I felt like my tounge was swollen and the taste of copper was thick in my mouth. My head pounded and I couldn't get my thoughts straight. It felt like a hangover.
I groaned once and tried to open my eyes when I heard voices.
"Shh, he's awake." A voice whispered. I heard footsteps and vaguely saw someone crouch in front of me. Then a sharp pain on my neck. The swollen sensation on my tounge ceased along with the throbbing on my temples. My vision cleared. There were two of them.
Ms. Evelyn stood on the right wearing her janitor's uniform, while another woman was on the left. Younger, around my age maybe. She wore a single piece of clothing, it looked like animal fur. Her eyes were alive and green bright against her dark brown hair. Her skin pale and her lips peach coloured. She spoke first before I could ask where I am.
"Ok, I need you to shut up and listen. Talk even just once and I'll beat you up." Her voice was strong but I did notice a little quiver. I nodded.
"Soriel you may return. I will handle it here." Ms. Evelyn nodded and bowed then right before my very eyes I saw her shadow swallow her whole and she turned into a crow, she squawked once twice then flew off. Leaving me all alone with the girl.
"So you're Timothy?" She asked sizing me up. "You don't look like much." Her voice was venomous, like she was eager to strike me and pump my veins full of pain for an agonizing death. She began to walk around me clicking her tounge occasionally.
Curiosity overtook me and my tounge and I spoke momentarily forgetting the consequences. "Why am I here? Who are you? Where am I?" Her gaze after that was truly terrifying, I felt myself shrink greatly and thought that my death would soon come. It didn't. She only sighed.
"You are at Avalon, the world of spirits. Shut up don't say anything if you want me to answer you." She spoke preventing me from speaking once again. I bit my cheeks and nodded feeling like a little child again being reprimanded for asking too many questions.
"There are bad and good spirits, okay?" She treats me like a child too. A glint in her eyes spoke the mocking words 'well you wanted questions, here's how you get them'
"We are people gifted with the affinity for spirits and such. We are the mediator if things go south. Or keep the bad and good spirits from traversing our realm to theirs and causing Influence. My name is Evenki, I am your mentor." She finished with a smile that only held trouble.
"Mentor for what?" I asked warily ready to be hit. Her smile grew bigger.
"On being a Shaman."