by Lyra Shanti
--
Not able to sleep, Ona walked out into the hallway in a light-blue, flower-printed, silk robe. She had woken from a nightmare that began with Ayn dying and ended with her mother trying to commit suicide. She wasn’t able to remember exactly why her mother had wanted to end her life, but Ona could have sworn it had to do with Meddhi and him wanting to leave Deius forever.
In reality, Ona had recently seen her mother with Meddhi in the hallways, and even though their intimacy was surprising, Ona wasn’t against it. She wanted her mother to be happy, and if Meddhi made her feel good, she was all for them being together.
However, it seemed to Ona that her inner fears had made their way into her dreams, especially about Ayn. She had talked to Lius about her husband's upcoming surgery, and he did his best to reassure her about Ayn’s high chance of survival, but she worried nonetheless. Ayn was her life and very soul, and she couldn’t imagine going on without him.
Maybe my mother represented myself and my fears? she silently asked as she headed toward the fountain in the garden. It was three in the morning and extremely dark; only the plasma-candles of the temple in the distance shone across the garden. Ona felt pensive and exhausted. It was just a dream, she told herself. Ayn will not die, and we will both live long, happy lives. Unable to fully convince herself, Ona sat on the ledge of the fountain and broke down in tears.
After a few moments, Ona felt a warm hand on her shoulder. “My queen,” said a woman’s voice, “please, do not cry.” Looking up, Ona saw that it was Emelanthia standing in front of her. “I know things seem dark, lost even, but it will not stay this way. The wheel is ever turning and change is inevitable.”
Wiping her eyes, Ona said, “Yes, I know, Em, but… it is the wheel that I fear. When it is negative change, I’d rather everything just stay the same.”
Emelanthia shook her head, then sat on the fountain's ledge next to her queen. “No, life without change would be terrible," she told Ona. "We cannot stay stagnant, for we are creatures of movement and time. Change is what keeps us moving forward, in hopes of a better future.”
Ona slightly nodded, but seemed far off and sad.
“Ona…” said Emelanthia, “what is wrong? I can feel you are very worried. Is it about my brother?”
“Yes,” replied Ona under her breath. “I promised him I wouldn’t tell anyone yet, but… I need to talk to someone.”
“You can tell me whatever it is,” said Emelanthia. “I won’t speak of it to anyone.”
Ona took a deep breath, then said, “Ayn has the second stage of Undaniasis. He is beginning treatment for it in about a week. He’s quite terrified right now, but he is doing his best to be strong. I’m trying to be his stability, but I keep having nightmares. I guess I’m a little terrified as well. Both of us lost our mothers to this disease, Em, and even though I trust Lius and the science we’ve both worked on for the past few years, I am still skeptical. I can’t help it.”
Emelanthia nodded and took Ona’s hand. “Of course you are. Your head is scientific by nature, yet this is your husband, your soul-mate, and your head is not in charge; your heart is at the helm. You must try and trust your other side, my sister. You have a spiritual nature as well; I often sense it within you. It is time you let that side take control. If you ask your heart whether Ayn will make it through this disease, what does it say?”
Ona hesitated, not entirely sure she wanted to know the answer. “I… think he’ll live.”
Emelanthia shook her head. “No, Sister, do not think. You need to feel. What do you feel is true?”
“I feel… unsure!” said Ona, standing to her feet. She then paced and added, “I don’t know if I can let myself believe in anything right now, Em. Everything is just so jumbled in my brain.”
“Are you being blocked by your dreams? I have always sensed that you are a seer, Ona. Your dreams are very powerful. They predicted you would meet Ayn, did they not?”
Ona sighed and said, “Well, in my dreams, he was a domineering jerk who wanted to kill The Great Adin, so…”
Em smiled and stood with her. “Yes, well,” she replied, “being a seer doesn’t always mean seeing visions that are exact and true. Your dreams are telling you a mix of emotions, but they are also showing you pathways and possibilities. What did your recent dream show you?”
Ona rolled her eyes and said, “It was about Ayn, and then my mother… though I think she was representing my own feelings and fears. She was with Meddhi in the dream, which I suppose it just me processing the fact that they seem to be together now.”
“They are?” asked Emelanthia.
“Yeah, strange, I know, but… I saw them in the hall. They were kissing and looking at each other as if they were in their own world. I never thought they’d get together since they never did when they were young. I guess she’s in need of a good man right now, so I’m not judging her.”
Emelanthia turned her head and half-smiled. “Of course,” she said, looking like she had figured out a puzzle.
“What? What is it?” asked Ona.
“I think I understand about your mother now… and why she couldn’t remember much about her life. It is more than just blockage from her regeneration. I see now that she is more than she appears.”
“What are you talking about?” Ona asked, somewhat annoyed and frazzled.
“Never mind,” replied the high priestess, “you are not ready. Besides, it is up to your mother to tell you.”
“I hate when you’re cryptic,” said Ona, folding her arms. “Just tell me what you mean. At least tell me if you think Ayn will live. You’re the priestess, not I.”
“No, I think you are a priestess as well, my queen… at least you were in previous lives.”
“Yes, well, I don’t remember being one, so tell me what you think!”
Emelanthia grinned and said, “I feel he will live, my sister. In my heart, I know his strength is greater than what he believes it to be. He will not only live, Ona, he will fulfill the prophecy he has forgotten, and he will become The Great Adin once more. But to do that, he may have to fulfill your vision as well.”
“What do you mean?” asked Ona, baffled.
“To live, he may first have to die.”
Shocked, Ona fell silent as she waited for the explanation she knew the high priestess wouldn't easily give. The willow trees swayed in the wind, and the two women felt a chill in the air.
“All will be revealed," said Emelanthia, "I promise.”
--
The large panorama of clear windows surrounding The Dome didn’t make Zin feel any less claustrophobic. Even with Raven at his side, he still felt confused and exposed. Everyone in The Dome had been infected by Plasma Sickness or expected to be soon. As Raven explained it when he was getting dressed into the white jumpsuit provided him, all the “patients” there were being treated with the best medicine Ohr had to offer. This was told to them by the lead doctor in The Dome, Doctor Quine, whom everyone feared. According to Raven, Quine never said or did anything callous or cruel, but he had a way about him that was eerily nice. With his left glass eye and his silver and black hair, he naturally intimidated everyone. Zin didn’t look forward to meeting him.
As it was, The Dome scared him enough. The patients mulled about in their matching white jumpsuits, almost dazed. Some were livelier than others, but Zin could tell they were all suffering the weakness of Plasma Sickness in their different stages of the disease.
“Don’t worry,” whispered Raven, “the extremely sick people are in the quarantined room.”
Zin nodded, though her words hadn’t made him feel any better. No one really knew how Undaniasis spread, though most of the scientific community claimed it was either hereditary or from genetic exposure through needles, and other ways the illness could be transmitted via the blood.
It was enough to make Zin’s head spin, so he tried not to think too much about it; all he wanted was to find his mother, and then get her and Raven to freed
om. Please, Pei, get here soon, he silently pleaded.
“Zin!” shouted a familiar voice, breaking him out of his gloomy thoughts.
“Mother?!” he yelled in return.
His mother grabbed him in a show of affection she hadn’t been known for in his youth. Her arms were warm and comforting to Zin, and he ceased worrying about catching Undaniasis; all he cared about was seeing his mother alive and holding her once more.
“I’m so sorry, Mother,” he muttered, holding back his emotions. “I should have come for you sooner. I was just… trying my best not to get killed.”
Loda laughed and replied, “Nonsense, my sweet boy, you’ve done well. Your father would be so proud of you.” She looked in his eyes and held his face. “I’m proud of you too. That day, when you stood against Vax in front of all his minions, I felt such pride. You held your ground, just like your father did.”
Zin grimaced and said, “Yeah, but Mother… he’s dead now because of his bravery. I was honestly so afraid my fate would be the same. I don’t know why, but Vax took pity and sent me down here to be with you.”
Loda raised her brow and replied, “I’m not sure sending you here was a merciful act. Zin… we are all infected with Undaniasis. Some of us by natural means, some of us not.”
“What do you mean? Is what we suspected actually true? Are they testing people here by infecting them through injections? Did you see it happen?”
“We haven’t seen it,” said Raven, “but we’ve felt it.”
“You’ve felt it?” repeated Zin, confused.
Raven sighed and said, “Your mother and I were both ‘treated’ by Dr. Quine. He gave us some kind of medicine, saying it was to help us with our early signs of Undaniasis. We felt fine before, but ever since then, we’ve both felt easily winded and not quite right. We believe he injected us with the sickness. We just don’t know how long we have before it takes us down.”
Zin stood, paralyzed and overcome with emotion. He was angry, to the point of raging tears. He was quiet for a few moments, but then finally spoke. “I’m getting you both out of here,” he said, stoic. “I don’t know how, but I swear you will not die in this place!”
Raven nodded and smiled, believing the honesty of his words. She wasn’t sure if she could believe in his promise, but she knew he’d try his best, and that was enough. Just him being there was enough. She had been through many heartaches and painful tests in her life already: slavery, prostitution, unwilling agent for the mafia. All of those difficulties helped her find her way to Zin, and for that, she was grateful.
“I believe in you, my love,” she said, “and your mother and I will keep hope. You must promise me something though.”
“Anything, my Raven. What is it you ask?”
“Promise me you’ll stay away from Quine. I will help you avoid him at every turn, and if he asks you to come see him for any sort of testing or vaccinations, just claim you do not feel well enough. It will buy you time until we escape. You must be clever. Promise me, Zin.”
He nodded and held her hands. “I promise,” he soberly stated. “But I also promise that I will get you free… both of you. I am waiting for General Pei. He will come, I know it, and when he does, I will help him eradicate this evil place.”
“No, you mustn’t destroy The Dome too hastily,” said his mother.
“Why?” asked Zin.
“Because the monster they say lives here will claim our lives.”
Zin smirked and raised his eyebrows. “Mother, please, don’t tell me you believe in monsters.”
“I believe in what people see. I have seen her too in shadows of the water. Osha, the Mother of the Deep is a very old, but very real creature, Zin, and she protects this entire area. If The Dome is suddenly destroyed, I fear it will catch her attention, and she will not take kindly to such an invasion.”
“But… even if such a sea monster exists, why would she want The Dome to remain? Shouldn’t she think of such a place as unnatural? Wouldn’t she want it destroyed as well?”
Loda shook her head and replied, “I cannot imagine what a legendary deep-sea creature thinks and feels. I can only guess that she may be territorial. Based on what some of the other patients here have said, Osha seems like a monster with a keen mind. She circles the dome and some of us have seen her dark eyes and far-reaching arms. I wouldn’t want to anger her, that is all I can say.”
Zin sighed and slowly shook his head. “Well, no matter what that creature is, Pei and his Tah will come, and they will take The Dome by force. We will then free everyone here, and then you and Raven will get proper treatment on Deius. Dr. Hessen is making advanced strides as we speak. I know a cure is in sight.”
Loda nodded and looked at Raven with a half-smile, trying her best to seem hopeful. Deep inside, however, both women were scared and tired.
Zin sensed their waning energies and held both their hands. He wished he could say something more to give them strength, but he could only give them his warmth and love.
“Let us focus on the here and now,” said his mother, conveniently switching the subject. “I’ll show you where the food hall is. I’m sure you are hungry after your underwater journey.”
“Can we trust the food?” asked Zin as he followed his mother.
Leading him to the hall, she smirked and replied, “Do we have a choice?”
Raven smiled and held his hand as they walked. Passing by other patients, Zin put on an uncomfortable smile as he met their gazes. Walking through, he couldn’t help but look out the giant see-through windows that surrounded the entire dome. He saw random fish swimming by in the deep darkness as they walked. Out of the corner of his eye, he thought he saw something else - something with legs.
“Wait a moment,” said Zin, feeling pulled to the window.
“What is it?” asked Raven, following him.
“I’m just wondering...”
Unable to stop his curiosity, he went up to the window and put his hand on the glass. Looking hard with his slanted, aqua eyes, Zin couldn’t see much more than the black of the ocean.
“What did you see?” said Raven, joining him.
He shook his head, about to leave, when he saw the strange shape again. “There it is!” he said, pointing. “Do you see it?”
“Yes,” she replied, confused. “What is it?”
“I don’t know,” said Zin, “but it’s not a fish.” Squinting his eyes in effort to see better, he asked, “Is it Osha, the creature Mother talked about?”
Raven held onto his arm and shook her head. She wished he wasn’t so intrigued by something she’d rather not think about.
Zin could no longer make out the object. “Well, I guess the creature doesn’t like to be seen,” he said as he turned to Raven and held her chin. “Don’t worry, my dear, I’ll protect you.”
He smiled at her, and she smiled in return. Her smile, however, didn’t last long, for what she saw floating through the water disgusted and terrified her.
“What is it?” said Zin as he whirled around to see. It was not Osha, but a man, or had been a man in life. The dead, half-eaten body floated, then bumped against the glass, as if something was pulling it along. Despite his disgust, Zin focused his eyes on the man’s swollen, black face. “Oh, my lord,” he whispered, “is that… Governor Seith?”
“I think so,” said Raven, “or used to be him, anyway.”
“How the hell did he end up like this?” asked Zin.
For a moment, they stared at the body as it nudged the glass with the waves of the water.
Feeling as though he might vomit, Zin took Raven’s arm and walked briskly with her away from the window. He had lost his appetite completely, but he made for the dining hall as quick as he could.
Raven, repulsed as she was, couldn’t help but feel a sense of justice. She knew how abhorrent Seith had been to his slaves, and for a moment, Raven felt the urge to smile.
Justice may come late, she thought, but at least it comes.
Chapter 15: Acceptance
“Linthil diamonds?” questioned Ayn. “What are they exactly, and what do they do?”
Pei sighed as he thought about how to explain it to the small, holographic visual of Ayn on his communicator. “Well, basically, they are crystals made of hardened, raw plasma. They grow in the deep of the ocean here, and they have been mined through the years by the Tirleni for various reasons, such as spiritual meditation or weaponry… even for their own electricity.”
“Ah!” exclaimed Ayn, still elated by the fact that Pei was actually alive and contacting him. He made a mental note to personally thank Sterek for getting their communicators up and running again. “These diamonds sound like they contain similar properties to the plasma-infused metal in Viha swords. Oh, wait a minute. I know about these crystals! Pei, do you remember the stories about Adin and his first great war with the Ohrians? They fought with their silver armor made of diamonds. Remember, Pei?”
“Yes, of course I do, Ayn, though I’m not sure these particular crystals are the same material described in that legend. However, Lady Kiyana tells me the Linthils have been heavily sought after by the Ohrian government for years. For decades, the rulers of Ohr have been trying their best to steal the Tirleni’s power, both in Linthil and in telepathic ability.”
Ayn smiled, almost child-like. “The Tirleni sound fascinating,” replied Ayn. “I can’t wait to meet them.”
Pei nodded and said, “I am sure Kiyana would love to meet you, Your Majesty.”
Ayn’s smile slowly disappeared as his mind began thinking negative thoughts. I hope I’m still alive by then, he silently prayed. He didn’t want to think such terrible things, but he couldn’t help himself.
“Are you alright, Ayn?” asked Pei.
“Yes… I just… have a lot on my mind.”
“Understandable, my king, but do not worry. We are en route to The Dome, and soon, we will free those held captive, including Lod Zin. Then, we will bring the refugees to Deius for treatment and sanctuary. Let’s see if Vax dares seek a war with us. If he’s smart, he won’t even try. With the Tirleni on our side, we can possibly harness the Linthil, strengthening our army tenfold and bypassing the way we have modified plasma for energy. Perhaps we could end Undaniasis altogether.”
