*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I searched the mist, turning left and right, seething. There was someone
else here! I heard them! "Who is it?!" I yelled again.
"No one but I, my lady."
That voice! Growing angrier, I scanned the nothingness frantically. It had to be her! That heartless, evil...
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a shadow emerging from my left side. I turned and saw her; the Nixus!
Her form became clearer, clearer as she came closer, until I could see the whole of her. I found myself backing away, glowering. This beast had taken my life away! And now she dared to walk up so calmly and coolly to me like this, pretending nothing had happened? Why, she looked so calm!
"Hello, my lady."
The fires sparked and rose up, blazing within me. "Bloody Hell, you!"
Enraged, I ran at her like a mad creature, hands outstretched, screaming while the tears continued to stream down my face. I wanted to mutilate her! Send her off to Hell!
The split second before I reached her, I saw a bright white flash, blinding me and making me skid for a while. I turned my head away and lost my footing. Next thing I knew, I stumbled and fell palms-first onto the ground... onto the spot where she should have been!
Letting out a pained groan, I picked myself up and looked around for her. That creature is going to die! Suffer! Like she did to me! I thought fiercely.
"Your frustration and anger is unnecessary, my lady."
What?
I looked around, then looked up. My murderer was flying about ten feet above my head! My patience had run out and my temper was beginning to take control. I picked myself up, clenched my fists and stamped my foot. "Come down here, you murderer!" I screamed.
She stared at me for a moment, stunned, then sighed, almost regrettably. My blazing eyes turned blood-red, unblinking, as I watched her fly slowly down, landing in front of me. She seemed sad, somehow. It showed in her eyes. Gazing at me, she started to speak, with a tone of one filled with sympathy. "My lady," she sighed, "Why do traces of tears stain your young face?"
I could not believe she was actually asking me this! Sizzling, I screamed, "Because you freakin' killed me, you heartless murderer!" My chest and throat heaved and hurt from screaming so much, but I had to let her have it.
The Nixus stared, unblinking, at me for a moment... then laughed. My mouth dropped open. She... she was laughing?! She was... amused that I was... was dead?! I couldn't say anything; I just stood there feeling my blood boil.
Calming down, she shook her head. "Oh, my lady," she smiled, "what ever has occurred to make you think such an absurd thing?"
My eyes turned a deeper, fiery red; I was so angry! "You," I hissed, "pricked me with your... your... " I took a deep breath. "... fatal, murdering horn!" I finished, teeth gritted and cheeks hot.
All at once, her face turned serious. Her eyes held mine with pity as she remained silent for a while, as if drinking the truth in. "Rest assured, my lady," she said, her mane and tail slightly billowing from the wind that surrounded the place, "You need not be so scared or angry... for let me tell you now that you are not dead."
"Huh?!" My mouth dropped open again. It couldn't be! "What... what are you saying?" I stammered. I dimly realised that my forehead was growing more painful.
The Nixus neighed softly. "My words bring the meaning that death is not what has brought you to this mortally-unknown realm, my lady," she said. "You are merely... in a dream. Your mind is here while your body remains in a state of none-consciousness."
I looked around, confused." A... a dream?" I stammered, "But I... I... "
"Unconscious, my lady. Death," she began, "has not touched you in any way. When you wake, my daughter and I shall have left you already. That is why you are here... for me to tell you what you have the right to know."
"Darn right you will," I muttered. Behind my hostility, I couldn't help feeling relieved and thankful to God for giving me 'a second chance'. And now I waited for her explanation.
"I touched your forehead with my horn, true," she said, fanning her wings slightly, "But not to kill you, my lady. To harm you in unthinkable to me."
The pain in my forehead was still growing. I could tell that it was bleeding a bit more. Wincing, I put my hand to my head to try and stop the pain, feeling the warm, wet blood. Ugh! But wait... what did she say?
"I thought that the horn of a Nixus kills instantly," I whispered, surprised now at how tired I suddenly sounded. She shook her head. "Only with intent, my lady. In other words, only when we want it to," she finished. "You shall wake soon, so I must tell you quickly."
My eyes turned back to their own clear turquoise, meaning that I had managed to calm down inside. "Tell me what?" I said blankly.
"I left a mark on your forehead, my lady."
"What?" I squeezed my eyes shut and groaned. "Don't tell me that I am going to grow a horn... !" I said, not believing what I was hearing. Hornhead! Ugh!
The Nixus laughed. "No, no, my lady, I have not disfigured you in any way," she assured me, "In fact, I am quite certain that some of your friends would label my little 'gift' rather... 'cool'," she smiled.
I didn't laugh, although I wanted to. It had suddenly got very difficult and painful to breathe now, and my forehead felt like it was being burnt! I started coughing and trembling, wondering what on earth was going on now. My head drooped wearily. The Nixus, though, didn't seem to notice anything wrong. She just continued speaking.
"What you feel now is the growth of the mark you will bear on your forehead, my lady. It will grant you a great power that allows you to summon any one of us from my herd in times of need. You need only to touch the mark and pray. Know now, my lady, that Nixai everywhere recognise it as the Symbol of Trust. I have looked into the passages of your heart and have unsurprisingly found you much worthy of it. You are much known, honoured and respected, my lady, and now you shall be much obeyed."
All this I heard through a blur. I had dropped to my knees from the pain that was slowly blocking out all other feelings or emotions. My eyes were squeezed shut, my head was bowed and my hand was at my forehead, soaked with perspiration. My forehead... it had started overflowing with blood, and the blood had streamed down my face, getting into my eyes, streaming down my arm, flowing into my mouth (yuk!) and dripping onto my pyjamas, staining the front part red all over. I breathed heavily and painfully as the disgusting blood dripped eerily onto the swirling misty ground in huge drops. What is happening to me? I thought tiredly. And then I collapsed.
Just before my eyes closed, I heard the Nixus's whispered words in my ear; "And the Sphere... it is now yours, my lady."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* I winced and squeezed my eyes shut, turning my head away. "Oh God... close that curtain!" I cried. Fifteen-year-old Zoe Geller jumped up immediately, closed the windows and pulled the curtains shut, then dropped down on her knees beside me on the floor again. "Mel... " she panted, "S-speak to me... are you... alright?" she gasped.
Now that the moonlight wasn't glaring directly in my eyes, I could look around clearly, but in a daze. I was lying on my back, my feet facing the window, and a crowd of the Gryffindor girls were huddled all around me, pale and scared. They were still in their nighties and were staring at me silently, obviously very worried.
"Mel!" Zoe spoke again, her brown eyes frantic, "Say something! Are you... "
"Oh my God, she's dead!" Hysterical Cynthia Mould grabbed me by the shoulders and started shaking me violently, making my brain rattle and my teeth chatter. "Mel!" she sobbed hysterically, making the other girls jump back, "are you dead? Oh, please don't tell me you're dead!"
Horrified, I raised my arms and tried to defend myself. "Get off me or I will be!" I screamed. 'Again'! I added silently. She dropped me a like a red-hot coal and gulped. "Oh Mel," she sobbed, "I'm so sorry! I was just so worried!" she moaned. I ignored her and sat up, groaning. The clever ass had managed to drop me on my head, making me dizzier.
Zoe waved her hand in front of me, making me snap out of my daze. "Mel, what happened?" she asked. "We heard you scream, and saw you pass out... and... and we saw that small Nixus flying away with a bigger one! What is going on?" she demanded, worried, but puzzled.
Her words made me stare. "I... I don't know!" I whispered, putting my hand to my head, trying to remember. Something major had happened... something that would give me a certain power... something...
I drew my hand away from my head. That's it!
The girls stared and gasped, not at me... but at my forehead. Yes, that was it! "The Symbol!" I cried. I jumped up and ran for the nearest mirror. Although it was slightly dark, I could still see.
There my reflection was... everything was normal, except for that design on my forehead. There was no sign of a prick mark anywhere! No pain, no blood... even my pyjamas were spotless! Only the Symbol remained... as smooth as if it were part of my own skin.
The mirror showed the other girls running up and huddling all around me, staring at my reflection in amazement. Several different whispers arose:
"What is that thing?"
"Oh, it's so awesome! When did you get it done?"
"Who did this to you? That... that creature? What is it?!"
"But Mel, tattoos aren't allowed in school! Especially on your head!"
I simply ignored their never-ending chatter. I was almost breathless myself. "Its... the Symbol of Trust," I whispered. "The what?" they cried simultaneously. I didn't answer; I was staring at it, touching it lightly, feeling it over. There were no bumps; it was, like I said earlier, like a part of my own skin. It had a simple design; two golden 'wings' side by side, sharp-pointed yet elegant, with a shining quality to the gold. In between the 'wings' was a circle... a misty blue one, with a sparkling silver star in the middle. The wings seemed to be guarding... or rather, embracing the blue circle in the middle.
I grinned. Some of my friends really would label this rather cool, I thought to myself. Staring at the blue circle in the middle, something else occurred to me...
I turned to the girls. They backed away, staring goggle-eyed at the Symbol, as if it were some sort of alien sign. Well, maybe it was, for them. Silence. Then, one of them spoke up. "So what is it?" Nods of agreement from the others. "What is it?"
"It's the Symbol of Trust," I repeated, my voice a half-whisper, "Kientra's mother gave it to me... along with... "
I looked down at my right hand. I was still holding it; the first 'gift'. When I opened my hand, they all got another surprise.
"The Sphere of Paradisal Bliss!"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"No one but I, my lady."
That voice! Growing angrier, I scanned the nothingness frantically. It had to be her! That heartless, evil...
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a shadow emerging from my left side. I turned and saw her; the Nixus!
Her form became clearer, clearer as she came closer, until I could see the whole of her. I found myself backing away, glowering. This beast had taken my life away! And now she dared to walk up so calmly and coolly to me like this, pretending nothing had happened? Why, she looked so calm!
"Hello, my lady."
The fires sparked and rose up, blazing within me. "Bloody Hell, you!"
Enraged, I ran at her like a mad creature, hands outstretched, screaming while the tears continued to stream down my face. I wanted to mutilate her! Send her off to Hell!
The split second before I reached her, I saw a bright white flash, blinding me and making me skid for a while. I turned my head away and lost my footing. Next thing I knew, I stumbled and fell palms-first onto the ground... onto the spot where she should have been!
Letting out a pained groan, I picked myself up and looked around for her. That creature is going to die! Suffer! Like she did to me! I thought fiercely.
"Your frustration and anger is unnecessary, my lady."
What?
I looked around, then looked up. My murderer was flying about ten feet above my head! My patience had run out and my temper was beginning to take control. I picked myself up, clenched my fists and stamped my foot. "Come down here, you murderer!" I screamed.
She stared at me for a moment, stunned, then sighed, almost regrettably. My blazing eyes turned blood-red, unblinking, as I watched her fly slowly down, landing in front of me. She seemed sad, somehow. It showed in her eyes. Gazing at me, she started to speak, with a tone of one filled with sympathy. "My lady," she sighed, "Why do traces of tears stain your young face?"
I could not believe she was actually asking me this! Sizzling, I screamed, "Because you freakin' killed me, you heartless murderer!" My chest and throat heaved and hurt from screaming so much, but I had to let her have it.
The Nixus stared, unblinking, at me for a moment... then laughed. My mouth dropped open. She... she was laughing?! She was... amused that I was... was dead?! I couldn't say anything; I just stood there feeling my blood boil.
Calming down, she shook her head. "Oh, my lady," she smiled, "what ever has occurred to make you think such an absurd thing?"
My eyes turned a deeper, fiery red; I was so angry! "You," I hissed, "pricked me with your... your... " I took a deep breath. "... fatal, murdering horn!" I finished, teeth gritted and cheeks hot.
All at once, her face turned serious. Her eyes held mine with pity as she remained silent for a while, as if drinking the truth in. "Rest assured, my lady," she said, her mane and tail slightly billowing from the wind that surrounded the place, "You need not be so scared or angry... for let me tell you now that you are not dead."
"Huh?!" My mouth dropped open again. It couldn't be! "What... what are you saying?" I stammered. I dimly realised that my forehead was growing more painful.
The Nixus neighed softly. "My words bring the meaning that death is not what has brought you to this mortally-unknown realm, my lady," she said. "You are merely... in a dream. Your mind is here while your body remains in a state of none-consciousness."
I looked around, confused." A... a dream?" I stammered, "But I... I... "
"Unconscious, my lady. Death," she began, "has not touched you in any way. When you wake, my daughter and I shall have left you already. That is why you are here... for me to tell you what you have the right to know."
"Darn right you will," I muttered. Behind my hostility, I couldn't help feeling relieved and thankful to God for giving me 'a second chance'. And now I waited for her explanation.
"I touched your forehead with my horn, true," she said, fanning her wings slightly, "But not to kill you, my lady. To harm you in unthinkable to me."
The pain in my forehead was still growing. I could tell that it was bleeding a bit more. Wincing, I put my hand to my head to try and stop the pain, feeling the warm, wet blood. Ugh! But wait... what did she say?
"I thought that the horn of a Nixus kills instantly," I whispered, surprised now at how tired I suddenly sounded. She shook her head. "Only with intent, my lady. In other words, only when we want it to," she finished. "You shall wake soon, so I must tell you quickly."
My eyes turned back to their own clear turquoise, meaning that I had managed to calm down inside. "Tell me what?" I said blankly.
"I left a mark on your forehead, my lady."
"What?" I squeezed my eyes shut and groaned. "Don't tell me that I am going to grow a horn... !" I said, not believing what I was hearing. Hornhead! Ugh!
The Nixus laughed. "No, no, my lady, I have not disfigured you in any way," she assured me, "In fact, I am quite certain that some of your friends would label my little 'gift' rather... 'cool'," she smiled.
I didn't laugh, although I wanted to. It had suddenly got very difficult and painful to breathe now, and my forehead felt like it was being burnt! I started coughing and trembling, wondering what on earth was going on now. My head drooped wearily. The Nixus, though, didn't seem to notice anything wrong. She just continued speaking.
"What you feel now is the growth of the mark you will bear on your forehead, my lady. It will grant you a great power that allows you to summon any one of us from my herd in times of need. You need only to touch the mark and pray. Know now, my lady, that Nixai everywhere recognise it as the Symbol of Trust. I have looked into the passages of your heart and have unsurprisingly found you much worthy of it. You are much known, honoured and respected, my lady, and now you shall be much obeyed."
All this I heard through a blur. I had dropped to my knees from the pain that was slowly blocking out all other feelings or emotions. My eyes were squeezed shut, my head was bowed and my hand was at my forehead, soaked with perspiration. My forehead... it had started overflowing with blood, and the blood had streamed down my face, getting into my eyes, streaming down my arm, flowing into my mouth (yuk!) and dripping onto my pyjamas, staining the front part red all over. I breathed heavily and painfully as the disgusting blood dripped eerily onto the swirling misty ground in huge drops. What is happening to me? I thought tiredly. And then I collapsed.
Just before my eyes closed, I heard the Nixus's whispered words in my ear; "And the Sphere... it is now yours, my lady."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* I winced and squeezed my eyes shut, turning my head away. "Oh God... close that curtain!" I cried. Fifteen-year-old Zoe Geller jumped up immediately, closed the windows and pulled the curtains shut, then dropped down on her knees beside me on the floor again. "Mel... " she panted, "S-speak to me... are you... alright?" she gasped.
Now that the moonlight wasn't glaring directly in my eyes, I could look around clearly, but in a daze. I was lying on my back, my feet facing the window, and a crowd of the Gryffindor girls were huddled all around me, pale and scared. They were still in their nighties and were staring at me silently, obviously very worried.
"Mel!" Zoe spoke again, her brown eyes frantic, "Say something! Are you... "
"Oh my God, she's dead!" Hysterical Cynthia Mould grabbed me by the shoulders and started shaking me violently, making my brain rattle and my teeth chatter. "Mel!" she sobbed hysterically, making the other girls jump back, "are you dead? Oh, please don't tell me you're dead!"
Horrified, I raised my arms and tried to defend myself. "Get off me or I will be!" I screamed. 'Again'! I added silently. She dropped me a like a red-hot coal and gulped. "Oh Mel," she sobbed, "I'm so sorry! I was just so worried!" she moaned. I ignored her and sat up, groaning. The clever ass had managed to drop me on my head, making me dizzier.
Zoe waved her hand in front of me, making me snap out of my daze. "Mel, what happened?" she asked. "We heard you scream, and saw you pass out... and... and we saw that small Nixus flying away with a bigger one! What is going on?" she demanded, worried, but puzzled.
Her words made me stare. "I... I don't know!" I whispered, putting my hand to my head, trying to remember. Something major had happened... something that would give me a certain power... something...
I drew my hand away from my head. That's it!
The girls stared and gasped, not at me... but at my forehead. Yes, that was it! "The Symbol!" I cried. I jumped up and ran for the nearest mirror. Although it was slightly dark, I could still see.
There my reflection was... everything was normal, except for that design on my forehead. There was no sign of a prick mark anywhere! No pain, no blood... even my pyjamas were spotless! Only the Symbol remained... as smooth as if it were part of my own skin.
The mirror showed the other girls running up and huddling all around me, staring at my reflection in amazement. Several different whispers arose:
"What is that thing?"
"Oh, it's so awesome! When did you get it done?"
"Who did this to you? That... that creature? What is it?!"
"But Mel, tattoos aren't allowed in school! Especially on your head!"
I simply ignored their never-ending chatter. I was almost breathless myself. "Its... the Symbol of Trust," I whispered. "The what?" they cried simultaneously. I didn't answer; I was staring at it, touching it lightly, feeling it over. There were no bumps; it was, like I said earlier, like a part of my own skin. It had a simple design; two golden 'wings' side by side, sharp-pointed yet elegant, with a shining quality to the gold. In between the 'wings' was a circle... a misty blue one, with a sparkling silver star in the middle. The wings seemed to be guarding... or rather, embracing the blue circle in the middle.
I grinned. Some of my friends really would label this rather cool, I thought to myself. Staring at the blue circle in the middle, something else occurred to me...
I turned to the girls. They backed away, staring goggle-eyed at the Symbol, as if it were some sort of alien sign. Well, maybe it was, for them. Silence. Then, one of them spoke up. "So what is it?" Nods of agreement from the others. "What is it?"
"It's the Symbol of Trust," I repeated, my voice a half-whisper, "Kientra's mother gave it to me... along with... "
I looked down at my right hand. I was still holding it; the first 'gift'. When I opened my hand, they all got another surprise.
"The Sphere of Paradisal Bliss!"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
