MERIKH: THE BLACK POWER

Episode10:THE PUNISHMENT

The auditorium was already half full when we arrived. I took a position near the front without thinking about it. Slow whispers of confusion spread all around me filling the silence with speculation.

“Lillith is coming.” Jane stood beside me murmuring to me.

I looked at her frowning.

“I just saw her outside.” Jane fixed her gaze to the stage.

I subconsciously touched my pocket where the emblem sat like it had weight beyond its size. As if realising what I was doing I removed my hand restraining to touch it.

"Anyone else feel like we're about to get collectively punished for something?" Calix murmured from beside me.

"Yes," Kyren said quietly. "So, stop talking if you don’t want to become the first victim."

Why is Lillith here? Did she found something about Celia? Did the investigation proceeded?

Lilith walked onto the platform.

The commotion around us increased. Heads leaned together in whispers and gossips.

“Silence!” One word from Lillith was enough to cut down all murmurs.

“I am well aware that you weren’t expecting me here,” She continued.

“But there was an urgent mattered that required all of your attention. We all are aware of what is happening now-a-days in Cosima.”

The room was so silent with one voice echoing all around that I could even hear my own heartbeat. Whatever the reason was for Lillith to come, it was surely not good.

“Citadel is still investigating about the whereabouts of the burning man and about you friend, Celia.” She looked at me. My throat suddenly felt dry.

“We are also looking over upon the source of blood rain happening all around Cosima. But that is not the reason why I am here today.”

Low whispers began again which died down as Lillith fell silent. After everyone quieted, she continued.

“Recently, Aeron, the keeper of Abyssal Athenaeum library has fallen in his deathbed.”

My heart skipped a beat hearing the name of the library Celia and I broke into.

“I am sure you all aware of when this happens. Few weeks ago, he was absolutely well suddenly he fell ill and is now in his deathbed.”

Everyone looked at each other in confusion. I froze in my place.

“Is Lillith suggesting that someone broke into a forbidden library?” Calix whispered.

I swallowed not averting my gaze away from Lillith.

As if hearing what Calix said Lillith continued.

“If someone had just broke into the library then Aeron would have simply lost few of his lifespan but him being in his deathbed suggests that something is stolen from the library.”

Stolen? I couldn’t register what Lillith was speaking. Celia and I had broke into there but we never stole anything.

“And there are punishments for such rule breaker.” Lillith voice came our stern and sharp. “Yet we are willing to forgive you. If anyone among you have dared to break in and stole anything inform us in the first place and the punishment will be low but if we are the one finding about you, there will be serious consequences.”

Lillith gaze stopped at me as if she knew it was me. I felt as if the emblem in my pocket was burning up. I abruptly broke the eye contact looking around me stopping at someone.

Theon leaned against the wall looking straight at me.

From how long is he observing me?

What are the chances that he actually knows why I was in Dejia that day?

“That was all. Thank you.”

Lillith completed her speech stepped down the platform. Students moved back giving her space to move. She stopped right beside me.

“Follow me, Odessa.”

I almost stopped breathing. Lillith didn’t explain anything before moving forward. Everyone’s curious gaze now fell on me. The murmuring and whispers resumed as Lillith stepped out the auditorium. My gaze lingered on Theon who was still looking at me. I looked at my friends who were as confused as others.

I took a long breath to calm myself and followed after Lillith.

Lillith stopped in a corner of a corridor where there were no ears to overhear.

“Odessa, I will be straightforward,” She turned to face me. “On the last day of your vacation why were Celia and you in Dejia?”

“We were there to meet Jane.” My answer came so immediately as if I had been preparing myself to say this line.

Lillith didn’t look convinced yet she nodded. “I trust you, Odessa. Try not to break it.”

The words felt like a weight heaving down on me. Lillith turned to leave.

“Lillith.” I called out. She turned back.

“What about Celia? Did you find anything.”

Lillith fell silent as if deciding if she should say anything to me or not.

“Don’t spread the words.” She spoke.

I nodded eagerly.

“We have found some traces near the investigation ground.”

“Traces? What traces?”

“A light trace.”

The words arranged themselves slowly in my mind. A light trace? Celia was a light and other than her they found another light. Does that mean—

“Are you suggesting that a light killed a light?”

Lillith was silent. My palms became sweaty. My heart was throbbing in my throat.

“Lillith?” My voice came out unsteady.

“We are not sure about anything. Investigations are still going on. Its better if you don’t draw out any conclusions.”

Lillith turned around and walked out. I kept staring at her disappearing silhouette. After she was out of view, I pressed a hand over my heart and leaned against the wall closing my eyes.

Why would someone kill their own kind? Why Celia? She is not the kind who could have wronged anyone. My rail of thoughts broke down at a voice.

“I am impressed by your passion.”

I frowned and opened my eyes looking at the source of the voice. Theon walked towards me leisurely with both his hands in his pockets.

“Who could believe a ‘Light’ could stoop to this level.” He stopped few steps away from me.

Did he overhear our conversation? As if testing how much he heard I asked slowly.

“Whom are you talking about?”

“Do you have a habit of searching for others when I am clearly talking to you?”

To me? I adjusted myself standing properly.

“What do you—”

“I wonder,” Theon didn’t let me finish. “What would happen if everyone finds out you and your sister broke into Abyssal atheneum?”

I froze with my eyes open and lips separated.

“We weren’t.” My voice was so unsteady that even a kid would know I was lying.

Theon chuckled. “Are you going to sell me the same lie you told Lillith. Just that I am not her.”

So, he did eavesdrop us.

“We didn’t steal anything.” My voice came out defensive.

He nodded his head thoughtfully as if considering if he should believe me or not. He took a step closer.

“That doesn’t change the fact that you broke into the library.”

I frowned, not understanding where he was getting at.

“No one is going to listen if you actually stole anything or not. That says, if everyone finds out then they would punish you but I wonder… how would they punish someone already dead?”

I clenched my hands into a fist until my knuckles turned white. I have to calm down lest he should take the advantage of my situation.

He took another step forward. My back hit the wall and I didn’t have a chance to escape.

“You know what they would do? They would simply stop the investigation.” His voice was sharper than a pointed knife aimed straight at me. “The cruellest punishment for a dead is not getting justice and for someone closer to them is not being able to give justice.”

“Guess what,” Theon took a step back, smirking, “One small decision is enough to punish both of you.”

“What do you want?” I said through clenched teeth.

He chuckled. “You are burning, little flame.” He moved his hand forward, flames dancing on his fingertips as if he was set to prove his words true.

“I hope you burn with that little flame of yours.” I murmured to myself.

“I heard that though let’s keep that to some other time. I will be waiting to burn with you, little flame.”

I opened my mouth to say something but he had already turned away moving.

This place feels suffocating.

I walked out of the corridor towards the garden. As the cold air hit me, I greedily inhaled it forcing myself to calm. But my mind certainly refused to obey me today. What if Theon is right and they actually stops the investigation after finding out the truth. Celia would not get justice. I felt as if a weight is being pressing down on my heart.

If there is a possibility that they can shut the case doesn’t that simply mean Celia’s justice is in wrong hands. What can I do? I sat near the foot of Deus’s statue. From here the graveyard including Celia and father’s grave were clearly visible.

Two unknown deaths and no justice. I closed my eyes. If I had died in Celia’s place, what would she have done. Would she just sit back doing nothing… like me. Celia would have already turned the world upside down.

My recent visit to the Isles of Dead came to mind. Celia… she wanted me to die?

No… no… that was surely an illusion. Melantha told me not to interact with them yet I did. Probably that was why I saw that. Celia would never say such things. Right…? My pocket felt warm again. I reached in and took out the emblem which was faintly glowing.

“What should I do with you?” I talked to the emblem as if it were a real person.

“Why did Celia even had this weird thing with this weird symbol—” I brought the emblem closer looking keenly at the symbol. The hand that saved me… His ring had this exact symbol.

“Who are you? How do you know my sister?”

The emblem glowed little brightly as if trying to answer me.

“Can you… hear me?” The glow increased. I almost dropped the emblem before catching it.

Throw it. Put it down Odessa. Do something smart…

“Do you know Celia?” the emblem glowed again.

“Whom are you taking to?” A familiar voice rang in a little distance.

I frantically pocketed the emblem and turned to Jane. She walked closer and sat beside me looking somewhere in front.

“To myself.” I said slowly.

“Hmm?” she didn’t even looked at me.

“I was talking to myself.” I said completing the sentence.

“Hmm.”

What was that response?

“Jane? What’s wrong?” I asked carefully.

“Why were you both in Dejia?” She turned to me.

I closed my eyes pressing my lips in a thin line. Not again…

“Meeting me was a coincidence. Tell me, did you actually went to the library?” She asked in a low and soft voice.

“I did.” I admitted.

“Right—WHAT!!”

She stood up looking at me with wide eyes and opened mouth as if she hadn’t just guessed the same thing a second ago.

“YOU ACTUALLY BROKE—”

I abruptly stood up closing her mouth with my hand.

“Are you planning to announce it to the entire academy and execute me right near Deus’s statue.”

She shook her head rapidly. I removed my hand and sat down. She sat beside me whispering.

“You actually broke into the library? How? Was it fun? It must be so sister coded.” She grinned dreamily.

“Seriously?” I spoke in a dry tone.

She stopped grinning and made a serious face. “Tell me everything Odessa. Don’t miss a single detail.”

I sighed and then took a long breath before telling her about everything including about Theon and Lillith. She listened carefully without interrupting. As I finished, she took some time to register everything before turning me.

“Odessa, try to stay from Theon. I know him from my childhood and I can say he would be the biggest problem creator for you.”

I already guessed that, “How far can he go?”

Jane shrugged. “You can’t trust him. If it favours him in anyway, he can actually reveal it… in a way that would suit him.”

I averted my gaze away from Jane. Why he had to know about it?

“But there is something even more dangerous than Theon.”

I looked at her, “What?”

“The citadel!! Lillith!” She said widening her eyes as if the answer was too obvious. “I am pretty sure she would not have been convinced with your little lie.”

I nodded, “She did say she trust me but—”

“It was just to confirm her doubt.” She completed the line. “Your reaction must have gave you out.”

I involuntarily placed my hand over my pocket squeezing the emblem.

“Congrats Odessa, after Elowen, her daughter got recognised in The Great Citadel… except in a bad light.” She murmured the last part to herself.

I looked at the two graves in front of me. Deaths with no justice. A weird glowing emblem that can probably hear me. Something stolen from a sacred library. Did all of this start after the night of Novara?

We both fell silent for a while. The emblem was still in my pocket, beneath my hand, separated by a thin layer of fabric. I wasn’t sure if I should tell about this to Jane or not. But I had already said most of the things, there was no point in hiding.

“Jane—”

“AHHHH!!!!...”

A loud scream echoed all across the academy. I looked at Jane who was already looking at me. We stood up abruptly and ran towards the source of the voice.

As we moved closer to the academy, many students were already rushing over. We pushed through the crowd to reach the main hall. My steps came to a halt at the sight of the wall everyone was looking at with horror. I stopped breathing. The letters were scrawled deep into the stone as if carved by something that wanted to be certain.

Six letters, three syllables that was enough to make someone mentally unstable.

MERIKH