ELANIA

It was a much different time. The world was not divided into countries but into classes, and a class was either a village, a town or a city, depending on its level of development and human advancement. The villages were ruled by a chief, the towns by a mayor and the cities an administrator, with the classes located so far apart from each other it was as though they were on different planets. The most developed city was a blend of ancient architecture and modern technology and was located high up in the clouds with its inhabitants so superior they had powers like mutants; some could fly and communicate telepathically whilst others had the strength of ten thousand men and could command the elements of nature. It was called Gravantia and it was the governing body of the world; the people answered to their rulers and the rulers answered to Gravantia, a pillar of authority whose main responsibility was to make sure the world ran with one accord of faith, order and peace. Each village, town and city existed with no knowledge of who or what exactly was outside their walls. They knew they weren’t alone but they had never seen anyone from any of the other classes as they were prohibited from leaving their walls because though it was safe within them, outside them was an entirely different situation. The outside of the walls were known as the outlands and present in them were harsh weather, vicious creatures and poisonous air that their high and strong walls protected them from. The outlands were dangerous and so no one dared or even dreamed of venturing into them or anywhere near the wall for that matter, for it was forbidden, and for thousands of years, this was how they all lived; a system established that proved efficient in giving each inhabitant a safe and peaceful place to live and call home. In Wetuana Village was a woman named Elania. She had beautiful big black hair, medium toned skin and the rarest of blue eyes, so rare they took away the breaths of everyone that stared at them and got lost inside them. She was beautiful, quite the sight to behold, and was the most prized possession of a man named Maron whose eye she was the apple of. He was her husband, a simple farmer who fell head over heels in love with her the moment he laid his eyes on her and had been falling for her ever since. They had been married two years and had a love admired by all; young but as deep as the ocean floor. It was almost impossible the way they loved each other; how they looked into each other’s eyes every time like it was the first time and how deeply present their hearts were in everything they did. Whether they were inside sitting by the fireplace, shopping for food at the market, swimming in the lake or even having a picnic in the flower field, their love always shined bright like the sun and its light was gorgeous. One day, Elania and Maron were in the forest playing by the spring whose waters were so pure they sparkled. They were standing in the waist-deep water holding each other close whilst sharing kisses so sweet they were like nectar. It was one of the simple things they did but as usual, they did it with their whole hearts into it, looking deeply into each other’s eyes like it was the last time. It was a lovely moment and neither of them could dare imagine themselves being anywhere else because right next to each other was where they always wanted to be. Suddenly in the trees a heavy wind blew. It blew across the ground and lifted a few leaves into the air, and they began to circulate around a tree like a whirlwind. A peculiar thing then happened, a groan came from it; cold and brooding like a lion crouched down in the tall grass that just spotted its next juicy meal, someone was watching them, someone was watching her. How her hair was blowing in the wind, how her skin glowed under the sunlight and how the sparkling water beautifully reflected in her eyes. She was a stunning creation and the person watching her was completely mesmerized, giving out a weakened sigh even as inside her a green flame began to burn. Her name was Iris and she loved Elania’s shoes so much she had already began to picture herself in them. Elania was something special but how Maron looked at her was even more special; it was like he was under a spell. He only had eyes for her and it was evident in the way he looked at her, it was like he was looking into her. Iris heartily sighed, instantly falling in love. She had seen a man look at his woman before but not like this. What kind of a love was this? Days later, it was a bright day and Elania was in the forest picking wild mushrooms; plucking them out of the earth and putting them in her basket as she hummed a sweet tune that came straight from the chords of her heart, thinking about her husband and already missing him. There was a gentle breeze blowing but though it was a familiar one, there was something different about it this time, it felt heavier, like there was something in it that wasn’t in it before. Elania wondered. She stood up and listened closely, and a cold chill immediately ran down her spine, even the way it spoke was different. “Who's there?” Elania asked, sensing something in the wind. “Hello?” “Mm, beautiful day isn’t it?” Iris’s voice said; with her voice smoothly riding the wind like the waves of the ocean. Her voice was close enough to touch but when Elania looked back, there was no one there. She looked all around her but she still couldn’t see anyone. “What?” she went, taken greatly aback; she was positive she just heard someone speak. “Over here.” Iris’s voice blew much closer than before and Elania quickly turned around but again there was no one there. “Where? I don’t see you.” “Because you can’t,” her voice said and a feeling of uneasiness immediately came over Elania. Hearing a voice and not seeing where it was coming from, that wasn’t unsettling at all. “Who are you?” “My name is Iris,” she responded; with the wind blowing a little more every time she spoke, raising a few of the different coloured leaves that were on the ground into the air. “How come I don’t see you? Is this a trick?” “Yes it is, a very good one.” “What are you?” Elania asked, looking around. “Are you a spirit?” “No I’m not. I’m human just like you . . . Only better.” “How are you doing this?” “I have . . . Abilities,” her voice answered. “It means I can do a few things that you can’t.” Elania took a moment as inside the feeling of uneasiness grew. “You’re not from here are you?” “Clever girl.” “You’re from another class.” “Correct,” Iris's voice said and the cold chill running down Elania’s spine ran even colder. "This is prohibited. Beings of different classes are not to interact with each other.” “Worry not about that, they're all but silly little rules.” “I don’t think they are. They are rules that are based on the teachings of the Holy Scrolls and the Holy Scrolls will be honoured. I’m sorry but I will play no part in this. I bid you and your abilities adieu,” Elania said, grabbing her basket and walking away. “Where are you going?” Iris blew a heavy wind at her but she just kept on walking. “I’m returning to my home, I don’t want to get into any trouble.” “You won’t come on, I won’t tell if you won’t.” Elania stopped and turned back. “That doesn’t matter, this is still wrong.” “So you’re just going to go and leave without even humouring me? What if I come bearing very important news?” “If you did, it would’ve been the first thing you said.” “What if I was building up to it?” “I don’t believe that,” Elania said onto her as Iris then gave out a loud laugh. She was having the time of her life conversing with Elania but she was not, she was so uncomfortable she just wanted to leave and go home. “You are a clever one,” her voice said and Elania just turned around and continued walking away from her. She took only three steps when Iris blew another heavy wind at her, so heavy it pushed her a little back. “What do you want?” “Oh nothing, I was just in the area and thought to pass by and check up on my favourite being of this class.” Elania was caught off guard. “Me?” “Yes you . . . Elania.” Her eyes widened as inside her heart skipped a beat. “You know my name?” “Of course I know your name. I am quite familiar with you and I must say I have grown to like you very much. Where do you think those nice gifts you’ve been finding at your doorstep for the past month have been coming from?” Iris's voice said. “Those are from you?” Her eyes were on stalks. “I thought they were from our neighbours.” “Oh listen to how silly you sound, no, they came from me.” “All of them?” Elania asked. “Yes.” “Why?” She wondered. The baskets weren’t just full of delicious foods, they were many too, if not three then four, every morning at their doorstep like clockwork. Why would she go through all that trouble to present them with such wholesome baskets every single day? What was she up to? “Because I just wanted to do something nice for you,” Iris's voice answered as Elania just stood there frozen like a statue. She really did think the baskets came from their neighbours and so to hear that they indeed were from this being from another class she could sense and clearly hear but couldn’t see, made her skin crawl with slight dread. She had to be up to something, whatever it was, she wasn’t going to stick around to find out. “O.k. I’m leaving now,” she said and walked away but yet again, a heavy wind blew at her, pushing her back a second time. “Please stop it I want to go home.” The wind blew some more, not just in front of her this time but all around her like a storm was brewing. “You are lovely Elania.” “You know nothing about me.” “I mean your body.” Iris blew a wind up Elania’s dress but she quickly caught it and pushed it down. Iris chuckled. “Just look at you. Your hair,” she said and blew a wind through her hair. “Your skin, your eyes, my goodness you are stunning. And your heart . . . It beats so strongly for him. You must really love him.” “I will not discuss my husband with you.” “Of course not, so bold, it’s one of things I like the most about you.” “I’m going to leave now. I left a pot of water on the fire, it must be boiling over by now,” Elania said. “Go my dear, return to your love,” her voice said and Elania quickly walked off, not wanting to be around her for another second. “Oh and Elania?” Elania stopped and looked back as inside her heart beat like a drum. What was she going to say? Or worse off, what was she going to do? “You have yourself a good night,” she then said and Elania just walked off without saying anything, she had already said too much. The chances of people from different classes ever meeting were so extremely low they were impossible because one, it was against the rules, two, to get from one class to another would mean going through the outlands and three the outlands were dangerous, and so it was a journey no one would survive because the outlands would skin them alive. But if it was to happen by some strange occurrence, they were not to interact with each other because they would obviously talk about their difference in lifestyles and that would bring about envy that could lead to some people risking their lives just so they could get a chance to experience another kind of life. A better life. It was for the safety of the people and so far that safety had been maintained. Elania left the forest and behind her Iris’s wind remained blowing rhythmically, with the leaves within it twirling about as though they were dancing. She was over the moon. She had been watching Elania for weeks and finally getting a chance to talk to her, was like a dream come true, not just because she wanted to experience her beauty up close but because she had such great plans for Elania and she couldn’t wait to see them come to pass. Dancing on, she then laughed and gave out a deep hearty sigh, a skin crawling sigh like a cold draught in a haunted house. “Magnificent . . . Absolutely magnificent,” she said as her wind then blew away. In the community of Hnasha Lane where Elania and Maron lived in the province of Lampir, Maron was at home poking at the firewood in the fireplace. They lived in a cute little cottage next to the forest; thatched roofed and made out of smooth grey bricks and diorite pegmatite stones, with the living room and the kitchen on ground level and the bedroom and the bathroom upstairs. It was simple but it was so cuzy it made for the perfect home. They didn’t have much but they had enough. The door opened and in walked Elania, with her basket full of wild mushrooms. “Uh, there she is,” Maron said smiling and she smiled back. “Did I take too long?” she asked as she closed and locked the door behind her. “I was just about to start missing you so I guess you made it back just in time,” he said and they chuckled as he then got up and kissed her, and relieved her of her basket. “Thank you,” Elania said and Maron disappeared with the basket into the kitchen, as she remained looking over her shoulder at the wind blowing outside. “The water was starting to over boil so I took it off, is that alright?” “Yes that’s fine, thank you my love.” Maron walked up to the arched doorway and stood staring at her for a moment as she went on staring out the window at the wind. “Are you alright?” “Uh yes,” she responded and turned to him. “Just looking at the wind outside.” “Yes it’s been like that for a while now, there must be a storm coming,” he said as he walked up to her and went and stood behind her; wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her shoulder. “I think there is,” Elania said, speaking of the storm in a much different context to the one Maron was speaking in; not only still shook by the encounter she just had with Iris but extremely concerned as to why she gifted them with all those nice things. Was it a genuine act of kindness or was she up to something. Elania thought so, she felt it in her spirit that Iris wanted something but the question was what. What did she want? “Come, let me run your bath.” She smiled and looked at him. “I love it when you run my bath. Goodness, you are the best husband in the world.” “Yes I am,” he confidently agreed and they laughed as they then moved in and shared a sweet kiss. He was so loving he did almost everything for her. He worked hard in the field but he still found the time to do nice little things for her; make her tea, rub her feet, do the dishes and run her bath. He would even skip going to the field all together if she wasn’t well so that he could stay home and take care of her, that was the kind of husband he was and Elania was head over heels in love with him. “Now up we go, we don’t want your water getting cold,” he then said and together they made their way up the stairs, as outside the wind continued to blow. Elania looked back at it for a little while as inside she started to come apart at the seams. She could feel it in her fingers that Iris had an ulterior motive and whatever it was, it wasn’t good. Shortly after, Elania was in the bathroom with her husband. She was sitting inside the large wooden tub whilst Maron was on the outside sitting on a stool, wetting and stroking her hair with the sponge he had in his hand. There was steam coming off the surface of the water and as he was gently caring to her hair, Elania was lost in thought thinking about Iris, wondering on just what she was up to. And that wasn’t the only thing that had her troubled, it was the encounter itself, in which she made a very disturbing discovery, one that had her so out of it Maron noticed. “Are you sure you’re alright? You’ve been awfully quiet,” Maron said and Elania came to. “I am it’s just . . . Very strange,” she said. “What is?” “That with how important the laws are, she’d have no problem breaking them. She said she had abilities which was probably how she managed to do it, but she shouldn’t have. Just because she can doesn’t mean she should, it’s forbidden.” “Who?” Maron asked wondering as he carried on. “I have never experienced anything like that and I must say it’s got me very worried.” “Who are you talking about love?” “I’m talking about Iris,” she answered. “It’s what she said her name was.” “Iris? I don’t think I know her.” “You don’t . . . Because she’s not from this class.” “What do you mean?” Maron asked and Elania turned to him. “Love . . . A being from another class interacted with me.” “What?” “Yes, I mean I couldn’t see her but I could hear her, just as clear as I’m hearing you right now and I could sense her in the wind, that’s how I knew she was there,” Elania said. “Goodness darling, what are you going on about?” It was completely unheard of what she was talking about and so he was finding it quite hard to believe. “A being from another class speaking to you, that’s impossible. Are you sure you weren’t just hearing things?” “I wasn’t love, what happened out there was real. She spoke to me. She even told me that all the gifts we’ve been receiving were from her.” “Hold on, the ones we keep finding at our doorstep in the morning?” he asked, just as taken aback as she was when Iris told her. “Yes.” “I thought they were from our neighbours?” “I thought that too but it turns out that everything was from her,” she said. “That is strange. Why?” “She said she liked me and just wanted to do something nice for me.” “Goodness, and the whole time this was happening you didn’t see her?” Maron asked, starting to get concerned. “No. I could hear her voice very clearly and I could felt her presence in the wind but I couldn’t see her.” “How is that possible? That should not be possible. Is she a spirit?” “I asked her that too but she said no. She said she was human,” Elania answered. “Then how come you didn’t see her?” “She said she had abilities.” “Clearly for her to turn herself invisible and be able to communicate with someone out of her class. Goodness what happened out there?” “I don’t know but whatever it was I didn’t like it. My spirit was unsettled the entire time. We have to report this to the chief.” “I agree. We should play no part in this anymore than we already have,” he said. “Exactly, early morning tomorrow I will travel to the capital and hopefully meet with the chief and tell him everything.” "Right but the journey to Hembe is not a short one, maybe I should accompany you?" “That’s three whole days away Maron, what about the field?” Elania asked. “No worries, Kenan can look after it for us while we’re away.” “Alright then, we’ll go together,” she said and gave out a soft sigh, relieved that they weren’t waiting for the situation to get bad to deal with it, because usually when things took a turn for the worst it was too late. “I love you.” “I love you more,” he said and she rose up and kissed him and he kissed her back, as outside the wind continued to blow. It wasn’t just a wind, it was Iris’s wind and after eaves dropping on what Elania and her husband were talking about, Iris got so hot under the collar her wind started to blow aggressively. Travelling to Hembe to report her to the chief, she didn’t like the sound of that at all. Hours later, Elania and Maron were in bed fast asleep. Lying close to her husband with his arm around her, Elania was sleeping peaceful until suddenly, a loud thud came from downstairs. She slowly awoke and lifted her head a little to make sure she really heard what she just heard but the noise didn't go again. All she heard was the sound of the leaves rustling in the wind. Did she really just hear something or was she dreaming? Putting her head back down on the pillow, she then closed her eyes to resume her sleep but then three seconds later, the thud went again. Her head shot up, this time more awake than she was before; she wasn’t dreaming, she did hear something. Softly she removed Maron's arm from her waist and got out of bed. She walked to the window and slightly moved the curtain to see if the wind was still blowing as it was before and it was. She then walked out of the bedroom, wearing a loose long-sleeved nightdress, and made her way down the stairs; the thud sounded like it came from the front door. She reached the bottom of the stairs and peeped through the window from behind the curtain to see if there was anything by the door and there was; not three or four baskets like there had been the previous days but six. Elania’s blood ran cold; if what was happening wasn’t a problem before, it definitely was now. Morning came and in the living room Elania and Maron stood talking about the six baskets that were still by the front door; unmoved and untouched. "Goodness, that is a lot of baskets,” Maron said. The front door was wide open and they were looking right at them. Six baskets healthy stocked with different items; fruits and vegetables, jars of honey, oil and milk, clothes, decorative clay and wooden ornaments, breads and spices. "It’s too much,” Elania said, quite shaken. The things she gave them before were already a lot and now this, it was madness. "Wow, she must really like you." "Love I don’t like this, I don’t like this one bit. This is wrong. This is so, so wrong." "Alright calm down,” he said. "Now we definitely have to go and tell the chief, this is too much. Get yourself ready we're leaving now," Elania said and reached for her cloak on the cloak hang. It was long and grey and she threw it over her as Maron just stood there looking at the baskets; seeing something in one of them that he didn’t see before. "Love get ready we have to go now." "Did you read the note?" She paused as a look of wonder immediately came over her face. “Note?” She quickly turned to him. "What note?" "That note," Maron said pointing at it; it was hanging over the edge of the middle basket. Elania looked back and when she saw it, her heart jumped. He was right, there was a note and whatever it said, she just knew it wasn’t good. Looking at each other for a moment, she then walked up to the baskets and stretched down to grab the note and when she unfolded it and she read it, all the emotion drained from her face as inside her blood ran so cold it froze. "What does it say?" "If you report this to the chief . . . I will kill you both, love Iris," she said and Maron gasped as his heart skipped such a huge beat it almost dropped out of his chest. They were right to worry, Iris was trouble. First she broke the rules by interacting with Elania and now she just threatened to kill her and her husband, she was up to something and it definitely wasn’t good.