Aurora

Part 2, Chapter 14

Aciraprabha.

I groaned as I came to.

Where am I? The last thing I remember when I was right on the battlefield with Arra and Claire. Then I got knocked away and… nothing.

“Look, the girls awake!” I heard a man laugh and my eyes snapped over to the direction in which the voice came from.

It was then that I realized that I was in a small cage.

Fear ran through my blood as someone put their face up to my cage. They reached through the bars and I blew at them, but nothing came out.

I have no magic.

I cried out as they grabbed my hair and slammed my face against the metal bars, making my face become alight with pain. It was probably going to bruse and swell up later. “Where are the documents?” He growled at me as I tired to move to hit him, but my arms and legs were tied as well.

“I don't know what you're talking about.” I mumbled and he slammed my face again.

“The documents about the history of your planet! Where are they!” He shouted.

The books that Tessa found all those years ago.

“I don't know what you're talking about!” I yelled in return and he threw me back against the cage floor.

“If you don't tell me where they are, then I'll force it out of you.” He growled at me before walking away.

I shook in my bonds as I curled into a ball. What did I do to deserve this?

I shivered as the cold metal sapped the warmth out of me. So cold…

I pulled against the ropes that held me bound and I winced as they rubbed me raw. Scooting back, I rubbed the ropes against the bars, unable to do anything else.

Why does he want the documents about the insham race? I bit my lip, regretting not asking Tessa about them when I had the chance. What was so important about them that he needed them?

More importantly, who is he? He wasn't any monarch I recognized, and he didn't look Erathiahn to me even though I hadn't seen many before, so my knowledge of Erathiahns was little to nothing. I sifted through my memories of the different species and races native to Na’aisho and the surrounding planets, but he didn't match any of them.

I sighed softly as I closed my eyes, finding it pointless to lose any sleep. It would be better if I regained my strength, just in case.

.

I cried out as I was thrown back into my cage like a rag doll.

I don't know how much longer I can withstand this…

It's been hours, maybe days, since I was first taken, and after the first day, I realized that he had been polite with me then. I had no sense of time in here, it was always dark; no night, no day. Everything was a rough estimate. I could've been in here for mere minutes, but it actually be years. Then my thoughts drifted to him.

I couldn't count up the different amount of tactics of torture he had used to try to get me to talk, but I wouldn't. Partially because I didn't even know what was actually in those books.

After the third day, I believed at least, he untied me, knowing that I was too weak to escape.

But I wasn't, I just had to wait.

I had to wait for the right time…

.

The man hadn't visited me for a while, which I was grateful for, because it gave me time to recuperate. My magic had long since recovered, but I was still unable to use it.

So I had to rely on my strength alone.

I stretched out my arms and legs, ready to finally get out of here.

I planted my feet firmly and gripped the bars before pulling as hard as I could.

“Hey, you!” I heard and I jumped, losing my grip before falling backwards.

“Who's there?” I whispered, my voice hoarse after not using it for so long.

“Don't worry, I'm only a spirit. Can you take me with you?” I heard and I frowned.

“A spirit? What's your name?” I asked.

“My name is Ruven. I've been trapped here for decades because of a lady named Pandora.” The voice spoke the name with as much venom as I'd ever heard someone use and I nodded.

“Uhm, okay. I guess I can take you with me… if I get out, at least.” I said and I heard him laugh in glee before a chill passed over me. “D-did you just inhabit me?”

“‘Course I did! How else would I be able to tag along?” His voice echoed in my head and I winced, not used to the feeling.

“Well shh so I can concentrate.” I whispered and he quieted down. Sighing, I assumed my previous position before pulling. Slowly but surely, the metal bars bent beneath my hands. Smiling, I pulled harder, hearing them creaking under my strength.

Feeling hopeful, I pulled with all of my might, my muscles straining, before the section of bars that I was pulling on broke free.

The shroud of darkness that was around me shattered and I realized that we were thousands of miles in the air. The opening I had made created a vacuum and I was sucked out of my cage into the open air.

I screamed as I fell, afraid for my life.

I tried calling to the air so it would catch me or at least slow my fall but it didn't work. “Why won't you catch me!” I yelled, frustrated. I tested out a series of enchants but none of them worked.

Eventually, I gave up.

I felt arms wrap around me and I kicked at whoever was holding me, hearing them grunt in pain.

“Can you stop!? I'm trying to save your life, Aciraprabha!” A man yelled and I froze. I looked to see who it was and my eyes widened.

The man was pale, but his skin shimmered with a rich blue. His eyes were a deep blue and his hair was jet black with the same color blue running through it.

What stood out the most was his large, faerie wings. They were carnation white, with the deepest blue I've ever seen woven through.

This was King Torrent Cornaith of the Seelie Providence in Airenna.

He was also my sister Shaelyn's half brother.

“Y-your majesty!” I stuttered and an amused look covered his features.

“You've kicked up quite the storm, little girl.” He laughed. “Everyone has been looking for you.”

“How did you find me?” I asked him.

“I saw where you were in a vision. Luckily it was right and I made it in time.” He said and I nodded, settling in his arms. “We’ll be down on the ground soon.”

“Thank you for coming to my aid, your majesty.” I said and he brushed it off.

“It was no problem. I'd never allow my little sister’s family to be in distress like this.” He smiled. “Plus, two of your friends travelled a long way to personally ask me for my help.”

“Two of my… Mateus and Cecalla?” I asked as we landed on the ground. He set me on my own two feet before patting my head.

“A nerd and a big dragon, yes.” He nodded and I giggled before looking around at the unfamiliar flora and fauna.

“Where are we?” I asked, looking up at him.

“We’re in Airenna, right outside the palace doors.” He said before sticking his hand out and large, ornate gates appeared where there previously were trees.

“They were hidden…” I said in awe as the gates opened and we walked through.

“For security purposes, of course. They are unable to be seen by those that are not seelie fae.” He explained and I frowned.

“Then how did my friends find this place?” I asked and he laughed.

“Why, Shaelyn led them here, of course!” He replied, amused.

“Ooh.” I whispered, feeling slight embarrassed that I couldn't figure it out on my own.

“It’s alright to feel left in the dark. This fact is not common knowledge. We can't have everyone knowing it, else we'd have hordes of enemies destroying everything trying to find us.” He said, leading me through the large, crystalline palace doors and into the great foyer.

“Acira! Thank the gods you're okay!” Shaelyn exclaimed as she rushed over and embraced me into a tight hug. “Everyone’s been so worried.”

“I'm sorry to have worried you.” I said as I pulled away from the hug. “How long was I gone?”

“Don’t you know?” Shaelyn frowned and I opened my mouth to respond but I was cut off.

“Acira!” I heard as I was tackled by two people my same age.

“Hey guys.” I giggled as Calla sat up and smiled down at me. She ruffled my hair before pulling Matt off of me and helping me stand again.

“Acira.” Shaelyn said, grabbing my attention. I looked at her questioningly, seeing her worried gaze. “How long do you think you were gone?” She asked and I paused to think about it.

“A few days maybe?” I said uncertainly and Shaelyn’s eyes widened before she looked up at her half-brother.

“Brother, where are your healers located?” She asked and motioned for all of us to follow. He set a quick pace and I stumbled, trying to keep up.

“W-what's the rush?” I asked, confused as to why they were dragging me off. No one answered me as we turned the many corridors and eventually I just stopped asking questions.

We all hurried along in silence before King Torrent took a sharp turn into a large, infirmary-like room, shouting commands at the people residing there. They all wore similar clothes, backless white tunics with green pants. I assumed that they were the healers Shaelyn asked for.

They rushed around, moving things into certain positions and throwing other things away. Eventually, many of them rushed over to me before ushering me over to one of the hammocks.

“W-wait a minute-!” My body jolted up as one of them pressed a hand to my forehead, sending a great shockwave of magic into my body. My body tensed up until my limbs twitched, before relaxing into the bed and repeating the process.

Eyes wide, odd gurgling noises came out of my mouth as my mind blanked. They all spoke in Daketi, a language I could recognize but not understand, and it truly left me confused.

“What's wrong with her?” I heard Mateus ask them and I waited for their response. They all conferred before one of them spoke.

“She's been injected with a poison that we do not recognize.” One said in a thick accent. “It is attacking her, how do you say, inner power?”

I was poisoned?

“Her Soul Spring?” Calla asked and the healer nodded. Soul Spring? I hadn't heard the term before.

“Can the damage be reversed, Onifae?” King Torrent asked the healer who had been speaking and Onifae gave him an unsure look.

Well that's not good.

“I cannot be sure. The poison has done much damage. It has spread quite far into her system.” Onifae explained. “We could possibly remove it, but we would have to extract her soul spring, which is very dangerous.” He said before the healer sending magic through my body removed their hand and I was relieved of the shockwaves.

I took a deep breath, not realizing that I had stopped breathing before sitting up shakily. “You don't just do that to a person without asking them first!” I yelled angrily.

“Many apologies, my Lady, but it was urgent. We were not aware that you had not consented.” Onifae explained, bowing his head to me and I huffed.

“Yeah yeah.” I grumbled. “Now what is this talk about me being poisoned and such. I don't remember being injected with anything.”

“Poisons that attack ones inner power are not usually injected by needle. They are most commonly entered through an open wound of some sort.” He explained.

“And uncommonly?” Calla asked.

Onifae cleared his throat. “Well, through s****l… acts.” He said, looking away and I grimaced.

Man that would suck.

“Well I didn't have s*x, no way.” I rolled my eyes.

Torrent and Shaelyn looked at me with uncertainty clouding their eyes and I frowned. “Sorry to say that I don't exactly believe you.” Shaelyn said and my eyes widened.

“Excuse me!?” I exclaimed. “Let me remind you that I am three years your elder. You better watch your tongue.” I glared at her.

She rolled her eyes, exasperated. “I'm not calling you impure, you i***t! I'm saying that you probably don't remember half the things that happened!” She exclaimed. “You think that you were gone a few days, when in reality, it's been almost two months, Acira!”

My mouth snapped shut. Two months?

“That would explain why the poison has advanced so much.” One of the healers piped up.

“You're quite right, Aelle.” Torrent nodded and she blushed.

“Tell me, Lady Aciraprabha.” Onifae grabbed my attention. “Do you remember being injured at any point while you were gone?”

“Well sure. I should still have the lacerations on my back. They might be scabbed over though.” I said and they all looked at my back as I slowed it to them all. “So um. Soul Spring. What exactly is that?” I asked as hands pressed against my back, causing me to wince.

“It is where your soul, your inner stardust, and your life energy connect. The Soul Spring is the place in which your magic flows from.” Shaelyn explained. “Not everyone has them though. That's why some people can't use magic.”

“O-okay that's cool to know.” My voice shook as pain flashed through my body the more the healers cleaned my back. “So.” I grunted. “What does removing the poison from my body entail?”

“We have to pull all of your magic out of your body and cleanse it, basically.” Shaelyn said. “It could kill you though, considering you need magic to survive.”

“That is if you don't replace it with someone else's magic for the time being. We can surely do that.” Onifae pointed out but Shaelyn scoffed.

“Oh please, you don't have enough people in this palace to even closely compare to how much magic she has.” Shaelyn motioned towards me. “She isn't able to use it all yet, but she has much more than anyone you know.”

Onifae looked at her, annoyed that he was being put down as weak. Gritting his teeth, he spoke again. “What about any of your sisters?”

“Arrabella could. She has more than enough to give Acira.” Mateus piped up and I nodded in agreement. He was right about that.

“Well get her here quickly, because we are running out of time.” Onifae glared. “I estimate that she has a maximum of just over a day until her magic is completely consumed and she dies. That is unless the poison doesn't spread any faster, of course.” He growled before leaving us alone, save the healers that were testing my back.

“You'll have to excuse him. He doesn't like people that know more than he does.” King Torrent laughed and I shrugged.

“I only know what I need to know.”

“Isn't that everything?” Calla joked and I shot her a glare.

“Shut up.” I said, rolling my eyes. “So. I have a day to live? That's fun.” I smiled weakly.

“Don't worry, Calla and I will be leaving now to go get your sister. Just hang in there Acira.” Shaelyn smiled before grabbing Calla’s arm and rushing off.