M/M ~> Chapter 20

In Which the Truth is Revealed

Copyright Reed Wynters 2008

Chapter 21

The book was shimmering lightly in my lap, the energy I had felt earlier steadily growing stronger. I would have to open the book soon I knew, but my fingers were trembling. I was afraid of this book, strange images flashing before my mind’s eye as I gazed at its golden cover. There was no title. A woman of light, touching a golden book, her eyes full of sadness. I shook my head to clear these thoughts, but they kept flooding my mind. A round chamber, with a sundial in the center where a golden book sat. A young woman stood before it, her eyes frightened, but her posture determined. Thirteen black robed people stood around the edge of the room, their faces hidden in the deep shadows of their hoods. I put a firm block on my mind, allowing it to empty completely. I could feel more images trying to break into my mind, and I knew that the book was showing them to me. I also knew what these images were showing me and why, but I refused to be intimidated. With a deep breath, I flipped the cover of the book over. Initially, the pages were perfectly blank. They were thick and cream coloured, and emanated a dull white glow. However, as I stared at the book, with questions racing through my mind, words began to appear on the page. They were jumbled and confused, writing over one another, but they all appeared to be answers. With great effort, I cleared my mind enough to focus on one question only. I am the book of truth. I stared at it. It had answered my question, although I hadn’t yet spoken it aloud. I fought back the urge to introduce myself as well, and then lightly cursed the one who had taught me manners. I only looked like a fool when I was being polite here in the magical realm. ‘Do you know how to save Atlantis?’ I asked it. I know everything. I am the book of truth. I stared at it for a moment and then rolled my eyes. Damn book needed everything spelled out perfectly didn’t it? ‘How can I save Atlantis’ I asked it, wording the question so that a complete answer was necessary. You must eliminate the Dark Ones threat. As new questions entered my mind rapidly, the book answered them, one by one. The Dark Ones have been around since the beginning of Atlantis. They rule from the shadows. They hold great power in numbers, but are frail alone. They reside in the Onyx Tower. The Onyx Tower must be destroyed to defeat them. They channel power through it from their master. They follow the orders of the Grim Reaper. The Grim Reaper requires a large amount of souls every thousand years. However, some souls are strong enough to substitute for all of the other souls. Terra Matris possessed such a soul, and therefore sacrificed it to save the residents of Atlantis. You possess such a soul. The Dark Ones weaken the shield to draw out the ones with such souls, and if a soul with that power does not reveal itself, they will take the entire city. Once they have collected the Reaper’s souls, they will rebuild Atlantis to draw more souls for the next harvest. Only a pure soul can defeat them, and only with the help of another pure soul. One alone cannot defeat thirteen. Thirteen must defeat thirteen. The book’s cover slammed shut, and then the golden book floated away from my lap and disappeared. I was a little miffed that it had just decided to stop answering me, because I found that quite rude and all, but I imagined I would’ve been annoyed ten questions ago. And then I realized that I had all the knowledge I needed to take down the Onyx Tower. And none of the manpower. I let my head fall into my hands with a disgruntled sigh. How was I going to find twelve other pure souls that would even believe all of this stuff, let alone help me? How was I even going to know if they were pure souls? ‘Kaira?’ I started, looking around myself in confusion. And then I grinned happily. ‘Sidus! Where have you been!?’ I asked him excitedly. I could feel his joy through the bond. ‘Our bond was blocked when you awakened. I couldn’t get through to you, and then you ran away and I couldn’t find you. Is Cain with you?’ he asked me. ‘He’s resting. The idiot started a riot on our way back,’ I muttered darkly. ‘Really? Why?’ ‘Evian asked me a favour that he didn’t approve of.’ ‘I see. And are you going to perform this favour?’ I smiled happily. ‘I am, but not in the way Evian thinks.’ I started again, another thought suddenly hitting me. Was Evian in on it all? ‘Kaira? What happened?’ Sidus asked, sounding concerned. ‘Sorry. I’ll explain it to you back in Cain’s room. I’m going to need to talk to him and you. Meet me there ok?’ ‘See you shortly.’ The connection was lost and I quickly got off the floor and headed for the exit of the restricted section. I stopped short when I heard voices coming toward me, voices that sounded unhappy and unfriendly. I spun around and darted back into the darker rows of books I soon found myself surrounded by the blackest darkness I had ever experienced. Everything felt muted and dull, silent and alone. I cast out my senses, trying to figure out where the nearest shelf was so I could find my way back to the library, but there was emptiness around me. I took another step and teetered on the edge of a sharp drop. I cast out my sense again, and felt a circular stone room with no exits excepting the spiral staircase that headed downwards into the hole I had nearly fallen in a moment ago. With a sigh, I started down the steps carefully, my hand on the wall to ensure that I wasn’t going to walk right off the steps and into air. However, despite this precaution, I somehow managed to do just that. With a surprised squeak emitting from me, I suddenly fell straight down, the air rushing past me with a loud whistling noise. I couldn’t think straight as I realized that I was plummeting to my death, something that I had always been afraid of. Heights weren’t my strong point. I suddenly felt my mind go blank, my arms whirling, collecting air around me, beneath me until I had a platform to stand on, surrounded by darkness. I stood shocked for a moment, and then I snapped my fingers and summoned a ball of fire to illuminate my surroundings. I was idiot. I was still berating myself for not thinking of this earlier as I lowered my platform of air slowly, looking around myself at the damp walls. They were covered in lichen and looked slimy to the touch. I shivered in disgust. I wasn’t a fan of slimy things either. My platform suddenly hit a solid surface, and I let it dissipate, dropping a few inches onto a stone floor. There were three exits from place, and I had no idea which was the right way. My sense of direction had been shot after I fell. I performed the eeny-meeny-miny-mo rhyme in my head and then chose the one directly in front of me and began to walk forward, holding my little fireball ahead of me to see where I was going. I walked for a long time before I finally exited that tunnel and found myself in another circular stairwell. I started up the steps, jumping over gaps where the steps had crumbled away. As I neared the top, I noticed a light from above, and I put mine out and pressed myself to the wall, trying to make myself invisible by thickening the air in front of me. I continued up the steps carefully, and my ears began to pick up sound. “Yes, I believe she will follow through. Her mother’s blood sings in her veins. She couldn’t possibly ignore the plight of Atlantis,” I heard a familiar voice saying. I knew that he was talking about me. “You are certain? This one seems different from the last, but her soul is stronger,” another voice replied, low and raspy. It was like listening to nails on a chalkboard. “I am certain. I will dispose of any who threaten to change her decision,” Evian replied. “Good. See to that.” I heard a rustle of robes, and then the light above me went out and I crept up the steps again, my mind searching for Sidus as I did so. ‘Kaira?’ I breathed a sigh of relief. ‘You need to move Cain. Evian is probably on his way, and I don’t think it would be good if he found Cain,’ I told him. ‘Of course. I’ll let you know where we are when we’ve settled,’ he replied without hesitation. I smiled and broke the connection, focusing on being as quiet as possible while I moved upwards. I suspected that this staircase would lead to Evian’s office, and I wasn’t sure if he was still in there or not. When I finally got to the top, there was only a wooden door with a rung for a handle. Sucking up my fear, I tugged on the rung and yanked the door open, immediately falling back against the wall. The office was empty. I let out the breath I had been holding and crept across the room, slipping through the heavy door and darting down the hallway until I found regular students. Then I just focused on blending in and looking natural. I wandered like that until I Sidus informed me that they had moved to our garden, and I ran there. “Are you ok?” I asked him as I skidded around the bend in the path and found Cain leaning against the trunk of the willow. He looked up and grinned. “Of course. Were you worried?” he asked. I crossed my arms. “Stop being an idiot. Evian wants to dispose of you,” I told him. He raised an eyebrow. “My father? Why would he want to do that?” he asked me, sounding incredulous. I glared. “Oh I don’t know, maybe because he’s in on the bad guys plans to harvest souls from Atlantis!” I almost shouted at him. “Sorry!” I apologized immediately. “I’m kind of tense.” “No need to blow up,” he shrugged. I glared again. “I just discovered the bad guys plot, fell down a giant hole, got slime all over me, found out that your dad wants to kill you, and that I need to find twelve other people with pure souls before I can do anything to save Atlantis. I’m not in a grand mood Cain,” I growled. He stared at me, raising his hands in innocence. I dropped to the ground beside him, swept up some water and threw it over myself, effectively washing away the grime that had gathered all over me, then pulled all the water off of me and was dry again. I lit a fireball in my hand and began to play with it in annoyance, still peeved at Cain for making me worry. He looked perfectly fine now. Stupid healer. “So are you going to share the plan?” he asked me gently. I gave a large huff and fell back onto my back, staring up at the branches of the willow. “I don’t have a plan yet. I need to find twelve other pure souls beside myself that will even believe that story I have for them, and then will help me. I’m committing treason Cain!” I explained sadly. He laid back beside me, taking my hand in his. “Well, I’m one other pure soul that will help you, although I’m curious to hear what you’ve discovered,” he told me quietly. I gave a little sigh and explained it all. “And you found all this out how?” he asked me in awe. “Golden book of truth. Finicky book it is too,” I muttered in annoyance. Cain suddenly began to laugh beside me. I sat up questioningly. “What?” He shook his head, still laughing. “Only you Kaira,” he chuckled. “Only you.”