"What's in Store"
Chapter Three: The Effect
Continued FlashBack
Sitting up slowly, Delmina braced herself on her elbows, keeping her eyes squeezed shut against the sun's rays that shone red behind her lids as she waited for the pain in her head to subside so she could figure out what on earth was happening. 'Why does my head hurt so much, I don't recall getting drunk yesterday, so why does it feel like I have a hangover?' She thought to herself as her hands clenched on the ground, the familiar feel of soft soil meeting the skin as she did and something else, something sticky and then the memories came flooding back, causing a groan of pain and grief to emit from her throat as she opened her eyes, quickly watering eyes to stare at the carnage around her. Turning her head slowly her eyes fixed to the mangled and blood covered form beside her. "Klee...," She heard herself whisper but her mind did not register who or what it was. It was as if a barrier had fallen around her awareness, a barrier in which she had learned while the sorcerers in her village had taught her to control an inherited power which grew stronger as she herself had grown and this barrier is what kept her from breaking down right there and then as it closed out the chaos that had pranced happily into her life leaving only the emptiness of which she now felt as she stood shakily, her legs threatening to buckle and go limp at any second. Finally, her legs stood firm and she dusted off her blood-caked practice leather, bringing the barriers closer around herself and her eyes became dark and emotionless as she turned in a full circle, surveying the village.
Buildings, which had once been perfect white-washed stone with thatched roofs and houses, much like the same except most had colorful gardens in front, full of life, now stood empty, some splattered with the gore of their keepers and almost all with the windows and doors missing. Shaking her head slowly, her mind still in shock from what had happened around her, a silent tear slipped through the barrier and ran slowly over her cheek as she began running through the red stained dirt roads, calling out to the world around her, wishing for a sign of life, any life, in the never ending sea of death around her.
After a few minutes of running, she turned a corner and heard a meek voice behind answer back to one of her hopeless calls and she skidded to a stop, a lump of relief rising in her throat as she turned and stared at the small figure of a child standing inside the shadows of a slightly crumbling house, its whole outline trembling from the sobs that sounded from the mouth of that form as Delmina raced over to it, pulling the person, who she realized was a small girl, into a tight embrace, her vision blurring as the barrier thinned slightly and sobs threatened to rise from her own throat before her mind cleared, allowing the barrier to reinforce itself before she picked up the girl, cradling her in her arms, and turned, continuing what now seemed a not so hopeless search for survivors.
End FlashBack
Delmina rose her head with a sigh as she finished her story and looked up at Leranna when she heard her gasp and watched as the woman covered her mouth with both hands, tears springing up into her eyes. "Oh, Leranna, I didn't want to make you cry...Please don't cry," She pleaded softly, raising an arm to set her hand lightly on Leranna's shoulder. "It's just so terrible Del, I'm so sorry," The girl answered back, flinging herself from the stool at Delmina to embrace her. Stiffening, she looked down at the weeping form then relaxed some, wrapping her arms around her as well, patting her back to try and give back comfort to her new friend. When Leranna's sobs finally ceased, Delmina watched as she sat up on her knees, a look of embarrassment on her face as she folded her hands in her lap and apologized quietly. Barely containing her laughter, she leaned forward and enveloped the girl in another reassuring hug, her senses feeling Leranna smile and relax before she pulled back a moment later. "I don't know how you got through that Del, I would've died," Leranna said, and then grasping one of Delmina's hands she asked hopefully," Did you find anyone else? And what did you do after that?" Delmina smiled," Well, I did find others, thankfully, and though there were few, there was enough to start a new village. And after that, I left and hunted down the bastards that had caused that mess in the first place. I wasn't as strong as I though and they captured me and brought me here. I wonder why though." Pondering this, she sighed, shaking her head. "Oh well, so Leranna, it's your turn, how on earth did someone like you end up in here?"
Blinking in surprise, Delmina watched as Leranna's thoughtful look turned into rage as she stood," My goddamn father! That's what!" Tilting her head, she gave her a confused look and watched as Leranna sat down again cross-legged in front of her. "My 'father' decided I was too wild to be running around so he put me in here to teach me a 'lesson'." Delmina's face became a look of shock as she stared in wonder at the girl in front of her. "Is your father, does he...?" "What? Own this place? Oh yes, and many others, he's quite power hungry," Leranna answered giggling at the look on Delmina's face before waving a hand at her as if to dismiss the importance of this news. "Not to worry though Del, me and you, we are friends and as soon as my father decides I've learned my 'lesson', I'll ask him to let you out too," She squealed, jumping up excitedly.
At this, a smiled rose to Delmina's lips as she was overjoyed. 'Finally, I will be able to escape this prison.'
Chapter Three: The Effect
Continued FlashBack
Sitting up slowly, Delmina braced herself on her elbows, keeping her eyes squeezed shut against the sun's rays that shone red behind her lids as she waited for the pain in her head to subside so she could figure out what on earth was happening. 'Why does my head hurt so much, I don't recall getting drunk yesterday, so why does it feel like I have a hangover?' She thought to herself as her hands clenched on the ground, the familiar feel of soft soil meeting the skin as she did and something else, something sticky and then the memories came flooding back, causing a groan of pain and grief to emit from her throat as she opened her eyes, quickly watering eyes to stare at the carnage around her. Turning her head slowly her eyes fixed to the mangled and blood covered form beside her. "Klee...," She heard herself whisper but her mind did not register who or what it was. It was as if a barrier had fallen around her awareness, a barrier in which she had learned while the sorcerers in her village had taught her to control an inherited power which grew stronger as she herself had grown and this barrier is what kept her from breaking down right there and then as it closed out the chaos that had pranced happily into her life leaving only the emptiness of which she now felt as she stood shakily, her legs threatening to buckle and go limp at any second. Finally, her legs stood firm and she dusted off her blood-caked practice leather, bringing the barriers closer around herself and her eyes became dark and emotionless as she turned in a full circle, surveying the village.
Buildings, which had once been perfect white-washed stone with thatched roofs and houses, much like the same except most had colorful gardens in front, full of life, now stood empty, some splattered with the gore of their keepers and almost all with the windows and doors missing. Shaking her head slowly, her mind still in shock from what had happened around her, a silent tear slipped through the barrier and ran slowly over her cheek as she began running through the red stained dirt roads, calling out to the world around her, wishing for a sign of life, any life, in the never ending sea of death around her.
After a few minutes of running, she turned a corner and heard a meek voice behind answer back to one of her hopeless calls and she skidded to a stop, a lump of relief rising in her throat as she turned and stared at the small figure of a child standing inside the shadows of a slightly crumbling house, its whole outline trembling from the sobs that sounded from the mouth of that form as Delmina raced over to it, pulling the person, who she realized was a small girl, into a tight embrace, her vision blurring as the barrier thinned slightly and sobs threatened to rise from her own throat before her mind cleared, allowing the barrier to reinforce itself before she picked up the girl, cradling her in her arms, and turned, continuing what now seemed a not so hopeless search for survivors.
End FlashBack
Delmina rose her head with a sigh as she finished her story and looked up at Leranna when she heard her gasp and watched as the woman covered her mouth with both hands, tears springing up into her eyes. "Oh, Leranna, I didn't want to make you cry...Please don't cry," She pleaded softly, raising an arm to set her hand lightly on Leranna's shoulder. "It's just so terrible Del, I'm so sorry," The girl answered back, flinging herself from the stool at Delmina to embrace her. Stiffening, she looked down at the weeping form then relaxed some, wrapping her arms around her as well, patting her back to try and give back comfort to her new friend. When Leranna's sobs finally ceased, Delmina watched as she sat up on her knees, a look of embarrassment on her face as she folded her hands in her lap and apologized quietly. Barely containing her laughter, she leaned forward and enveloped the girl in another reassuring hug, her senses feeling Leranna smile and relax before she pulled back a moment later. "I don't know how you got through that Del, I would've died," Leranna said, and then grasping one of Delmina's hands she asked hopefully," Did you find anyone else? And what did you do after that?" Delmina smiled," Well, I did find others, thankfully, and though there were few, there was enough to start a new village. And after that, I left and hunted down the bastards that had caused that mess in the first place. I wasn't as strong as I though and they captured me and brought me here. I wonder why though." Pondering this, she sighed, shaking her head. "Oh well, so Leranna, it's your turn, how on earth did someone like you end up in here?"
Blinking in surprise, Delmina watched as Leranna's thoughtful look turned into rage as she stood," My goddamn father! That's what!" Tilting her head, she gave her a confused look and watched as Leranna sat down again cross-legged in front of her. "My 'father' decided I was too wild to be running around so he put me in here to teach me a 'lesson'." Delmina's face became a look of shock as she stared in wonder at the girl in front of her. "Is your father, does he...?" "What? Own this place? Oh yes, and many others, he's quite power hungry," Leranna answered giggling at the look on Delmina's face before waving a hand at her as if to dismiss the importance of this news. "Not to worry though Del, me and you, we are friends and as soon as my father decides I've learned my 'lesson', I'll ask him to let you out too," She squealed, jumping up excitedly.
At this, a smiled rose to Delmina's lips as she was overjoyed. 'Finally, I will be able to escape this prison.'