The Severaine

Chapter Twelve The Parasite Research-2

Just as she realised her pain had all but gone, she felt its cruel fingers clamp once more around her heart and squeeze. She gave out a cry, her arms wrapped around her as she leaned forward gasping for breath, tears spilling from her eyes. Her arms, her legs, everything of herself she could see from her curled position seemed to become transparent. The panic rose, giving way for new and more intense waves of pain to flood her. She heard the cat howling and meowing desperately, as if it tried to tell her something, but she could do nothing but stare in horror at what she saw. The cat looked to her, tilting its head to one side before it ran away as quick as its legs could carry it. She tried to focus her attention elsewhere, taking in the details of the grass she sat upon. It was no use, she knew only pain, and could only focus upon it.

A strange brown ball bounced from her arm, a sensation lost against so many others. When she failed to respond the cat squeezed beneath her arms, positioning itself to look at her. It nudged its head against her nose, forcing her to move in order to draw breath. The cat howled nudging the ball in her direction once more. It gave a snort, pouncing upon it, its claws extended to tear into the flesh and split it. Ruby juice spilt onto the ground and once again the cat nudged a piece towards her, weaving itself against her arm pushing it in the direction of the fruit. Despite the pain she reached out, seizing a collection of the segments and placed them in her mouth.

She consumed the small fleshy seeds with great difficulty, but with each one she swallowed the easier her breathing became, the less intense the pain. As her panic slowly began to drain an almost familiar voice startled her.

“To survive in our world, you must eat our food, especially since your essence is so damaged … can you understand me now?” Zo nodded in surprise. In that moment, along with his words, she became aware of the silent hum of hushed conversations coming from the other creatures in the garden. Noise she had been previously unaware of.

“Yes,” she whispered, she looked to her hand, relieved to see it no longer seemed to be fading. The cat also watched, but it seemed more a look of anticipation than relief. Seeing this she tickled under his chin before once more fussing the top of his head and ears. “I don't suppose you know what I'm doing here, and why I'm wearing this?” she asked once more aware of the strange clothes she wore. The toga fell just above her knees, yet it did not hang loosely, it seemed to hug every part of her comfortably, almost like a blanket wrapped tightly around a baby to swaddle it. Her brown hair, which she normally kept tied back, hung at her shoulders in an unwashed mess, clumps stuck together by the water from the cloth which had been on her forehead. She ran her hands through it consciously, trying to calm the mess.

“I am guessing Seiken was asleep, I knew he was tired. He has sat at your bedside since your father brought you here weeks ago.”

“My father?” she questioned uncertainly. “I don't understand. Am I dreaming?”

“No, I am afraid it is a little more complicated than that. How much do you remember?” He purred gently as he spoke, appreciating the absent minded fusses he was receiving as she thought.

“Everything, everything until I was torn from my body by Hades.” She paused, her brow furrowed in concentration. “I think that really happened.” She raised her hand to her chest where even now she believed she could still feel his grip upon her.

“I'm afraid so, you died,” the cat stated.

“Oh.” His answer had not really been what she expected, yet at the same time, she was not as surprised as perhaps was warranted.

“Night made some form of bargain with Hades in the hope he could save you. With time running out, he brought you to us.”

“Time running out?” She stopped fussing the soft creature for just a moment as she thought this through. How could time be running out if she was already dead? The cat rubbed his head against her hand prompting her to continue.

“Yes, once Hades had taken you unlike other echoes you did not regain consciousness in your new form. There is only one fate for beings like that, they vanish.” She looked to the cat in surprise. “Night risked much to bring you here, especially after his actions. Things could have turned out much differently.”

“So what happens now, do I return to Hades?” So many questions filled her mind now, how had she been brought here, what was to become of her, but more than those, more than anything she wanted to ask of Daniel, to see how her friends fared. She knew the last question at least was one question the cat would be unable to answer.

“No, once you have recovered from the transition you will be trained as an Oneiroi. Since you retained your Hectarian abilities you already possess some of the skill, although I doubt you could use them as you are now. I should imagine once you start practising dream waking will take you very little time to master, but it is not the most important thing you need to learn. Your essence is still weak, but there is a great strength within you. I can't wait to see how it develops here.” The cat raced off returning again with another piece of fruit. “Keep this one, just in case. I must go now, shall I wake Seiken for you?”

“No, let him rest. I think I'll explore the garden a little.” She smiled as she tickled the cat beneath his chin. “Thank you.”

* * *

Daniel awoke with a start. He glanced around, straining his vision against the darkness as he tried to locate Zo. He had made it as far as the door when he suddenly realised it could not possibly have been her. It had not been all that long ago he had told Acha he still heard her voice, it remained true to this day. Of course, he knew it had to be nothing more than his imagination; but this time the call had seemed different somehow, stronger.

He released his grip on the door turning to where Acha and Eiji lay, relieved to see he had not woken either of them despite having navigated around them to reach the door. He was thankful that everything remained silent; neither of them stirred, at least they could find peace in their dreams. He grabbed the door handle once more, before stepping out into the cold night. It was better if he got a little air before returning to bed.

As he exited onto the small platform Eiji's home had been constructed on the cold air bit into his exposed flesh. He sat alone with his thoughts in the still of the night wondering at what point this time he had been captured by sleep. He didn't remember the wave of tiredness, nor making his way to bed. Normally he was forewarned and usually had time to counter its stifling aura. When he had realised he was asleep it had already been too late; he had once again been trapped within his nightmares, surrounded by their horror. Then in that one moment he had heard her voice, or at least thought he had. It had been like a small light through the darkness, and everything had frozen. The relentless horrors had been suspended in time until he had woke certain that she was just outside.

* * *

Seiken startled awake, aware that something had changed. He glanced to the bed. Panic filled him as he saw it empty. The cloth, he had once so tenderly placed upon her forehead, now rested in the indentation of the pillow where her head had once lay. He leapt to his feet, checking the floor, his eyes tracing every surface in search of her, but she was gone.

“No,” he whispered, the raw swelling within his throat stilled his words as he slumped to the floor. How could this happen, how could he lose her again? His breath failed him, his heart spreading pain throughout his body with every beat as the understanding began to encompass him. He had barely survived losing her once. It had taken everything he had, every inch of his resolve, to drag himself from that dark place, he could not do it again.

When Night had brought her to him, when he had thought she would awake as an Oneiroi, he had allowed himself to hope, to dream of the life they could have now laws could no longer interfere with their bond. There had been times in the past he had considered crossing into Gaea's star, becoming mortal just to spend his days with her. It was all he had wanted, his only dream. But such a crossing was not possible for him. He could not do what other Oneirois could, he could not choose to become mortal. He could not choose to live in their world.

He knew without a doubt she was part of him, the missing piece of his soul, the only thing that made him complete. That was why the decision to betray her had hurt so much. By letting her die, he had let part of himself die as well, a part he had thought he would never recover. He looked to the bed once more, hoping to see her figure resting within, hoping his vision had been nothing more than an illusion. But it remained empty.

“If you're looking for your lady, she's with Rowmeow.” Seiken turned in alarm hearing the rustling tones from the doorway.

“With… Rowmeow?” He barely managed to force the words through the sigh of relief as he leaned back, and he gave another long slow breath. “How did she seem, is she okay?” He moved towards the flurry of autumnal leaves which had stilled but for the natural blustering movement of its form.

“She seemed a little shaken, but she's in safe hands.”

* * *

“Row!” Seiken barged through the door to Rowmeow's chambers, desperation lining his voice. The room fell into total silence as Seiken felt the eyes of the other elders as they turned to stare at him heavily. He shifted uncomfortably. Rowmeow glanced up from his position at the head of the table. “Sorry, I didn't realise. I didn't mean to—”

“Understandable.” Rowmeow smiled to himself, allowing his own thoughts to stray back to the charming young lady. It was rare he was ever the recipient of such attention, unless it was in a dream, and none had been so gentle. Sadly, for him, no one would even dream of making a fuss of the founder of the Oneiroi race. He was highly respected and treated with nothing more than admiration and awe. “She's in the garden. You have chosen a very nice young lady.” Rowmeow gave a meaningful wink which brought a flush of heat to Seiken's face.

“How is she?” he questioned, forgetting himself.

“Go and see for yourself.” With that Rowmeow turned to the elders. “I must apologise for the interruption. Now as I was saying…” He motioned for Seiken to leave by shaking his paw at him. He did so quietly.

She had not been easy to find. The enormous gardens made up more than a quarter of the area known as Crystenia, but when he laid eyes upon her his breath hitched and his advance stilled.

She sat upon a section of small rocks which could be used as stepping stones across the stream. Her now dripping hair clung to her back and clothes. Her bare feet kicked gently back and forth in the cool water whilst one of her hands traced its surface. Warmth spread through his chest as quickly as the pain had earlier. A smile, the first real smile for a long time, tickled the edge of his lips as he gazed upon her.