Episode 9
Ella was walking in the market. She had a cloak on,and the hood was up. She was walking suspiciously,and had no chaperone with her. As she was going, looking all around she burst into someone. It was San. "Lady Ella,"he called, bowing to her. She looked up at him,and nodded a greeting to him,then walked away. San looked curious.
Ella walked to a carriage waiting in a deserted part of the market. She quickly passed a folded paper to the person inside the carriage. The face was not shown,but it was obviously a lady's hand. Ella went away.
*. *. *
Lady Myre was riding in the carriage. Harriet Beecher had come to sit with her,as she needed things from time to time. She was thinking about Lucas. He had looked pitiful. She knew he regretted not following her,but didn't want to show it.
"My lady,are you okay?"Harriet asked, bringing her back to the present. "Yes, yes...I am fine. I was just worried,if Lord Lucas had his lunch yet."
"You are worried about him, My Lady. I can only say you have romantic feelings for My Lord,if you are not offended by that,"she said, looking sober after speaking. Myre gave no reply, but looked outside the carriage. She was thinking about her mother now.
*. *. *
Gerald walked into Roland's bakery. He was looking casual today, only wearing a top and trousers, using a belt. He still had his sword by him. His long hair was braided as usual. Roland turned to him.
"You have finally come out of your shell, Gerald. I was about to check you at home,"Roland said, coming to him with a cup of milk. "Why milk?"he asked. "A person should not grieve with rum. I insist."
Gerald sipped the milk. Roland sat in front of him. "I was taking my time to heal. I needed some time alone as well. San ran all the errands on my behalf most times."
"I suppose you military men are on a break,as honour to the late Emperor,and the preparation of the coronation."
"The top is filled with power drunk men. All of them seek power,and murmur about the Emperor's choice. I just do not know why Governor Dawkins was quiet and calm. I expected him to flare up. Everyone said it too."
"He has a plan for the new Emperor to be. I heard his wife is pneumonic. Must have been a poison silently infiltrating his house by scent."
"His poor daughter suffers it. The girl would be given away soon,"Gerald said.
"It's no news that the lady takes a fancy in you, Gerald. Why do you not consider her?"
"In all my years of being a soldier, I've never met a subtle ostracized as that girl. She tricked my men. Have you seen her again?"Gerald asked. Roland held his head,"You replace the honourable lady with a thief. I cannot believe that transformation took place."
"You know,there is something spectacular about that girl. I cannot stop thinking about her eyes. They looked cold and lifeless,"he said.
"I suggest you look for her,"Roland said, dropping a plate of pie in front of him. "Is it on the house today?"Gerald asked, picking up the pie and munching it. "I'd be thinking about it,"he said, resuming to pounding the dough of flour on the worktop. "You make the best pastry in Old Town,"Gerald said,not raising up his head. Roland continued.
*. *. *
Snow opened her eyes with a ringing head and terrible headache. This place felt cold,and she looked pale. There was little illumination.
"You gave me too much trouble before I could revive you, Rua. Perhaps,life at the castle has made you soft, and not as tough as you have been when you were wandering in the jungle like an animal,"it was Mira's voice. Another bucketful of water landed on Snow's face. No wonder it was all cold. Mira dropped the bucket with a thud.
"I am afraid you would get nothing of me,"Snow said,even in her weakness.
"Oh,it is my decision to make. I bet Lathow does not even know you are out now. Shows how much he doesn't recognize you."
Snow was struggling to be released. "Where is my pet? Where is Winsley?!"
"He has a special place,where he has been sleeping, probably dreaming of your death by now. He was crying in his sleep,"she said.
The vision, it's coming true. Alisha would soon come into the picture,Snow thought.
Snow was deep in thought. "You must be thinking you have an ally in here,but,there are barely betrayers here,"Mira's voice brought her back to reality. Snow looked up, and saw Alisha coming. This was unbelievable. She thought she could trust Alisha, at least. "Hello, Snow,"Alisha greeted with a wave. "She told us about your escapade. That was too easy, actually. Well,I always knew you were a fool, but I was not guessing that you would be such a big one. Alisha here is so loyal to me and Lathow,you thought she would let you escape? No."
Snow was not looking anywhere else but at Alisha,with disbelief in her eyes. Alisha looked completely absorbed in Mira's madness too. She was moving closer to Snow. "No,no,"Snow mouthed, but Alisha was already reciting some chants,"Filimarangereke...kamastroishlita..." As she walked,she thrust her hand forward,towards Snow. Snow felt the air around her blowing. She started to feel discomfort,and was wreathing in pain. She screamed,as Alisha's chant became incessant.
*. *. *
Lathow felt his table shake. He thought it was just the light wind, blowing gently into his room.
"Shall I bring in your lunch,your majesty?"the maid at the entrance of the room asked. "Not yet,"he said,his attention on the paper he was writing on. His table shook again. The ink on it fell and poured. Lathow suspected something. His maid was scared. As she moved to clean up the mess,the ground shook,that she fell,and a strong wind blew out the fire in the lamp. Lathow got up now. Something must be wrong.
"Find Kalas!"he commanded as he went out.
*. *. *
The King's wine cup shook. This alerted the Queen to look up. She continued knitting. But when a strong wind blew against them, almost stealing away their crowns,they both got alerted. "Alder,find out what is going on outside,"the Queen said to the soldier on duty in their chamber. Before Alder got out the veranda, the wind blew him away against the entrance door. The King and Queen got up in unison, but with much difficulty,as the wind was so strong, blowing everything in the chamber. "Your Highness,Your Grace,stay down! It is a..."
Before Alder could complete his speech,the wind blew the King away,out of the room. "Your Highness!"they all chorused. The Queen was scared.
*. *. *
The people in the market were getting scared. The sky was becoming dark. They were all looking up. Suddenly,a terrible strong wind came and soon,there was chaos. The people started running helter skelter. The royal castle was covered in a fog, even though it was during the day. This could not be rain. Something terrible was about to happen.
Lathow and Kalas were crawling on the floor,as the wind was too strong. It blew several of the maids and soldiers past them,and they avoided. Lathow successfully crawled up,and held the handle of a door threatening to fall off soon. Lathow took hold of the entrance, gritting his teeth. "Do you have any idea,what is going on?!"he yelled at Kalas. "Forgive me, your Highness,it seems that the Princess got to the boto first before you!"Kalas shouted,so that he could hear. "Let us go and find her. She's carrying my child!"Lathow shouted.
Fera was unlocking the lock on the chain tying her down,not minding the terrible wind. Something was going on in the Palace. Before she could finish unlocking the lock,the wind blew off the thick prison gate. Fera was casting some spell,as she had been able to unlock herself at last. She walked slowly in the wind,never stopping the chant.
"Yilamakarede! Yilamakarede! Esgeretonb lamak...figorestigard...marameshakmahima,"Alisha was still chanting, even though the wind blew strongly. A shield of some kind was built around the three;She, Snow and Mira,so the wind did not affect them. Alisha's chants were not stopping, and Snow screamed as she continued speaking. Suddenly,she looked up. Her eyes were looking scary,as the blue in it had deepened,and she had dark wells under her eyes. She shouted,her strength seeming ethereal now. She broke the shield and both Mira and Alisha were blown away.
Alisha recovered quickly from her shock. She shielded her eyes from the wind, watching Snow coming,in her full glory. Her white hair was blowing and she looked scary. Alisha heard some noise. They were beastly. The sleeping beasts! They had woken up! Calamity had struck. She was screaming. Snow was looking angry,and she carried Mira with a hand and threw her away. Alisha,who also tried to stop her was thrown away by the back of her hand. She hit her back against the wall.
Kalas and Lathow were managing to walk in the storm. It was Kalas that saw the beasts first. The sleeping beasts! "Your Majesty, find refuge! The sleeping beasts are awake!"Kalas shouted. The beasts were three in number, but they were huge. The first one was one that looked like a tree,it moved,and the twigs on its body were large. The second one looked like a dinosaur,and the third was one that could not be described. Lathow and Kalas had not recovered from the shock,when they saw Snow coming behind them, pushing them with her power with all her might. Lathow and Kalas were alarmed.
Fera felt that something huge had happened,as she walked slowly in the wind. The soldiers were screaming as the wind blew them past her. She did not mind them, but continued chanting. She firstly found her way to the dungeon they had kept Snow in. She saw Mira and Alisha on the ground. Mira was already unconscious,while Alisha was groaning,and spitting blood. "Alisha!"Fera called, running towards her. "What has happened?"she asked.
The wounded Alisha sat up, groaning,"T...the sleeping beasts are awake!"she muttered.
Fera's heart skipped. She knew about the beasts the Talented girls created. Now,they were awake. But,that was not the case now,"Where is Snow?"she asked. "I...I...unlocked her magic. She is a boto,"Alisha said. Fera had always known there was something special about Snow. Who knew she was a god? A boto! She must have awoken the beasts,as she could control them. "We must find Snow before she destroys everything,"Alisha said, holding both of Fera's hands. Fera nodded.
Snow watched as the beasts and Kalas fought. It was funny to her, because she knew that he could not defeat them. There was Lathow, crawling on the floor,not knowing what to do. Snow stretched her hand to him, and used her magic to bring him to herself. She raised him up with one hand, holding his neck,while he fought to be released. Kalas,on seeing this wanted to save his master,and so,cut Snow's hand. As he did,the hand continued holding Lathow's neck, even though it was away from Snow. Enraged by this,she threw Kalas away with one hand. He fell to the far end of the prison grounds. Her hand grew again. She walked towards Kalas,who was about to start chanting when she got to him. She threw him away again,and he fell, spitting blood. As they were doing this,the beasts were busy uprooting the gates and houses around, walking out of the castle.
Snow was about to pick Lathow again with her power,when Fera and Alisha came. "Stop!"Fera shouted. Snow looked over at her.
*. *. *
Lord Lucas was seated,his head hung. He could not do anything since Lady Myre went off to Agra. He was expecting her letter,but he knew it was a day's journey. She would get there soon. He just hoped she was fine.
As he was thinking about this, wright came in. "My Lord, Lord Gerald is here to see you,"he reported. Lucas was surprised,that Gerald could come to see him. It was surprising. He asked wright to bring him in. When Gerald came in,he was looking his casual self,and not in uniform.
"What a surprise,what have I done to deserve your visit? Perhaps to say bad things about us again,"Lord Lucas said,not offering him a seat,or a cup of wine.
"I have come to apologize to you and the Lady. I disrespected such honourable lady,"he said, looking remorseful. "Why have you come,?"
"I did my investigations,and the evidences I got were against you or lady Myre. I am still hunting for the killer."
Lucas looked at him.
*. *. *
"Please, Snow,stop these. You do not want the innocent to be hurt, right? Please stop. Those beasts would kill the people!"Fera tried to persuade her. She was walking towards her now. Blurry memories of she and Alice flashed to her mind,but she didn't see herself clearly.
Fera didn't know what Snow was thinking,but she seemed to have calmed down a bit. And suddenly again,she became wild,"No! I am the doom of Aries! I would destroy it all,"she said,her voice sounding ethereal and thicker.
Kalas was running towards her with a sword too,but she flung him away before he got to her. She turned to Lathow,and used her power to aim at his eyes. He went blind. He started groaning and holding his eyes.
"Snow,I am sorry,but I did not betray you. It was our chance,but please,stop it now,I..."Alisha was cut short,and she started spitting blood. She looked down. A sword was bulging out of her tummy at the front. Fera shouted,"Alisha!". It was Mira who stabbed her. Alisha fell as she dragged the sword out of her. Fera fell beside her, crying as her skin became pale. Snow was shocked,that she stopped a bit. Alisha had died, trying to save her. And Mira was responsible for it. Her eyes turned blazing red,and she walked towards Mira,who moved back, scared. Her sword dropped by her side.
*. *. *
It was night before Lady Myre and her entourage got to Agra. It was a beautiful and lively landmass. It was peaceful as well. Their carriage stopped in front of a big mansion. Harriet Beecher got out first, waiting outside to help her mistress alight.
Paula and some maids rushed to the entrance. Paula hugged her sister,"How much I have missed you,big sister! I have been alone for long!"she said, clutching to Myre,who patted her Ashen hair. Paula was her younger sister. Harriet Beecher was directing the men,how to unload their stuffs. "Let's go in,the maids would do this,"Paula said, pulling her along. Their fanciful mansion had not changed. The house was big and luxurious,as maids walked about, running errands. As they got to her mother's chamber,her mother's maid,Jalli was at the entrance, waiting. "Lady Myre,"she called,her eyes twinkling with enthusiasm. "Jalli,"Myre called, kissing the woman's cheeks. She was a middle aged woman,who had been serving Lord LeVert, Myre's father,even before he married her mother. She was a loyal servant.
"Please,come in. My Lord is at the study,"she said, smiling and opening the door for her to enter. Myre entered and saw several maids tending to her mother. The woman looked pale and had obviously lost a lot of weight. "There she is,"Paula said,her mood changing briskly. Myre removed the cloak she had been wearing and handed it to Jalli. She fell to her mother's bedside. "Mother."
Her mother opened her hollow eyes,and smiled on seeing her daughter. "Myre,"she said, raising her hand to her cheek. "Leave us,"Myre said, and all went out except Paula and Jalli. "Mother, why have you become like this? You have become so thin,"Myre said, sobbing. Her mother sat up with the help of the three of them. "I was sick,while longing to see you,but now, I am strong,my child."
"Father has been trying to lift her spirit by spending time with her. She has been stooling and vomiting,"Paula said,as if reporting. "The best doctor in the town is coming before nightfall tomorrow. He would check on her,"Jalli reported.
"Do not mind them, Myre. I am healed as soon as I have seen you,"her mother said. She hugged her. Paula hugged them too. Jalli smiled.
*. *. *
The forest was quite peaceful,as the wind blew lightly. A dog was barking nearby,pacing up and down. It was Winsley. Snow was lying down, unconscious,in her wet inner garment. Her hair was wet and tangled. Winsley was constantly licking her body to bring her back awake.
In her mind, several scenes flashed to her head. She killing Mira,Fera being beheaded,she screaming and fire in every part of the land of Aries,she escaping through a portal. Everything was in a nonsensical loop. It was blurry.
Her blue eyes flashed open. She looked ordinary now,and her scary look had gone. "Winsley!"she called joyously, hugging him. He hugged her back. She was happy he had survived. Snow's head felt empty,and she didn't believe she had done those disastrous things. She got up, finding out they were in a forest. "I guess I'm back to the jungle again,"she said sadly. "Old boy, let's see if there is a town here to stay,"she said to Winsley and took him by the collar,as they both walked away.