Consoling Darkness [Full Chapter]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Chapter (11): Consoling Darkness

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I looked down at my hands and they were sizzling, with vapor literally circling the quivering finger tips. Did I just send him flying to the bookcase? Adam wiped his forehead with a groan, "I'm-m sorry." I said offering him a shaky hand, "You 'kay?"

 

I gasped as the skin of his hand met my palm, his touch scrolling the current scene out of my sight. The clock was spinning. My heart rushed and bile froze half-way in my throat. These were not my memories.

 

--- --- ---

 

"Yes," Adam tediously interrupted, "you've told me about the effect of the potion earlier." he spoke without turning around, "My life has already been grasped away. What difference will it make if I die like the rest of them?"

 

Them? Who was he talking about?

 

"Alright," the doctor sighed, "and just where are planning to go, young man, when you have absolutely nothing on you, but a set of old clothes?"

 

Dr. Farfoor's commencement tuxedo seemed a bit oversized especially at the white sleeves, but it did not make Adam look less sexy. W-What? I'm just saying, it doesn't have to mean anything…

 

"To my revenge."

 

"Your revenge?" the doctor's tone seemed slightly belittling.

 

"One does not need money or clothes to achieve that," Adam continued.

 

So…he's plainly decided that it's O.K to walk around town naked? That's kind of like backwards evolution.

 

"Is this guy serious?" Rami asked no one in particular as he sniggered and lightly pointed at the white haired boy, "What revenge is he even talking about?" he turned to glance at his sister, the sarcastic smirk on his face hoping to infect hers too, but Aseel ignored him, crossing her arms and worriedly watching the scene, apparently deciding that the entire situation was not that amusing.

 

"Yes, I'd like to know as well, Adamant." The doctor's tongue stuttered as it rapidly struggled to keep the boy's attention, "Wh-What is that revenge you just mentioned? I mean--"

 

"You were there at the scene," Adam's voice was louder and edgy as he interrupted, turning to face the doctor with a frown. It's like the guy finally displayed some emotions, "You were there after the fire demolished everything. You knew that witch was behind this mass extermination."

 

"Whoa, someone planned to murder you people and actually succeeded!?" Rami commented again, "I thought the Kimas were wiped out by an earthquake or some other natural disaster. Doctor, I don't like him, he's making up some history."

 

Witch? Mass extermination? Fire? I glanced at Aseel and she seemed like had a background on the topic. I was probably the only one who was feeling left out. I only knew the Kima clan were a bunch of supernatural humans with snow-white hair and dazzling blue eyes similar to Adam's. They were magically powerful, ominous, and detested, but I never knew anything about them being exterminated. Man, I should have took a few minutes of my time to read a newspaper to keep up with what's going on in this insignificant but mad world. But I doubted even newspapers would get any newsflash true.

 

"Ah, a vengeance on a Black-hearted Guardian..." Dr. Farfoor unhurriedly walked closer to Adam, blocking the boy's sight from the exit, "All I see now in this young man who claims to be prepared for revenge, is rage and hatred. You are weak." The last sentence was slow, emphasized, and intentionally frustrating. Adam's fists tightened even when his wintry blue eyes could look straight into the wrinkled ones behind the spectacles, "Weaker than that dead fire outside my window."  

 

My eyes widened at the belt of lighting that loudly clapped out of Adam's open palm and smashed into the Doctor's chest, leaving a painful din in my ears, and a patch of smoke where the old man stood.

 

Aseel gasped covering her mouth, and Rami stomped two steps forward, a shocked expression in the glare of his glasses, "What did you just do!? Whe--"

 

A pair of wrinkled hands cuffed Adam's from behind his back before the spot of smoke vanished, and Adam tussled in vain, lowering his head down in discontent and slight shame for not shielding the counter-attack...but seriously, how did the old man suddenly appear from behind him?

 

"Well, now," Dr. Farfoor wisely said, "My lessons were not a waste of time after all, were they?" that was a response to Adam's remark earlier, "Your lack of concern for Shawada fired back on you. Your carelessness, and rejection to learn anything new. However, I must admit, your unsystematic attack was quiet close this time."

 

Adam would not accept another criticism from his former tutor, and his palm, although seized by the doctor, produced budding faint flame that Farfoor failed to notice.

 

"Hey, STOP!" I yelled, both males abnormally splitting apart as soon my hand stretched to signal them.

 

Rami stared wordlessly at me, while Aseel ran to the corner to see if the doctor was alright. He seemed okay, but Adam sat on the other side of the room motionlessly.

 

I looked down at my hands and they were sizzling, with vapor literally circling the quivering finger tips. Did I just send them flying across the room? But I was not a magician. I barely even believed in magic. Adam wiped his forehead with a groan, sweeping away the clutter of books on his knees with the other hand, "I'm-m sorry." I said offering him a shaky hand, "You 'kay?"

 

"I'm fine." He composedly said, his blue eyes observing mine, as if trying to figure out where my hocus-pocus suddenly popped out from.

 

"I don't how this just happened when I'm not even a Guard-"

 

I gasped as the skin of his hand met my palm, his touch scrolling the current scene out of my sight, pulling me into me to an outlandish city devoured by fire and ashes. My eyes traced splinters of flames crossing the sky like shooting stars over a mighty tower that rapidly tumbled down. I could smell burnt skin and hear tragic female mourning. Blood rushed and bile froze half-way in my throat. These were not my memories.

 

The doctor's voice called a few times before I could actually come back to reality, a vibe still circulating my chest and limbs, and sweat seeping beneath my hairline.

 

"Are you alright, son? What happened?"

 

"I-I'm okay, I was…I spaced out." My eyes instantly scanned the room for the white-haired boy, feeling relieved as soon as they met his cool baby blue eyes again, silently interrogating him about what I just glimpsed.

 

"You lied to me, Jad." The doctor's craggy eyes almost penetrated through my hidden secret, "What happened just now was far from 'alright." He explained.

 

"He's right." Aseel said, "How did you use a defense a spell when you're just an ordinary human?"

 

"Unless he was secretly adopted…" Rami commented. I didn't laugh but it was funny, because that's exactly what crossed my mind.

 

"I have a feeling this is one of the Madam's treacherous tricks." Dr. Farfoor said, "She must have slipped something while you were there at her house. That woman is truly unpredictable."

 

No…I could not let him be sure of that. My mother was the one who sent me to that shack, and if the doctor delivered news to her about me being poisoned by the Madam, she'll transform into this guilty worrywart and lock me in the range of her sight for the next eternity.

 

"Oh, my poor baby," she'd sniff and squeeze me into a suffocating hug, "How could this happen? It's all my fault! I should have never sent you to Madam Shams' residence. Don't worry, habeeby, I'll make sure you never leave my sight again! Is your body okay? Are you sure your body's okay? Jad, be honest, you're scaring me!"

 

Eeeh…I shuddered at the thought of it. I had to lie again, to escape another nuisance.

 

"I haven't even gone past the Madam's frontyard. All I did was deliver this jar of jam to her and I was on my way. So…I don't think she's the reason I've been acting weird."

 

Even though I've never told on anyone before, this was the only believable reason I could offer to keep the doctor from getting my mother concerned.

 

"it's this um…something Rami prepared last night. A kind of a potion."

 

"What potion?" The doctor's eyes narrowed at Rami's and the boy's mouth opened to protest, his glare shooting at me in a 'how could you?' kind of expression. But he used this narrow time he had in clearing up instead.

 

"Well, uhm, A-Aseel and I tried out that energy tonic you told us about. And it went quiet well. What does this have to do with Jad Ayman acting randomly?" he tried not to sound defensive but he failed.

 

"But why do I see all these …" the doctor motioned the swollen reddish eyes and pale cheeks, "zombie-like faces if my recipe was applied correctly as you said?"

 

The twins dropped into silence, and Aseel sheepishly looked up at the old man, "We're sorry, doctor Farfoor. Are you going to tell our father?"

 

"No." the doctor's eyes shifted between Aseel and me. We knew we weren't going to get away with it that easily. Rami was the only idiot who felt reassured enough to nod his head and sigh in relief, "But your brother will be excluded from the upcoming quest. A quest the four of you children will embark on very soon."

 

All our faces changed, pelting out different reactions.

 

"WHAT!? There's a new quest?" Rami's body shot up straight as if he was electrocuted, "We haven't gone on those for months! You can't do that to me!"

 

"The last time we crossed the borders I lost our Pass cards along with the luggage," Aseel complained, "and the Metrocle in your garage needs a lot of repairs."

 

"I can't stay away from home any longer without any excuses," I shrugged, "My parents would go berserk." And I didn't wish to spend another minute with that snobbish white-haired brat, whose reaction was by far the calmest, yet still protestant.

 

"You do not have the authority to dictate me." he told the doctor.

 

"Alright, everyone," Dr. Farfoor inhaled a breath, gathering his thoughts and turning to Aseel's brother, "Firstly, yes I can do that to you, Rami. Simply because I can." The boy made a disappointed face and would not argue further, "Aseel, you need not to worry about the Pass Cards or the Metrocle."

His eyes shifted towards Adam and me, "Jad, you are to stay under my care for the next two days." Two days…? I'd already spent one whole night here and my mother must have been having a heart attack by now, especially since I forgot my cell phone at home. She should normally be on her way running here, "I've talked to your mother, and she has been informed about your stay here." Ah, no wonder…"And, Adam," the doctor concluded, "I might not be your parent, but your father trusted me with you. For that I am grateful and I shall not let him down even after his unjustified death." a painful twitch managed to break through Adam's composed features and the doctor easily walked through the wall of silence the boy built, placing his wrinkled hand on one of the boy's shoulders, my heart made a little thorny squeeze upon looking into Adam's saddened baby-blue eyes, "The potion you drank is eating away your body and might kill you in three days, you need to seek help from a more powerful Guardian than I am,"

 

"You're talking about the Madam's sister, aren't you?" Adam predicted. Sister!? There was two of her? That didn't sound good…

 

"That's right. You will--"

 

"You don't know anything about my parents. I refuse to embark on such a mission." he said, removing the doctor's hand from his shoulder and regaining the snobbish tone. Okay, now I was starting to understand: the boy was dying, and he didn't give a s**t, there was no point of finding a cure, at least from his prospective. The doctor told him to suck up to Madam Shams' sister, who would normally have a different personality from the first, but would probably be smiling and sadistic in her own unique way. I wouldn't find that offer appealing either. I would walk away, just like he did the moment after.

 

"Wait…one last thing." The doctor's rusty voice attempted to sound motivating, "What if I gave you the secret to ultimate power."

 

"What are you talking about?" Adam turned around again, persistent to sound cool and indifferent, yet his ears obviously interested.

 

"What if I told you Kamar (1) has her sister's weakness point right in her palms?" Adam slightly raised his eyebrows in response, trying to translate the doctor's enigma, "That's right, she keeps the Stone of Origin. With that, your revenge on the Madam will be absolute."

 

"Nicely attempted, doctor." He said, "I've seen it before. She would offer anything for sale but that. Never was, never will be."

 

"Maybe it is now, you know how sudden and unexpected Kamar's mood changes are. Stories vary, Adamant, you wouldn't find out unless you go out there and ask her, would you?" The doctor smiled almost victoriously at the boy's surrender to the tempting possibilities, "and you might as well ask for a remedy for Jad's condition. He's apparently been poisoned too."

 

"Fine," Adam dryly said, "You've earned my pity." Huh!? I frowned at him, shouldn't he be feeling sorry for himself?

 

"Excellent!" the doctor smiled, "Your first stop will be the city borders, and by God's will, you will be permitted to cross. May He always watch over you, children. And you, Rami." he wrapped his arms around the boys stoop shoulders, "are to stay here and help me clean the spilt mess here."

 

"Aw, man!" Rami sighed staring sadly at the floor.

 

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"That's a relief." Aseel said, turning to Adam, ignoring the argument between the doctor and her brother back inside, "If Rami isn't coming, we could definitely use a strong male in the group, not that I'm a weak guardian or something."

 

"I understand." Adam said.

 

Yeah, I got it, I internally winced, I was skinny and random, which is not helpful in magical journeys...but of all the people to end up stuck with for the next two days, why did it have to be him? I visibly sighed. I think I liked him better when he was a silent Husky dog, even then he'd display signs of disapproval and pride.

  

Besides the three of us, two new passengers had abruptly hopped onto our adventure boat…But as we reached the borders, I got to meet the new meaning of challenge.

Author's Note

(1) Kamar: Literally means: The Moon. The opposite of her sister's name, which translates as: The Sun.

This chapter is raw and might need revision, correction, critisicm. All is welcome. Well, what do you think? Stay tuned.

*Image: Taipei Ruins
*by *Jenovah-Art
*Link: http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=§ion=&q=city+ruins#/d31tl80

Reviews

[TL Boehm]

books just don' get the attention they deserve here at the Cafe. I write poetry and I'm fine with reviewing it - but novelists deserve attention too. This is a great chapter.

[Calypso]

Another amazing chapter

[Neva Flores Smith - Cha..]

Fantasy at its finest

[Deviant Works]

I love it! Phew, I feel better now. This answered quiet a few of my questions. I really just love your characters, Wella. For all their flaws and quirks. They build, becoming stronger, more solid as each chapter progresses. I completely enjoyed the twins in this piece and of course my beloved Dr. Farfoor. And the magic! What is up with super Jad.:) He was just doing his thing and you explained it wonderfully. Completely enjoyed your hilarious additions in this piece too. Jad's reaction to Adam in a second-hand tux and then his thoughts on his mothers reaction to him being poisoned. I was roaring.:) And Adam is still a gorgeous brat. Hrrumph!

[Coyote Poetry]

A strong chapter. I like the artwork and the interesting situation you are create. When people with different ideas gather in one tight location. Hell will be born. A excellent chapter.
Coyote

[Fabric Pulse]

I give you a lot of credit because I've tried writing one before and it takes a lot of dedication to developing the plot and cast right, patience I don't entirely have for this, I'm more of a poet and I probably should keep it that way mostly. What Amber said, it's sleek.

[A.E. Surdam]

Very sexy and sleek. It's very interesting and is running along nicely. I can't wait to see how it will turn out!

[Emunah June.]

oooooh!

Love love love how the dialouge is in bold