United: The Dragon Empress

Memory 3

Eurus was sitting next to me with a damp cloth wiping my face of sweat. I felt the tenderness of his hand as he gently patted my face dry. In the years that we had known each other I hadn't ever really studied his facials features. His blues eyes were shaped like almonds and complicated his thin pale lips perfectly. I scanned every inch of his smooth skin on his face and our eyes locked into an awkward, very lustful gaze. A knock on the door, from one of the maids that entered the room, brought us back from our day dream and he cleared his throat then placed the rag in a bin of water.

"You sure do know how to scare someone nearly to death. How are you feeling?"

I looked around the room and blinked my eyes unable to recall how I ended up in such a situation in the first place. As I tried to remember what happened flashes of what happened on the day of the ceremony came to me.

"I am okay..."

" Are you sure? When I came here for our visit I could feel an overwhelming power coming from inside. The maids found you floating in mid air and surrounded by a ball of light and wind. Do you not remember any of this?"

I sat up slowly and let his words process.

"I was...dreaming...apparently. Reliving what happened that day."

My eyes began to water as I replied my last conversation with my best friend, Zola. After I failed the exam she was blamed for it and labeled a distraction. An unfortunate mixed bred who's existence was of no use to the Gome family anymore. Her skills were deemed unworthy of recognition, in the eyes of my parents. Even though she could have taken the exam for Henworth herself and passed with very little effort. I was band from every speaking to her again, that very same day. We had promised to always be friends, that we'd never forget each other, and now I was being told to do very opposite of that vow. My heart tightened at the thought of her thinking that I hated her. It was the reason I snuck out of house that night and ended up with the amulet. I wished to let Zola know that my friendship with her would never disappear and she would always hold a place in my heart, but that is not what happened and the next morning I ended up running for my life.

Eurus leaned in close to me and wiped my cheeks with the cloth. I looked up at him tears still falling into the cloth. He smiled a weary smile.

"Often times our dreams are our escape from reality, but we must always understand that the dream realm is on a different plane and we must always be cautious when we visit. Even beautiful dreams can be nightmares."

I pull his hand away from my face. His has curiosity written all over his face. If he had asked me what the dream was about I would have gave me an answer.

"Just ask me...we've known each other for so long...you don't need to be afraid to ask a question."

He sat there a pondered that thought of questioning me. His eyes softened and he cleaned away a few more tears from my face. 

"If the door to your past self were meant for me to pry open I would have done so many year ago," He brushed the cloth across my cheek slowly, "No, when you wish to talk about it I will listen. Until then we will continue as we have been."

I grabbed his hand with the cloth this time and made him look at me. Him being so nice to me was not what I was used to. I knew he cared about my well being, but the moment seemed too sweet for his nature. Unless his gentleness was his true and the cold, distanced, but kind act, was just that, an act.

"Eurus...please. While I am a fan of your words of brotherly wisdom, at the moment all I wish for is a friend."

He sighed and used his other hand to move a piece of hair out of my face.

"Listen, how about I have the maids help me make that mixed berry tart you like, then we can have some tea with it out in the garden."

I shake my hand yes then smile. His efforts to try and cheer me up was a bit cute and the thought of him being in the kitchen baking flashed in my mind. It would be a sight to see him covered in flour and sugar, with his elegant and graceful aura, the image made me giggle a bit.

"Okay, I would like that. As we eat it though I want to tell you what happened that night before you found me. I think its time you should know just in case someone does come for me. Because I don't wish for any of you to get hurt on account of me."

He put the cloth down in a water basin next to him on the floor then picked it up and carried it to the door.

"Very well, and after you tell me your story it would be only fair to let you know mine."

"I would like that very much."

He smiled then walked out of the room.

We had finally reached a point in our understanding of each other that elevated the level of trust and care we held for one another. If we played to stay in each others lives it was only right to open the door and come clean about our past. I had been in his care for so long and, although, he held harsh words for me most times, his tender nature would come through. I still was not used to him being so sweet. A few harsh words were expected from to roll off his tongue. Something along the lines of me being a foolish child still wet behind the ears because a dream has made me scared or cry.

I looked around the room then saw the dull glow from the amulet as it hung from a hook on the wall meant for a hat. A long black woven thin piece of rope hanging from it was a crystal shape almost like heart and half the stone was encased in a metal that was elegantly twisted around it, the amulet held such a mysterious beauty to it I always became lost as I stared into it. The small blood red stone shined bright as my eyes began to gaze at it in a trance. As if it were calling out to me I reached for it while slowly getting out of bed. The glow seemed to grow more fierce as I stepped closer and once I touched it a surge of power traveled through me. Since I found it I hadn't ever felt such a sensation overcome me. Every cell in body reacted as a rush of overwhelming energy coursed it's way through my body. Flashes of a beautiful enchantress came to me. I watched as she went through her life in bits and pieces. Casting beautiful spells and helping various people from different races. Her voice echoed in my mind, like a songbird serenading you from the tree tops. Then it finally happened I could hear what that damn trinket had been whispering since I had found it. As I released a breath the room turned cold and I could see my breath float upward like streams of smoke. The words they whispered resonated in my head and I felt the urge to say them.

"Conexus...bring forth Consensio..."

The words rolled off my tongue as if I had said them a million times. A rush of air filled the room and I was lifted off the floor. The amulet rose with me,  taking itself off the hook, and we floated there like we were submerged under water. Seven balls of light then came from out of the amulet and surrounded me. Red, blue, green, yellow, black, white, and gold, but only one of them was glowing. The dull whiteness filled me with warmth and I inhaled as it came closer to me. It circled me slowly and then went back with the other lights and grew brighter. I went to reach for it and felt the warmth on my finger tips as I let the rays of light encase my hand in it.

I heard a scream from one of the maids and the sound of glass crashing to the floor. My head snapped over to the door and I saw Eurus with his hand out in front of him protecting the maid with a shield of wind. Books were flying rapidly around the room and the furniture glided across the floor.

Eurus grunted as he held his shield up and books crashed into it. The maid shirked and coward behind him, her hands over her ears and her body hunched to floor shaking.

"Zea! You must call it back. You are not ready for such power." He called out to me.

No longer focused on the amulet I fell to the floor and room went silent. The amulet dropped down next to me and I blinded at it in confusion. He rushed to my side and I looked at him. It was the first time I had ever saw fear in Eurus. His scanned my body as if he were sure he'd find a wound somewhere on me.

"Forget the tart, Eurus...we need to have that talk now." I said. 

"It would seem so..." He looked back at the maid cleaning the broken glass, " Leave that for now go inform the elders we can no longer hide."

I grab his arm as he helps me stand up and he looked down at me.

"Hide from what or who?"

He swept me up into his arms, cradling me as a husband would do a wife, and walked me over to the bed that had slide across the room. Placing me gently on the bed he let go a sigh and sat down next to me.

"It is a long story, Zea. I can't tell you much until the elders arrive. For now just don't call for Consensio."

I sat up then leaned to the side to grab his attention. I shrugged my shoulders and half heartily smiled.

"All honestly, I don't even remember how I did that or what that was...my village was right weren't they. That amulet has to with dark powers."

He looked over to at me and groaned a bit. Then got up ans walked over to a few books piled upon the floor.

"Okay, no more questions, child. We have to clean you and this room up before the elders get here."

"Okay. Then how long will it take for them to get here? Surly, you're capable of answering that question without these elders of yours."

"They should be here soon. I will have the maids ready the bath for you and you can wear thw white dress with lace corset."

He stormed out the room as if I had done something awful.

I laid back and rested my head on the head board of the bed. The last words I heard from anyone from my village were those of the village elders as they labeled me a threat and swore to be rid of me. My people saw the amulet as a curse and tried to kill me because of it. It is why I am now exiled from the village because the amulet chose me. I often thought that maybe the reason why I failed during the ceremony was because my amulet refused to show itself until I had left the alter. If they knew I still lived and that I somehow was able to tap into the amulet's power they'd no doubt try to kill me again. Maybe this was what Eurus was trying to keep me from. The harshness of fearful people can lead to death in many cases. Misunderstandings are not always cleared up and often times they won't ever be.