses to Zona.”
“Yes my priestess” Haresh took a deep breath and rolled the girl up so she would fit in a bag. It was then he realized she was still alive and just entranced to not feel the pains. He shakes his head as he places her in the bag whispering. “Leta, you suffer now, but the priestess will give you great rewards for serving her in your afterlife. There is no greater sacrifice than being the pure nourishment for Desdemona.”
He placed the bag in the mighty carriage and hooked the horses up to it. He went through the carriage one last time to make sure his priestess comfort. The carriage was magnificent, had a royal bed and blinds covering the windows. The entire inside is encased in gold and silks for the furnishing. It was lavish and comfort for his priestess.
He went to receive Desdemona and show her the carriage. She was pleased and lay on the bed. “Do not disturb me until we arrive to Zona and Belinda is ready to receive me.”
Haresh climbed atop the carriage and started the horses to go toward Zona. The journey would be long and the priestess wants to be there in less than two nights. He will have to ride the horses hard and drive straight through the mountains. The mountains were dangerous at night, bandits would try to attack the carriage not know who is in it. Haresh pushed to pass the mountains before night fell. He drove the horses hard, kept checking on Desdemona to make sure she was comfortable. Growing tired as the day went on; succeeding in his goal to the mountains. Old tunnels go through the caves that would help get him to Zona faster than going over the mountains. History says these tunnels once ran trains through the mountains. He hoped to see the skeleton of one on this trip; he had heard great stories of these massive forms of transportation.
