The Severaine

Chapter Eight Fenris-1

Chapter Eight

FenrisAcha knelt in the soil of the field, working autonomously to plant this season's crop. It was a beautiful day, the sun shone brightly and not a single cloud darkened the sky. The sound of the wind teased through the nearby trees, its slight chill telling tales of the passing seasons as its refreshing coolness relieved some of the labour's heat. She knew this land well. She knew its moods, its temperament, and it had told her it was ready for the planting. Soon it would be time to harvest the other fields, they had thrived this year. She looked forward to her journey across the waters to present Albeth castle with their share of the harvest, fifty percent, which by royal decree was theirs.

Even after the final seeds were sown, she stayed within the field, listening to the soft tones of birdsong. Dusting down her clothes she began her walk to the small irrigation windmill. She had worked tirelessly perfecting the schedule, ensuring that the windmill only needed to operate once every five days to supply the fields with enough water to sustain the crops. Turning the wooden crank to position the blades to the appropriate direction she released the brake. Slowly it began to turn, drawing the water from the well below.

As she stood watching the blades increase in speed, her thoughts strayed to her father as they often did. This irrigation system was his one and only contribution to the farm. She had sometimes resented how absent he was but now she had discovered his secret she felt proud of him, closer to him.

His frequent absences had initially given her cause for concern with regards to her mother's honour. She had sought evidence of his betrayal one night as he once more sneaked away, but instead of finding a favour belonging to his mistress, she found items similar to those used by the local shaman. They had been carefully hidden within a concealed trapdoor in the small room he so often isolated himself in. She, of course, spoke to no one of her discovery. Clearly her father was working hard. It should be his place to reveal his efforts to his family, and she did not wish to ruin the surprise.

She sat before the well, listening to the sound of the water being forced down through the sloping pipes towards the fields. It was only then her thoughts turned to the world she had left behind.

It was difficult to know whether the world in which she had found herself was nothing more than her imaginings as she tended the field. It was not uncommon for her to lose herself in such daydreams, although the vividness and reality of this one was like none she had encountered before. The small voice in the back of her mind warned her it was more than a dream. It made her question how it had come to pass that she had returned home. Perhaps somehow, her mind had bridged the distance, perhaps in some strange reality she had become both the storyteller and the character, living between the two.

The two eras were not too dissimilar, but here there were fewer towns, more untamed nature, peace and tranquillity. There were but a few taverns, people would work during daylight and take rest in the hours of darkness.

She pulled her wandering mind back as it threatened to once again stray. She grew tired, a part of her now answering the question asked previously of how she came to find herself back in her native time.

Someone called her name, pulling her back from the thoughts of her death as she recalled what it was that had guided her mind here. She rushed to the field's edge to embrace the figure. It was her mother. She knew now the reason she had returned to this time. Her mother's appearance confirmed her fears. She was here because she was dying. She knew, even as her mother held her tightly, that he was consuming the life from her body.

Her mother smiled, speaking once more, yet the voice which once brought comfort now brought fear. The harmonious tones twisted, distorted to unrecognisable sounds. Acha pulled back, trying to flee the embrace, yet her mother seized her, gripping and shaking her shoulders in a way that seemed anything but comforting. The distorted voice raised as she lashed out in an attempt to defend herself from the painful grip of the twisted figure who now stood in her mother's stead. The scenery began to darken, the fields dulled, and nothingness raced towards her at an alarming pace as all that she knew began to fade into this all-consuming void.

Acha screamed striking out once more. The twisted image before her fading, her eyes staring fearfully into Eiji's as she continued to lash out at him. Despite this he never faltered, never released his firm grip on her shoulders as he shook her gently calling her name.

“Acha, thank the Gods, are y' all right?” He released his grip, pulling back as he became aware of her breath on his face.

“What happened?” she groaned, rubbing the back of her head, and it seemed to throb violently with every beat of her heart. But Eiji was near, it made the pain more bearable. There was something about being close to him that eased her pain. She moved her hand to her lips as she recalled jumbled fragments of the events. She glanced around, panic rising as more fragments surfaced from her clouded mind. Her vision panned the area to find Fenris on the floor beside her, motionless, the distortion and shadows from the fractured realm no longer visible.

“I was hopin' y' could tell me. Where's Cardow, who's that, what happened here?” He glanced across to Daniel, who was still studying the golden-haired man intently. “That's him.” She gestured before returning her hand to the forming lump on the back of her head. “He used some form of mind control to project the other person into others' thoughts. I don't think it worked on me quite as well because my consciousness doesn't really belong to this body.” Daniel stood taking in the details of the room. “He was going to kill me,” she whispered. “He didn't want me to tell anyone he had Chrissie. He was going to alter your memories like he did with Ed. He was going to erase me from them as well.”

“No one could do that,” Eiji asserted, but his words were lost as Daniel voiced his own question.

“How did you stop him?” Daniel offered her a hand to her feet. Her head spun as weakness threatened her balance.

“I think my curse saved me,” she answered, casting her vision to her gloved hands. She was always very careful in the way she dressed, she had to be certain no one would come into contact with her.

When she first became aware of the curse bestowed upon her by her father's incomplete incantation, she was certain she would never owe it thanks. Her powers killed, they stripped life from all she touched and even things she did not. If her body needed energy it would simply take it from whatever sources were around, even her friends. She feared to consider how many years she had unknowingly stripped from them. There was only one exception, one time when her power seemed within control, and that was when she was near Eiji.

“Are y' sure y' all right?” Eiji questioned again. She had started to feel a little steadier on her feet now, she gave a nod in response, an action that reminded her of the injury she had sustained and the dull ache accompanying it. “Then I guess we try t'find Chrissie.”

“What should we do with him?” Daniel motioned towards the figure still lying across the floor. He had a vague understanding of the situation now. Everything had been such a panic, they had charged through the door expecting to mount a rescue of sorts, but instead had found the two figures unconscious. Acha pinned beneath the stranger they now knew to be Fenris. “I don't think we can just—”

“He should be out for a while. There's more than enough time for us to leave,” Acha answered. There was something in Daniel's tone she hadn't quite liked, something cold.

“We shouldn't just leave him… I mean…” Acha and Eiji looked to Daniel as he spoke. He wasn't sure why they didn't share his concern about leaving such a person alive. Seeing their expressions, he knew it was unwise to continue. “I guess we're a lot of things, but not killers, but still… I don't like the idea of him waking up before we're gone.” He gave a silent sigh, perhaps if they had been more open to taking a life they wouldn't face this situation now. He was certain if she hadn't prized people's lives so much, they never would have destroyed her, and she certainly wouldn't be dead. He didn't want to take unnecessary risks, not anymore, not with their lives.

“Y' right,” Eiji stated rummaging through his bag before producing a rope.

“Will it—” Acha froze, she felt herself fading into darkness, losing all that she was. He was powerful indeed and her touch did not come without a price. His memories were surfacing, his personality threatened to eclipse her own. She heard his voice speaking as she saw through his eyes. The images she normally received with the touch of another had altered. This time she not only saw the images, she became him…

…“I doubt even Lady Elaineor could crack my safe in under an hour.” As Fenris spoke Acha recognised the figure he was addressing. It seemed that Marise had crossed paths with many. Looking at the red-haired figure that sat before him, she was not too much younger than Zoella when they had first met. It seemed this must have happened not too long before her arrival on Crowley. It was a strange feeling, she was living the memory as Fenris, but part of her remained conscious in the back of his mind allowing her to have such thoughts as she watched. The figure before him leaned back in the chair crossing one leg above the other slowly. Her posture gave nothing away, but Acha knew that Fenris was aware of her deception, her ploy to buy time for her partner. “Allow me to show you, tell me, what is it you seek?” He smiled, offering her a hand to her feet. She accepted it with the grace of a lady, an action that Acha had thought her incapable of.

“Your dragon scale,” Marise answered slowly, watching for any form of reaction.

“Ah, a fine choice, come this way, then.” He led her around his mansion. “You're wondering how I knew you were Lord Blackwood's, yes?” Marise nodded, although her posture clearly indicated that she hated to be thought of as his in any way. “He has a loose tongue, although I doubt even he himself knows the implications he speaks.”

“Who else knows?” she questioned firmly, the annoyance in her tone prevalent despite her obvious attempt to soften it. As they descended into the lower levels of the mansion he glanced briefly towards a blue-haired figure concealed expertly within the room. So expertly that although Acha couldn't see her, she knew she was there. It was Elly, but the name in his thoughts was Lain.

“Perhaps Shari, but you have quite a following Marise, and you need not fear him. Lord Blackwood dotes on you, such an obsession is unhealthy.”

“This from someone who acts out his—” He raised his hand silencing her with a word.

“Touché.” He made his way in silence to the far end of the room, where, embedded in the rock, the entrance to an enormous vault stood. Approaching the large steel door, he carefully dialled the digits, and as he opened it Acha felt his surprise at finding the next six seals had already been breached. “Master thieves could not hope to open even one in a lifetime. I see your skills are still sharp.” Elly stepped from the shadows walking slowly towards him as she spoke.

“You have done well concealing your identity. Even my sources returned with no news of your whereabouts. No hair, some extra pounds. It would appear few know of this ability.” She patted his rounded belly smiling. “Quite impressive.” Marise looked from Cardow to Elly waiting for the explanation that was bound to follow.

“Lain, young and beautiful as always I see. Fate is so unkind; you remain forever young while I wither and die.” His hands passed over his balding head as if to emphasise the statement.