INFERNO

CHAPTER FOUR: FIRE CALLS III

Tamarys coiled into a corner of the darkroom, sobbing and shivering with the cold and agony that destroy her body. She's been locked in here for a very long time, not seeing man, beast, or even ‘spirits’, seeking salvation but finding emptiness. Loneliness and sadness overwhelmed her.

Suddenly, there appeared a bright light in the middle of the room. A light so bright Tamarys has no choice but to shut her eyes and protect them with her palms. The heat from this light was so warm and comforting, she felt like she finally returned home after a long journey. Several seconds later, when the light finally died down a little and Tamarys could look upon the spot once more, someone stood right there, the same person whom she didn’t know she was waiting for. This person was wrapped in a soft toga style blood-red dress. Calm and yet so vibrant, Dangerous, and yet so graceful like all the obscenities in this mundane world cannot come within an inch of her.

She smiled when she saw Tamarys. With a gasp, Tamarys shrank more into herself, but that wasn’t exactly the right thing to do because in the next second she moaned in pain. Every inch of her body was covered in sores and injuries, the moment she moved the festering injuries on her back burst open and gushed liquids. On noticing Tamarys’ fright and suffering, the woman tried to console her.

“ Do not be afraid, I mean you no harm.”

 But she couldn’t get any closer and agitate Tamarys more. She found a corner farther away from her and lowered herself to sit. She sat with so much poise Tamarys couldn’t help but think.

Look! Here comes a real-life goddess, so graceful even when doing the casual things we mundane beings do. But that face bothered her, for it looks exactly like hers. No difference except for the eyes.

She watched attentively, she didn’t stop staring till this goddess took a seat. Though in her present condition, she couldn’t do anything if this person decides to do her harm, she would like to be aware and prepare herself in advance. She still wanted to live. And so, two strangers sat in silence, one, a being of otherworldly beauty with immense power at her disposal, the other a miserable creature who was fated to be consumed by the unfairness of the world. Watching each other with so much curiosity in their eyes.

“ Do you feel it?” the goddess finally broke the silence. Even her manner of speaking is as if she caresses the air around her.

“The storm, do you feel it?”

So elegant! Even when saying so much nonsense.

Tamarys wasn’t in the mood to say anything to anyone. She doesn’t have the strength to. Who this woman was, where she came from, why she always comes to Tamarys, or why she looks exactly like her. Tamarys was tired of asking. Today, she can be whatever the heck she wants to be. It’s none of Tamarys’ business. As long As she doesn’t come anywhere near her the world will be at peace.

“ Hell is coming!”

“ what are you saying?” a tiny voice asked. Tamarys couldn’t help it, she was just too curious and this lady keeps repeating the same ominous warnings like a broken record. But she was thirsty and her voice so hoarse from too much use It hurts to even swallow. Thinking the woman didn’t hear her the first time she repeated herself a little louder this time.

“ Please, unveil the meaning of your words. Tell me clearly what you mean.”

“Malice and Avarice, daughters of Chaos, the deity of confusion, have been assigned to visit her wrath on the inhabitants of the mortal realm.”

Tamarys was stunned. She doesn’t know much but she could recognize those two words Malice, and Avarice. Who on God’s most loved earth will name their child Envy and greed. Anyway, what she should be asking is, who will call themselves Chaos? The only thing that comes to mind is that the one standing right before her must be making up stories to scare her. No parent can hate their children that much, right? but why does she still want to know?

“ I still do not understand you…” Tamarys asked staring into those dangerous blood-red eyes. “Tell me, who are you?”

She laughed. A peal of enticing, husky laughter, one that leaves another’s toes tingling

Damn! If Tamarys didn’t know better she would have thought this person an angel.

“ who I am, shouldn’t you be aware? Why do you feel so comfortable in my presence? Our soul, though apart, are one and the same.” she stared intensely at Tamarys

“The one who lives today, died yesterday.”

Died?

Died…?

Oh yes! Tamarys could believe it. She had already concluded that this person is not human. If it's not human it must be a spirit.

But if you have already died what does it have to do with me? She wondered.

“ Torn apart by time, we were and yet united by time, we will be. We are one. One person, one life, one soul.”

Not this again I beg you.

 “Stop!” Screamed with the little energy she had left

“Please stop! Why do you keep saying you are me?

How can you be me?” Tamarys was so frustrated thinking what this person must mean by doing all this.

“I am me, and I can see the difference between us, so you must be a different person, I am so young right now, and you, you must be in your twenties.” She whispered. “so how can you be me?” She asked even though at this point she was merely thinking aloud. She had lowered her head trying futilely to make sense of everything and when she raised her head back up to look at the spirit, she was shocked. The woman was right before her. She turned to look at where the woman had been sitting not so long ago and then to the woman. She must be right. This person right before her eyes is no human. How can she keep saying they are the same. But she didn’t feel any hostility from her so she relaxed a little.

The woman stared at her. “Let me take your suffering.” She said, her eyes pleading with Tamarys. Still confused Tamarys nodded. Isn’t it just to take her ‘suffering’? whatever that is. They can do that. this gladdened the spirit’s heart. A little red flame burst from her hands. “ Do not be afraid, it will not harm.” She reassured before placing both hands on Tamarys’ shoulders.

Tamarys was at peace, the spirit lady was right, she felt only warmth from the flame. The fire did not hurt her, instead, the septic wounds and sores on her body began to heal at a speed visible to the eyes. Tamarys was baffled. She knew this spirit had some level of powers but how can one be this powerful?

Several seconds later when Tamarys wounds have been healed and her skin had become more supple and radiant than before. She touched herself all over, she even pinched her thighs to make sure this is her body and not some illusion. Grateful and in awe of this person she asked the spirit again. 

“ who exactly are you?” but this person before her made another request.

 “Take my hand, Daughter of Fire, let me show you.”