Ch. 1

 

Chapter One

 

“My little Niente, wake from your slumber,” a musical voice called from what seemed worlds away. The soft touch of delicate fingertips upon her brow caused her eyes to flutter open only to quickly close, shunning the dazzling light.

“Rise, child. You’ve work to do,” the voice again sounded. The young woman forced her eyes to stay open and search the room. She found herself lying upon a cushioned recliner in the middle of a large, white room. There were many windows and sun streamed in catching in crystal prisms that projected rainbows. Despite her view she couldn’t turn to see the mysterious woman.

“You’ve woken! Good, very good.” This time the voice sent shivers down the young woman’s spine, something cruel was hidden beneath the gentle tone.

“Why do you call me Niente? I am Gwendoline.”

“Silly little girl, you are Niente. It’s a lovely name and it fits you quite well. It means ‘nothing.’” Gwendoline thought the mysterious speaker had some sinister plan going through her mind, but she couldn’t be sure. She decided it was wiser to humor the woman for now.

“Niente is a good name. Ma’am, could you tell me something?”

“I could tell you anything, but I won’t do that. Tell me what you want to know, I may be feeling generous.” Gwendoline had yet to see the woman.

“What happened to me?” Her brows furrowed, trying to find her lost past.

“Why, Niente! Can’t you remember your own death?” It all came flooding back. The sudden rush threatened to sweep her away and dash her against the jagged rocks of her past, ending her once more. Her mother and aunt were dead, killed by the foul Beron. Her brother had been taken to the damned King, and she had died! The thought of the latter caused the huntress to lose sight of her trail.

“Please, my Niente, drink some water.” A table she had not noticed before held a glistening pitcher filled to the brim of crystal clear water along with a glass surely made by the most talented artisan. Shaking, Gwendoline grasped the pitcher and poured herself some water. As she drank she felt the presence more strongly behind her, could almost feel light brush of air as the figure moved closer. The sight she saw when she was able to turn her head frightened and awed her.

The godly woman’s golden hair cascaded to her waist while her eyes were an unnatural shade of blue. Her lips were a deep natural pink. A simple white gown graced her womanly shape and diamonds glistened all over her body. The soft glow that framed her every graceful move held such an evil, such a longing to do wrong. Gwendoline tensed in fear as when she remembered the soft fingertips upon her brow and watched the goddess step nearer.

“Please, you make me blush when you stare.” Quite the contrary, she seemed to bask in the glory.

As Gwendoline let her gaze fall elsewhere she compared herself to this woman. Her long, once blonde but now a light brown, curly hair was held out of her face in a crud braid. Although she also had blue eyes, they were as deep and dark as the sea. Her lips were full but dry and cracked due to lack of care. She did have a slender and curved body once, but after years of doing men’s tasks it became muscular, she seemingly had a larger bulk then most. Gwendoline didn’t move with much grace but she could move without making a sound. She had no glow about her, and if she ever did it would be dry dirt flaking off after a long days work. She was by no means worried about her looks but the sight of this deity made her want to bathe and change from her blood stained clothes.

“My sister should see you, Niente. She would just adore you’re dirty face!” The goddess spoke with a young girl’s gayety, speaking to a new rather bedraggled pet.

Gwendoline, being one who was prideful, couldn’t take it anymore; she was being spoken to as if she belonged to this woman, “Who are you?”

Stunned the woman blinked once in silence before responding, “Don’t you know?” Gwendoline gave a slow shake of the head and the woman seemed a bit hurt. “No matter, you can call me Diamond.” Diamond smiled widely at the new name for herself, “My sister is Ruby.”

As if on cue a woman burst into the white room bringing a small amount of color into their lives. Her gown was similar to Diamond’s, only a deep red. In fact they seemed to be exactly the same except where Diamond was white, Ruby was red. Her eyes were a scarlet red like her gown and her hair was an inhuman red, seeming to shine as if it were a flame. She glistened with rubies of all shapes and sizes.

“Sister dearest! I see you’ve gotten yourself a new pet. What are you calling it?”

“Niente. Isn’t she just darling? She’s so filthy and gross. Love at first sight!”

Becoming a pet set Gwendoline on edge, “My name is Gwendoline.” The two sisters stared at her in surprise then burst out laughing.

“So boisterous.”

“Such an ugly name!” Insults and such kept coming for quite some time between giddy laughs. Eventually the gibes ended and they stared at her for a moment. Not as a breeder would look at an animal, rather they seemed to be staring deep into her soul. Gwendoline tried desperately not to squirm under their scrutiny, but she wasn’t able to stop herself from jumping when Diamond spoke abruptly, all giddiness gone from her voice, “We’ve a terribly important job for you, Niente.”

“Don’t think you can say no; we aren’t asking.” Gwendoline glowered at their beautiful faces trying to find some way out.

“Ruby and I have a sister and simply must have her head! She has become too much a nuisance.”

“We’ve something for you. It will make the job easier.” Ruby looked as if she grabbed the air and in an instant a gleaming sword was in her grasp.

“In fact, we’ve more for you. Swords are no good without a sheath and no matter what you do they’re just no good for range attacks. Naturally a bow is in need.” Diamond grabbed the air as well and in her grasp formed a bow.

“Diamond dear, bows are no good if she runs out of arrows.”

Diamond gave a hurt expression, “That’s why we astound her more by giving her a quiver that never empties.”

“Wonderful Diamond, you’re a genius!” Ruby clapped her hands like a little girl.

“As are you my dearest sister!” More items presented themselves in much the same way the sword did. When the weapons were all ready they held them out but quickly brought them out of reach when they noticed Gwendoline’s grimy hands.

“Absolutely not! Clean yourself before you take these.” Longing to hold the wonderful array of weapons in her hands Gwendoline followed, willingly, toward the bath.

After vigorous scrubbing and painful brushing Diamond and Ruby dressed her in a similar style of clothing to her rags only the tunic, breeches and cloak were lined in spider silk.

“Not only is it the strongest amour but it’s also the lightest!” Diamond exclaimed.

Looking Gwendoline over, “Not to mention, it looks rather good.” Ruby gave a satisfied nod.

Diamond said matter of fact like, “It would look better on us,” then waggled her finger at her sister.

“Of course it would!” they continued their ego stroking while Gwendoline deft fingers did two braids. Placing both on one shoulder she yawned in boredom.

In unison the sisters yelled, “We forgot shoes!” they quickly searched their minds for a useful style shoe. Finding none, Ruby took Gwendoline’s now clean feet in her hands and suddenly she was wearing a comfortable pair of boots.

“They aren’t lined in spider silk,” she said sadly.

Diamond complained to her sister, “They aren’t very pretty.”

“They’ll just have to do.”

“At least there’s a dagger sheath in each one.” Diamond was holding two small daggers, handing them to Gwendoline when Ruby yelped.

“We’ve wasted so much time! Niente must be on her way.”

“Don’t worry sister, she’ll be there in a flash.” Despite Diamond’s reassurance, they piled Gwendoline with her weapons with haste.

“Just…about…” Diamond licked her finger and rubbed away a nonexistent smudge on Gwendoline’s nose, “Finished!”

Gwendoline hardly heard their last order, “We want her head!” before she was engulfed in a black nothingness. It was much like being dropped into freezing, black water with weights on your feet and not knowing which way is up or down. To think, this is how the gods transport themselves (and mortals when the need came.)

She was close to panicking when she appeared before a large oak door. Not knowing what to do Gwendoline stepped forward and knocked on the door. It creaked open slowly and Gwendoline gasped in surprise.

Unlike the home of Diamond, this one was rather human like. The walls and floors were of oak like the door and the furniture looked comfortable and homey.

“Please, come in. You’re letting in the cold.” The voice was soft and soothing coming from the armchair near the fire. Stepping in, Gwendoline shut the door quietly behind her.

“Night I ask why I’m graced with your visit young one?” Gwendoline was overcome with grief, having to kill the woman she walked nearer to. She did not have the glow as Diamond and Ruby did, but she had such a natural beauty. Simply sitting there she gave off waves of love and charm, no one who looked upon her could bring them self to harm her.

“What’s wrong?” the beauty stood and wrapped Gwendoline in a gentle embrace, “Please don’t cry. There, there. Everything will be alright.”

Feeling her hand grasp the sword on her waist, Gwendoline pushed herself away gently and stepped back in haste. “I must go.” Gwendoline kept backing towards the door, wiping tears from her eyes. Each step she took back every gift from the glowing sisters tried to drag her forward, with both mental pain and physical pain. As she leaned against the lovely oak door a beautiful aroma filled her senses making her forget her pain and made her feel drowsy. Still trying to get the door open she slumped to the floor drifting off to sleep.

                Many hours passed as the charming woman worked throughout the large room, now and then disappearing behind a door. She stood for a moment above Gwendoline speaking some words in a forgotten language causing Gwendoline's clothes to shimmer for a moment. Once they were back to normal the woman began moving about once more.

She woke several hours later surprised that she was sleeping. Gwendoline raised her head and looked around, yelping in surprise she fell back to the pillows.

“You're awake young one. Please have some tea." She propped Gwendoline up and spoke while she gingerly tipped the cup, “The effects should wear off soon. I’m dreadfully sorry for doing this to you but in your state you could have caused a lot of harm.” The silent ‘to yourself’ had the proper effect.

“I’m sorry!” Gwendoline shook her head in desperation, “I have to bring your head to them. How I wish it wouldn’t be. All I wanted was my brother back!” She was sobbing once more and the woman was embracing her in a loving hug.

“Hush child, all is well. My sisters are troublesome girls; it is not your fault. All the powers that were in the weapons and in you are gone now. I am very well. You my dear are not. You are bound beyond my powers to break. You’ll just have to bring them my head.” Without leaving a chance for Gwendoline to protest Tellani began pushing her around and dressing her back up in her gear. With one last look around her home she whirled a stunning yet surprisingly normal cloak to cover her tunic and breeches.

“Now then let’s give my darling sisters a head. They do want it so badly.” With that she grabbed Gwendoline’s hand and she was back in the black nothingness. Not feeling her body or the hand that grasped hers Gwendoline shrieked in protest but no sound came. An instant later she was standing in front of a white door that hid the ones who belonged to the high pitched giggles drifting out.

“Lets have ourselves a listen shall we?” Tellani put her ear to the door and motioned for Gwendoline to do the same. Diamond and Ruby were quite happy with themselves, whispering to each other assurances.

“Niente will surely complete the task!”

“She can’t have failed us with those gifts.”

“Well finally be rid of Tellani!”

Tellani laughed softly and stood straight again, “Shall we?” She pushed open the door and hid behind it beckoning for Gwendoline to step through. The two sisters looked at her in surprise.

“Where is it? Ruby’s eye brows shot up in exasperation.

“Where is Tellani’s head?” They stood stock still realizing their tool had been a failure. They shrieked and lunged at Gwendoline with nails outstretched and teeth bared. When they were but a breath away they froze; hair still in the air. Tellani stepped into view and the sister’s eyes lit up in fear.

“Bringing this young girl into this was foolish my sisters. Did you not see my mark on her?” Tellani was aglow with power as well as a rose on Gwendoline’s hand, “I was grieving for her death when I sensed her heart beating once more. I knew you had done something, so I readied myself.” She broke into a wide grin, “Foolish girls, you can’t pull the wool over my eyes; you’re too arrogant to ever learn how to handle it properly. I’ve had enough with you two; it’s time to end this.” Gwendoline jumped as sparks jumped in the air.

“Tellani, you can’t kill us!” Both of them squealed in terror.

“Not even you can disobey that law!” The two trembling sister’s shrieked in protest when Tellani raised a fist holding a sand like substance which poured to the floor slowly. In her other hand she held a beautiful glass bottle with a crystal stopper closing the only opening.

Once more in Gwendoline’s presence she spoke in a forgotten tongue and opened her fist to let the dust fall to white floorboards. Like a clap of thunder following lightning Diamond and Ruby vanished from their immobile places. Gwendoline turned to Tellani as she was placing the stopped back on the glass.

“You’re bound no more Gwendoline, you brought them my head. But my dear, their deal was left undone. I would be honored if you told me what it was.” With an arm draped across Gwendoline’s shoulders she led them out the door and into a large garden with every flower and plant imaginable set in a symmetrical pattern.

“It was kept Lady Tellani, I have life once more. The task has yet begun.” For the first time in what seemed eons Gwendoline laughed heartily at Tellani’s shocked look. Soon they were laughing together walking through the garden.

“Gwendoline, I asked them if they had seen my mark on you. Did you know?”

She thought about it for a while before responding, “I didn’t know in my mind, but in my heart I knew it all along.”

With a musical laugh and one final hug Tellani vanished repeating to Gwendoline, “The task has yet begun!” Where she had been standing lie a single necklace of a crescent moon with three stars meant for Gwendoline.

“Yes Lady Tellani, the task has yet begun.” With that Gwendoline set off on her second life determined to fulfill her dying wishes.