by Kristen Day
“A metal pole!?” I gasped and watched his light gray eye sparkle with amusement.
“I’ve been hit by worse,” he responded nonchalantly. “Besides, you appear to be stronger than six of me.”
“I didn’t realize I was capable…” I trailed off in confusion and he laughed lightly.
“I believe out of all the walls you could have chosen to take down, this would have been the best.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve been using this wall as a sort of calendar. Scraping away at it to mark the days. I have a feeling its structural integrity has been weakened over time.”
“Oh.” I grinned sheepishly as I felt my face heat in embarrassment. I should have known I didn’t have the strength to take down a solid stone wall. That’s when the memory of my previous reveries slammed into me. The room with the marks on the wall. The window I had peered out of, meeting the eyes of an old man on a beach. The beach where the same old man had been collecting shells.
“You….” I started, unsure as how to explain what I was thinking. “I’ve seen you before. I’ve…I’ve been here in a…dream.” I surveyed the room I was currently in. Of course! How could I not have remembered? The room I was in now greatly resembled the stone room that I’d found myself in during my reverie, the first time I’d caught sight of the old man. The second time resulting in a new trace. A new trace brought on by close proximity to my past.
“I saw you too.” His eye crinkled as he smiled. I ran a light finger over the eternity symbol trace below my eye, trying to understand the connection.
“Are you…? Are we…related?” Before he could answer, sounds down the hallway made us freeze as I snapped back to the task at hand.
“You need to go.” His eye darted toward what I assumed was his door.
“Are you chained too?” I asked him.
“Fortunately not, but my door is as solid as a mountain.”
“We can get you out through here!” I exclaimed with excitement, already clawing at the wall.
“You must go-” he began, until I started to ramble.
“My door isn’t locked! It’s guarded by a million spiders, but…”
“No!” he protested. “Your time is too precious! You need to leave!”
“I’m not leaving you here…” I kept clawing at the stone.
“Anastasia.”
The sound of my name stopped me dead in my tracks. “You know my name?”
“You must go.” His unblinking eye told me he was serious, matching his firm tone. “I’ll be right behind you.”
“Okay,” I responded robotically. I didn’t want to leave him. I would never forgive myself if something happened to him. After another moment without movement, the sounds down the hall grew louder as voices could be heard.
“Go!” he instructed, as I finally found my way back to the present and back to the dire situation I was in. I glanced back at his gray, wise eyes one last time before gathering up the chains and running towards the door.
I barely felt the silk webs of the bark spiders as I ran through them with little patience for the shivers they threatened to send down my back. I unlatched the door and wrenched it open, finding myself in a long stone hallway. I briefly inspected my skin to make sure no spiders had hitched a ride. Satisfied that there were no lingering spiders and feeling the hot breath of time on the back of my neck, I ran to the left and away from the voices we had heard.
In the darkness of night, I stumbled down the hallway and almost fell down an abrupt set of stairs. After several twisted ankles and one heart attack, I reached the end of the spiraling stone steps and flattened myself against the cool wall to catch my breath. I had no idea where I was going, or what I was going to do when I got there. I just knew that I had to stop the three conspirators from infusing the prisoners’ essences, as well as mine, into Keto. With that power, it would be impossible for me to defeat her.
Realizing that now I needed to find out whether all of my essence had been drained or if I still retained my abilities, I closed my eyes and reached out with my mind; in search of the ocean. The sensation that hit me in the next second was so unexpected, it brought tears of joy to my eyes. Other times when the ocean had called me, it felt like a light tug; urging me to dive into the arms of the waves. This feeling was so powerful, I lost all control of my feet as they began to run. The urgency with which I needed to be beneath the waves was so overpowering, I could think of nothing else. It was as if my life depended on it. As the burning in my side grew into a raging inferno, I realized that maybe it did.
Chapter 23
When my bare feet landed on the sand that led me towards the welcoming arms of the sea, the moon revitalized my soul and helped me make it the rest of the way to the water. As the burning in my side became unbearable and the world spun out of control, I lost my footing and fell into the shallow waves as they lapped at the shore. The velvety touch of the ocean sent a frenzy of energy through every cell in my body, and I allowed myself to float farther and farther out. I closed my eyes and lost myself in the euphoria of the sea’s magnificent power. It swirled around me and inside of me as I breathed it in greedily. The coolness of its touch spread through my body; cradling my heart and soul in its nurturing, loving arms.
I didn’t bother to move or swim until I felt a light touch on my side. I snapped my eyes open to catch a three-foot-long gray fish attempting to kiss the side of my body. As he re-angled himself in relation to my side, I realized that he was no ordinary fish, he was a Plecostomus – a sucker fish - a much, much larger version of the ones we had back in Atlanta. They sucked up the algae on the bottom and glass sides of the rectangular fish tank we’d had back home. Once repositioned, he attached his mouth to the red, blotchy spot where the spider had poisoned me. The burning in my side started to vanish slowly, as he actually pulled the venom from my body. In any other situation, having a random fish stuck to my side would have been slightly disturbing, but the absence of my intense pain literally extinguished any hesitation I might have had.
Apparently satisfied, the courageous fish detached from my skin. I reached out slowly and ran a hand over his scaly body. One glassy black eye watched me carefully, until it stilled completely and he drifted onto his side; succumbing to the venom. A wrenching sorrow filled my soul and I cried out in horror, but before I could understand what was happening a wall of seaweed had wrapped around me. I continued to search for the fish, but the seaweed quickly pulled me to the sea floor.
I struggled against its fronds, until I felt the tiny sparks of energy that flowed along my skin and throughout my body. Their playful spirit surrounded me and filled me with a pure happiness and unabated joy I knew was not my own. More energy flowed from the seaweed into my veins, clearing my head and revitalizing my drained muscles. Every cell, every nerve-ending reveled in the sea’s arms as a light melody filled my ears. I instantaneously recognized it as the sea’s song. She was calling to me, embracing me as one of her own; loving me and healing me with her love and acceptance.
After what seemed like an eternity, I awakened to an airy fluttering sensation traveling across every inch of my skin. Images of giant bark spiders coming to finish me off filled my mind, and fear instantly gripped me. When I opened my eyes I prayed that it would be a school of sharks, electric eels, or Jonah and his whale - anything besides flesh eating spiders. Thankfully, it was just a mass of baby sea turtles swimming around me with excitement. I knew that they were newly hatched from the aura of pure innocence they emitted.
“Hello there,” I greeted them warmly. At my acknowledgment their joy soared to a new level, and I didn’t think their little fins could paddle any faster. They darted around me, a frenzy of energy and happiness that brought an unstoppable smile to my lips. Just as quickly, my on-land reality slammed into me and I knew I could hide beneath the waves no longer. I could already be too late! Untangling myself from my bed of seaweed, I easily swam back to shore. I felt as good as new, but was sti
ll in shock at the sucker fish’s ultimate sacrifice, along with the sea’s incredible healing power. I hadn’t asked for it. I hadn’t even realized it was possible. But somehow it knew and it pulled me in, understanding what it needed to do. And an innocent life had laid down his life for mine. It was a difficult concept to understand, but one that filled me with an even stronger love for the sea and its inhabitants.
With renewed hope and, most importantly, energy, I crept out of the waves with a keen eye for any sign of Nadia, Keto, or Selene. Unfortunately it didn’t take very long to spot them. They stood between the moon and the sand, all of them shining with an unearthly glow. They could have been three friends hanging out on the beach, three sisters taking a night stroll, or three ghosts born of the sea and stone. But I knew who they really were. I knew what they were capable of and the evil that lived in their hearts. That point was made even clearer, as one of them began to frantically gesture with her arms. Her threatening stance and raised chin told me that she was simmering with a slow burning rage.
I darted up behind one of the many boulders that littered the beach to remain hidden, and held my breath as I peeked around the side. My new point of view allowed me to discern a very pissed off Keto and a defensive Nadia standing across from her. After a few more terse words, Keto slapped Nadia across the face; sending Nadia crouching down in shame. I watched the evil roll off her like a waterfall just before her eyes lit fire. Despite her rage, her fear and respect for Keto halted any further argument. I had a good feeling I knew what their fight was about. A small part of my heart rejoiced, knowing my untimely escape was more than likely the cause.
The darkness of night was held at bay by the pale light of the full moon, as it shone down onto the pale sand of the beach; illuminating the rocks and boulders, as well as the foam of the waves. After Keto’s final gesture, their argument cooled and the three women glided toward the water in unison; their anticipation and greed a tangible force no one could ignore. The metal click of a door drew my attention towards the cliff, just as a thick wooden door swung open. The line of hostages filed out, linked together by shackles on their wrists and ankles. They shuffled toward the three women and my heart raced with panic.
I steeled myself and scampered silently towards a larger and much closer boulder to the right of the group, in order to get a better view. The reluctant hostages formed a rough semi-circle around the women and just as my vision prophesized, Selene stepped forward, raised her arms, and threw her head back; sending the hostages falling backwards onto the sand unconscious. I knew I had to act quickly, but I had no idea what I needed to do! Before I knew it, Selene began to sing. Keto raised her arms, and the hostages were lifted off of the ground in tandem. Selene hit an impossibly high note and the hostages’ soul-less bodies dropped onto the stark white sand, leaving their souls suspended and vulnerable. Suddenly, Selene appeared to falter. She twisted to Nadia, and I didn’t miss the rage that flashed from her silver eyes. With a couple of inaudible words from Selene, Keto kept her arms raised while the now furious Selene headed towards the other side of the beach.
As the memory of my vision came racing back to me, I mentally kicked myself for not remembering something so critical earlier. The old man! He was the one Selene had found sneaking around the boulders in my vision. He escaped because of me! He would be killed because of me! And being on the other side of the beach, I had no way of preventing his untimely death.
My limited options flashed across my mind in a split second, as my nerves calmed and energy surged through my body. I could either save the old man by dashing across the beach - leaving me vulnerable to Keto and Nadia - or I could use Selene’s momentary absence to disable Keto and hopefully reattach the souls back to their bodies. Unfortunately, I never liked doing things the easy way. My only real option was to do both.
I stepped out from behind the safety of the boulder and knelt down; pressing my fingertips into the powder-soft sand, which rapidly gave way to my heightened state of emotion. As energy flowed down my arm and out through my fingertips, an unseen force rippled outward, just below the surface, towards Keto. I stood silently, knowing full well I was about to be discovered, but there was no turning back now. I had committed myself to this fate and I would see it through, no matter what transpired. The racing mound of sand rolled into a massive wave, growing in height and speed as it approached Keto. The unstoppable power that swirled inside the massive wave of sand washed over Keto before she had even inclined her head. As she was knocked off of her feet, she inadvertently released the captives’ souls; slamming them back down into their bodies lying below. However, even after the incredible force of their souls being returned to their bodies, they remained impossibly still.
Nadia’s permanent smug expression changed from surprised to elated in less than a second. Already gathering my energy for another attack, I commenced to running. Before making it halfway across the beach, I was thrown sideways and wrapped tightly within the unending black fingers of Nadia’s evil smoke. I closed my eyes, pulled from everything good in my heart and blew it outwards, blasting the smoke away from my body and allowing me to regain my footing. By that time, Keto had brushed herself off and stood; shaking with fury I could taste. She zeroed in on me and snapped her fingers. A large boulder to my right dislodged and roared towards me. Not wanting to steamrolled by a boulder, I dove out of the way, narrowly missing being crushed to death. In response I blew a strong wind in Keto and Nadia’s direction, which thrust them backwards and momentarily, stopped their advance. Not knowing what I was doing, or even what I was capable of, outside of the ocean, I couldn’t have seen it coming. Boulders, water, and even sand I could handle. Deadly ball of light? Not so much.
A glowing orb flashed in my peripheral vision before it slammed into me, making the world spin violently. I landed square on my side against a rock, seconds before I heard a sickening crack in my upper arm. Indescribable pain shot up my shoulder and down my spine, but my surging adrenaline suppressed it efficiently. I fought to stand until I realized that not only did the orb hit me, it had consumed me! I was actually inside the glowing orb, completely powerless to help the innocent hostages who were about to lose their lives. I helplessly eyed Selene as she carried the old man out from behind the boulders by his neck. To my relief he was writhing and kicking her in defense, which meant he was still alive! In the next instance, she mumbled something and his body went limp. Feeling like I had been punched in the stomach, I fought against the invisible walls that contained me, but to no avail.
“Let them go!” I cried out in desperation. “You have me! You don’t need them anymore!”
Instead of answering me or even acknowledging me, Keto nodded formally to Selene, who abandoned the old man’s limp form onto the sand. Keto once again raised her arms, threw back her head, and repeated the steps to release the captives’ souls from their body.
“No!” I shouted uselessly, centering my energy and trying anything and everything to release myself from the steel trap of the orb. Those efforts only bounced my energy off of the walls and slammed them back into me, which knocked my breath away and left me reeling. The sound of Nadia’s laughter made the hair on my arms stand straight, and suddenly I wasn’t alone in my glowing prison anymore. The black fingers of evil were swirling around me, occasionally licking at my skin and eliciting a burning sensation so overpowering, that all I could do was scream. Over and over, the smoke attacked me from every possible angle. Helpless to save myself or the poor souls that floated above their own bodies awaiting the departure of their essence, I could only feel. The scorching fire of the black smoke was nothing compared to the agony I felt inside at my failure. The weight of those vulnerable souls suffocated the very light of my heart; hovering over my own soul and ripping it apart. Suddenly, a lone melody rose from the beach; it captivated the night and signaled the beginning of the essence-stealing ritual.
I fought to see what was happening, but was able to focus on Nadia just as she produc
ed two vials from her pocket and uncorked the first carefully. A thick, swirling dark liquid billowed out of the vial, becoming suspended in the crisp night air. The liquid reminded me of a storm cloud, raving and pulsing with power and esteem. As the cloud of liquid crackled with a magic that almost hurt to look at, I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. It sparked and glistened a mirage of colors in the direct moonlight from above. Just as I wrenched my gaze away in fear I would be blinded, I felt it. Darkness. Warm darkness. Finn’s darkness. They made it! They were here! My euphoria was quickly squelched by crushing disappointment, as I realized that there were no new arrivals. No prince in shining armor. Just me, a glowing orb, and the personification of evil times three. When the startling truth hit me, I became so nauseous that I almost threw up.
The sparkling mass that now hovered in the air above the three women wasn’t just liquid. It was no different than the sparkling drops of liquid the Nereids had infused into my hand. Their essence. Which meant that the dark sparkling liquid under Nadia’s control was Finn’s essence. And the other vial could be none other than my own soul’s essence; the excruciating evidence of their relentless lust for power. A veil of violation shadowed my soul, but while I continued to burn on the outside from Nadia’s evil smoke, I burned even hotter on the inside from her never-ending torment.
Selene’s singing suddenly rose to another impossible octave as Keto’s body collapsed to the ground; her dark soul separated from her body, floating above her. With one command from Selene, Finn’s essence connected with Keto’s soul, causing a massive explosion of light and a powerful shockwave that even I felt from within the orb. I cried out in distress and met Nadia’s burning, glowing eyes. The evil smoke that surrounded me waged another massive attack on my skin, as her smiling face dripped with victory and revenge. Finally overpowering my mental barriers, it roared in my ears and singed my insides. Waging a counterattack fueled by determination, my essence forced the evil out, leaving it to only destroy my already-tender skin.
