Hay Lin begins having strange dreams about a girl in red, singing a sad tune. But when secrets begin to unfold, she finds herself in crossfire between Phobos and the Oracle, which resulted from a shared past. As tension begins to rise, many questions are asked. What is the dark secret between Phobos and the Oracle? And are Hay Lin's dreams a mere nightmare, or the key to everyone's questions? One thing is for sure: A hidden history has everyone linked together in ways no one could possibly imagine.
"Hmm hmm hmm hmm…" the voice sang.
Hay Lin spun around, her body trembling. Rose petals fluttered in the air as the same, haunting tune filled the atmosphere.
"Hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm…" the voice continued on. Hay Lin knew instantly that the voice belonged to a female. And she couldn't help but feel drawn to that euphonic melody. The girl sounded so youthful, so innocent… yet there was something about her voice and the fact she was nowhere in sight that seemed to pierce through her skin, sending chills all across her thin, fragile looking body.
"Hello?" Hay Lin called out. "Anybody there?" Her voice echoed across the vast meadow, which was filled with blooming blood red roses and no visible patch of green grass. It was a sea of red.
The voice was getting closer, and Hay Lin felt the sense of anticipation burning in her veins. She wished she could have a better understanding of why she was reacting the way she was in such a serene environment. For example, why was it that she felt as if she was prey being stalked by a predator whenever she heard that tune? How come she felt a rising level of danger even if the tune sounded like a soft, harmonic… yet sad lullaby?
Sad… Hay Lin thought to herself. Was the girl sad?
"My name is Hay Lin!" Hay Lin introduced. Except she felt she was talking to herself, which made her feel like an idiot.
And then she froze. The girl had stopped singing, and there was a moment of dead silence. Nothing but the blowing wind filled the air guardian's ears as her body tensed. Her eyes widened.
In the distance, she saw a girl a few years older than her, wearing a long, red gown. It was hard to make up the rest of her figure, as her body stood in the horizon, rays of sunlight leaking out from behind her. Hay Lin squinted her eyes, trying to block the sun from blinding her. She blinked once… and her heart jumped.
The girl… who was hundreds of feet away from her, was suddenly standing right in front of her. Long pools of luscious black hair swayed in synch with the chilling breeze. Her head was tilted forward, causing her side bangs to drape over her face, leaving only the tip of her nose and her red colored lips visible.
Hay Lin gasped. A voice in her head told her to run. Run and never look back. But instead, her legs stood there. How could she run now? How could she run when the fear that was building up inside her made her muscles turn into mush? "W-Wh-Who are you?"
The girl stood there for a moment, her head never lifting up to stare at Hay Lin eye to eye. A glint on a piece of metal caught the air guardian off guard, and she couldn't help but notice the shackles that clung onto both the girl's wrist. Suddenly, her mouth twisted into a devilish smile, bearing her snow white teeth. The girl lunged forward, wrapping her fingers around Hay Lin's neck.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" the girl laughed manically, as she squeezed her hands tighter around Hay Lin's pulse.
Hay Lin let out a blood curdling scream, as she began to struggle against the surprising strength of the thin bodied girl. "Ahhh! Let me go! Let me go! LET ME GO!"
Her head was beginning to spin, as she choked while trying to grasp for air. Her vision was leaving her and her muscles stopped responding.
"HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!" the girl continued to laugh, as everything went blank.
"Ah!" Hay Lin cried out as she sat up from her bed abruptly. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, as her whole body began to shake. She buried her face in her knees while hugging them against her chest, trying to regain some of the sanity she lost in that dream. Then she straightened herself, rubbing her fingers against her neck. I had that dream again, Hay Lin thought to herself. But what does it all mean? I keep having the same dream, and in each dream, the girl keeps getting closer and closer and closer and…
Her fingers shook against her neck before dropping her arm to her side, lifting the sheets to her chest. Her mind wandered off to her grandmother, Yan Lin, who told her that the air guardian had the ability to have premonitions on a future event. This had happened to her before, such as when she dreamed of thorny vines that thrashed around a gothic styled throne. It related to how her friend, Elyon, almost had her powers taken away by her brother, the evil tyrant, Prince Phobos, who trapped her onto the same throne using the same uncanny vines before attempting to steal her powers. Luckily, she and her friends, The Guardians of the Veil, managed to save her and help imprison the prince.
But that was months ago. She never had a premonition after the event, up until a few weeks ago, when Will decided that it was time to form an unlikely alliance with Phobos to stop their new villain: Nerissa. She was the power mad sorceress who had kidnapped Elyon and trapped her inside the Heart of Meridian.
What does it all mean? Hay Lin thought to herself. Why am I even having another premonition? Is it even a premonition? But why do I keep having the same dream?
Her dreams were almost always the same. A sea of red flowers; a girl singing a tune. But each time, she felt she was getting closer to the conclusion of the dream, that the timeline of the dream continued every time she fell asleep. For instance, it was the first time she saw an actual girl in her dream. Usually, all she would see were rose petals, and all she would hear was the lullaby. Now, the girl had attempted to choke her? But why?
She didn't want to sleep anymore. She didn't want to know.
Knock Knock
"Who's there?" Hay Lin called out, trying to hide whatever anxiety had imprinted on her voice.
"It's me", Will's voice sounded from the other side of the door, saying it as if it were bad news.
"Oh, come in".
Will opened the door gently, as if it were to fall if she put any force in, and stepped into Hay Lin's room. "You're not dressed yet?"
Hay Lin looked down at her attire. She was only wearing a spaghetti strapped top and white shorts. "Seems like I'm not."
Will smacked her palm against her forehead. "Hay Lin. You were supposed to be ready at ten-thirty." It was evident that there was frustration in her voice. Today was an important day after all: They were going to seal the deal with Phobos and free him from prison.
Hay Lin shook her head. "Will", she began. "I'm sorry. It's just…"
Will's eyes widened. "Did you have another nightmare?" The frustration was replaced with the genuine concern of a friend.
Nightmare… Hay Lin thought to herself. She should've used that word instead of dream. Nightmare was more appropriate. "That can wait until later", she reassured her. Will was the leader of the guardians of the veil, and she was already going through enough stress over the fact that she herself would have to free Phobos. "I'm already late. I'll change, and I'll ask Grandma to make us breakfast."
"Did I hear breakfast?" Irma asked, as she poked her head through the doorway. It had appeared she came by the doorway just in time to hear those words. "Hay Lin… you're the savior to my starving stomach."
Maybe eating too many eggs for breakfast wasn't such a good idea, Hay Lin thought to herself miserably, as she hugged her boiling stomach. A full stomach and a nervous stomach wasn't a good combo, especially since she knew she was going to see Prince Phobos's face very soon. The Guardians had already crossed the veil to Meridian, where Caleb and Will were speaking to the prince. The rest of the guardians had scattered across the castle, having whatever adventures they could find until they went back to Earth. Hay Lin wondered how she ended up at the large Meridian library with Taranee, sitting at one of the reading tables. Then she remembered. Unlike Cornelia, and Irma, who were both very social and daring, she didn't feel like getting in any trouble. And unlike Taranee, she didn't feel like poking her nose in every book.
But sitting still wasn't such a good idea either. With nothing else on her mind, the thoughts of last night's nightmare returned to her. Could it possibly be just a coincidental series of nightmares? Or could it actually be a premonition? What if the premonition meant something? What if it was warning her of impending doom, and she had to act upon it or warn her friends or…
Get a hold of yourself, Hay Lin! She yelled through her thoughts. She was panicking again through her heavy breathing and terrible shakes.
How could she ever sleep peacefully again?
"Will? Caleb? Is that you?"
Will and Caleb greeted Vathek with friendly smiles, as the blue Meridianite ran up to the two and locked them into a bear hug.
"Good to see you again", Caleb said as nobly as possible, although he still had that boyish tone to his voice.
"So", Vathek began. "What brings you two here to Meridian?"
Will tried to force another smile across her face, although guilt and regret was written all over it. "You're not going to like our answer…."
Vathek stood there for a moment, his eyes wide in shock. He looked like a glass figure, moving hardly a muscle as his ears took in the information in disbelief. Finally, he squeezed his eyes shut. "WHAT?!" he yelled out, as he finally opened them. With further insisting, Vathek's voice softened as he gave into the argument. "This is a bad idea…" he warned.
"We don't have a choice", Caleb said. "Besides Elyon, there's only one other heir to the Meridian throne. One other person who can take the seal from Nerissa".
"Prince Phobos", Will snarled, as they reached the prison. Her eyes widened slightly, as she stared at the figure with the pure white cloak, who was standing in front of Phobos's prison. It was highly probable that the two were talking before they entered the room. Who was this person?
"You reek of desperation, guardian", Phobos teased, turning his attention away from the figure and towards the guardian leader.
Will tried her best to ignore her newfound curiosity over the white cloaked person. "You just reek." It was time for business. "Here's the deal. We set you free on a FULL pardon on two conditions: One, you help us take the seal from Nerissa, and two, you swear to return its power to Elyon and Kadma, not use it for yourself."
"There's no love lost between the sorceress and myself, and, I do seem to have a bit of free time lately…" Phobos began sarcastically. His mocking smile made Will want to punch him in the face.
"No, my lord!" Raythor protested from the other cell. "That power is rightfully yours. You should not bargain for it, nor bind yourself alone to these traitors…it is beneath you."
Phobos smiled approvingly. "Your concern is touching, Raythor…" He suddenly frowned. "But this cell is also beneath me…and above me, and around me."
"Then swear on the Heart of Kandrakar, and I'll get you out of it", Will gnarled through her teeth, as if her feelings didn't agree with her words.
Phobos rolled his eyes, raising his right hand. "I swear on the heart of Kandrakar not to use Nerissa's seal for myself. Satisfied?"
Will just made a hmph before raising her palm in the air. A flash of blue lightning shot out from her hand and towards Phobos's cell. The magic bars that held Phobos in his prison vanished away, getting a full view of Phobos and his satisfied smirk.
"Jezebel", a stern, female voice sounded.
Will and Caleb turned in shock to find Luba, one of the council members of Kandrakar, walking towards them, only not towards them. The white figure turned around, and her face was visibly shown.
Caleb, Will, and even Vathek suddenly had their eyes wide open, at the white figure, whose name was 'Jezebel'.
She was beautiful, but so beautiful, she didn't appear human. She had pale skin, with long, straight white hair that fell to her ankles, which was styled in layers where some of her luscious hair majestically stuck outwards, and thick side bangs that covered half her forehead. Her eyes were an alluring violet color, and she smiled brightly at the guardian and her companions.
"Thank you", she told Will, as she began walking towards Luba. Luba looked rather stern and scornful as she turned to Jezebel. "No one said you could leave. They sent me here to fetch you."
Who was' they'? And did that girl say thank you to me just now? Will thought to herself. "Luba, what are you doing here?"
"I was just bringing this girl back to Kandrakar", Luba informed her. "She's related to one of the Council members, and she tends to venture off often."
"Oh…" Will began, but her voice began to trail off. "Okay." She shouldn't bother asking anything. After all, it was Luba. Luba knew what she was doing.
"Jezebel, let's go!" Luba snapped again, this time, eying Phobos. Phobos understood what she was thinking, and just smiled rather charmingly.
"Don't worry…" he said silkily. "I won't hurt her."
Luba frowned. "You couldn't even if you tried. Because I'd be there to stop you." Will had never seen her so frightening… so threatening. But she couldn't help but notice that Luba herself was uneasy, as Jezebel began walking towards her.
"You're so scary…" Phobos taunted. "But you don't have to act that way. I already told you. I won't hurt her." This time, his voice sounded determined, almost insistent.
Jezebel smiled at Phobos. "Phobos…." Her voice was so sweet and pure, equal to that of an innocent child's.
Phobos was keeping his eyes focused on Luba, Caleb, Will, and Vathek, as if he were forcing himself not to look at the girl, pretending like she wasn't there. Jezebel's eyes were glistening, as if she were filled with hope, and she took a step towards Phobos, reaching her hand out towards him.
"Jezebel, NO!" Luba yelled out, racing to the girl. She grabbed her wrist in time, and began dragging her out the room. "We're leaving."
As Luba dragged the white haired girl out the room, she turned to Phobos one more time. "I want it to be… just like the old times." She gave him a sad smile, before being pulled away from the doorway completely.
"Who is she?" Caleb questioned Phobos. "Do you know her?"
Phobos just shrugged. "Used to. She's just an old friend."
Vathek scoffed. "Hmph. Like you know anything about friendship."
Phobos began rubbing his chin. "You're right. That's why I said old friend."
A/N: This story marks my return, readers! If people still remember me, I was the one who always wrote Phobos romances because… up till this point, I'm still obsessed with the guy . .. But I've decided to change my plots a bit, in a way where more lovable characters will be involved. There will be romance, but that won't be the center theme anymore…. I promise this one will be more exciting : )