The Travelers:
Enchantress' Flame --
Part Four
by supergirl309

Light Within

Tila screamed and groped wildly, gripping someone's (Herrin's, she thought) furry arm. She shivered as she saw Laslæa's reflection glimmer off another puddle and move closer.

The silver Lupess whispered something beneath her breath, and a dim light appeared above her paws. Tila saw that the arm she clutched was indeed Herrin's, and she didn't loosen her grip, to scared to be embarassed.

Laslæa's eyes flickered with light and she reached out to touch Dane's shoulder with her empty paw. Dane drew back instantly, and whacked Laslæa's paw away.

I don't know what you're talking about! Dane spat, the anger in her voice mixed with fear. ...She didn't have a sister, was the Lupess insane?

Laslæa let out a sigh that sounded more like a hiss. You should, she said softly, my twin...

Dane's eyes grew as large a dinner plates. What do you mean!?! I don't have a sister, much less a twin!!! I don't even have parents!!!

Tila's face fell as she saw the vengeful expression on Dane's face. ...She had been abandoned as a pup, left on the stoop of an old Kyrii she called her granny.

Laslæa's mouth twisted into a cruel grin. Oh yes, you were the one they left with that old Kyrii... She sniggered. You were the lucky one... they deposited me beside a creek down in those very woods. I was found by an old Blumeroo by the name of Illuno. He raised me, until I discovered these powers. She stared at her paw and the light grew brighter. Then, he became more of a servant than a gaurdian.

Dane cut in, face alight with heated rage. Why are you telling me all this? I don't care, and I know you're lying!

Laslæa's smile grew even colder. You'll want to know this... I can explain everything about your past that you never knew... everything you hungered for since you were small... Now, her voice grew stern and demanding, As if pushed down by an invisible hand, Dane, Lao, Tila, Ryill, and Herrin came down instantly to the ground. That's better, Laslæa said with a cool smile. The whole time Dane was glaring daggers at the silver Lupe, trying to open her mouth to speak, and enduring further frustration as no sound came out.

Laslæa began, starting to pace before them in the rain that still fell heavily, let's start at the beggining...

* * *

When we were very young, our parents made a discovery that shocked them horribly. They became aware that there was something special about the two of us - beyond our odd flame colorings. They became aware that we could not be together when we were older, under any circumstances. So they decided to seperate us. Dane was the lucky one, as she was left with someone with a nice home in a tiny rural village. But I on the other hand, was not so lucky.

While traveling through these woods heading for a village to deposite me - the very same village young Lao lived in - they were attacked on the road by thieves. While fleeing them, they decided to leave me by the side of a creek, rather than risk me being slaughtered. I don't know if they survived the attack, but there's no chance they're alive now. ...Other things would have gotten them.

Well, it was not long before Illuno found me and took me in. He was like a father-figure to me. But as I grew older, he became much less so. When I discovered one day that I could arrange the threads and currents of magic to cast spells and use magic... well, I realized I had more power over him then, and turned him into a servant.

But you've heard all that already. What I really need to tell you is much more important. ...The reason our parents seperated us.

You see, there was a prophecy Illuno found about ten years back in a dried-up creekbed. At first neither of us understood, but as I became more aware of what had happened in my past, I began to realize what it meant. So, when I came upon your Lao in the woods, I could sense something about him, I knew he would bring me closer to the other flame, so I spared his life in hopes that he'd lead me to Dane. For the prophecy told of what would happen if we were together. ...We can bring to this world of Neopia, great despair, or great light. Our parents feared that we might cause the former, so they seperated us. But they didn't count on me aquiring this power, which was their one fault. And they will regret it to the end of their days - which may come sooner than they think.

* * *

Dane struggled against the magic that held her, eyes alight with burning hatred. It's not true! she spat, hardly noticing that she could speak again. You're lying, I know it!

Laslæa smiled cooly. Oh, but you know I'm not, she whispered. You know it's true - you just think if you deny it, you can escape it. But there's no escape.

Tila tried to reach forward to restrain Dane as she leapt at the silver Lupess, but her paw slipped through her fur. Laslæa stood calmly as Dane flew at her. Just as she was about to hit her head-on, the Lupess held up a paw and Dane was flung back and into one of the boulders at the edge of the ridge.

Dane winced in pain and reached up slowly to touch the trickle of blood flowing from the wound at the back of her head. Lao rushed over, though Tila was too scared to move.

Dane, are you okay? he gasped, his voice filled with urgency. Laslæa was smiling cooly as she stared at them.

Dane nodded as best as she could. Fine... nothing serious. Help me up, I have to get her... her voice was still angry.

As she tried to rise up, Lao put a steadying hand on her shoulder. No, stay down, you'll only get yourself hurt.

Laslæa padded slowly over to Dane, a swagger in her step, her wet fur gleaming. She stopped before her. You are quite bold, maybe a bit too bold. She raised a paw above her head and a pulsing blue orb of light formed around it. She drew it back behind her head, grinning cruelly.

Just then, Tila stepped in front of the Silver Lupess, eyes set alight. You shall not hurt her, she declared boldly.

Laslæa drew back, glaring at the red Wocky. What are you doing, fool!? Move!

Tila stiffened and crossed her arms. You shall not hurt her.

Oh, I'd like to see you stop me, little one, she hissed, then loosed the sphere of blue light at the slight Wocky.

Cold panic suddenly flooded through every fiber of Tila's body. What had she done? Why was she standing there? In the split second before it hit her, Tila raised her hands before her face. ...And it stopped.

Laslæa's eyes went wide, and Dane took a sharp breath. Realizing what she'd just done, Tila took an uneasy step back, eyes not moving from the spot where the orb of light had been.

Laslæa's face suddenly melted into a mask of fury. I didn't know you were a mage! she raged, snapping her teeth menacingly as she spoke.

Neither did I, Tila muttered, suddenly feeling extremely woosy. But it took only seconds for Laslæa to spring back into action, and she had her paws raised again, channeling streams of magic to her clenched fists.

Taste my fury, weakling! she roared, releasing her paws and shooting the white-orb of magic at the small red Wocky.

Quickly, she ducked down and put her hands over her head, feeling a rush of searing heat as the magical attack rushed over her head. She came back up and, not quite knowing what to do, held her right paw in the air and simply felt the magic with her mind, willing it to her.

And it came.

She almost lost her concentration as the currents of magic struck her paw, coursing through her. Though it emenated great heat, Tila's paw felt cool, as if it had been submerged in water. She unclenched her fist, then, and let the magic fly at Laslæa.

Though the blow was not very powerful, nor too well-aimed, Laslæa was too shocked to move even, and it hit her straight-on. Uttering a shrieking howl of pain, she fell back against the rocks. A small trickle of blood was running through the fur just below her ear.

She's down, Tila! Get her, NOW!! Dane yelled.

Concentrating with every fiber of her petite body, Tila raised both paws above her head and felt the threads and currents of magic rushing through the magical fabric of Neopia to center at her raised paws. So great was the power concentrated on her, her whole body was shaking. Trying to hold herself steadily, she faced Laslæa and just before she loosed the power around her, she slammed her paws downward.

As if it had been beaten by a hammer, the bolt of white-blue magic shot at the silvery Lupe and struck her in the chest. Her entire body flashed for a moment with the blue light, then she collapsed, and all six of the pets were lost in the darkness.

to be continued...