Chapter 6: The House

What's happening now?

            I follow Jackie upstairs. There are five rooms on each side of the dark wood hallway. The little girl leads me to the last door on the left. She opens the door and swings her arms wide, a giant grin on her face.

 

“Tis a beautiful room!” I take a few steps into the light pink room. The walls are a faded pink with matching lace curtains. To the left, against the near wall is a small bed. Pink lace hangs from the ceiling above it. Beyond that is a door that appears to lead into a bathroom. A white-wood chest sits at the end of her bed. A toy chest sits across from it, against the back wall, about a meter away.

 

Straight ahead, however, in the corner next to the window is a dollhouse. I walk up to it and look closely at its details. It is made of a beautiful purple stained wood with matching mini-furniture. It has two bedrooms, on each side of the upper floor; a bathroom in between made of a gleaming quartz-like stone; an attic with a small pile of boxes in the corner and a rocking horse to the left side; a living room to the left of the bottom floor; and a kitchen and dining room opposite the living room.

 

“Do you like it? Papa made it for my birthday two years ago, before…”

 

“Yes. Me iureh extara.” I smile and Jackie crumples to her knees in tears behind me. I turn around and pull her close. “No, no. Please don’t cry. I’m sorry. I only said I like it very much!”

 

“I know. It’s just… my Papa… he died…” she whispers between sobs.

 

“Oh, dear! I’m so sorry! My parents were killed, too, a little more than a week ago.” I feel tears swelling in my eyes. Despite my blurred vision I see a figure standing in the doorway.

 

“Ry? Are you okay?” Kyrin asks, his green eyes filled with worry.

 

            I simply nod my head, glance down at Jackie, and nod again, a slight smile on my face. I hug the girl closer and she wraps her tanned little arms around my waist. I see us in a tall mirror hanging on the wall next to the dollhouse; I see Jackie, her pale blonde hair now a loose mess around her waist; she had taken them out so I could help her do her hair; her fragile body thrown against mine, her long light blue dress standing out vividly against my plain black one. My raven-black hair is as straight as ever, nearly touching the ground, standing out against my pale skin and purple eyes.

 

            I see Kyrin step into view of the mirror on my right, still in his Elite Guardsman uniform. His green eyes and gold-blonde hair stand out against the dark purple of his vest and black long-sleeve shirt. He slips off his black leather shoes and kneels beside me, sitting on his brown velvet pants. He wraps an arm around my shoulders and I lean my head on him.

 

            Jackie’s crying has ceased and I her breathing has slowed. He looks to me and whispers, “She’s asleep.” I smile at him, then down at the small body in my lap. I carefully stand up and set her on the bed. Outside the window I see the night sky, pierced by the lights of the city.

 

“I don’t see any stars, Ky.” I look up at him as he comes to stand beside me.

 

“I think the lights of the city are too bright.”

 

“Nekreyo to kyarp.” I tell him.

 

“Okay. Let’s find you somewhere sacred. Maybe Jake or Emilia knows a place.” He holds out his left arm and I take it, looping my right arm through. I stop at the door to look back at Jackie. She’s curled under the covers and cuddling a worn-down teddy bear like her life depends on it. She is whimpering and shivering in her sleep, her little legs kicking slightly. I draw a small Rune on my finger and touch it to her forehead.

 

“Peace.” Kyrin translates, smiling at me as I take his arm again.

 

“She needs it. The poor girl lost her father two years ago. I… may have also used a Seeing Rune on her.” I admit, blushing guiltily. “Her mother died when she was born. That’s why she and Simon are here; their father was the last one to take care of them, and when he died they were sent here. I think Emilia is their mother’s sister. The poor girl has been through a lot.”

“You have been through a lot just today! Oh, Ryku! You always see through your own problems to watch over everyone else. Why not take a moment for yourself? Come; let’s get you to a sacred spot to kyarp.” He loosens his arm to wrap it around my shoulders. I blush but lean a little closer. He leads me to the bottom of the stairs. There’s no one here, all the brujaluces are glowing dimly, but I hear voices from the dining room across from us. We walk towards them and swing open the light birch wood doors. Everyone stops talking to stare at us. Nervously, Kyrin drops his arm.

 

“What? What’s behind me?” I glance quickly over my shoulder and peer into the dark.

 

“Nothing, nothing’s wrong. We were just talking about this power you have. Yatri refused to tell us anything. She said it was up to you.” Emi explains.

 

“Oh. Okay. Wait… Yatri? Does she mean you, Mother?” I look to her, confusion swirling in my mind.

 

“Utique. I thought that since everyone has a nickname I should, too!” she smiled and blushed sheepishly.

 

“Yes, I can see why. We don’t want her left out, now do we, Ky?” I laugh.

 

“Utique, Ry.” He grins back.

 

“In any case, we were wondering if you could tell us about your power?” Jake asked politely.

 

“Yes, of course.” I take a seat in the nearest chair, at the head of the table, and Kyrin sits on my right. Mother sits on his right and there is an empty chair beyond her. Jake is seated on my left and an empty chair separates him from Emi. No one is sitting on the other end, opposite me.

 

“Where is Simon?” I observe the absence of Jackie’s twin.

 

“He went to bed. It’s already midnight.” Emi notes, looking down at a small gold watch on her right wrist.

 

“That explains a lot.” I yawn. “So, my power. As far as I know, I have had these abilities since I was born. However, Mother’s family is descended from Forbidden and Writ Magykiers. Everyone across Panayajaka was forbidden from certain Magyks, now known as Forbidden Magyks, and it was bred out of us. Howev-” I break off as Jake interrupts.

 

“What are Magykiers and what kinds of Magyk are Forbidden and what are Magykiers and what is Panayajaka?” he streams these questions without stopping for breath.

 

“Right, right. No detrias a le de Panayajaka. Brytame.” I say.

 

“Umm… what?” Jake looks at me, utterly confused.

 

“I said you are not of Panayajaka. Forgive me.” I laugh gently. “I may speak Cedarykian sometimes. Although the Runes help, they do not prevent me from speaking my native tongue.”

 

“Of course. If you can, however, could you speak English?” Emi says quietly.

 

“Utique, Utique. Of course! Tis only rude to speak a language your host does not understand. Now, where was I?”

 

“Explaining the words you used. Magykiers, Forbidden Magyks, and Panayajaka.” Kyrin reminds me.

 

“Yes, that’s right. Panayajaka is our world, our planet. The Forbidden Magyks are Dark, Blood, Illusion and Gray. Dark Magyk sums up Death, causing death, and Shadow, causing darkness or insanity. Illusion Magyk is like your glamours. Blood Magyk is very strong, the strongest Magyk known, because it uses blood to bind the Magykier and their spell. Magykier is just another way of saying a Magyk-user or to refer to the spell-caster. Gray Magyk is a mixture of any Forbidden and Lite Magyks, Lite being anything healing. Writ Magyk is Runes, equal in power to Blood Magyk because it is like written law. I hope that clarified some things?” I look around the room. Mother is looking at me proudly, Kyrin squeezes my hand, and Emi and Jake look confused.

 

“Oh, dear. I think we just broke them.” Mother worries.

 

“No, no. We understand it, but that’s the problem. You see, what you just described is what we learn in history classes!  You are Ancients!” Emi stares at us, dumbfounded.

 

“Ancients?” I ask doubtfully. “You must be mistaken…”

 

“No, no! You are!” Emi tries again. “You see, Keepers are taught that the beginnings of our kind are hidden. Despite this, we are descended from the Ancients; they are a lost people from long ago worlds called Panaya and Yajaka, which turned out to be opposite sides of the one world of Panayajaka. Some even believe they live in an alternate dimension at the same time as us. They lived during the Medieval ages, their castles and small villages scattered across the land. They developed different kinds of Magyk, but some were lost. Then, out of nowhere, these Magyks were brought forth again. After that, we adapted ourselves into the Keepers of today, now a secret race to protect the humans who don’t know of the Shadow Realm. Humans are who they are because they forgot the ways of Magyk, but remember it through stories. However, we live in it every day. We protect them from their own history.” She brushes aside her brown bangs and pushes up her blue metal glasses.

 

“One thing I noticed… Ryku?” I turn my head to look at him. “You mentioned Gray Magyk as your own making. Did you make it yourself?” Jake asks me, tilting his head quizzically.

 

“Utique. Tis easy, but Forbidden.” I reply. “Might I ask as to the purpose of your question?”

 

“Yeah. One thing we learn in our history lessons is that a young Royal woman created Gray Magyk. We don’t know who it was because she was erased from history long ago, during the time of her people. I can’t believe it! I’m talking to the girl who made the Flash Barrier! You’re brilliant!”

 

“Yes, I guess so. I was erased from history? Well, the Cryunsel has never broken a promise…” I say solemnly in a voice not my own, feeling as if I’ve left my body. “Please excuse me.” I stand up and walk out of the room, pushing past the swinging doors. As soon as I’m out I run up the stairs. I run past all the rooms and up the stairs at the end of the hallway, following them to the right. They lead into a large attic space with a variety of black-dyed gear to the right and weapons on the near wall.

 

An assortment of throwing knives and hidden daggers hang neatly beside short and long bows, quivers of arrows lay on the floor next to them. Bales of hay are lined along the back wall with targets painted on them. At the back of the attic are two climbing ropes, tied to the rafters.

 

I grab the smallest bow, a plain cherry wood one with horsehair string, and a quiver of twelve 6-inch-long arrows. I throw on some of the gear, changing my dress for a black long sleeve tunic and matching pants. I put on a close-fitting black leather vest and swing the bow over my head. I strap the quiver to my left thigh and slide two daggers into sheaths on the lower back of the vest. Two loops, one between my shoulders and the other behind the dagger sheaths, hold a long sword in place as I climb the rope to the rafters. I stay crouched a moment, looking out the half circle window at the top of the attic, before Kyrin comes racing in. I break out of my moon-watching daze to look at him.

 

“Ryku! Ry-” his call is cut off midway through as he sees me.

 

Kyrin, I’m so sorry! I mess things up everywhere I go, and I don’t you to be hurt anymore. Please, don’t follow me. I’m doing this because I love you! I think sorrowfully to myself.

 

“Ryku?” his look of worry and care is all I see before jumping from the rafters.