The Severaine

Chapter Eight Fenris-2

“Wither and die?” She laughed. “Tell me, why the change?” she questioned as he removed the scale from the vault, he was still surprised at her speed. He had allowed Marise to distract him for only as long as was necessary to obtain what he had wanted from her, yet only two of his seals remained intact. He leaned the scale against the wall as Elly tossed him a small bag that she had, until this point, kept secured on her belt. “I have saved this for you.”

“I thought you said your sources…” Acha felt the amusement in his mind. Lain had always known where to find him, even if he didn't want to be found.

“They could not locate you,” she confirmed, glancing at Marise. “So how did she fare?” Elly questioned, knowing all too well Fenris would not have resisted the temptation. “Was it Loki who told you we were coming?”

“Caught on both counts.” He smiled. “What can I say? Libidinous old man doesn't really suit me, but it sates the urges.” He gave a shrug. “If you didn't know I was here, why bring this?” He peered into the bag smiling. “I left because the hunter was getting too close, there were a few complications. I thought it time to take a more active role in society, thus Cardow was born, he serves me well.” He looked at Elly giving her a boyish smile. “As for how far I got, she is mine.” He smiled as his vision returned to Marise.

“Prove it,” Elly challenged. There was a surprise in her tone that indicated that part of her did not believe whatever truth she had been told. Marise looked concerned, there was a hidden meaning in Elly's eyes as she spoke her next words. “Mari, on your guard,” she warned, almost as if she believed doing so would have any effect on the outcome. With a single glance, Marise collapsed to the floor…

…Acha opened her eyes, aware both Daniel and Eiji stared at her. It took a few seconds as she looked upon the bound figure to remember exactly who she was. She was not him. Never before had she experienced anything like this. She had grown accustomed to the quick paced images that flooded her senses when contact was made with the flesh of another. The longer she observed their past, the more recent the memories became. She knew from her first experience with her curse, that should she witness their encounter the result was their death. The fact these images plagued her now came as a concern, but one she attempted to justify as her inability to have witnessed these events when her own life-force anticipated death.

“Are you okay?” Daniel asked, his voice holding all the genuine concern reflected on his features. Acha rubbed her forehead, normally such sharing of memories didn't hurt either. She knew nothing good could come of this strange effect.

“Elly and Marise were here,” she revealed, and only as she heard herself say these words did she realise she had spoken.

“Recently?” Daniel asked, his vision searched their surroundings, his jaw clenched at the mere mention of her name.

“No, I think it was a few years back,” she answered as she began to lead the way around the mansion, explaining all that she had seen.

* * *

Chrissie blinked. For a moment she wondered where she was, but darkness masked even her own limbs in its all-encompassing prison. There was no light, nothing, not even a glimmer through a crack or join. Through the haze things slowly started to return to her. Something had altered. She felt more like herself than she had for however long she had been a prisoner here. It could have been days, weeks, or months, but it was all just a blur of semi-awareness and confusion.

The cell itself was as long as the small stone bench she sat on. She stretched up. If she stood on the bench she could reach the metal bars overhead. She wasn't sure why she was now taking in her surroundings through touch. The regular visits from Cardow had ensured she had seen all of the room she wanted to. There was more than just the one prison within this space, but as yet the other four that joined onto hers from either side remained empty. During the time spent with illumination she would stare through the adjoining bars, wondering if any had a weakness that would allow an escape.

She knew it would not be long before Cardow would return. At various times he would allow her light, bringing a torch and leaving it to burn. She would be allowed brief glimpses of freedom from this prison, but each time this approached her dulled mind would ignore her pleas to flee and instead obey his every whim. It was almost as if she had no will, no control over the actions her body took, and yet her will was not bound by any slavers' enchantment she could see. When he appeared, she was simply powerless to fight him, powerless to do anything but obey his orders.

He must have a purpose for her, aside from the hours spent within this confined darkness. She was not poorly treated, she was fed and even bathed. He either needed her for something or had to ensure her health. Whatever the reason, this prison here was no different to the one her body had become.

Through these walls she could hear the comings and goings of all who visited. She had heard his most recent guests arrive, but there was something about the muffled conversation that seemed unusual. Her thoughts stilled as she heard footsteps above. This wasn't right, feeding occurred in silence, there was never any interruption.

For the first time since her incarceration she seemed to have full control over herself, over her voice, and so, hearing the noise above she did something anyone in her situation would, she called for help. Her voice, hoarse at first, soon gained power as she rattled the bars with all her might hoping, praying, they would hear her. The worst her captor could do was make her submit to the silence again. He couldn't kill her, after all, it seemed she was needed alive.

* * *

It was a strange blessing that Acha was experiencing fragments of Fenris' memories. Thanks to her insight they knew it was indeed Chrissie they could now hear crying out. Acha had led them through the furthest door exiting the reception room as if she had walked the halls many times. A number of closed doors spanned the grand hallways, but it was the large arch at its end she guided them towards.

The large room was reminiscent of a library, housing numerous shelves of books on topics and matters Acha knew were best left unmentioned. The rich dark mahogany bookcases were a contrast to the white walls, which seemed a continuous feature through the entirety of this building. By the large bay window stood a desk, heavy with parchment where council matters were attended to in the guise of Cardow. Light streamed in from high windows, causing this room to be illuminated by the gentle silvery light of the moon. It was a haunting sight, one vanquished as Acha stepped inside, autonomously operating a simple switch to bathe the area in illumination found in the form of unfamiliar lighting above.

Near the door where they entered was a large table, and around it stood several fine wooden chairs where Acha knew the districts' governors would meet to address matters of importance. It was here at the head of the table, a place reserved solely for Fenris, she now sat. The remainder of the room stood empty, allowing anyone within to behold the prized collections found lining these walls.

She could hear the desperate pleas which seemed to rise from the stone tiled floor of the room. Yet now they were here, there was no apparent means of access to the room below. She willed the young woman to be silent and was confused for a moment as the noise persisted.

Thanks to Acha's insight they had discovered the reasoning behind Chrissie's abduction. She was needed, by Blackwood of all people, to become one of his 'special ones'. But aside from the importance, nothing further had been gained into exactly who they were, or their purpose. Whether that was a deliberate concealment by Acha, or simply information she had no access to, was impossible to discern. After revealing Chrissie's purpose, she had become strangely quiet, almost as if she had betrayed a secret, and if she knew how to access the hidden dungeon beneath them it was information she seemed unable to share.

Acha sat at the table nursing her head as Daniel and Eiji explored the room in search of a concealed entrance. They searched the shelves, behind the books, their fingers exploring anything and everything which could possibly conceal a door. But still they found nothing. Acha let out a gasp, the pressure of her fingers upon her head increased as her eyes began to glaze. She had that look again, the one she got each time before she gave them something more to work with. But this news was not what they had hoped for.

“I think it's a gate only he can reveal and open.” She leaned forward on the table, resting her head the best she could. She closed her eyes as she tried to fight back the throbbing pain. It wasn't the injury that caused her such torment, it was Fenris. His memories were too strong, he had too many.

“Then we will just have to make our own entrance then,” Daniel insisted as he began to examine the contents of his satchel for anything that could be of use. He had sold most of its contents now, keeping only those he felt he couldn't part with. But every time he looked inside, every time he needed their help, he was forced to recall their creator. He slipped a few of the phials into the loops on his belt and continued searching. He fingered through the potions, poisons, mists, antidotes, bottled compounds, and acids. But there was nothing, not even the acid would break through the stone floor they stood on. Eiji, however, knew exactly what he could do.

“Stand back,” he commanded moving to stand in the exact centre of the room. Closing his eyes, he visualised his desire. The ground beneath his feet began to tremble, the air grew thick, moist as the water molecules within grew heavy. He drew the water from the terrain, gathering its power beneath his feet before pulling it through the ground. The powerful flow rose up through the prison, breaking the floor at his feet.

He opened his eyes slowly releasing his will, this visualisation, into the world. He waited for the water to break through. He waited and waited, but nothing happened.

A sense of dread washed over him as the screams below fell silent. He felt the heat rise to his face as he thought over the consequences. Something had happened, he felt the energy answer his call, but the result had not been the one he had expected. He calmed his mind, the water still felt heavy in the air around them, but aside from that, he could not feel the results of his request.

“Daniel…” he began, panic welling within him as a trickle of sweat sent a shudder down his spine. Images of the room below flooded with water played on his mind. The air seemed to thicken, grow heavier beyond the imagined pressure of his fear. The temperature plummeted, and water created from air formed crystals before his confused gaze. Their breath caused the suspended snow to melt before their wary eyes. The sound of playful laughter rang clear, carrying like any sound across an open field in the height of winter. The clear chiming sounds like that of merry bells, and with that sound, time, seemingly frozen, began to move. The delicate flakes began to fall, caught in their own currents as they tumbled through the air.