As if across the miles the whispers came.
Lift your hair.
She sighed, a bit of fear fell over her as she closed her eyes. Was she ready? She didn't know.
Hands grabbed her shoulders and turned her. He was now behind her. She felt his fingertips trace the back of her neck and wander to the side. She tilted her head, extending her neck to his tender fingers which drew designs upon it. A pause, to feel her heightened pulse. She knew this would bring a smile upon his face. Fingers flowing down to her shoulders and squeezing, to test the tension. This would cause his eyes to furrow.
He kissed the back of her neck as he held the collar before her eyes. "Do you accept this gift I place upon you and all that comes with it?"
Staring at the necklace, her heart felt it was beating out of her chest. A simple design. Several strands of leather. One holding three pearls, another holding a glowing blue emblem. A glistening rough white stone was on the third. Her grandmother had worn a similar one, which she often touched tenderly. Before she passed, she had taken it off and placed it in a sealed box. They had traveled into the depths of the forbidden forest and buried it underneath an old twisted oak tree. Her grandmother had tenderly touched the tree, whispered a few words she could not hear. Tenderly she gathered her into her arms and kissed her forehead. The one who hears its call, will come. Trust him. If he is found worthy, he will guide you.
She wasn't ready. She knew it. A simple word escaping her lips would take her into a darkness she feared. It would trigger a path with which she feared she could not escape from. Her fear was aroused. Her curiosity peaked. The choice was her to make.
The word choked her. She simply nodded.
His voice became stern, but gentle. "I didn't hear you."
She struggled but forced the word to escape her lips. "Yes."
Gently the necklace was placed upon her neck igniting the ember within. Blue flame flowed through her. Triggered... she had bravely face her fear and forced a trigger. She had given him ample warning, her fear of not being able to control the flame from within. He had accepted the risk. Determined to pursue.
The sound of the clasp clicking, seemed to echo in the room.
The call had been made. Escaping her before she could hold it back. Her force was now on full alert.
He watched as they appeared. Warriors from her tribe. Armed with swords and shields. Eyeing him. A growl was heard. They parted to allow the one to step on through. Armed in flaming blue scales he stepped forward, the other closed around him to follow. He raised his hand and spoke. "He found the necklace. She has chosen."
Damion had heard of the legends, the fables spread, but he had never believed these magnificent creatures existed. The warrior transformed into a large white wolf and began to step forward. Each step shook the ground. Its eyes were a blue flame, blue flame escaped its nostrils. Then its soft fur turned to hard scales. A sign it was ready to attack at one word... hers.
She eyed her loyal army. The quickness of their arrival did not surprise her. Their fierceness and readiness to come to her defense, to join her in her attack was known throughout her land. This land... they were all strangers. This land... did not know of the destruction that could be placed upon them with one word from her lips. A lift of her hand.
She had be subjected to the humiliating ritual of this land. One where she had been paraded in front of an audience, to be selected by men whose desire was to control her. She had laughed at their game. She had played more out of curiosity and boredom. Intrigued by who would deem worthy or dare to choose her. An ancient tradition, even her own people used for centuries. This land was still in its infancy to this sacred ritual. They still had much to learn.
She never feared their ritual, she knew one whisper and her army would come. Her grandmother had taught her. She had seen it with her eyes. The white beast had played with her, and protected her when she was a child. It had walked with her through the village as she had grown.
She raised her hand to her army. With a flip of her wrist, they bowed and disappeared. The beast stood its ground. Refusing to leave her. Sniffing in the air, the scent of the man as its eyes locked onto the necklace. She stepped forward and gently touched its necked. Whispering into its ear. Its scales softened and returned to fur. "I have been searching since the beginning. I have been by your side. He can not be him!"
She laughed and rubbed behind its ears. "I know. Go my friend. I must do this alone." With that it disappeared.
Turning towards the man, she was in full warrior mode. The first rule, would be hers to break. "If you place one mark or scar upon my body, they will return. It will be you who will fall to your knees in fear. He will show no mercy."
His head tilted. An eyebrow was raised. His eyes narrowed. This one would not be easy. She didn't defy him or challenge him. She had warned him before he stepped onto this path. He had accepted the risks. He now realized his years of studying her from afar had only scratched the surface. His research of her had lead him to conclude that she would be the one one that bore the mark. One that had been placed upon her in another realm. Now he was convinced of it. He had searched realms for the necklace. Without it, all would be lost. He had searched the distant and small realms. But he was always drawn to a small moon which was known to hold no life. A moon surrounded by a white mist. The mist was deadly to anyone who entered it, no matter what craft they used.
One his wrist was a bracelet, similar to the necklace. It was the blue emblem which guided him, it was the white stone which glowed bright whenever he came near this moon. Finally, he found the courage to turn into the graveyard of ships. The white mist rushed out to envelope him. The blue emblem glowed brighter and began to burn his wrist, but still he continued on. When the mist touched his ship, white stone burst into light and healed him. A mist flowed from the stone and filled the cabin, he breathed it in. It was then that the outer mist parted and lead the way to a small grove. It was there that he had watched the old woman and the young woman. It was there that his bracelet guided him to the tree where he dug up the necklace.
She however, showed she had no memory of their home life. The war, the sacrifice the grandmother had made to save her. The sacrifice the old man had made to save him. The old man's eyes would be haunted at times, a tear would fall as he held on tightly to the bracelet that was now on Damion's wrist. A gift, just before passing. He was told not to put it on until he had turned 25. It had been kept in a carved wooden box, just like the box he had dug up underneath that tree. The old man had told him the story, he had trained him in the ways of a warrior. He had told him of his responsibility to find her, to finish the training. To unite with her. If he failed, billions would die. If he succeeded, millions would die.
He gently touched the necklace. It was up to him to carefully remind her. One wrong step and she would once again disappear and he would be left searching the realms for her again. He didn't show her the bracelet, she would have to trust him. He would have to show her she could. No jewelry would gain the trust she would need to have in him.
"My queen."
The last words caused a sharp pain in her temple. He noticed how she winced. He now understood. The implant must have been damaged in her transport. This was the reason he no longer could hear her within him.
Cautiously, she tilted her head and nodded. Words could not escape her lips. Her hands shaking. Fear enveloped her. She felt weak. She hated feeling weak. She hated feeling out of control. It was this fear that had caused her to agree to accepting the necklace. Something deep within had called out to her.
He watched as she gently stepped into a pattern around him. Her finger gently touching his shoulder, his back, his arm. With each touch a blue flame escaped her finger. He felt the heat, but did not burn. She began to sing, each touch became firmer. The flame grew hotter, still he felt no pain. Finally, she stopped in front of him, looked into his eyes, and bowed her head.
He marveled at her knowledge of the rituals. Though locked away in her mind, they naturally were appearing. It was his duty, to unlock them all.
Gathering her up in his arms, he carried her deeper into the forest. Her arms gathered around his neck and she buried her head into his chest. For the first time, his tattoo over his heart radiated in a cool peace that flowed through his body. He tilted his head and look down on her, he could see her temple pulsing in beat with his heart. He could hear soft sobs escape her lips. Sitting down on a log next to a stream, he stroked her hair, gently kissed her forehead and quietly whispering, "Keena, you are safe with me."
Those words opened up a flood of tears. Years of strength to hold them back, melted like ice. She shook. He held her tighter. Her tears wetting his black shirt.
Pulling out a cloth, he tucked it into her hand. "You did well. We will take this slow. There is much you need to learn."
He felt her head nod.
Lifting her head, she honored the rule they had set. When she spoke, she would speak and look into his eyes. She would not divert them in fear or shame. For some reason, this man had not been consumed with her fire. Her army had not immediately, laid him to waste. There was always a pulsing pain in her hidden mark on her temple. Her grandmother had told her it was a scare from when she fell as a child. She always kept it covered by her hair. This pain stopped, when he was near. It became soothing and exciting. Surely, he must be the one.
The one her grandmother had taught her would come, when she was ready. Memories flooded with her time in the meadow under her grandmother's teaching. Learning to control the flame power she held. Being told she was from a rare tribe. She was their last hope. Many had died to protect her and hide her from those who sought to destroy their clan.
He watched the haunting in her eyes appear. The blue flame turning into a blue mist. She was going into a space he had only heard rumors of. Even the old man had never been there to tell him what to expect. All he could say was that the few he knew who entered this space with the last queen, had never returned. The King never spoke of it and ruled it should never be spoken of.
Looking into her eyes as the mist clouded them, it was as if he was transformed into another dimension. A portal into her mind. He was in a dark chamber. The walls were made of stone. Blue torches lined the walls with the flames casting dancing shadows that took on the resemblance of demons.
Two torches were lit. He stepped forward and two more torches ignited. Beckoning him to go deeper into the chamber. A light blue mist snaked on the ground and entangled around his feet. The ground no longer could be seen. He would not be able to see if he stepped on a trap that would end his demise.
He raised his foot to step forward. The blue flame tattoo over his heart burst into flame and burned him. He hesitated and moved his foot to the side. With each step, he reached deep within to be guided. Every step was met with silence or pain. The mist became thicker, yet in his mind he could clearly see the floor and each trap that was placed. He saw skeletons caught in the trap, in various levels of decay. He went to grab a torch, but it flamed higher in warning. He was left to trust the torches would ignite to guide the way through this dark chamber.
He had grown to learn how to endure the pain, to now allow his face to betray him. He closed his eyes and let the blue flame tattoo guide him.
This glowing blue tattoo which only came alive on occasion and brought him great pain. It was place on his chest above his heart. It is why he wore the black shirt, to hide its glow. The old man had smiled when it first occurred, "She longs for you."
This blue flame tattoo began to pulse as if to the heart beat he had felt upon her neck. With each step, the pulsing became louder, as if drums were resonating off the walls. Pounding but no pain.
Turning the corner he saw her. An angel or a demon, he did not know. She stood in a black heavy robe with the hood over her head almost hiding her face. She was as still as a statue, peering down the chamber, awaiting his arrival.
Upon seeing him, she unveiled herself and let the dark robe drop to the floor. Her her cascading down her shoulders and back as it fell loosely on her flowing white gown. She had tied her hair back to reveal a smaller blue flame tattoo on her temple. Placing her thumbs and fingers together, She raised her hands in the arrow symbol and ritually lifted the dangling key with her joined thumbs from her neck. She bowed her head to him as the chain with the key was lifted from her and offered to him.
Extending her arms towards him, the chain rested in the curve of her joined thumbs. The key dangled from the heavy chain. He could see the intricate carvings of an ancient tribe engraved upon it. The symbols of the royalty that once lead this proud people.
As he looked into her eyes, she whispered,
Beyond this
Door
Lies a
World of
Secrets
Once you
Enter
there is no
Escape
You will
Be bound
To the
Knowledge
We share
deep within
They will
determine
If you
Are the
One
Do not
Enter with
Lust in
Your heart,
Desiring fame, or
Thirst for wealth
If you survive
your reward
Will be me
You will
Be taken
To heights
You have
Never known
Or your
Last breath
Will escape
Your lips
Should you
Be deemed
Unworthy
My blue flaming light
Will flow
Into you
Or
You
Will
Be
Consumed
There was a pleading in her eyes for him to take her offering. His eyes dropped to her neck. The collar he had placed, remained.
"You have gone further than any other." She whispered. "You instinctively stepped over all the traps by trusting your mark.
Stepping forward, he placed his hands in the arrow symbol, his hand enveloped hers, and he lifted the key from her hands. He released his one hand to grasp the key. He tilted his head, as in his mind, he watched himself place his left hand upon the door, before entering the key into its lock.
He followed his vision. His left hand felt the beat of the door. His right hand went to slip the key into the keyhole. The pain in his chest ignited. A grunt escaped his lips because of it's intensity. The door began to heat up, The key began to burn his hand. He backed away from placing the key into they keyhole. He scanned the door for any signs of another place to enter the key.
He grimaced in pain and held the key tighter as he extended his pointer finger and began to trace the intricate carvings of the door. Words seemed to naturally escape his lips.
I enter
As one
Who holds
The secrets
Lay hidden
Within these
Doors
I enter
Not to
Receive
But to
Pour in
My Strength
To give and
Become One
The glowing blue key cooled. The door no longer radiated heat. The pain in his chest was gone. He began to sing a song the old man had taught him since he was a boy as he began to trace the the carvings in the door. He felt a soft pulse in his chest and on the door when his finger touched a carved leaf. Taking the key he held it up to the leaf which opened and revealed a intricately hidden symbol. The key began to glow brighter as it came closer in contact, but it no longer burned him.
He positioned the key to match the symbol and pressed it into the door. He could hear gears and locks twist inside and the door slightly opened. A blue light filtered out.
Grasping the door, he stepped inside and feel to his knees consumed in a blinding blue light. The door slammed shut and the chamber darkened.
Gathering her cloak. She gently touched the door.
"Be wise my love. I will await for your return."
_____
Inspired by a dream. Draft of a chapter in my upcoming fiction book. Sphere 369.
| Photo by shahin khalaji on Unsplash