Ethereal

~Marcie~

When I awoke, Dominiv was sitting by my bed.

"Eh!" I sat up quickly and threw a pillow at him.

He laughed and tossed it away. "Do not worry, fair maiden. I have only been here for a moment. I am to inform you that breakfast is ready." he winked and strode out of the room.

I looked over at Charlotte's bed. It was empty, and neatly made.

Deca buzzed in my ear happily as I got up and made my way to the kitchen. Grebon and Ashan were sitting at the table, and Haiga was cooking something with a lot of smoke. Dominiv leaned against a wall, sharpening a small, cruel dagger.

"Morning," I mumbled, rubbing sleep from my eyes.

Grebon looked up and nodded, and Haiga waved her spoon at me cheerfully.

"Where is Charlotte?" I wanted to know, taking a seat across from the stoic Ashan. He was bent over a map, brow furrowed.

"Oh, she and that handsome young officer are off with Lida." Haiga shook her spoon at me. "And they best not be getting into any shenanigans."

"Shenanigans?" I turned at Charlotte's voice to see her coming through another curtain. She was muddy and grinning, and Tennin came after her, carrying a scythe, and Lida skipped happily past them, running up to Haiga with her arms full of a bluish grass.

"Don't act so innocent," I snorted, turning back to the table and looking down at my breakfast. It was an interesting-looking pancake type thing, and I poked it warily before shrugging and taking a large bite.

Ashan looked up from his map suddenly. "You're supposed to--"

I choked, realizing my mistake too late. The doughy substance burned my mouth, setting it on fire as it dissolved. I reached forward shakily for water, gasping as it burned my tongue.

"Ouch," Grebon said, getting up to pour me more from the jug. Ashan sat up and watched me anxiously and I chugged the water, trying to get rid of the burning sensation.

"Oh dear, did she--" Haiga peered over the smoke towards us.

"Yes," Ashan stood and came over to stand beside me, tilting my chin up and gazing down at my mouth. I pushed his hand away.

From the corner, Dominiv was watching carefully.

"I'm fine," I lied, coughing. My mouth still felt charred. "What is in these pancakes?"

Charlotte laughed. "They're definitely not pancakes."

Lida waked over and handed me a strand of the long bluish grass.

I took it from her and stared.

"Here," Charlotte giggled, reaching over and trailing it over the not-a-pancake. It coated the piece of grass in a doughy looking substance.

I looked at her suspiciously. "And you know this how...?"

She laughed, and Tennin gave a small smile. "We had breakfast a looong time ago. It's almost midday. I can't believe you're finally awake--it's like you were drugged or something."

I couldn't ignore Dominiv's smirk.

Ashan walked away from me as Charlotte and Tennin sat down. Dominiv sauntered over to the table and pulled out the scroll from his coat pocket, taking a seat across from Grebon.

"Now, we know what is to be done," He said, nodding at Ashan. Ashan raised his head and fixed him with a piercing glare.

Charlotte nodded as well. "The Egas."

"Someone catch me up," I said quickly, feeling out of it.

"We have to find the Egas of Lodorvrin." Dominiv said, spreading the scroll out on the table.

I leaned forward, studying it eagerly. But it was covered with an unintelligible smattering of scribbles and markings, of which I could not discern any resemblance of a pattern.

I sat back, disappointed. I had been excited to interpret and decode the scroll of the Zadax, but even I had to admit it was just gibberish. None of my knowledge of symbols or cryptology helped me in the least.

"But I thought you said a Seer would be able to translate it?" Ashan said carefully, looking from me to Dominiv.

Dominiv let out a small chuckle. "Oh please. That was only a ploy to keep the Descar dogs from killing her."

"But being a Seer must account for something," Charlotte mused. She looked at me.

I shrugged. "I got nothing."

"It does not matter. We are going to the Egas." Dominiv said firmly. "He is the wisest man in all of Lodorvrin. There is not a scrap of knowledge that escapes his mind."

Tennin made a disbelieving sound. "And you really think a native Lodorvrin will have intimate knowledge of the hidden codes of the most secretive, clandestine organization the Underneath has ever known?"

Ashan laughed with him. I met Charlotte's gaze. There was no denying the tension between the Sub-Terra boys and this Prince of Lodorvrin. Somehow, the jokes escaped us, but it was obvious there was enmity between them.

"Boys, boys. Seriously." I looked at Ashan pointedly. Tennin just kept laughing, and even Charlotte began to smile.

"It is a bit pretentious to assume this...Egas knows about a Zadax code. What makes you think he can decode this scroll for us?"

Dominiv stood up and leaned over the table. His face was very close to mine and he stared at me intently. I felt my face flush as everyone at the table turned their gaze to us.

"Because," he said very slowly, aware of the effect his unnecessary closeness was having on me. "What other choice do we have?"

He winked.

Ashan cleared his throat and Dominiv sat back down slowly, still meeting my eyes with a slight smile. I frowned, and waved a hand in front of my face, brushing away red tendrils. Charlotte gave me a strange look.

"We could always return to the tomb, and search for a key that the Zadax may have left--"

Dominiv shook his head.

Tennin made an exasperated noise and stood up, his chair scraping against the floor. "I grow tired of your pretentiousness. You assume to know more about the Zadax than the head officer of the Order?"

Ashan stood as well, and crossed his arms, staring at Dominiv. "I am beginning to wonder why we keep you alive at all. You've done nothing but cross us at every turn, and it's no secret you're far from the side of Sub-Terra." He walked towards Dominiv and narrowed his eyes down at him. "I can only wonder, what keeps you here? Far from beloved Lodorvrin? Your theory that the Koreask can be used more than once is heresy and unbelievable. You have no reason to stay."

Dominiv did not stand, only met Ashan's gaze with a small smile. "At least I'm still a Prince."

Tennin made a growling noise in the back of his throat, Ashan drew his sword and Charlotte stood.

Somehow, I found myself standing next to Dominiv.

Everyone stared at me. Charlotte and Ashan had their swords drawn, Tennin's hand was on his, Grebon's spoon was halfway to his mouth, and whatever Haiga was cooking was burning.

"He..." I faltered. I couldn't remember standing up, but being by Dominiv somehow seemed like the place to be.

"You just...appeared," Charlotte said incredulously. She stared at me. I looked around. No one was moving, and they were all looking at me.

Dominiv stood and put a hand on my shoulder. Ashan made a growling noise.

"Friends, friends, there is no reason to fight." Dominiv looked at Ashan levelly. "Show some kindness, for a poor Prince who is far away from his homeland..."

I didn't know what I was doing. I didn't know why I was still standing by him. Yet it felt wrong to stand with the others--they were glaring at Dominiv, staring him down.

I made my decision and stepped forward. "Why is Lodorvrin the enemy?"

Ashan just stared at me. Tennin frowned. Grebon tilted his head to the side. Charlotte lowered her sword.

"Why is Lodorvrin the enemy," I said slowly, standing by Dominiv's side. "While Sub-Terra is our friend?" I looked at Charlotte, and then turned my gaze to Ashan.

"Why should we trust you, our captors," I said slowly, taking a step towards him. "Over someone who has given us a sacred sword--" I pointed at Charlotte. "A Zadax scroll, possibly saved my life, and is now offering to take us to someone who can help us understand Charlotte's power." I took the scroll from the table and rolled it up, pushing it into my sleeve. I felt a strange energy as it hummed against my arm, and I looked around the room, almost daring someone to take it from me.

Tennin narrowed his eyes. "Why are you suddenly on this dog's side?"

There was a gasp from the kitchen. We all turned to see Haiga, one hand over her mouth, the other holding the spoon, pointing at me.

"Twisted," She murmured, pointing the spoon at me and Dominiv in turn. "Let her free, trickster. You have no business coloring her."

Dominiv started to laugh. Charlotte looked from Haiga to me, watching my expression carefully.

I stood my ground as Haiga came towards us, squinting at Dominiv and I. I squirmed uncomfortably. How could I forget that she was a Seer? Of course. She had noticed the threads of red, twisting around me even now. I finally took a step away from Dominiv.

She shook her spoon at him threateningly. "Let go. Nothing good will ever come of deceit."

Ashan stepped forward now, drawing his sword. He held it level, pointed at Dominiv's throat. "What is she speaking of?" He said through gritted teeth.

Dominiv just chuckled, and put an arm around me. Although I shook it off, I still did not move away from him again.

"You would do best to watch this one," Haiga said, pointing her spoon in my face. I blinked. "He won't let you go, understand? Set yourself free, little one. While you still can."

Now, Grebon stood. "Mother," He said gently, taking Haiga's elbow. He carefully pulled her away from Ashan's blade, still poised unwaveringly at Dominiv's throat.

"What is going on?" Charlotte carefully placed her sword over Ashan's, lowering it. But his grip was still tense around the handle, as he stared at Dominiv.

"Lodorvrin is trying to corrupt our Seer," Tennin said lightly. He stepped towards Charlotte, fixing Dominiv with a penetrating gaze.

At his words, I felt flames of anger stir inside me. Strangely, Dominiv's aura was ever calm and tranquil, still trailing threads of hazy red around me. Again, I instinctively brushed a hand in front of my face, as if to clear them.

"There," Tennin pointed, raising a hand towards me. I looked at him confusedly.

"He is entrancing you," Ashan's eyes lit up. He took a step towards us, bringing up his sword again.

"It is not easy to cloud the eyes of a Seer," Tennin remarked, looking at Dominiv. "What powers are you hiding?"

I did not turn to look at Dominiv, but I glared at Tennin. "You seem very ready to accuse him," I hissed. "And yet wasn't it you who kept Charlotte 'entranced'? How long did it take you to tell her your real story?"

Charlotte frowned.

Ashan raised his sword again, putting it dangerously close to Dominiv's neck. I turned to see him do nothing, only grin maliciously.

"There is no denying he has you under a spell," Ashan said angrily, staring down Dominiv.

"But what can we do?" Charlotte said desperately.

"Stop!" I yelled. Violet sparks shot out of my fingertips and Dominiv smiled wider.

I looked at each of them in turn, seething. Haiga and Grebon had left the room, and Dominiv and I were faced with the stony glares of Ashan, Tennin and Charlotte. My heart was racing as a purple mist began to pool around my feet.

Ashan took a step back, then another, as it grew. Dominiv chuckled softly.

A tendril of purple shot out and caught Ashan around the leg. Suddenly the smoke rose, and the two of us were surrounded in a violet maelstrom that glittered wickedly.

"If you don't believe me," I said softly, gazing at Ashan. "Then I will have to show you."

I took his hand, and we descended into Memory.

This time, it was I who held the book. I took a deep breath and turned back a page to last night.

Couldn't stay away, could you?


Ashan watched mutely as the past unfolded. Dominiv and I, in the huge underground room, speaking, until he took a step closer and kissed me. I saw Ashan wince.

Grimly, I raised a hand, and brought it down in a swishing motion. Suddenly the scene was illuminated with the light of our auras. I stood next to Ashan and watched myself in the past, Dominiv's pulsing red intertwining with my colors, beating with my heart, but never touching my mind.

"You see," I said softly, watching the scene unfold, past me stepping away from Dominiv as we heard Charlotte's voice. "It was only my heart that was entranced." I turned to look at Ashan, and he wouldn't meet my gaze. He simply stared straight ahead.

"Whatever I have done..." I murmured, closing the book. The mist reappeared, and we slowly rejoined the present. "...it was of my own accord."

The mist dissipated, and we found ourselves back in the soft room, Charlotte and Tennin looking at us incredulously and Dominiv leaning against a wall, arms crossed and smirking slightly.

"What--" Tennin still had out his sword, and he looked at Ashan, frowning

Ashan simply looked at him. I couldn't see his expression, but there was something shared between the two boys, because Tennin simply sheathed his sword and put a hand on Charlotte's arm. She lowered hers as well, looking at me strangely.

"Discord," Dominiv murmured. "How will this motley band ever make it to Yorsvrin?"

I whirled around and pointed my finger at his face. "This is all your fault,"

He grinned and put a hand on my finger, lowering it. "It takes two to kiss."

Charlotte gasped and Tennin put his hand on his sword again.

I sighed. Suddenly, I felt very tired. Dominiv shrugged and sat down again, pulling up the map Ashan had been gazing at. I still could not see Ashan's face, and I sat down as well, on the other side of the table from Dominiv.

We were there in silence for a moment. And then, I think everyone realized there was a job to be done. Everyone took their seats once more, and without speaking, we set to work.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The road to Yorsvrin would be treacherous. Dominiv had trailed a thin line of ink on the map, showing the crisscrossings and the complicated routes. We had all turned it this way and that, trying to find different paths, but it was clear to us that if we wanted to see this Egas, there was a long journey ahead.

"But I have to know," Charlotte had said, as we pulled on dark, practical clothing in our little room. "It's the only clue we have as to what I am."

I had to agree with her. Until now, we only had shades of a prophecy--a few muttered rhymes without sense or reason. Now, we had in our possession something that could potentially tell us exactly what Charlotte was--and, well, what she was supposed to do.

"What I still don't understand, is why you're so bitter." Charlotte pulled on a leather arm guard that Haiga had laid out for us. "At every turn, especially recently, you're so cold to Ashan..."

"I'm not cold to Ashan," I sighed, pulling on a pair of dark boots. "I'm cold to all of Sub-Terra."

Charlotte waited.

"It's like this," I muttered, tying the strap of my belt. "Since we got here, almost immediately we discovered what you are--and we're still trying to figure it out. But Sub-Terra, they just assume everything." I jerked the strap tightly. "They assume you're going to save their city, be their Koreask." I looked up at Charlotte. "What if they're the bad guys? Why can't we find out more about the other kingdoms, find out who really needs to be saved?"

Charlotte turned away from me. "I'm tired of it,"

I sat down on the bed. "Tired of what."

"Of people not asking my opinion." Charlotte tied the laces of her boots tightly. "Of being objectified. Of being...manipulated."

I looked down, realizing the error of my words. "Charlotte, I didn't mean--"

"I know what you meant," she said, still facing away from me. "You want to do your research, find out about the kingdoms. Whatever. But you're just like everyone else sometimes." She turned to look a me before she ducked under the curtain. "You forget that, in the end, it is my decision."

I sat stock still for a moment, before falling backwards onto the bed with a groan.

I put my hands up to my face. What had I done? I had gotten got up in the intrigue and the politics of this place. Had I already forgotten what was important?

"Let's be on our way," Tennin called from the main room. I sighed and slung my pack over my shoulder, and pushed the curtain aside.

Everyone was already ready. Charlotte, with a beautiful leather sheath at her side, and Fear curling around her legs, Tennin, looking battle-ready, if not prepared for travel, and Ashan, with the map tucked carefully into his pocket.

And Dominiv, who never seemed to require human resources, with a glittering aura and a careless smile.

I looked down and rubbed my neck, slightly embarrassed to see all of them. I felt out of place and unprepared, even as Deca hummed in my ear and the scroll vibrated against my arm.

"Wait," I said suddenly, as everyone turned towards the curtain that led to the underground tree room. They stopped and looked at me.

I turned and ran back through the peach curtain and past my bed. I stepped up to the curtain behind which I had changed after first arriving here--after pulling it aside, I saw that what I was looking for was still there--the shard of Kriskan rain.

I reached forward and wrenched it out of the wall. The roots had grown around it, curving themselves around it, and forming a handle, almost. I held the dagger in my palm and turned it over in my hands for a moment, before walking out to the others.

Ashan took a step forward when he saw the weapon in my hand. "Put that down."

"No," I said firmly. I met his gaze. It felt right. This object, that had harmed me, would now help me. My back still burned from it's wound, but it fit into my hand like it belonged. I placed it carefully in my belt and started towards the curtain.

There was a hand on my shoulder and a voice in my ear. "Every weapon must have a name,"

"Kindness," I said to Dominiv. I glanced back at Ashan as I stepped through the curtain and he met my gaze. "They always say you should kill people with Kindness."