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Author's Note: Yes yes I know I'm an evil person but the chapter is finally out and that's all that matters right? I will update as soon as I can.

The Bump

Chapter Four

"Kel, what does she mean? What is 'it'?" Joren questioned Kel, she didn't answer.

Her head was bowed; her bangs stopped him seeing her eyes and framed her remaining features in shadow. Kel's hand started to clench and unclench; her breathing started to become erratic, when breathing, harsh gasps were issued forth. Her hand relaxed and she slowly brought a hand to her forehead, lifting her hair away from her eyes she raised her head. Her eyes were tightly closed. Her teeth bared in a sharp grin. She snapped open her eyes.

Joren's face was shocked beyond belief, it was only a fraction of what he felt inside.

Her eyes.

They had changed colours and were continuing to do so.

White. Yellow. Pink. Green. Red. Blue. Gold. Purple. Gray. Silver. Black.

Slowing growing darker in colour, ever expanding from the iris, overcoming the pupil. The colours took over her eyes, making them their own.

"Kel? What's happening to you?" Joren managed to say, his voice temporally taken away in shock of the transformation of her eyes.

Kel stood there for a moment gently swaying, before her coloured eyes rolled back into her head and she collapsed on to the cold floor. Her dress array, hair messy she lay there. Breathing in shallowly and so slowing she seemed to stop.

Kel's mother stood still for a moment, lips tightly compressed she suddenly let out the air she had been holding and took a large breath. "Quickly, pick her up and come with me, we may just have enough time, if not. . . that will not happen! Come," she ordered Joren her emotions breaking from her mask for a brief moment.

People were beginning to notice the slumped girl on the floor and they were getting some strange stares from the courtiers around them. A circle formed around them slowly, the people whispering softly to each, their eyes accusing, resting on him from time to time.

Rushing through the blockade of people, Neal pushed and shoved his way to Kel's side. Kneeling beside her he grasped one of her hand in his own and tenderly brushed aside her hair from her face.

"What did you do to her, you bastard!" Neal yelled him, eyes flashing in anger.

"I? I did nothing. She just. . . fainted," Joren sneered slightly as he said this trying to recover from the shock he was experiencing.

"I don't believe you! Tell me what you did to her. Or I will-

"Stop this both of you! You, your name is Nealan is it not? Help that young man over there carry Keladry. I have a job for you," she paused for a second at their face mouths open in bewilderment, "Stop gaping and come with me!"

Neal hastened to pick Kel up gesturing at Joren to come and help. "I cannot carry by myself," Neal explained through he felt no reason to do so.

"Aren't strong enough are you? Or is she too heavy?" Joren snidely said.

"No. But it would best if you helped support her. Kel would benefit from two people carrying her than one," Neal calmly clarified.

"Why should I care if it is in Kel's best interest?"

"Because it will be in you best interest," Neal answered in a menacing tone, his eyes narrowing at his insolence.

Joren succumbed. He had just been holding out but in the end the story behind Kel's eyes and her recent behavior had been too tempting.

He went over to help Neal carry Kel. He and Neal picked her up. He was at once aware of a. . . presence. It was over powering his senses. His sight focused in on one thing, Kel. This was his task.

************

"So, m'lady what's the story behind Kel's eyes?" Joren had just asked this as soon as they had lain Kel on what he assumed was Kel's mother's bed. The walk to the room had uneventful but Joren had sensed something nowhere but all around them. It had not been pleasant.

"My name is Ilane, please call me that. And Kel's eyes? Well that's going to take a while so why don't you pull up a seat, yes?" Ilane as he now knew sighed softly and sat next to Kel, looking at her daughter, a sad expression on her face.

Both Joren and Neal got a chair, picking them up and resting them beside the bed near Ilane.

"When we were living in the Yamini Islands, my husband had a ambassador post there, pirates attacked where we were at residence. They killed so many people. Knowing that some very important artifacts were located there I headed to the inner sanction, I hoped it would be safer and that Kel who was with me at the time and I would be protected."

"Little did I know that was the focus of the attack, Kel and I were targeted as we were the only living people there, the rest had been killed. The pirates wanted the artifacts as they housed a greater demon and if let loose the prophecies said that the demon would ravish the island until there was not a living soul. This of course upset the people so a strong guard surrounded the complex. It was amazing that the pirates had even reached the island as boats patrolled the waters. The boats had failed us that day. . ."

"The pirates attacked us most ferociously, I was scared for my own life and Kel's. So we ran, the pirates followed. The stone walls seemed to be running red. The demon was growing stronger with the people dying their blood staining these once holy grounds. Kel and I ran quickly until we reached a small door, I didn't hesitate in opening it. I locked it behind us. And there it was it all it's evil glory. The darkness blinded me and I cowered at the sight of it, falling to the floor. I knew know more."

"When I awoke, Kel, she was sitting beside me looking at her hand in. . . well, shock. That surprised me, as I could see nothing wrong with her hand. She looked at me and smiled. But I barely noticed it. Her eyes had changed to that that pure black that pure darkness that you saw Joren? Did you not?"

He nodded quickly.

"Well imagining that in your own child. It was awful. The monster that now inhabited Kel's body went on a carnage that to this day I don't like to tell. I killed many pirates that day, as they tried to kill Kel. She was too absorbed in killing to protect herself. I suppose she wasn't really killing but it seemed that way. Kel didn't kill me, maybe she still remembered me or the monster was grateful and didn't kill me, I don't know. I don't want to find out."

"The Yamini had been warned and quickly came in full force to try and defeat this monster. It surprised me how quickly they came and how quickly they defeated the monster, after the pirates came and so easily. They some how succeeded in locking the creature away again and Kel was back to normal. Almost. She sometimes was angry, too angry for a child. But with training she suppressed the emotions until she seems emotionless. But she shows them in smaller ways."

"We had all thought it gone but it seemed to have come back. . ."

"Will Kel be all right?" Neal asked his question hung poignant in the air.

"To tell you the truth I really don't know," she smiled slightly, "But I will be getting help, I have asked some mages to banish the demon away tomorrow," she said like it was a normal thing, "I want you two to come."

"Why?" they both asked, before stopping and glaring at each other.

"Because I fell you will be needed. Goodnight," she turned slightly away from them stroking Kel's forehead with a smile on her face, humming a gentle tune.

The dismissal was unmistakable.

Joren and Neal stood up leaving the room with more questions then ever.

************

End Chapter Four

Well, the true meaning comes to play. Rather different from what you expected? Well, I hope you like it! Please R/R!