ACT 2 SCENE 6: The Family Stone (Chapter 13)

Chapter 13

‘I have her soul?! Nah, that can’t be true. I don’t know magia, I know jack shit!’ she says exasperated. ‘.....your Highness.’ She heard a soft ‘ting’ go off inside her head.

She stammers. ‘Wait, why are you telling us about these things that happened? Did you not keep mentioning that aiding a traitor is execution in your kingdom?’ Alex raises an eyebrow, she feels she’s on to something and she has an idea what’s happening, more or less.

‘Or does this mean you are quite able to pardon Teg – if we do something for you in return?’ she concludes.

‘My Domina, my word, you are quite the clever girl! Beauty and brains, I expect nothing less from such an extraordinary being like you. But honestly, I prefer my association with any of you not to be known.’

‘And where will that get us, your Highness? Possibly getting ourselves into another trouble with another kingdom?’

‘Perhaps but if you are careful, surely you will dodge petty inconveniences.’ Gywn teases, trying to convince the trio that they are capable of being incognito.

‘Does this completely pardon Teg?’ Alex bargains.

‘We will welcome him back to the Kingdom, restoring him all his rights as a citizen of the kingdom of Tylwyth Teg and earning back his high ranking position. And before I forget, he will gain back his honour IF all goes according to plan. You have my word, Domina.’

‘You have not discussed what we need to do in order to gain all this back for Teg. What is the condition?’ Boon is quite impressed at how Alex is negotiating with the King. When Stēlla was his Domina, he was repeatedly instructed by her to negotiate, talk or clean her house. This is quite a scene to behold.

‘Oh, I only need something very simple, Domina,’ he chuckles. ‘I would like to resume the annual visits the mortals were permitted to during the month of May.’

Alex was taken aback by this request. ‘Why don’t you go ahead and do it?’

‘I wish things were as simple as it seems, Domina. But what I need is the approval of the old Gods to open the gates of my Kingdom again.’

‘Which old Gods…like Cthulu?’ Alex asks him, without missing a beat. Gywn stares at her, wondering what she means. She hates it when no one gets her jokes. ‘I mean, which old god are you referring to, your Highness? You don’t have to be subtle with us.’

Gywn smiles at her. ‘I like that you are very open to suggestions, Domina. Well, if you must know, Tellūs would be the most appropriate god to approach.’

‘You’re asking for the impossible,’ Alex couldn’t believe his request. How the hell will they get to Tellūs? They can barely hold off a bunch of shadowy creatures.

‘It’s not impossible if you get things right, Domina.’

Alex gives it a thought. It may not be as simple as they think but surely they can figure a way to do it. After all, Teg is a good friend, perhaps even a better friend in the last life.

‘Good,’ Alex gets up, stands in front of the King, spits on her hand and puts her hand forward towards him. ‘I will do this quest for you. Now, give me a spit shake, pretty boy….I mean, your Highness.’ She smiles at him, hoping she’s dazzling as he thinks. Whatever it takes, she thought. No matter how insane it is, she adds.

Gywn gets up, facing her and stares her down. Alex doesn’t budge, still smiling at the tall menacing figure. A smile breaks into the King’s face, spitting on his hand and takes her hand. ‘I like this. This is intimate and I approve.’

‘We have plenty of witnesses. I hope you keep your word, your Highness.’ She curtsies.

‘Why of course, Domina.’ He bows deeply, grinning.

‘Okay.’ Alex looks back to her companions, ‘what now?’

‘Perhaps a safe passage…for a short time,’ Teg suggests, poker faced.

‘A splendid idea, Teg,’ the King praises Teg openly in front of his subjects. Gywn claps his hand together twice. A row of ladies, with covered faces appears. Their eyes can still be seen and Alex swears that they were sparkling. They were carrying a single mug on a tray. The serving ladies approach Alex, Boon and Teg elegantly as if they were floating by them. Alex is amazed; Boon remains nonchalant while Teg remains indifferent by it all. They leave a mug in front of Alex and Teg, surely recognizing a Libra that doesn’t need to eat or drink. Then they proceed to pass the rest of the subjects, leaving them a mug one by one. Alex wonders where the mug itself is being refilled since they are only carrying one of each.

‘I’m sure you are all weary with the arduous journey that you just had,’ he tells them. ‘I wish your luck will improve and I am optimistic for a safe journey ahead.’ He lifts his own cup, ‘I propose a toast. May you find what you are looking for, Domina Alexandria’ He proceeds to drink from his cup, emptying it. Alex takes the cup in front of her. She doesn’t think she had any choice but to drink from it too. The last thing she wants is to embarrass her friends, especially Teg. She lifts her cup to her lips, and hesitates but drinks from it anyway, emptying it like the King.

As soon as she swallows the drink, everything quickly becomes hazy. Alex feels herself slouch towards the ground. She doesn’t seem to have any control over her body. She sees Boon’s silhouette not far from her and he’s already lying on the floor. Arms sweep her up and she sees Gywn’s hazy silhouette.

‘You promised…’ she says struggling to speak.

‘Shh. Sleep, Domina. If I may be bold, I will steal a little something I’ve always yearned for.’ Before she can protest, she felt his lips on hers; and like a snap of the fingers, she opens her eyes to darkness and she first thing she sees are the twinkling of the stars in the sky.

ACT 2 SCENE 6: The Family Stone (Chapter 12)

Chapter 12

Alex was still silent. She did not know what to say.

‘Uhhh, charmed, sire,’ she curtsied. ‘Will you help us?’ Gywn straightens himself up and looks at her.

‘No.’

‘What? You did not even think about it.’ Teg shushes at her, giving her looks to be more polite.

‘I have orders to execute Teg.’ The warriors flank a non surprised Teg.

‘But why would you do that? He saved my life, our life,’ she points at herself and Boon.

‘Libra, you are supposed to be dead.’ Gywn looks down at him. ‘Permission to speak.’

‘Domina Stēlla saved me, your highness. She knew what would happen,’ Boon defends.

‘Terra will be after you. Maybe not now - but soon.’

‘I believe it’s already begun, sire. She tried to kill Domina,’

‘Because they want you dead, not her.’ Gywn says bluntly.

‘Sire, if I may speak…’ Alex interrupts.

‘Walk with me – all of you.’ He commands as he turns to walk, the soldiers’ turns to follow on both sides.

The three of them look at each other and followed the King as he walks deeper into the forest.

Alex couldn’t believe her eyes as they walk through the forest. It was abundant with fruits and flowers of every kind you can think of. The people of Tylwyth Teg were all beautiful that no words can describe how fair they are. She notice that there are no birds flying anywhere, not even butterflies. There are no animals in the forest but she can still hear the sweet soft music hanging in the air.

They reach a large clearing with a throne. The king sits and he instructs them to sit on the grass below him.

‘Domina, how long has it been since I saw you…’ he asks Alex.

‘Ahh..I don’t think we met.’

Gywn laughs loudly at her reply. Alex wonders if she ever met anyone that looks like him. She gives it a thought but she clearly can’t remember seeing him, ever. Despite his odd appearance, he was very beautiful in his own way.

‘I must be honest to you with everyone. I watched Domina Alexandria when she was born, just as I watched Domina Stēlla when she was born. The alignment of the cosmos was too enticing to ignore.’ He pauses to drink from his cup. Alex and Boon are wide eyed at this sudden disclosure from the King. ‘Times have changed everything. We believe its better that mankind forget about our kind. After Terra believing you and Domina Stēlla dead, Tellūs convinced her to pardon the remaining magic folk, alone – to live. Everything was quiet until Domina Alexandria was born. The shifts of the cosmos were different. I got curious, unfortunately. You have to understand that my weakness is your spirit. Your physical form may die but your spirit, oh, how it glows like no other. I was not the only one who was curious but as I relayed earlier, you were not a problem unless you are bonded to a Libra. As I asked you earlier, if you remember me…do you remember seeing a man with a tall hat, hair with curls, approaching you inside a church?

Alex’s eyes went wide. A quick flashback on the day – she was sitting on the seat, waiting for Aunt Hera and her mother finish confession. A strange man approaching her, curtsying and she giggles. She thought he was funny looking. He looks at her with curiosity and tells her not to be afraid of the dark. He placed his hands on her head and she felt her heart skipped. There was something behind her. She screamed when she felt the shadow behind her burn.

‘It’s….it’s you…that shadow…’

‘It wanted you. It wanted to take your essence.’

‘I was bedridden for a year! Surely you didn’t kill it as you planned.’

‘Oh I didn’t kill it. I couldn’t. There are things that the King of Tylwyth Teg is not allowed to do. We follow rules.’

‘Rules of what?’

‘My dear Domina, do you really think I can kill a Chaos shadow?’ He smiles at them, knowing he’s got their full attention.

‘The chaos was after me? Even when I was a child? I thought I was harmless?’

‘You are but you were vulnerable. With your essence, you can easily be manipulated.’

‘I think not!...sire!’ Alex says, defending herself.

‘You are a child, dear Domina. You would not know what is right and what is wrong. I exposed the Chaos’ treachery, perhaps getting them out of the way for another thousand years. And who else can get rid of them…?’ Gywn pauses, watching Alex, Boon and Teg like a teacher expecting an answer to a dutiful student.

‘Terra.’ Alex says, under her breath, unbelieving.

‘She is the only one who can punish them since she is Terra. You have to understand that the Chaos is a result of what could have been good.’

‘Domina,’ Boon is talking to Alex in her mind, ‘remember I told you that we stayed with your family? My brothers and sisters were considered traitors after that.’

‘No cheating,’ Gywn tells Boon. ‘No mind talking here…you know what also interests me?’ Gywn gets up from his throne and sits in front of Alex and Boon. ‘You are bonded…how?’

‘It’s a very long….embarrassing story…,’ Alex answers, ‘….sire’

‘Do you remember this old lady that took care of you?’ he asks.

‘Yes, I do, kind of but I can’t be sure actually…’

‘Do remember her well, it will serve you best.’ He muses. ‘You know what else, Domina? It would be quite amusing if I don’t tell you this bit of knowledge but I must,’ Gywn is feeling quite ecstatic all of a sudden, ‘ Domina Alexandria, what if I told you that your family knew that this day would happen?

‘I am not allowing myself to feel surprised anymore…’ Alex replies.

‘Domina Alexandria, you were not born on the same auspicious day that Domina Stēlla was born but what you do have is her soul essence.’

(Written for 2012 NaNoWriMo.)  

ACT 2 SCENE 5: The Family Stone (Chapter 11)

Chapter 11

A different kind of darkness, more potent, swallowed the area behind Alex. Alex is running as fast as her legs can take her. She cannot feel anymore of the pain she was experiencing earlier. Perhaps the adrenaline that is surging through her body is helping her move. She cannot hear or feel anyone or anything following her but it doesn’t mean she can stop running. She sees a large gate ahead and she somehow manages to run even faster. She takes out her book to look up the word to open the gate. Just as she finds the word, she falls into a hole on the ground. It happened so quickly that if you blinked, you would have missed it and not see the hole she fell into.

She falls through a deep hole, screaming as she passes each level. She panics as she sees the ground. Suddenly, she starts to levitate. Alex felt relieved for a moment. She looks around her cautiousl, darting looks at the dark corners around her.

‘Domina,’ Teg appears out of nowhere. ‘I apologize for the..er, unexpected guests.’

Alex didn’t realize that she was crying until she heard herself sobbing. ‘You have no idea how happy I am to see you Teg. I thought they were going to find us. I thought they were going to take Boon away. I thought I was going to die….my parents! My God, Teg, they told me about my parents and my friends. We have to go back for them.’ Alex is in hysterics. Teg keeps his flying distance so she will not accidently tear off his wings. He hates the fact that only she can see her wings. He knows this but she won’t say it. He saw her giggling about it one time. He got his mother’s wings. He can’t choose what he was born with. ‘Teg please….’

 ‘Domina, I have to do this…and I am sorry,’ Alex stops and she felt Teg’s shoeprint slap across her cheek.

‘Ow, what the flying eff???....’ Alex yelps as she holds her sore cheek. ‘Oh god, I’m sorry Teg. I was hysterical. I panicked.’ Alex is ashamed of her outburst but it did not stop her from worrying.

‘Domina, pardon me for doing that.’ Teg bows to her. ‘You hair was catching fire, and I don’t think I know how your magia works just yet.’

‘My hair???’ Alex smells something burning and she quickly grabbed a lump of her hair. It was burnt alright, but it was going back to its original state. There are too many things she did not know. No manual, just patience and baby steps. Remember baby steps, she assures herself as she watches her hair injected back with life.

‘Domina. I am feeling better now.’ Boon interrupts. ‘Please command me.’

 ‘Uhh. Teg, Boon says he’s okay now – how do I?’ Just as she thought of asking Boon to come out of the stone, he stood right next to her, which gave her a fright.’

‘Can you NOT do that?!’

‘Apologies Domina!’ Boon bows to her.

Teg flies in front of her face, distracting her. ‘Domina. Your parents are safe and so are your friends.’

‘How can you be sure of this??’

‘While you both were recovering, I went to investigate your parents’ flat. Your aunt Hera helped them choose that flat. That building is spell locked. What it basically means is that nothing magical will find them. Even your parents are spell locked.’

‘Who did that for them? Why wasn’t I included?’ Her voice traces a bit of hurt.

‘I cannot be certain but what I know is that only someone very powerful can cast a spell lock.’ Teg confesses.

‘What about my friends?’

‘They have a minor spell on them, making them seem like ordinary farm animals to magical things and creatures. I am quite surprised by all of this too.’

‘Well, I think knowing that is enough for me.’ Alex looks up at where they fell. She can hear the same thud she heard before.

‘We have to get out of here,’ Boon tells them. Alex sees Boon was looking up as well. She can feel that he’s feeling better and she feels relieved. Boon looks at her, surprised, which caught Alex off guard.

‘What?’ she asks him, defensive.

‘Nothing Domina,’ he says, looking down on the ground. ‘It’s best that we go, Teg.’

‘I have the safest place to go,’ he tells them as he pulls out the doorknob from his bag. He stabs the doorknob onto the wall and turns the knob twice to the left, once to the right and he pulls. A large gate forms onto the wall and the door opens before them. Just as they go through the door, he adds, ‘And also the most dangerous.’

The light of the end of the tunnel – Alex never really likes that phrase. She feels that it implies possible death. She’s surprised she’s even thinking about such things. She wonders if any of Boon’s attitude and outlook rubs off on her if they are bound together. She looks at Boon and he’s pretending not to notice her. Just as she is about to say something, Alex notice they are out of the passageway. Alex gasps.

She has never seen anything so magnificently beautiful.

They found themselves in between two hills and a lake runs through it. Alex felt so much peace. The ambience is completely different. She can hear music, soft and sweet which went together with the cool breeze. As they get closer to the lake, a head appears surfacing the lake.

Alex stared at the figure in silent. She’s never seen anything so beautiful.

‘Halt…it is not May- day…You have to understand that it is best not to walk our paths for it is dangerous for a mortal. What brings you to Tylwyth Teg?’ she sounds like she is singing, Alex thought. She can listen to her sing all day.

‘I am coming home, Haf. I am with Boon the Libra and his Domina, Alexandria – her ancestor is Stēlla.

‘Perhaps you should not have come home, Teg,’ she says sadly. Your head is up for bounty once again and you won’t be as fortunate.’

‘I will take my chances, Hef. You must not dare forget what Domina Stēlla did for our people.’

‘It never left my mind,’ Hef opens another door on a rocky wall to their left. ‘Domina Alexandria, your ancestor and you seem to have been made in the same mould by the Gods. No wonder your Libra is so devoted,’ she teases and sinks slowly back into the water.

Alex can’t believe a fairy just teased her and she has a blushing Boon on her side. Don’t think, don’t think, she tells herself.

‘Don’t think what, Domina?’ Boon says confused.

‘Nothing, nothing – let’s go,’ she points to the rocky door.

They had to pass another passage but a shorter one. As they came out of the passage, a group of warriors had them surrounded. They instinctively put up their hands.

‘We come in peace, my people. I bring you…’

‘Yes, I already know, Teg,’ a voice booms from behind the warriors.

A tall man with a blackened face and long luscious curly hair walks in between the warriors. Teg bows down and Boon respectfully bowed his head. Alex remained still, just watching what was happening. She thought even the warriors were so good-looking. Why is this not possible in her world, she thought.

‘Domina,’ the warrior takes her hand and brought it to his lips. ‘You are not Domina Stēlla but even you are able to tug on my heart strings, which is rare, especially with that beautiful hair of yours. You radiate beauty.’ Alex was at loss for words. No one talks like that anymore.

‘Allow me to introduce myself; Gwyn Ap Nudd, king of the Tylwyth Teg and ruler of the Otherworld, Annwn,’ he bows deeply. ‘Welcome to my Kingdom.’

(Written for 2012 NaNoWriMo.)  

ACT 2 SCENE 5 | May Updates from the Ringmaster!

How in the world is it May already? How fast is time flying?
High fives and hugs over cyberspace to everyone! 

I know, it's not a good excuse to say this but I have been quite busy for the past two months. I have written two scripts for two upcoming anthologies and Shen, being the most awesome artist partner, is done with storyboarding them and we are already done going through them! I will let you guys know the names of the stories when all is said and done. :)

We are almost done with Chapter 1 of :EPOCH Files and since we are super packed with comic deadlines and RL responsibilities, I have volunteered to do the fillers while we are on a break! I can tell you all right now that I am the worst artist - I can ink/sketch if you ask me to but I can't draw like Shen for shit. But hey, you never know! Someone might like my art - if you guys are into children's drawings...but enough of my silliness! Do check out the comic when you guys have time and don't have anything to read. Links are on the top page. :)

I have updated the blog with two new chapters on 'The Family Stone'. I hope you are all enjoying it!

Til next time! *tips hat*

Liebe,
Grim

ACT 2 SCENE 5: The Family Stone (Chapter 10)

Chapter 10

Alex still had her eyes closed. When she heard the wind and sea and felt the wind, she opens her eyes and she finds herself at the coast of somewhere. She is still on the ground and it was very dark. Her eyes adjust to the dark fairly quickly and she crawls to the nearest shade she could find to hide.

She is still holding the bracelet and tightens her grip on it.

‘Domina…I am sorry I am still weak,’ Boon is speaking in her mind, echoing. ‘I cannot protect you…just like I could not protect Domina Stēlla…’

Alex interrupts him, ‘Shut the hell up, Boon! Stop acting like an emo kid! You just saved me, what the hell are you on about?’

‘I…I cannot protect you more than I wanted to…please Domina…’

‘Will you stop it, Boon?! UUGHH! Tell me how to find Teg.’

‘Teg…I don’t know. I cannot teach you how to find him by magia.’

Alex is about to lash out on Boon again out of frustration, then she hears the loud THUD again.

‘Hand it over, child. You are not capable and unworthy of wielding the Balance’s power,’ a shadow hissed from not far from where Alex is hiding.

Alex, trying to stay very still, trying not to even breathe, is cursing in her head,

‘What do we do now, hot shot?’ she asks Boon in her head. She drops her gaze on her arm, the dangling bracelet with the large black stone, unreflecting but somehow moving.

‘We know you are here, child. Just hand the Libra and we will spare your life…including your parents and perhaps your friends…’

‘Don’t trust them, Domina,’ Boon says weakly.

This isn’t exactly the turn she expected her life would go.

‘Trust Boon.’

But she was determined to see this through.

‘Trust Boon.’

A flash of light surrounds her.

This time she will protect Boon, just as he protected her.

‘Trust Boon.’

She runs out of her hiding place, light surrounding the entire perimeter of the field. She has to focus on the words and she knows this is going to hurt right after.

‘TENEBRAE!!!’

* Tenebrae – darkness

(Written for 2012 NaNoWriMo.)  

ACT 2 SCENE 5: The Family Stone (Chapter 9)

Chapter 9

Alex is back on the bed, wondering what the next step is. Teg doesn’t look too comfortable when he left. Maybe he doesn’t know about ‘periods’ or he does know and he’s just old fashioned. Six thousand years is a big age gap. She cannot stop about thinking about all this magia talk. Perhaps she can ask Teg to bring her a book or two. She’s not cut out for any of this sort of thing. Never ever, and she certainly has no idea how she actually bound themselves. Why is there no manual for these kind of things, she thought. It would have been easier for everybody and surely, no one will get hurt. Teg went somewhere again. He assures her that he will be back and she told him to be extra careful.

For now being in the room, with the cats is enough for her. This moment of peace is all she wants. But seeing Boon like that makes her feel like shit. She did not mean it but she cannot help being disappointed in herself.

‘Domina?’ Teg is cautiously waving at her, carrying what looks like a small box. ‘I got some of your things from your flat.’ Alex looks at the box and to him and she felt confused and wonders what he managed to squeeze in that small box.

‘Is my house alright, Teg? Or did they ransack it?’ She worries because it is her first flat and when she noticed the darkness pouring in from the windows, she wondered whether they blew up her place or made it into their hideout, assume human forms and wear her things? She’s decided that she is probably going insane.

‘No, your house is fine Domina, but I wouldn’t go back there until this is over, especially since you have the symbol on your back.’

Alex sighs and thinks. ‘Perhaps a change of clothes would do me good.’ She finally decides.

‘I took all your clothes so you won’t have to worry about choices.’ Teg says to her as if it was something out of the ordinary.

‘How can you…what do you mean you got all my clothes?’ She looks back at the box and rolls her eyes at it. ‘Please don’t tell me this is some magical box coz if it is, you’re going to give this to me and I will carry it around - especially just in case I see a hot non-human creature.’ Teg rolls her eyes at her this time and they both laugh. Alex hold her sides, wincing in pain, ‘I can’t even laugh, how cruel is this?’

The box grows in size and became as large as a normal clothes cabinet.

‘Will you teach me how to do that later?’ Alex stares at the box in amazement, looks at Teg and bats her eyelashes, trying to be cute – trying very hard.

Teg bows deeply. ‘No.’ There was a poof sound and he disappears.

Alex didn’t think that would work. She notices that the pain on her back is not as severe but it definitely still feels raw. There are many instances that she could have checked the mirror when she went into the bathroom but she couldn’t even lift her arms. Or maybe she was just scared to see what she would see.

She had hoped that she would dream about Stēlla again. Give her some insight.

It dawned on her that she sounds like those helpless girls on television or what she used to read in books. She remembered complaining about how much whining they used to do and now, she feels like she’s doing the same thing. She sighs.

There is nothing she can do right now except change her clothes.

‘I’m so screwed,’ she whispers to herself.

She moves to the side of the bed and slowly edges herself to the edge. When was the last time she was this helpless? She stands, leaning on the bed for support. Her knees still feels like jelly but she can stand. She went back through the years in her mind and she realizes that the last time was as helpless was when she was bedridden for a whole year.

She got sick. Very very sick.

She was taken to the best hospitals; the best private doctors. Alternative medicine and everything you can think of. She did it all.

She looks across the room, staring at the cabinet box’s door. Baby steps, she assures herself. 

She doesn’t remember much about that time in her life except it felt like she was in a dream, going in and out of consciousness. How she got so sick was the question that burns through her mind all the time. Her parents told her that kids gets sick all the time.

She walks towards the cabinet-box with a bit of a struggle. She stops walking when she realizes that she was walking like a zombie. She grins at the thought and continued.

She remembered the man, inside the church. Her mother and Aunt Hera were at confession after the mass. She sat on the benches of the confession booths when he appeared out of nowhere. She doesn’t remember his face much but she remembers him laughing, like she said a joke to him. He put his hand on her head. He told her they will see each other again. And then he vanished.

She looked around her. Perhaps he was hiding in one of the columns. All she could hear was silence. After that, she started screaming. She felt like she was burning.

The memory lapse suddenly made her right knee give way, but she manages to keep standing. She felt like a tightrope walker. Yes, that’s right, she thought. She tells herself she can do anything as her hand reaches for the cabinet box handle. She was sweating profusely, trying to catch her breath and feels a little burning on her back.

She remembers her mother, Aunt Hera and the priests inside the confession booths running out and found her on the floor. They took her to the hospital but they couldn’t find anything. She remembers she was in and out of consciousness.

Alex tut tut’s at herself as she shakes off the lingering memories. She manages to take off her top, feeling like her joints are cemented together. She takes a look at the back of her shirt. Her tattoo bled through her shirt. She regrets getting it done now but at the same time, she strangely doesn’t. She slowly pulls her pyjamas down. She had a bit of trouble pulling them off. She feels like she’s aged at least another hundred years. She hopes this is not permanent.

‘You both will need time to recover.’

Teg’s voice assures her. She looks back at where Boon is and he is still unconscious. She made a mental note that binding together is painful – but what about separation? She thought about what Stēlla must have gone through. It must have been excruciating pain and this thought made her a little sad. There were so many questions and no answers.

Alex suddenly remembers that there was this old lady with Aunt Hera.

Alex knows her but she can’t recall as much as she tried.

Suddenly, she felt something THUD. It was like a loud heartbeat. She looks around her, her senses high on alert and listening. She grabs whatever clothes she can in the closet box, not looking in and wears it as quickly as she can. She checks Boon but he’s unchanged.

Another loud THUD – she can hear it in her mind. She doesn’t feel good about this.

She half runs to the bed. She places her cats in a small blanket all together. She carries them across the room, still struggling and hides them inside the closet, closing it quickly but carefully. Her eyes rested on her mini Latin dictionary by the side table next to the closet. She grabs it and looks for anything she can use to put it in. She finds a brown coloured pouch hanging by the wall hook. She skims through the mini dictionary and looks for the word, ‘box’.

Another loud THUD, the sound is much closer this time. She doesn’t plan on being there when it does come. She looks at the closet box. She doesn’t know if this will work. She must not hesitate. She must not hesitate. She’s scared shitless.

‘I must not hesitate; I hope this work, fack! Shit! Don’t be friggin’ scared! Your back is all bloody and you have your period,’ she assures herself. ‘They should know better than to mess with women on these hell on earth days.’

She puts her right hand on the door of the closet box. ‘Don’t worry babies, Mommy got this.’ She takes a deep breath, and concentrated on the word.

‘Arca Archa*!’ She blinks and the closet box is gone in front of her. It baffles her for a moment. She looks down and the closet box is the size of her hand. She picks it up and holds it tenderly. ‘I hope you guys are okay there,’ she whispers to it. She places the box into her pouch. Just as she was about to get Boon, she trips and falls on the floor.

‘Ahhh facckkkiinnn shiitt,’ she manages to say as she grabs the bracelet that held the stone. ‘Reddo*,’ she commands and the projection of Boon disappears.

A louder thud – they’re here, there’s no time, she thought. Just as she rolls under the bed, black shadows seeps into the room. She watches the shadow form into – feet?

‘I can still feel her…’ one of them says, hissing. Alex is surprise that she can understand them. Some of them are just whispering and she can barely hear them.

‘The Libra is very….weak…,’ a second voice tells the group. It chuckles at this find and the rest expressed their interest and amusement.

‘Silence,’ it commands the group, ‘I can hear it, her beating heart and the pulsing of the Libra….Tso…’Alex can already tell she instructed one of them to look at where she’s hiding. Where the hell is she going now?

‘Asylum,’ a voice in her head commands but weakly. It’s Boon.

* Arca Archa – box

* Reddo – return

* Asylum – shelter

(Written for 2012 NaNoWriMo.)  

ACT 2 SCENE 4: The Family Stone (Chapter 8)

Chapter 8

Alex wakes up. It’s 11.26 am and she is still feeling sore. Fantastic, she thought. The first thing she checks is Boon. He still looks the same. Like a projection but the pulse is not as severe as last night. She feels a little relieved but she won’t be sure until she speaks to Teg. She manages to get up and sit on the bed. Was it possible to feel even sorer, she asks herself. She checks on her cats and they’re still asleep. Her eyes feel puffy and very dry. She feels like she was slammed against the wall, repeatedly, as she slept through the night.

She knows its morning but she’s not sure how she knows.

She whines to herself that she should not even be awake in her state.

The door opens slowly and she knows its Teg at the other side of the door. She realizes she wasn’t guessing, she actually knew it was him. She can smell the coffee and pancakes better now.

‘Teg, I could just kiss you,’ she tells him, her voice starchy. For a moment, she wanted to keep the starchy voice, she sounded sexy. Teg accepts the compliment graciously, bowing first then placing the bed tray in front of Alex.

‘I can’t even talk, Teg,’ she tells him, her voice, whiny but still trying to speak even if its hurting her.

‘You need bed rest and lots of food. You will recover Domina, not to worry.’

‘What about Boon? Did he wake up, even for a bit?’

‘Their kind doesn’t eat, Domina. And no, he has not woken.’

‘Well, how is he supposed to get well then? Ah, wait the stone!’ she concludes, looking around for the bracelet, turning as quickly as she possibly can. She feels like all her bones are going to crack and break if she makes any sudden moves.

‘He is in the stone right now, Domina. What you see is a sort of projection. He is not ready yet.’

‘How are we going to move then? You told me last night that we had to keep moving.’

‘Please Domina, eat your breakfast. And to answer your questions, yes we can move and as long as you are there, he will be able to move around.’

A dreaded thought flashes in her mind.

‘Last night, did I bind myself and Boon together? I don’t understand how it’s possible without blood. Not that I know anything about it. All I know is that if you want to perform some ritual or cast some powerful spell, hexing, cursing or binding. I didn't use my blood. I don’t think Boon has any.’ Alex doesn't know how she knows these. It’s as if she knows about it and filed it somewhere in her brain for later use.

‘I’m cannot be certain about what happened last night, Domina. I don’t have all the answers but perhaps my king will be able to help you…if he doesn’t behead me first.’

‘Heh? Why would he try to kill you?’Alex starts to eat slowly, unable to control herself.

‘Because I am aiding an exile and not just a random exiled citizen, he’s a Libra too.’

‘Why do you guys make it sound like he’s such a bad guy? Did he lose his memory? Was he worse than before?’ Teg kept silent, not because he didn’t want to answer any of the questions but he didn’t have any answers to them.

‘I’m sorry Teg. I’m just grumpy and sore all over. Also, quick question! Could you please let me know where the toilet is? I feel like I’m going to burst.’

Teg helps levitates her off the bed.

‘I think I can walk, Teg. Please let me try.’ Teg lets her down to the floor, slowly. Her knees gave way for a second or two but she manages to stand up. Teg directed her towards another room at the end of the corridor. There aren’t many rooms in the hallway and she can already imagine how large the rooms are inside. The ceiling designs are magnificent and the walls are carved. She’s never seen such interiors in her life. Teg waves a hand and the door to the bathroom slowly opens. Alex gasped at the beautiful design of the bathroom and the fact that it was more than half the size of her flat. Teg tells her that he will wait outside and Alex slowly shuffled into the toilet. She feels as slow as a snail.

Alex was in the toilet for a mere two minutes when she opened the door, with a wild look on her face.

‘Oh my god, I know what happened,’ she stammers.’

‘What happened?’ Teg stares at her, waiting.

‘You know…’

‘Know what?’ Teg is confused about what he is supposed to know. He wonders if he misses anything she said earlier.

‘You know...that thing…’

‘Domina, you can tell me, we’re both grown-ups here, I’m sure I can handle a word or two and there will be a solution.’ 

He doesn’t feel so confident. He’s also hoping she doesn’t go mad. 

‘This is going to sound embarrassing and weird but…but I got my period…! There I said it!’ Alex looks helplessly at Teg.

‘Your period?’ Teg is visibly confused, wondering if she means a period in time, a period in one’s life, he can’t be sure. He wishes that Boon was here. He would know since he knows absolutely everything,

‘Yes, Teg! I read that the most powerful blood magia binding is when women use menses.’ she says embarrassed, face palming herself. ‘I screwed up.’

Teg’s face remains poker faced. He’s not sure if showing her his feelings is any good but she certainly knows about magia. ‘Yes, you are correct about that Domina about the…er, ‘period’. I shall look into this further.’ 

(Written for 2012 NaNoWriMo.)