MERIKH: THE BLACK POWER

Episode7:COME TO ME

Celia was never quiet in the morning. She would always knock but never wait for my permission before barging in. Today there was a silence that felt too loud. I kept staring at the reflection of my door sitting in front of the mirror hoping for it to open up revealing my Celia on the other side.

I had been having weird visions from a few days, maybe this is just a part of it. Maybe if I blink a few times, I would come back to reality.

My eyes fell on my reflection which didn’t look like me. I stared at my dishevelled hair and looked down at my hand holding a comb.

“You are looking like a spirit escaped from the Isles of Dead.”

I quickly lifted my head, hearing the familiar voice.

“Celia.” I could see her in the mirror, standing me with her hands on both side of her hips, puffing out her face.

I felt such a relief as if I had won some golden lottery. I tried to stand up but she put both her hands on either side of the shoulder and pressed me down.

“You can’t go out like this,” she took the comb from my hand, “let me fix it.”

She put the comb between my hair and started detangling.

“You are really here.” My voice was barely audible.

“Was I suppose to go somewhere?” She asked frowning.

I shook my head so fast that she had hold it to steady it.

“Don’t move too much.” She said sternly.

I placed my hand over hers. “I thought you were… were…” I couldn’t bring myself to complete my sentence.

“I were what? Late to disturb your morning.”

I chuckled at the same time as a tear slipped my face.

“I said you Odessa, I will never leave you so why were you so scared?”

I couldn’t bring myself to answer anything. A silent sob escaped my body.

“See,” A warm smile spread through her face as she completed my hairstyle. ‘What an artist I am!”

Her smile brought one to my face too. I was worried for no reason. Celia will always be here. I closed my eyes to savour the moment. Taking a long breathe I opened them—

The room was empty. My hair was still dishevelled, the comb now lying on the floor. The reality hit me as if lightening had struck in a clear sky.

Celia? She was here…

I looked around the room frantically, searching for any signs of her. There was a knock on the door. I ran to open it up.

It’s Celia. It’s definitely her. She is playing with me.

As I opened it up, disappointment again flowed through me as the disturbed waves of the ocean. Jane, Kyren and Calix stood in front of me. Their faces were laced with concern and grief.

“Everyone is waiting.” Calix said with such seriously that in other times I would have thought it is yet another joke of his.

I nodded my head once looking at the floor.

“Are you coming like this?” Jane said. “Let me fix your hair—”

“No.” My voice came so suddenly that she flinched at it.

“I will be there in a while. Don’t wait for me.” I closed the door without waiting for a response.

As the door closed, I slid down against the door. I continued taking long breaths hoping it to help but it was pointless. I stood up against my will, took my hair in a ponytail and tied it.

As I reopened the door my friends were still standing there.

“Let’s go together. Hmm?” The concern in Jane’s voice felt too strange.

I moved forward without replying and they followed me behind as if guarding me.

The academy held a small funeral the next morning. I was standing between two graves. On one side the old grave of dad lay and on the other…

People said Eden Avenell never knew his wife was carrying twins. He died in his own home, in the city he had chosen to build his life in, and Elowen returned from wherever she had been to find him gone and the knowledge of us just beginning.

Five centuries. No answers. No justice. The Citadel called it an open investigation for so long that open investigation had become another way of saying we gave up.

And now his daughter lay beside him in the same ground.

The teachers went near the grave and closed their eyes, chanting some ritual as an energy orb formed in their hand. It is a way to provide well wishes to the dead so that their soul can live peacefully in Isles of Dead. As the orb took its shape, they touched the grave passing the orb from their hands to the tombstone.

After the teachers the students present followed the same ritual.

“It’s your turn.” Kyren said as Jane returns after completing the ritual

My legs didn’t allowed me to step forward. It felt as if I am forcing myself to walk. As I opened my palm to form an orb, my hands started trembling. I held it with my other hand to stop the tremble but it didn’t.

I closed my eyes, forcing myself to make an orb but I couldn’t concentrate.

I took a long breathe as I always did but it had no impact. I felt as if someone is continuously stabbing me in the centre of my heart. My legs suddenly felt weak. Before I realized it, I had dropped to the ground.

A dull pain passed my body as my knees scratched against the rough surface. Jane rushed toward me and pulled me into her arms.

“Leave.” I didn’t recognise my own voice.

“Pull yourself together, Odessa,” she said softly.

“Jane. Leave.” My voice betrayed all emotions.

“Poor child,” Melantha said from behind us. “This is too much for her. Give her some time.”

Bernard turned to the students. “The funeral is over. Return to the academy.”

All the students started leaving one by one. Bernard lingered for a while looking at the grave before following the others. Jane frowned and looked at me and then at our friends. Kyren nodded his head approving Melantha’s word. She reluctantly stood up.

“Don’t stay here longer.” Her voiced was laced with concern.

I couldn’t bring myself for any response. Oren and Melantha left first. Jane and others lingered for a while before leaving. Now when I was all alone the weight of everything happening felt heavier. My hands wouldn’t stop trembling. The space felt like it was closing in. I couldn't breathe properly. I brought my knees together hugging them with my trembling hands and closed my eyes as if it would solve everything.

I wish death would have been the ultimate goal of our life.

Maybe then it wouldn’t have hurt as much as it is now.

Would things have been different if I hadn’t allowed Celia to go out alone? It should have stopped her. No sane being would have allowed anything to go out alone after the burning incident yet I did. What was I even thinking before leaving her.

My vision blurred with water. A tear escaped and marked its way down my face. More followed. I bowed my head resting it upon my knees.

“This must be unbearable.” A voice came from behind me.

I lifted my head and turned towards the voice. Squinting my eyes from the rays of the sun I looked at the person standing.

“Lilith”

The citadel councillor came and sat beside me. Her gaze was fixed on Celia’s grave. I rubbed my reddened eyes with the back of my hands and crossed my legs to sit properly.

“Sometimes life can be too unfair.” She said looking at me.

I averted my eyes, a bitter smirk crossing my face. “Life had never been fair for me.”

She nodded her head as if approving it, “It proves that you are stronger than—”

“I don’t want to be.” I looked at her. “If being stronger means to lose everyone dear then I don’t need it.”

She wrapped her hand over my shoulder. “We have no choice on the fate Deus wrote for us.”

I took a long breathe and subconsciously looked behind Lilith. She turned back to glance at the distance following my gaze then faced me.

“Elowen was engaged in the matters of Citadel.” She said, as if she knew exactly who I was looking for.

Of course she’s busy. She always have matter more important than her daughters.

Even her daughter’s funeral had no importance for her.

“All the incidents from yesterday and…” She sighed as if not wanting to continue the conversation.

We sat there in silence. Soon the dark clouds filled the sky making the surrounding darker. Heavy wind filled with dust started blowing entering into my eyes. Lilith stood up and held out her hand.

“We should leave.”

I took her hand and stood up but didn’t move. A drop fell on my shoulder. Another drop fell on the ground. I narrowed my eyes looking at the drop. Red? I stretched my palm forward. The drops started falling on them. My eyes widened as I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The drops falling from sky were red as if the sky was bleeding.