Swaying her hips as she walked slowly, Sabanti made her way to the large double doors of the war room of the black castle of Kumraa. The heels of her shoes tapped loudly in the long and immense corridors with torches lining the walls, but she never noticed. Excitement pounded in her heart at the thought of what her master had waiting for her. As soon as she had come back from her confrontation with the ones she had been sent to find, soldiers had come to her door stating that the master wanted to see her. Although the faces of the soldiers gave no indication of what Kumraa wanted, the demon woman couldn't help but feel just a bit apprehensive. After all, she had failed to retrieve the three Sacred Medallions they had acquired, but at least she made them pay for their victory by killing one of their friends. Now their spirits are broken, and it would be so easy to dispose of them now.
From the way one of those pathetic human girls was crying, Sabanti knew that she had been right to kill at least one of the travelers with them. It had been her plan all along. She would take away everyone they cared for one by one, until their spirits would break in two. That was the way she had always done her work. It's not the matter of defeating someone in battle that counts....it's killing their soul. The demon smiled in a sinister way at that, and decided that Kumraa was indeed giving her an award of some kind for her work. With that thought, she hurried just a little more, and approached the immense doors. She knocked at the doors...slightly surprised they were closed to her. A moment later the black ivory double doors creaked opened, and she stepped confidently inside.
The two large-boned soldiers that opened the doors stood to the side holding the doors handles as Sabanti walked inside, and she gave them a smug smile. Ahead of her, there was a large table covered in a black cloth. On top of it were many maps, compasses, globes, and rulers strewed about, as though there was a plan to make an invasion of some sort. Around the table stood about twenty soldiers, their faces grim and determined, and fire in their eyes for a new battle to come as they talked with one another. At the end of the large and overflowing table sat Kumraa, his eyes blazing red and air rattling through his decaying throat. When he looked up and saw Sabanti, a yellow teethed smile spread across the darkened visage and the demon lord stood to his full height of nearly 7 feet. It was then that the men quieted down and turned to see Sabanti standing there. "Ahhhh, my sweet Sabanti. Always obedient to my summons. Come to me, my precious..."
At those words, Sabanti smiled smugly once again and walked to the end of the table, her hand on her hip and her shoulders thrown back in an arrogant way. When she reached Kumraa, she bent on one knee slightly and bowed her head, her hand going over her heart. "I am always obedient, My Lord. I live only to serve you, and to make your power known to all throughout the lands. I give my life to you."
The demon lord seemed to chuckle at that, but it was not sure to be a laugh as the sound that came from his throat was between a coughing rattle and wheezing. "Is that so, my dear? You give your life to me?" Slowly Kumraa reached out a bony, yellowed hand and softly stroked the green cheek of Sabanti, almost in a loving way. "You are so sure of yourself?"
"Why...yes My Lord." said Sabanti, starting to get suspicious. He was acting a little TOO kind for her liking. What was he getting at? But she decided to play her cards and make herself look triumphant for her master. "Just tonight, I caught up with the strangers you wanted to find, and I defeated one of their...."
The woman never got to finish her words as Kumraa suddenly narrowed his blazing red eyes and growled loud and deep in his throat. Before Sabanti could do anything, the powerful demon struck the woman a bone crunching backhanded punch across her face. Sabanti screamed horribly as she was sent flying across the room and crashed into the thick wall by the double doors. When she struck the wall, she stayed there for a second...then slowly slid down in a crumpled heap, blood leaking from her mouth and nose. Barely a moment passed before Kumraa rushed up to Sabanti, grabbed her around the neck, and hoisted her up to his eye level, leaving her feet dangling in the air. Already in so much pain, the demon woman nearly passed out as her master squeezed.
"I don't want to hear any of your pathetic excuses!" snarled Kumraa. "I want those girls found! I want them DEAD, do you hear me? One more failure, and you will fulfill your promise by giving your life to me, and it will not be pleasant!" With that, he opened his hand and let her drop to the ground again, and turned away in disgust.
Sabanti's body shook heavily as she tried in desperation to get to her feet, but it was just too painful. No, she couldn't let her master think she was a failure! She had to do something, SAY something! She reached out a pleading hand, and when she spoke, her voice came out in a rasps. "P..please! Wait Master! I...I have a plan! I killed one of the traitors who was helping them. I..I thought if I could...kill their spirit, I could...I could..."
"I have seen what you've done, Sabanti, I've been watching you." Kumraa growled out. He turned back around to scowl at her on the ground. "Killing one useless wench on their team doesn't mean anything to ME! I want those Sacred Medallions in my hand before another one is found! If you can't do that job for me, perhaps I can get someone who can. You're getting as useless as Zain..."
"No!" Sabanti's eyes widened at the thought of being disposed of, and it sent a shiver down her spine along with the unbearable pain. "I can do this, Master, just let me find them once more, and I'll get the medallions! I have spies now, I can find out wherever they go!"
Kumraa seemed to consider this for a moment as he clasped his hands behind his back. Then he turned his eyes back on her again, and nodded his head once. "One last chance, foolish wench. Fail again, and I will make sure you beg for death before I'm done. Do I make myself clear?"
"Y..yes, my...merciful Master!" gasped out Sabanti in relief.
"Then get out of my sight!" snarled Kumraa, clenching his fists in tight balls. Shuddering once more, the woman struggled to her feet, then limped feebly through the doors out into the corridor halls. As soon as she was gone, Kumraa roared loudly in his throat, and taking one end of the table, flipped it over easily, knocking everything off and scattering all the soldiers. Frustration emanated from him as he stood there, breathing hard and a rasping sound coming from his throat with each rise and fall of his large chest. It was now getting critical, and when things got critical, he got desperate. He could already feel how much stronger the girls were getting with each medallion they found, since he was attuned to anything magic. But he would not let them succeed in finding the rest of them if he had anything to do with it. No indeed! He had a plan, and by time he was done, he would make them rue the day they were born and even stepped foot on Cyphyrus!
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Sighing softly to herself, Jeneta lifted the thick traveling shirt off over her head, then took her pants off to put on her long, thick sleeping clothes. When she was done, she sat down on her bed in the large room she was sharing with Heather, Ling, Angeni, and Prya in the house they were staying in with Hun Li's family, and thought about the previous day’s events. It had been a day and a half now since Hun Li was killed, and Jeneta still felt the shock from it. The woman was so vital in giving them moral support when they needed it, and telling them about the culture of this world when they asked. She also knew that there was a bond that was beginning between the woman and Ling. Both of their cultures were similar, so they had plenty to talk about. Now that bond was severed, and Ling, as well as everyone else, was devastated. Jeneta sighed once again as she drew her knees up to her chest. Then thinking about Tao, she couldn't even bring herself to imagine what he was going through, much less the rest of his family. But she knew that with everyone supporting him, he would make it through, as well as Ling. Jeneta turned her head to see Heather, Prya, and Angeni fast asleep, completely exhausted from the funeral services the town had thrown and helping out other people with chores, construction, and other things. She herself just finished helping clean out some of the rainwater from the rainstorm in the courtyards, as well as with laundry and talking with the rest of Tao and Hun Li's family. But Ling was no where to be found after they had decided to retire for the night.
But Jeneta wasn't worried. She knew the Chinese girl wanted a little time alone and will turn up sooner or later. They all just had to be patient, but that still didn't take the worry from Prya's eyes, who grew so close to the Chinese girl. Just then, the door to the bedroom creaked open, and Djoser walked in softly. When he saw that Jeneta was awake and looked up at him, he backed away. "I'm...sorry. I didn't think you were still up, I just....I mean....I was just checking..." He turned a slight shade of red and turned to leave, but Jeneta quickly jumped from her bed, rushed to him, and took his hand.
"No, wait Djoser!" She smiled at him and turned to see the others still sleeping. "I...I was hoping that maybe we can talk," she whispered. "About you and...well, your brother, and if Zain.."
"No, I'm sorry, we shouldn't. You should go back to sleep." With that, the tall, dark-skinned man turned and hurried away. But determined, Jeneta followed him, whispering soft so as not to disturb anyone. "Wait! Djoser, we need to talk! From ever since your fight with Zain, I know you've been struggling with something, I can feel it!" She followed him past the other bedrooms then down the very short stairs to the main room of the house. She reached out and grabbed his arm, stopping him from going out the door.
"Please stop! Listen to me! I can understand you're very confused and angry, but...please don't run away from me, from ALL of us..and not talk to us anymore. Please don't run away from me. We...care about you so much. I mean, I..care about you." The dark-skinned girl couldn't say anymore as tears filled her eyes and spilled down. Her heart seemed near bursting with the amount of emotions she was feeling for this man. She didn't care anymore if he or anyone else knew now what she felt. She cared about him, more than she had anyone else before!
But right at this moment, all she knew was that it was killing her inside that he seemed to ignore her, not letting her know if he even felt the same way she did. She reached up to wipe the tears from her eyes, and was about to apologize for crying like a baby when suddenly, Djoser reached forward and lifted her chin with his finger. With love shining in his eyes, he gently wiped away the trail of another tear on her cheek with a finger from his other hand. "Please...don't cry," he whispered softly. Uncertainty filled his eyes and he seemed to struggle deep within himself with a thousand questions. He closed his eyes for just a second, as though trying to clear his thoughts.
When he opened his eyes again, he took Jeneta's face in both of his hands, then leaned forward and planted a soft, gentle kiss on her lips. So surprised was she, that Jeneta could do no more than just stand there and automatically kiss back. It was only a moment later when she regained her thoughts that she let her tears flow freely down her dark cheeks, and allowed herself to kiss back with the raw emotion she felt burning inside her heart. Then all too soon, the kiss ended, and the intense look was back on Djoser's face. He stepped back, and with a gruff voice he muttered out "I...have to get going." With that, he quickly walked out the door and disappeared, leaving Jeneta a little confused, but still a little happy in her heart as she smiled softly.
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Outside in the night chill wind, Ling walked to the medium-sized fountain that was near the end of town and sat down along its edge, drawing her short coat closer about her. The fountain was elequently made from white marble and designed to look like a beautiful goddess with her dress flowing around her. Ling turned and swirled her finger in the pool water surrounding the fountain for a few moments, wishing that waters were able to sooth her troubled soul as it soothed thirst. She took in a deep breath as she tried to sort out the raging thoughts in her mind. She had never had the chance to know her parents very well, as they died when she was so little, so she never truly had a mother figure in her life. But deep in her heart, Ling knew that if she would have wanted anyone to be a figure like that in her life, it would have been Hun Li. Now that chance was gone and never to be found again. It was just SO unfair! How could people she loved and cared about be taken from her like that? Was she to have no one special in her life? Angrily, she slapped the water and barely noticed as some of it splashed on her face. Above, the stars reflected their light on the water beautifully and night progressed, but the Chinese girl barely noticed that too. She also didn't notice a figure walking up right beside her slowly.
"Gee, I didn't know slapping water was supposed to make you feel better." said a soft voice.
Ling looked up in surprise to see Tao walking up and sitting next to her. His face was tired and still sad, but there was no mistaking the slight glint of mischief still gleaming there.
"Oh. It's you." she said. When she realized what she said, she lowered her head. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean...."
"It's okay." the young man said, shaking his head. For long moments the two sat there in silence, aware of each other but too shy to say anything. Then getting annoyed at the silence and taking a deep breath, Ling turned to Tao and looked at him cautiously.
"Look...I just wanted to say again how sorry I was...about your sister, and for calling you all those names...you know... from before."
Tao smiled at her softly in return, yet his eyes were filled with sadness. "It's going to be okay. Hun Li's soul will be rewarded for the good she has done on this world by the Goddess, I know it. My family and I will always be proud of her. I used to watch over her when we were kids, protecting her from danger and bullies. Now she'll watch over me and the rest of my family in spirit. But we'll still miss her though." The man nodded, then once more smiled softly. "And as for the names...don't worry, I've never been called any name I didn't deserve."
Unable to help herself, Ling chuckled softly at that, then looked up to the stars, as though trying to assure herself that Hun Li was indeed watching over them. Suddenly, she felt something on her hand on the fountain's edge, and looked down to see that Tao had taken her hand in his own, their fingers intertwined as he also looked up at the stars.
Usually, Ling would punch any guy who would dare do that to her without permission back home, but this time, it actually felt kind of....nice. She smiled at him softly for a moment, then looked back up at the stars. Suddenly, with her hand holding Tao's, she didn't feel so troubled anymore, and she didn't mind it one bit.
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The next morning, Jeneta woke from her bed with a start. She had been hoping to sleep longer in her dream about Djoser, but then she remembered this was the day they would put her, Heather's, and Ling's medallions together to try and located the fourth Sacred Medallions. During the day yesterday, the girls had discussed that this was what Hun Li would have wanted: for them to continue on their journey and find the medallions to free this world.
She jumped out of her bed and rushed to the beds of the other girls who were sleeping. "You guys! Come on, it's time to get up! We're leaving today, remember?" She quickly shook each girl awoke and sighed in relief when she saw Ling rising out of her bed.
"Alright, alright, we're up!" yawned Heather, stretching her arms. "Sheesh, you're worse than my grandfather when he really wants to get me up."
As the other girls rustled out of their beds, Prya turned to Ling as she started to change her clothes. "Ling...are you alright? We missed you last night before going to bed."
"Oh, yeah...I'll be fine." Ling said, nodding her head. "As long as I have friends like you guys, I'll be able to get through anything." She placed a hand on the Indian girl's shoulder. "Thanks...for everything."
Prya nodded with a smile back at her, and hurried with the rest of the girls in packing their small leather traveling bags with clothing. They then rushed out to the large bathroom to freshen up, then outside into the house's main family room, where Djoser and Tao was waiting. "Ahhh, there you are!" Djoser smiled and nodded to each girl. But his smiled stayed a bit longer on Jeneta, and she blushed slightly.
"Come on, we have breakfast waiting, then we have to head out." the tall man said. On the way to the kitchen and dining room, Angeni gave Jeneta a knowing look.
"Was it a dream, or did I see you and Djoser talking in the room last night before the both of you rushed off. Seems like it was pretty real to me!" the Native American girl teased as she grinned.
"We...we just talked..." Jeneta blushed redder as she shook her head, but Angeni grinned even wider at that. But she had no more chance to tease as they quickly ate their small breakfast, then hurried out of house into the town's central courtyard.
Already their horses were waiting for them alongside a large crowd of people who came to see them off. Many people came up to them, thanking them for their help, generosity, and giving encouragement, as they heard about the tales of their adventures. Then, Djoser stood beside his horse and nodded to Heather, Ling, and Jeneta, motioning them to bring their medallions together.
"Here goes nothing," whispered Jeneta to herself. Together, the three girls stepped forward and gently held up the medallions in their hands, facing one another. There was a flash of bright white light from each of the medallions, then they started to glow brightly. A beam of light shot out from each of them and came together above the girls in a flash. Suddenly, a 3-D holographic image map appeared unfolding in the bright early morning light, and numerous mountains and forests and seas appeared, real enough to touch. Three red dots indicated where the girls already found the three medallions, but far away, almost on the other side of the world and near the equator of the planet, there was a green dot on a large continent where the fourth Sacred Medallion can be found. The dot blinked brightly for a few minutes as Djoser quickly scribbled the location down, then slowly began to dissipate. The holographic image also began to get dimmer and dimmer until it too faded away, and the medallions returned to their normal color.
"My gosh, the fourth medallion looks like it's so far away! How will we get there?" said Prya, worry in her eyes.
Djoser thought for a moment, then an idea formed in his head and he nodded. "I think I know a way. It's a good thing it's not too far away from here. Come, follow me." He mounted his horse and quickly galloped away, Tao, Jeneta, and the others jumping on their horse and following behind. They waved to the villagers as they were riding away. Excitement and anticipation raced in their heart and blood. Another adventure was coming up, and this time, they were ready for it!
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To Be Continued...
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