by Reid, Susan
I heard a young girls’ voice. She was talking to someone.
“She’s finally risen. I’m so excited! It never fails whenever Keiko-San is making her famous stew.” She giggled.
Was she talking about me? She either heard or saw me, but how? I hadn’t seen anyone else on the stairs…well, anyone solid except for that flickering reflection of light.
“It’s about time. I was beginning to worry. She should have risen three daybreaks ago with the others.” A guy replied.
“Some take a little longer, like a fine wine for a reason. There’s nothing wrong with that.” She defended.
“Leave it to woman to take her sweet time.” The guy joked.
“Should we meet her in the corridor, or wait until she follows her nose to the dining room?” She then said.
“I’ve already seen her from afar in the mortal realm. Her aura is extremely bright. I don’t know if a regular cloak is gonna mask it.” He then said.
“It may have something to do with what her essence will be. We girls are more favored anyway, we bear the children.” She replied.
“Yeah, yeah, don’t start that again.” The guy replied.
If I was confused before; now, I was beyond confounded. I assumed that they were talking about me, but what were they talking about in regards to me?
“Well, Sean and the others aren’t back yet, but at least that’ll give me time to finish getting her room and things ready for her. Maybe you guys can show her around a little too.” She then stated.
I stopped halfway down the hall and paused. I waited…listening.
There were many voices all around me now, coming from different directions. The sounds of silverware scraping against plates, commenced somewhere beyond what lie behind the dark wooden doors.
Anxiously, I waited for the doors to open, wanting to see the faces that the voices belonged to.
It remained shut.
I was puzzled, but I didn’t move.
Suddenly, I was aware of a figure moving towards me…from behind.
I couldn’t explain how I saw the movement, or how I was even aware of it without having to turn around, but I did. Was that the other set of eyes that I felt watching me? My heart began to thump wildly. My muscles began twitching with mounting energy.
I licked my lips, narrowing my mind’s eye like a predator, waiting for its prey.
I could see the outline of an arm reaching out for me, like a mirage in the forefront of my inner sight. I spun around, grasping the arm without even so much as a blink or forethought. It was as if my body already knew exactly what to do before I could even process the command.
With ease, I lifted and threw whoever this was over my shoulder, slamming him down hard onto the stone floor.
He grunted in surprise. I swiftly jammed my knee against his sternum, one hand cuffed his throat, and the other still clamped around his arm firmly. He made no moves to stop me, protect himself, or even fight back.
“Hey, whoa…take it easy. Friend, not foe. Not bad for a newbie.” He affirmed. He held his free hand out in surrender.
I glossed over both of his forearms, admiring the intricate, silver tattooing, all along each of them.
He was African American, and young —like near my own age young. He was cute, and…somehow vaguely familiar to me, as if I had seen him somewhere before. A slow smile played across his full lips.
The heavy wooden doors suddenly flew open, and five others lined the doorway. They were all wearing some form of the tunic and pant set that I had on, but in different colors.
There were three girls and two guys, and they all appeared to be as young as the one pinned beneath my knee did. They too, also bore the silver tattooing on each of their forearms, but the patterns clearly all differed. I found the tattoos peculiar, but uniquely stunning. I admired the artistic designs with coveting awe.
Were they some alien race of beings?
The guy with spiked black hair laughed and they all began to parade towards us.
“Wow Durien, looks like you finally got laid…” He began.
The petite girl with long, flowing, platinum blond hair stopped him with a punch to his arm in warning.
He feigned severe injury by rubbing his arm with an innocent smile.
So far, his voice matched the one I had been hearing in conversation not long ago.
“Out, laid out. You didn’t let me finish.” He clarified to her first. “And by a female newbie at that too. Not good my man, you’re slipping.” He displayed a teasing grin at the guy still pinned beneath me.
“Interesting. I don’t see him making any moves to get up either. Can’t say that I blame him.” The blonde haired guy smirked at me. His eyes automatically zoned in on my chest.
I wasn’t sure what to make of their approach, even if they didn’t appear hostile towards me. I eyed each one of them; assessing and gauging body languages to match up with possible intents.
“It’s alright. You’re among your own. We’re all on the same side here.” The platinum blonde haired girl soothed, as soon as they all gathered and stood around us.
Well, so far they all looked— and acted normal enough.
“She’s pretty good; she should breeze through training with ease.” The guy with blonde curly hair commented with a twinkle in his brown eyes.
I believed the platinum blonde girl. She had a sweet
and gentle face, with a voice to match. I let go of the one they called Durien beneath me, and moved aside to let him get up. I then rose to stand.
“Sorry.” I whispered to him, as he deftly got to his feet.
“No need to apologize. No harm done, I understand.” He dusted himself off and adjusted his clothes.
“How did you know I was behind you?” He then asked expectantly, as if he were quizzing me more than asking.
I licked my lips and shrugged a shoulder. I was clueless in how to answer that. I had no idea how I knew.
“Save the questions for later. There’s way too much she’s gonna have to learn, and there’s plenty of time for that. I’m Lorelei.” The platinum blond girl introduced herself and smiled at me.
“Gabe.” The curly blonde haired guy held up a finger.
“Scarlet.” The long, dark haired petite Asian girl introduced, looking me over curiously, with beautiful almond-shaped, slanted eyes.
Eyes that reminded me of something or someone else that I couldn’t recall.
“I’m Crystal.” The girl with shoulder length, straight, dark red hair spoke up next.
“And I’m Anthony.” The spiky, black haired one, who teased Durien, introduced himself with a cocky smile.
He was older, as in that he was probably in his mid- twenties, if I could guess.
“And I’m Durien, the pleasure is all mine. You’re strong, you’ve definitely got serious potential.” He complimented.
“Score one more for the girls’ side.” Scarlet beamed.
“We’ll see. Good to finally meet you.” Anthony noted with a half-smile.
“To finally meet me?” I asked with furrowed brows.
“Yeah, you should have risen three daybreaks ago. There were eight others that arrived at the same time that you did, and they’ve already been taken to their specific assemblies.” He explained.
“Way too much Anthony, you’re confusing the poor girl.” Lorelei cut in.
“We started to just go ahead and bury you.” Gabe said.
They all chuckled.
“Cut it out and stop teasing her.” Lorelei scolded him with a shake of her head.
“Ignore him. They’re all clowns. He’s only kidding.” Scarlet added with a smile.
I looked at Durien. Why did he look familiar to
me?
“What’s your name?” Lorelei then asked.
It took me a moment to comprehend and respond to what she was asking me, and another to pick through my thoughts for my own name.
“Star…” I replied slowly, but something whispered i
n the back of my mind, telling me it wasn’t quite right.
“Ling!” I then blurted out, unsure where that had come from.
“Ling? Your name is Ling?” Crystal furrowed her brows.
I shook my head in slight confusion. “No. It’s…ling, I mean Star.” I sighed and shook my head in frustration.
“It’s Star—ling. Starling” I finally put together.
My face burned with embarrassment, not being able to piece together my own name. However, the sound of my name gave me a sense of being to match what I felt like physically.
They all nodded and smiled, as if I were a raving idiot.
“Don’t worry, who you are and other tidbits about yourself will start coming back to you gradually. It happened to all of us.” Durien then said.
“Starling is a pretty name.” Lorelei smiled genuinely.
I appreciated her compliment, turning my attention to Durien. “A few tidbits? I feel like my entire brain and memory has been stripped, and what’s left is all jumbled up.” I replied.
“There are reasons why that has to be. At least that’s what we’ve all been taught and told. It will all start to make sense once you understand why you’re here.” Anthony then said.
I looked at him peculiarly, wanting to ask him the next obvious question, when Crystal suddenly interjected.
“Good luck trying to conceal that aura.” She said, looking me over in amazement.
They all took note in agreement.
“It’s like a nuclear, radioactive glow—times a hundred.” Gabe commented.
“My aura? Why can’t I see it? Or any of yours for that matter?” I asked.
My eyes went from each of them, and then to myself. I wanted to see what they were all seeing.
“You will, you’ve just risen. There’s gonna be a lot of things that you’ll be able to do, see, sense, and hear. It just takes training, which is why you’re here.” Lorelei said.
“Well, it could be an advantage…or a disadvantage for her.” Durien said.
“I don’t know. But it all makes sense now.” Gabe replied.
“What makes sense?” I asked.
Everyone exchanged glances with each other for a brief moment, as if sharing a similar thought. I was instantly suspicious.
Anthony then waved a hand with a grin. “Nothing, don’t mind him. Anyway, we’ll meet you girls in the dining hall.” He said. All of the guys bowed away, and headed back towards the open doors.
“Can I ask a stupid question now?” I piped up.
“You’ve just risen, there’s no such thing as a stupid question.” Lorelei answered with understanding.
“What is this place, and why am I here? Why are all of you here?” I then asked.
“Let’s all grab some food and sit down. Even giving you the condensed version will take a while,” Lorelei began.
“Yeah, I think Lira is still getting your room ready anyway. I’ll bet you’re starving.” Crystal said, and we all began heading for the doors too.
“Wait, a room for me? Meaning I’ll either be here for a while, or I’ll be staying.” I eyed them all with the open-ended statement.
“Staying for now.” Crystal answered casually with affirmation and a quirk of her brow, as if I should have already known that.
“Well, where is here? I mean, am I still alive? What’s with the asylum fashion?” I asked, while motioning to my clothing and theirs.
Scarlet smirked. “This is what’s known as the Divine Hall. It’s more like a gym for knowledge and training. You aren’t meant to stay here indefinitely.”
She held up three slim fingers, folding one down before she spoke again, “Yes, you died just like the rest of us, and you’re immortal now.” She folded another finger down.
“You’ve joined our ranks as a divine warrior, because you were chosen in your mortal life at birth by a divine entity.”
Left with one finger remaining, she folded it down and continued, “Third is the easiest part; knowing and accepting all of that. With the title comes a huge amount of responsibility and duty—none of which will be easy or simple. That being said, welcome to the spirit realm.” She winked.
I paused. “Spirit realm? So I am dead?”
Lorelei jumped in just then. “Technically, no. Look, you’ve got a million and one questions we know, but don’t worry we’ll all help you to get adjusted and show you around.”
I hesitated with a nod and finally, willingly fell in-step with them in the direction that the guys had taken. Lorelei kept pace with me.
I didn’t even know what to say, or what to think, let alone what it all meant. I wasn’t afraid. I was confused. Chosen by a divine entity? God?
Without running the risk of seeming annoying, I turned to Lorelei, once we made it through the doors. The appetizing smell of food was getting stronger.
“So, I’m still human and technically alive…just immortal as in…” I tried to find the right words, unable to fully accept what Scarlet had just revealed.
She stopped and thought for a moment.
“As in no longer mortal. Of course, you’re still human. You’ll still need to eat, breathe, bathe, and sleep. I think the more correct terminology that applies to us now would be…superhuman, no longer of weak earthly flesh. You have to be rebirthed, so that divine physical energy and power could be infused into your newly rewired mind and body. It’s a necessary process in order to be of any physical and mental match against the demons and dark ones.” She explained.
I could only stare and blink at her, nonplussed.
Lorelei giggled, “Come on.” She moved past me, then turned to wave me onward to follow her.
I walked slowly inside, amazed at how regal and grand the room was. The ceiling was extremely high, adding to the already massive, open appearance of the comfortable sitting room. Along three walls were bookshelves that practically ran up to the ceiling, complete with a sliding ladder to reach the top most shelves. There was an array of musical instruments. I spied the harp and piano that I had been hearing on the far side of the room. I instantly made the comparison to a common room, or a lounge…something I’d see in a college dorm or hall, for some strange reason.
There were two Ping-Pong tables, what looked like an assortment of chess and other board game tables, and circular cushioned benches and couches, which were positioned all around to accommodate many people at one time. In corners, there were many lush green ivy’s and other exotic potted plants; a full wall of floor to ceiling windows, surrounded by cream colored drapery, and a large, lit stone fireplace, with more lit sconces along the walls.
Was there no electricity here?
I noticed right away, that there were no televisions, radios, video game items, computer, or electronic devices of any kind in here either. None that I could see anyway, and no one else was in here now. My guess is that they were all in the dining hall because it was dinnertime. It was dark beyond the glass windows.
Lorelei suddenly spoke, seeing me pause and marvel at everything. “It’ll take days to show you around the entire Divine Hall. This place is huge. I’ll show you around the areas that you’ll need to know. This is our side, meaning where our team trains, sleeps and eats. Regions divide us up, but you’ll be briefed on all of that later.” She said.
She waited for me, while Crystal and Scarlet already exited through a doublewide, sculpted archway.
Once Lorelei and I entered, I began to curiously look around. There were many others wearing similar clothing, all sitting, chatting, and eating at long, wooden tables that were set up in neat rows.
Eyes and heads turned in our direction, and conversations seemed to cease to a sudden halt. Though it wasn’t as noisy and out of control, the feeling of being in high school all over again instantly overcame me.
III. Starling:
Though the appearance of the dinner group was calm and orderly, I still felt a knot of tension having all eyes on me, as I walked with Lorelei towards the serving line.
There were two girls in particular, who cut their eyes at me with an almost accusing and untrusting look, which I found a bit alarming. I thought that this was a harmonious kind of refuge or training place, given what Lorelei said we were.
“Just grab a tray. It works like a lunch line. Get whatever and how much you like. In exchange, we all take turns helping out in the kitchen with the cleaning, harvesting of food and stuff like that.” Lorelei began.
I took note that everything looked organic, from the fresh vegetables and fruits, to the homemade grain breads. It all smelled good though.
Round, wheat colored pita bread sat on a wooden cutting board. Next to that, was a gargantuan bowl full of an assortment of colorful veggies, which I don’t think I’ve ever seen before.
The grapes, apples, figs, pomegranates, oranges, nectarines, blueberries, and strawberries were all huge, succulently ripe, and vivid in color. Stacks of wooden cups sat beside a large, wooden barrel with a spigot.
“Nothing unhealthy, I see.” I commented, taking a small bowl, and filling it with four of the lusciously ripe, red strawberries.
Lorelei laughed a bit, “Nope. If it can’t be grown, hunted or gathered, then it’s not on the menu. You’ll notice that goes for electricity and all the modern conveniences of the human realm too. Everything is either planted or raised.” She went on to tell me.
“Kind of like being in the middle ages.” I replied.
“No, just the way things were always meant to be. It isn’t bad actually, you’ll get used to it.” Lorelei assured with a smile.
Scarlet and Crystal had already moved ahead of us, and were heading to the table where Anthony, Durien and Gabe had sat.
“So what exactly do the tattoos mean?” I asked, admiring the design on Lorelei’s forearms, and the way the silver designs glinted in the light. The pattern formed a latticework of wavy lines that wrapped around each of her forearms.
“They’re actually brandings. The weapon that chooses you will be branded onto your arms and hands, where they will become one with you— like an extension of your hands. You’ll be able to will them when you need to.” She said.
