25)
After gently tending him, Onyx knelt down by Alex’s side and placed a hand on his forehead. His palm was extremely warm and Alex felt the heat transfer deep within his body, rejuvenating him.
“What happened to me?” He asked. “It felt as if I was possessed!”
“Was it from the same force that attacked me?” Allura asked.
“Yes, I believe it was.” Onyx answered. “I feel it is linked in some way with young Alex.” Onyx motioned to him with his antlers. “Allura, tell me more about how you came to be here.”
“Anjinn and I are on a quest for the Mirror of Sfel.” She explained.
“I have heard of this Mirror.” Onyx interrupted.
“The mirror is the only thing that can bring our land back from ruination.” Anjinn continued. “It has been foretold that there is only one person that can find the mirror –no one knows what it looks like or where it’s hidden – but he does.”
“And this is the Lightbringer.” Onyx said.
“Yes,” Agreed Allura, “that would be the Lightbringer. In order to find the Mirror of Sfel we must first find the Lightbringer. I saw you both in the distance. Onyx I recognised, you I did not,” She said, pointing to Alex before continuing, “So I looked within.”
“What do you mean?” Alex asked
“We, of the Wyxann read people,” explained Allura testily. “We possess the real sight and can look beyond the veil of personality to the soul within. For the briefest of moments I caught a flicker of the Lightbringer when I looked in your direction but then I was attacked by the presence. The attack was so powerful that I nearly lost my sense of self. It was Anjinn that stopped me from falling off the edge.”
“And then I gallantly blundered in…” Alex interrupted sheepishly.
“Now is not the time for recriminations, Creator. Besides,” Onyx stared at Alex with his head slightly to one side. “I don’t think you were entirely of one mind even then.”
“How do you mean?” Anjinn asked.
“The presence has been with him for some time, and I would wager it was ever since you witnessed the Indran Egg being broken.”
“So he has been possessed.” Allura said.
“Well, not as such,” assured Onyx. “The possession manifested itself when I constantly belittled Alex. That was enough to goad it to take control; before that it had been growing in his psyche. I believe it was the presence that struck you down, Allura.” Onyx continued. “Alex wasn’t at fault when he nearly killed you and in some ways he may have even saved your life.”
“Please explain, old one.” Anjinn asked, incredulous.
“You were dangerously close to the edge; and Alex did knock you away from it.”
“So, where does that leave us?” Allura asked. “We are still on a quest to find the Mirror, though neither of us are in any shape to continue.” Anjinn could only nod in agreement.
“On your own, I agree it would be disastrous.” Onyx said. “But you are no longer alone. What I said before was not a provocation, nor was it said in jest. I do believe that because of his rash decisions Alex put your lives at risk, and so in recompense I feel he should help you in your quest.” He saw the reaction start to form on Alex’s face but was glad when he controlled it. “And if you were to look deep within yourself, Creator,” he continued, “Then you will know that this is true.” Alex smiled in agreement. “Besides, we have not been brought here together by chance. We have met because we were meant to. We are here to help you on your quest for the Mirror of Sfel.”
“With your help I feel that we may indeed be able to uncover it, Old One,” Allura agreed. “though I’m still wary of Paige.” Alex was surprised to be called by what he now recognised as his surname, but then remembered that Allura was psychic. What more could she see that he couldn’t? “Although he may have been as much a victim of the malicious presence as I was, it was he who carried the presence within him. Who knows whether it still lurks there. It shows that he still has the capacity for such darkness within.”
“True.” Onyx concurred. “But, he also has the capacity to be one with the light. One can not live in the light without first being aware of The Presence. Besides, you are in no position to reject our offer of help. You never know, we may prove to be invaluable in your quest…” He smiled knowingly. “Now, where must we go?”
“The townage of Haywreath is just over the other side of these hills.” Allura explained. “We need supplies.”
“Then that is where we are headed next.” Onyx stated.
26)
Silence shrouded the journey to the settlement as the mist crept down the hillside towards them. Alex, still deeply troubled, sought to find answers to his confusion. He needed clarity –too much had happened in such a short space of time. All the incidents were instrumental in teaching Alex about who he really was, finding his true power and what he stood for.
The Vaurac had taught him that even though he had no conscious recollection of his past, the past could still very much control him. He was surprised at how easily he had lost his identity and fallen into the role of being the subservient son. The intense headache that had crippled him disappeared when he ceased trying to impose his own rationale on to the world of Bellkipeg. He saw beyond the illusion and it was then that he found his own strength.
Pondering on this, Alex looked ahead: he could just make out Anjinn and Allura’s silhouettes against the mist as they neared the brow of the hill. It was hard to believe that Anjinn was still badly injured; he was walking as if nothing had happened, yet Alex knew that his ribs were cracked. It sickened him to think that he had nearly caused both their deaths due to his negligence and unwillingness to learn, and it alarmed him how quickly he had misused his new found understanding and power. It was that power that the presence had been able to latch on to and feed upon. Had Alex been more aware then he would not have run blindly into ‘rescuing’ Allura. “Damn it!” Alex cursed under his breath.
“Do not be too hard on yourself, Creator.” Onyx comforted. Alex hadn’t noticed that he had dropped behind and for the last couple of minutes had been walking alongside him. “If we are never taught these skills; not taught to assess situations then we will carry on making the same mistakes.”
“Like running blindly into something like a fool?” Alex asked, smiling ironically.
“A fool is often construed as one acting from ignorance.” Onyx countered, “But ignorance is simply a lack of knowledge, so in that respect you are right. However you learnt from it. Do not forget, Creator that it was as a result of that incident that we met Allura and Anjinn and it also allowed you to face that presence that had possessed you.”
“But I still don’t understand what that presence was.” Alex said.
“It has many names,” Onyx replied, “but that was The Presence. It is responsible for bringing the night to Bellkipeg. It is a shadow falling over the land.” he explained. “And you are the light.”
“A shadow?” Alex paused. “Is the Deluge a part of The Presence then?”
“Aye – it is an extension of it, as The Presence is an extension of The Deluge. A physical manifestation, if you will.” Onyx paused and scratched at an antler. “You felt the power of The Presence as it tried to take hold of you; you felt it twist your mind against the very things you hold dear. It whispered to you like a friend and almost succeeded in turning your heart away from your true purpose and yet you were still able to stand against it.”
“Yes,” Alex countered, “but only with your help. I doubt I could have done it alone.”
“But next time you will be stronger. You will remember how it felt to be possessed and will be more aware if it happens again. You also know how to draw on your own strength now, and each time you reach within yourself it will become easier.” Alex nodded; it was true, his body did remember and he was able to sense now which thoughts were his and which were imposed by The Presence. The Presence's presence was somehow heavier, jagged – it had writhed within him. “Think if you will though,” Onyx continued, “what might have happened if I had not been there, or if you had not the strength to combat it.”
“It would have taken me over –body and soul.” Alex shuddered at the thought of that.
“Your personality, your soul would have become a vessel for The Presence, just an extension of its essence. It would wear you. We call people such as this, Skin Crawlers.”
27)
“Skin Crawlers?” Alex asked. The very thought horrified him.
“Aye; the physical shell remains the same; they have the same appearance but inside they have been taken over by The Presence. It is the Deluge wearing them, but there are times when their skin ripples like the surface of water after a waves wake and they can be seen as they truly are. I tell you this for you are now known to The Presence and he will have his agents; his Skin Crawlers looking for you.”
“Can they be defeated?” Alex asked.
“Yes, Creator. They still wear mortal skin, which can be punctured or cut. This is all that holds the Deluge inside. The Skin Crawlers are less likely to get involved in fights or engage in anything where they could become injured.”
They were nearing the top of the hill now, much to Alex’s relief. Allura and Anjinn were waiting impatiently for them. Anjinn pointed to a settlement up ahead.
“The townage of Haywreath.” He stated, “That is our destination. There is a tavern where we will eat, rest and gather information.”
“What Anjinn means,” Allura interrupted, “is that you will eat and rest whilst we gather the information.”
“What kind of information?” Alex asked, whilst trying to gain his breath back.
“We know that the agents of The Presence are on our trail,” Allura explained. “And we need to know how much danger we are in, and how much of a threat you are to our mission.” Alex could only nod in agreement; he understood exactly what Allura meant. Onyx chuckled at this.
“An hour ago, Creator, you would have reacted badly to a statement such as that. Could it be that you are entering a new stage of understanding?” He smiled.
“I’ve jeopardised Allura’s mission enough by my actions, Onyx. They need to know exactly what is stacked against them and I will do whatever I can now to help them on their quest.”
“So be it.” Anjinn said, walking on with Allura in front. Alex nodded and followed, Onyx keeping pace beside him.
No comments:
Post a Comment