Some of the characters mentioned within this fanfic belong to the wonderful Kim Harrison. Thank you for continuing to read and enjoy!
Chapter 21 – Let Her Sail
APOV
Saliva wells in my mouth, a bitter watery taste. Heart pounds to the point I can feel my chest vibrate with the damn movement. Don't need to look at my hands to know they shake. Fuck. Brining one up I try to cover my eyes as though it will erase the images of the damned. There's a reason no live being should see that. It is a sight to bourn madness within a man. Their shrieks still echo as though I stood alone in a cavernous room with just them.
Free us. Help us brother. You are ours…
Those black voices whisper to me, implanting gruesome images in my mind with vicious claws. Begging me to slaughter these men. Take the ship beneath the Wall. To them. Swallowing raggedly the movement hurts in its forcefulness. Get a grip man. Your stronger than this. It physically pains to drag my gaze from the black waters but I manage. Years of restraint and discipline bourn from slavery helps.
Ledez sits a very pale Trent down and looks as though he's giving the Elf a pep talk. Relief washes through my tense muscles knowing I was not the only one affected. What cannot be ignored however is the restraining hand that still grips my arm.
Pushing the fears back down where they can't hurt I pull on a calm guise that fools even the most observant of people. Turning to Iza I gaze steadily, making a point to look down where his hand continues to grip me. What does he think I'm going to do? Does he actually believe I would free them? His stony expression and hard white eye's confirm that suspicion. Anger wells up enough to nearly choke me. I can't even argue with his suspicions because he's right. Had he not restrained me I would have freed them, not giving a damn for the consequences of such an action.
Well I'm a fucking Demon what else is expected?
But that's not all. She could be down there. Didn't that wrinkly little Keeper say all Demons go downside? Feeling a sudden bitterness I glance sharply at Trent. It's ok for him. He knows where Rachael is. But my Cephia? No one's even bothered to question about her. It's all precious Trent and Rachael. Boo fucking who. What about me? You know what fuck this and fuck them. Just need to deal with this prick behind.
"My woman could be down there. Take that damned hand off me now."
His eye widen only slightly. "You believe her to be down there?"
"Well that's what people round here say. Demons don't go up, they always go down. Right?"
"Wrong. She a good woman? Ever hurt anyone to the point it would blacken her like tar?"
Is this arsehole trying to start a fight with me? Ripping my arm from his grip I nearly stumble backwards but get right up in his face. "She was the best Goddamned woman I ever knew and you better fucking believe it mate. If no one's going to help me find her like your all doing for precious over there" My arm flings to Trent. "Then I'll bloody well find her on my own."
Real calm like he just stares back. My blood boils even more but then he talks. "I believe you. You say she's good then she's good. You were married right?" Not trusting my voice I give a terse nod.
"Then finding her shouldn't be too hard." He turns around and walks away. What the hell was that?
All the help I get? Searching out the other two thinking I must be mistaken, Ledez still hovers over Trent and Donysk stay's at the ships wheel. No one's watching our transaction. Footfalls behind have me turning back to see Iza carrying a small ornate silver box. Like something from a Nineteenth Century maidens bedroom.
"What is that?" I ask begrudgingly trying to hide my interest. Gingerly placing it on the edge of a metal crate he stands straight and holds a hand out to me. "Hand please."
Slowly unfolding my arms I place my hand in his but remain suspicious. "What are we doing?"
"Just wait will you? I need to hold your hand."
I go to make some self flattering joke but his pointed look stops me. Well ok then this is rather serious. Eyes closed his head tilts to the side as though listening for something. Listening for her? My heart beats a little faster at the thought. Pretty damn fast actually. Too damn fast. Wait shit, fuck I think I'm having a heart attack. Breathing panicked I try to pull away but the man's grip is like a vice. Black closes in around my vision and I think I'm just about to finally kick that can when my heart gives one almighty pound bringing me to my knees.
Mouth open like a fish I try to draw some breath. My body suddenly feels too warm, too full. Bleary eyes focus on my now free hands and I think I must be dead. The usually ruddy skin is pale with an underlying soft glow. Its looks alive as though flowing in swirls beneath my skin. My whole skin. Shakily bringing them to my face I stand up unable to look away from my hands.
"What did you do to him?" Trent's voice, quiet with awe penetrates my foggy brain. Glancing up I see he's no longer sitting but hesitantly edging towards me, his hands twitching like he's trying to keep them still. Ledez however is grinning considerably more than he usually does. This is….good?
"I knew you weren't a bad one. Didn't I tell you Don he aint' a bad one?" From above Donysk remains looking at me with what I can only describe as pure relief and a slight hint of guilt. What the hell is going on? I'm not used to people smiling at me like I'm a bloody Church Nun. Screams and horror is more like it. Still feeling uncomfortably full I turn to Iza who looks a little shaken and pale but he too smiles. My voice when it comes out is whispered with part fear, part….wonder?
"What did you do to me?"
Clapping me on the back he releases a relieved chuckle. "Good. You can talk. Most cant for a while." Nodding towards my hand he pushes long white hair back with shaky fingers. "That's your soul there. Your essence. I bought it to the surface."
My eye's just about stay in my head. My soul? That golden swirly shit is my soul? Bringing my hands closer for inspection I shake my head disbelievingly. No surely not. I've seen my aura. It's black, blacker than true darkness. I say as much.
"Aura's and souls aren't the same brother. Think of your aura as the shield that protects your soul. It's colouration is just a warning of what you're doing to it." Expression now serious he looks me pointedly in the eyes. "Not gonna lie though. You pretty much nearly killed yours mate. Took a shit load of energy to piece it back together and bring it forward. After this trip's done I would suggest you reconsider how you go about your days in life."
Ignoring his last comment I can only stare at my hands. That's my soul. My soul is there, at the surface, visible. A thought occurs to me that freeze's my blood cold. Shit my soul is visible.
"My fucking soul is visible!" Panicked I try to shove my hands in my pockets only to realise I don't have any. Full of jittery adrenaline I grip Iza's shoulders and give him rattling a shake. "Are you trying to kill me! Put it back! Put it back right this instant or they'll see!"
Face slack with confusion and worry a glimmer of understanding enters his eyes at my last comment. Then he laughs. Laughs at me. Like this is some fucking joke! Oh god I'm going to die, the Gampions…they're going to be here any minute. Shit, shit, fuck! Why did I trust these men! An unmanly screech leaves me when a large hand grabs the back of my neck. Panicked I ram my elbow into the assailants gut. A pained grunt sounds then the hand releases me. Spinning around with my leg tensed outwards ready to kick the fucker…..my entire body is thrown sideways where upon I hit the floor and skid for a good three seconds. Still dazed, more hands grip my shoulders and drag me up so I dangle a foot from the floor. With my last vestiges of courage I stare the soul sucking murderer in the face ready to nut him and…what the hell?
Intense white eye's flash silver from beneath slanted pale brows. Iza's usually neat hair is dishevelled and his calm face is now very, very pissed. Well shit, what rattled his cage?
"That would be you my friend." What? What is he…no wait what!?
Shocked my mouth gapes open. "You can read minds?" Not answering the question he takes a deep breath through flared nostrils. "I'm going to place you down now. If you hit me again I will tie you to the mast and leave you there until you're ready to be civil. Understood?"
Still reeling from his little secret I simply nod like an idiot. Satisfied his lowers me to the floor. The unused adrenaline quivers through my body causing it to shake like a scared puppy. Quick glances around the deck show no signs of Gampions….or at least what I expect a Gampion to look like. Ledez stares back with a hard expression and Trent looks a little lost. Donysk Glances nervously between Iza and me like he thinks the man's going to turn me into mince meat any second.
"You right Iza?"
Nodding stiffly he moves away from me slightly. Well what the fuck is that all about? Ledez walks over and picks up my still glowing hand. "We need to get this done quickly otherwise he aint' gonna be your only problem." The last is said with a chin jerk in Iza's direction who now stands with his back to us, breathing heavily.
"What's his problem anyway?" Ledez glances over to his brother. "It's not your fault….mostly. He just got a lot of energy is all. Sometimes hard to not diffuse it all into the main emotion he feels at that moment in time."
"So what, anger you mean? How the hell was I supposed to react? You warn us about these bloody life sucking soul stealers then go and turn me into a snack for them!"
"This?" He shakes my hand. "Was done for a reason yeah? If you'd just shut up for a minute and stop pissing yourself we'll get round to it."
"What are you going to do?" Trent's finally got close enough to stand at my side but at Ledez's annoyed look he holds up his hands backing away. "Ok. Just asking."
Ledez blows out a calming breath glancing at Iza's still turned back. "He bought your soul to the surface so it could go searching for the one connected to yours. In this case your wife's. Well at least that's what we're hoping will happen."
"What else do you thinks going to happen?" Trent's sneakily sidled up close again.
"Someone other than his wife's going to answer his call. Let's just pray it's not from down there aye?" We both turn to look back to where Wall meets water.
"She won't be down there." I say. She just can't be.
Ledez nods finally releasing my hand. "Aye, let's hope so. Iza you right now?"
The other man lifts his chin once in affirmation then walks over to the crate where the box still sits. With much care his big hands cradle it and slide the catch up. Lifting the lid a soft violet glow emanates from the inside. He reaches a hand in making a scooping motion. Carefully he pulls back with his hand cupped gently as though he holds something precious. Slowly walking over to us he looks up, his once again calm features are cast in a purple light from whatever he holds. Now standing next to me my breath catches slightly when I look into his large cupped hand. It looks like that shit women smear over themselves. Glitter gel is it? But this one looks alive. Like the golden light beneath my skin, it too glows softly and swirls.
"Hold your hands up, palms to the sky." Warily I do as he says. "What is it?" He gently smears the gel onto either palm. I flinch "Shit! That's freezing!" I'm just about to shake them to get rid of the offensive stuff when his fist bands around my wrist, squeezing so the bones shift.
"Just try and I'll kill you." His voice is icy but his face remains eerily calm. "This is Ah'hooray. A very, very old, much respected creature."
Feeling my brows pull down in disbelief I stare at the gloop on my palms. What in the turn? The gel is no longer smeared but has bounced back into itself to make a little gooey ball on each palm. The ball shifts around slightly as though sniffing different sections of my skin. A squeamish laugh escapes me when it starts to tickle. "It's feels warm now."
Iza nods with a small smile as though he expected as much. "That's because he's awake now. We have to keep him chilled when he sleeps." He reaches out a thick finger to stroke the gooey ball who sniffs back in return. I search out Trent wondering what his take is on this. He frowns at my hands as though a little queasy by the squirming goop. Laughing at his discomfort I hold my palms out to him.
"Wanna give it a pet? It's not really that bad. Rather cute actually." I smile evilly remembering his ribbing me over the scaly creatures. He backs away whilst waving his hands. "No. No I'm good." Looking to Iza he smiles politely. "It's a lovely…pet though."
The other man rolls his eye's with a little huff. "It's not a pet. It's Ah'hooray. They're creatures that help the ferry men to detect a soul. You two don't have our particular skills which means you need his help." He nods to the gloop. "We haven't needed to use them for some time having evolved. But like I said that's not the case for you two."
He moves to stand in front of me and places his own palms beneath my still outstretched ones. "I need you to close your eyes now Al." Suddenly very nervous of what's to come I take a noisy gulp and close my eyes. "Good. Now think of your soul. Do you feel it?"
I still feel too full it that's what he means. But I also feel rather liquidy, like I'd spill over at any minute. The liquid feels warm and golden like a thick liquor. Iza makes an approving sound. "Good you found it. Now do you feel it reaching out anywhere else other than your body?"
Focusing back on the liquid gold I mentally search the feeling in my feet, legs, arms, chest…the chest. There's definitely something there, or rather a little lower just before the abs. "I think I have something. Just below my chest."
"Do you feel it pulling outwards? Away from your body?" Feeling it more intensely I imagine it looking like a pulsing light at my core. Wiggling a little from the discomfort of it I try to focus. Reaching outwards from that core I feel… "A string?" I say out loud.
"Yes. Just like that. Can you feel where it pulls to?" Sweat beds on my upper lip and temples as I strain to read the strings direction. I can picture it moving out but I can't get it to come into focus. Like it keeps shattering. "Try to focus it into one area Al. Like you would with your chi."
Oh right. Ok. I can do this. As though spindling energy I let calm wash over me as I focus on the main power point in my body. Or in this case below my chest. Watching the line flicker I try to hold it still in my mind. Once it stays in one place I can see tiny hair line fractures within the string. And like spindling energy I pull pieces of it to my chi. Rather than store it I push it back out to fill the fractures. The string thickens, becomes whole. And in my mind's eye I see the Wall. I see the Wall and I see the string. And the string…..disappears into the Wall.
A gasp has me opening my eye's to see Trent who looks in my direction but downwards. "It's a compass." He whispers.
Following his line of sight I squeak upon seeing what he does. The glo…..…I mean Ah'hooray is still connected to my palms but has stretched up and outwards for about ten meters where it points, like a piece of string, in the direction of the Wall. Scared to move my hands I glance at the ferry men who are doing that wired happy smile thing again. Oh thank the gods! I thought I'd killed their pet.
My voice when it comes out is a croak. "Is that meant to happen?" Ledez does that manly back clap thing their all so fond of. "It certainly is mate. And it looks like your woman's on the other side of that Wall. Congratulations!"
Suddenly feeling very faint I collapse onto my ass but remember to keep my palms up lest I squash the pet. I'm dimly aware of hands on my shoulders and scraping across my palms but for the life of me I can't focus.
She's on the other side of that Wall. My love is safe. She's not in Hell. Oh Cephia…..Oh my love. I have a chance. I can reach her, hold her again, bring her back. Wetness on my cheeks has me swiping trembling fingers under my eyes. Trent's suddenly there on bent knees, holding a hand out.
"I'm happy for you Al." I can tell he means it too by his rare kind smile. Not trusting my voice I nod my thanks and take his hand where he pulls me up. Suddenly realising my palms are empty I look around panicked only to find Iza holding the Ah'hooray. Petting it like a little dog. He gives us both an unnerving smile.
"Let's get us over that Wall shall we?"
"Now don't do anything right? Treat this like you would a moving carriage. You keep your arms in at all times and remain seated. You get out of those seats and I'll tackle you to that floor faster than you can piss yourselves. Am I clear boys?"
Ledez paces back and forth in front of us like some bloody drill sergeant with a hard on for domination. Seated once more in that corner by the stairs we both manage gruff agreeing noises, neither happy at being ordered around.
"Good! Now I'm going to be over there." He points to the far left. "And Iza will be there." Points to the far right. "So we'll be watching even though we have other shit to do. You're both good men so I can trust you not to fuck this up." And with that lovely vote of confidence he walks off in a swirl of black cloth.
"I don't know about you but I feel rather emasculated right now." Trent's dry tone pulls an unwilling chuckle from me.
"Don't worry petal I'm sure there'll be many opportunities to prove our balls on this trip."
Snorting he settles back into the chair. "Not to sound like a damsel but I'd rather there be no opportunities at all. Just want to get Rachael and get out of here."
"I know what you mean. Creepy place this is. And that bloody Wall beneath…" Were both silent for a time remembering the screams of the damned.
"It affected you didn't it?" He asks. Tensing I flick non-existent dust from my shoulder and shrug.
"It spoke to me too if it's any consolation. Never felt such….possession I guess is the best word for it." Scoffing I glance at him but he's staring at the Wall with a faraway look. Not sure why I do but I tell him a little fact.
"I've felt true possession. Though I'm a bastard I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Sucks the life out of you and soon there's no point even living anymore" Laughing cynically I look at my fingernails. "Well I guess it wouldn't be living would it?" When he doesn't say anything back I shift in discomfort wondering what in the turn possessed me to tell him that. I chuckle internally at my own pun.
"The slavers?" His question is asked so quietly I think I may have imagined it but he's looking at me as though expecting an answer. Clearing my throat against the bile that word always causes I nod stiffly. "Had one on me for just under a thousand years." I push down the fury and pain the memories bring.
"I'm sorry. I mean I presume it was the….the….."
"Elves. The word you're looking for is Elves. Why are you sorry anyway? Not like you put it on me or tortured me for centuries and when that wasn't enough you….…."
I stop myself before going into a fury that I can't get out of. I need the Elf as much as he needs me. Wouldn't do any good to carelessly kill him in a bad temper now would it? Plastering on a fake smile I wave off my almost break down. "Doesn't matter now anyway. Was so long ago I hardly remember it." Ha! would that be it were true….
Trent has the decency to look ashamed on behalf of his race though. Hmmm, full of surprises the shifty bugger is. I go to make some joke to ease the tension but Donsyk's shout stops me.
"Ready when you are lads!" It takes me a second to realise he's talking to the other men who reply in the old tongue.
"Shields activated just waiting for absorption!" Ledez bangs the ships side to emphasise his words. Just then vibrations rattle throughout the entire ship and the air fills with a whirring thrum. Iza stands in front and off to the side, his lips move as though casting a spell. Shields maybe? The air becomes pressurised with changing energy then the entire ships jolts once, rocking us forwards. The whirring noise gets louder. We both jump when the ships side next to Trent pulses, spurting out an oily pearlescent sheen. Completely defying the laws of gravity it moves upwards meshing with the other sheens from the ships outer perimeter effectively creating a cloudy barrier. The sheen continues upwards but starts to curve half way where it encases us and the deck within and finally closes forming a dome. Well shit. It's like being inside a massive bubble made of washing liquid. The outside can be seen but remains slightly cloudy from the oiliness and mother of pearl.
"Impressive." I glance at the Trent who looks up with approval and admiration. A slight calculation in his eyes has me narrowing mine. "What are you thinking Elf? You have that sneaky look." Gaze still on the bubble he replies automatically. "Just wondering how to get one of these things. The ship would be fairly easy to replicate. The shields though? Hmmmm. Something to consider."
Rolling my eye's I mumble something about Elves and power. Ledez glances over to see if the two of us are behaving. I give him a little wave. "Lovely work dear!" He flips me off.
Donysk calls out again."Thrusters engaged!" Iza throws up an arm then swings it down. "Let her Sail!"
With an almighty groan the ship hedges slowly forwards slicing through the black water. Vibrations quake the entire deck to the point my chair rattles along with my bones. The Wall looms bigger than ever, its energy pulses so strong, so hot it's like standing in front of a furnace. We're about twenty meters from impact and I have a moment of panic thinking were going to hit. Fuuuuuuck!Instinctively my shoulders hunch inwards trying to protect my body as though it would somehow make a difference. Sweat pours down my temples and pools at the small of my back. Did I think I was having a heart attack earlier? No. This is a goddamn heart attack. The vibrations are that heavy now my chairs jittered over to bang into Trent's who doesn't seem to coping any better.
The black shimmering Wall with its sections of rocky sharp pillars looms ever closer and soon it's all I can see, like a black tsunami. Unbidden my eye's start to squeeze shut against the heavy presence ahead but then I catch movement. Eye's still squinting it looks like worms spreading from the Wall. What in the…? Opening them fully with a new bravery I can only gape as the Wall in front starts to peel backwards. The 'worms' would be the spiked rock pillars bending outwards like rubble tree branches. As each piece moves back a swirling mass of violet light is revealed and soon there's a hole big enough to fit six jumbo jets. Well that's….rather impressive.
The violet light inside, like the Ah'hooray swirls around, a thunderous swish as though it were a horizontal whirl pool. The black Wall a sharp contrast with its rough pointy edges resembles a backwards gunshot wound. The ship still hedges forwards. Ten meters….seven meters. Meanwhile I can't look away from Ledez and Iza. The crazy fool's just stand there with feet braced apart, grinning, as though this is the most fun they've had in a while. Bloody weirdo's.
Three meters…..shit here it comes….one meter….I'm sorry! I swear I'll be a better demon!...Impact….
But wait, it doesn't feel like impact. Well at least not how I expected impact to feel. There's no crash or crunching metal, no explosions. This is more like sliding into a massive vat of reluctant violet plasma. The ship groans under the liquidous pressure as it forces its way in. The dome above bends inwards slightly but pushes back out with a piercing screech like glass rubbed against glass. Cringing I cover my demon sensitive ears and watch as the violet liquid slowly pours over the oily dome. Outside it still swirls and shimmers like a never ending lake of pixie dust. The temperature starts to drop rapidly and soon my breath can be seen on the air. Shivering I huddle into the chair and feel Trent do the same when his shoulder touches mine.
Glancing behind I see the last clear section of the domes rear become submerged in plasma and with it a queasy weight settles in my stomach. The hole starts to shrink, black tendrils reach inwards and mesh together and soon it's a solid wall once more. Gulping painfully I glance up and watch the thin barrier of the dome, the only thing that keeps us from complete submersion and an instant suffocating death. The temperatures now freezing. Splinters of frost finger their way along the domes skin and spread out from the decks centre. Is that meant to happen? The other men seem unaffected as though they could do this sleeping. Feeling my gaze Iza turns with what I believe is a reassuring smile. "Just a couple more minutes mate. Then we'll be through."
Couple minutes? Hell, I don't think I have a couple seconds let alone bloody minutes! I can literally feel my blood turning to ice, my heart beats sluggishly trying to regulate the flow but it's a losing battle. Warmth suffuses my body and I curl inwards suddenly very drowsy. Somewhere in the back of my mind I know this is bad. But it's so warm, so cosy. Just a little while…something's shaking me. What the hell? Can't I get a little peace around here just once? Opening heavy lids to glare at my latest annoyance I'm treated to the lovely sight of Trenton Kalamack. A very shivery Trenton Kalamack. That's weird, his eyebrows are frosty, his hair too. Now that I think about it his lips look pretty bluish as well. Huh. I thought Elves didn't get cold?
His mouth opens and closes like a fish. Trying to speak maybe? I go to tell him to spit his words out but nothing happens. You need breath to talk. My brains shut down to the point I can't even muster any panic. Fire down below has me glancing to its creator with near frozen eyeballs. Thick fingers are closed around both our wrists. Moving my eyes up I take in a fall of black silk hair and face of masculine perfection. Ledez is it? Mumbles whilst focused on our hands. The fire grows, spreads from the pulse point in my wrist and like a line of gunpowder ignites every vein within my body. It hurts. Fuck does it hurt! But with the pain comes feeling. Sensation within my feet, legs and fingers is regained. My sluggish brain becomes once more a mind of brilliance. And I can breathe, it feels raw but I can breathe.
Stifled and way too hot my fingers pull at the shirts neckline trying to reach some cool air. There's still some there but it's lessened, nothing like the sub-zero temperatures just minutes ago. Taking in the surroundings I see were still in the plasma but up ahead is another black wall. Within ten meters of impact it too starts to peel backwards creating a ragged hole. Gulping when I remember what's on the other side I grip the chairs arms feeling metal scrape beneath my fingernails.
On impact the ship pushes through, the plasma stretches around the front of the dome until it reaches a breaking point and snaps back. Again that noise of glass scraping along glass. Ahead white light can be seen. Like last time I look up to watch the violet plasma slide backwards as the ship pushes forwards. The now clear sides of the dome are suffused with white misty fog. Like we've entered a cavernous steam room. The wall behind closes with the audible crunch of stone and then it's just our heavy breaths and the silence of the fog.
"Hey? Are you two right?" Dragging my gaze away Ledez is bent down glancing worriedly between the two of us. Clearing my parched throat I nod, probably a little too enthusiastically. Trent shifts in discomfort but manages a gruff yes. "Is that it? Are we through?" He asks.
Straightening Ledez nods then looks around. "Aye. Were through. Sorry about back there lad's, completely forgot the cold could kill you fella's."
"Oh not to worry. We were fine." I croak. He raises a disbelieving brow then jerks his chin in the direction of the ships side. "The fogs like the entrance. In a couple of minutes we'll enter the plasma fields. From there we'll sail for a bit, reach level one in about eight hours tops."
"Eight hours? And that's just the entrance?" Glancing at the Elf I see he doesn't like this news. Ledez on the other hand couldn't give a shit. "It's a boat mate. What did you expect?"
"Something a little more efficient to be honest. You can make shields out of thin air but you can't speed up?"
"Hey!" Donsyk's voice sounds from above. "You leave my beauty alone. Got us through thick and thin she has."
"Ladies! If you have a minute I think our guests would like to see this?" Iza leans against the ships side, ever the calm and collected presence. Behind him the fogs thinned revealing patches of black endless sky. Pushing up from the chair I shuffle in his direction, my joints protesting with the movement. "Move over Iza old chap! Can't possibly be any weirder than all the other bloody shit here."
Reaching his side my face is just inches from the domes surface. Up close it's just like glass. Looking out my eyes widen upon taking in the endless black sea all around. It's not just sea though. Small vein shaped islands protrude from the water and branch out to form an interconnecting network of pulsing violet veins. It's like the seas alive and this is its pulse. They only protrude about a foot high so I can only presume the ship glides across them. The thought brings on a squeamish shiver. Glancing closer I can make out green fuzzy moss covering some of the braches. Tiny lights scuttle across them like little glowing bugs.
"What the hell are they?" I ask not looking away. Iza shifts slightly as Trent and Ledez join us. "It's the Walls life source. Like its roots that hold it to ground. Except there is no ground. You could swim down for a thousand years and still never reach a bottom."
Trent turns in his direction. "And we sail across this for eight hours?" Iza wags his head in indecision. "About that yes. Meanwhile let me show you to your rooms. Unless you want to look more?"
"No." I say a little too quickly. "Let's just go see shall we?" Trent glances at me oddly but I'm not about to admit the vein things creep me out. I've seen a lot of weird shit in my time but those things are just…..Gah!
Iza's already moving heading to the stairs where we were once sitting. Just to the left is a metal door that I didn't see earlier. Magical wards maybe? He enters not checking to see if we follow and disappears into the ships lower bowels. Trent shoulders past clutching his stomach as though sick. Choosing to ignore his rudeness I too follow.
The doors rather narrow, maybe three foot wide and seven feet tall. Marble clacks beneath my feet upon entering as I walk down white polished steps that widen the closer they get to the floor. Inside is a lounge area with large white couches pressed against the back wall and into one corner. In the centre is a low beach wood table with a glass top. The floor consists of plush white carpet thick enough to make your feet disappear. Off to the side at a higher level is a Stainless Steele kitchen and further to the right a larger beach wood table and chairs. Iza walks past all this and continues down a branching corridor of more marble. Following we both come to a standstill when he stops and faces the wall. The corridors a dead end with no doors.
"These are your rooms." I open my mouth to bitch about the size but he holds up a hand. "Yes I know just give me a minute." He presses a palm to the wall then slaps it down with inhuman speed. Jumping back we both bang into the opposite wall when the one in front ripples outwards. As it smoothes six perfect doorways are revealed but they lack actual doors and handles.
Turning to Trent Iza jerks his chin towards them. "You can't have the last three but you can choose from any of the others." With a calm efficiency the elf evaluates his options then decides on the middle of the three. "That one."
Nodding Iza pulls out that big ass knife of his then holds a hand out. "I need your palm for this. Remember the entrance to our home? Well this one will be your personal doorway."
Trent pauses for only a moment considering this then offers up his palm. Gripping it tightly Iza makes a quick slash across the smooth skin. Trent doesn't even flinch. Dark blood wells and pools in his now cupped hand. Iza still holding it, lifts their joined hands then quickly smears Trent's across the doorways centre. The smear resembles a triangle with a dot at two of the points. Iza whispers something and the doorway ripples, the marble now replaced with golden light.
"Ok mate your all set. Anytime you want to enter just smear your blood in the form of that symbol and it will open up. When you want to come back out just walk at the doorway and you'll pop back out here.
Trent raises a pale brow at this. "Right…..well, thank you. May I go in?" Iza smiles. "Course, it's your room now." One last glance at me then Trent walks forwards disappearing into the rippling light which smoothes over again to become just white marble. Iza turns holding a hand out. Releasing a gusty breath I slap my palm in his.
"Ow!" The bastard didn't even wait to slice me. Next thing I know my palms slapped against the cold wall. I watch in fascination as he moves my hand to smear the blood into a square with a dot at one corner. It too glows to reveal a lit doorway. Grinning I glance at the ferry man. "Well thank you very much. Now if you don…."
"Iza!" Running footfalls has us both turning to watch Ledez fly down the stairs with a sudden urgency where he stops to bend over panting. "Soul. To the West. Coming in fast and hard."
I glance at Iza to catch a fleeting look of shock but it's gone as soon as it came. "What are they doing this close to the Wall?" He asks as though talking to himself.
Shaking his head Ledez watches him intensely. "I dunno but we need to get rid of them otherwise they won't be our only visitors."
"Them!" Iza thunders "More than one?" Ledez nods his face tense with worry. "S'what I mean. Two wondering souls is surely to draw some attention. We gotta get up there now brother." With that he runs back up the steps to the deck. Iza slides his sword back in the holster, running he shouts over his shoulder, "Gather your man! You may see a Gampion yet my friend!"
What! Oh hell no. No! I'm not ready for this shit! Heart pounding as adrenaline courses through my blood I glance longingly between the glowing doorway and the stairs, doorway, stairs, doorway…Oh fuck it! I'm a demon for crying out loud!
Banging Trent's wall like my life depends on it I scream. "Trent buddy! Get your ass out here now! Trent! Tre…."
"What, by the Goddess are you doing!?" Not bothering to answer I grab his arm and drag him across the lounge and up the stairs. Above the decks pulsing with tension. Iza and Donysk run back and forth clipping on a golden treaded net to the ships rear. Ledez stands on platform half way up the front mast, a large gilded gun in his hands like a snipers rifle. His postures tense, muscles cord in his arms as he holds the heavy weapon and sights down the barrel.
The temperature drops once more and the pulsing violet veins within the sea start to thrum with increasing power. The airs saturated with aggressive tension and changing energy.
"What's happening!?" Trent bellows.
Just then an ear piercing screech rents the air blocking out all other noise. Whirling in its direction my blood freezes upon seeing what can only be describes as black smoke heads our way. Two streams of it to be exact. And the most horrifying thing of all is as they get closer so do their features.
Faces. Horrific gaping faces of the dead. Eyes black sockets within pale translucent skin. Or what was once skin. Gaining impossible speed the souls come closer, their tattered remains visible. The mouth of one stretches impossibly long, a black cavern, and releases that ear shattering cry once more.
Scrambling backwards I glance at Trent in pure fear. "They're fucking happening!"