CHAPTER 003
1449 Words
CHAPTER 003
EOGHAN’S POINT OF VIEW
The thunder sounded like a war drum and shook the old walls of the manor above us. It had been years since I set foot here, not since they took her away. I haven't been here since the evening they dubbed The Blessing. That’s what you call a blessing? They took my granddaughter and held her captive.
Zara.
I didn’t know who she was when I saw her at first. The girl locked in that room wasn’t the joyful child I used to carry on my shoulders. Her eyes were empty, and her skin was very pale, covered with bruises and scars. I noticed her hair was short, and her lips seemed to have forgotten how to smile.
But when she truly focused her gaze on me, I understood what she was feeling. The fire was still burning. I pushed her down into the ground.
I whispered “Zara” as I carefully cut the ropes from her wrists.
She flinched. “Who—”
I said, “It’s me.” “Grandpa. We simply don’t have enough time.
She opened her mouth, and for a moment I believed she would cry. Yet, she just nodded. No words. She simply nodded, with a slight movement of her head.
It was getting harder and harder to hear anything but the rain outside.
I picked her up and ran through the broken hallways of the estate, since she was unable to walk. I was very familiar with this place, discovering every secret stair and tunnel in the building.
I burst the trapdoor in the library, feeling my heart pound. I could sense that they were already moving.
Ziva. Camille. They adhered to their respective gods.
The tunnels were narrow, wet and frigid. Zara didn’t say anything, but her hand held onto my shirt for support.
I said it quietly again, hoping it wasn’t already too late.
Through the tunnel vents, a strong wind blew in. Earlier, I had set up candles, and now they were flickering. It was getting hotter outside, and it was getting uncomfortable.
There was something on the way.
About halfway through the tunnel, she cleared her throat and moved in my arms. She whispered, barely audible, "They said I was selected." People told me I am a vessel. For what?”
I just shook my head. “Doesn’t matter. They don’t own you.
“Yes, that’s right,” she whispered. They created me.
I paused my walk. I gazed into her eyes. “They didn’t give you your identity. They tried to damage you in some way. But you’re still with me. In other words, they didn’t meet the objective.
For a moment, there was only a heavy silence between us. Thereafter, she closed her eyes once more.
We felt the ground start to shake.
I swore and sped up as I ran.
The entrance to the forest was only a little further on. I could almost feel the freshness of the air. I could tell by the scent that I was in the woods, feeling free.
However, the growl was the next thing I heard.
The growl was distinct from that of a dog. Bigger. Deeper. It seemed the earth itself was making the sound.
Zara moved suddenly in my embrace. “They’re here.”
A pale blue, glowing and pulsing light appeared behind us. I looked behind me and saw them.
Wolves. Light is what makes them. They rise to a height of ten feet. No one can see, and no one has fur. The only things present were flames, light, and sharp teeth.
They moved silently as they walked.
I didn’t postpone. I ran.
Their claws were rough on the walls, causing small sparks. She gripped my neck tightly and whispered a word I couldn't understand, a word she must have learnt through coercion.
They were catching up with us.
At the end of the tunnel, I stopped, opened the old gate and threw her on the wet grass.
She coughed and struggled to breathe as she fell.
I went back, took the lighter from my coat and set the tunnel ablaze.
The roots stuck quickly to the ground.
The flames stopped the wolves. However, they kept going. They continued walking, shining through the cloud of smoke.
I pulled Zara to her feet by holding her hand.
We went through the forest, often slipping on the mud and roots. A loud wind was blowing all around us.
She responded, "The people referred to those creatures as celestial wolves." They told me it is their job to look after the ship. That’s me.”
If they don’t want to kill you, why are they still after you? I shouted.
She didn’t reply.
We didn’t stop until we got to the edge of the cliff. The lake was far down, filled with black, furious water.
The wolves appeared from the forest, shining light onto the trees.
Zara looked at me with her eyes wide open. They’re not here to look after me. They’ve come to collect me and bring me back.”
I stared at her. She was no longer shaking. She wasn’t afraid.
She looked radiant.
A soft silver glow was glowing beneath her skin, making it seem like her veins were full of stars.
“What’s happening?” I asked.
“I’m not sure,” she said, sounding unsure. Yet, I believe they’re addressing this concern.
The wolves stood still. One of them moved forward and howled loudly and high.
Zara fell down on her knees. She quietly said, “It hurts.” “It’s burning.”
I came down beside her and grabbed hold of her shoulders. You need to stand up to it, Zara. Whatever you take, it’s not stronger than the power you have.
The light shining from her skin got brighter and brighter, so bright it started to blind me. She bent over, pushing her hands into the ground.
She couldn’t stop herself from crying. I feel like I’m changing, Grandpa.
Thereafter, her scream echoed through the surroundings.
Lightning struck the sky.
The wolves went down on their knees in respect.
Zara floated.
She hovered for a brief moment.
It seemed as though the force of gravity had ceased to support me.
She opened her eyes, but they weren’t her eyes.
They had a silvery colour. The silver was clean and bright.
She fell back down, and the light disappeared.
The wolves stood up a second time.
One of the group moved to the front.
They bowed respectfully.
“What the heck—” I exclaimed.
A voice came from the wolf. The voice didn't come from my mouth. The voice did not originate from my words. It's merely a sensation I experience.
She is the source of light. The gate. She represents both the end and the beginning.
Zara got up and trembled. They are not planning to kill me.
So what do they expect from us? I asked.
She stared at her hands below her. “To serve.”
The wolves stepped out of our way.
As we walked, I kept staring at her.
I no longer saw her as my granddaughter.
It was a whole other situation.
Something powerful.
Something dangerous.
After we walked to the edge of the forest, the rain stopped. The wind stopped blowing.
Zara looked at me. I have a memory from that time.
“What?” I asked as quietly as I could.
She felt the glowing symbol on her neck, which consisted of three circles arranged in a star pattern.
They claimed that when the symbol comes to life, everything will collapse.
Then, from behind us, we heard, “It’s already happened.”
I turned around and nothing happened.
Yet Zara’s face became pale.
She recognised that voice.
Who was the person I saw? I asked.
She didn’t say anything.
She kept looking at the trees.
I looked in the direction she was looking.
Standing between the two main trunks was a man who wore a dark coat. Watching us.
Not moving.
Not blinking.
Just smiling.
Zara held onto my arm. “It’s him.”
“Who?”
“The one I was told would appear when I was ready.”
The man moved toward me, keeping his hands in his pockets, and said, “Hello, Vessel.”
I grabbed Zara’s hand and rushed us to safety. “Stay back!”
But he only smiled more. “Too late.”
The ground started to c***k as we walked on it.
She screamed once more.
The symbol around her neck lit up.
And life changed.
What’s happening within her… And how does he recognise her name?
- Writer
