Author's Notes: I'm glad I could get this out before Thursday. I'm getting my wisdom teeth out then.
Drifting Destiny: Chapter 8
I've been completely immersed in water. I'm not swimming, only letting the waves swing me to and fro as I float near the surface. My head is telling me to fight the current, but my heart doesn't wish to do anything any longer. My muscles have completely relaxed, and I find no reason to go against this. Maybe I will begin to sink soon, or maybe I shall run out of oxygen. Does it matter anymore?
It is then I realize I have become one with Van. This is his body I am floating in, and I am controlling his mind. His heart belongs to me, but I do not restrain it. I can feel my ghostly hands inside of him, and I attempt to bring him to the surface. His body is heavy around me, and my mind screams at the unfairness of it all. We break for the surface, and I find it surprising his body doesn't gasp for air.
Each movement forces me to reassess the situation. Van isn't fighting me, but he isn't exactly helping either. If I left his body, it would fall back into the black expanse of the ocean beneath us. I don't think I could bear leaving him in these waters. The currents are trying to pull us down, and my spirit pulls him against the tide. I don't see the shore in my range of view, but it doesn't stop me from moving forward.
At some point, the black waters vanish into white sands. I collapse into them as my spirit floats above Van's body. I know those hands, those eyes haunting my dreams. His body is empty, and I must reclaim his soul. He cannot be left here abandoned, but there is nothing I can further do for it. Instead, I examine the area to make sure he isn't going to be in any immediate danger.
I never knew what it felt like to protect Van before now. He had always been the one to protect me. Maybe it wasn't such a bad thing. It almost made the two of us equal in our relationship. No more of the whole fighting for dominance thing we had going in the beginning. I think this is definitely something I could get used to. I take off towards the skies as I once more feel the wind rip through me.
As I hover above the world below me, I can see the stairs that once led me to Van. I smile to myself as I soar toward them, and land on the almost-translucent staircase. Wind swirls around me before leaving me in peace at the footsteps to the building. I never noticed this building the last time I was here. Maybe it was because I was anxious to get to Van I didn't see it. Although, I don't really know how I could've missed it.
Looking up at this monster of a structure, I suddenly feel very small. It was as if the world stood before me, and all I had to do was to walk into the front gates. I push the door aside, and I step into the ghostly room. I now know exactly where my figure came from. I never saw the mental projection of myself quite like this. Frames line the hallway before me, and ghosts seem to be the inhabitants of the place.
Samurai, courtesans, emperors, and townspeople float above me. I never thought I would see an emperor talking to a rice farmer before, and it is indeed a strange sight. They also seem to be talking about the birds and the bees. I hurry quickly away from the two as their light conversation does scare me a little. The courtesans aren't much better as they laugh behind silk fans.
As I walked into the next room, a single lone ghost followed me. I ignored for the moment as I became enraptured with seeing my breath before my eyes. I don't now how I could feel it in this state, but the room was freezing. Ice crystals covered the walls, and the floor resembled a giant ice rink. A child skated across the ice in a surprising modern fashion. I knew I was gaping as the child did a triple sow cow.
"Who are you looking for, Hitomi?" The child asked me as she cocked her head to the side. Her beautiful chestnut locks were swept behind her ears in one of the later fashions. Her eyes told of lost innocence, but the child itself looked like a perfect replica of a doll. I wanted to hold her against all the evils of the world, to shield her from it all. I don't know where these feelings are coming from.
"How do you know I'm looking for someone? I could be looking for something instead," I murmur as I step toward the child. My silent companion follows me, and I have the strangest urge to try and get her off my back. I never was a violent person, and she wasn't doing anything to harm anyone. Could it be this placer was affecting my thoughts and actions? Was it leading me somewhere?
"No one comes to the Palace of Lost Souls looking for objects, Silly," the child addressed me. "Only those who need to be found come here. Maybe I can help you!" she declared as she giggled. I started to feel sick as I was beginning to be reminded of Claudia from Interview with a Vampire. Mother had always forbidden those kinds of books in the house, and I could now see why. I think I'm paranoid.
"Palace of Lost Souls?" I turn to my follower her, but she promptly ignores me as she glides about the room. I hold the urge to roll my eyes. "Is that what this place is called?" I watch a few icicles drip to the floor out of the corner of my eye. I hope this place isn't falling apart on me. It would be difficult to get out of here without going past the other ghosts again. I don't want to hear another chat about certain things.
"Yes, this is palace is filled with the people who haven't moved on to the next life yet. Most of them are either waiting for someone, or they have feel in love with the people here and refuse to leave. You just went through one of the past parts of this building," the child said as she removed her skates. I want to shudder as the girl's toenails remind me of perfect glass on the beach.
"Oh. Then, who are you? You must be of the present in some form or another?" I asked as I removed onto the ice. The ice melted under my feet slowly. I flinched at the feeling of the ice scalding my unprotected feet like new fire. There was nothing I could no about it now, and I didn't want to move away from the child. She was beautiful and terrible at the same time. I don't know if I can pull myself away from her.
"My name is not important to you. All you need to is I'm the gatekeeper of this time period. If you wish to leave the Palace, you must leave through me. I don't know if I'm inclined to let you go just yet. You do not belong here, and yet you are willing to fetch the one you love. Van, is it?" My mouth goes dry at her sudden interrogation. If she were to change into someone else entirely, I could not be surprised.
Author's Notes: I'm sorry that this chapter is going to be cut short for the moment. I'll go back and add the rest of it after my surgery. Consider this a teaser.
