The Severaine

Chapter Eight Fenris-3

A shiver crossed Eiji's back, it felt as if something had reached out to touch him. Its playful fingers sent icy tingles where their forms had briefly met. He turned, almost swearing he saw a slender figure fading into the air as the snow began to melt from the movements it forged. The laughter came again, jovial, childlike, and once again he saw the water before him take form, one it managed to maintain for slightly longer. The water in the air a threshold, but one that could not yet fully be crossed.

The snow and water now sped, spiralling in constant movement as if the concealed figures were responsible for the complex weavings. The liquid melded, knitting tighter, creating form from none until three figures stood amongst them. Figures crafted of ice and water, yet as solid as flesh. Their movements were as fluid as the element as their dance continued. Their hair, like their clothes was spun from fine wisps, threads of ice and water. Their near-transparent gowns were a silver-blue, catching both the natural moonlight and that cast upon them from the lighting above. Their pale flesh shimmered in the light and, as they grew more solid still, strange dark markings became visible upon their skin.

They span and danced, their dance as hypnotic as the ocean at night, comforting and alluring as their feminine forms teased the very air around them until finally they were within reach of each other. Their hands joined as they danced gleefully around Eiji, who stood now at the centre of their circle.

“Nymphs?” Daniel uttered in surprise. His voice seemed unheard by those who now lavished their attention on his friend. Eiji blushed as the icy fingers traced his chest, each one seeming to wish to touch him. His face burned with such heat, he wondered how creatures formed of such delicate composition could bear to be so near to him. The figure behind him stepped forwards, draping her arm around him from behind. He could feel the coolness of her body against his as she brought her other hand up to tease her fingers through his hair.

“Erm, water nymphs it seems.” He coughed in an attempt to conceal his embarrassment. He rubbed his hand through his hair, a polite attempt to remove the contact. With this single movement he was released, and their dance began once more.

“I'm Thálassa, and these are my sisters, Págos and Nero.” Her voice was reminiscent of moving tides, a babbling brook, and marine life, the tones forming words just distinguishable as the human dialect, yet a single glance from them allowed a depth of understanding beyond sound. She once more stood behind him, while her sisters moved to stand at either side, their hands never still, nor away from him. “It has been a long time since one of your kind has summoned us. What is it we can do for you hmm?” Eiji blushed again, as Thálassa spoke she moved to stand before him, looping her arms around his neck, her face just inches before his own. So close he could feel her cool breath upon his burning face.

“We're trying to get below.” Acha finally broke the long silence, which seemed to stretch on as Daniel and Eiji failed to find their voices. Her tones were harsh. It seemed both men were too interested in the figures before them to recall why they were actually in the house.

“Is that all?” Págos pouted, approaching Acha. She leaned forwards her hands reaching out to touch her. Acha moved away quickly, avoiding the unwelcome touch. The three moved to the centre of the room. “Oh fine,” she sulked, her light steps returning her to the centre of the room where she stood with her sisters.

Their dance resumed, the rhythmic swaying of their bodies now accompanied by the unusual harmonies of their song. When their hands joined it became impossible to see where one of these enchanting figures ended and another began. The pounding of their timely steps were reminiscent of rain and waterfalls as the floor beneath the three began to yield to their presence. The ground became saturated, their steps now creating the beat to which they moved, their bodies beginning to once more grow transparent.

“Next time we want something from you in return.” They spoke in unison, their final step causing what remained of their physical presence to dissipate into a fine rain. The area around where they had danced became darker, giving birth to entry into the chamber below.

“Amazing!” Daniel exclaimed, dropping to the floor to examine the hole. “This kind of erosion would take years, decades…” He turned his focus to Eiji. “I didn't know you could call nature spirits.”

“No… me, either, I'm not sure I did, as y' know, I can only do what I'm taught and I was not taught that. So anyway,” he cleared his throat, realising his voice still expressed the tones of his embarrassment, “shall we? I brought a fair bit of rope from Collateral,” he said in a slightly deeper, almost forced tone.

Chrissie squinted against the light which now illuminated the area around her. She had been in the darkness so long she found keeping her eyes open difficult. She shielded her vision against the brightness, trying to see what was happening above. She had felt an unmistakable energy before the hole had appeared. Even she couldn't even begin to imagine the skills her rescuers would need to not only defeat her captor, but to create such a powerful discharge in the air.

Her adjusting eyes saw a dark figure begin its descent down the opening. It paused briefly, no doubt as they examined the area. Despite there being a number of small prisons, she was the only person within this dark dungeon.

“Chrissie?” Daniel questioned as he approached the small cage. The figure within the cell kept its distance remaining hidden within the shadows and far from reach. Despite their intention to rescue her she remained cautious. Acha and Eiji waited above, securing the rope and keeping a close watch on their surroundings should anything else unexpected occur.

“Who are you?” she questioned quietly. At this very moment who, or even what, they were made little difference, as long as they removed her from these bars, anything else she could address afterwards. She watched him cautiously as he studied something attached to his belt before producing a small phial.

“My name's Daniel Eliot, we're here to rescue you,” he announced. His mind briefly filled with the image of Sir Earnest riding to their rescue on his white steed. He cringed, releasing a slight sigh.

“What about Cardow?” Unlike her previous question, this one was tainted with urgency. Should he discover their intentions he would surely kill them.

“You may want to stand back from the door,” Daniel warned, and he waited while the shadow moved upon the stone bench. “Cardow… or Fenris shouldn't bother us for a while,” he answered feeling the metal bars for the door hinges. When his fingers found them the applied a small amount of the phial's contents to each of them. The air was filled with a sizzling sound as the liquid made contact. It was only a matter of moments before the door collapsed backwards with an almighty crash. The sound echoed and vibrated through the darkened walls. Should there been anyone in the vicinity such a noise was bound to attract their attention. They had no time to waste. He extended his hand into the cage, relieved when he felt her cold shaking hand take his. “Are you all right?”

“I am now,” she whispered, accepting his help from the tiny prison. Once beside him she touched his arm gently. “How did you find me?”

“It was something Ed said,” he answered with a smile.

“Ed sent you? I thought Fenris… never mind.” She stood just outside the circle of light looking up to the hole. “I can't climb ropes,” she apologised as Daniel motioned her towards it.

“I'll go first then, once I'm up, attach it around your waist and we'll pull you up.” She smiled, thanking him.

Once Daniel had disappeared from sight she did as instructed and soon found herself within the library. After dusting herself down and taking her first deep clear breath of the fresh air, she attempted to smarten her appearance.

Chrissie's hair was unusual. It was two-toned, the bottom layers a rich brunette, whereas the layers which fell on top were a delicate shade of silver. Her hazel eyes searched the room until they rested on Eiji.

“You're an Elementalist,” they both stated in unison. Eiji smiled and waited for an answer.

“Not as such, no… but you—”

“I'm in trainin',” he interrupted before she could get any further. “I was released not t'long ago… So what did Cardow, erm… Fenris,” he corrected, “want with y', and what exactly are the special ones?” Eiji questioned, direct as always.

“Your guess is as good as mine on that. One minute I was on my way home from the capital after getting a gift for Megan, it was her birthday…” She shook her head. “Never mind, you don't want to know about that. So I was on my way back when I was taken.

“I remember fighting, but then everything went blank.” She paused for a second. “We need to find my family.” Alarm rang in her voice as she realised they were leaving. She stopped walking ensuring they took no further steps towards the exit.

“They're at Oureas' Rest,” Daniel answered.

“No, my real family. I'm an Elementalist so I don't stay with anyone long. I only stay with people in need of help in exchange for a roof. I guess over time some of them do come to think of me as such.”

“Your family are here, too?” Daniel questioned uncertainly.

“Yes, kind of… it's complicated. I can't leave without them.” She looked between Eiji and Daniel before she followed their stares to Acha, after all, they had already searched most of the house.

“I don't know anything about anyone else being here. Come on, we may as well find out the easy way.” Acha led them back to where Fenris still lay bound. She approached him cautiously, removing her glove. Her hand trembled, her head still pounded and bouts of confusion as to who she was played heavily on her mind. But what Chrissie asked had occurred more recently than anything she had seen. She closed her eyes the blur of images which raced through her mind adding to the piercing discomfort. “No, nothing.” Her glove was replaced in an instant. Now she had witnessed his memories until he had reached out to take her within his embrace, she could go no further through his thoughts. “But we don't have much time. It seems he sent an appeal to Lain when his attack on me had unexpected consequences,” she stated, unaware she had called Elly by the name he used, nor had she considered the means he had reached out to her before succumbing to unconsciousness as anything but normal.

“Then she and Marise,” Daniel growled.

“Will be on the way, yes,” Acha finished, almost flinching at the rage she saw reflected in Daniel's eyes at the mention of her name.

“Tell me what you saw,” Chrissie begged. “Everything from when they took me.” As new as the ability to see other people's memories was, she did not question Acha's gift, she had met many talented people in her life.

“You were alone. Everything in your possession but one thing was left on the ground as you followed the command to get into the carriage. You even tried to put up a fight,” she sneered. “I was impressed at something in your possession, so I decided to keep it for my own,” Acha recited unaware she had spoken as if she was Fenris.