Eternal silence of the sea

Chapter four : Deity

On the other side of the wall was a small room. A hearth burning at the far right corner of the room. Wooden bookshelves standing against the wall filled the space ahead of her. The books stacked according to size and colour. An obsedian rag covered the Grey marble floor, in contrast with the onyx chairs that sat at either side of a round coffee table.

Theos passed by her and stepped into the evenly lit space. The scent of wet ground and citrus filling her lungs as she followed him inside. The walls were made of stone, and on the one on her left hang a tapestry of a young woman in a lilac gown. Her auburn hair falling to her shoulders in a glossy wave. A golden tiara rested atop her head, bringing out her hazel green eyes. Estella Lavanis.

'What is this place?' Samari asked Theos who was now resting atop one of the onyx chairs.

'One of Estella's and Onisha' s rendezvous spots. Accessible only by the two.' He paused, ' It was one of the former queen's estates located in the forest. The wall in the market square opens a portal to this place.'

Samari took in what he said. Having a rendezvous spot wasn't a requirement in the relationship between a royal and their guardian. 'Why do they have a rendezvous spot?'

He gave her a lazy smirk, 'You'll get to know that soon.'

'For someone who claims to know little about Onisha-', the door on the right wall opened, giving way for a woman to walk through.

Behind her was a tall and built man. About six foot three. With black locks that fell to his shoulders. He wore a black dress shirt with matching pants covering most of his ebony skin - the quality of his clothing suggesting a wealthy status. Samari's eyes landed on the sword sheethed behind his back before meeting his golden brown gaze. She would have thought him to be the most attractive male she had ever seen had she not met Theos. Something about him brought a wave of familiarity within her. She felt every muscle in her body telling her she was supposed to know him. But who was he?

'Lord Thanatos,' the woman spoke. Her voice calm yet firm. Her auburn hair held back in a single braid, falling over one shoulder. She wore a forest green tunic with black pants that held to her frame and went down to hide behind her knee high boots.

'Estella.' Samari recognized her immediately, not only from the tapestry that hang on the wall but from an inner intuition she couldn't name. The princess turned her gaze to Samari. Her eyes warm and full of life.

'Hello Isha. It's been a while hasn't it?' Estella moved closer to her, 'I missed you.' She wrapped her hands around Samari, enveloping her into a tight embrace. The scent of lavender oozing of her. 'I know you're somewhere inside there.' She said more to herself.

Theos cleared his throat, earning a glare from the other male. Estella slowly released Samari and faced the unidentified male, who's gaze was fixated on Samari.

'We are not here for hugs and water works. Get to the point of this meeting.' All the lazy, playfulness he had had earlier was replaced by a mask of lethal indifference.

'I think you need to be seated for this.' Estella said to Samari, before turning her gaze to Theos. 'How much does she know?'

Theos remained on the chair. His head resting upon it's arm. The other male had taken the seat opposite Theos. His hands resting upon he's knees.

'Little.' Thoes said dissmisingly. So many questions swam in her head. And something told her the three beings before had the answer to them.

The next thirty minutes flew by as Estella told her of Onisha. She was the only child of the third son of the Fa maz protector family. She had been appointed as Estella's guardian two years before. Apparently, the the two had met in the market square. Estella had escaped from her guards and had sneaked to watch a traveling witch perform magic tricks. Someone had stolen her purse and although Estella hadn't really noticed, Onisha had caught the thief. That was the beginning of their friendship.

She was appointed as Estella's guardian shortly after, her intended guardian released from his oath.

'Everything was peaceful until the first murder was reported.' Estella said, a foreboding shadow cast upon her face. 'A duke's daughter had been murdered in her chambers a day before the winter solstice. Her inner organs incinerated. Blood flowing from her eyes.' She paused as though played the image of the lady in her head. 'It was the beginning of my visions. I saw people dying. The kingdom perishing. The sea roared as a black cloud cast a dark shadow on the land. A woman floating above the kingdom.

' Onisha and I had started investigating the occurrences after the second murder. A commoner with the same cause of death. During our persuit, we met Lord Thanatos. We worked together. And I think we discovered too much.' She looked at Theos, who's gave was fixed on the hearth burning in the corner of the room. It's flames rising and falling in a rhythmic way.

'I still don't know how it happened but when we were getting closer to solving this enigma, you-' she broke off. 'Onisha was gone. And Samari - you took her place.' Samari tried to conjure a memory. Anything to support Estella tale. But nothing. Her memories still the whirlwind it had been when she had woken.

'You have been unconscious for nearly two weeks. I started to worry.' She really did seem worried. But Samari knew that worry wasn't for her. It was for Onisha. It was her who they had wanted to wake up. To walk into this room. 'I'm sorry.' She found herself apologizing for something she knew was out of control.

'It's not your fault.' Estella said in a low voice. 'While you were.... asleep, we stumbled upon some....things that make as think Sahali has been released.' Sahali. The witch of despair. Samari remembered her from Nana's stories. She was a powerful witch. One who could manipulate one's mind. She reeked havoc in Indinah until the royal family locked her away somewhere. Was she out? And if she was then wouldn't she rather hide than risk exposure by killing people?

Nana had said the witch was cuning. She wouldn't be foolish enough to risk her own safety, would she? What if it wasn't a risk? Maybe it was all part of a larger conspiracy. Maybe she was strong enough to go against the royals. Nana had said they were only able to capture her by the help of the gods. If that was true then would they help again if Sahali really was back?

'What has caused you to believe that?' Theos asked. His gaze finally leaving the heath.

'We suspect the the victims were killed using a spell.' The male spoke his first words since he got here. He's voice deep and commanding. While Theos' was as inticing as a siren song yet lethal and bold, he's was one that threatened death. But with a hint of caress to it. 'We think whoever killed them posses the dark arts.'

'What are the dark arts?' Samari asked. The male glanced at Theos before he answered.

'The dark arts are spells forbidden by the council. Witches and other spell casters use light magic, gifted by the light goddess herself. But others aren't content with this and seek to bargain with the dark god. He's power when given to a human is what you would consider raw magic. Unlike the goddess' who usually takes a specific form and if not, you can consider it third grade magic while the god's second grade from his own.'

Indinah had thirteen gods and goddesses, all with different powers gifted by the primal. Their rule is governed over seven demesne. Each demesne ruled by two gods or goddesses. The Tartarus is the feared among all. Ruled by the God of death and the goddess Theodora. A gift from the primal to his favorite son.

Nana hadn't told her much about them. Only that they cared for themselves rather than for the beings they were supposed to protect. What would a God want from a human anyway?. If what mystery man was saying was true, it only proved Nana's stories to be true.

The gods of Indinah were selfish bastards.