by D.E.P.
Sicarius swam with great might down below, spotting a strong glow from what she perceived as a castle made of sand and coral. It seemed much like a clear sand castle hardened with the white crystals below. Pushing her arms downward, she lifted her body towards the surface once again, regaining a few breaths before the beginning of her quest. Before submerging herself once more, Sicarius opened her hand, revealing a cluster of pills she knew she would use as trickery upon the siren’s hearts. Taking one, she placed a blue capsule onto her moist tongue, careful not to pass the capsule through her throat until she reached the castle in which her enemies resided.
The blonde siren swam towards the surface of the water, not spotting Sicarius whom had consumed the capsule after seeing the siren approaching her. With her bow and arrows at her fingertips, the siren aimed her golden light towards the birds that continued roaming the skies. Their scream, still penetrating, had not affected Sicarius and the others. Their senses were not as acute as their enemies’. Stretching her bow once, the blonde siren released an arrow, then another, causing the two medium sized bodies fall from the heavens into the siren’s clutches. Grabbing onto both necks, the siren swam expeditiously towards the castle, her sharp teeth exposed with anxiety for the taste of fresh meat.
Pulmonara stood in front of the mirror, finally able to drop the small coned-shells onto the stone ground. A deep sound of brokenness echoed. She had seen what was in the mirror before her; the vines had revealed the figure between them. Quickly she walked towards the balcony, carefully proceeding down the small steps until reaching the openside of the palace.
The castle was quite strange; while water enetered the kingdom as it liked, the fluid did not contain the same power as in the outer regions. The interior of the dwelling contained a power much more dominant in form. The water turned into air, a moistened air that allowed the siren’s to walk as they pleased while attaining a minimum of the liquid in order to survive. The air was much different from the outside, much more moistened. Any inhabitant could breathe as they could when in the castle, but if the siren’s entered on land before a kiss, their lives would be in peril. A breath was needed for footsteps to be taken on the outer regions of the stream, and even then they had only but a short time before they shriveled and dried much like a coral. It was a curse.
As Pulmonora scanned her surroundings, she spotted the figure she longed for. While it was not the one she hoped for, she was certain the other individuals would attempt to rescue the dying figure that floated towards her. The vine wrapped around the blue armory, pushing the body forward and revealing the figure of Magni.
“Quid hic? Cur obviam iterum. Haec non longa dies putas? Cur non finem What have we here? Why we meet again. This has been a long day don't you think? Why not end it?” questioned Pulmonara without the waiting of an answer. Her eyes shown stoned, having no mercy for the sickened man before her. Bringing her hand forward, Pulmonora curved her fingers inward, bestowing long sharply pointed fingernails. The red color did not connote a feeling of love, but one of dread as she sliced through the soft sweating face.
Magni coughed repeatedly, splashing a thick juice of water onto the ground. Opening his eyes, he did not expect to see the siren before him. She grabbed Magni by the shoulders, pulling herself towards his lying body. Pulmonora did not kiss him; she only pierced his eyes with her penetrating stare.
“Ubi sunt alii Where are the others?” Pulmonora questioned in an agitating manner.
Barely able to sustain consciousness, Magni smiled rather wickedly himself. As if daydreaming, his head swayed before he spoke, “O sunt prope, domina Oh they are very near, my lady.” A small slash of golden blood eased out of the narrow passageway. Easing forward, a small drop of gold went along the crevices of a forming scar, much like a tear.
Irritated by the man’s remark in the presence of her castle, the siren slipped her hands through the openings in his armory. Swiftly, she lifted his body towards her beating chest. “Ego non modo ad ludos! Modo ferre non possumus oblivisci. Et probate me mori. O certe illi accedit, sed minus mirari me habeo, quarum unam investigatio finem arcu vanitatis eorum miserabilis I am not in the mood for games! Nor am I in the mood to sustain your life. Test me and you shall die. Oh I am sure they will come forward for you, but I have a little surprise myself, one of which will end their pathetic quest to save your meaningless life!” she screamed throughout the open passageway. Pulmonora’s mouth moved with great swiftness, unable to contain the small amount of saliva that flew along the blue armory. With the moistness of the air, the saliva failed to evaporate. She pushed Magni’s body forward with great force, causing his armory to clash against the stone bench. A small amount of powder flew along Magni’s body as pieces of the soft rock fell across the floor. With a groan, Magni finally fell into a light sleep, only able to see a blur of redness disappear.
Sicarius hid behind the vines, the ones that had recently attempted to end her life. Her nose wrinkled with the very thought, her eyes glowing a bright blue even under the waters. But from a quick glance of where Sicarius stood, there did not appear to be a figure staring into the distance where the castle stood. Her body moved with swiftness as she propelled herself towards the residence of doom. Only a cluster of bubbles formed around her invisible body as she drifted down below.
She suspected the waters were magic themselves, capable of defying the forces of the forest. Quickly realizing this as true, she took a risk to whisper a word of magic. “Spirantaqua.” She closed her eyelids, attempting to breathe underwater. Opening her mouth, she let the cool water rush into the live cave. The air bubbles, small as they may be, doubled inside her mouth. She consumed the air, knowing her magic had worked under the waves.
Pushing her legs, she felt a great pain as the armory around her pierced her body. She carried on, nonetheless, determined to the save the man that had loved her. She did not think the same as him, however. She did not like him. She did not love him. How could she? Perhaps because she had not heart! Many suspected this cold truth; many denied it. Her beauty was divine, despite the assassin she truly was inside.
As she approached the castle, she looked through the thin windows, knowing that the water’s lightness prevented them from shattering. The coral stood long and tall, an opening to the small sand castle that stood bold in front of her.
“Tibi abduxit rex? Volo vivum Have you abducted the king? I want him alive,” stated Fallentes, the king of the sirens. His emotions were tranquil, much like a grandfathers. However, a deep frown shown upon his face, notwithstanding failure.
“Credo aliquis misit gregem avium. Ne me voces dominantur ligula. Alium regem agens I believe someone sent a flock of birds. Their cries prevented me from controlling the vines. Someone else is acting with the king,” stated Pulmonora, brushing her flaming hair into the air.
“Ego fecit audire figentes sonitus. Mei aures coacti audire gruesome clamore. Tu male me filia I did hear the pitching noise. My old ears were forced to hear the gruesome cries. You have failed me, my daughter,” stated the king sadly. He attempted to raise himself from his stone chair, his blank eyes glaring at Pulmonora.
“Ibi erras, pater. Ego poterat ad capere cum argentum particularum gladio That is where you are wrong, my father. I was able to capture the man with the silver elemental sword,” glared Pulmonora before the king. The king frowned even more, struggling to remember the man Pulmonora spoke of. He nodded suddenly, his silver beard swaying with the small breeze.
“Invicta certe venit Magni. Te non me omnino Invicta will surely come for Magni. You have not failed me completely,” the king of the waters briskly stated, his expression unchanged. He held his trident to his side, walking down the steps towards the windows of the castle. “Scis quid te oporteat facere. Idem dico sororum You know what you must do. Tell your sisters to do the same.” The ruler lifted up his chin towards the gleaming waters only inches away. Lifting up both of his hands, many rings aglow on his bony fingers, he spoke a verse he knew by heart.
&nbs
p; The man of the waters spread his arms, as if moving a form of energy. A small amount of wind, as strange is it may be, encircled the king as he repeated the verse with a higher and more demanding voice. The grey hair lifted from his shoulders, swaying around him. Still, his eyes showing stoned were expressionless. The trident he held above his head glowed with a blue electrifying stream running excruciatingly along the edges of the castle. A penetrating glow came off of the blank stare until the power around him preposterously came to an end. The castle was sealed from the outside and inside. Nothing would be able to enter or escape from within, at least for the time being.
Sicarius saw the giant man in the shadows, knowing too well of his powerful magic. She was unsure whether to enter the castle or find another entrance, possibly from underneath. She also knew the castle would either trap her or prevent her from entering. She moved above, swaying her body from one side to the other. As a last resort, she pulled her hands to her sides, enabling her to sink to the bottom of her enemies’ premise. She knew there would be no other way to save the man whom had risked his life for her. But did he not only risk it for love? Was it something as meaningless as love that had saved her? She did not know the answer, but the dread of returning to Invicta without his brother haunted her the most. She had never failed, and was not about to risk her high standard in the kingdom. Tilting her head, she took another pill, her body flickering from existence.
“Viviorque, Pater vult recipere flagellis. Ut velut latens Viviorque, father wants us to retrieve the whips. They may be lurking as we speak!” warned Pulmonora to her wandering sister. Viviorque’s blonde hair dropped along her bare shoulders in a seductive, but vile stance. She turned her head with a questioned look before asking the obvious.
“Certus es, soror? Vos scire virtutem continent.…Are you certain, my sister? You do know the power they contain…,” Viviorque attempted to state, her face frowning in inquiry.
“Rogato ne soror! Nescio quam tu vis. Annua iactura lucrum annuum Do not question me, my sister! I know more than you of the power. A year's loss, is a year's gain!”
“Credis omnia sciunt et vident. Scientia et aetate nihil? Si res maiori desiderio vitae, non mea. Perdam te cum detrimento pluribus annis. Tempus instat, soror You believe you know and see all. Your age has nothing to do with your knowledge! If I may state, your life is the major loss, not mine. While I lose one year you will be losing much more. Your time is closing, my sister,” Viviorque asserted. Her red lips curled with profound wickedness. She smiled while the birds she carried at her sides bled with each step she climbed.
Pulmonora froze in her stance, agitated by her sister’s quick remark. Her eyes narrowed in sudden hatred, but she began to laugh instead. The laugh echoed throughout the silvery hall, the hall having a similar appearance to the inside of a cathedral. “Te sunt non multo minor te You are not much younger yourself,” she whispered to herself.
Pulmonora walked to a small stone wall containing rich blue colored water. “Apparent,” she stated softly as she walked up the small white steps before her. Obediently, a small capsule her size appeared before her, its light flickering with malevolence. The capsule was not plastic, not even merely glass, for it was made of only water. She walked into the floating sphere of aqua before her, positioning her arms on her chest opposite of each other. The great statues stationed along the small stream of water lowered their tridents in a diagonal position, causing the white base of the fountain to break apart. Closing her eyes, Pulmonora spoke one word, “Descende,” causing her floating hair to disappear as her body moved with the water’s current.
She opened her eyes, feeling the water’s throbbing slowly calming down. She was now underneath the castle, in the sands that had made what she now saw. The walls, a dim grey, shown around her. They were shaped into arches in a long row ahead of her. Her eyes sparkled with profound calamity, for she felt the power of destruction embrace her. She walked along the dark passage, dim due to the lack of light from the waters that were nowhere near the room. However, a blue glow appeared on each stone walked upon, giving light to the stone tiles ahead. With each step, and each glow, a small vibrating sound was heard in the quiet basement. Swords, tridents, armory, and harps marked the sides of the hall. At the end of the hallway lied a statue with wings—a black statue at that. A harp lied in the arms of the male statue who was lowered to the ground.
Walking towards it, Pulmonora blew onto the statue’s hair. “Vigilantibus Awake,” said the siren silently. The statue lifted its massive head, moving its legs with sudden anxiety. “Quid mihi opus What is in need of me?” stated the statue as it rose from the pedestal. He raised his head in a warrior stance. “Nil iam ego quum pro annis. Autem, hostis ut latens in praemissa. Noscimini aliis. Hoc est I have asked nothing of you for these past years. However, an enemy may be lurking in our premises. Alert the others. This is all,” ordered Pulmonora without the sign of any facial features.
“Ut postulas As you demand,” asserted the black statue as he jumped above the siren. He continued to walk towards the sphere of water, disappearing above.
The siren walked to the pedestal before her. Bending down, she moved her fingers along the carvings, until feeling the seal. Pushing her trembling hands forward, she struggled to open the chamber. As a last resort, she snapped her fingers, releasing the suction of the closure. As a small amount of powder fell from the edges of the lid, Pulmonora pushed the covering off with her feet. The lid finally crashed from the siren’s view.
“Nunc in flagellis Now for the whips,” mumbled the siren to herself as she made a wicked frown. Putting her left arm on the edge of the chamber, she pushed her body over the small stone walls. She walked down the slippery stairs, careful to not fall upon the same step in which blue blood was stained upon. A shadow lurked in the already dark narrow hallway. Walking slowly against the wall, the siren peered a few inches away from the corner. Taking out her harp from her side, she played a simple tune, causing the shadow to slowly fall asleep. Walking briskly around the corner, Pulmonora stepped over the furry creature similar in appearance to a bulked leopard. The muscular features relaxed, only throbbing in odd instances. The mouth of the beast laid open, two sets of long fangs stretched downwards. The eyes lied opened, staring at the blurry figure before him.
“Ipsum bonum puer Very good boy,” stated the siren silently, not looking behind her to see the suffering beast glare at her with a benign hatred. Pulmonora opened the casket before her with simplicity, using a silver key with a dull ruby center. As she heard the click of the key, the stone brightened a steady red color within the odd thin carvings stemming from the center. Lifting up the cover, Pulmonora gazed inside the metallic interior surface. A cluster of silver whips, wrapped around each other, contained the appearance of greedy serpents entangled in a knot.
As she reached out for one of the gleaming whips, a set of kneading teeth pierced her slender stretched out leg. Feeling the sudden pain, Pulmonora lifted her head, causing her neck to stretch out while she closed her eyes with exasperation. Opening her vibrant eyes, she turned around, hitting the beast with great force. The harp caused the beast to lie in a petrifying state as the blood along the siren’s leg trickled down, staining the polished white floor.
Pulmonora grimaced with a sudden rage. She lifted two of the whips into the palm of her right hand. Closing the metal lid with a slam, she quickly walked along the passageway, forgetting the ruby key. She disappeared into the waters that reappeared before her, her arms containing the whips which were coiled along her stretched out arms.
Sicarius had followed her, being sure to consume the capsules every five minutes that passed. Her image flickered as she consumed the pill. She walked carefully down the passageway, wondering what beast could have revolted against its master. Easing forward, she saw the bluish fur of the creature. Opening her mouth, she knew it was a relative of the beast she had killed to prove her trustworthiness to the land. She stepped over the creature, seeing that it w
as breathing heavily. Slowly, she bent downwards, moving her tender hand along the warm fur that surrounded the beast’s enviable body. Its thick face glared at Sicarius—an alliance was formed.
Sicarius ran through the passageway, not wanting the sphere of water to disappear without her. Sicarius left a trail of light before emerging herself into the chilly element. She found herself in the same fountain. A silent feeling lurked around her.
Pulmonora walked briskly towards her sister. She had grabbed the whips with black elastic gloves, careful not to activate the whip’s power just yet. Taking one of the whips, she threw it in the air towards Viviorque’s quick body. Viviorque turned her head, hearing the metallic noise as it soared towards her. With a quick move, the siren spun her body around, grabbing onto the end of the metallic serpent. The metallic weapon quickly began to form an electrifying light starting from the handle to the tail. The siren moved her wrist in a circular movement, the enlightened whip dancing before her. “Mea movet multum velociores quam ante My moves are much swifter than before,” the blonde haired siren smiled as she looked upon her sister’s stern face.
Sicarius stared at the palm of her hand— three pills to ease pain and five others for invisibility. She did not have much time to spare, half of the enchanted capsules needing to be used by Magni. She had chosen to control her powers that came with being a vampire. But the powers were by far greater in times of war, of destruction, of killing. Her powers had never been as strong as the day she stood between the sirens as they glared to themselves in utter malevolence. Her father had loved her nonetheless, teaching her to control the beast inside her.
“Meditate, my daughter,” he had said. The walls around her had been white and damp. She had sweated, her mouth showing the signs of newly developed teeth. Sharp teeth and bloody teeth surrounded her jaws. She had never killed an innocent inhabitant, but she strived to kill the harmless creatures in the openness. People had stared at her in question, not believing a beautiful girl like herself could contain an omen. She did not contain an omen; the omen was inexistent, having only been told through the numerous fairytales of ‘humans.’ Sometimes this scared her, and sometimes it did not.
“Breathe deeper. Do not see this as a disease, as a burden, my daughter. If the power you contain is controlled, you will be able to do marvelous things. The vampires of the north are gruesome only because they have not learned to control what was unwillingly given to them,” he had continued stating. He contained a soft face, determined, yet humble. His thin eyebrows formed in an odd curve around his eyes, the same color as the long thin burgundy hair that lay motionless behind his skull. “I love you nonetheless,” he had whispered tranquilly as he put his arms around her shoulders.
Sicarius moved towards Pulmonara, bending backwards to avoid the whip’s sudden movement. She had to move quickly, the pill’s magic would only last for so long. As she stooped down behind Pulmonora in an attempt to bind her legs, the black winged statue held his harp in the air, the harp’s figure transforming into a scythe. The scythe formed jagged edges as it brightened with a darkened supremacy. Quickly rolling to her side, Pulmonora missed injury by inches. Still, the statue progressed towards Pulmonora, Sicarius hiding behind her. Lifting up his scythe, the black statue motioned his arm with great force towards Pulmonora. Jumping, Pulmonora screamed with anger. As she rose in the air, she motioned the whip towards the scythe, able to retrieve it from beneath the statue’s right hand.
“Quam audet te oppugnare solum habitatores quod dedit te How dare you attack the only inhabitants that gave you life?” questioned Pulmonora as her voice echoed with wickedness throughout the hall.
“Vidi tres lux fontes, tuum, sorores, et peculiari aliis. Quod singulis fugit I saw three light sources, yours, your sister’s, and a peculiar other. That individual has escaped,” stated the statue as he froze as he was intended to do so.
Pulmonora circled around him, lifting her finger in acknowledgement “Quod tibi non licet interficere. Habens conspectu tuo esset satis infelix. Ut misceatur corpori Lætábor putrescit si forte etiam in profundis aquarum. Collige alii, hic Sicarius That does not permit you to kill me. Having your sight would be quite unfortunate. I will be glad to moisten your body to rot in the depths of the waters if this should happen again. Gather the other ones, Sicarius is here,” she stated ruthlessly as she curled her quivering lower lip with benign hate.
Sicarius smiled as she heard the last of her primate’s voice echo around her. She looked back, seeing that the black statue moved away from the two sirens. Walking briskly towards her enemies, Sicarius spun her two blades in her hands, causing a small metallic noise to form. She did not care that the siren’s knew of her presence. Her only job was to terrify them to succumb to her demands, something she did quite well.
The sirens looked at each other, not comprehending where the odd noise came from. There was a sudden silence. The sirens’ face shown in a peculiar frown, slightly terrified for the time being.
“Hic sum Here I am!” Sicarius broke the silence rather drastically. She said it a manner that caused both sirens to tremble. Pulmonora made an expression of deep disgust, cringing her small nose. Sicarius stepped quietly around her, simply digging her weapon along her neck.
“Ubi Magni Where's Magni?” whispered Sicarius, digging the blade further into Pulmonara’s airway. The other blade sharply stabbed the siren’s back.
“Nescio quid loquaris I do not know of what you speak of,” answered the siren silently, careful not to swallow for fear that the blade would cut into her thin skin. Her face shown to be one of innocence once again. It was a trickery of the sirens.
“Non fallat me lingua. Ego semper interficiam eam Don't trick me with your tongue. I could always cut it off,” stated Sicarius in a delicate manner. She threatened with her blade.
“Mutus ero meus princeps. Sciant omnes vos Then I would be unable to speak, my princess. You out of all should know that,” answered the siren mockingly. She motioned with her eyes to her sister.
Being one step ahead, Sicarius threw her dagger towards the blonde siren, causing the harp in her hand to crash against the shiny surface of the ground.
“Non experiri aliquid. Dic mihi ubi ille tenebat gladium Magni et dimittam furtim volens vitam finire Do not try anything. Tell me where you have kept Magni and I will release the dagger that so willingly would end your foolish life!” yelled Sicarius in a frustrating manner. Her image flickered behind Pulmonora’s slim body as she dug the dagger upwards.
“Audivi vocem tuam. Hoc stetit I have heard you keep your word. This may cost you,” snickered the siren as she pushed the dagger downwards. “Tua moriens amicus est per aula. Spero te postea valde Your dying friend is down the hall. I trust you will be very fond of him afterwards.” Pulmonora’s smile did not disappear as she spoke her words of trickery.
“In ludis non sum passus. Non conteram promissa. Tamen adhuc faciunt I am not in the mood of games. I don't break promises. However, I could still do this,” Sicarius moved her small blade between her fingers until scraping the cheeks of her enemy. Two large lines oozed with fresh blue blood as the drops fell downwards.
Sicarius wrapped her black cloak around her body, able to blend in with the darkness on the sides of the castle. She retrieved her dagger from the floor.
“Post eam Est ingressus ad tumescere zona After her! She is going towards the breeding zone!” screamed Pulmonora after she provided a strong whistle that echoed through the walls.
The black statue ran towards Pulmonora who signaled ahead of her. Pulmonora followed her racing sisters. “Ego congregabo aliis I'll gather the others,” stated Pulmonora silently as she felt her liquefied face raging with a profound anger. Walking with her harp, she strummed it not once, but twice, calling the statues to rise, for it was time.
Walking quickly down the hall, Pulmonora stopped before her silent father. This time the man of the waters spoke. “Sentio facie mea. Mea potentiae non prohibere eius ab ingressu I feel
a presence in my domain. Did my powers not stop her from entering?” yelled the king, refusing to believe that his powers had defied him.
“Non causa, rex meus. Sicarius ut ingressus ante sciens It was not your cause, my king. Sicarius may have entered before our knowing,” stated Pulmonora silently in an attempt to bring tranquility. Pulmonora posed her hands along the sides of her hips, biting her lip in frustration. “Quae continet virtutem invisibilitatem. Quid aliud habet vires, non dici. Scis quam ego pater mi She contains the power of invisibility. There is no telling what other powers she contains. You know more than I do, my father,” she stated as she posed on one hip.
“Non signa vocare? Eam tamquam ad ultimum recursum ad Serviam. Denique pater abscondi virtutem petam Did you not summon the statues? I will serve as a last resort to bring her down. After all, her father has hid the power I seek,” answered Fallentes as he pinched his chin in thought.
“Ego ut interrogavit. Ut vis, pater I did as you asked. As you wish, my father,” Pulmonora silently spoke as she bowed before her king. She walked down the steps, providing a deathly echo in the dark blue room. Walking at first, the siren changed her pace to a running skip. She moved her whip around her, producing a steady glow of lightning to slash the very head of her enemy—Sicarius. It was a sign of love, that, she was certain.
Sicarius briskly walked across the shiny floor, looking down from time to time at her reflection. She seemed rather depressed, as if her heart were cold as stone. Perhaps it was, being preserved in a land from afar. Still, it puzzled her. Continuing looking down, she noted her face suddenly brighten with happiness. Biting her lip, she knew she was not asleep. It was a stupid thought to think she was dreaming. But she continued smiling, the reflection on the floor. In a treasure box, Sicarius lifted up a heart.
No! No! No! Sicarius thought to herself. How could it be?
“Videsne saxa? Quid optas? Lapides numquam mentiri Do you not see the stones? What is it you wish for? The stones never lie,” stated a pleasant voice behind her.
As she turned around, Sicarius replaced her bare hands with her prime weapons that lighted up with a profound blueness. “Vos secuti me You have followed me?” asked Sicarius slightly confused as she stared into the face of a young innocent girl. “Alii fuerunt in castro nesciebam I did not know others lived in the castle.”
The small girl, around nine human years old, had long strands of pure black hair. Her pale complexion reinforced the small black eyebrows above the penetrating blue eyes that stood petrified before Sicarius. “Me cum te. Ego sum non sicut ceteri Take me with you. I am not like the rest,” stated the small siren, ignoring the assertion of Sicarius.
Sicarius quickly kneeled down before the innocent child, holding her tender hands with her own. Making a face of deep sorrow, Sicarius stated, “Ego non. Una manus vobis absque aqua. Tu puer amorem invenire. Tua incantatores potest non irritum I cannot. For one, you would die without the water's touch. You are too young to find love. Your spell cannot be broken.” Sicarius looked at the girl sadly before standing up. She saw the shadows at the corner, knowing the statues would be in the search of her.
“Ibi erras. Mordebit me, quia tuam morsus crescit. Potes me miserum That is where you are wrong. Bite me, for I see your fangs growing. You can save me of my misery,” stated the small girl. Her eyes shown saddening as a tear raced downwards from her vibrant right eye. “Semper non quid velit We don't always choose what we are.”
Sicarius thought for a few minutes, knowing the others were nearby. She did not speak as she looked into the girl’s eyes. Taking the girl by the hand, she pushed her body onto the nearest wall in which shadows lied. Moving her cloak with her right hand, Sicarius covered them both from the enemies’ eyes. The statues, only able to see light, were unable to track the covered bodies on the side of the wall.
“Illa non abiit in locus, Viviorque She has not gone into the room, Viviorque,” stated the black statue silently to the blonde siren who stood in front with her whip racing by.
Stepping close to the black statue, the siren whispered into his ear. Nodding, the statue ordered two of the white marble statues to go ahead while the others followed the siren and him to the other rooms behind.
Noting that all had left, Sicarius relaxed her position against the wall. She grabbed a hold of the girl’s shoulders as she searched for truth. “Quam credimus te. Facile persuasum videtur homo sum. Sed eros mendacium dixeris How can I trust you. I am not seen as a person being easily convinced. Yet, I feel you tell no lie,” Sicarius turned towards the staring girl, still holding her blades in a threatening manner. Her jaws clenched with a renewed anger.
Dangling a small green blade in her hand, the young siren stated, “Nesciebatis quia potuit alerted soror? Vel forte posset divisa caput ius ergo. Veni mecum, ego tuum amorem quo Did you not know that I could have alerted my sister? Or perhaps I could have sliced your head right then. Come with me, I know where they keep your love.”
Rolling her eyes, Sicarius whispered to herself, “Non est dilectione mea He is not my love…”
Following the young girl, Sicarius walked across the shiny floor, careful not to make even a small sound. She refused to look downwards, fearing the truth behind her desire. Turning the corner, Sicarius was suddenly stopped by the girl’s hand. As the girl turned towards Sicarius, she whispered, “Statuas custodiam habitaculum. Patitur me procedure The statues guard the dwelling. Allow me to proceed.”
Sicarius frowned, but nodded nonetheless, “Te facere quod You do that.”
As she waited, Sicarius heard the small voice before the giant stoned inhabitants. “Quod est iniuriam What is wrong?” the siren questioned innocently.
“Nihil timeas. Ire ad habitatio tua Nothing you should fear. Go back to your dwelling,” stated one of the white statues. A long but thin beard fell downwards on the armory that covered his chest. The hair rose high above his head in a peculiar manner as it swayed with a small amount of breeze.
“O sed facere timore. Timeo vitae Oh but I do fear. I fear for your life,” said the young siren as she jumped sideways onto the right statue that spoke, pushing off the abdomen to stab the neck of the statue on the left. Spinning around, the young siren transformed her harp into a bow, strumming the end to produce a steady blue arrow that pierced the head of the other statue. Quickly, the statues froze, not withholding life that had proceeded their falling.
“Omnes patet All clear,” stated the small voice as her footsteps carried onto the doorway before her.
Shocked, Sicarius walked around the staring eyes of the statues before her. Their grimaced faces scattered across the floor shown in anger towards the siren that had deceived them. Wrapping her hands around the handles of the giant black doorway, the young siren opened both doors with ease.
The ancient doors creaked as the hinges opened with a high, yet silent sound. The room was quite dark, only a small amount of blue light easing its way around the walls of the tight room. Small black bricks bordered the interior walls, narrowing into a small passageway in front. Walking down the small steps, it occurred to Sicarius that she had forgotten to ask for the young siren’s name. “Quid dicam vobis parvulus What shall I call you, young one?”
“Vocant me Glacies Call me Glacies,” she stated silently, not looking back at Sicarius as she touched the wall before her with her extended right hand. The palm of her hand fell along the rough texture of the walls until feeling a slight smoothness that contained the sole power of the artwork. “Aperire Open,” Glacies whispered to the walls before her.
As if listening, the small squared wall pushed backwards. Silently, the bricks that made the bottom of the walls disappeared underneath. As the bricks began to fall, so did a stairway leading to what was beneath. “Ego implevit mea parte pacisci. Aliquam enim idem I fulfilled my part of the bargain. Now it's time for you to do the same,” stated Glacies silently as she walked before Sicarius. The room was hardly lighted except for a sharp glow that illuminated the sacs that e
xtended from the ceiling.
The large sacs dangled within their own weight, moving from side to side and yet failing to fall down. Touching a sack with her dagger, Sicarius lifted it up to her vibrant eye. The clear slime failed to stick onto the dagger as it quickly fell to the ground in a loud splash. Smiling, Sicarius examined the sack before replying, “Numquam constat ad rudis postulat I never agreed to your crude demands.”
The siren continued walking silently around the sacs of mucus only whispering beneath her breath, “Nos videre ut We will see about that.”
Walking around the large sacks that continued to drip the clear liquid, Sicarius followed the siren. A slightly clearer sac, contained an odd figure that lurked behind the surface. The body floated within the water-filled membrane, seemingly lifeless. It was rather difficult to tell who the figure was, if it were an inhabitant at all. Sicarius smiled at first, not fully comprehending what the odd inhabitant was. As if a dagger had pierced her heart (if she had one), Sicarius took a deep breath, knowing too well that it was Magni. The blonde hair covered his most dominant facial features. The long thin eyebrows, the vibrant blue eyes, the small nose, and the smooth cheeks that spread evenly across his face drifted with the liquid. The only feature that seemed dominant, were the lips. Tender as they appeared, the dead-like appearance of Magni seemed almost evading.
Lifting up her daggers with deep anger, Sicarius pierced the top of the sack, dragging the blades to the bottom. Sicarius looked back, almost tearing as she held her mouth with her shaking hand. She turned around swiftly, contributing to two horizontal slices through the sack in order to provide an opening for the liquid to escape. Looking upwards, Sicarius saw Magni’s body as it fell calmly on the ground. She did not look down, nor did she attempt to touch her companion. The sight was utterly horrible to look upon as the greyish body was covered with the thick mucus.
Glacies kneeled to the ground, her eyes scanning the body before touching the slightly clenched hand that lay outward on the floor. Sicarius relaxed her emotions, staring at the child with little hope. Taking a deep breath, Glacies provided a steady breath onto Magni’s body. His body did not flicker, nor did his wet hair fly into the air.
Taking out her harp, the siren strummed, moving her fingers in a steady wave-like pattern. Sicarius placed her fingers along her body, pacing around the room. She knew she had to go to Invicta. The sirens would find her. They would know. She took out the pills she had placed in her armory, the thick mucus sticking onto most of the capsules. She shook her head in disgust. She had saved capsules of invisibility for herself and Invicta, realizing she would be the only one to use them.
A cough was heard. A deep cough. A penetrating cough. The cough of Magni gave hope to Sicarius as she bent down beside him. But this was not the man she had known, for his eyes dilated to become much larger than anticipated. Sicarius looked at Glacies, waiting for an answer. The young siren was preoccupied, strumming the harp gently as she looked downwards. Magni’s skin continued to look partially greyish. The teeth all contained the same sharp thin figure.
Shaking her head, Sicarius attempted to persuade herself from reality. If she were to kill Magni, she would never be able to face Invicta. But if she did not kill him, he would lure others to their death as the other sirens had. He was slowly becoming like the ones whom had captured him—a siren.
Setting her bow aside, Glacies pushed back the long strands of hair that blinded her sight. “Cithara non usum. Magni fuit intus nimis diu The harp has no use. Magni has been inside for far too long,” she asserted as if she were a healer. She stood up as she looked upon Sicarius’s confused face.
“Deinde tempore hic fuit in frustra Then my time here has been in vain,” Sicarius looked to the dark ceiling above, a droplet easing across her eye.
“Omnes sanare vos viam You out of all should know the way to heal him,” Glacies frowned.
Sicarius frowned all the more, not knowing of what the girl meant. Staring upon Glacies’s gleaming eyes Sicarius began to move her head back and forth. Her slow movement of the head turned forceful and fast paced in refusal. “Ego potest non quod. Pollicitus sum me non I cannot do that. I promised myself I would not,” she finally answered.
“Vos estis ad. Festina ante serum est You have got to. Hurry before it's too late!” yelled the young siren with anxiety. “Sentio soror coram I feel my sister's presence.”
“Ne dicas quid faciam Don't you tell me what to do!” screamed Sicarius, pushing her blades to the sides of her body.
Glacies held her hands in the air, frowning rather sarcastically at Sicarius. Her right eyebrow, silverish in appearance, lifted up in a questionable manner. “Ille amor, non mihi He's your love, not mine.”
Magni’s body throbbed as air bubbles formed around every inch of his skin. His eyes became darker and the hair began to become duller in color. The muscles that formed his body became more dynamic as spectacular curves formed his chest. But it was not a spectacular sight, at least not for Sicarius. The teeth extended as a thick drool escaped from within his mouth. Magni was no longer the same. Soon his body would appear as normal, but a disease would take over of what he had once known.
Ignoring the siren’s remark, Sicarius looked towards the stairs, making sure the shadows did not lurk on the walls. “Ego sum paenitet. Est solum modo I am sorry. It is the only way.”
Sicarius knelt down besides the monster. Sicarius’s eyes glittered with a deep sadness before she swiftly lowering her head to taste the golden blood of the body beside her. It was only one bite, one across his neck—it was essentially the only way to save his true life. Lifting her head up, Sicarius hoped Invicta would understand.
Quickly, Magni’s eyes became the same blue color, slightly more vibrant than before. Instead of all his teeth being short and as sharp as a thorn, two long canines erupted to be as sharp as a dagger. The blonde hair appeared while the muscles became their normal size. Blinking, Magni said not a word as Sicarius lowered her mouth for just one kiss.
Of course it was not a pathetic kiss that healed the man. Such things are nonsense in a land as this. Needless to say, Magni only blinked once before his eyes slowly closed. The once bright blue gems disappeared from Sicarius’s view.
“No! Don’t do this to me!” screamed Sicarius to Magni. Taking out one of the capsules, she gently placed it into Magni’s mouth. Glacies took out a vile with water, pouring it into the small opening in order to let the pill pass through.
Quite shockingly, Magni lifted his head rapidly with deep distress, his eyes more aglow than before. His arm extended to the blade besides him, pointing it directly in front of him. He took steady deep breaths, not blinking once as he stared at Sicarius and the girl behind her. He glared at the harp besides Glacies, narrowing his eyes in deep anger. “Relinquere me ad mortem meam daemones Leave me to my death you demons!” he yelled before a frowning Sicarius. Sicarius lowered her hand to touch Magni’s other hand. Glacies lowered her head to the ground, slightly ashamed. While Glacies did not quite understand the man’s language, she knew of his anger towards her kind.
“Magni. It is truly me. I know it is quite perplexing that I should arbitrarily appear to you. Look around you; I have broken the sack containing you,” Sicarius stated silently in an attempt to have Magni lower his blade to the ground.
“You are correct, it is quite perplexing. Your tricks have little effect on me. This is why you will be unable to deceive me as before, for you will lie petrified in your position!” Invicta yelled as he pushed his arm back, creating a force that pierced through Sicarius’s extended hand. Sicarius’s expression of fright became petrified in her exact position, her mouth gaping with deep horror as her hand laid to the front.
Glacies, knowing what the result would be, swiftly moved her body around Magni, evading the blow of his blade. Tightening her eyes, the small siren smiled without regret as Magni pierced her leg. Glacies’s body turned into the monster she truly was, frightening Invicta to crawl backward
s. Slowly, her body began to turn into the greenish form of a statue, her green dress freezing in its place. As she saw Magni gather his armory and walk towards the bricks, she stared down at her partially frozen body. Moving her wrist with deep rhythm, Glacies stabbed her leg without so much as a blink of an eye.
Chapter 11
A False Ruler
