The Reincarnators (chapters 1-17)

This is the first draft of chapters 1-17 of a novel I am working on. You can also read the poetic blurb and see some story illustrations here: http://theshyshaman.com/stories/
I apologise for any inconsistencies in spacing or errors, I hope you enjoy the story regardless.

the Reincarnators

by

TheShyShaman
©2016

Chapter 1

"What's in the crate?"

"Nothing."

The box shuddered violently.

"Doesn't sound like nothing."

"Just forget the crate for now." The slender man threw an oil stained tarp over the box to prevent light from further disturbing its contents.

"I understand your motive for secrecy, I really do. But you need to understand that it makes it hard for me to assess the level of involvement I am comfortable with." The short jewel miner placed his hands on the table in front of him, palms down. "You know I’d like to save all of us just as desperately as you would.." he continued "But I have a wife and children, Kaelan. I can't risk their safety unless it's certain we can win."

"These wars have gone on for too long, old friend. So many are still asleep. We don't have time left to allow them to awaken when they are ready to accept the truth. They must see now. They must fight now. Or many will die." The lantern near Kaelan's thigh flickered ominously, as though it too understood the gravity of the situation.

"Please...say you will help."

Kregor the dwarf looked at him with heavy burden drooping beneath his eyes. "I'll do what I can..."

Chapter 2

"How are you feeling?" Kregor enquired while pouring hot water into two mugs.

"Eh. Been better. Didn't get much sleep last night." Kaelan rubbed his bald head. "But you sounded like you slept like four rocks in a sock."

The dwarf regarded him blankly over his steaming mug of coffee.

"Heavily. You sounded like you slept heavily." he explained. "I could hear you snoring through the wall."

Kaelan finished lacing up his thick, leather boots and crammed a pastry into his grinning mouth. "So hopefully you'll be in full form for what I have in store for us today."

"And what would that be?" Kregor drained his beverage despite its intense temperature and picked up a satchel.

"It is literally in the store shed. Come, I’ll show you..."

~:~:~:~:~

"Kaelan, where did you get this?" Kregor asked cautiously, knowing that the answer would be unsettling.

"I had to call in quite a few favours. There is an occult breeder in the east, near the Storm Lake district. One of the other members of Faceless told me the guy might have a couple available." Kaelan stood with his hands on his hips, beaming like a proud child.

The murky creature dragged the long spines on its ribs against the bars of the cage.

"How do you plan on controlling it? I've heard only the strongest shamans and warlocks can use doomtrackers successfully."

"Mona gets here tomorrow. If anyone can train this beast, it's her." Kaelan stepped back as long claws reached out slowly towards the leg of his overalls.

"THE Mona? Princess of Tambor?" Kregor's question was answered by a nodding smirk.

"The very same."

"Kaelan I understand that she has a way with most creatures, but it's told that doomtrackers only respond to a transferal of energy."

"I wouldn't underestimate her gift."

The creature sizzled softly in response.

Chapter 3

Three new companions stood in the alcove of the cottage; all rallied to the same mysterious cause. They surveyed one another curiously. Adjusting their various cases, satchels and garments in uncomfortable silence. Finally, the door swung open and they were greeted by their mutual comrade.

“Welcome, friends.” Kaelan clasped each one by the head in a customary druidic greeting.

The large crypt owl on Mona's shoulder protested mildly at its displacement.

“Good to see you too, Argus.” he chuckled.

The bird ruffled its magnificent feathers in greeting.

“Your place was nearly too hard to find. Almost as though you're hiding out or something equally suspicious.” joked a lively eyed woman with wild, chocolate coloured hair.

A stark contrast to the elaborate arching headdress carefully adorning Mona's blonde head.

“Funny as ever, Tamara. Have you all made your introductions or shall I?” Kaelan beamed.

The general shrug answered his question.

~:~:~:~:~

It was warm inside the cottage. A merry fire crackled in the hearth and the sitting-room was filled with a variety of furniture, all desperately trying to fit into the limited space.

The large owl and an equally large barn cat, sized each other up from opposite ends of an obnoxiously patterned sofa.

Kregor set a mug-lined tray down for the arrivals. “Jones, shoo!”

The fat, orange cat left the room with a final reproachful look at his beaked nemesis.

The third newcomer was the youngest of the group but the most learned in scholarly matters. Tristan's extensive knowledge on anthropology and mythology were vital to the mission. He was not accustomed to such cold weather and as such was wearing an excessive number of shirts and had claimed the armchair closest to the fire.

“That's an interesting necklace, Mona.” he commented.

“Isn't it? I picked it up while I was passing through Calienthe. Came across a quaint little roadside caravan selling antiquities. The vendor practically gave it to me.” she marvelled, twirling the dark orange gem around her finger.

“Ok so we're all ready for tomorrow?” Kaelan diverted them back to the previous topic.

“The truth is I don't know that I'll be able to control it. But I'll damn sure give it my best shot.” Mona assured him.

“These birds though, Kaelan. Are you sure they even exist?” Tamara looked skeptical.

Tristan took this cue to explain his research on the rainbirds. He pulled a huge, tattered volume from his backpack and opened it gently on his lap so that the copious amount of sticky notes would not be disturbed from the pages.

“I've been reading up on them for the last several months. It's a legend that has a counterpart in nearly every culture.” he explained. “By cross referencing all of these stories I believe I know their general location.”

“Good lad.” Kregor congratulated him on his efforts.

“Ok well I can get us close enough to that location but we're talking about a massive area. How will we ever search the entire Rainlands, Mist Marshes and Fern Heights?” Tamara's exasperation caused Kaelan to jump to his feet.

“No, no, that's the thing! That's what the doomtracker is for. These birds expel a high level of sadness or 'doom'. The little bugger will lead us straight to them. Their tears are the key to the entire plan. Tristan, read the exert from 'Ancient Cures and Causes'.”

Tristan untangled his glasses from his dread-locked head.
“The tears of the bird of being can transform even the coldest heart to one of kindness. For within their water flows the compassion for all that lives and ever will. Taste of them and do not spill. The hatred from within your soul shall all dry up until you are whole.”

“HA. The tales those old wives told.” Kregor exclaimed heartily.

“No, I believe it is a genuine reference. I have found countless others saying more or less the same thing. Rainbird tears can change evil into good.”

“Well then, we best bag us a rainbird.” Tamara grinned infectiously.

Chapter 4

“ALL THE GODS! Grab it! Grab it Tristan!” Kregor screamed as Tristan plunged into the mud on the barn floor.

Bits of the rafters rained down on them along with a large amount of dirt and hay. Kaelan tried desperately to pin its serpentine tail with a pitchfork.

“There is no appealing to this thing!” Mona screamed above the chaos.

The doomtracker evaded Kregor once again and crept up the wall and along the ceiling at alarming speed. Demolishing the rafters further as it went.

After forty disastrous minutes, they managed to herd it back into the cage. Kaelan clamped the padlock shut quickly.

“Not your finest idea.” Kregor sighed and sat down amongst the wreckage.

“I'm sorry, Kaelan.” Mona sat down too after retrieving her fallen headdress from the muck.

“Don't apologise, we knew it might not work.” Kaelan surveyed the damage.

The doomtracker lay in its cage quietly gloating. It had been a while since its last bout of exercise. It surveyed them with its tiny eyes and basked in the failure emanating from their direction.

~:~:~:~:~

Even the clutter of the cottage was welcoming after the mess they had just cleaned up. Boots, bags, books and dirty items of clothing were dropped and removed once all were inside. Various wounds were tended, while Kregor prepared some hot drinks.

“There we go, it says only a shaman or warlock can control a doomtracker.” Tristan bookmarked the page and slammed the book shut.

“I know a powerful witchdoctor we could ask.” said Tamara. “He's from the Saltwater tribes back home.”

Tristan's eyebrows shot up “Whaaat? I'm from Saltwater too!” he grinned at her. “I never would have guessed by looking at you.”

“Appearances can be deceiving.” she laughed.

“Home is very far away, it will take us at least a week to get there if we are avoiding commercial transportation. Do we have even have that kind of time?” he turned to Kaelan.

“I can get us there today.” Tamara assured them. She reached down her shirt and pulled out a strange device attached to the chain around her neck. “I have a friend called Colette Anouk.”

“I know Colette, we went to Cyber Welder College together.” Kaelan chimed in with a undeniable look of admiration on his face. “She won an award for her final project 'Thinking With Portals'.”

“Right, well this is essentially the same technology just more reliable.” Tamara explained as the lockey passed around for everyone to examine. “It can take me anywhere in this dimension that I have already been and logged as a point of reference. I've been travelling the world logging safe coordinates for Colette's database. Before she can sell it on a mass scale, the final product has to have a set list of destinations. That way she is not liable if anyone winds up in a dangerous location.”

“Like the middle of an ocean...” Mona mused.

“Or a volcano.” Tristan added.

“Exactly.” Tamara took the lockey back and tucked it safely inside her shirt.

“Well, I don't know about you lot, but I am definitely ready for some warmer weather.” Tristan laughed.

Chapter 5

“I knew you'd be back, girl. You cannot escape your heritage, you are an island child at heart. Coming from a lineage of beings both big and small that were deemed unworthy of being the masters of their own lands and domains by HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN OF DOORAL.” Soniak the witchdoctor spat at the ground of his shack in contempt.

They took a moment of silence for all those that had perished needlessly over the centuries.

“This oppression goes on to this day with the complete mind-control of the population. They've taken away the knowledge of our own immortality and replaced our sureness with existential dread.” the old shaman continued in his animated, watery accent.

“They force us to need material possessions and services and anything that offers a distraction from our 'inevitable and final deaths'. But conveniently they are the ones who profit from these goods and services. So while they slowly gather all the wealth and hoarded knowledge; we run around terrified, slowly slipping into the lie. Filling up the voids in our lives with THINGS and neglecting to feed our souls and grow spiritually, which is our main directive.” he slammed a mossy hourglass down in front of them.

His four old hands grabbed Tamara by the shoulders and looked seriously into her startled eyes. “You are an immortal being. This body is merely one vessel. There is no true end. I need you to remember that. Everyone needs to wake up and remember that. Because the longer we believe that there is no point to existence, the faster it becomes true.”

“Soniak, you are correct.” Kregor interjected his rant as the momentum faltered. “This is why we need your help.”

“Then my help is yours.” the witchdoctor turned his back to them and began packing his belongings as an unnerving silence settled over the room.

Chapter 6

The marshes were aflame. Black smoke billowed up into the sky. The dampness of the air and ground suggested this was not a natural fire. The overwhelming stench of gasoline confirmed it.

“Someone knew we were coming.” Kaelan whispered through his inner rage.

The five others stood in stunned shock.

“One of you has betrayed our whole cause...”the dark blue rings on Kaelan's scalp began to glow, as they did for all druids during times of extreme emotion or distress.

“We don't know Soniak very well..” Tristan started.

“No.” Kaelan cut him off “Soniak didn't know where we were going. You four are the only ones who knew about this stage of the plan.”

“Kaelan, you know we wouldn't betray you.” Tamara's tears cascaded down her cheeks.

“Never.” agreed Mona firmly.

“I trusted you guys more than anyone in the w-” Kaelan's eyes landed on the jewel glittering inconspicuously on Mona's pale chest. “Mona..when did you say you were in Calienthe?”

“Wh-” a sickening realisation struck her. “Oh. Oh no no no NO!” she screamed and ripped the necklace clean off. A knotted chunk of hair and headdress came with it. “How could I be so blind?!” she threw it violently into one of the many fires surrounding them.

As she turned back to face her sullen comrades her face was a mess of tears and angry flushes. “I did not know, Kaelan. I swear to you.”

“I believe you.” he folded her into a comforting hug.

“I am so sorry...”

The others also gathered around to provide whatever reassurance they could.

~:~:~:~:~

After several hours it became clear that the doomtracker was useless under these conditions. The charred plants and scorched earth were screaming in soundless pain.

Soniak allowed the creepy critter to make one final sweep of the the area. But it just ran around in circles, feeding off the destructive energy like a compass spinning without north.

“Just put it back in the box. We'll have to think of something else.” Kregor tugged at his flaxen beard as though an idea might just fall out.

“How are we going to find these bloody birds?!” Mona shouted angrily at the sky.

An unusual series of low clicks alerted them to the approach of a leafy individual. She crept towards them cautiously, her green skin and foliage standing out against the charcoal backdrop.

With all attention on her, she froze and did not move again until Soniak extended one of his arms toward her. “Come child, it's alright.”

“My name Turohs Furnelle.” the dryad gestured to herself as she made her introduction in broken English. “You help please?” her desperate eyes scanned all their faces for confirmation.

“We'll try, Turohs.” Kaelan noticed two roses growing among the ferns of her hair and smiled kindly.

“Bad men, they came. Threw fire on my people's homeland. They burn most. Few dead, many hurt.” she sobbed. The tiny mushrooms and mosses growing on her skin trembled as she spoke.

Tamara was crying along with her as she listened helplessly.

“We heal now, up in mountains. We hide.” she pointed towards Fern Heights. It's edges were blackened and smouldering too.

“What do you need?” asked Kregor gently.

“You search for something?” she queried.

“We are looking for the rainbirds.” Kaelan explained.

She nodded carefully. “You need them for why?”

“We need them to stop the bad men that came here. Well, their masters technically..”

Turohs waved her hands impatiently to cut him off. “I show you where is rainbirds if you bring to me Tok-Tok.”

Amid the sea of confused faces only Tristan and Soniak seemed to understand.

“Tok-Tok is a vegetation god in this region of the world.” the shaman explained wearily. “But it's just stories.”

“No. Tok-Tok real. You bring him, he fix my home. Then I give what you want. No Tok-Tok, no rainbirds.” the dryad stated adamantly.

“We would have helped you without being blackmailed.” Mona frowned.

“She's been through a lot, Mona, don't.” Tamara dragged an already sodden sleeve across her leaking face.

Soniak volunteered to follow Turohs back to provide medical assistance to the injured. As they disappeared into the mist and smoke, the others piled back into the marsh marcher. Kaelan dumped the doomtracker crate in the back and pet the mechanical beast on its side fondly.

A machine of completely his own invention and execution, the marsh marcher was designed to manoeuvre easily over difficult terrain. Beaches, swamps, slippery slopes, mountains, crags and cliffs were no match for the spider-like machine. As it crept over the smoking wasteland at a staggering pace, they quietly wondered how they were going to turn in this impossible quest.

Chapter 7

“There is another land that is accustomed to the plague of flames, but the plants always grow back.” Kregor pointed out the region on the map in one of several books sprawled out in front of Tristan.

The motion of the marcher was making him queasy but he kept searching for answers within the texts.

“Look, right now we are just traveling aimlessly! I'm going to need a destination soon guys! Wouldn't have been smart to hang around back there but I can stop somewhere soon until we figure it out!” Kaelan yelled back at them over the roar of the engine.

“HA.” Tristan slammed his hand down on the pages in front of him and looked up with a proud smile. “Listen to this - 'The Fire Fields are an area of forest harvested completely of wood and plantation crops in an exact five year cycle. The harvest always takes place before natural bushfire consumes a precise strip of land. Legends of the locals say that these fires are caused by the fire deity Osros' sneezes. As he makes his five yearly journey to visit his friend Tok-Tok, the earth deity that lives in the region's dense forest. After the harvest, locals avoid the land to encourage Tok-Tok to walk across the fields and sow new life from the ashes. His name is said to come from the sound his hooves make as he does so. Tales of such encounters stem from locals that ventured too close to the fields during the rejuvenation period. Because of the success of this method of farming, other areas also developed a slash and burn technique that strengthens crop growth and increases soil fertility.”

“Coordinates?!” Kaelan yelled unnecessarily from the front seat.

~:~:~:~:~

“From one smoky pit to the next.” Mona scrunched up her face while Tamara stood beside her, fiddling with the minuscule dials on the lockey.

“I don't know, I think there's something kind of beautiful about this place.” Tamara returned the device to the inside of her shirt and scuffed the soil with her boot. “It feels peaceful compared to the Rainlands.”

“Perhaps because it was not ignited maliciously.” Kregor shrugged.

Kaelan came back from the marcher with a taped up pair of binoculars in his hand. “These are huge tracts of land but they're mostly flat. So if someone is out here I'll hopefully be able to spot them.”

“Wouldn't it be better to be higher up?” Tristan suggested.

“You know you're not just a pretty face?” Kaelan winked at him playfully and the girls laughed.

From atop the hefty machine, Kaelan scanned kilometres of black earth for what felt like an eternity. Just as he was about the give up, a dancing flash of colour pulled his vision back into focus. A flicker of yellow on the dark landscape. He found it again, closer this time. “Guyyyys! Something is approaching us fast!”

Kregor removed a dagger from his trench-coat and Mona grabbed her ancient blade from the back seats of the marcher. Before anyone could utter a further word, two odd spectral foxes stood before them.

The green and yellow fox appeared to be stitched back together and remained sitting as his maroon and yellow counterpart stepped closer. It surveryed the group curiously as though deducing their intentions. “Good day to you all. You may call me Fleaky and this is Frank.”

Frank grinned eerily, displaying rows of devastating teeth.

“You appear to be searching for something.” said Fleaky, his multitude of tails swished excitedly around him.

The gang looked to one another, wordlessly trying to appoint a spokesperson for this bizarre situation. The fox's peculiar eyes moved between their exchanging glances. Finally Mona stepped forward.

“We are trying to find Tok-Tok?” she mentioned the name hopefully.

“What is it you seek...?” a creaking voice crept up on them like some ancient wind.

Turning in shock, they found a tall, mossy, deer man looming over them. His hooves and horns weathered by time, his fur coated in algae and hanging lichens.

With Mona clearly at a complete loss for words, Kregor stepped in front of her bowing his head slightly in reverence.

“We seek your help and guidance, Wise One.” he pointed to the east. “The Rainlands have been attacked and lie in ashes.”

The old thing mulled its mouth sadly. “The times darken for us all.”

The foxes danced past Kregor's legs to provide comfort at their master's side.

“If the fire was not natural, I fear I may not be able to help. My magic causes existing seeds to sprout where I walk and their growth is strengthened and quickened.” he motioned towards his hoof-prints as tiny little sprouts emerged in his tracks.
“But if it is as you say, the seeds would have been consumed by flames too hot. The lands may remain barren, it's creatures forever displaced.”

The maroon fox pawed at the old one's leg for attention. “Master, if you'll permit my leave, I have travelled every inch of this world and I know where to find seeds from plants that grow the fastest. Like bamboo which I have seen grow several feet in a day without magic. Many others too. Allow me to fetch them for you.”

The green fox looked panicked.

“I-I would need Frank's help to carry them all though.” the maroon fox added slyly and the crocodile grin returned to his friend's face.

The satyr regarded them both with the kind of disapproval reserved by parents for exasperating children. He shook his head to himself and sighed. “You may go, but be certain to return to me before two nights have passed.”

Side by side, the grinning pair de-materialised before the gang's very eyes.

“Return to the Rainlands, young ones. Let the tree folk know I shall come to them soon and I will do all I can to restore their beloved jungle.”

Chapter 8

Excited clicks filled the air. The Earth Deva was coming.
Even though the circumstances were tragic it would be a great honour for the Fern Heights tribe to receive him and care for him during his stay. With morale restored and most of the fires finally extinguished by the rain and mist, Tamara noted that this place was indeed just as mystical as the Fire Fields. Maybe more so, she thought as she watched thousands of tiny fireflies returning as the sun began to set.

She learned just how important the little insects were to the tribe as the dryads prepared for their night-time activities. Four dryads carried a large bowl of what looked like sap or honey towards them and set it down at the centre of the gathering. Before long, hoards of the tiny bright bugs had settled upon the viscous liquid. Leaving Tamara and both her old and new companions bathed in a gently flickering light.

She and Mona looked at each other laughing in childlike awe.

“Always the student never the master.” Kaelan recited in admiration at their ingenuity.

As the old, four armed shaman began teaching several younger dryads one of his own tribal dances, Turohs Furnelle sidled up to Kaelan quietly.

“Come. We must to speak.” she whispered and Kaelan and Kregor followed her a short distance away.

“I want thank for you help my people. I make promise but feel bad I not be able to keep.” She apologised sadly and Kaelan's heart sank to his knees.

“Birds you want, they escape fire, leave homes, not return. Don't know if will. All baby die too...” she continued and reached inside a stringy pouch tied around her hips. “Except but this one.”

She removed a glistening blue egg from the pouch and held it tenderly to her chest. Kaelan's heart shot back up, he could feel it pounding in his ears. Kregor elbowed him playfully to diffuse the intensity that had built up since the start of their hushed conversation.

“You take, make rainbird.” Turohs placed the egg carefully in his hands. “But rainbird all water, not know how you will be her.”

The dryad mouthed a silent thank you at the pair before disappearing back into the crowd of now dancing tree people.
Kaelan looked down at the egg then at his friend in desperation.

“Don't worry, lad. We'll figure it out.” Kregor reassured him but couldn't quite reassure himself.

Chapter 9

Everyone was happy to be back at the cottage. But no one was as glad of their return as Jones and Argus. Though the pair were more than capable of catching their own food in the absence of their masters; the only thing they agreed upon was that nothing compared to some affection and a home cooked meal.

“All I can say is thank the gods I did not discuss the second part of the plan with you guys before we found out about that bloody necklace.” Kaelan paced the tiny living room while the others barely listened.

Mona was busy grooming Argus, Tristan was already skimming his notes for new information on rainbird eggs and Kregor and Soniak were through the kitchen's archway, cooking up a feast.

Tamara on the other hand just sat staring into the fire. Her mind elsewhere; but where else, even she could not say.

Her mother had always said she was an old soul, yet just how old she would still come to know. Though her smile danced with mirth, her eyes always held within them something sombre and her chest housed the deep void felt when something was missing or lost. She didn't know what it could be, for her childhood had been very loving and happy.

It was in quiet moments like these that the unsettling feeling crept up on her. Then she would escape it again; moving on to the next place, the next adventure. She always hoped that somewhere along her travels she would find just the thing to rid herself of this hidden gloom.

She dragged her eyes away from the fire and her thoughts back to her pacing friend's words.

“It's just one thing after the next. Now we've got to hatch this stupid egg AND steal the documents on the same weekend. I'm just trying to hold it all together and stick to the timeline.” Kaelan stopped pacing and put his face in his hands.

Tamara stood up and wrapped him in a hug. “We're all here for you. Together we can manage all the different parts. Maybe we should split up into smaller groups?” she suggested and Kaelan nodded appreciatively.

“The egg needs to be hatched by hot water.” Tristan interrupted from the table.

Kregor poked his head into the room holding a pot in one hand and ladle in the other. “How are we supposed to do that without boiling it?”

“What I’m thinking is we need to see someone who knows a lot more about water.” Tristan stood up and brought a lore book closer so they could all see the diagram he was referring to. “A mana elemental or the Water Deva itself could be useful.”

Kaelan's expressionless look incited Mona to share her own knowledge on the subject.

“There are four elemental Devas, Kaelan.” she explained holding up four fingers. “Each one resides over an element and is charged with caring for every creature, sign and sound that falls under that element. Tok-Tok would be earth, there is also fire, water and air. The fifth is spirit and it resides over all of them. Spirit takes the form of a single being with a female and male counterpart who are said to have created the world and all its beings.”

“Oh oh oh, that I know. That is what druids worship, the source.” Kaelan chimed in.

“Ok well from a multiclanial point of view, druidism and shamanism are just extensions of one another. Shaman's worship the elements as these are the purest creations of source and shows appreciation for their creation. Druids simply thank source directly.”

“Kemenites believe in whole pantheons of gods, Zoanics believe that they are never good enough and must count good deeds to reach peace and Nonons believe in nothing, that existence is pointless.” Tamara filled in the gaps.

“Better still to believe in nothing than nonsense.” the shaman muttered from inside the kitchen.

“Anyway, I believe I know where we can find the Water Deva” Tristan diverted the conversation back to its original point.

“We don't have time for that, it wasn't factored into the original plan.” Kaelan complained. “We are going to have to split into two groups. Some of us will go find the Deva and hatch the egg. Some of us are going back to my home town to visit my sister. She'll tell us if we are still on track with this mission.”

Chapter 10

So it was decided that Tristan, Soniak and Mona would head off by marcher in search of the water god. The rest headed to the sleepy little town of Grenesh by way of portal. As their boots set down on foggy ground, Kaelan became away that the silence was more silent than normal. Something clung to air that filled him with a sense of foreboding.

“Am I the only one that feels sick when we go through that blasted thing?” Kregor hissed and spat out some excess bile that threatened to cause a full upheaval of his stomach.

“Shhh. It's not the portal.” Kaelan whispered and the other two paid closer attention to their surroundings. “Something is not right here.”

~:~:~:~:~

A veiled woman stood up on the charred car bonnet.

WE SHOW ETERNAL GRATITUDE TO THE THANKLESS ARMY!” she yelled as loudly as she could.

The leftover civilians; scattered among the remains of their once beautiful city, turned to watch her.

“THEY ARE THE FACELESS HEROES THAT FIGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM! ASKING FOR NO REWARD, NO RECOGNITION, SIMPLY DOING WHAT IS NEEDED TO DRAG ALL OF OUR LIVES OUT OF DARKNESS!”

Her shouting had attracted the attention of the group of soldiers that were still combing through the destruction.

“YOU HAVE OUR THANKS FOR HELPING WHEN THE WORLD TURNED ITS BACK ON US. YOU ARE OUR ONLY HOPE...”

The woman was struck to the ground by the back of a border guard's rifle.

“But words of that kind; of our kind, had already been spoken and a new type of power surged through the army of light. Giving them the courage to win the fight. A new plan; unbeatable, would be written that night. The Wrong's world will crumble, their sins all laid bare. To be be judged by the Hurt and all those in despair.” with a chilling gasp, Fate Glasgow suddenly regained consciousness.

As the vision she had witness dissipated, her eyes slowly unclouded.

“Are you ok?” Kaelan asked his sister as he helped her to a comfortable chair.

“I..I feel funny.” she whispered weakly.

“You look funny.” he joked gently and she offered a faint wisp of a smile.

“It gets worse every time.” she sobbed quietly. “But I hope what you heard will help.”

Before she had even finished speaking she was already falling into a deep sleep. Kaelan sighed sadly as he covered her with a warm blanket and placed the family cat on her lap for comfort.

It would take her a few days to recover from this one, but she was right. A new hopefulness was surging through him and his rings glowed a deep blue. Just as they must be doing on druids the world over. His sister's scalp remained pale in the dimly lit room.

This awful power was slowly sapping her life force. On top of everything he already had on his plate he knew he also had to find a way to cure her. Trembling slightly at the scene she had just witnessed, Tamara took his arm and led him from the room into the kitchen. With a final look at the young girl, Kregor followed them out.

“The town is full of refugees, it's heartbreaking.” Kregor pressed his thumb and forefinger into the ridge of his nose. “I spoke to their clan leader, he told me that those who survived the initial attack in Calienthe fled in any direction they could. This is just a small group.”

“We need to go and help whoever might be left there.” Tamara insisted.

“Calienthe is gone. No one who didn't flee survived. Only one very unfortunate girl. What the soldiers did to her, Kaelan...” Kregor looked sick.

“Where is she?” Tamara demanded.

“They tortured her for hours, finally they set her free to send a message of fear to the rest of her clan.” Kregor sat wearily.

“Can we see her?” Tamara sat in the chair beside him.

“I imagine she will be at the gathering tonight. Grenesh's amenities are not equipped to cater to so many people. Most have to camp out in the town square or the clearing until something more permanent can be organised.” Kregor relayed the mayor's earlier explanation.

Kaelan was standing with his back to them facing the sink. His knuckles white as he gripped the edge fiercely. His mind reeled, they needed to get the documents as soon as possible but he wasn't sure his little sister would make it much longer. He would have to take her along to watch over her.

Their parents had died several years ago during an attack on a group of anti-war advocates. Fate now stayed in Grenesh with their aunt while he was away. But with all the incoming wounded, her position as head nurse would keep her preoccupied.

No, Fate would have to come with and he would find a way to cure her along the way.

Chapter 11

By the fire sat a girl with roughly hewn red fur boots and a scorched antelope skull on her head. Its long, curving horns cast interesting shadows onto the trees behind.

Lena was the girl who had been spared. Her clan was known far and wide for their reverence of animals. Upon birth, each child was paired with a companion by the high-druid. The child and animal would grow up side by side to teach loyalty, responsibility and a respect for nature and its creatures. Most of the refugees were accompanied by various critters and livestock that they carefully attended to by the firelight. Everyone in the square still appeared to have some purpose.

Lena however merely sat motionless before of the flames.
Anguish, regret, hatred; a cocktail of dangerous emotions swirled around the girl's delicate features until Kaelan could no longer look at her. Pain pooled in his own chest for what she had been through.

“They killed him and ate him in front of me. Made me watch. I wish they had killed me too...”

Her tormented words had been echoing in his mind for hours after their conversation. He huddled closer to Kregor and Tamara so that they were less likely to be overheard.

“We are going to hunt down the people responsible for this. Not the soldiers nor the queens, kings or emperors. They are just dogs following the commands of their masters. The true rulers of the people encourage the violence because they thrive off pain and suffering. They are parasitic and should not be ruling over anyone.” Kaelan whispered with something sinister lurking in his grey eyes.

“And kill them?” Tamara's own eyes widened.

“No. That's far too kind. They will not get of the hook so easily. They will feel pure regret and self-hatred for their actions.” Kaelan hissed a little too loudly and lowered his voice again. “The rainbird tears will change their hearts, make them understand the full ramifications of what they have done to this world. Then they will have to live with their guilt.”

“First we need to track them all down. They are not so easy to find, most masquerade as normal men and women. Normal families.” Kregor looked around uneasily.

“We are going to Tambor. Mona assured me that they have the oldest hall of records in existence. She could not access the files herself as her whole family would be put at risk. But she says we will find the only comprehensive list of the real ruling bloodlines along with all their individual names since the beginning of recorded history.”

“A place like that would be guarded.” Tamara mused.

“That's why we have a very compelling distraction planned.” Kaelan's smile vanished when his gaze fell on Lena once more.

He could never give Lena back her beloved friend but he could offer her some form of redemption.

~:~:~:~:~

So there they stood, side by side on the dark cliff ledge. The ocean mist swarming around them like bees. The cold droplets striking their exposed faces and hands like stingers.

Lena still wore her antelope's skull as a grim homage. Her red hair, whipping violently in the air currents as she and Kaelan stared down at the macabre sight in the waters below.

“How is this possible?” she asked him quietly, though no other person was around to hear them.

“These skeletons belonged to the countless whales and dolphins that were slaughtered mercilessly for food, fuel, cosmetics and entertainment.” Kaelan explained as the moving corpses thrashed and cried at the gate of the great aqueduct.

They numbered in the thousands and their bony spines and skulls stood out in sharp contrast against the inky waters.

“They want to pass through here into the next ocean but they are trapped. When you're ready to help them go home, just signal to Kregor up in the control booth. Ok, Lena?” Kaelan patted her shoulder kindly and stepped away from the ledge to give her a moment.

Lena stared at the pitiful spirits below in the moonlight. She prayed they would find peace, she prayed for her friend Agador too. She prayed their lives had not ended in vain. Wiping the frozen tears from her eyes she threw up her arms and waved them at the towering booth beside the huge metal barriers. The doors rose out of the water slowly to allow the skeletal hoard to make the journey to their final resting place.

Kregor exhaled uneasily. It would take about twenty minutes for the whales to reach the canal passing through Tambor's town centre. He crossed his fingers for Tamara and hoped she was in position.

Chapter 12

She made her way through the town's shadows with haste. The mournful song from the river grew further away and with it, the din of a growing crowd.

As the remaining town folk were drawn toward the commotion, she found the main street empty and broke into a run towards the town hall. Unaware that, had she been a minute earlier or a minute later she would not have bumped into the dark figure emerging from the wide, oak doors.

She looked down at the important papers in his hand then back up at his partially covered face. Even in the dim light of the overhead street lamp she saw pupils dilate in widening eyes. Something familiar in his gaze made her falter instead of snatching the papers and escaping through a portal. Before she could take her next breath, the dark figure scaled the tall wall of the hall and disappeared over the surrounding rooftops.

She breathed out a steaming cloud. Those were the documents, she was certain but what were the odds of someone else planning the same robbery on the same night? He looked surprised to find someone else there too. Or perhaps it was surprise at her presence in particular? No more time to dwell on details, she had to go in and make sure the documents were gone.

~:~:~:~:~

His hands trembled for the first time in millennia. He had forgotten that he still had that motor response. Several buildings away but with a clear vantage point of the hall, he watched.

Long gone emotions like nervousness, excitement and fear came bounding back like a pack of neglected hounds. It was her, he was sure of it. Her hair was different and her skin fairer but the eyes never lie. How many years had it been now? It had to be over nine thousand. His mind, usually so calm was now in a frenzy.

He wanted to go back down there more than anything but he could not deviate from his orders. He should have been halfway to the drop off point by now.

One of the doors opened gingerly and she crept back out onto the street. His heart hitched in his throat. He remembered the smell of lavender as they bumped into each other below. That's something that had not changed. He wasn't certain how reincarnation worked but it seemed souls retained some sensory preferences.

She scanned the rooftops in the wrong direction. Finding no sign of him she generated a portal and hopped through. Now that he knew she existed it would not be hard to find her again. He would first need to take some time to adjust and recompose himself. His heart a flutter and his mind a mess, he too retreated towards his destination.

Chapter 13

“I can't believe this.” Kaelan paced the living room in shock as his sister regarded him with tired concern.

“Kaelan, calm down.” Kregor pleaded. “You'll give yourself a nervous breakdown.”

“It's like a nightmare. One thing just goes wrong after the next. Now someone else has the documents!?” Kaelan shrieked in disbelief.

“Tell us again what you saw, Tamara. Exactly what you saw.” Kregor prompted her seriously.

“Well I couldn't tell you if I knew him because it was dark and his face was covered. But I could see his eyes above the bandages and I could have sworn..”

“Bandages?” Kregor interrupted. “You didn't mention bandages you said his face was covered.”

“Yes, by black fabric wrapped like bandages. I didn't think it was important.” she whined apologetically.

Kregor and Kaelan looked at each other with new comprehension in their expressions. They both knew the assassin and reconnaissance branch of Faceless wore dark bandages on their arms, torsos and faces during missions whereas normal members wore pale ones.

“They are notoriously hard to find.” Kaelan answered Kregor's unasked question.

The dwarf grinned wryly “I know someone who makes notoriety his business.”

~:~:~:~:~

The heavy rain turned to a drizzle as they stopped outside the tiny pub. Tamara mouthed out the words on the heavy wooden sign 'Kregor's Tavern'.

“I didn't know you owned a tavern.” Tamara was genuinely surprised.

“It's my cousin's bar. My last name is Kregor.”

“I did not know that either.” she admitted sheepishly as they hurried indoors.

Kregor's Tavern was bustling. Filled to the brim with people all trying to escape the rain and their troubles after a long day.
Tamara went off to the bar to fetch them some drinks while Kaelan searched for a table to set his sister down.

It was difficult for him to watch someone so young need a cane to support herself. She had been a lively child but prone to bouts of extreme fear. She would tell their parents that she was being persecuted by spirits. They had put it down to being the vivid imaginings of a child. Until one evening they all witnessed as she was violently dragged off a stool, up the kitchen wall and choked viciously against the cabinets. It had been one of the most frightening nights of Kaelan's life.

As she got older the psychic attacks and visions grew progressively worse until she was too afraid to be alone or fall asleep. Now, she had to be sedated most nights. Her visions were always one hundred percent accurate however and it was one such vision that had propelled their whole mission forward since the beginning.

“I'm going to go find Seymour, just hang tight.” Kregor receded into the tavern goers.

“I know she's not eighteen yet but I think it might help calm her nerves.” Tamara set a tumbler of whiskey down in front of Fate and slid a tankard of larger over to Kaelan and one where Kregor would sit upon his return. As she did not drink alcohol herself, she sat down quietly sipping a glass of water while they waited for their mysterious contact.

When Kregor finally returned, Fate's cheeks were noticeably rosier and her demeanour less rigid. The girl was smiling in a carefree way that Kaelan had not seen in many years. He patted his sister happily on the hand. It was a nice respite, but alcoholism could not be a long-term solution either.

“Everyone, this is Seymour Jenkins.” Kregor moved aside to allow a peculiar creature to squeeze past Tamara into a spare seat.

Seymour looked like a mixture of many different animals. But even stranger than this; he wore an expensive suit with a bow-tie and gently swirled a rich, red wine around in the glass clutched in his claw.

“Seymour is an android, he is mechanical with highly sophisticated artificial intelligence installed.” Kregor answered the table's bemused looks.

“Pleased to make your acquaintance.” the quirky robot nodded with a sharp toothed grin.

Fate giggled in delight and the robot mirrored her reaction.

Tamara observed its hybrid appearance in complete befuddlement. “Why would anyone create this?”

“Seymour's maker allowed him to select his own robotic parts. What sits before you is the result of it's own choices.” Kregor gestured theatrically towards the machine.

“Shall we get down to business?” Seymour inquired, quickly scanning the room for eavesdroppers.

“Yes, we need to know which members of Faceless stole some very sensitive documents two night ago in Tambor.” Kaelan whispered almost inaudibly above the ruckus of the room.

Seymour observed Kaelan's lips as he spoke and once the question was entered into his system, he froze as he connected to the ether for answers. A few short moments later, his motion was restored and he leaned in closer.

“I cannot tell you who, but I can tell you where to find them and let them know you are coming.” The android sat back in his seat and continued to swirl his untouched wine. “Would you like that?”

Chapter 14

The safe house was dingy and lit by multicoloured string lights and stolen neon signs. The poor lighting helped disguise how filthy the place was as well as giving the door-less labyrinth of rooms a cozier atmosphere.

Askari had been thinking about Tamara for the last several days without rest. Even his dreams were saturated by her. He had decided that when they were finally reunited, he would not mention that he believed she was the reincarnation of his mortal wife. It would be unfair for her to feel like she had to live up to someone else's expectations of who she should be as a person. He wouldn't put that pressure on her. They would meet afresh and grow to know one another again. The thought sent a pulse of warmth from tip of nose to toes.

Unfamiliar voices from the entrance roused him from reverie. He heard Cody; one of his group mates, letting several sets of footsteps into kitchen before bolting the front door again. Askari leaned forward on the lower bunk he'd been lying on. He watched several people gather into the sitting room through the curtained doorway. The smell of lavender cajoled his senses the second she had entered the front door.

They had found him a lot faster than expected. He thought he'd have at least a few weeks before their meeting. He heard her voice and his heartbeat picked up into a panic.

Get it together. He ordered himself sternly. After a few measured breaths he pulled the thin curtain aside and entered the next room.

“Askari, these guys are trying to accomplish the same thing as us. They reckon we stole some information that they needed.” Cody jumped straight in without making any formal introductions.

“Firstly, welcome. My name is Askari and my rude team-mate is Cody.” He was acutely aware that Tamara had not taken her eyes off him since he had entered the room. But he avoided her gaze and did his best to continue as he normally would.

“Please make yourselves at home. If you require refreshment help yourselves to the kitchen and the bathroom is at the far end of the hallway.”

“Thank you for receiving us.” Kaelan shook his hand firmly. “I'm in the technical branch myself but I’ve always admired your faction.”

“It's not as glamorous as you would think.” Askari assured him.

“This is the Oracle of Grenesh.” Cody shrugged towards Fate excitedly.

“My sister, Fate Glasgow.” Kaelan nodded. “I am Kaelan Glasgow and our two other companions are Forge Kregor and Tamara Moon.”

“Tamara...” he whispered to himself, unnoticed by all but her as she still had not stopped staring.

Within half an hour Kaelan and Kregor were going through the documents with Cody and once Fate's whiskey had worn off she succumbed to a peaceful sleep in a grubby armchair.

Askari could hear his breathing loud in his ears. This was their chance to have a private moment and he could no longer ignore her without seeming disinterested.

Her large eyes surveyed him expectantly. His parents had warned him that marrying a mortal would only end in heartache, but the sixty-four years they had spent together were the happiest of his existence. What the king and queen of Dooral had not expected was that their eldest son would not recover from his wife's death and would never take another partner.

“I'm sorry, what was the question?” he exhaled the distracting thoughts out through his nose.

“I said you seem familiar, have we met before?” she repeated shyly.

“No.” he said firmly. “But I’m glad we are meeting now.” a beautiful smile consumed his serious face.

“Askari...” Kaelan called him over hesitantly. “Are you aware that your name is on this list along with the rest of your family.”

Askari approached the soda can and dust covered table where Kaelan sat with his finger pointing to the extensive log.

“Yes, my parents are the King and Queen of Dooral and our family can be traced all the way back to a fire and life deity. He is known as Osiris in modern records.” he dropped his eyes in shame.

Kaelan and Kregor, though taken aback tried their best not to make him feel uncomfortable about his revelations.

“I'm not proud of the things my family has done, the decisions were not made by them alone but rather by a collective of different families that plan scenarios to benefit their personal interests. I left a long time ago and have been trying to find a way to put an end to their selfishness and deception ever since.”

“But it's hard to make people see the truth when they are buried so deeply in lies.” Cody explained.

“The eyes only see what the mind is ready to see.” Kaelan agreed.

An unearthly hiss rose loudly from the dark living-room and the air took on a tangible weight as though the house had been projected into a much higher altitude.

“Guyssss!” Tamara screamed for their attention.

They raced back into the room to witness Fate's armchair exploding into a million tiny fragments. The frail girl was suspended by her neck from the roof. Invisible hands clearly choking her as she sputtered and struggled to breathe.

“FATE!” Kaelan's voice boomed over Tamara's screams.

The force dragged her further away from their grasping hands across the moldy ceiling, breaking burned out light bulbs and a rusty fan along the way.

“Release her and leave this place. You are forbidden from entering this domain.” Askari spoke with calm authority.
All the lights and computer screens in both adjoining rooms lost power and Fate crashed down onto the floor in the darkness.

Chapter 15

“I will give you several vials of tears that I already have in my apothecary.” the radiant goddess suggested instead. “The egg however, must stay with me. I cannot allow you to have this creature.”

Tristan was intrigued by the similarity in the number of arms shared by the Water Deva and Soniak. Soniak must have been a distant descendant of her magnificent race. Though his skin did not have the same purple tinge, they did share the same salty accent. He wondered if his own family could be linked somehow.

Fully aware of the direction of Tristan's attention, Mona sat quietly seething in the corner of the swampy cabin. Frog calls and insect sounds permeated her senses from the bayou below but could not distract her from her jealousy.

“These birds are extremely rare and if this season's eggs have all been destroyed, it is very important that I make sure this one makes it to maturity.” Lamar Ovar sashayed to the far end of the cabin and lay the egg down in a basin of mud and marshy water.

“Thank you for helping our cause.” Soniak bowed his head before receiving four vials of shimmering liquid.

“Thank you for helping mine.” the goddess bowed back.

As they exited the suspended house, two sets of mana elementals lowered their weapons to allow them to leave the property. Their tentacled cowls swayed hypnotically as they moved.

“You know what's amazing about the elementals is when they are in aquatic form like now, they fall under Lamar Ovar's jurisdiction but when they are in land or faun form they fall under Tok-Tok's.” Tristan gushed at Mona as they approached the marcher. “Isn't that fascinating??” he beamed.

Mona ignored him; lengthening her stride, she left him in her wake.

The old shaman chuckled merrily. “What's fascinating is how oblivious you are. Oh to be so young and naïve again....would be terrible.” he laughed and shook his head.

“What??” Tristan stopped in his tracks as his confusion intensified.

“Hey, we're getting an incoming connection on the chatterbox!” Mona yelled from inside the marcher.

Tristan ran to the vehicle and clambered into the front seat. He answered the call and the dark silhouette of Kregor's face appeared on the grainy screen.

“Why is it so dark?” Tristan asked him.

“We're in a Faceless safe house right now, the lighting situation is pretty grim.” Kregor explained.

“Is everything ok?” Mona asked from behind the front seats.

“Not really...” Kregor replied sombrely.

Chapter 16

“How long have these psychic attacks been happening?” Askari inquired as Kaelan lay Fate's limp body on a grimy single bed.

“The physical attacks? Since she was about twelve or thirteen but she used to complain about spirits and things bothering her from much younger.” Kaelan sat beside her and began cleaning her cuts and bruises with the safe house's poor attempt at a first-aid kit.

“So it got worse around puberty.” Askari stated thoughtfully.

“A lot worse.” Kaelan confirmed.

Tamara entered the room and placed a bowl of hot water on the crooked night stand and handed Kaelan a tattered sponge. With a bashful glance at Askari she left to see if Kregor had managed to contact the other half of their party.

“It sounds like Kundalini rising to me. Do you know about the pineal gland?” he asked Kaelan quietly.

“I've heard of it but I don't know that much about it.” Kaelan admitted.

“Most vertebrates have one. Physically it secretes some very important hormones but it can cause a mass of problems to a person's psychic field if an energy called Kundalini is roused before a person is prepared for it.” Askari attempted to explain as simply as possible.

Kaelan pressed the point between his brows absentmindedly. “And y-you think that's what could have happened to Fate?”

“I think so yes.” he nodded seriously.

“So what can I do?” Kaelan asked desperately. “How do I heal her?”

“I'm afraid you can't. But there is a mystic and healer who knows more about this force than anyone I have ever met. She is known as Lady Kundalini.” Askari chuckled. “Truthfully she has been around for so long that few remember her real name.”

“And she can heal her?”

“I don't know that she will ever be healed, Kaelan. But she can learn to harness this power and balance the energy flowing through her core. This wild energy is what is attracting the forces that are attacking her.”

Kaelan looked hopeful and kissed his sister gently on her forehead.

“I'll take you to see her tomorrow but you should let her rest for tonight. Honestly you should try get some sleep too, I can see the stress wearing on you.” Askari advised and motioned toward the second empty single bed.

“Thank you for saving her life back there.” Kaelan whispered. “I don't know what I would have done if-”

“Please.” Askari stopped him. “There is no need to thank me.”

They nodded at one another with a newly forged rapport before Askari left the exhausted siblings to recover.

Chapter 17

“This gadget is quite something.” Askari marveled as Tamara summoned a swirling portal where the coffee table should have been.

She blushed and handed him the lockey to hold.

“Anywhere near Teranask is fine.” Askari confirmed.

“Ok well you just press this button here and it should allow you to turn the dial alphabetically.” She leaned in close, mystified by her own boldness.

He struggled to contain a smirk as he enjoyed their proximity and the comforting smell of her dark tresses. “Mhmm. Then?”

“Um, then you select T, scroll down to Teranask and press this button.” she demonstrated as the portal changed from red to a vivid green.

“Incredible.” he whispered.

They held eye contact until Kregor came barrelling into the room carrying both his own and Kaelan's belongings. Tamara turned away to hide the intense redness of her cheeks, secretly hoping that Askari had not been referring to the portal generator.

Kaelan entered the room carrying Fate in his arms. The bruises on her arms, neck and face were grotesque but despite her weakened state she managed a small smile for the people she had grown a fast fondness for.

“Are you ready for this?” Tamara checked with her before allowing them through the vortex.

“Ready as I'll ever be.” the girl answered bravely.

~:~:~:~:~

Askari led the gang adeptly through the bustling streets of Teranask then across the dusty doom pits on the trade-post's outskirts. The winding husk of a tree that now towered above them was the only vegetation in the foreseeable distance.

Kregor stared up incredulously at the dead bark before peeking around the back of the trunk. “Is this-?”

“It is.” Askari confirmed.

“This is where she lives?” Kregor repeated doubtfully.

With his long, black braid trailing behind him, Askari vanished down an almost unnoticeable set of sand steps among the tree's dried up roots. With a shrug, Kaelan followed him down carrying Fate.

Inside was a whole other world. Terracotta tiles and walls lined with lush creepers surrounded them. Beautiful pottery, rugs and statues tastefully filled the many nooks and crannies. Ample seating flowed seamlessly along the walls and into the cozy corners. In the centre flowed and ornate stone fountain stocked with gold and copper fish.

“This is beautiful...” Tamara spun around in disbelief.

“I may have been quick to judge.” Kregor agreed.

“Askari?? Is that you?” A high-pitched, lilting voice fluttered down a winding staircase at the far end of the room.

A young woman with platinum coloured hair ran towards him and embraced him a little too much familiarity.

“Good to see you Charisma.” he offered a tight smile and attempted to reclaim his space by holding her out at arms length.

“It's been so long since I last saw you.” she chirped girlishly, twirling the end of her straight bangs.

“Everyone this is Charisma. Lady Kundalini's daughter.” Askari introduced her awkwardly.

“Well, hi there everyone!” she beamed before refocusing her attention on her unwilling subject. “What brings you all here?”

Tamara consciously faded toward the back of the group to mask her disappointment. She did not see how she could compete with such obvious beauty and did not think there was any point in trying.
She felt foolish but tried to comfort herself in the fact that it was better she found out before growing too attached.

“We're here to see your mother.” Askari looked around desperately as though he might have overlooked her.

“Well you can see her but I'm afraid she won't do much talking.” Charisma's laughter rang like a bell.

She led them into the next room, the curving walls of which were lined with books and various peculiar artefacts. In the centre of the room an older lady sat suspended in mid-air in a meditative position.

What Kaelan at first glance believed was a large leafy headdress turned out to be seven great cobras emerging from her scull. They remained posed motionlessly, their only movement mirrored her consistent breathing. Nestled in the nook of her neck was another kind of serpent. Only this one did not appear to be asleep and it's black eyes watched them all hungrily.

“She's been in a trance for the last twenty eight days, still has thirty two to go.” Charisma explained, trailing her finger along the curve of the bookshelf.

“Is there no way you can wake her up?” Kaelan pleaded. “I don't think my sister will survive that long without help.”

They all looked at Fate lying on the ottoman through the doorway. Charisma noticed the girl did appear paler than when they had arrived.

Charisma sighed “I really hate doing this, but perhaps I can channel the snake for you.” she gestured toward the pasty serpent coiled around her mother's neck.

“Are you sure you're up to it.” Askari asked carefully, knowing full well how jarring the process could be.

“She speaks through my mum normally but in her absence she has permission to use me as a conduit.” she shuddered at the thought. “Please just make sure she releases me before you leave.” the girl insisted seriously. “She's never liked me very much.”

The snake crept up the centre of Charisma's body and coiled around her skull until its own head sat perched in the middle of her forehead. Charisma's body convulsed momentarily, as though she had been struck by an electric current. When her eyes opened again they were the same unending black as the snake's.

“The girl, bring her here.” the serpent ordered in a voice that seemed to come from everywhere and no where at the same time.

Kaelan fetched Fate and lowered her slowly onto the woven mat at Charisma's feet. She lay her palm on the crown of Fate's head then looked back up at Kaelan.“Her Kundalini energy has been awoken without her core being aligned and before she has learned to control her mind and emotions.”

“How did this happen? How can we fix it?” Kaelan knelt beside them.

“It can happen accidentally for many reasons. Some plants and minerals can trigger it prematurely. Who knows...Kundalini rising should be a gradual process. My poison must be sampled slowly over time to build resistance, to process the powerful information.” the girl channelled the smiling serpent.

Kaelan nodded as Charisma circled around him slowly and deliberately

“How would you cope if I just gave you all of my knowledge in one bite? Would you die? Go mad? Or would you simply embrace it? Either way we are not finding out today...but this is what has happened to your sister.” she slithered slightly towards the stairs.

“Can you help?”

“Come.” the snake beckoned him up the staircase.