Amethyst

Chapter 8: Black Water. Black Sky.

Chapter 8: Black Water. Black Sky.

   At first I thought I fallen asleep in Turq’s trader section, laying atop one of the sizable wooden crates that the yellow, orange and green citrus fruits were brought in, pulled on by camels and goldhorn antelope. It felt as though a breeze that had found its way to me, from the open trade tunnel. Reaching my hair and brushing against my cheekbones at it swept across the room. I had assumed that this was where I was… that was until realizing that the ground below me was moving side to side.  With a fright I opening my eyes; glancing upwards to blackened the heavens with no stars.

   Sitting upwards to look around. I was on some great kind of wooden vestal. Colossal cloths swathed across enormous supports. Their sides jutted out just expansively, which towered above the floor, contrasting against the displeased sky.

   “WHERE AM I?!” I cried out, “EARTHEN GODDESS! WHERE AM I?!”

    Suddenly, a great deafening roar echoed through the skies, with a thumping dull light that seemed to be trying attempting escape from the darkness of the skies.  These were heavens with no beauty or gems… or stars, as Turq had called them… no glinting stars speckled these skies.  Instead a black terror ravaged them.  

   Beams of serrated silent light suddenly fizzled down. Setting their courses’ down, down and down from the ominous heavens, hitting what I suspected to be land… it was not.

  It was water.  More than I had ever seen.

 A great expanse of nothing but water just as darkened as the skies.

 Dread as dark as the expansive skies and water, filled my chest.

   Amethyst. Recognized a woman’s voice that spoke lightly, yet filled with unease.

   I began to get to my feet, to try to look around.  Another deafening crash accompanied vicious and motion of the vessel, throwing it up and dropping it violently. Dropping, rapidly, from my knees against the combined forces, I cried out in pain.  The sides of the wooden vessel shook, as spray’s of water scatter across my face.   Above me the great pillars above creaked and groaned, with such stress from the movement that in part I believed, with sheer terror, that these supports being only wood, that would not hold!  That it might splinter and collapse on top of me.  

   Amethyst? Interrogated another, this one was crueler and seemed to jeer at the other.

   Yes. Yes, she is the one! The light voice announced expectantly.

   My hair blown back by the wind, as I stayed low and once again attempted to look around.  No one was there.

   The crueler voice exclaimed, THIS IS NOT A SON OF SOLARUS! A gale hollered against the draping sheet, rattling them. DO YOU NOT THINK I WOULD KNOW MY OWN?!

   Abruptly the movement of the vessel atop the sprawling black water, changed, all but stopping. Easing though it still wabbled uneasily, rhythmically from side to side however it was one far more bareable.

  “WHO IS THERE?” I called out. It seemed futile, the wind continued and seemed to work against my call, muting my voice. “WHO ARE YOU?!”

   SEE! The brutal voice jeered, THIS CHILD KNOWS NOT WHO WE ARE!! YET YOU EXPECT ME TO BELIEVE SHE IS OF SOLARUS?!

   “SOLARUS??” Trying again to get to my feet, I grabbed a hold of the raised smooth edge of the vessel, my heart hammering against my chest. Rope.. I noticed, there was abundant rope woven into large square patterns that met with the reaching of the wooden supports.  Not fully trusting they’d hold my weight without splintering, I kept one hand on the raised wooden side. “SOLARUS…. SOLARUS IS OUR LEGENDARY CHIEF!?” Yelling against the raging winds, I tried again to speak to the two women. Still looking around to see where the ominous voices were coming from. Each time, they seemed to come from a different direction.

   The gales seemed to lessen.

   Ah ha! Cheered the smooth lady’s voice. She knows! She knows of him. You are wrong, sister! You know I am right!

   “SOLARUS BETRAYED THE MEDURIAN PEOPLE!! HE TRIED TO CONDEM US TO THE DESERTS!” Gathering my strength between the ledge, which beyond lay the dark water which had lightened slightly to a blue.  One hand with less weight, clung to the thick frames of rope.

   SILENCE! INSOLENT CHILD! ENOUGH OF YOU’RE UTTERED LIES! The vicious voice rasped; the force of the wind picking up again.

  She clearly knows not of which she speaks, sister. Soothed the silky voice.

   YOU MAY BELIEVE IN THIS ONE, SISTER. YOU MAY BE TAKEN BY HER DECIET. BY HER LIES. MORE THE FOOL YOU ARE!! Gales slammed me against the ropework.  It was all that was stopping me being thrown into the black water by the bellowing storm, as more roars licked the sky with fleeing light.. Seconds later it crashed again into the black water. THIS ONE SHALL NEVER MY FAVOR!! INSTEAD SHE HAS INCURRED MY WARTH!!

    As the intensity of the gales persisted, increased in pressure as they howled between the sheets and the gargantuan columns groaned at the strain… even with the aid of my calloused hands, to help keep me in place, it was too much.

   I was thrown into the black water.  Beginning to fall into it’s depths I heard. She will see… you will assist Amethyst, even if you do not know it. First we must ensure that Sister will come to see you. Come to sense you and I… I will help you…

   I could not cry any tears, as the pressure from the water all around did not permit.

  As I my conciousness began to slipped in and out, it did not matter. Everything was black anyway. There was nothing to see.  Closing my eyes I submitted myself, into death's watery grasp. Struggling to breath as dropped like a stone into the dark and endless abyss.

   Falling further and further into the depths it became colder..

   I accepting that I would drown…