Crimson Bloom (COMPLETE)

Elders

The sound of my shoes against the gravel and my own grinding teeth blocked out anything Seph said as we approached the citadel. It had been a wonder for years that he had been tasked to do something so important. Seph was in charge of banishment. He had the final word on who got to stay and who had to go from the city.

To be fair it should be mentioned that Seph was one of very few who had more than just an aura. He could read the auras of others and determine the general direction that their moral compass pointed. It was because of his ability that our city was the safest of the seven.

“Hello, Ander.” The guard at the large door to the main hall greeted me.

“Lucas.” I nodded a return greeting.

Seph had begun to speak but Lucas left the door he had opened for us to close in his face. We both chuckled and started our way to the large table at the center of the main hall. Lucas moved to his post on the left of the large table.

“I wish you wouldn’t provoke him so.” Cora, our pod’s elder, said mildly scolding us.

While most in the city seemed to fear her, she was one of the only people who could set us at ease at any given time. To others her jet black hair and irises were eerie and telling of something evil. To us she was like a docile alley cat, her pointed teeth and smokey aura a strange comfort.

“We wouldn’t want him thinking we favor him too much.” Lucas said smiling when Seph got to the table and threw a rock at him.

“What brings you in from the forest, Ander?” Samwell, the oldest of the elders asked.

His pearl white hair hung in two thick braids along either side of his weathered face. Burn scars wrapped up his right cheek like the fingers of a skeletal hand. His right eye had been blinded by the same flames.

“I’m afraid something terrible is coming to the city. I’m sure Seph could tell you more.” I Stepped aside and lifted a brow at him.

“Oh such fanfare!” He said in mock excitement. Almost as quickly his drab personality came back. “A sea of red approaches.”

“So ominous.” I quipped.

“Oooo.” Lucas laughed.

“Yes it’s quite humorous children.” He rolled his eyes. “With this wave there’s something…else. Death.”

“That certainly merits concern.” Cora said with a hint of panic in her voice.

Cora was, flighty, you could say. Some things made her nervous beyond reason. Some things that would cripple most rolled right off of her.

Samwell however was never more emotional than a tree stump. So when he stood abruptly and slammed his fist on the table we paid serious attention. He heaved a breath and his withered frame shook head to toe. His orange aura curled around him smoothly.

“We knew this day was coming.” He spoke directly into our minds. His vocal chords damaged by flames.

“Samwell-” Cora began.

“Speak no more until the others arrive.” He waved his hand at the remaining seats.

We waivered for a moment and sat. Lucas took his seat next to Cora and faced the door. Seph sat directly across from Samwell and I sat by Lucas.

Before any of us could express our discomfort, the others arrived. The triplets. Ancient in reality, well over one-hundred, but with a rare enchantment they were no more than twenty-five.

Blithe, Lesley, and Phyllup. All three had ethereal white hair that flowed out as if they were in water. Their feet never touched the ground. They were a very eerie trio.

As always Phyllup winked at me when we made eye contact. She was the youngest of the three and quite a handful. Lesley rolled his eyes and took a seat next to Samwell, touching his shoulder lightly in greeting. Blithe hovered over Samwell’s shoulder, she never sat.

Blithe being the eldest always showed a fondness for him. She held his arm lightly, her way of seeing. She was blind from birth just as Lesley was deaf and Phyllup mute. Eerie trio indeed.

“So. The red tide has come?” Blithe spoke on a sigh. “And has anyone told him?” She added with a lift of her brow.

“Told who what?” Seph said after a beat of silence.

“I see.” Blithe nodded and shifted her shoulders.

Lucas snickered and Phyllup hissed at him. Aside from a giggle or a grunt here and there it was the only noise she made. Her way of expressing that she was displeased.

Lucas cleared his throat and sat up straighter in his seat. Blithe suppressed a grin as she often did. Lesley squinted at Lucas’ mouth, no doubt expecting an apology for his slight.

“How bad will this be?” Samwell said tiredly, Cora spoke the words for Lesley to read her lips. He was truly deaf in all ways. Not even pushed thoughts were heard by him.

“It was prophesized to be total destruction. However we’ve seen such prophecies before and they did not live up to expectation.” Blithe said with a tone of false hope.

“So you haven’t seen this outcome?” Cora speaks quietly with worrying eyes.

“I’m afraid in matters of the red tide I have seen only an abyss. Aside from what we all know.” Her head shifted towards me and she raised her chin slightly. “Most of us.”

“Ander.” Seph gasped.

“What?” I asked with a cant of my head.

“I don’t know.” Seph said with a furrowed brow. “I can’t feel it.” His eyes darkened as he tried to read me. “I can’t feel anything.”