Chapter 2 (Published version)

from my published novel Chariots of Heaven.

CHAPTER 2

 

 

Falling… spinning… innumerable white lights rotating in all directions. Kira tried to scream but couldn’t find any air. Was this the end? Flexing her muscles she found that she had great strength, almost… abnormal strength; more than she could have ever imagined. Gritting her teeth she managed to slow the spin; the blurring lights twisted less quickly and she was able to get some bearings. She could see something below her now, a large blue and green sphere. It floated silently in the ocean of starlit blackness. It seemed familiar to her but she couldn’t remember where she had seen it. Straining with all of her might, she was able to stop the spin, but she was still falling, and gaining speed by the second. She knew this wasn’t good. She knew that she had failed.

Hopelessness filled her stomach as she watched the large blue-green ball grow larger and larger as she fell towards it. She knew there was no way to survive the fall, so she stopped fighting and let go. There was nothing she could do but accept her demise, so she closed her eyes and whispered a prayer. “Spirits, if you do exist please don’t let her kill Kaya. She is just a child...”

Tears welled in her eyes. First she let her father down, and now she was letting her sister down. It wasn’t fair! She had done everything she could to protect her, but somehow it hadn’t been enough. She looked up. There it was, just floating there; that dreadful monstrosity that brought all the trouble. The sight of it lit a fire within her and she knew she couldn’t give up. Anger now replaced the hopeless feeling in the pit of her stomach and rage boiled in every fiber of her being. Finding enough air this time she roared “NO!! Not like this! I will not let you take her!!!!!”

 

* * *

 

“Kira!” Yamara was shaking the girl with all of her strength. “Kira, wake up!! WAKE UP! You are dreaming!”

Kira’s eyes flew open. She was soaked in sweat, and her heart was racing. Yamara had a startled look on her face.

“Child, it was just a dream. Shhh…” Yamara hugged Kira tightly as she sat in her bed panting. “It was just a dream… you’re okay.”

“Where’s Kaya?!” Pushing Yamara away and looking around the hut wildly, Kira spotted her sister standing by their father’s bed, hugging a fur blanket and looking both frightened and confused.

“Child, be still! You were dreaming.” Yamara grabbed both of Kira’s cheeks and forced her to look into her eyes, in a comforting voice she said, “Your sister is just fine. She is safe and sound, albeit probably a little terrified with all the screaming.” Letting go of her cheeks she forced Kira to lay back down.

Feeling disoriented Kira asked, “Screaming? Who was screaming?”

With her face growing more concerned by the moment Yamara replied, “Why, you child. You let out a terrible howl and then started screaming something about having to save Kaya. I think you woke half the village.” Yamara explained as she examined the girl, holding her hand against her forehead to check for fever. Finding Kira’s head cool to the touch a look of relief spread across Yamara’s face and she asked, “Do you remember what you were dreaming about?”

Kira tried to reach for the place she had just been, but like water slipping between her fingers the images faded from her mind. Frustrated, she replied, “I don’t… remember. I think I was falling, but I don’t know where I was. It was someplace I had never seen before.”

Frowning, Yamara tucked Kira back under her fur covers. “Hush now, child. Just rest. It is not yet morning.” Yamara turned her head and squinted in the dim light. “Kaya, don’t be afraid. Your sister was just having a nightmare. You can come back to bed now.”

Hesitant to move, Kaya crawled back into her bed, her teeth chattering as she did so. Kira wasn’t certain if she was shivering from the cold morning air, or from having been awakened so suddenly. She wanted to comfort her, but before she could say anything Kaya covered herself and turned on her side, facing away from her. It would have to wait.

                Yamara bent over and kissed Kaya on the side of her head, whispering something that Kira couldn’t hear. Whatever it was, it seemed to help, as Kaya began to relax under her fur blankets. Yamara stood to leave, but stopped. She looked back at Kira with a worried expression. She opened her mouth to say something, but reconsidered before the words came out. Closing her mouth awkwardly she simply nodded, and turned to leave.

Kira wondered what she was about to say, but decided she could just ask her later that day. She let out a long sigh as her thoughts wandered back to her dream. What had that place been? It all seemed so familiar, like she had been there before. But how could that be? She’d only ever lived here, in the village. She supposed it didn’t really matter. It was only a dream, even if it had felt real.

Letting out another deep sigh, Kira closed her eyes and started to drift back to sleep. Everything became less pronounced as her breathing steadied and images of her sister’s face floated through her mind like reflections in water. She knew she had to protect her, it didn’t matter what from; she had to be there for her, no matter what.

 

* * *

 

Footsteps. They had a quickened pace. Kira slowly opened her eyes as she heard the steps. The gravel underfoot scraped as they came to a stop outside the hut’s entrance. Clearing his throat, a man’s raspy voice called out, “Ms. Kira, may I enter? I have important news!”

                She knew the voice, and she also knew that she was not fond of the owner. It was the village shaman, the one who blamed her father for his own illness. Wishing she didn’t have to answer, she called back, “Yes, Felmar, come in.” She sat up in her bed, swinging her feet over the side. As he entered the hut Kaya started to shift and with a sleepy look, she peered at Kira looking for an explanation. Shrugging, Kira wiped the sleep from her eyes and yawned, forgetting to cover her mouth.

 Felmar frowned at her, which was not all that unusual; he was always frowning at her. This might have been part of the reason she didn’t like the man, but mostly it was because she didn’t trust him. Many years earlier, he claimed to have been visited by the spirits, who he insisted had ordained him to be their spokesperson, but Kira was convinced he was as devious as he was mad. He unnerved her, the way he always seemed to scheme and plot, and she didn’t like the way he used his “gift” to influence the villagers. She often tried to convince her father to stop listening to this old serpent and make him leave the village, but he never did heed her warnings. He would just roll his eyes, chuckle, and change the subject.

                Felmar stood just inside the hut for a long moment. Losing patience, Kira curtly said, “I thought you said you had news. Or did you simply decide you wanted to spend your morning watching me yawn?”

                To her amazement, Felmar found a way to frown even more than he already was. Squinting his eyes he replied, “It is a good thing your father isn’t awake. I’d hate for him to see his oldest daughter be so rude to the man who has come to save him.”

                Kira wrinkled her brow and with a tone of skepticism asked, “Oh? And how are you going to save my father, Felmar? Did the spirits give you healing powers?”

                Anger flashed in Felmar’s eyes. Kira had hit the nerve she had always wanted to. She felt satisfied, but when she saw the concerned look on her sister’s face she decided to let it go. Gritting his teeth Felmar spat back, “Fine! If you don’t want to hear what I have to say, then I’ll be on my way.” He began to move toward the door. Kaya gasped and looked indignantly at her sister.

                With a sigh, Kira called after him, “Felmar, wait. Don’t leave.” He paused in the doorway and looked back at her. He was trying to appear irritated, but she could tell he was enjoying this. His eyes told her that he loved having something to hold over them. Swallowing her pride, Kira asked, “What is your news? How can you save our father?”

                Something flickered in his eyes, and with a malicious grin he said, “Ask me nicely, and I might still tell you.” Raising his chin he glared down his crooked nose at Kira. She knew that she had to play along. He wouldn’t be going to such dramatic measures if it wasn’t worth her time.

                Straining to sound as genuine as she could, she asked in a polite voice, “Please tell me what news you have, Felmar. I am sorry I was so rude to you.” He didn’t seem to be buying it.

                Squinting his eyes again, he considered Kira for a moment. They both knew she hadn’t really meant it, but shrugging he seemed to give in. “Apology accepted. Now, what I have to tell you is not something to be taken lightly, child. Your attitude regarding the spirits is troubling, but you’ll have to overcome whatever doubts you have if you’re going to save your father.”

                “Wait. I thought you said you were going to save him,” Kira reminded him, suddenly confused.

                With a wicked grin growing across his face, Felmar said “Oh forgive me, I didn’t mean to mislead you.” They both knew that had been exactly what he had meant to do. “I meant to say that I have information that you could use to save him.”

                Frustration began to set in as Kira asked, “What does that even mean? What information do you have?”

                “The spirits have revealed to me a cure for your father’s sickness, but it won’t be easy to obtain. In fact it’s an almost impossible journey.” Felmar’s wide grin indicated that he was enjoying this exchange thoroughly.

                Kira was torn between her contempt for this shrewd old b*****d and her desire to see her father well again. She looked over at him sleeping quietly in his bed. The color in his face had faded from the night before and she knew it was only a matter of time. Filling with anger her eyes darted back to Felmar.

                “Enough games, old man! Just tell me what I have to do.” She was so angry, she barely noticed Yamara enter the hut behind Felmar.

                “What’s happening in here? Why are you here?” Yamara interjected with a concerned look. She noticed Kira’s irritated expression almost immediately and with an extended, pointy finger, poked Felmar hard in the shoulder. He grimaced in pain and started to rub the spot she had touched. Kira knew from experience that Yamara could poke a person surprisingly hard, especially if she meant it.

                With a smug look Felmar replied, “I was just telling this impolite child that the spirits visited me last night. They told me of a flower that, if ground up and made into a tea, would cure her father’s illness.”

                Yamara’s eyes widened with excitement, “Truly? They came to you and told you this? Where is this flower found? I’ll take a group to gather some.”

                Felmar’s beady eyes returned to Kira, and they twinkled as he said, “I’m sorry Yamara, but I don’t think you’ll be able to find this flower. You see, it can only be found in the Black Wood that grows to the west; where the sun sets.” All the air in the room seemed to evaporate as he finished his sentence. Kira, Kaya, and Yamara peered at one another not knowing what to say.

The Black Wood was a terribly dangerous place. Every person who had ever gone there, either did not return, or came back mortally wounded. No one survived the Black Wood; there were too many predators in the dark and overgrown forest. No one ventured there, not for anything.

                After a few moments of silence, Kira swallowed hard. She realized this was why he had been so ill-tempered with her. He had never liked her or the way she dismissed his “gift”, and she knew he had to be reveling in the idea of her running off into such danger; but there was more to it than that. Felmar had always been a slippery and calculating man. He always kept an eye out for any opportunity to take over the role of village elder, especially since he had become their spiritual leader.

Her heart sank as all the pieces began to fall into place. Felmar hadn’t been visited by the spirits, any more than he had been originally. He’d known all along about this flower, but didn’t mention anything until Kira and her family were desperate; desperate enough that they would have no other choice but to go on a suicide mission. Kira couldn’t just let her father die, but she knew she would be the only one willing to go. The village’s people loved her father, but they were already whispering about his coming death, as if it were written in stone.

Felmar planned this, she thought spitefully. He knew she would have no choice but to go by herself; the only other person who would have cared enough to try was her uncle Druin, and he was injured. By the look on Felmar’s face, she could tell he fully expected this to be a one way trip. With her out of his way and her father dead from this illness, there would be no one left to stop him from taking over as elder. Even her uncle wouldn’t be able to contend with him, and knowing Felmar’s manipulative ways, he would just convince the villagers that the spirits ordained him as their new leader. She loved her people, but she knew the fools would believe him, just as they always did.

                Kira let out a sigh and asked, “What does this flower look like, Felmar? How would I know it from any other?”

                Felmar knew he had won, and with a wicked sneer, he replied, “The flower is called the Night’s Widow. It is dark blue, with white dots on the outside petals. It grows most commonly among the mushrooms that feed on fallen trees. You’ll know it when you see it. The problem is, they are solitary plants, and each one produces just one blossom at a time. We need the petals from two of them to be sure the tea will work.” Kira couldn’t tell if he was lying or not. He was not known for outright deception, but he did have a knack for bending the truth when it suited his goals. She suspected he was just trying to guarantee she would fail her task by asking for two, but there was no choice. She would have to find two to be sure.

“You can’t be serious, child! You can’t go running off to the Black Wood! Have you lost your senses?” Yamara shrieked, giving Kira a scolding look. It was a legitimate question. Something about her father’s illness had changed Kira. Even she had to admit that she’d been acting strangely the past few nights. Her hesitation set Yamara off, “I won’t let you! Your father certainly wouldn’t! What would he say if he was awake?!”

                Kira got to her feet, closed her eyes and let out another sigh. She whispered, “but he isn’t awake, Yamara. And if I don’t go, he will never wake up.” In the corner of her eye she could see that Kaya had started to cry.

                “You don’t know that!” Yamara’s anger was evident in her voice.

                “Actually…” Felmar interjected, “I went to see the hunter who had the same illness, oh what was his name again… Conran! Yes I went to see him this morning. I’m sorry to report that he is no longer with us. Which means it is very important we find these flowers within the day, otherwise I’m afraid her father will leave us as well.” This news silenced everyone. Even Kaya stopped crying for a moment.

                There was no other choice. Kira shook her head and said, “Then there is no time to lose. I’ll need to leave immediately if I’m going to make it back by tomorrow.” Kira turned and started shuffling through her possessions. She knew she would need supplies if she was going to survive this. She expected Yamara to try and stop her, but thankfully, she didn’t.

Author's Note

already published so no need for edits. Just looking for writing tips as I'm currently working on the second book in the series.