My name is Thráxi 'Coal' Stone, the second one to have inherited both the Moonstone and the Coal stone in the history of the Blesse, a tight-knit yet large group of people with supernatural abilities related to the stone they are born with. You'll have to find out the rest as we go.
Though I may be the first, I am not the protagonist. No, I am merely his younger sister…
~
"Are you sure you'll get the result you want this time?" I asked my brother as I transported some of his medical supplies.
"Of course, I think I figured it out," Animus replied to me, slight amusement colouring his tone when I let some of my irritation leak through my voice.
I didn't comment, staring at the misty figure watching us nearby. I didn't recognize him, he might've been an old doctor—or scientist. I almost missed the way my brother's eyes flickered in the same direction, shining in wonder before he turned away.
I was the only one who could see them.
Animus Stone is my older brother, the eldest Stone sibling. As the holder of the Amethyst, it came as no surprise to know that he was an excellent doctor—for everyone but himself. People described him as heavenly, almost unseeable eyes glowing through his mask when he healed and long lavender hair glistening in the light. Other than that, he was probably deemed too beautiful for others to see by his father, resulting in him constantly wearing a white porcelain mask—disgusting. Few have seen his face.
The ghost momentarily became clearer to my eyes and offered a slight incline of the head before he disappeared; he was nice.
"Thráxi!"
I jumped, unintentionally glaring at Animus before I just sighed, "What?"
"You accidentally dropped the box," He told me, subconsciously tapping his mask as if he was contemplating. Somehow, he didn't sound upset at all.
I winced when I saw the mess on the floor. Shucks, I'll need to help clean that up. Then when I heard a familiar voice from the door, I groaned inaudibly. Wonderful.
"What's all the ruckus for?" She sounds so annoying to my ears that if someone turned her mute I would thank them with my life.
Diamond Stone is my younger sister, guardian of the diamond stone, and the family favourite. She looks like a living diamond in my opinion—the amount of times I've said 'diamond' in this introduction is astounding—and I have always found her... odd. I don't hate her, she just rubs me in the wrong way, albeit unintentionally.
"Oh. Hi, Dia," Animus greeted Dia, voice much quieter and hesitant than it was before. He had the same feeling, I knew. That wasn't the only thing though...
"I was about to tell you two about something I noticed when I heard something fall. Did you make something explode again, Animus?" she asked the last question while directing her piercing gaze towards Animus making him sweat and shudder, especially when he noticed her cracking her knuckles.
"No…" he stilled and I imagined his eyes going glassy really clearly, like a deer in headlights. I did not like that look, at all.
Diamond didn't seem the least bit convinced, compelling her to punch him with enough strength to throw him to the wall. I had to resist the urge to create a chasm and throw her in. I couldn't do that.
"I thought there was a no-violence-to-living-beings policy in this room. Where is it now? In the metaphorical garbage?" I muttered to myself.
"He's the doctor here, he can heal himself, so it doesn't apply to him," Dia replied.
"That's medicophobic," I muttered again, rolling my eyes. I stuck out my tongue when she looked at me weirdly; I knew I hadn't used the word correctly, cut me some slack.
I wasn't completely worried about Animus. Yeah sure, he was thrown across the room and probably broke some bones but my brother can heal himself in record time without being in pain and even if he did feel the pain... he's a masochist. I'm more worried about his mental state, but what's new?
I saw another ghost appear, one I'd seen often and found myself wary of. He was much more green than the others—seafoam green, to be precise—and always wandered around my brother, a thread weaving itself around him. I never could do anything about it and the memories usually slipped away from my reach until he was back again.
He's dangerous.
"Why are we waiting?"
I had to resist another urge; the urge to throw her into the oncoming traffic of Archivum, but that city is much too far. And I didn't want Adamas to kill Animus. I hate his father so much, why couldn't he die yet?
"Ani needs to heal first," I answered curtly from my spot on the ceiling. I swear I don't hate her, I just need to stay away from her.
I'd explain how I was on the ceiling but I assume you have a brain. If not... I can't help you there.
Dia didn't say anything else. A few seconds later, a yelp sounded from inside Animus' infirmary and something crashed. I swear I heard someone else in there.
I frowned, my eyes flickering to the clock, "Are you okay in there?"
"I‒I'm fine!"
My frown deepened.
~
"Why is this forest so dark!?" Ani whined.
"Your room isn't any better than this forest," I reminded him, arms crossed across my chest.
"I don't sleep at night."
I glared at him. Couldn't he stop being a nihilistic insomniac once in his life and actually get his personal 'bodyguard' to help him? I have no idea how that worked, but it did so if he doesn't get Celest, I'm getting him myself.
"I told you to sleep!" Three times actually, I gave up a while ago.
Ani ignored me in favour of the scripted engraving on the ground. I knew the letters but I didn't know which spoken language it was written in; it wasn't English, Greek, nor Latin. Technically, I did, it was French but I don't speak French, only my brother does. I turned to him questioningly.
"Ne perdez point votre chemin de peur de vous oublier dans le labyrinthe. Don't lose your way for fear of forgetting yourself in the labyrinth?" He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion for a moment until his gaze turned more thoughtful. Judging by his look, he wasn't going to tell us anything anytime soon.
Dia didn't say a word.
"Why would it say that... here?" I asked myself more than anyone else. There's a maze underneath, you won't find it now.
I hadn't expected an answer, but I pushed that thought aside right as I noticed two twin shadows looming behind me..
I stilled, slowly turning my head around before I screamed. Animus turned in the same direction as me and his expression voided; he looked like he saw but wasn't affected. Dia didn't see, Diamonds were much too far from death for that.
It wasn't that what I saw was scary, I was shocked. Dragging my siblings by their arms, I dashed away.
~
We returned to the Stone Manor soon after, though I only had to drag Ani all the way since Dia had decided that, even if she didn't see whatever I had, running was a good idea. Animus passed out, body glowing white.
I didn't know if I had to be worried more than usual. I decided that I did.
Diamond hurried away, not having spoken a word since then—which is super suspicious by the way—thus leaving me to have to carry my worryingly light brother like a potato sack. I've been to kitchens before, I know how heavy those are. I'm just glad I found Silas on the way or I would also have to figure out how to sneak in and out of his quarters.
People outside of the Manor didn't know I existed and I was usually inside so I often explored. The only place with a similarly ominous feeling as the one I felt in the forest when I saw those twins was the throne room; I suspected it was because of who was often in there.
Upon entering, I was hit with ice-cold dread. I could faintly hear a chorus of whispers, intelligible at first then unbearably loud. I felt a chill go up my spine, It was impossible to move, a hundred gazes were upon me, judging and tearing me apart. A multiple-layered voice spoke, deep and distorted, more haunting than Haunt itself. I swore there had been something getting pulled out of my soul at the time.
The only two sentences I understood shook me to the bone, and I had a distant feeling they weren't referring to me but rather... I don't know.
"ERADICATE HER, TAKE HER POWER! SHE SHAIN'T LIVE LONGER THAN SHE HATH!"
A splitting headache formed in my head, a million images flashing back and forth in my mind, all disappearing soon after. I stifled a scream when I felt my own power thrum under my skin and burn its way to the surface of it, the searing cold of shadows spreading around my body. I had the strangest feeling that I had to get out, so I did the most logical thing and ran.
I didn't watch where I was going since I knew I would end up where I needed to be. Once I arrived at the door I kicked it open, catching the attention of Animus, who was busy cleaning the mess we'd left behind. He looked like he was trying to keep his attention on his task and away from the extravagant redheaded girl sitting on one of the couches.
He's been cleaning the same spot for 4 minutes. And yes, I just stood there for four minutes, stop criticizing.
After who knows how long, I finally spoke up. The poor floor was starting to peel off, "Animus, I found something."
He froze, turning his head towards me like he was a machine. One, he was smiling like a psychopath and two, his eyes kept changing colour until they finally went back to being dark lavender. He slumped before tensing up again when he put his cleaning supplies away; shouldn't that be in the servants' quarters? Meh, that didn't matter.
While my brother was putting his things away, the overbearingly dressed—but I have to admit she wore the clothes well even though she looked like a duck in a dress—girl approached me, whispering a few words before retreating with her apple red rose-decorated hair, dark red rose-patterned dress, and red rose--get it now?--earrings swaying as she strutted away. It took a moment to register what she had said and I couldn't resist cackling.
"Let's see who can keep him under our control the longest."
Rosy-Locks thought she could control Ani; she also thought I did too. I found that so funny I laughed hysterically, giggling madly when Ani stared at me in exasperation. Animus wasn't easy to control, anybody who tried could get destroyed by Eilenna for all I care.
After a while, I stopped laughing and reminded myself why I was here in the first place, my humour dying instantly. Damn, that ruined the mood.
~
We just stared at each other for a while. Ani was waiting for me to say something while I was trying and failing to find words to explain the situation. I realize I was being a bit overdramatic, but when you're in my position, you understand. Ani didn't seem bothered though, probably lost in his own thoughts as he pulled on his hair slightly. I'd either have to cut that at some point or ask our mother to do that. No one can magically make others' hair grow again, Adamas can go eat chemicals.
Unfortunately, when I finally found my words, the door to our common room opened. Naturally, Ani and I turned our heads around and stared at Silas standing at our door. He stood unbothered and peered at us blandly with a slight layer of curiosity hidden underneath his intricate, desert-like eyes before talking.
"The king has called Prince Animus to the throne room to greet some guests. The queen has requested the same from Lady Thráxi."
I resisted the urge to snort at the formality, he never spoke to us like that. I probably failed if Silas' deadpan in my direction was anything to go by. The sandy-blond hesitated for a while, looking as if he wanted to tell us something, but with one look at Animus, he refrained from doing so and left; I wonder what that was about.
"Shall we, little sister?"
I pushed my thoughts aside and offered a smile. At that moment, it didn't matter; at least, I didn't think so.
"Of course, older brother."
~
The less said about what happened with the Earl of Seire the better. I officially will punch Rebbeca, Edmond and their father's faces in.
"How are you feeling?" a familiar and comforting voice asked.
"I'm alright, mother."
Despite my ever-present hate for the Seires, that was true. Yet even then, I had the distant feeling that I had done something, something risky. The way my older brother was pretty much yanking at his hair as well as the way my mother's face creased in a slight frown indicated as much, the worst part was that it definitely had something to do with Adamas.
I suddenly felt my ire grow. That man may be king but since he doesn't consider me one of his citizens, he couldn't order me around. If I ever saw his disturbing muddy green eyes again, I would punch his face in; nobody cares about the law when their loved ones are endangered. No one. While I seethed, my anger simmered down unnaturally and I momentarily went limp at the sudden calm. It was easy to get back on my feet.
MOVE.
I froze, my hand subconsciously reaching out to touch my head.
MOVE!
Both wincing at the unexpected voice within my skull and flinching slightly when something flew past us—as in, was actually flying in the air—I reigned in my feelings and waited for my sister to get down. Dia's kaleidoscopic eyes looked back from where she came in fear, tugging at us urgently so we could join her on the platform she was constantly levitating; her use of telekinesis is useful, I'll admit.
"Come on, we need to go! Dad... Dad is livid!"
Animus stiffened for a fraction of a second—for such a little time I almost missed it—before his lips pressed into a thin line, an unfamiliar glint in his eyes. I narrowed mine; he was like a completely different person.
"We should go then."
But that didn't matter right now.
~
Enrage is a power hazard all Verdes-diamond Blesse have in common, as such, Adamas is not excluded. Verdes-diamond Blesse are known for being more patient than most which is commonly believed to be due to how destructive Enrage could be; if they lost their temper, things could go very badly.
Adamas was an unfortunate exception, not from the hazard but from the patience.
I felt infinitely grateful for my mother's expertise over her own ability—pathokinesis derived from the rhodochrosite. Without it, I might've burst a nerve right there and then. Where did she go?
I distinctly heard something explode yet I paid no mind to the sound. I could feel my knees shaking and my head pounding, the burns I'd gotten from the Throne Room stinging faintly until my arms became increasingly numb the longer it went on. I felt woozy. Since when were Ani's eyes brown?
"Animus, Thráxi?"
I doubled over and clutched my head—why does she sound so... distorted? A gentle hand placed itself on my stomach, its twin reaching up to my shoulders. When I looked up, I was face-to-face with concerned dark lavender eyes bordering on blue. His eyes are not that colour. Animus took his eyes off of me and his attention went to Diamond.
Our younger sister took in a shaky breath, "...where is our mother?"
I took in a matching intake of breath and scanned my surroundings frantically. Our mother was nowhere to be seen. Is that what the feeling was?
Unseen by non-targeted people, Enrage is a large and destructive gust of wind that can ravage forests in the span of a few minutes while only harming human beings targeted by the user in whatever shape or form. How it works, no one knows aside from the users themselves. How long it goes on and how deadly is it?
No target has lived long enough to find out.