Post by Aura on Dec 1, 2007 15:17:57 GMT -5
Chapter One -- Sacrifice
Not a cry was uttered from the little girl as she was shoved forward. Although it felt like a thousand woes were right at that moment upon her shoulders, not a sound did she make. Not a tear dared to venture from her eye, glistening into the dim light of the stars. She was motionless to the watchers behind her, all looking into the ominous depths of the cavern before her.
The watchers were a small party of a Chief Adviser, a group of Asbidan Guards, and a strange woman dressed queerly in clothes entirely red or black. She had come just a few minutes ago, and the guards had tried to shoo her away. It got to the part when swords had been drawn, but the woman - having not yet revealed her name - had drawn her own, again a red blade with a black sheen on the edges. Somehow she had been allowed to stay, but she did nothing. She just stood there, observing the situation silently. Rose had felt strangely reassured when she had come, as if she could somehow make it better... as if that could ever happen. Death, sent by the dormant moon was now sweeping over the hills and dales towards her, in the shape and form of the ominous cavern before her. Otherwise known as the Vawyer's Cave.
Move forward!
One of the guards said angrily to Rose. The little girl said nothing, just sent him a withering look, despite her young age. Many thought that she was just too young to realize what was happening to her, but the truth was that she simply had leaned to mature quicker, having no mother to look after her. She had received no affection, not even from her elder sister. They were both alone in their lives, living in Jirapa Village and only just getting by. There had been hard times, many of them, and they completely swamped the good ones, but still, that was what Rose had lived for. The good times. Well, maybe Lilytha will eat better with me gone... She thought dismally to herself, set in a trance of depression, anger and most of all - fear. It blanked out everything, it just seemed that the world was endless rolls of thought and dreams, that nothing could ever happen. Well, to Rose, nothing more would ever happen at all. Her last moments in life. And yet what did she do? She was just sad that she couldn't do more. So why couldn't she enjoy it? Why? That thought made it all the more dismal, and she hated herself for not having a good time or even a brave face, and that made it even worse. She closed her eyes for a moment. Death is just like a long, long sleep... Rose whispered to herself. The pain I will feel is minuscule compared to the peace that I will experience when it is done. When will this deed be done? Why to I ponder on my own existence? Let it be done... let it be done...
-- --- --
What is your business here?
The guard shouted once again, his steel sword glistening ominously, the edge pointing at first Kirri then Lilytha. The two just stood there, silent as if with one mind, gritting their teeth in anger. Precious time was being wasted by this pathetic fool of a guard, time that they could so easilly use. The two had evaded guards all of their life and it was nothing new to them, but this time they had no time to loose. Kirri glanced at Lilytha to see if she would give him any response with her gaze, but she was just looking at the guard, her gaze hard and cold.
Your business?
He asked once more, getting frustrated now. He drew his sword up higher, the blade reflecting the brightly shining stars that had twinkled up into the heavens. He wouldn't hesitate in fighting these children, especially since the way that he saw it, they were wasting his time. Precious time, that he could not afford to loose.
Answer now, or be sorry.
The guard growled through gritted teeth, taking a step closer, intending to make them back away. They did nothing of the sort. Lilytha just gave him a withering look, one eyebrow raised, standing there casually as if he was just some performer whose act had gone wrong. Kirri just watched him, a hint of amusement in his eye.
Sorry, then.
Said Kirri with a smile, and started to walk in the direction they had been going before they had been stopped. Lilytha followed his lead and the two made to walk past him to their destination, but he flung his sword in their path with relish. Kirri stopped for a moment, then delicately held the sword with his thumb and forefinger on each side, and raised it lightly. The guard, astounded at this behavior, could only watch as Kirri moved it away and continued on his way. He was not used to being treated like this - usually people showed him respect, even feared him, but these... mere children, and yet still they didn't even try to fight him!
Stand and fight, you fools!
He roared, looking at their retreating backs, not expecting any response, just letting out his anger and raising his sword again in frustration. He would refuse to be outwitted by two from the scum of the slums. To his astonishment, they actually stopped in unison. Lilytha and Kirri turned back, their hands reaching for their swords. Kirri found the hilt of his, drawn on his back, and unsheathed it with an ominous clinking noise. Lilytha found hers on her belt, and drew it also, her own blade making no sound. They turned to face the man, side by side, sword hand to sword hand, as Lilytha was left-handed. They looked at him simply, as if this was just another scene that they had rehearsed time and time again. It was almost as if they had, with different guards, and it was a wonder that the same one never caught them twice, but still, it usually works.
A fight you want? Tut tut, a big man like you picking on kids like us? That's not very mature. Pick on someone your own size, why don't you. But if you want a fight, you'll get a fight, and fight you'll get my son, be sure of that, if you -
Kirri you're rambling.
Lilytha cut him off in annoyance. He shot her an irritated glance, then sighed and turned back to the amazed guard, deciding to stay silent for this part. Lilytha could always handle things if it was left with her, it was just average Lilytha. And sure enough she straightened up and looked the guard in the eye, her own stare hard and cold as it had been before. Anger was now sweeping upon her, her fist clenching upon the hilt of her sword in response, and could be heard in her words.
Do you know of the OS Rose?
She asked, almost spitting out the letters 'O' and 'S' with anger. Why did they have to be called that anyway? It stood for 'Optional Sacrifice', and was a term for someone that may be sacrificed. There were usually a group of OSs, and one would be picked on the night of the sacrifice to die for their 'cause'.
Yes, but she is no longer Optional. She is a sacrifice... the sacrifice. It was decided earlier this evening.
The guard found himself spilling out the information to her, then almost hit himself in frustration. Something in Lilytha's voice had compelled him to speak, the anger, the demandment... Kirri just looked at her in something like awe, the guard in plain anger now. He had played games with these idiots long enough, now it was time for a fight. He was about to suggest one when he was interrupted once more.
Um, Lilytha... plan?
Asked Kirri, lowering his sword clumsily and sheathing it again on his back, not even having to look after many years of practice. Lilytha flicked her own blade around once thoughtfully, again with ease after much practice as she was now an elegant swordsman. A thoughtful expression crossed her face, then she sheathed her own sword with one swift movement, and turned to Kirri swiftly.
How about run?
She asked, and without waiting for an answer, began to dash off towards the Vawyer's Cave. Kirri dithered there for a moment, then turned to the guard, almost feeling as if he had to apologies, then stopped himself before he said anything that he would regret. He turned away from the guards astounded gaze, then felt it upon him once again. At last, he clumsily started off after Lilytha, calling for her to wait in the usual style of Kirri - clumsy but purposeful.
-- --- --
Rose gasped then screamed as the blackness of Vawyer's Cave swallowed her up and she turned in mid air to catch her last look of sunlight as she fell into the blackness. She reached up, the rushing air upon her, blowing her hair up and taking the breath from her body. Her scream echoed around her until it was all that she could hear, each time more muffled as she fell further, further down into the bowels of the earth. Suddenly, there was a sickening crunch, but it was softened by this soft sound of sinking, all in complete blackness. It was darker than the night. Darker than when one turns out the light. Darker than when one closes their eyes. It was just black, no, darker.
Rose felt around her and realized that she couldn't feel her leg and that her left arm caused her pain. She cursed silently, but the word echoed around in her mind as if she had spoken it allowed, for all of the fear that had swamped her, concealed her true personality in that final scream. She realized that she had landed in some kind of mossy surface, moss that had grown upon itself for many years and made a kind of blanket. The rocks below couldn't be felt through all of the moss, but she knew that they were there because of the rip in her skin where her arm had been injured upon landing. Obviously her leg had suffered too, for she could now feel a dull throbbing from it. She reached infront of her with her right arm, grasping for something, anything, but there was nothing there.
An echo of a dark grumble sounded from one side. It reverberated into the cavern that she was in and shook her to the very bone, a dark and deep sound that chilled her. It was the feared creature that lived within the ancient Vawyer's Cave. She knew that to explore it would be to reveal wonders past imagination, past dreams, past common money for no money could buy such a treasure. Ancient writings of why the land of Lirria had been shaped the way it had, of the ancient race that all were descended from, of prophecies and teachings. Maybe even scripts explaining mysteries like Siara H'nintha-dai, maybe even writings from Sha'deai herself... Jewels would be found there also, a natural cavern of treasures if the stories were anything to go by, gleaming and glistening like the sun, even brighter, of every colour and more, colours not even known to man... and creatures, oh the creatures. Weird designs of things that maybe didn't need to breath, for were not descended from anything that was known. Things that had started the whole creation process again to a different way, for what are the chances that two completely different life stories go the same way? For the stories told of creatures that did not follow the laws of breathing and did not have hearts to beat their blood, for they did not even have blood. Wings and flippers could mean nothing to them, neither could skin. Creatures past the imagination... and the creature that Rose was now to be killed by was one of them.
It was ironic, so ironic, that what she had strived to know of all her life would be the death of her. She had always felt that she just needed to know of this monster, and now it would be a killer... memories of her youth flooded before her eyes. All the pain of knowing that she did not have one to care for her, that the one she had thought was her mother had been torn away never to be seen again, leaving a gaping hole that none could fill. Growing up in the tortured times of Jirapa Village, once a beautiful place, now a dirty place for slums. No affection, no care, she had not been taught how to love, to look after herself, to look after any around her. She had no knowledge of anything apart from how to survive and even sometimes that could not be enough. The pain of her life had been so much, and anger and sadness now overcame the fear, and she knelt there in complete darkness as the death she knew that must come came closer, ever closer.
The pain I have had in my life, this is how you repay me!
Rose called, her sorrowful and frustrated words echoing around the cave as she sobbed her woes to the world.
Well, you know, I'm glad. For I wasn't one of the lucky ones to be born and have a life! I've wish I was nothing but the blood running from my mothers womb! I've wished that my life was different, for anyone's, anyone's could be better than my own! I must have been such a bad person in a past life to deserve this, but I have payed my debt in this torture that is life! For if the Heavens are above and Hell is below, then what is this cursed Earth but the misty haze of Purgatory? Well I've worked off my sins! I am ready for death, to begin again! Sha'deai hear and receive me, I repay my sins!
The voice faded into a nothingness. Maybe none would hear it. Maybe all could. Maybe it meant nothing. Maybe it meant all. But as the beating of that small but brave heart faded away, as the last breath was gasped, as the omen of death made her way down the Vawyer's cave to guide Rose away, one heard. One knew. And one turned away, into the confides of the night.
The watchers were a small party of a Chief Adviser, a group of Asbidan Guards, and a strange woman dressed queerly in clothes entirely red or black. She had come just a few minutes ago, and the guards had tried to shoo her away. It got to the part when swords had been drawn, but the woman - having not yet revealed her name - had drawn her own, again a red blade with a black sheen on the edges. Somehow she had been allowed to stay, but she did nothing. She just stood there, observing the situation silently. Rose had felt strangely reassured when she had come, as if she could somehow make it better... as if that could ever happen. Death, sent by the dormant moon was now sweeping over the hills and dales towards her, in the shape and form of the ominous cavern before her. Otherwise known as the Vawyer's Cave.
Move forward!
One of the guards said angrily to Rose. The little girl said nothing, just sent him a withering look, despite her young age. Many thought that she was just too young to realize what was happening to her, but the truth was that she simply had leaned to mature quicker, having no mother to look after her. She had received no affection, not even from her elder sister. They were both alone in their lives, living in Jirapa Village and only just getting by. There had been hard times, many of them, and they completely swamped the good ones, but still, that was what Rose had lived for. The good times. Well, maybe Lilytha will eat better with me gone... She thought dismally to herself, set in a trance of depression, anger and most of all - fear. It blanked out everything, it just seemed that the world was endless rolls of thought and dreams, that nothing could ever happen. Well, to Rose, nothing more would ever happen at all. Her last moments in life. And yet what did she do? She was just sad that she couldn't do more. So why couldn't she enjoy it? Why? That thought made it all the more dismal, and she hated herself for not having a good time or even a brave face, and that made it even worse. She closed her eyes for a moment. Death is just like a long, long sleep... Rose whispered to herself. The pain I will feel is minuscule compared to the peace that I will experience when it is done. When will this deed be done? Why to I ponder on my own existence? Let it be done... let it be done...
-- --- --
What is your business here?
The guard shouted once again, his steel sword glistening ominously, the edge pointing at first Kirri then Lilytha. The two just stood there, silent as if with one mind, gritting their teeth in anger. Precious time was being wasted by this pathetic fool of a guard, time that they could so easilly use. The two had evaded guards all of their life and it was nothing new to them, but this time they had no time to loose. Kirri glanced at Lilytha to see if she would give him any response with her gaze, but she was just looking at the guard, her gaze hard and cold.
Your business?
He asked once more, getting frustrated now. He drew his sword up higher, the blade reflecting the brightly shining stars that had twinkled up into the heavens. He wouldn't hesitate in fighting these children, especially since the way that he saw it, they were wasting his time. Precious time, that he could not afford to loose.
Answer now, or be sorry.
The guard growled through gritted teeth, taking a step closer, intending to make them back away. They did nothing of the sort. Lilytha just gave him a withering look, one eyebrow raised, standing there casually as if he was just some performer whose act had gone wrong. Kirri just watched him, a hint of amusement in his eye.
Sorry, then.
Said Kirri with a smile, and started to walk in the direction they had been going before they had been stopped. Lilytha followed his lead and the two made to walk past him to their destination, but he flung his sword in their path with relish. Kirri stopped for a moment, then delicately held the sword with his thumb and forefinger on each side, and raised it lightly. The guard, astounded at this behavior, could only watch as Kirri moved it away and continued on his way. He was not used to being treated like this - usually people showed him respect, even feared him, but these... mere children, and yet still they didn't even try to fight him!
Stand and fight, you fools!
He roared, looking at their retreating backs, not expecting any response, just letting out his anger and raising his sword again in frustration. He would refuse to be outwitted by two from the scum of the slums. To his astonishment, they actually stopped in unison. Lilytha and Kirri turned back, their hands reaching for their swords. Kirri found the hilt of his, drawn on his back, and unsheathed it with an ominous clinking noise. Lilytha found hers on her belt, and drew it also, her own blade making no sound. They turned to face the man, side by side, sword hand to sword hand, as Lilytha was left-handed. They looked at him simply, as if this was just another scene that they had rehearsed time and time again. It was almost as if they had, with different guards, and it was a wonder that the same one never caught them twice, but still, it usually works.
A fight you want? Tut tut, a big man like you picking on kids like us? That's not very mature. Pick on someone your own size, why don't you. But if you want a fight, you'll get a fight, and fight you'll get my son, be sure of that, if you -
Kirri you're rambling.
Lilytha cut him off in annoyance. He shot her an irritated glance, then sighed and turned back to the amazed guard, deciding to stay silent for this part. Lilytha could always handle things if it was left with her, it was just average Lilytha. And sure enough she straightened up and looked the guard in the eye, her own stare hard and cold as it had been before. Anger was now sweeping upon her, her fist clenching upon the hilt of her sword in response, and could be heard in her words.
Do you know of the OS Rose?
She asked, almost spitting out the letters 'O' and 'S' with anger. Why did they have to be called that anyway? It stood for 'Optional Sacrifice', and was a term for someone that may be sacrificed. There were usually a group of OSs, and one would be picked on the night of the sacrifice to die for their 'cause'.
Yes, but she is no longer Optional. She is a sacrifice... the sacrifice. It was decided earlier this evening.
The guard found himself spilling out the information to her, then almost hit himself in frustration. Something in Lilytha's voice had compelled him to speak, the anger, the demandment... Kirri just looked at her in something like awe, the guard in plain anger now. He had played games with these idiots long enough, now it was time for a fight. He was about to suggest one when he was interrupted once more.
Um, Lilytha... plan?
Asked Kirri, lowering his sword clumsily and sheathing it again on his back, not even having to look after many years of practice. Lilytha flicked her own blade around once thoughtfully, again with ease after much practice as she was now an elegant swordsman. A thoughtful expression crossed her face, then she sheathed her own sword with one swift movement, and turned to Kirri swiftly.
How about run?
She asked, and without waiting for an answer, began to dash off towards the Vawyer's Cave. Kirri dithered there for a moment, then turned to the guard, almost feeling as if he had to apologies, then stopped himself before he said anything that he would regret. He turned away from the guards astounded gaze, then felt it upon him once again. At last, he clumsily started off after Lilytha, calling for her to wait in the usual style of Kirri - clumsy but purposeful.
-- --- --
Rose gasped then screamed as the blackness of Vawyer's Cave swallowed her up and she turned in mid air to catch her last look of sunlight as she fell into the blackness. She reached up, the rushing air upon her, blowing her hair up and taking the breath from her body. Her scream echoed around her until it was all that she could hear, each time more muffled as she fell further, further down into the bowels of the earth. Suddenly, there was a sickening crunch, but it was softened by this soft sound of sinking, all in complete blackness. It was darker than the night. Darker than when one turns out the light. Darker than when one closes their eyes. It was just black, no, darker.
Rose felt around her and realized that she couldn't feel her leg and that her left arm caused her pain. She cursed silently, but the word echoed around in her mind as if she had spoken it allowed, for all of the fear that had swamped her, concealed her true personality in that final scream. She realized that she had landed in some kind of mossy surface, moss that had grown upon itself for many years and made a kind of blanket. The rocks below couldn't be felt through all of the moss, but she knew that they were there because of the rip in her skin where her arm had been injured upon landing. Obviously her leg had suffered too, for she could now feel a dull throbbing from it. She reached infront of her with her right arm, grasping for something, anything, but there was nothing there.
An echo of a dark grumble sounded from one side. It reverberated into the cavern that she was in and shook her to the very bone, a dark and deep sound that chilled her. It was the feared creature that lived within the ancient Vawyer's Cave. She knew that to explore it would be to reveal wonders past imagination, past dreams, past common money for no money could buy such a treasure. Ancient writings of why the land of Lirria had been shaped the way it had, of the ancient race that all were descended from, of prophecies and teachings. Maybe even scripts explaining mysteries like Siara H'nintha-dai, maybe even writings from Sha'deai herself... Jewels would be found there also, a natural cavern of treasures if the stories were anything to go by, gleaming and glistening like the sun, even brighter, of every colour and more, colours not even known to man... and creatures, oh the creatures. Weird designs of things that maybe didn't need to breath, for were not descended from anything that was known. Things that had started the whole creation process again to a different way, for what are the chances that two completely different life stories go the same way? For the stories told of creatures that did not follow the laws of breathing and did not have hearts to beat their blood, for they did not even have blood. Wings and flippers could mean nothing to them, neither could skin. Creatures past the imagination... and the creature that Rose was now to be killed by was one of them.
It was ironic, so ironic, that what she had strived to know of all her life would be the death of her. She had always felt that she just needed to know of this monster, and now it would be a killer... memories of her youth flooded before her eyes. All the pain of knowing that she did not have one to care for her, that the one she had thought was her mother had been torn away never to be seen again, leaving a gaping hole that none could fill. Growing up in the tortured times of Jirapa Village, once a beautiful place, now a dirty place for slums. No affection, no care, she had not been taught how to love, to look after herself, to look after any around her. She had no knowledge of anything apart from how to survive and even sometimes that could not be enough. The pain of her life had been so much, and anger and sadness now overcame the fear, and she knelt there in complete darkness as the death she knew that must come came closer, ever closer.
The pain I have had in my life, this is how you repay me!
Rose called, her sorrowful and frustrated words echoing around the cave as she sobbed her woes to the world.
Well, you know, I'm glad. For I wasn't one of the lucky ones to be born and have a life! I've wish I was nothing but the blood running from my mothers womb! I've wished that my life was different, for anyone's, anyone's could be better than my own! I must have been such a bad person in a past life to deserve this, but I have payed my debt in this torture that is life! For if the Heavens are above and Hell is below, then what is this cursed Earth but the misty haze of Purgatory? Well I've worked off my sins! I am ready for death, to begin again! Sha'deai hear and receive me, I repay my sins!
The voice faded into a nothingness. Maybe none would hear it. Maybe all could. Maybe it meant nothing. Maybe it meant all. But as the beating of that small but brave heart faded away, as the last breath was gasped, as the omen of death made her way down the Vawyer's cave to guide Rose away, one heard. One knew. And one turned away, into the confides of the night.