T.A.P., O.M.W.W. The Closing of A Chapter (standard:fantasy, 3806 words) [2/3] show all parts
Author: kissofthehungry	Added: Dec 05 2004	Views/Reads: 2772/2067	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
In a matter of hours, Ghandra's life drastically changes. Her mission in life becomes painfully clear, she must bring peace to Goldabrol.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

"Who are they?" it was strange asking that question for only part of her
wanted to know.  The other part was terrified to hear the reply and 
insisted that she cover her ears should the knowledge be her undoing. 

"The Zaluhutts.  They've taken over for religious purposes," his
response surprised her.  Why would they take over a school?  She was 
somewhat relieved for she knew, due to being Niatho's sister, she would 
be safe.  Yet the nagging question of why they were at her school hung 
a dark shadow over her security. 

"Well, nothing to do but check," she exclaimed and he nodded meekly.  It
was pretty obvious that she was not giving him a choice.  The other two 
students looked fearfully at each other then they began their journey. 

It wasn't long before they came upon a stern faced Zaluhutt "page boy". 
The security guard cleared his throat and nervously spoke up, "Um sir, 
this young lady has a request."  The somber young man stared at her 
chillily, making her whither where she stood but she had no other 
choice. 

"I am Ghandra, Niatho's younger sister.  I wish to wait for my Zaluhutt
escort, Mikonel," her voice quavered but she held his gaze, praying 
their names would make an impact.  Though his expression didn't change 
in the least, he nodded his head, granting her permission.  Her breath 
came out in a rush of relief, she hadn't even realized that she was 
holding it.  The security guard let out his breath too as if he thought 
he were going to die for simply accompanying her. 

"Thank you, I will wait in my usual spot," she smiled weakly, feeling
awkward and out of place.  What in the world were they doing here?  
What possible importance could a school have to a religious group? 

"No, it's not safe to be wandering around on your own," the page boy
instructed, "There are Dariens out looking for people to hunt, you'd be 
a perfect target."  A shudder passed through her, Dariens were even 
more loathsome than the man who had taken her brother.  They loved to 
torture anyone and anything for the pure fun of it. 

"Okay," like she was going to argue against that.  The security guard
and the two students took off, cringing, as if at any moment, they were 
expecting the axe to fall upon them.  She debated talking to the page 
boy but he looked as against talking as they come.  WIth all her heart, 
she hoped that Mikonel would not be long. 

While sitting there, she began to dwell upon her dreams again. 
Suddenly, she felt a powerful presence near her.  Her eyes rose to 
behold her brother, his eyes blazing with self righteous power.  Not 
once did he look at her but strode over to the page boy, an eerie smile 
of dominance upon his face  The page boy immediately cast his eyes down 
as if Niatho were a deity and he was unworthy to view his godliness. 

"Is she a Darien?  Why is she here?" Niatho asked, his voice cold as ice
and oozing with power.  His words slapped her in the face, and she 
wanted to scream at him but she kept her silence.  God only knew what 
would happen if she spoke out in anger against him. 

The page boy stammered, "No sir, she's waiting for her escort, Mikonel. 
He is a Zaluhutt."  For the first time, Niatho looked at her and his 
eyes were beyond frightening.  They were still the dark green of their 
father's, but now they were empty of a soul, only full of a strange 
hunger.  His gaze made her shrink insde of herself and she wished that 
she had a place to hide. 

"Make sure that she does not wander off on her own.  We wouldn't want
anything to happen to her," he smiled and it was like looking into a 
predator's mouth.  Then he continued on his way, stalking the campus 
with blood on his mind.  Ghandra was absolutely stunned.  Could that 
really have been her brother?  It didn't seem possible that such a 
heartless creature could be the boy who once had calmed her down after 
she'd been frightened by a loud crash of thunder.  He seemed incapable 
of feelings at all.  There was no way that she was telling her parents 
about her dreams.  She would not join Niatho in the clutches of 
Mianutt. 

After maybe another ten minutes, a voice called across the courtyard,
"Ghandra, thank goodness."  When her eyes fell on Mikonel, she never 
before had felt so many emotions rushing on her for him.  There was 
relief, hope, familiarity, and the urge to throw herself into his arms. 
 They met halfway because she was so desperate to be near someone she 
trusted, even if only a little. 

He saw it in her eyes, and immediately asked, "Are you alright?" 

Blinking back tears, she replied, "Oh, I'm fine."  What a lie, she felt
like curling in a ball and crying.  Never before she felt so helpless 
and so lost.  It didn't seem fair, her brother was more lost to her 
than anything else and it hurt her inside like a knife being twisted. 

"Ghandra, you can tell me, what's wrong?" his hand was underneath her
chin, tilting her face so she could not avoid his gaze, "They didn't do 
anything to you, did they?"  The concern made her really want to cry 
but the anger she saw in his face at the thought of them hurting her 
made something stir inside.  She shook her head violently "no" and she 
saw his shoulders slump in relief. 

Then she blurted, "I saw Niatho!"  The memory of his empty eyes and
sharklike smile made her shiver. 

"Isn't that a good thing?  You've been wanting to see your brother," he
brushed a tear off her cheek that fallen unchecked.  His words broke 
her heart, for he was right, but it had not been a good thing.  Far 
from it. 

"He's not my brother anymore," she cried out and speaking it out loud
made her finally loose it, "You should have seen him!  It was like 
looking at a monster.  He didn't even talk to me, just asked the page 
boy if I were a Darien.  He knows I'm not a Darien, I'm his little 
sister and it didn't even seem to register with him."  Mikonel didn't 
say anything but comfortingly wrapped his arms around her.  He pressed 
her to his chest and allowed her to cry her heart out. 

Presently, she became aware of his hand stroking the back of her head
and embarrassment surged through her body.  Quickly, she pulled away, 
wiping her snotty nose on the back of her hand, without looking at him. 
 She was painfully aware of the wet mess upon the front of his robes 
even though he seemed completely indifferent to it.  His eyes never 
left her and she felt strange. 

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to," she began but didn't get far. 

"It's okay, I understand," he interrupted her and grabbed her hand,
pulling her back to him.  He pressed her against him in a crushing 
embrace, and her breath caught in her throat.  Everything about this 
was wrong and yet she felt so comfortable in his arms.  For a moment, 
she reveled in the security she felt, then she pulled away from him. 

"We should get going, thank you, Mikonel," she couldn't bring herself to
look him in the eyes, too many conflicting emotions were swirling 
within her.  His eyes were still upon her but he didn't say anything or 
reach for her again.  Instead, he obediently began walking, and that 
was how they went home.  Neither spoke a word, and Ghandra wondered 
what it all meant. 

That night, she lay in her bed, fire and ice moving through her veins as
one.  Her body alternated between spasms of chills and sweats.  An 
animal like moan crept between her clenched teeth and her nails left 
little crescent moons in the palms of her hands, but she was unaware of 
them. 

She closed her eyes, trying to cancel out the pain in her body. 
Suddenly, she was standing in a black void, not a noice about, not even 
her breathing.  There was no light, she couldn't tell if her eyes were 
open or shut, and she didn't know whether to be afraid or exhilerated. 

Suddenly a voice, that seemed both inside and out of her, spoke, "Child,
do you wish for knowledge?"  Of course she did, and she nodded.  The 
voice laughed; a harsh, gutteral sound that mde her flinch and wonder; 
had she made the wrong choice? 

Her eyes began to pick out light seeping about her.  Then without
warning, the ground dropped out from under her and she was falling 
through a sun-filled sky.  A scream caught in her throat but she was 
too panicked to release it.  Just when she though tthat she was going 
to be dashed to pieces, she was standing inside of a beautiful temple. 

The walls were creamy, pale pink; so diffused, they almost appeared
white.  They shown like gems from an undetermined source of light.  
There were curtains of beautiful silk; in colors so rich, they couldn't 
have possibly been made my mortal hand; floating from the ceiling.  
They spread out and fanned as if moved by a puff of giant's breath, 
though she could feel no such thing.  The curtains were stunning but 
they made it difficult to see into the depths though she knew where she 
was.  Somehow, she had landed in the legended temple of the gods and 
she wondered, why? 

Quietly, afraid to waken the wrath of the gods, she crept forward,
moving slowly through the silk.  Presently, she heard voices and afraid 
to get any closer, she stopped. 

A voice, rich in tenor and warm, spoke, "I feel the creatures should
have natural powers, as we do.  They should control the elements, they 
should find the power within themselves." 

"Are you crazy?" a high pitched, scratchy female voice blurted, "Then
they will try to overthrow us.  They should have no powers whatsoever." 
There were a few murmurs of agreement. 

"I think they should be powerful.  We would not allow them enough to
overthrow us but they should be allowed to rule over the elements in 
which they live in," a sultry voice replied. 

"I agree, but only to a degree  I think we should make them capable of
powers but only if they learn them through specific items and can loose 
them if the sources of power are destroyed," a heavy male voice 
explained. 

"No, they cannot have power.  They will abuse it," the scratchy female
voice cried out, sounding angry that they were even considering 
anything else. 

Suddenly, a voice; the voice she'd heard in the void, boomed, "You're
all right in your ideas.  So, I will give you all your wishes.  A small 
portion will be born with the power within.  Another portion will be 
born with the ability to gain or loose power through certain items.  
The majority will be born with neither capability.  As for the fear 
that they will try to take over our domain, I do not believe it even a 
remote possibility.  With the differences in place, they will war 
amongst each other and not us."  There were no replies and she had the 
feeling that to argue with that voice was futile.  Though what he said 
did make sense, and she knew it to be true. 

Suddenly, she was wrenched into a room, lit with delicious smelling
candles, by an unseen force.  Though she could not see anyone, Ghandra 
knew that she was not alone. 

"What do you wish to have your powers for?" the sultry female's voice
asked.  The question took her by surprise, what did she want her powers 
for?  It hadn't really been a question to her before, and she took her 
time thinking about it, somehow knowing that time had no meaning where 
she was.  Her number one wish was to save Niatho, but there was more to 
it than that.  She wanted to stop men like Mianutt and be no longer 
afraid to leave her house without an escort.  She wanted students to be 
comfortable in their schols.  The more she thought about it, the more 
she realized, she wanted to end the reign of bloodshed and fear in 
Goldabrol. 

"I want to bring peace to Goldabrol," she announced confidently, and was
rewarded with laughter.  It was really beginning to bother her when she 
heard laughter, it seemed to mean some vicious surprises were in store. 


"Oh my child, you do not really believe that you are capable of such a
feat?" the woman giggled and Ghandra felt her claws unsheath. 

"Maybe not on my own, but with powers and other believers, I know I
can," she dind't know where the confidence came from but all of a 
sudden, she was determined to do what she said. 

There was more laughter then the voice sighed, "Very well!" There was a
rumble from the ground beneath her feet, and she felt the floor began 
to shift.  Frantically, she looked about her for something to steady 
herself, but there was nothing.  Fire suddenly blazed about her, 
lightening stung the air, water misted over her, and the ground seemed 
to split.  This time she screamed and her lungs burned with the effort. 


She began to pass out, but before she did, she heard, "So be it.  Bring
peace to Goldabrol."  Then darkness descended blissfully upon her. 

When she woke, she was still screaming and Mikonel was trying
desperately to calm her down.  With a blink of surprise, she realized 
that she was back in her own room.  Had she only dreamed the entire 
encounter?  Yet she felt different.  There was a tingling inside of her 
as if a fire had been lit in her insides.  Her heart surged, what she 
had suspected had finally come true. 

"Ghandra, are you okay? What were you dreaming?" Mikonel's hands were
cool on her skin, and she liked the way he looked flustered over her 
well being.  She opened her mouth to speak but her voice cracked.  With 
that, she was aware of how raw her throat felt and she wondered how 
long she'd been screaming. 

"I'll be right back, I'm going to get you some water," he didn't wait
for a repsone but left the room.  For a moment, she just lay there, 
allowing her heartbeat to slow.  In that moment of foolishness, she'd 
almost told Mikonel what she'd been through, but her voice had saved 
her.  Mikonel may have grown close to her, but he was still a page boy 
of the Zaluhutts.  The extravagant scent that she had smelled from the 
candles still clung to her skin.  That was the most confirming thing 
that she'd not been dreaming, and she wondered if she could summon the 
power or if she did need training.  Briefly, she concentrated and felt 
electricity crackling in her fingertips.  Excitedly, she looked down 
and was amazed to see blue sparks flashing off the tops.  A gasp 
escaped her lips and Mikonel walked back in. 

"Great sky gods!  Ghandra, when did this happen?" he blurted and she
jumped in shock, guiltily hiding her hands behind her back.  What an 
inconvenient time for him to come back. 

"Uh, well, just now," she confessed, worried that he would now tell
Mianutt.  If he did, it meant her life was over.  It meant, she had 
absolutely no chance of accomplishing her mission.  Why'd he have to 
walk in at that moment?  Defiantly, she glared at him, they'd never 
take her without one hell of a fight. 

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked, as if it weren't obvious.  Except
for there was something in his voice that seemed hurt, as if her fears 
were incorrect. 

"Well, honestly, I was afraid you'd tell Mianutt.  I saw what he did to
my brother and I didn't want it to happen to me," it was strange how 
good it felt to be completely honest with someone.  Until that moment, 
she hadn't realized how alone she felt.  It was good to get it off her 
chest. 

"Ghandra, you can trust me," Mikonel's voice was now so hurt, there was
no mistaking it.  When her eyes met his, she was instantly filled with 
guilt, which wasn't fair.  It was perfectly reasonable of her to worry, 
he should understand that. 

"You cannot hold it against me," she blurted, a bit too defensively, "I
can't even trust my own parents.  I saw Niatho, it's my soul that I'm 
protecting.  I don't want to forget my family, but even more important, 
I don't want to forget me."  Suddenly, he was by her side and she was 
distinctly aware of how her screams had not brought her parents.  Her 
breath caught in her throat and her emotions were mixed again.  Part of 
her wanted to flee, but the other, apparently stronger side, kept her 
glued to the spot. 

"I mean it, you can trust me.  I'd do anything to keep you safe," he was
so close that she could smell the pine scent of his bodywash.  A tiny 
gasp escaped her and she would have turned away, but his hand appeared 
out of nowhere, cupping her face.  Then his lips, warm and soft, were 
on hers.  For the first time in her life, she seemed to melt, her 
entire being turned into butter.  Then she pulled awa, her head 
spinning, her mind so confused. 

"Why do you keep pulling away from me?" he groaned, his breath sounding
ragged and shallow. 

"I can't do this right now.  I just can't.  There's too much going on,
and I just can't.  Please understand," she groaned helplessly.  Why did 
everything have to happen at once.  It wasn't fair, and she didn't 
understand why she was so afraid of the feelings for Mikonel.  He 
didn't reply but handed her the water, then left.  For a while, she 
stared at the door as if expecting him to come back.  Then she settled 
into her bed, exhaustion claiming her it's bride. 


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