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Sunday, August 01, 2004
(I'm ba-ack! And with a really nice long one for ya to make up for lost time! lol)
Premidas slammed into the doors of Themrus's class. He had tried looking for Kanni first, but when she wasn't at Alice's door he gave up and went straight to the teacher, hoping his friend was okay. "Them-" he began when a strike knocked him clean off his feet. The room swirled about him as he slumped and then sagged against the wall, sliding to his feet, his eyes fluttering shut as he slid into darkness....
_X_X`~*`~X_X_
Premidas didn't show for the next five minutes and Kanni startled to scuff the floor nervously. What happened? she wondered. Usually Prem always was on time. Surely his absence wasn't mere tardiness. "And where's Kaleb?" Kanni wondered out loud. Suddenly she realized how empty the corridors were. Few students rushed through them, sending echoing slams of heavy doors swinging shut behind them. What was going on?
Then she felt the symptoms again. Darkness filling her mind as her thoughts became weaker and weaker. Suddenly the darkness vanished as she heard a faint clacking sound down the hall. Her knees bent in an alerted position, and her eyes scanned the darkening corridor before her. A sudden little creatures turned the corner, slapping a club in its hand dutifully. "Ah," Kanni sighed, "Only a hall monitor." The creatures yellow beady eyes locked on her, its long pointed red slippers sticking out like a sore thumb compared to its dirty brown vest and trousers.
It gave her a leering stare and Kanni suddenly felt the mistake of relaxing. The little troll-like gnome came charging at her with a shrilling battle cry, waving its club in circles about its fat round head. Its plump body juggled as its thin knobby legs strained under the weight, but it was much faster than Kanni qould have predicted.
She pivoted and swung around, running as fast as she could. Where was everyone? She called out for help, but no one answered anywhere. She dashed down the hall and picked the stairwell in case the elevator was too slow. Hopping up three steps at a time the girl made her way to the third floor, but breathing became harder and harder for her the faster she went.
Deciding on the second floor and burst from the door, still hearing the shrieking battle yells from inside the spiraling stairs. Stopping for a split second she panted to catch her breath and suddenly saw a slight stir from the wall across from her. She cautiously crept closer to see Kaleb braced against the wall, knocked out. "Kaleb!" she breathed and then looked around to see if who ever did this was still around. No one. Must be safe.
She silently walked across the hall, the cries from the gnome still behind the door. "Kaleb, Kaleb!" she whispered in a low his, nudging him. Suddenly the door started to vibrate with the loud pounds of the gnome's club. "Kaleb!" Kanni finally raised her voice and the boy's eyes flickered open, drooping in a daze. He gave a moan of pain and rubbed his head. The hinges on the large wooden door creaked threateningly. The gnome would brake free any minute. Without taking another minute to spare Kanni pulled one of Kaleb's arms over her shoulder and gripped him around the waist, bracing her knees and slowly pushed upward under his weight.
"Goodness you're heavy!" she rasped and started to stagger forward, wishing he would wake up and walk on his own. Turning the corner she heard the shattering of wood; the gnome was free. And obviously, by the silence that followed, still hunting her. Holding her breath in anticipation Kanni made long steps, half dragging Kaleb as he slowly came to his senses again.
"Wha-?" he began but Kanni tightly clasped a hand around his mouth, stifling his voice and told him to be quiet.
"A gnome is after us, but don't ask why," she quickly added, withdrawing her hand and peeked over the corridor edge. The gnome was as still as a statue, making loud snuffling sounds as if it were trying to sniff out their scent through its stuffy nose. Kaleb pulled her back and the gnome flinched.
"Okay, Kanni, I know where we can go. But you have to follow me without hesitation and questions," he instructed with a stern tone.
"Okay, okay! Let's just go already!" Kanni impatiently waved her hands. Then, without warning, Kaleb took off, rushing loudly down the corridor, slightly swaying back and forth, still slightly dazed. Kanni followed as best she could, skidding on the floor and carpets when the boy made sharp turns into a maze of halls and doorways.
She could pick up the heavy pattering of the gnome's feet behind them; he was following quite well. Kaleb heaved against a door with a golden handle, forcing it to open and grabbed Kanni's arm, pulling her inside. He slammed the door shut and waved his hands about stressfully, trying to call up a locking hex.
"Orrikuy!" Kanni commanded, an array of golden lights leaping at the handle and a loud click could be heard, the magic also spreading on the hinges and throughout the door frame to support the door in case of an attempted break-in. "Er, thanks," Kaleb muttered and Kanni shot him a sly look. He grabbed her arm and rushed to a large larp hanging on the back wall. Brushing it away he revealed a spiraling stair case and quickly led her up it.
Thudding sounds came from the door below. Kanni felt her heart race. All because of a mad chase from a hall gnome? No. Something was wrong with it. And something else was wrong. Gee, it would really help if I knew what, Kanni thought to herself. Kaleb and she reached another door, a golden one, with quite a few bolts and locks barricading it.
"Red eagle flies from the South," Kaleb spoke the password and the locks creaked and clicked as they shifted out of veiw and the door slightly swung inward, letting a gust of icy cold air to assail them. Kanni supressed a shriek of surprise as the cold nipped her bare arms and ankles. Kaleb gruffly grabbed her arm as the door shattered due to the gnome's club below. He pulled her out into darkness and said to the door, "Eagle shut thyself." The door puffed and slammed shut with a loud thud, making Kanni jolt.
With still a firm grip on her arm Kaleb dragged her, telling her to stay right behind him. Above a faint moon glistened and the stars watched them from all angles. The school towers loomed omniously above them, and trees bristled in the night wind below. The courtyard was completely black, only the large pond in the middle rippled with the moon's silver glow. Birds chirped every now and them, and rustled or creeping animals sounded from far below.
And owl swooped low over the two, making them duck. "Kaleb!" Kanni ripped her arm from his clutch. "Where the hell are we going?" Kanni yelled, her foot slipping on the steep way and something clattered as she suddenly fell sideways. Her hands curled around what felt like a roof shackle, and her eyes shot up to the moon. Could it be? "Kaleb," she breathed, "Are we on the school roof?"
"The main building's roof, to be exact. The others are too steep," Kaleb confirmed her guess.
"Kaleb! We're on the school roof! What if we fall? What if the gnome catches us up here? What if Brige or another teacher catches us up here? What if-"
"Look!" Kaleb swung around and interrupted her, roughly seizing her arm again. "If you want to escape that thing you have to follow me. Remember? 'No hesitation or questions'."
Kanni nodded, swallowing the lump forming in her throat. Kaleb let her on and she walked much more carefully after him. What seemed like hours she was shivering mercilessly, her teeth chattering loudly. The wind glanced off the shackles and bounded toward them with lonely howls and moans, scaring the wits out of Kanni. Finally Kaleb tapped something that sounded like a window. He scratched at something and finally managed to lift a thick sheet of glass, motioning for her to go into the black square below it.
Uneasily she slid in and was followed by Kaleb who slipped the window back in place. "Can I make a light?" Kanni whispered.
"Please do," he answered as a groping hand finally clenched down on her shoulder. "Assarak," Kanni commanded and snapped her fingers. Slowly drawing them apart a globe of golden light began to take form between them and swirled into a solid sphere that hovered right by Kanni's head. The room was dusty and made of plain wood; crates and old chests were tossed into the corners, rope coils and blankets bedecking the floor. Spiderwebs hungs from the low beams and little squeakes and scuttling from mice rustled all about the floor.
"Welcome to my secret place," Kaleb muttered and sat down on a red polished chest. Kanni, grateful to be in warmth again, sat down on the floor next to him, blowing warming breath into her hands. "I used to come here when I needed a place to be alone, or to disappear. Premidas and I always came here together, we found it exploring the school the first few days he arrived here."
"Oh! Premidas! He went to look for you-" Kanni began in a worried tone.
"He found me." Kaleb finished in a grave quiet tone. "We were attacked in the hall by Brige. Brige knows. He knows all now."
"You mean about Gab-?"
"Yes... Premidas ran off to get Themrus. But," Kaleb sighed heavily, "if he made it there Themrus would have been there by now."
"Are you suggesting he never reached Them-?"
"That's what I'm saying," Kaleb confirmed.
"That would explain why he didn't meet me in the lobby. It was strangely quiet and deserted."
"Hm...Tell me again how that thing with the gnome happened...?" Kaleb asked, a small grin flashing across his face for a fleeting moment.
"Only," Kanni bargained, "if you tell me where Alice went. And don't give me that look! I know you know more, and you know I know. Spill."
"Milthactis...can't hide anything from them. One of their powers." Kaleb shrugged, his smile growing broader but disappeared into a frown as he explained the one night where Alice was possessed and then about her leaving the city. Kanni listened silently and then slowly explained how the gnome had come to chase her. Kaleb was silent for a moment. "They shouldn't attack any students...and they're too smart to distinguish betweent people and dangers...It must have been set on you." he finally murmured, mostly talking to himself.
"'Set on me'? Like, an order?" Kanni asked, not really shocked.
"Yup. But enough about that. I think it should be gone by now...We can use the secret passage to get back to the lobby and hope no more crazy gnomes are around. We'll head to Themrus and see if we can find Premidas...and hope nothing too bad has happened." Kaleb slowly rose and strode to large crate which he heaved aside to reveal a carpet lossely draped over something bulky. Kaleb lifted the corners and pulled out a mass of blankets tightly knotted together, lodged into a narrow tunnel.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Kaleb asked and Kanni gave it a disdainful look before sliding into the darkness. Kaleb crawled in behind her, dragging the crate back in black and pulling the blankets back into the tunnel. All light vanished until Kanni's globe finally fluttered back to her and guided them down the tunnel.
After a good half hour Kaleb started to run his hands around the left wall side, as if he were looking for something. Kanni intently watched him and soon it dawned on her he was trying to find some trap door. She placed a hand on the wall, meaning to help, but instead flashing violet-pink light soared across the tunnel walls and suddenly a piece of the wall shifted from place. It struggled to move and finally gave a thump of surrender.
Kaleb cursed. "Someone blocked the passage," he growled, "We're stuck!"
"Not on my watch!" Kanni focused on something-anything-that could free them from the tunnel. Then the lights rebounded from the walls, curving around the two and closing them in a dome of lights. Kanni's hand suddenly slipped through the solid rock wall. Stunned she snatched it back. It passed through the brick as easily as air. "Come on!" she called excitedly to Kaleb, grabbing his arm and the two effotlessly stepped out of the wall and into the corridor.
Feeling elated with herself, Kanni took in a breath of pride. As soon as she exhailed the pink bubble slipped away and dissolved into thin air. Only a little dismayed at the short last of her creation she looked inquisitively up at Kaleb. He shook of the surprise of the milthacti's strange doing and scanned the dark corridors on either side. The little globe of light bobbed around their heds like an annoying bee, but they were grateful for the light it provided for them.
Kaleb headed down the hall, "Let's get to Mr. Themrus's class room. Maybe we'll find Prem along the way." Kanni clutched both hands tightly into each other, I hope nothing bad happened to him, oh please Lord let nothing bad have happened. She briskly caught up with Kaleb, falling into step with him and then broke into a jog as she raced down and through the marble lobby towards the Annikaology classroom.
She heaved against the door, forcing it open. Suddenly a shock of blue-white light flew from it and collided with her, tossing her like a rag-doll into the wall across from the door. Kanni let out a moan of pain, holding her ribs that throbbed painfully. "Kanni!" Kaleb rushed to her, and helped her up. She stooped over, found her balance, and with a deep breath straightened her posture.
"It was hexed," Kaleb hissed. "Someone was expecting us."
"Themrus?"
"No...Brige is more like it." Kaleb answered and neared the door. Another shock of light flew out that he quickly side-stepped and dodged. "Nope, still hexed."
"To hell with hexes!" Kanni angrily threw up her arms and a flash of green light shot out, soon met by the shock of white blue. A large explosion sounded and below the marble was covered in scattered piles of soot and ash. Kaleb stepped forward again. No light. The hex was dead. He flashed Kanni a grin, who was still wide-eyed and bewildered. "Come on, it's gone. Don't know how you did it, don't really care right now, but good job!"
Kanni cautiously stepped inside the class room. It was dark and empty, the stench of herbs and magical animal parts flooding their noses. Kanni willed the globe to brighten, illuminating the whole room. Nothing unusualy here. Nothing. She felt utter dismay. She was so sure something useful would be here. Then a voice from behind them called, "Kanni? Kaleb? What ever are you doing here? Come out, I must speak with you."
Both flinching and spinning on their heals they faced Mrs. Clarissa who was dressed in a pink robe, her hair in green curlers. "What ever are you doing here? You were supposed to go to sleep hours ago! Brige sent news of you, Kaleb, Mr. Anthen, and Miss Black still awake and I sent Snoop after you."
"'Snoop'? That wouldn't be-" Kanni began incredulously.
"My gnome?" Mrs. Clarissa put both fists on a hip. "Yes, it would be. And you shouldn't be here in Mr. Themrus's room! You know he always hexes it becuase he and Gabriel sometimes meet in there late at night in secret."
Kanni and Kaleb exchanged glances of embarrassment. So this was all planned. Planned by Mrs. Clarissa to get them to bed. Kanni shook her head in disbeleif. "But that wouldn't explain what happened in the corridor!" Kaleb finally burst out and began with the story of Gabriel disappearing, Alice leaving, and the attack Mr. Brige surprised Prem and him with. Mrs. Clarissa took it all in, looking a bit concerned at some points.
"So he knows..." she finally breathed, shaking her head. "He could never know! He should have never known! Oh, I knew this would happen! I knew it! But did Gabriel and Themrus listen? Nooo...they just complained that I was being a worry-hog!" Mrs. Clarissa paced briskly before them, throwing her hands up stressfully.
"Do you know where Premidas is?" Kanni asked hopefully and the principle stopped.
"Erm...yes...About that thing I wanted to talk to you about..." she began, nervously fingering her robe sleeves.
* * *
Kanni rushed to the nursery, not waiting for Kaleb who desided to see him in the morning. She almost ran up the stairs and burst into the white doors, almost knocking down some late-night nurses who gave her suspicious stares. "Hello, can I help you Miss?" Mrs. Lunna walked up to her with a pleasant smile.
"Um, yes. I'm here to see-"
"I'm sorry, but we don't take visitors this late. You may come in the morning though, if you like." Mrs. Lunna began to shove Kanni back out.
"I have permission of Mrs. Clarissa to see Mr. Anthen!" Kanni yelled, the last of her patience drained away. Mrs. Lunna considered this a moment and finally nodded.
"Alright dear...calm down. This way please, and do be quiet."
Kanni nodded as the nurse lead between cubicles and small office areas where nurses examined children. She opened a sound-proof door and lead Kanni into a room divided by squares hidden with curtain racks hanging from the ceiling. Several curtains were drawn shut around the patients, but some were left open so the children felt more comfortable. Several TVs wired from the walls for intertainment and ever now and then a cart decked with "get well" cards and small presents were rolled next to the children's bed for comfort.
In the far back corner was a bed, the rack left open. Mrs. Lunna paused there, "Okay Miss Merrane. He is in serious condition, so keep it short."
"Yes ma'am." Kanni nodded and Mrs. Lunna turned and left back down the hall. Kanni looked down on her friend. His face was slightly pale, his lips drawn into a slight frown, his eyes gently shut. His bottom lip was slightly thick and split down the middle, still oozing a little blood-probably due to a punch to the mouth. "We just found him lying there..." a nurse whispered to another as they passed Prem's area, giving knowing looks. Premidas's face was stained with bruises and small cuts, some covered with band-aids. Examining his hands she saw his knuckles were scatched and bleeding; obviously this had been some sort of fist fight...But then why hadn't he transformed into the lion?
A small drop of blood trickled down his forhead and Kanni brushed away a few white strands to reveal a cut only about a half-inch long but deep enough to surely leave a scar just under his hair-line. Suddenly she found herself bending over his forhead as she lightly kissed the cut. Then her lips trailed down and carressed his eye-lid lightly blackened by a bruise. Finally her mouth found his as she gently, almost cautiously pressed her lips against his. Suddenly he stirred and she pulled back, blushing wildly as he tossed his head to the side and moaned with pain, his eyes squinting shut tightly with agony.
Almost instantly nurses bustled and crowded in. "Is he awake? Good. Will you please excuse us, Miss Merrane? Maybe it is also best that you get some sleep now, alright?" Mrs. Lunna said and rubbed Kanni's shoulder before giving her a push.
"Oh, sure," Kanni muttered, quickly rushing out of the room, her fingers resting on her lips in disbeleif. Had she really kissed him? Well, at least he was unconcious and never felt it...He'll never know what I did...Hopefully...
Posted at 07:08 pm by Silicon_Scrifice
Permalink
Monday, August 02, 2004
For several more time periods of what felt like hours Alice sat infront of the main door, peering up at the living door knob while tears slid down her cheeks. It wasn't like anything that Alice had felt in years before Snuffles had come to live with her; pain, hatred, and emptiness. Any memory of Gabriel smiling to her was worth millions to her for she may never see him again. Her nails were now digging into her palms of the hands which were curled tightly into fists. The door knob above her just finished six verses of an old christmas song and then letting out a gasp of large surprisement.
A white wolf, with it's sorted black flecks, stood in the same hall as Alice watching her with intent eyes. The pain in her hands seemed to have vanished when Alice stood up and ran to Gabriel who bounded into the same pleasure; yet once Alice was convinced that it was no illusion, the wolf turned to sand and dust, spilling onto the floor as a cold voice brawled out through the large statues and shadows in the hallway, "You think Gabriel is just going to show up and embrace you? You are the reason everyone is in danger and why Mr.Athen was nearly killed." Brige had stepped out of the shadows that loomed directly infront of Alice, adding, "And he's the reason why this cock-and-bull school is going down."
The man raised his wand to be level with Alice's eyes and his eyes flickered to the small light being gathered at Alice's finger tips. Another disgusting grin appeared through his slight frown. Brige hadn't spoke for several minutes afterward, enjoying the knowledge of winning and threatening the student he hated. Suddenly the shape shifter bounded off of her knees, which she sank to in time, at the chanting teacher, taking out a swiss knife to attempt to swell his casting arm. Yet a bright red light appeared between Brige and Alice, sending a wave of power to throw Alice against the large wooden door, feeling several cuts ooz of blood.
"You think you can simply cut off my arm? Gabriel is gone, Miss Black. Completely," hissed Brige as he strolled closer to Alice who was against the punctured door, feeling herself slipping to whatever force was trying to invade. "And now Clarissa will be finding four little students severly injured."
His hands took a fistfull of Alice's dark red hair and jerked her head up to face the snarling man.The warmth of the magic at Brige's wand was still there, burning softly at Alice's neck. Several things in the way Brige's eyes darted at the shadows told the shape shifter that he wasn't allowed to be here and no one knew where he was lurking around. Alice then shifted into a raven and fluttered out of Brige's snarling hands and beams of light. The raven perched on a high window, awaiting for Brige to stop his rampadge of spells and retire back deeper into the school.
The raven's wings were now tired, deeply scarred and restless while the shapeshifter felt herself let go of the small handle and drift away from the window. The bright light surronded her as Alice quickly shifted and expected to smash against the ground. But her body was caught by someone she couldn't recognize easily, for her eyes began to fog up and drift into sleep. But the kind voice of Themrus kept the faith in her that Brige wouldn't get her so easily as Themrus said, "Relax Alice. You've had a hard ordeal and plently of wounds to keep me shivering into my old age."
Whether the shape standing next to him was Gabriel or not was something that the shape shifter would never know until the morning...
* *
*
Only the white curtain that hung above the seventh bed at the hospital wing was the first thing for Alice to see when she awoke into the morning. The wounds were more serious than she had thought last night. Several pillows were fluffed under Alice's sore head that were from the nearest nurse who was examining a student whose feet had swollen due to shoes eating his feet that were given to him as some prank. But Alice didn't care about any other student except Kaleb, Premidas and Kanni along with Gabriel and Themrus. Her powers could be felt unused and freash compared to last night yet the frame of her body felt old and stiff.
"Dear me you must've had a painful night now, didn't you dear?" The voice that spoke to Alice belonged to Madam Lunna who carried rather a welcoming smile than the frown she always carried through the corridors of the institute. "Themrus brought you in last night and Clarissa won't be too happy with you dear. Also, Kaleb and Kanni haven't been informed of your wounds."
"I don't think they'd want to know," whispered Alice, standing up slowly along with the help of Madam Lunna's gentle and crafted hands. "I tried over and over again to ignore the fact that Gabriel and I are Verae and that it doesn't even matter. But t-then I get possessed! That damn door knob kept laughing at the fact that Gabriel was dead...h-h-he said t-t-that-" Alice was fustrated with herself, for sobs came through the voice as tears rolled down her scared cheeks.
"There, there Alice," whispered back Madam Lunna, embracing Alice as some light grew at her finger tips, resting on the girl's shoulders while the frame of the body slowly healed. "Gabriel is never dead and never gone. He is a clever man and I'm a firm believer of that. Clarissa...well, she tends to believe that Gabriel needs a goal but when he does, he'll do anything to protect that goal. Beside, what kind of man can get into a building with trolls and ghouls guarding it?"
"A-a clever man indeed," stuttered Alice, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hands, asking, "But this doesn't make sense. How did Brige-("Mr.Brige, Alice.")-How did Mr.Brige figure it all out about Gabriel and me, and how are we going to keep Gabriel safe now if Mr.Brige is going to turn him in now?"
"Themrus and Clarissa have figured that out before hand." Madam Lunna broke off, hearing the shuffling next to Alice which the shape shifter had never paid attention to; Themrus was asleep with his head on the bed and a cloak draped over him. "The poor dear, stayed up all night watching you and giving me excuses that he was to make sure that you wouldn't leave sight of his two eyes."
"C-can I..." it took some time for the girl to find the words. "...where is Premidas?"
Madam Lunna's eyes suddenly filled with some agony and concern. "He's in the same wing as you but a different dorm. We found him on the floor and only woke up for several seconds, or so it seemed like."
"Is he okay an-" Alice was cut off by a sudden lecture of Themrus, "Premidas was stunned along with a few other curses but he'll be perfectly alright in a few days perhaps. Now as for you Miss Alice Black. To venture or even to try to venture off into the city is a dangerous buisness and the panel was crying out to Clarissa and I last night of how you made it past the bridge. Something they didn't expect...
"No matter, you are on suspension Miss. You may only leave your room at ten in the morning and must be back by eight, understood? You will be always be guided by a teacher since Gab-" A grim expression filled the man's face, his voice cracking as he spoke more. "Since Gabriel has gone missing I-i..."
Themrus buried his face into his bandaged hands, shaking slightly while Madam Lunna walked over to him, patting him on the back while her right arm embraced him. Alice was left alone to think about her guardian silently to herself, fingering the bandana that was still around her neck. The dorm grew quiet as students filed out that had been cured of whatever illness they might have had. Themrus said no more but watched Madam Lunna treated Alice's deep wounds. One had been cursed to continue bleeding until it was bandadged and burned the stitches that Madam Lunna had tried the previous night.
Several minutes past the lunch bell and Madam Lunna had gone off to get something for Alice and Themrus to eat. The two only talked about the lessons and how they wished to move into a place on the earth. Themrus chuckled to Madam Lunna who was entering, "Lunna! I've decided to move to those huge cities in Alaska, oh joy." But it wasn't Madam Lunna; it was a restless Kaleb with a gnome standing beside him.
"Kaleb?" it was Alice first to whisper the boy's name who walked slowly over to her bed with the short gnome grunting after him. Kaleb's green tints that looked like fangs on his cheek grew darker as his forehead and eblow were bandaged. The boy looked over to Themrus who smiled brightly, asking Themrus, "Can I have a word with Alice in private, Themrus."
"Of course, lad. Hello there Snoop," spoke Themrus, shaking hands with gnome and rehearsed to himself an old song about gnomes in shoes leaving the two children alone with Snoop, the grunting gnome.
"How do you feel?" asked Kaleb, sitting next to Alice's bed on a chair while the gnome roamed through the other curtains. "You look stiff to the bone..."
"That's because I got hit by some damned stiffening curse fused with stunning or somewhat," said Alice, feeling slightly embarrassed that she was only in her under garements. "How is Kanni about what happened to Premidas?"
"Not so good, she's been sulking around and hardly eating or talking. Right now she's visiting Premidas again," said Kaleb. "Themrus explained to me what happened last night to you and I'm...impressed and scared that you were going to leave."
"What?" whispered Alice, feeling herself go scarlet.
No words needed to be said for suddenly a quick movement broke her from her thoughts as Kaleb wrapped a bandaged hand around her waist and pulled her to him, using the other arm to wrap around her back and slightly tilt her head up. He pressed his lips against hers, ignoring the loud grunting of Snoop who was tearing apart a bed across the dorm.
Posted at 03:05 am by Winged-Horror
Permalink
Tuesday, August 03, 2004
(heh...another long one again, rachies?! this thing is already sooooo long! even longer than "You Exist/Smaller Clans I think...!)
Kanni came back to see him, but saw the same face she did yesterday evening. His face was pale and he was frowing. "What's wrong with him?" Kanni finally asked Mrs. Lunna who walked by. The woman stopped her brisk stride and folded both hands. "He was hexed and cursed, that's all."
"Then why do you look so worried?" Kanni retorted, her eyes narrowing.
"Well, because one of the curses was a Gourran Curse..." Mrs. Lunna began and paused. "Well, that curse puts its victim in spasm until he or she fall unconcious. But when ever they begin to wake again the spasms start up again putting them into horrible pain until they faint again...It makes it very hard to get them awake long enough to take the needed medicine...and if we don't give them the medicince in twenty-four hours their muscles, from all the spasms, will tear and break and the victim will die a horrible painful death..."
"So basically it's like a coma lock?" Kanni asked, feeling a pang of sympathy towards her friend.
"You could say that."
"Did you get the right medicine in?"
"Miss Merrane, I am a top nurse and healer in many fields!" Mrs. Lunna waved her hands around majesticallly.
"That doesn't answer my question. Did you get the right medicine to him?" Kanni repeated through clenched teeth.
Mrs. Lunna's eyes narrowed, "Yes, dear. But he still might be in some pain while the medicince floods through his body and eats up the poison..."
"Okay. Just making sure-you understand..."
"Yes." Mrs. Lunna nodded and then went about her way. Kaleb was with Alice, and it was a Saturday, which Kanni was grateful. No school today, just relaxing. She went and sat down on a little up-turned metal trach can and folded her hands under her chin. "Well, Mr. Anthen, when are you gonna finally wake up?" she asked, speaking more to herself. No answer. Kanni sighed and examined her black baggy jogging pants. She was wearing her clogs again and a short sleeved skin-tight black top with a happy ace winking on it in white threads. Even though the face always cheered her up, she couldn't find even the slightest smile now.
She leaned forward and rested her forehead on her knees, sighing stressfully out of the mess. Last night had been a sleepless night-not much of a surprise. Rothen was asleep when she got back but she put the two meat pieces in his cage anyways. After that she had tried to sleep only to find herself screaming away, drenched in a cold sweat.
It was that nightmare again...only strangely different this time. She was walking down the dark corridors which were empty and a musty smell lingered on every draft. She could hear little scratching noises and creaking floor boards as someone other than her stepped on them. She was alone; well, at least to the eye sense she was alone. But her ears heard someone else, her nose smelled someone else reeking with the stench of rotting flesh, and her head was buzzing with the feeling of someone-something watching her.
The dream scared the shit out of her, and Kanni hadn't trusted herself to go back to sleep, instead dozing lightly on her pillows for at least some rest. After that she got a call from Kaleb saying what happened to Alice and that he was going to visit her; Kanni was welcome to come and she took the invite, happy to be around someone to help clear her paranoid thoughts.
And now she sat here, her hair still a mess from sleeping, her green eyes tired and drooping. Suddenly a hand patted her head and she snapped her eyes up to see Premidas's hand petting her lilac hair. "Prem?" she cautioned in case this was the beginning of another spasm. "Prem, you awake?"
"Yea..." a voice rasped and Kanni couldn't beleive her ears. Standing up to see it with her own eyes she saw Premidas's eyes slightly open, his red eyes almost glowing against his paled skin. A weak thin smile was stretched across his face. Kanni smiled faintly back. "Good to see you again, old friend."
"Have I been gone that long? What day is it?"
"It's Saturday. Yesterday was the day when it all happened. By the way, what the hell did this to you?" Kanni asked, suddenly becoming serious.
"Wish I knew. They knocked me out and then blinded me. I got some good punches at who ever it was, but got some of my own with hexes and curses too. The last one really got me though...I've never felt so much pain!" Prem's voice was weak as his muscles tightened at the memory of the curse.
"The Gourran curse, no doubt."
"Ah...I know that one." Prem's voice trailed off and his eyes fluttered slowly shut. And just as he had awoken he was asleep again. Kanni sighed but found herself grinning, shaking her head. She then decided to leave him to rest and go check on Alice and Kaleb...Where he gone? A nurse briskly walked by and Kanni jumped in front of her, "Excuse me, can you direct me to Miss Black's bed?"
"Down through that door, the seventh bed to the left," the nurse instruced briskly looking down at a doctor report and hurried off again. Kanni pushed through the door and found the bed. "Hey guys," she called and Alice pulled away from Kaleb, both blushing wildly. Kanni supressed a giggle. "Was I interrupting something here? I'm sorry, I'll come back in a few," she snickered, her voice cracking as she tried to not laugh. It was about time those two hooked up, I mean, it's been way too obvious not to go anywhere, Kanni smiled and turned away again.
She saw the same little gnome from yesterday, seating on a bed, watching TV munching on a handful of material from the torn up matress. "Hey Snoop...I hope someone will want to heal you after the nurses find out what you did to their bed!" she called to it. Snoop turned his beady red-yellow eyes on her a moment but they quickly flitted back when Bugs Bunny made a leap onto a ship to escape the hunter.
Kanni chuckled. Her mood was lifting like a bird on a summer upward draft. She decided to take a stroll in the park since it was such a wonderful morning. Students were enjoying themselves in the hall ways, some starting early on work and catching up, some just lazily lounging around happy to have nothing to do.
Stepping through the wooden doors the up-ward creeping sun assailed her with rays of golden light. A playful cool breeze whirled the early falling leaves around; fall would soon be here. The lake glistened with blue and streaks of white, ducks splashing in its water trying to catch the frogs and gold fish within. Squirrells scampered by, their cheeks thick with acorns that they'd burry into the winter hoard. Rabbits lethargically crawled about the clovers by the oaks, willows, and birch trees. Birds chirped, flying about in a "V" shaped formation, getting ready to fly south for the winter.
Kanni strolled down the bronw gravel path, the small stones crunching under her shoes. Other students were enjoying the day too, even jogging to get into shape. Kanni loved to run and jog, but right now she honestly didn't want to pass by the day too quickly. A huge baby blue cloudless sky opened up above her, and the low hum of bees swarming among the flowers of the park rung in a low calming melody.
Only a few butterflies could be seen fluttering around. They probably, too, were starting to die off for the oncoming fall and winter. Kanni realized how the days were getting slightly colder every day. They started to slightly shorten-yes, winter was on the way. The icy breeze swept across her but Kanni found it quite pleasant through the sun's warmth this early morning.
"Hey Kanni!" Brad waved from the gazebo he was reading a stdy book at. She waved back and continued her walk. Once she toured and explored the whole park she headed back to the nursurey. She saw Kaleb had left for some patroling duties and Alice was lying in her bed nibbling at a bar of chocolate. "Hey Alice, how are ya?" Kanni greeted happily.
"Good. You?"
"Perfectly fine. I heard about you almost leaving, and about Ga-" Kanni quickly caught herself when Alice's eyes lowered. This subject was too painful to bring up now. Changing the subject Kanni gave Alice a wry smile, "So? How was it?"
"Was what?" Alice asked.
"You know what...heh heh heh...."
"Oh. That. Well, uh...." Alice stammered, becoming a deep read.
"Well, it was about time. Everyone has been waiting for it to happen. It's no surprise," Kanni said bluntly, taking a seat at the foot of Alice's bed. "Did you sleep okay after you got here?"
"Well enough to be able to be awake now." Alice chuckled, taking another bite of her chocolate.
"Ugh, I'm so glad it's a Saturday! No work, no nothin'!" Kanni sighed and stretched her arms above her head, yawning.
"Did you sleep okay?" Alice asked, eyeing her.
It was no use to lie. She already knew the answer. "Nope," Kanni muttered. "Nightmares, dreams, being chased by what happened earlier that night...you know, the usual." she joked and Alice chuckled.
"Heard about Prem. Is he still asleep?"
"Yea, it's the effect of the Gourran Curse." Kanni briskly explained the effect and then said, "They got the medicine in him, but it's still gonna be painful to force out and eat away at the Gourran Curse's poison...He was awake for a minute before I came here, but then he fell unconcious again."
Alice nodded. "Sounds bad. But I'm sure he'll be okay. Maddam Lunna already said he'd be able to walk again in a few days."
"I hope." Kanni mumbled. "How about you? You coming outta here any time soon?"
Alice shrugged. "I dunno. Depends on how fast my wounds heal." Kanni nodded and then got up.
"Okay, I better leave you to your rest so you can return to Mr. Brige's brewing as soon as possible."
"Oh joy," Alice snorted sarcastically. Kanni gave her a quick hug and a "get well" and headed out of the wing going to go see if she could find something to do-maybe play a few arcade games with the other girls or Brad.
_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X
Premidas slowly felt himself come back to conciousness again. His eyes blinked open, slowly adjusting to the light coming from the outside world again. A nurse stood over him, taking his pulse and checking the heat of his forehead. A thick swabb was taped to the right corner of his head just under his hair line where the cut had been, ad both hands had cloth bandages wrapped tightly around his scathed knuckles.
His lip was slowly ebbing into normal size again due to an ice pack put on it earlier and his left eye was starting to feel better, the dark bruise circling it slowly starting to fade away. "Ah, ye're awake, my dear. Good ter see ya again. You've been in an' out for the past day." the nurse said in a heavy Irish accent, her thick curled red hair tied into a bun, her body frame plump and fat.
Premidas's hand was dangling over the side of his bed where he faint remembered patting Kanni's head there. Or was it just a dream he had talking to her early this morning? He sighed and raised the hand to rub his good right eye, not daring to touch the left one in case he inflicted more pain on himself.
He was clad in the thin and loose pant and shirt of the hospital patients, his clothes folded on a chair to his right. A small TV hung in front of him at the foot of his bed, and he reached for the remote, switching it on. "Nice an' awake now, are we? It's good to see the medicine is finally taking its toll. You should feel a little more alive now, but beware, you may slip into a light sleep again every now and then until ye are completely healed, alrigh'?" the nurse grabbed her clip board and began to scribble down a few things.
"Yea," Premidas replied hoarsley. He turned on Saturday morning Cartoons and watched them with childish interest.
The nurse chuckled. "Alrigh' dear, I'll be gettin' ya somethin' to eat. I bet ye're starved after sleepin' so long, eh? How does waffles and pancakes sound? With syrup and whipped cream? And a glass of orange juice?"
"Good. Thanks," Premidas cracked a small grin and propped himself into an upright position, stacking the pillows behind his back for support. Within a little while the Irish nurse returned and placed a tray over his lap with the breakfast, setting the juice carefully on the desk on Prem's right. He slowly began to cut away at the food, his knuckles and fingers sore, and the thick bandages didn't quite allow him complete mobility either.
Suddenly the half-closed sea green curtains brushed back and Alice, dressed in a light blue hospital smock stepped in with the help of a cane. She smiled and he smiled back. "You okay now?" she asked, settling at the foot of his bed for support.
"I think so...you?"
"Better."
"Did they let you come here or did you sneak out, little Miss Black?" Premidas joked taking a sip of orange juice.
"Heh...no, they didn't let me come here. I thought I had enough in me to escape to check on you for a while." she jested back.
"The Grand Escape, huh Miss Black? How was it? How far did you get?" he asked, his eyes flitting from her to the TV.
"Huh?" Alice asked, a bit taken aback. "Oh, that. I got all the way past the bridge, but the panel was waiting for me and sent me back..."
"No worries. Be proud! Very few students made it past there. I did once, but a four-headed wolf drove me all the way back to my room! Be glad it wasn't like that; I was the laughing stock of the school." Premidas chuckled at the memory flash-back. Alice laughed too, feeling herself smiling. She always felt comfortable around Premidas; like he was some cousin she could everything to and he always understood. She liked being in his company. Then she frowned at the memory of when the Mr. Brige had revealed that Premidas had seen death before.
"Premidas, remember that time? That time when we had to scrub and we both saw death and head those voices?" she asked, trying to phrase it right. Premidas's eyes left the TV and stared at her, and then he slowly nodded.
"I saw my cenutaur brother get run over by my mom's car...she didn't even recognize him. She thought he was a monster..." Alice said in a sorrow filled voice, then looked up to blink away the tears.
"I saw my father die...and my sister...I used to have two sisters and my brother Cronto. I had Mari and Cori. We were in a subway and some crazy people hijacked it. My dad tried to stop them and fought with them, and they shot him three times before he finally died..." Premidas paused, fimbling with a pancake piece stabbed onto his fork.
"My sister was holding Mari and I close...Mari was just four and I was ten...Cori was nearly seventeen and she was trying to protect us like a mother. The hijackers had no idea of how to drive the car and pushed it into too high a speed on a bend. It jumped the tracks and went crashing. Everything was falling down on us, everyone was screaming...everyone was dieing..." his voice cracked and he took a few more minutes before starting up again.
"She covered our bodies with her own, and that's why we lived...she sacrificed her life for us and I could nothing about. She told us she loved us and would always be there when we needed her...just not like she used to. Then the sub car flipped and smashed into the wall. She pushed us back and shielded us with her body, taking the blow, leaving us with only minor wounds and alive. Many people died that day...but also many lived to remember and finally realize that when you are so close to death, that that's when you really want to live again..." Premidas finished with a low unsteady breath.
Alice lowered her gaze form his and he looked up to watch TV again, putting a piece of pancake in his mouth. "Oh," Alice whispered, then wishing she hadn't asked. Changing the subject she said, "Well, it's a beautiful day outside. And it's a Saturday...what a waste. You think we could have gotten hurt and stuck in bed on a school day to miss classes." she puffed sarcastically and Premidas chuckled.
"Hey, Alice? Was Kanni with me this morning? I can faintly remember, but I can't tell if it was a dream or real." he said swabbing a waffle piece in syrup.
"I dunno when you think she was there, but she was here at around eight and said she talked to you but you then went to sleep again." Alice shrugged. "I dunno...she could have been there when you thought she was."
Premidas finished his breakfast and then gulped down his glass, the lightly tanned color returning to his pale face. "Well, looks like you're feeling much better, you're eating like a slob again." Alice laughed and Premidas shot her a look.
"Me? Eat like a slob? Well look who's talking Miss Black!" Premidas retorted and they shared a good laugh. Premidas wanted to ask about Gabriel, but figured that if Alice hadn't said anything about him by now meant she still didn't know where he was. He thought the better of it to bring up that subject now. He'd ask later, when the time was right.
"Alice, could you do me a favor and pull the curtain all the way away? So I can see the sun?" he asked and Alice staggered to the curtains and with a powerful sweep pulled them out of the way. Premidas looked around at all the other kids in the beds watching TV or sleeping. One was moaning and crying with pain as the nurses around him tried to calm the poor kid. Premidas was surprised how many injuries happened every day. Above the domed ceiling was made of glass letting him peer into the cloudless blue sky and allowing the sun to shine warmly down on them.
He could see it was, indeed, a wonderful day. Birds chirped and insectes buzzed around the long windows on the nursery walls. Alice settled back on her bed to rest her feet. "Well, I better go back to my own bed so they don't see me missing and throw a fit when I'm right here."
"Okay. See ya later," Premidas waved as Alice braced herself against the cane for support and, making little shuffling steps like an old lady, began to make her way back down to the door and to her bed. Premidas smiled and after her, shaking his head, and then turned his attention back to the TV again.
Posted at 09:37 am by Silicon_Scrifice
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(It is? *Looks at posts* Cool. @.@ Here's another long one for ya! XD)
The corridors were busy as usual while Kaleb completed his strolling through the corridors to make sure that no mayhem was being created. Yet his mind always had drifted off to Gabriel and the secret passages when looking down at a laundry shoot or to Alice and what may have been her first kiss when examining the stone ravens sitting on pillars. The raven was after all, the first shifting of Alice he had seen. Several girls had broke his thoughts by screaming loudly about some imaginary goblin running through their skirts. It was enough to drive anyone up the wall with them. Yet Kaleb ignored them gingerly and continued his walk through the corridor where his mother's office was.
Miss Clarissa Agretto's door stood ajar, allowing green and blue twists of smoke pour out of the office while the screams and swears of the principle could be heard a few minutes away from the office. The boy knew better not to disturb his mother during her ranting and instead closed the door without the use of hands, continuing his patrol. The maids seemed to take account of the smoke still leaking from the crack underneath the doors of Miss Clarissa's office once Kaleb walked past, announcing that the smoke was now thickening to goo. The shock of the maids was laughable yet Kaleb couldn't find the pleasure of smiling when his chest gave a small spasim for air.
And nothing in the entire seem out of place or related to Gabriel's disapperiance except for Brige setting up small curses here and there on doors, pots, and even the restrooms closet to his office and two others in the opposite wing of the school. Kaleb felt Brige glare after him down to the end of the corridor, remembering their battle last night. So much had changed and now Haloween was coming up, something that Clarissa had always discussed with the panel as a joyful idea. Now he had a feeling that his mother would be entirely against Haloween; The idea of the enemy dressing up in a costume and disguising with the enemies was now reality for the school.
The students showed no sign of knowing the havec created and completed yesterday, yet small word got out that Alice had managed to get past the bridge but was sent back by the panel. It was indeed something that very few students had tried, even Kaleb himself and Premidas had both tried it. Premidas had been chased by a four headed dog back to his room while Kaleb had been cursed to have the power of turning objects into flowers that always sang "We wish you a Merry Christmas" regardless of the time of year.
Kaleb slowly decided to head back to the hospital wing and visit Alice and perhaps take her to visit Premidas and Kanni. But he knew Alice too well to know that she might've already snuck past the nurses to pay Premidas a short visit. He took several turns, sliding past crowds who were retelling how they fighted 'Snoop the Troll' who had been sent through the school to search or how they would've defeated the panel unlike Alice who was sent back. Kaleb shook his head with a faint grin and took the last turn to face the large white doors with a red cross painted onto it's wood.
He entered only to find Madam Lunna running through the room with a child in her arms. Quickly the nurse gave Kaleb a one armed embrace and raced off again, yelling something to Snoop who had decided to stay and was now chewing on the trays. The boy didn't want to have to try and translate Snoop's grunting, leaving to find Alice's dorm and then walk to Alice's bed to find Themrus waving his hands around, telling some story as the shape shifter tried to supress giggles from behind her hands. She had indeed seemed so much healither than when Kaleb saw her this morning.
"Ah now. It is nothing laugh about! I took on those banshies and threw those garden gnomes as hard as I could at them. Some of the banshees even suffered facial damage, those poor dears. It is the last thing they need," jested Themrus, waving his hands away in the air infront of Alice, attempted to make figures out of his fingers. "And-Ah, I see Kaleb is enjoying the silliness of I."
"You're an excellant story teller, Themrus. You've even put the best of mood in the little I trying to avoid Snoop chewing trays," said Kaleb, settling himself on the foot of Alice's bed.
"Trays? Dear god, the poor grunting gnome was munching on bed posts this morning then bags of anistetic," whispered Themrus to himself loud enough for the two students to hear who were trying to avoid laughing. "Also before I forget, Madam Lunna says that Alice will be good to go tomorrow if she starts to walk through a full corridor today. If not she'll be out of the hospital wing by Wensday due to her wounds."
"Well, I do fancy a walk from this place and back into the hallways," said Alice after fitting the white and black bandana with her hair, "and to see anything else but Snoop."
"Snoop is a very loyal gnome, mind you," said Themrus with a chuckle. The man leaned down to Alice, kissing her forehead and then shaking hands with Kaleb. "Well then, I must be off to reserve a cake for a dear friend of mine."
Themrus exited the dorm while fitting his hat onto his head and waved good-bye with his umbrella, which wasn't needed for the bright and sunny day. Kaleb could feel the urge in his chest to ask about Gabriel yet he'd knew that it was too painfull for Alice to review. Perhaps at a different time, he thought to himself. The shape shifter then reached for a cane beside her bed and laid it at her feet asking, "Can you hand me my clothes?"
"Sure thing." Kaleb did as asked, handing the clothes and then closing the curtain around Alice's bed. "What charms did they put on the bed?"
"What? Oh, they put several sticky charms to make sure that I stoke to the bed and didn't escape. They also put some other charm...Um, it was something like- it was a charm that made sure that Snoop couldn't eat the bed when I ordered him to," spoke Alice from behind the curtain. "Did you-Oh, nevermind."
"What were you going to ask?" questioned Kaleb, hearing Alice button her pea-coat around her.
"Really, it doesn't matter." Truth was, Alice was going to ask about the kiss. She was sure it meant something serious but the question in her head loomed was what if Kaleb was thinking her for a soft hearted fool for always worrying about Gabriel. The man was Alice's closet thing to a real father after all, but now he was missing. Kaleb didn't need to ask anymore watching her eyes loom to the floor before she locked her arm into his, smiling brightly while they both exited past nurses who wouldn't believe that Madam Lunna had given the two students special permission to walk through a corridor for the quicker healing of Alice.
The shape shifter had indeed enjoyed the walk with Kaleb past the bright windows that the sun seemed to gleam through. There were absolutely no students in the hall that Kaleb had picked out to avoid the questioning from the other students. Several paintings had even welcomed Alice back into the school and congragulated her on the escape past the Brige. Even a few paintings had seen the two kissed and attempted to ask before another portrait slid over. But soon the smile faded from Alice's face when she stopped infront of a portrait of a black dog licking a girl's face who laughed.
Alice's head face the ground. "You don't have to pretend you don't know a thing about Gabriel...He's gone and I can't...I don't even know where the damned fool is!!"
Several portraits had flinched wildly unlike Kaleb who sat Alice on the ground, watching some of her wounds reopen and bleed a small amount. All he could do was pull Alice's head onto his shoulder and wait unlike one jester in a portrait who was bouncing with excitement and almost shrieking said, "I know him! That fellow! Gabriel, that's his name, Gabriel! I saw him last night, I did I truly did!"
"Where?" whispered Kaleb, feeling Alice's head turn to face the excited jester.
"I-" the jester's voice lost all of his excitement. "I cannot say. I am bond by my oath as a jester to this castle. Unless Gabriel comes personally up to me and tells me to say it, then I will."
Posted at 11:18 am by Winged-Horror
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(whew! NOW i can finally write on cliff dancer again...tag meh on dere sometime!)
Rothen hissed as he slithered down her arm and coiled around her wrist, eyeing the place with slit amber eyes. "Where are we? So many lights..." he recoiled when a particularly bright light began to flash.
"We're at the arcade. Don't worry, I'm just passing through."
"Where are we going?" Rothen asked curiously.
"You'll see." Kanni said and walked down the white marble lobby, to two huge wooden twin doors, and through them. She walked down the steps, through the courtyard, and then into the gardens and park. "You see? Isn't this better than my room?" she asked and raised her arm up for the little snake to see.
"Ah...yes...many snakes have told me about the out side world..." Rothen veered his head around, watching some birds take flight in alert. Kanni strolled towards a bench and then set the little snake down next to her. Rothen slid down the bench edge and began to slither across the pathway. A bird flew overhead and Rothen hissed in alarm, pulling into stricking pose. Seeing there was no threat he uncoiled and picked up his pace, heading towards the thick green blades of dew covered grass.
"Rothen, stay out of the grass! Or I won't be able to find you anymore." Kanni warned but the snake disappeared into the green sea.
"Do not worry, I can call you if I get lost," the snake's voice sounded slightly distant. Kanni considered this and finally sighed, "Okay." She leaned back on the bench, enjoying the day. Brad was too busy studying because he was behind and most of the other girls only gossiped about Premidas and Kaleb and Alice. Maybe, just maybe, I'll never steal another power and this whole thing will blow over, Kanni hoped silently to herself. But boy, was she wrong.
An icy wind picked up, sending the early fallen leaves swirling into a small tornado. Clouds appeared out of no where and began to steadily close in, riding on the cold drafts, and Kanni could almost smell the rain to come. Wait, smell? Kanni shook her head and shot up when a light rumble echoed in the distance. Where had this storm suddenly come from? Was it possible for a storm to rush in like this? "Rothen, Rothen! Come on, there's gonna be a storm!" Kanni called, cautiously stepping through the grass to try and find the green tree snake. "Rothen? Rothen where are you?"
No answer.
Kanni was slowly starting to panic. "Rothen! This isn't funny! Come here right now!" Another rumble sounded, much closer now. The students all raced inside, leaving Kanni out there alone. She looked around and a chill swept through her body. "Rothen!" she screamed when a few rain drops began to drip down on her. "Rothen, where the hell are you?!" Still no answer. Kanni cursed colorfully and went on her hands and knees, her nails ripping and grazing through the grass. Nothing. Rothen was gone. She ran a bit forward and continued to call but the snake never answered as he assured her he would.
Another rumble rolled across the blackening clouds. Suddenly the perfect wonderfuly day was dark and cold, icy winds assialing her. She pulled her arms together trying to stay warm, not wanting to give up on her snake just yet. Then a growl came from behind her. Slowly she turned to see a black dog snarling angrily. "Oh, it's just you Alice. Help me! I've lost Rothen! Can you sniff him out with your nose?" Kanni stooped down, her eyes scanning the grass again. "Alice?" She turned back around to see the dog still snarling, foaming at the mouth. Then it hit her. This wasn't Alice. Alice was hurt in bed! But who, then, was it?
Kanni backed away from the hound, its beady yellow eyes locking onto her as it followed her retreat. "Rothen!" Kanni gave one final cry before pivoting on her heel and running as fast as she could. The light patter told her the dog was right behind her. Then it gave a sharp bark when another roll of thunder sounded. "What the hell is going on?!" Kanni hissed to herself. Suddenly she came upon the lake edge where a huge weeping willow extended its branches into the water as if groping for something it couldn't reach. It was her only chance.
Kanni picked up speed and gathered a leap. Her knees bent and her spine coiled down, and she burst off pissed at who ever sent the dog after her. Suddenly her knees shot up and her feet left the ground. She went flying upward-much higher than she wanted-much higher than she ever knew possible. Were her powers unleashed by her anger? She recalled what Mrs. Taint and Ulthra had said to her about anger being the dominating emotion therefor giving off the most energy.
Must be, she thought. Coiling around like a cat she caught a branch and swung herself onto it. Perching there she watched the dog below circle around the tree, unable to get up. It couldn't see her, but by the way it was sniffing she could tell it could smell her, it knew she was up there. "Shit." Kanni hissed as she looked up at the blackening sky and another drop plopped onto her cheek. A storm was coming, she was in an unsafe place-in a tree-, with a crazy dog awaiting her at the bottom, and her snake had run away.
Another rumble and a flash of lighting was the cue: in a sudden light hissing sound sheets of heavy rain poured down. Kanni tucked her head in her arms, shivering as the rain soaked through her clothes and the winds began to turn her lips blue.....
~ ~ ~
"UAA!" a scream tore from her lips as Kanni shot straight up, a few students around her jolting and giving her strange stares. Kanni's eyes darted around and she saw she was only in the food court. The sun still shone from the windows and above the glass was left open allowing a fresh warm breeze to sweep through the court. "Ugh..." Kanni let out a sigh of releif and let her head sink back into her arms. A dull throb drummed in her thoughts from the nightmare but at least it was just a dream.
Then she remembered: she came down here to try and catch Brad and ended up dozing off during her wait. It was late afternoon now, around *4:10* and she was slowly getting tired. She yawned and stood up, determined to stay awake now, also wishing the horrible nightmares would finally leave her alone.
There was one little-okay, not little but big- question bothering her. Her dreams about the school came true, and some of the events in her dreams actually happened. But if they came true, would her nightmares be a reality as well? Lord, she hoped not. Kanni pushed the thoughts away and strolled back down into and through the white marble lobby. Just as she was passing Miss Clarissa's office Miss Clarissa stepped out and called, "Miss Merrane? May I see you in my office please?" Bewildered Kanni shrugged and walked over where Miss Clarissa pulled her into her office. The principle looked stressed and worried.
"Kanni, I just got a call from your parents..." she began and a lump formed in Kanni's throat. "Your parents have been informed, apparently by Brige, about the happenings around here concerning you...and Alice..."
"What?! What did he tell them?!" Kanni cried with anger and dismay.
"A lot...Kanni, I know they're doing this because they're worried about you, but they want you to come home until it's safe."
"But what about learning?"
"You'll go to a private school and we're going to hire someone to help you train your paranormal powers at home." Clarissa sighed, tears brimming her eyes. She blinked them back but saw Kanni was not doing so well to conceal her sorrow.
"Going home...I'm going home..." she breathed and then burst into tears. "They can't do this to me!" she yelled as tears slid down her cheeks, her vision becoming blurred by the over-flow of tears. Miss Clarissa went to embrace her but suddenly the girl turned a near transparent white color and slipped into the floor and below, still sobbing, probably not aware of what happened.
"Miss Anthen's ghost powers...so she can use the acquired powers after all," Miss Clarissa whispered to herself with interest but then worry got the best of her. Where had Kanni gone? Would her sorrow bring her to do something dangerous? No. I really hope not, Clarissa thought and dialed Mr. Ulthra's number. She quickly explained while the ghost man nodded, a concerned look in his eyes.
"Please, Ulthra, find her and bring her back. I'm sure if we talked to the parents, with her there, we'll be able to work something out. They truly don't know how much this means to the poor girl, and out there with no true training and exposed from the safety of my school's walls she could, if it worse comes to worst, die." Miss Clarissa pleaded.
"I know that so much better than you do, I studied people like her for a long time. I will get her. And, one thing, you cannot, at all costs, let her leave this school. Understand?" Mr. Ulthra's tone was serious and stern.
"Tell me again who runs this joint?" Clarissa asked sarcastically. "Of course I know the consequences of that, Ulthra! No...I will all I can and more to help keep her here, if that's what she truly wants."
"It's what she needs." Ulthra rasped and slid down into the floor as Kanni did, hoping she was okay with this new unfamilair power she was suddenly caught in.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Where am I?" Kanni suddenly looked up from her hands and saw soil all around her. She was seeping through it like water and gasped when she saw she was clear and glowing white. "What the hell?!" she cried and tried to scramble up. It was no use. She was still slipping to the earth's core, deeper and deeper. "Oh God, oh God, oh God!" she panicked and flapped her arms like a bird, forcing all her thoughts to will herself up.
Slowly, but unmistakeably she started to go upward again. So this form was controlled by will power. Finally she peaked up over the stone marble floor and found herself in the lobby. Now what? Should she go to Clarissa and try to change back? Before she could answer her own question another silvery form swept from the floor below her. It was Mr. Ulthra. "Ah, good. I can see you didn't fall into the molting lava."
"This isn't funny Ulthra!" Kanni snarled, her mind acheing from keeping her concentration.
"You see how hard it is? To have powers and not be able to control them? It not only hurts other people, but it inflicts, of not kills, damage upon you as well."
"Your point?!"
"My point is we cannot allow you to leave here until your five years are complete, or at least what's left of them. You are a bit late coming here, as is the shape shifter." Mr. Ulthra mumbled. "We must keep you here without defying the wishes of your parents. You will help us?"
"Of course!" Kanni locked her eyes closed, the pain of focusing beginning to give her a head ache.
"And this is what you truly wish?"
"Yes! Now help me get out of this damn form already!" Kanni wailed and as her anger rose she suddenly went pulleming to the ground and landed with a thud. Gasping for air she slowly sat up releived to find herself solid again. Mr. Ulthra chuckled and kneeled down to her. "Okay, Miss Merrane, shall we begin plotting? We must convince them to leave you here, and you've already promised yourself to help."
"I don't wanna leave here..." Kanni wiped away the tears staining her cheek. "I don't wanna go...I felt so safe here...finally I felt safe. Safe as I'll ever fell, anyways." She looked up at the ghost. "I don't wanna leave!"
"I know..." Mr. Ulthra said softly. "I know Kanni."
Posted at 05:30 pm by Silicon_Scrifice
Permalink
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
(I will! ^.-)
No more could be heard from Alice who sat up in her bed against several pillows and stared up at the television screen that hung above her. The channel was currently showing a anchormen report on some killings somewhere south of where Alice's home had once been. Now this school was Alice's home but it now felt empty and lifeless knowing the fact that Gabriel was dieing somewhere in the school or he was already dead. The jester's face had been in her mind all the time, wanting to claw at his rosy cheeks and tear off the paint from the canvas. A nurse was now staring at Alice from the side of the bed probaly thinking very hard on either that Alice had been plotting a plan or...well, the nurse didn't know Alice good enough and only believed that the shape shifter was planning something else.
There was no humor or smile to Alice when a man had been hit in the head with a pan by his own wife on another chanel. Even the nurse had chuckled but silented watching Alice's expression; it was blank, as if lost. Kaleb had just brought her back from a small walk and to the disappointment Alice would have to stay until Tuesday and have her teachers come to her dorm to teach her, making up for the missed classes. So far only Themrus came in every hour along with Madam Lunna unlike any other teacher who decided to stay in their offices. Miss Clarissa had even been spotted by Alice looking through the dorms at the door but left abrutly with what seemed like tears.
Everyone knew something, especially Miss Clarissa, that Alice didn't know yet. The nurse next to her, which Alice had found out was Nurse Ginger, seemed to be dozing off every now and then, waking with a snort whenever the shape shifter decided to flip through the chanels. She missed the presence of one of her friends to talk to and wondered why they hadn't asked about Gabriel. They were all there, they knew Alice was trying to get into the city to find Gabriel. But what Alice wanted the most was for Nurse Ginger to get and walk out of the dorm instead of snoring beside the bed.
Even Snoop had looked emotionally pained when finding out that he had just swallowed several gallons of numbing potion instead of what he had believed to be juice. And not even the scene of Snoop running into walls and falling repeatly from a high ladder to the ground didn't ease Alice's frown. The only scene that kept running through her mind was how the jester toyed with her, telling her how he knew where Gabriel was and then shutting up with the information with an excuse. Several doors had opened as students were stormed in to cure their rather large noses.
"Miss Black?" Miss Clarissa's voice had rung again in the dorm, but her face was more focoused as if she was trying to keep from bursting into tears. The principle saw Alice redirect her attention back to the television and walked to the side of the bed, settling on a stool. "There is something I need to tell you, Alice."
There was no answer from Alice.
"Brige has informed your mother, along with Kanni's family, of the sitings here and what had happened. Your mother has decided to visit you and I to lose custody of you and sign it over to the school," Clarissa spoke, finally getting Alice to turn her head and ask, "Your joking."
"Sadly, I'm no-" The doors had bursted open with a woman in an elegant coat stormed past the beds with her frown growing deeper when she laid eyes upon the injured shape shifter; this was Mrs. Black. Alice's mother had indeed changed from the last time she saw her several weeks ago before making her way across the border. The woman's hair was now dyed a deep black and frown lines were clearly visible in her face. Clarissa still hadn't moved from the stool next to Alice's bed, her eyes lowered to the ground.
"Well, you've changed much mum," said Alice, almost in a stutter. "I-"
"-changed your reasoning to ruin my life once again, have you. That's not going to happen once more," the mother smooth out the creases in her coat, "which is why you will stay at the school and never come to visit me again."
"What about my room?" hissed the shape shifter, feeling the urge to knock off her own mother's head. "You're supposed to raise me!"
"Not anymore after what you've caused. Escaping from the school, attacking the school. And who is the mother of that litte bastard running around with you?" asked Mrs. Black.
Clarissa cleared her throat loudly. "That little bastard would be my son ma'am."
"I can see where it comes from," said Mrs. Black, completely ignoring Alice's hissing swears at her own mother, "and I want the papers now."
"You'll have to come back in a year then for we need to see if Alice will find a new sponser within the year or else you'll be living with your daughter over the summer," said Clarissa, it was completely a lie but the anger took over her. Then she turned to Alice, whispering, "Get your rest. I'll send Kaleb in to visit you and bring you some food, alright?"
Clarissa lead the woman out of the room, chatting angerily over the papers. Alice had only felt more gloomly now knowing the Brige was informing parents now. Now Clarissa had only another parent to deal with, something that Alice could tell during the small remark. Still, the shape shifter was now buzy with thinking about her mother than about Gabriel. Alice patted the pillow beside her. It was something to mimic how Gabriel slept with her as a dog when he was known as Snuffles. The shape shifter laid beside the pillow, slowly drifting off to sleep...
* *
*
*
"-ice...Alice, wake up now." A soft voice had been calling to Alice to wake up for several minutes now, even though the shape shifter had been too stiff to open her eyes and let the warm light into her eyes. The voice had sounded so farmilar, even the rough hands brushing back the hair from her face. There another smell in the room of something sweet and had just been baked. Another hand lifted her up and fluffed the pillows under her, then laying her back down. In her mind Alice was striving for a name for whoever was with her; and when she opened her eyes in a flutter, her heart raced to find Gabriel smiling back down at her.
"Gabriel!" The girl sat up with a jolt reaching out her arms to embrace nothing but air as if it were just a dream. Tears flowed freely down her cheek as Alice choked on them, burying her face into the pillow on her lap. For a brief moment Alice had felt her troubles disappear and now they rushed back into Alice, enjoying the pain the shape shifter was experiencing. Alice then lifted her head from the pillow to find a gorgous cake stand on the long table that was put against the foot head board of the bed. All candles flickered with light elegantly. There were no fancy or elegant cards, but a sheet of cloth with a black foot print on it. It meant as much to Alice as anything else in the world when she suddenly remembered that tomorrow was her birthday, explaining Themrus's good mood.
Yet Alice hadn't bothered to tell anyone about her birthday. It was a fleeting feeling that came whenever the shape shifter examined the design of the large cake. She admired it from her bed, still feeling tears stain her cheek. The television had now been changed to a cartoon chanel. It bothered Alice how other students weren't awake to see the large cake for Alice.
"Jo di jo, jo di jo," sang Alice to herself taking some icing off of the cake and eating it. "Are you one, are two, are you three..."
Singing a birthday song to herself the shape shifter's spirits had been uplifted by the cake, knowing that it may not have been from Gabriel. Yet she still believed that Gabriel had once been with her in the dorm. The hands and voice had felt so real, almost so real that it couldn't have been a dream. Once again, small tears welled behind her eyes while Alice sat back to watch the candles look wonderful on the cake. Hopes settled in her stomach that she couldn't be the only one this time to know about the cake from Gabriel perhaps. But the only thing that was questioning in her mind was where Gabriel had got in past the nurse. He had looked so pained by the injuries that could be seen on the chest and several scars had ran past his once delicate skin.
"Ah, I see you have some admire who knows about your birthday," Themrus's voice had spoke as the owner walked down the dorm to sit next to the cake, admiring it himself. "It must've took them some time to make to perfect."
Somehow Alice could imagine Gabriel leaning over an oven while flipping pancakes for breakfeast before he commited himself to Alice's family. "I can imagine that."
The old teacher took the hat off of his head, turning it over and pulling out a envelope, saying, "I have something for you that might uplift the rest of your spirits"-he handed Alice the stiff envelope-"Go on and open it."
Alice did as she was told to find pictures taken of a rather larger house with a groomed lawn and watered plants under the windows. In the driveway stood a motorcycle that stood proudly with a smiling Gabriel, his hair was shorter and a bit lighter, leaning against it with his thumb and finger in a shape of a "L" on his forehead. Another photo had showed the same Gabriel hugging a real estate agent infront of a pool, along with Themrus behind them trying to calm down Gabriel.
"H-He went searching for a house last year, he truly did. Ga...Gabriel wanted to provide the best home that anyone could ever make for you. He was so happy to find a house that he knew you'd love and he even paid for it before your term start-Excuse me," Themrus's voice began to crack as he wiped tears from his eyes. "Before your term started Gabriel had even bought everything you would need. A nice bed, clothes, china dishes that you wanted since you were a child. Even the real estate agent was so touched by his concern of giving you a perfect home she provided some of her own daughter's clothes and jewelry.
"But then he tried getting into the school finding out that your mother went back on her word to allow you to live with Gabriel. He killed to find you which only landed him in bigger pro-oblems. Even though Gabriel isn't even old enough to be a father or was never even close to being one, I have full trust that he really would loved to be your father and he would've done more than an excellant job on it," the teacher grew silent watching Alice handle the pictures and found one with Gabriel hanging up curtains or even cooking.
"It..." Her voice faded coming across a picture of Gabriel and Themrus against a sign pole that read the address of the large house; 54th Victoria Str. Alice had once been in that neighborhood with her mother driving several times around the block. "Mother always said rude things about that house. She was so gentle but now she's...a monster! She's a monster now."
"Well, anyone who can't trust Gabriel with a child is completely a fool. If we can trust Gabriel then we can't trust anyone," whispered Themrus, wiping his eyes with the back of his hands.
"Themrus, can I ask for something?" asked the shape shifter, grinning of the sudden idea she had just come up with.
"Of course Alice, of course."
"I want to be brought to this house tomorrow for my birthday."
"Absolutely not!"
"Why not?"
"Alice, no one may leave this school until holidays unless they aren't gifted folk and you should know that since you passed the bridge!"
"I'm sure Gabriel would've brought me!"
"I-" Themrus's stern face vanished and was replaced by a grim expression. Tears had also welled up into Alice's eyes and now were streaming down her face and landed on the pictures she was still examining. The man sat there without words for several minutes, then embracing Alice and then faintly began to talk her into the sleep with stories of Gabriel's and his own childhood.
Posted at 05:02 am by Winged-Horror
Permalink
Premidas heard soft talking late that night. He shifted restlessly in his sheets and finally opened his eyes. The voices sounded like Mr. Themrus and Alice. Slowly sitting up he reached for something to grab hold of. Finally finding a cane like Alice had used he shuffled his way down the hall, pushed through the door and crept up behind Themrus. Alice schooled her face to be calm but Themrus caught her gaze and turned around. "Ah! Mr. Anthen, care to join us?"
"Haven't I already? You think you could sneak by me and tell Alice a story without me?" Premidas joked and took a seat on a wooden chair next to Alice's bed.
"I was telling her stories of Gabriel," Themrus said. Then Premidas caught sight of the cake and asked, "Whose birthday is it?"
"Why, Alice's, Mr. Anthen! And you call yourself her friend? Honestly," Mr. Themrus chuckled.
"How old are you going to be?" Premidas asked.
(sry so short! gotta go! promise a huge long one for ya next time! swear! cross my heart and hope to die! lol)
Posted at 03:53 pm by Silicon_Scrifice
Permalink
Thursday, August 05, 2004
"Sixteen," replied Alice while pulling back her hair with her attention still on one of Gabriel's photos.
Premidas caught sight of the photos, bringing one to himself and whispered, "This is Gabriel?"
"Yes, he went house hunting for Alice and himself. Got one on Victoria Str-" Themrus began but the shaking of Alice's hands brought him to a stop. "Well, want any cake?"
"Of course! Those nurses haven't even given me anything sweet," said Premidas while accepting a paper plate from Themrus which he had gotten from the tray behind him. "Has Kanni been around lately?"
"Kanni was here earlier but then she went somewhere after...um, well it doesn't matter," stammered Alice, reaching for the slice of cake from Themrus who was occupied with cutting the cake and still make it look as admirable when he walked in.
"You two kissed, didn't you? You and Kaleb?" said Premidas in almost a sneer. "It's been too obvious for anyone you know and it's about time."
"I didn't even tell you what happened!" whispered Alice, almost in a hiss while licking the icing off of her thumb.
"Didn't need to for I heard some paintings mumbling about it," said Premidas as Themrus then whispered, "Even the portraits at my office heard of it but only a few. And don't worry, they won't be spreading the news around the school over one little kiss. But now I'm curious if that was your first kiss besides those little cheeky kisses with your parents."
"I...why do you want to know?" asked Alice, turning beet red and feeling the blood rush to her head. "That's like me asking if you've made out lately."
"Actually-No, no. I'm only kidding Alice," chuckled Themrus, "but we do need to start making some birthday party plans if you plan to have a party to celebrate your sixteenth birthday. Clarissa would be thrilled, would actually lift off the paper work from her shoulders."
"Yea, so would Brige's. Can you imagine that? Celebrating his rival's birthday," said Premidas, then rubbing his chin and mimicked Brige with a low voice, "Why yes, I plan to give Miss Black a free ticket to swim in a shark tank. Unthinkable you say? That'll be the day!"
"Brige wasn't even happy to see Alice in the hospital wing," said Themrus. "Ranting through the halls and yelling at anyone who spoke of the great legend of how Alice got past the bridge. How did you do it anyways, little Miss Black?"
"You'll need to be an animal for some part, something feline or kanine. There were not as great traps as there thought there would be but the damned panel-("Alice!")-Sorry Themrus, the panel sent me back after I told them that they were all Seers," explained Alice, putting the stiff envelope under her own pillow.
"Like I said, I got chased to my room but a four-headed mut," said Premidas, finishing off his slice of cake. "Kaleb had much better luck but his powers were changed to making flowers that sang somewhere along the last set of traps on the bridge."
"Well, how many students made it past the bridge and the panel?" asked Alice.
"Two. Gabriel and myself," replied Themrus. "Gabriel had gone several times before discovering that the one door wasn't the onl-I'd better keep my mouth shut instead before any of you two get any ideas about trying it again."
"Why not?" hissed both Premidas and Alice.
"Well, Alice nearly was brawled by the panel and then nearly killed by Brige," said Themrus, fingering the pockets of his cloak. "And the panel was extremely angry with Clarissa who only broke out in laughs. The poor dear."
"It's not like Brige will be waiting right there infront of the entrance to the bridge for me," mumbled Alice while finishing off the last of her slice of cake.
"You still don't get the point. Brige and Gabriel were also rivals and hated each other enough to kill each other and anyone between them that might refrain them from killing each other," Themrus brushed back his hair. "Point is that Brige will want to know where you are and will any escuse to give you punishment."
"But she's not Gabriel," interjected Premidas.
"Brige won't even care. He now knows that Gabriel will give up his own life for Alice and will use that. Say if Brige gets Alice expelled or kills. Gabriel would fell pain for not being there or not being able to prevent it, which is Brige's revenge," said the teacher. "But enough of that, shall we go and inform Clarissa of our little Miss Black's birthday? Premidas, you may want to head back to your bed and not scare the nurses."
"Can you still bring me to that house!?" Alice called after Themrus who was waving away at the doors. "I'll sneak out if you don't bring me there yourself!"
But Themrus had vanished behind the closed doors as Premidas asked, "The house that Gabriel bought for you?"
"Yea..." whispered Alice. "And I've been asking Themrus to take me there for a birthday persent but he keeps on giving me excuses."
"Well, maybe he's planning it or something. You never know with teachers what they're planning to do," said Premidas, then standing up with the help of his cane. "And I think Themrus is right. I may want to head back or else I'll only be getting into trouble with the nurses and Madam Lunna."
The shape shifter only nodded gazing at the cake while Premidas left for his own bed. Something about Themrus had been bothering her. Why wouldn't he want to see his best friend's house he had bought for Alice. Maybe Themrus could even live with them for they had a large enough house and it wouldn't even bother Alice. Her birthday kept creeping into her thinking and reminded herself that Gabriel wouldn't be here for it but the warm memory of him bringing the cake and seeing him, whether it was a dream or not, brought the hope to her eyes.
After an hour of watching the local news and some cartoons, Kaleb had visited her dorm with Snoop behind him, eyeing the posts of beds. There was something different in how Kaleb had greeted Alice though; instead of the one armed hug around her shoulders he this time wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered, "Happy birthday Alice."
"So you know too?" asked the shape shifter, feeling much better than her first night here. "It is a Sunday, right?"
"Just turned one several minutes ago," said Kaleb, sitting on a stool next to her bed. "Who got you the cake?"
Alice put her finger against his lips and said, "Let me show you something."
Kaleb only nodded. Several lights flowed through and around Alice, entirely covered and then when the cloak of light vanished from Alice, Kaleb found himself staring back at his own mother. The boy's grin grew wider as he laughed in amazement at Alice's skill while she said, "This is exactly how I've been getting around the dorms so far. I've never tried other things like plants but I've tried a pillow and it's worked so far."
"This is great! Can you imagine Brige in class trying to put things into a cauldron that keeps spitting it all back out at him?" asked Kaleb, then pulling out the stiff envelope that stuck out from under Alice's pillow. "What is this?"
"Pictures," mumbled Alice, watching the excitement in Kaleb's eyes steeply rise as he studied the pictures of a more healthier Gabriel standing infront of the house he had bought for Alice. "I've been asking Themrus to bring me there for a birthday present but he completely refuses."
"You haven't thought of this far long enough, have you?" whispered Kaleb, aware of the filled beds farther down the dorm. "Just shift into your own mother and walk right out. You know her good enough to disguise as her."
"What about you? Why can't you come with?" asked Alice.
"I can't leave here or else my mother will start getting worried. Besides, I've gotta stay here and fake you still being here. Here"-Kaleb took out a small camera from his pocket-"You can take that with you and take pictures of the house for me. Besides, I can only use telekenic or else I'd be going with you if I had a different power."
"When can I leave?" asked Alice, accepted the camera from Kaleb who thought about the answer.
"It would be okay to leave right now when almost everyone is asleep," he whispered. "But those goblins will be running around so you'll need to shift now and walk out, telling anyone that you just visited your daughter in the hospital wing. The goblins that is, you should tell the goblins that."
"Can Brige follow me if he sees me?"
"He can't even leave the school now unless Clarissa tells the panel that Brige can leave," answered Kaleb. "What do you want to do?"
"I want to go now, I can't wait later..."
"Come on," Kaleb helped her out of bed and pulled the curtain around her. "Shift now and come back within two hours cause I can only fake it that much before spectors start roaming through the halls."
"Spectors?" Alice remembered the black cloaks that attacked her and Gabriel several times before, but it had possess her. "Can you see them?"
"No one can, that's what is so dangerous about them."
The shape shifter had shifted rather quickly into her twenty-six year old sister instead, now unsure of whether if her mother had left the school or not. Kaleb still nodded in approval of the change and slid pillows under the covers as if Alice was still sleeping there, handing Alice the envelope. Several noises had been made. The shape shifter hugged Kaleb quickly and made her way out of the hospital wing as Kaleb stayed next to the bed, pretending to be sleeping when he really was keeping an eye on the door.
Yet it hadn't taken long for someone to enter the dorm after fourty five minutes of watiting; but it was Themrus. The old man's frown quickly curled to a smile seeing Kaleb awake near the bed who was really panicking. Themrus stopped, asking, "Where is Alice?"
"She's still here," lied Kaleb, feeling Themrus dig in his mind for a memory.
"Where has she gone Kaleb?"
"She's left to visit that house, but you can't leave and why?"
"I was going to take her myself!"
* *
*
*
The exit had seemed to change since it had now been just the same courtyard that Alice first saw when she came to the school. Now the shape shifter who had taken shape of her own sister was in a taxi in the same neighborhood of the house. The houses seemed more relaxed at night then in normal day time, bustling with people trying to keep their lawn flat and green. There had been several cars parked infront of a house which was throwing some college party. The driver had then stopped infront of the same sign post in one of the pictures. Alice quickly paid the man and stepped out to face the same house where Gabriel had stood infront of in the picture Alice had been holding the entire ride.
The lawn had still been groomed since Gabriel must've first seen it. The motorcycle was no longer on the driveway but Alice believed it must've been behind the garage doors. She walked on the cobble stone path to the front door, seeing that the door had been locked. Taking out a pin from her hair Alice took ten minutes to unlock the door and took pictures of the yard before walking into the lit house. Several pictures hung up on the walls of a very young Alice hugging her dog Snuffles. A family portrait with Snuffles hung up in the large, wooden-floored kitchen above the silver sink.
There was even a fire place that had some remains of a log that had once been burned. Alice took several pictures and even of the clean pool outside in the pack with the clean patio. She then ventured upstairs to see her own room along with Gabriel's, seeing that the animagus had done a tremdondous job to make sure that she would feel at home. Alice took more pictures, wanting to stay there but remembered Kaleb's warning of only two hours and exited the house, taking another taxi back to the school.
Posted at 01:45 am by Winged-Horror
Permalink
(not too long...next one will be thou! muahahaha!)
Kanni was waiting for her parent's arrival in the lobby, nervously shuffling her shoes. Suddenly the twin doors opened and a butler let in a couple. The woman had short black hair and was fairly tall. She was a bit plump, but not too much. Her skin was very fair and her brown eyes gleamed. Her face was wrinkled with laugh-lines but her lips were pulled into a concerned frown. Next to her stood a tall broad-shouldered man with deep darkly tanned skin. He had light brown to sandy blonde hair and blue eyes. He was wearing a black suit with a tie, and his mother wore a blue dress carrying a white purse. They both smiled when they saw their daughter. "Kanni!"
Kanni bolted forward into their arms and hugged each tightly. "Mommy, Daddy!" Kanni smiled, trying to push away tears.
"Do you have your things packed, honey?" was the first thing her father asked. Kanni frowned in dismay.
"Father, I'm doing well, how about you?"
"Oh, sorry honey. How are you?" her father asked.
"Well...My powers have been wreacking havoc upon this whole place, but slowly I'm learning to control them with special classes from Mr. Ulthra and Mrs. Taint." Kanni said, which wasn't completely a lie.
"Wreacking havoc, now are you? What else it new?" her mother joked smiling. "Come now, bring down your luggage."
"Well, uh, Miss Clarissa wants to talk to you about that..." Kanni began when her parents frowned. She led them into Clarissa's office where they all sat down in front of the principle. Ulthra, who was hovering in the right corner behind the principle shot Kanni a wink. Themrus was in the other corner, his arms folded, with a stern look on her face. Mrs. Taint was seated next to Ulthra, her hands neatly folded, a cold stare in her eyes.
"Mr. and Mrs. Merrane, we have something to talk about. Your daughter, I'm sure Brige has so kindly explained, has an unstable and dangerous source of powers at her unconcious will. I think it is a big mistake that you take her from the school's safety and try to teacher her on your own-" Miss Clarissa was interrupted by Mr. Merrane who grunted.
"'The school's safety'? From what Brige has explained, it is the most dangerous place a girl of her origin can be, Miss Clarissa! Are you sure you're making a wise arguement?" he growled. Miss Clarissa narrowed her eyes when Ulthra spoke.
"Mr. Merrane, this is the safest place she will ever be," the ghost said in a low voice. "Understand that she will never be safe anywhere, but this, this Mr. Merrane, is the best place she could possibly be in right now that exists."
Mrs. Merrane raised an eye brow. "Are you suggesting that we cannot handle our own daughter?"
"No, it is not," the ghost sighed. "I am saying she cannot handle her own power, and she is the only one who can close and open them. I'm saying, Mrs. Merrane," Mr. Ulthra leaned forward with an icy cold glare, "that if she is taken away from here and her training that she could kill all of you."
Mrs. Merrane's eyes widened in a bit of shock, and she pulled back, sinking into her chair.
"Now, shall I go through what will happen what a milthacti's powers can do when a milthacti is unable to control them? One: if she cannot control them, the power while overwhelm her and consume her within itself, giving her a horrible inevitable death. Two:-..." Mr. Ulthra counted off at least thirty of the worst things that could go wrong; horribly wrong. Kanni began to choke on the lump forming in her throat as she suddenly realized that if she left it would be a gruarantee that she would die, and most likely not alone.
It was a life and death matter. Mrs. Taint added a few things to Ulthra's list and began to explain how only true teachers could be allowed to be trusted with Kanni. Especially since she had the dark magician lurking within her. The next few hours toiled along as the Merranes barely said a peep. Finally running out of arguements the teachers fell silent, Themrus intently eyeing the couple.
Mr. Merrane let out a low unsteady sigh and scratched his head. "Well, this is quite a problem, now isn't it."
"I truly think, if I may say so, that this whole thing is entirely Kanni's desicion, not yours," Clarissa said boldly and Mrs. Merrane shot her an annoyed look.
"Miss Clarissa, Kanni is our daughter, not yours. And I don't think she quite understands to be able to decide what is best for her-" Mrs. Merrane said heatedly when Kanni made a sharp snarling sound.
"I am too, mother! I'm fifteen, I'm not a baby anymore! Just let me out of your clutches already and let me live my own life! It's mine to live, not yours!" Kanni roared getting annoyed that they were even discussing this subject. Her anger, she realized, was steeply rising. Soon, as she hoped, her powers would unleash and she could show her parents a little teeny tid-bit of what would happen to them if they took her home against her will.
"Kanni Ray Merrane! Don't you use that tone with me! And what are you talking about? I let you run your own life."
"Then let me run it right now, mother! Let me decide, for once, what is best for me! Please, mother. I know how much of a threat I am, and I know what will happen if I get taken from my training. You cannot beleive what horrible things have happened! Mother, you have to trust me, for once, with my own choices."
"I do trust you! This is absurd! Are you all against me?" she shot a glance at Mr. Merrane. "Well, Carl, beck me up!"
Mr. Merrane sighed and then looked at Kanni's hopefuly face. "Well, Kanni? I'm listening. What is your thought in all this?"
"What?! You're asking her?! Carl! You know very well she's-" Mrs. Merrane shrilled.
"-she's fifteen and can handle her own life." Mr. Merrane finished. "Kanni?"
"I want to stay," Kanni said in a firm tone, locking her eyes on her father's.
He sighed again when Mrs. Merrane yelled, "She will not stay here! She will come away with us where it is safe! Why are we even discussing this? It is what we decided from the start!"
"No!" Kanni yelled, her anger, as she wanted, unleashing. "I'm staying here." A forceful wind picked up within the office as Clarissa covered her head with her amrs. Themrus ducked and suddenly hail started to patter down on them. Mrs. Merrane screamed in fear and leapt under her chair. Suddenly catching herself Kanni calmed down and the winds ebbed away, leaving the office in a mess of papers and little ice balls.
"Kanni, what the hell was that? Some trick?" Mrs. Merrane shrilled as she picked herself up again.
"No," Kanni tried to hide her smirk. "Those were my powers. Too bad I'll never learn how to keep them in check and under control. Well, okay, mother you win. But I just hope that you really like cleaning every time I get into a bad mood."
Mrs. Merrane narrowed her eyes. "I'm not putting up with that!"
"Then let me stay here."
Her mother's eyes filled with light tears and a concerned look. Immeadiately Kanni felt a pang of guilt. "Mother, I'll be fine. Don't worry! You can come visit me here any time you want, and I can give you my room phone number so we can always talk."
"I just don't want to loose you...you're my only baby..." Mrs. Merrane stood up and hugged her daughter tightly.
"Don't worry mom, you won't, I promise." Kanni hugged her back and saw that little tears were sliding down her mother's cheeks. Her mother hugged her tightly again.
"Promise?"
"Yes." Kanni smiled and her mother smiled back.
"Well, alright then. I trust you. Clarissa, will you give me Kanni's phone number?"
"Of course. Kanni, why don't you go un-pack your things?" Clarissa smiled.
"Okay. Bye mother, bye daddy! I love and miss you! I'll call you, okay?" She hugged them both and kissed them on the cheeks before happily running off to re-fill her empty closet. All well, ends well...the phrase rung in her head as the girl smiled. "Fifteen and I can finally be trusted," she chuckled, shaking her head.
Posted at 03:37 pm by Silicon_Scrifice
Permalink
Friday, August 06, 2004
To enter the school hadn't been so hard for Alice was now back in her hospital bed watching the television above her while viewing the pictures herself on the camera. It was now somewhere between lunch time and Madam Lunna had brought her something to eat, stern with the fact that Alice had been eating Gabriel's cake all morning. There was no point arguing so Alice simply gave in, allowing Madam Lunna to place the filled tray on Alice's lap for the shape shifter to eat. Themrus hadn't shown up at all but Kaleb had previously checked in on her every hour or so.
Apparently Clarissa had been planning something for Alice's birthday and appeared every so often asking Alice's opinon on things that had nothing to do with anything in particular. Yet now the shape shifter had been tormented to change herself into several things other than animals. Such as a potted plant or Madam Lunna. It hadn't been hard to keep herself occupied but the excitement of being able to leave the hospital wing brewed in her chest, awaiting for some nurse to recieve her clothes from the maids and allow Alice to leave.
The nurse next to the bed was reading some sort of magazine that kept the nurse content with Alice's argument of being allowed of walking around. Madam Lunna still hadn't found a cure to keep the shape shifter's wounds healed and closed but was somewhere close to finding the right potion to burn the posion away from Alice's wounds. She had been numb every now and then, figuring it was some sort of numbing pain. The doors then swung open with a stern Themrus walking into the dorm, hissing to the nurse, "Ma'am, would you be so kind to leave this dorm so I may have a private word with Miss Black here?"
"Of course Themrus." The nurse left, already seeing the temper rise in Themrus when she first dismayed the request. Yet the teacher kept his steely eyes focoused on Alice who quickly hid the camera under the covers, feeling him dig in her mind for some memory proving that she had indeed snuck out of the school. Nothing was said between them until Alice asked, "Would you stop digging for something in my memory?"
"You did sneak off, exactly what I saw in Kaleb! Do you relize you could've gotten hurt or your wounds could have reopened anytime?" barked Themrus, lifting the tray off of Alice's lap and placing it on the coffee table near Alice's bed. "Or even worse!"
"I'm still alive, aren't I?" asked the shape shifter, throwing aside the glares Themrus gave her. "And besides, you refused to bring me there so I went myself!"
"That absolutely gives you no right to gamble the sacrfice Gabriel has made for you to make you safe and give you a home!" Themrus said, his head buried in his hands. "He's a wanted man for trying to protect from the dangers awaiting you as a Verae and you should know well enough not to gamble that like it was anything!"
"I know well enough myself about the sacrifice he has made and I don't need someone telling me that!" choked Alice, on tears and air. "He is gone now so now it matters more to you? I saw him, okay? He was here last night and then I..."-Her hands grabbed air at where Gabriel stood-"...he's gone. Gabriel wasn't there anymore and I thought he was okay but the scars he had!"
"I care about him as much as a brother would Alice. He is the reason why I even got a job at the school and we cannot just give away the sacrifices that man has made for anyone," the man looked up from his hands, "and perhaps I'll show you something if I can get you out of here."
"What?" The man got up with a groan to find Madam Lunna staring at the two with a cold stare and pursed lips. "She will absolutely not leave here until we can get those wounds completely healed or else she'd die anywhere at anytime. Something I will not happen."
"Dear Lunna..." whispered Themrus, "you're going prevent a girl from seeing her own guardian?"
"I don't care Themrus, she is staying here. That is the end of discussion," Madam Lunna hissed, turning to another bed to treat another student.
"I'll be back." Themrus slid his hat back onto his head, waving to Alice while he left the dorm leaving Madam Lunna with suspsicion. The shape shifter simply pulled out the camera and flipped through the pictures of the house, pleased with the pictures. but one larger part of her screamed to know where Gabriel was and what was taking him so long to show up. It was too much for her and the sudden memory of the dark figure that had once possess Alice and kill Gabriel swung into her mind as her purple, with green flecks, saw the details on her own wounds.
It was then decided by Alice herself. She'd leave the wing herself and search through the mall for the same figure with avoiding to be caught by Merlin, Snoop, a troll or even Brige. The scene of her room had been bloody but Alice couldn't find anything in the room that was strange. If Gabriel was dead though, wouldn't they have known that by now?
Alice, however, reached for her alarm and set it up for nine hours, seeing how Madam Lunna was now pouring brew into a mug on her tray. Drinking the misrable liquid, Alice painfully slipped into sleep, crossing her fingers that she'd be in good enough condition to go sneaking out of the hospital wing...
* *
*
*
Kaleb had been in his mother's office for what seemed like several hours listening to his mother review the map of the castle on her desk while making several important calls. She had been planning to find Gabriel herself, tortured by Alice's mood swings. Themrus had just left several minutes ago telling Clarissa that he needed to plan his lesson for tomorrow with more detail. But Kaleb had the feeling that Themrus was visiting Alice to make sure she didn't sneak off like this morning. Yet the two males had been taken back by surprise that Alice could go through the school easier than last time.
"Dammit!" Clarissa swore once more, slamming the phone on her desk while her moving quill wrote the word on the map. "No, no, no you quill! You write only what sounds like it belongs on a map!"
"Mum, maybe you should write yourself," suggested Kaleb, tapping a metal scale of the solar system next to him. "You've gone through several maps with that moving quill."
"I believe you're right Kaleb but I just don't have the patience to write myself. Perhaps I should though," Clarissa whispered, then screaming at the quill, "You damned thing! I told you to write whatever belonged on a map!"
"I'll buy you a new and better quill, how about that?" said Kaleb. "Before you break that quill in half at least."
"It would be so grand if you could but I'd rather not until I'm sure that Alice isn't sneaking out anymore. Five times they say in the last two days! Imagine that!" said Clarissa with a smirk and then wrapping her hair back into it's bun. "At least Kanni's parents have agreed to let her stay but now we've got to find Gabriel or else Alice may be sent to an orphanage for gifted according to my own superirors."
"What about Themrus?" asked Kaleb.
"I just signed him onto her paper work as a guardian for now. We talked last night about it and he's agreed to it," answered Clarissa, pleased that the quil hadn't written anything of the conversation. "I still think that whatever attack him in that room is lurking in the school but where? Kanni has the dark magician in her and Alice is a Verae. It makes no sense but I've got to also contact Themrus's sister to come here and train Alice to reject invaders of the mind."
"Wasn't she supposed to come yesterday?"
"She says in her letter that she got caught up with something else that needed to be tooken care of first."
"How much of a teacher is she?"
"She has no record but people say she's pretty good for not having a record. Her name is Abigale, and is something of a brawler. Hopefully she can help Alice..."
* *
* *
*
Riiinnnnggg! The alarm clock next to the shape shifter's bed woke her up late at night. Her wounds now felt almost healed but there was the buzzing in her head that would've drove her mad if she had forgotten her plan to find Gabriel instead. Alice sat up and slipped into her clothes, setting the bandana around her neck while she pulled out the stiff envelope and camera from under her pillow. There was a nurse at the door of the dorm snoring loudly. Alice still managed to get past the nurse and walk out of the hospital wing, glad that the portraits had all been asleep.
Nothing much had changed in the corridors except for the frequent bats that held lamps flying through only several inches over the floor. Alice quickly recognized the hall that entered the mall quickly, her heart racing when she walked between the stores. She was waiting for the dark figure to show up once more but how?
The shape shifter reviewed through her memories of what had happened last time Gabriel had been here. The cloaked figure had been standing directly infront of another entrance; exactly where it had been standing now watching Alice through the hood of the cloak. For the longest time it had watched Alice stare back at it, it's misty hands twisting around the lamp it held. It suddenly waved Alice over with one finger, as if asking for Alice to follow it.
"Me?" It sounded stupid to the shape shifter for this thing to ask her to follow it but it nodded it's cloaked head for her to follow. Taking several deep breathes, Alice slowly followed the cloaked figure as it hovered into a store, stopping ever few minutes to see if the shape shifter was still following. It brought Alice through several stores, pointing to everything as Alice simply nodded with a weak smile. She had no plan to offend it and be killed.
The cloak then stopped in the dress store that Alice had bought her first dress for school. It's hand reached out behind a pink frilly gown that had been hanging their for ages and knocked against the back of the display case. Suddenly the floor below the two vanished as the two fell through the floor and down what may have been a well once. Nervousness and fear filled the shape shifter until something slowed her down from following along with the cloak which nodded its own head in approval. Below the store had been a small room that had a inch pool of water.
It moved rather quickly now, the cloak that is. It's hands waved Alice through another door that lead to several small stone hallways that were built with several turns at each right or left. Yet the cloak knew the way perfectly, swiftly moving around the corners, then stopping and awaiting Alice. There were small candles that had once been lit and now brightly burst in flame as the cloak passed them, taking Alice by surprise. The halls then ended in a larger room that was brightly lit with a small globe that had light from inside. But what was at the other end of the room made Alice shriek a disgusting swear word. For at the other end of the room was a man very farmillar against the hall, his hands chackled to the wall while he bled severly; it was Gabriel.
Alice broke into a run ignoring the cloak's waving hand. The shape shifter placed her hands on the chains that held Gabriel but the metal burned Alice's hands severly, causing her to let out another shriek of pain. Now the cloak sat next to Gabriel opposite of Alice, waving it's hands in different positions and then a blue light hit the chains. Gabriel's hands had broken free while his limp frame fell being caught by Alice who had slowly broke into tears, placing her ear on his chest to still hear a heart beat.
"What happened!?" yelled Alice at the cloak while leaning Gabriel against the wall, cutting his shirt apart and started to clean the wounds. "What did you do to him!?"
The cloak then pointed to itself, shaking its head. It's hand then formed into what looked like a name but Alice couldn't read it.
"Can't you talk!?" yelled Alice, her voice getting hoarse. "He can bleed to death if we don't get him anywhere!"
It then placed it's hands that slipped through the wounds as Gabriel let out several screams of pain while Alice was pushed away. Gabriel then grew silent while the hand of the cloak retreated from the wound that began to heal, leaving only the dry blood and scar. For once Alice felt some kindess to the cloak then most of the time yet. The shape shifter then leaned against Gabriel, whispering to the cloak that sat on an old chair, "I guess I'll have to go missing in the school for a little bit, right?"
Posted at 12:57 am by Winged-Horror
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