Chapter Three: The Sisters of Dimension

chap 3

Chapter 3: The Sisters of Dimension

“Welcome back Crystantum,” A pair of voices said from the corner of the hut.

I yelped and stumbled over a couple of jars, landing hard on my butt.

“Owwww!” I said rubbing the now tender area then looked up and exclaimed, “It’s you two! The girls from the beach! H-how’d you get in here?”

The two girls remained silent their eyes fixed on Crystantum, and I got the distinct feeling that they where ignoring me.

“Akira, Kaori, you’re looking as immortal as ever,” Crystantum said with a bow, “Come. Make yourselves comfortable.”

“We already are,” They replied in unison.

“Hmm, so..what news do you bring this time?”

“A song a death,” The one named Kaori said, in a voice that made you think of  wind whispering down your back in a foggy forest.

“A story of despair,” Akira said in a voice that mirrored her sisters.

“Hmm, so our peace has come to an end. Go on lay out your Song.”

They nodded, “We shall.”

The two sisters clasped hands and faced each other, heads bowed to one another, touching slightly. The light around us began to dim, a chilly air came from all around making the hut ten times cooler. Fog seeped in from the floor and began swirling around our feet, then they began to sing.

“It comes, it comes, in a set of three, mind, body, and soul.

Water, Earth, and Air shall hold the answer you seek.

The Man of Black and Fire will come to claim you all

But only one shall be able to answer his call.”

They stopped singing and everything returned to normal, it was only then that I realized I had been holding my breath. Then Kaori turned to me.

“You, Ivan Archs, the one of no blood, you…you share our power don’t you?”

“Wha-what are you talking about, I don’t know…”

Akira put a hand on her sisters shoulder, “It is not time for all to be revealed.”

Then to me she said, “Know this, dreams are often the gate to showing what is shrouded.”

“Crystantum, you have until young Ignatus’s punishment is carried out, before our Song can begin, but remember this, if he is not punished within a week of his healing all of your chances at life are gone…this village will be no more.”

With that the sisters walked out of the hut, and vanished. I sat their contemplating what they had told me. What had they meant when they said I was of no blood? I knew I had blood, I mean I wasn’t a Vampire, those were the only creatures that were bloodless, so what did she mean? And then their was that other thing about me sharing their power, what was that power, and what did it have to do with anything?

I looked at Crystantum who’s face mirrored my own, probably thinking about the same thing that I was. Finally he broke the silence.

“Well no use dawdling, come I’ll show you how to set his bones in the most painless fashion,” He said in a matter-of-fact voice.

He began to rummage through his shelves taking out various ground substances and mixing them together into a paste.

“There give that to him, it should help with the pain and swelling.”

I eyed it with suspicion, it looked pretty deadly in my opinion, “What is it?”

He sighed, “I’ll tell you when you are ready.”

I pursed my lips together in irritation , but did what I was told. I grabbed Ignatus’s nose and held it until he opened his mouth, placing the green paste inside as he did so.

“Satisfied?”

He nodded and said, “Okay, it should be taking effect, now time to set the ribs…Ivan, watch me as I do this, you will have to make sure they remain like this everyday.”

Crystantum placed his hands on Ignatus’s chest and began feeling it, occasionally moving pieces in different places. Ignatus would let out a small moan every so often, but he remained unconscious.

“Did you see all of that?”

I nodded, each motion being embedded in my mind.

“Really, well we’ll see if that’s the case tomarrow, now…show me that rod you found the other night.”

I went rigid, of course he would’ve known that I had it. He sat their patiently, eyeing me. I couldn’t disobey him, he’d saved my life (though left me with a curse), but at the same time I couldn’t let him see it either. A tense air came between us , but suddenly Naomi came to.

“I..Ivan?” Naomi whispered.

I rushed forward, “ Naomi! How do you feel are you okay?”

“Mhm, just a little sore.”

I sighed in relief, tears in my eyes. Typical Naomi, never truly aware of what’s happened to her…or maybe she just pretends to be like that to protect those she cares about. 

“Ah, good, you’re awake,” Crystantum said.

He began mixing another set of ground herbs, adding water, making a light blue substance.

“Come here, I need to bandage your wound.”

“Hmm, ok.”

Naomi laid on her stomach, and lifted up her shirt enough for Crystantum to clean and apply the paste to it.

He then added a bandage and wrapped it tightly, “ There you go, now I want you to come back everyday, for about a week so I can re-bandage you and make sure it doesn’t get infected.”

“ ‘Kay, I’ll go tell my mom I’m alright.” 

She then hobbled out of the hut. Once she was gone Crystantum outstretched his hand. I sighed, there was no point in resisting, and tentatively handed the rod to him.

“Hmmm, black granite…and these markings….yes I see now.”

He handed the rod back to me and said, “What do you think it is?”

“Oh, uhm…well I think that it’s a…I don’t know…what?”

“Just look at it im sure you’ll be able to figure out at least one thing about it.”

I stared down at the rod, and began to take in it’s appearance for the first time. It wasn’t one uniform shape, it was more like multiple black hexagon’s placed on top of diamond shapes. It’s surface had deep set lines as if it had been smashed together and welded shut by some force, and ancient markings spiraled around it like a staircase.

“It’s an Artifact isn’t it?” I said.

“Yes it is, it’s the Rod of Levitation, considering you found it must mean something, maybe you’ll gain a better grasp of your powers this way.”

I took that in. Artifacts where items embedded with the powers of elements bound together with magic. A lot of times it could amplify and help control that persons powers. Only Vampire’s knew how to make them and even then very few could actually attempt the process and get out alive.  And now in my hand was one of those very items. 

Crystantum was right, stuff like this didn’t just happen. Questions stormed my mind like, how did it get here and why?

“Well even if it is meant for you we still have a problem don’t we?” Crystantum said snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Huh? What would that be?”

“Think. What is the reason most people who attempt creating an Artifact perish?”

“Cause of the vast amount of energy it consumes.”

“EXACTLY! The same goes for when an Artifact goes dormant, the power has to be reawakened with the same or greater amount of energy than before, and do you have any idea how much that would be?”

“A lot,” I said dumbly.

“Indeed it would be.”

“So what do we do then?”

“For the time being keep it hidden. I’m sure its discovery is now known.”

I nodded and stuck the rod back in my pocket

“Well I’m going to go for a walk, I need to…you know…I need some space, it’s been a hectic morning.”

“Okay don’t be out to long.”

I nodded again and walked out the hut. Once I was outside I stretched and let out a long breath, running my hands through my hair. It was oh so good to be out of that hut and to feel the air on my face. I took a moment to just stand and enjoy it, temporarily forgetting my other problems until I felt hateful eyes seer into my back. Sighing, I began my walk, moving quickly, trying to distance myself from those who wanted me gone.

I neared the entrance to the forest and began to relax again, feeling sure that no one was following me. People may not oppose Crystantum’s words in front of him, but that doesn’t mean no one would try in secret. I took maybe thirty steps in, when from behind me I heard a twig snap. 

I froze, and took a tentative peek behind me. Just great I thought Ignatus’s lackies. I began to run through the forest, jumping over roots and bushes, listening to my pursuers barrel after me.

From the way it sounded they were gaining and fast. I took another look over my shoulder and ran smack into the trunk of a tree. Dazed I remained still and was only just aware of the fingers wrapping around my throat.

Author's Note

just tell me if i should continue this story or not if so ill try and post a chapter a week

Reviews

[Evelyn Storm]

You really good at keeping up the suspense in the story. This is really good. I really want to know what power he shares with Akira and Kaori. That rod keeps me guessing and it seem like it chose Ivan for a specific purpose. Can't wait to see what happens next. Good chapter.