Lord of Darkness
Chapter Fifteen
A Startling discovery, Part 2
Wow, I'm so happy to receive so many
reviews. Thank you all, I wouldn't
be able to continue writing without
all your support and encouragement.
author bows
This is the second part of 'a startling
discovery', meaning the main focus will
be on Rei, but the rest of the inners will
be playing a major role. Major thanks to
Triad Card 844 A, who graciously agreed
to type this up for me, as my access to
a computer is seriously limited.
I hope you like this. Enjoy.
Lord of Darkness
Chapter Fifteen
A Startling discovery, Part 2
Jadeite had barely pulled the covers over Rei's
cold form as Kunzite and Makoto appeared, each bearing
a tray of food. Minako raised her head, inquiring
"Endymion informed you of Lady Rei's condition,
I believe?"
Makoto nodded lightly, her ponytail bouncing,
as she handed a bowl of soup to Minako. The princess
drank swiftly, some color coming back into her cheeks
before setting it down for later as she rose.
"Jadeite, fire."
The general followed her command without questions,
and a lively flame sparked to life in her fire place.
Minako sat back down, a hand pressing to Rei's forehead to
stop her trashing. Rei quieted down, a slight moan to pain
escaping her parted lips as Minako's body convulsed. She held her
head, biting her lip hard enough to draw blood before she
collapsed onto the ground, her face pale.
"Minako, are you alright?"
Enddymion's voice caused her to look up from the
floor.
"I just allowed her to release some of her pain into
me, through our link, through the bloodline of our ancestors."
And quickly added seeing everyone else's concerned
looks
"It's okay, I just got as much as I could handle. I'm
fine."
She turned to face the healer.
"Ami, freeze the bed, ONLY the bed."
The blue-haired healer intended to protest, but
seemed to think better of it as she nodded gently.
"As well as the covers?"
Minako pursed her lips for a second in thought,
before giving a quick nod. Ami took a step back, Ice flowing
like water from her palms, encasing the bed. Rei, still
unconscious, shivered. Nephrite raised an eyebrow.
"Minako, was that really necessary? After all,
doesn't the fire and the ice cancel each other out?"
The princess shook her head.
"No. The Ice keeps Rei-chan's body from bursting into
flames due to the heat raging inside her, but the fire at the
same ensures that she won't freeze to death, not to mention it's an
essential part for the ritual."
Makoto's head snapped up.
"The ritual? What ritual?"
"The ritual for accepting the High Priestess Rank of
the Battle God Ares. This is the last stage. Rei-chan has
already survived two; this is the third one, as well the most
dangerous and important one. There will be more power and
risks invovled. Complete concentration and completeness is
essential. So I need everyone out expect Ami, Makoto,
and Kunzite."
Jadeite opened his mouth to protest, but Minako
interrupted him before he managed to speak.
"No, Jadeite. I need everyone else out, NOW! There is
nothing you can do to help; you'll only get in the way and
mess up everything."
"And the others won't?"
He demanded, outraged. Minako shook her head with a
completely expressionless look.
"Precisely. I'm glad you finally managed to see
that."
Color rose in Jadeite's cheeks, but Endymion spoke
before the General could.
"We'll leave, but please call us with the mental link
if you need anything."
The blonde princess smiled.
"Thank you, Endymion. You've been so good to us."
She opened the dooor, and bowed everyone out,
ignoring Jadeite's death glare that clearly told her
'Cure Rei-chan or else.'
Minako returned the favor by rudely shoving him out
of the door before sending him face first down a flight of
stairs. She returned to her room, locking
the door behind her, and sat down with a sigh.
"That felt good."
She turned to the tall auburn-haired girl.
"Makoto, did you bring everything?"
Makoto gave a slight nod, indicating the ingredients
she had asked for, neatly spread out on the table. Minako took a deep
breath, reaching for a chicken stomach.
"Kunzite? Would you please fill the Kettle with
water?"
She spoke without turning around. The silver-haired
man moved to comply with her request, pleased to notice that she
had dropped his title.
As Kunzite filled the kettle with water from a nearby
basin, Minako stuffed the powders Ami had brought into the
chicken stomach, compacting it tightly.
She turned to the heating kettle, her eyes never
leaving the liquid. Her eyes reflected the flames as her
body went as tight as a rod. No one spoke, and
the air in the room was almost suffocating its
inhabitants. Ami moved toward the window, but Minako's
voice, as sharp as a sword, cut through the air violently.
"Stop!"
Ami froze in shock. Never had she heard the princess
use that tone of voice, not even when the men under her command
were misbehaving. But as the healer turned back, she was surprised
to see that Minako had not turned at all, still busy stuffing
the third chicken stomach. She spoke, never ceasing in her
task.
"No matter how inbearable it is in here, not even a
sliver of power can escape. If you find that too hard to bear,
you can leave. But it's now or never; after this, there is no
turning back!"
No one moved. Minako inwardly let loose a sigh of
relief. She needed them here to help with the ritual, but
she would not force them to do something they might regret
- they had a choice.
Minako allowed herself a tight smile, before returning
to preparing the potion. A second later, the silence was broken
by Emerald, who was leaning casually against the wall, her nonchalant
exterior belying her anxiety.
"Minako, can I ask you something?"
The other girl shrugged to indicate that she was listening,
never pausing in her task.
"Why did you give us the option to leave if you needed us
to save Rei?"
Minako froze for a second, praying to any deity listening
that none of them would explode after hearing her response.
"It is not necessary for more than one person to perform the
ritual, but with no other help, the performer will draw upon her own life
force. It's like exchanging lives..."
Kunzite's shout of outrage broke through her explanation.
"What?!"
She leveled him with an icy glare.
"Please, General, control yourself!"
The silver-haired man winced, aware of how she had reverted to using
his title instead of his name. If Minako noticed his discomfort, she gave no
indication and continued as though there had been no break.
"If it's two people with the same level of power as us, they forfeit their
magic and health, remaining terminally ill for the rest of their lives at best, or
going into a vegetative state at worst. If the number amounts to three, they would
not suffer any illness, but would have to relinquish their magic to save the priestess'
reincarnation and become mortal. With the four of us, the right balance is achieved,
causing no damage to either party. But if more than four people were to combine their
magic, the girl's body will not be able to hold together, and the molecules would be
blown out of proportion and result in her demise."
Minako finished, holding the stuffed chicken stomachs. Ami turned to her as
she moved toward the kettle,
"How do you know all this?"
The princess stirred the boiling water with a fingertip, allowing her
power to flow into the liquid as she answered,
"After Rei had the first attack, the entire court was ordered to learn
the procedures by heart, which were written down by the first priestess herself. She
allowed the royal family to keep the methods to save the Chosen One, but I do wish
she'd told us who the Chosen One would be. I'm sure she had that knowledge, as she
had the power to see the future."
Minako sent them a quick smile, trying to lighten the tension, and praying
like hell that this would work. She dropped the ten filled stomachs into the boiling
water, and closed the lid, before a ball of energy burst from her palm, merging with
the flames.
"Get some sleep,"
she urged them, walking toward her chair,
"We've a long night ahead of us."
Ami shifted.
"Shouldn't someone watch over Rei?"
Minako sank down on her chair with a thankful sigh, shaking her head.
"No, she won't wake until the moon is full and high during the night,
so we have about ten hours to go till the sun sets. General, can I ask
you to set up a force field?"
The first General blanched, his eyes incredulous.
"For ten hours?"
"Yes,"
the princess replied pleasantly, reaching her hand out to him,
"Draw some power from me. We can't let anyone leave or enter this place."
Kunzite grasped her hand, and Minkao tried with all her might to ignore
the silly fluttering of her heart, cursing her emotions to the seventh hell and
beyond, as his strong hand enclosed her slender digits tightly, almost as if she
would evaporate if he let go. A gasp escaped her lips as she felt a tug on her soul,
her golden strand flowing from her hand as a spirit shield jumped from his body.
Minako rubbed her chest lightly, a frown evident on her face: he'd never warned her
that her upper body would hurt from the impact.
Kunzite gazed at her, a slight apologetic look in his eyes as he explained,
"I'm so used to it that I forgot to tell you."
Minako gave a curt nod.
"It's alright, General. Please, you guys, get some sleep. We should be fine
till sunset."
She motioned with her free hand, indicating the unocccupied chairs and couch.
Ami and Makoto exchanged a look, and the auburn-haired girl said hesitantly,
"Kunzite, I think you can let go of her hand now."
They pulled apart violently, Kunzite blushing lightly while Minako tried to rid
herself of the tingling feeling. The two other girls exchanged another look, this one
slightly bemused and very hopeful.
"No chance,"
Minako snarled at them.
"But, Mina-chan..."
Ami protested.
"I said NO!"
the blonde girl shouted, her face crimson, and pretended to be deaf to the
rest of the conversation. Kunzite was completely bewildered.
"What was that all about?"
Ami sighed and a smile tugged at Makoto's lips, before they said simultaneously,
"Girl talk."
More to explain they would not.
8
Vision
Blue sky...green grass...crystal brook...white clouds...everywhere Rei looked,
the essence of perfection greeted her sight. A brief desire to stay in this place for
all ages and eternity flitted across her mind, but she spied a movement out of the corner
of her eye. She leapt around, her body in fighting stance. The man she had caught walked
serenely toward here, staring at her – no, staring through her. He was blonde, with amazing
azure eyes and a cocky smile, appearing peerless in his uniform. Air whooshed from her lungs
in relief as her voice unconsciously formed one word,
"Jadeite."
The three syllables echoed loudly in the silence, and suddenly, the scene changed.
Rei was standing in what she recognized as the front of the gate of the Dark King's domain.
But instead of the plain sand dunes she expected, she saw a sea of soldiers clad in black
rushing at an army in gold and red, and Rei realized with a start that the enemy was bearing
the colors of her country! Rei's heart leaped with the thought that she might finally be going
home, but her eyes caught the same man she had witnessed earlier atop a stallion, his sword
flying freely. Rei gazed at him, mesmerized by his smooth, controlled movements, momentarily
forgetting that the men dying under Jadeite's sword were there for her cause. Her vision,
heart, and mind filled with him, only him. She felt something whizzing past her face suddenly,
and her eyes found a black arrow, its tip dripping in poison, aiming straight for Jadeite's
unprotected back. She opened her mouth, trying to shout out a warning, but no sound came out.
She could only watch in horror as surprise fluttered across the man's handsome face,
his body curling gracefully as he fell toward the ground. And Rei screamed, her voice back.
Her scream filled the battlefield, but no one heard her. Rei didn't even remember running, but
she was by his side in an instant, objects passing through her body harmlessly. She cradled his
blooded body in her arms, her heart breaking into pieces with no hopes of recovery. The heavens
split, and the downpour mingled with her tears, flowing unchecked down her porcelain cheeks.
Slowly, the soldiers disappeared one by one, until only she and Jadeite were left. Her voice
was already hoarse from screaming, but she could not stop as she held Jadeite's cold body. The
wind howled and roared around her, whipping her hair sharply across her face, but she suddenly
heard a voice speaking to her. Rei resisted the urge to clap her hands over her ears, for the
voice was like a storm tearing across the plains, or hunters urging the hounds on in full cry,
yet she could hear each world clearly.
"This is the future that awaits you, my daughter."
Rei didn't question the voice addressing her with such an unusual name as "daughter",
but cried out,
"I won't let him die!"
The voice seemed to fade as Rei cried over the injustice that the one man she had
ever loved would be cruelly torn away from her before his time, still in his prime. The voice
grew fainter and fainter as it stated,
"You cannot change fate."
Rei raised her eyes shimmering with tears, but an unquenchable flame had also flared to
life.
"No, I cannot change fate, but I can defy it!"
A girl, no older than eighteen, appeared in front of her. She raised a hand, as if to
touch Rei's face, but she simply stopped an inch before Rei.
"My daughter to change his destiny, you must first change your own."
The girl became a mist, going with the wind, but a silver amulet appeared where she
had stood a moment ago. Rei reached a shaky hand toward it, and felt a weird energy pulse through
her as her fingers grasped it. Trembling lightly, she slipped the amulet around her neck,
surprised to see it glow a gentle red against her skin. The voice came again, this time
steadier and more kindly.
"Daughter, choose the rocky and steep path, for it will lead to your wish. If you
choose the easy road, you will arrive to your destiny. My daughter, to change fate, you have
no choice but to walk the hard path. Remember me, my daughter, for I am Deiphoboras, the first
priestess of the Battle God Ares."
Rei automatically crossed her arms over her chest, bowing her head in a show of respect.
"Remember my words,"
the wind whispered, before it became quiet. Jadeite began to glow, his outline growing
misty. Rei gave a cry, trying to latch onto his arm, but he slipped through her fingers and
vanished from her sight. And the shadows grew, reaching out of her, pulling her toward the dark
portal which she suddenly saw. Rei had barely time to scream before the portal swallowed her,
and everything went black.
Minako opened her eyes to see the last rays of the sun disappearing. The time for
the ritual was about to begin.
How was that? I actually intended to finish this chapter with the ritual, but I receive a request
from one of my readers and two of my very close friends for a description of the vision instead of
relating it little by little later on, so here it is! I hope you enjoyed it, and don't forget to
leave a review!
Chapter Fifteen
A Startling discovery, Part 2
Wow, I'm so happy to receive so many
reviews. Thank you all, I wouldn't
be able to continue writing without
all your support and encouragement.
author bows
This is the second part of 'a startling
discovery', meaning the main focus will
be on Rei, but the rest of the inners will
be playing a major role. Major thanks to
Triad Card 844 A, who graciously agreed
to type this up for me, as my access to
a computer is seriously limited.
I hope you like this. Enjoy.
Lord of Darkness
Chapter Fifteen
A Startling discovery, Part 2
Jadeite had barely pulled the covers over Rei's
cold form as Kunzite and Makoto appeared, each bearing
a tray of food. Minako raised her head, inquiring
"Endymion informed you of Lady Rei's condition,
I believe?"
Makoto nodded lightly, her ponytail bouncing,
as she handed a bowl of soup to Minako. The princess
drank swiftly, some color coming back into her cheeks
before setting it down for later as she rose.
"Jadeite, fire."
The general followed her command without questions,
and a lively flame sparked to life in her fire place.
Minako sat back down, a hand pressing to Rei's forehead to
stop her trashing. Rei quieted down, a slight moan to pain
escaping her parted lips as Minako's body convulsed. She held her
head, biting her lip hard enough to draw blood before she
collapsed onto the ground, her face pale.
"Minako, are you alright?"
Enddymion's voice caused her to look up from the
floor.
"I just allowed her to release some of her pain into
me, through our link, through the bloodline of our ancestors."
And quickly added seeing everyone else's concerned
looks
"It's okay, I just got as much as I could handle. I'm
fine."
She turned to face the healer.
"Ami, freeze the bed, ONLY the bed."
The blue-haired healer intended to protest, but
seemed to think better of it as she nodded gently.
"As well as the covers?"
Minako pursed her lips for a second in thought,
before giving a quick nod. Ami took a step back, Ice flowing
like water from her palms, encasing the bed. Rei, still
unconscious, shivered. Nephrite raised an eyebrow.
"Minako, was that really necessary? After all,
doesn't the fire and the ice cancel each other out?"
The princess shook her head.
"No. The Ice keeps Rei-chan's body from bursting into
flames due to the heat raging inside her, but the fire at the
same ensures that she won't freeze to death, not to mention it's an
essential part for the ritual."
Makoto's head snapped up.
"The ritual? What ritual?"
"The ritual for accepting the High Priestess Rank of
the Battle God Ares. This is the last stage. Rei-chan has
already survived two; this is the third one, as well the most
dangerous and important one. There will be more power and
risks invovled. Complete concentration and completeness is
essential. So I need everyone out expect Ami, Makoto,
and Kunzite."
Jadeite opened his mouth to protest, but Minako
interrupted him before he managed to speak.
"No, Jadeite. I need everyone else out, NOW! There is
nothing you can do to help; you'll only get in the way and
mess up everything."
"And the others won't?"
He demanded, outraged. Minako shook her head with a
completely expressionless look.
"Precisely. I'm glad you finally managed to see
that."
Color rose in Jadeite's cheeks, but Endymion spoke
before the General could.
"We'll leave, but please call us with the mental link
if you need anything."
The blonde princess smiled.
"Thank you, Endymion. You've been so good to us."
She opened the dooor, and bowed everyone out,
ignoring Jadeite's death glare that clearly told her
'Cure Rei-chan or else.'
Minako returned the favor by rudely shoving him out
of the door before sending him face first down a flight of
stairs. She returned to her room, locking
the door behind her, and sat down with a sigh.
"That felt good."
She turned to the tall auburn-haired girl.
"Makoto, did you bring everything?"
Makoto gave a slight nod, indicating the ingredients
she had asked for, neatly spread out on the table. Minako took a deep
breath, reaching for a chicken stomach.
"Kunzite? Would you please fill the Kettle with
water?"
She spoke without turning around. The silver-haired
man moved to comply with her request, pleased to notice that she
had dropped his title.
As Kunzite filled the kettle with water from a nearby
basin, Minako stuffed the powders Ami had brought into the
chicken stomach, compacting it tightly.
She turned to the heating kettle, her eyes never
leaving the liquid. Her eyes reflected the flames as her
body went as tight as a rod. No one spoke, and
the air in the room was almost suffocating its
inhabitants. Ami moved toward the window, but Minako's
voice, as sharp as a sword, cut through the air violently.
"Stop!"
Ami froze in shock. Never had she heard the princess
use that tone of voice, not even when the men under her command
were misbehaving. But as the healer turned back, she was surprised
to see that Minako had not turned at all, still busy stuffing
the third chicken stomach. She spoke, never ceasing in her
task.
"No matter how inbearable it is in here, not even a
sliver of power can escape. If you find that too hard to bear,
you can leave. But it's now or never; after this, there is no
turning back!"
No one moved. Minako inwardly let loose a sigh of
relief. She needed them here to help with the ritual, but
she would not force them to do something they might regret
- they had a choice.
Minako allowed herself a tight smile, before returning
to preparing the potion. A second later, the silence was broken
by Emerald, who was leaning casually against the wall, her nonchalant
exterior belying her anxiety.
"Minako, can I ask you something?"
The other girl shrugged to indicate that she was listening,
never pausing in her task.
"Why did you give us the option to leave if you needed us
to save Rei?"
Minako froze for a second, praying to any deity listening
that none of them would explode after hearing her response.
"It is not necessary for more than one person to perform the
ritual, but with no other help, the performer will draw upon her own life
force. It's like exchanging lives..."
Kunzite's shout of outrage broke through her explanation.
"What?!"
She leveled him with an icy glare.
"Please, General, control yourself!"
The silver-haired man winced, aware of how she had reverted to using
his title instead of his name. If Minako noticed his discomfort, she gave no
indication and continued as though there had been no break.
"If it's two people with the same level of power as us, they forfeit their
magic and health, remaining terminally ill for the rest of their lives at best, or
going into a vegetative state at worst. If the number amounts to three, they would
not suffer any illness, but would have to relinquish their magic to save the priestess'
reincarnation and become mortal. With the four of us, the right balance is achieved,
causing no damage to either party. But if more than four people were to combine their
magic, the girl's body will not be able to hold together, and the molecules would be
blown out of proportion and result in her demise."
Minako finished, holding the stuffed chicken stomachs. Ami turned to her as
she moved toward the kettle,
"How do you know all this?"
The princess stirred the boiling water with a fingertip, allowing her
power to flow into the liquid as she answered,
"After Rei had the first attack, the entire court was ordered to learn
the procedures by heart, which were written down by the first priestess herself. She
allowed the royal family to keep the methods to save the Chosen One, but I do wish
she'd told us who the Chosen One would be. I'm sure she had that knowledge, as she
had the power to see the future."
Minako sent them a quick smile, trying to lighten the tension, and praying
like hell that this would work. She dropped the ten filled stomachs into the boiling
water, and closed the lid, before a ball of energy burst from her palm, merging with
the flames.
"Get some sleep,"
she urged them, walking toward her chair,
"We've a long night ahead of us."
Ami shifted.
"Shouldn't someone watch over Rei?"
Minako sank down on her chair with a thankful sigh, shaking her head.
"No, she won't wake until the moon is full and high during the night,
so we have about ten hours to go till the sun sets. General, can I ask
you to set up a force field?"
The first General blanched, his eyes incredulous.
"For ten hours?"
"Yes,"
the princess replied pleasantly, reaching her hand out to him,
"Draw some power from me. We can't let anyone leave or enter this place."
Kunzite grasped her hand, and Minkao tried with all her might to ignore
the silly fluttering of her heart, cursing her emotions to the seventh hell and
beyond, as his strong hand enclosed her slender digits tightly, almost as if she
would evaporate if he let go. A gasp escaped her lips as she felt a tug on her soul,
her golden strand flowing from her hand as a spirit shield jumped from his body.
Minako rubbed her chest lightly, a frown evident on her face: he'd never warned her
that her upper body would hurt from the impact.
Kunzite gazed at her, a slight apologetic look in his eyes as he explained,
"I'm so used to it that I forgot to tell you."
Minako gave a curt nod.
"It's alright, General. Please, you guys, get some sleep. We should be fine
till sunset."
She motioned with her free hand, indicating the unocccupied chairs and couch.
Ami and Makoto exchanged a look, and the auburn-haired girl said hesitantly,
"Kunzite, I think you can let go of her hand now."
They pulled apart violently, Kunzite blushing lightly while Minako tried to rid
herself of the tingling feeling. The two other girls exchanged another look, this one
slightly bemused and very hopeful.
"No chance,"
Minako snarled at them.
"But, Mina-chan..."
Ami protested.
"I said NO!"
the blonde girl shouted, her face crimson, and pretended to be deaf to the
rest of the conversation. Kunzite was completely bewildered.
"What was that all about?"
Ami sighed and a smile tugged at Makoto's lips, before they said simultaneously,
"Girl talk."
More to explain they would not.
8
Vision
Blue sky...green grass...crystal brook...white clouds...everywhere Rei looked,
the essence of perfection greeted her sight. A brief desire to stay in this place for
all ages and eternity flitted across her mind, but she spied a movement out of the corner
of her eye. She leapt around, her body in fighting stance. The man she had caught walked
serenely toward here, staring at her – no, staring through her. He was blonde, with amazing
azure eyes and a cocky smile, appearing peerless in his uniform. Air whooshed from her lungs
in relief as her voice unconsciously formed one word,
"Jadeite."
The three syllables echoed loudly in the silence, and suddenly, the scene changed.
Rei was standing in what she recognized as the front of the gate of the Dark King's domain.
But instead of the plain sand dunes she expected, she saw a sea of soldiers clad in black
rushing at an army in gold and red, and Rei realized with a start that the enemy was bearing
the colors of her country! Rei's heart leaped with the thought that she might finally be going
home, but her eyes caught the same man she had witnessed earlier atop a stallion, his sword
flying freely. Rei gazed at him, mesmerized by his smooth, controlled movements, momentarily
forgetting that the men dying under Jadeite's sword were there for her cause. Her vision,
heart, and mind filled with him, only him. She felt something whizzing past her face suddenly,
and her eyes found a black arrow, its tip dripping in poison, aiming straight for Jadeite's
unprotected back. She opened her mouth, trying to shout out a warning, but no sound came out.
She could only watch in horror as surprise fluttered across the man's handsome face,
his body curling gracefully as he fell toward the ground. And Rei screamed, her voice back.
Her scream filled the battlefield, but no one heard her. Rei didn't even remember running, but
she was by his side in an instant, objects passing through her body harmlessly. She cradled his
blooded body in her arms, her heart breaking into pieces with no hopes of recovery. The heavens
split, and the downpour mingled with her tears, flowing unchecked down her porcelain cheeks.
Slowly, the soldiers disappeared one by one, until only she and Jadeite were left. Her voice
was already hoarse from screaming, but she could not stop as she held Jadeite's cold body. The
wind howled and roared around her, whipping her hair sharply across her face, but she suddenly
heard a voice speaking to her. Rei resisted the urge to clap her hands over her ears, for the
voice was like a storm tearing across the plains, or hunters urging the hounds on in full cry,
yet she could hear each world clearly.
"This is the future that awaits you, my daughter."
Rei didn't question the voice addressing her with such an unusual name as "daughter",
but cried out,
"I won't let him die!"
The voice seemed to fade as Rei cried over the injustice that the one man she had
ever loved would be cruelly torn away from her before his time, still in his prime. The voice
grew fainter and fainter as it stated,
"You cannot change fate."
Rei raised her eyes shimmering with tears, but an unquenchable flame had also flared to
life.
"No, I cannot change fate, but I can defy it!"
A girl, no older than eighteen, appeared in front of her. She raised a hand, as if to
touch Rei's face, but she simply stopped an inch before Rei.
"My daughter to change his destiny, you must first change your own."
The girl became a mist, going with the wind, but a silver amulet appeared where she
had stood a moment ago. Rei reached a shaky hand toward it, and felt a weird energy pulse through
her as her fingers grasped it. Trembling lightly, she slipped the amulet around her neck,
surprised to see it glow a gentle red against her skin. The voice came again, this time
steadier and more kindly.
"Daughter, choose the rocky and steep path, for it will lead to your wish. If you
choose the easy road, you will arrive to your destiny. My daughter, to change fate, you have
no choice but to walk the hard path. Remember me, my daughter, for I am Deiphoboras, the first
priestess of the Battle God Ares."
Rei automatically crossed her arms over her chest, bowing her head in a show of respect.
"Remember my words,"
the wind whispered, before it became quiet. Jadeite began to glow, his outline growing
misty. Rei gave a cry, trying to latch onto his arm, but he slipped through her fingers and
vanished from her sight. And the shadows grew, reaching out of her, pulling her toward the dark
portal which she suddenly saw. Rei had barely time to scream before the portal swallowed her,
and everything went black.
Minako opened her eyes to see the last rays of the sun disappearing. The time for
the ritual was about to begin.
How was that? I actually intended to finish this chapter with the ritual, but I receive a request
from one of my readers and two of my very close friends for a description of the vision instead of
relating it little by little later on, so here it is! I hope you enjoyed it, and don't forget to
leave a review!