I'm back… mwahhaha! And I have bad news and good news. Wanna hear, okay, good news first.
Good news:
I have found away to get Foramen out of the gutter.
Bad News:
Halt all progress on Debt to a Mother; yes, halt all progress until four chapters of Foramen are complete. I hope to gain another reviewer too because I think Lady11Occult is pretty lonely.
Lady11Occult- My ever loyal reviewer, hmmmm… I have the greatest, deepest gratitude for you. I only wish others would read this and be like… awed. Why is Debt to a Mother so much more popular than this, and how can I improve this?
Phoenixdame- Get out of my head! Ahhhhhh! (Runs around crazy, and smashes into wall.) You don't count as 'another reviewer' because you're my sister. Sorry. (Sticks tongue out at you.)
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"I'm here." Jolouque positioned himself in front of Zalean, allowing her eyes to focus on his face; he didn't dare touch her. The girl, a shadow of her former self, was broken and bruised; her naked body scarred and bloody, with eyes that stared out dull and lifeless. This dilapidated state wasn't what scared him though, what scared him was the dark glow that seemed to radiate from her, threatening anything that was near. "I'm here."
Keeping her attention on Jolouque she turned, her expression never changing, to look at the crumpled figure of Afred; nothing was left but the body, Jolouque had made certain of that. Licking her cracked lips she murmured, "He's empty."
A wave of relief blew through Jolouque, rocking him gently and leaving him slightly aware that the relief wasn't his alone. The dark glow that covered Zalean dimmed, taking with it all light so that none remained her's; every one of her features became a dark, limitless ravine. Her eyes closed and she fell weightless into his outstretched arms. The fluttering of her heart, that he felt through the torn slip she wore, was the only sign that she still lived.
Pressing his lips into her damp, brown locks, he felt a single, warm tear trail down his cheek. "I'm here."
(Break)
There was a scent of death in the air that grew stronger as Dorothea neared the crowd, which had gathered outside Zalean's room. "What happened here!" Swatting at those near by she made her way to the door, or what would've been a door if it hadn't of been exploded into a thousand tiny pieces. "Who did this?"
The questions fell from her lips but she didn't need answers, for it was all too clear. Inside the room everything was in disarray; the bed was rumpled, the sheets bloody, and a man lay dead on the floor. This man Dorothea knew very well, his name was Afred, he had been one of the ones sent into Kaeleer to spoil the exceptional witches. She could read this room like a book, the only question was…
"Is she still alive?"
A murmur went through the crowd, and one witch was pushed forward. Dorothea turned her eyes examining the woman as a hawk would its prey; she was small and weak, so unimportant that Dorothea couldn't even remember her name. The woman looked lost, she searched the crowd for a helping hand and then glanced back at Dorothea when noone offered aid. Bowing her head she began her tale, "Lady, I- I- I saw him take her out of the room. I didn't try to stop him, I- I'm sorry, he- he left the keep about five minutes ago, takeing the girl with him."
A growl rose in Dorothea's throat; she was tied of waiting for answers, "Who is he, and where did he take her?"
"Jolouque- Jolouque took her. I don't know where he went." The witch squeaked, cowering from Dorothea's rage. To save her own skin she blurted out, "But she is still alive."
Finally. "Prince Cronin," Dorothea turned to the Master of the Guards about to order a search, but just then Earn pushed her way through the crowd, and grabbed the witch who had seen Jolouque and Zalean leave.
"What do you mean she's still alive? She's supposed to be dead! Not in Jolouque's arms being carried away!" Earn shook the witch savagely, before throwing her aside and turning to Dorothea. "This is all your fault! If you hadn't of brought the girl here, Jolouque would still be mine!"
Dorothea's Red Jewel sprang to life, attacking Earn with a vicious blow that sent her to her knees. A smirk crawled across Dorothea's face, "Pathetic fool, all this for a lover." Dorothea sent another bolt of power into the withering witch, relishing in her screams. If she ruined Dorothea's chance to take over Earth, she would never have a lover again.
"Prince Cronin, ready a team of Warlords, I will have Zalean; alive." Dorothea released her grip on Earn and turned in a flourish of skirts, heading back to her room; she had to make ready for the hunt. Motioning to Earn she continued, "Oh, and get this filth out of my sight."
"What should we do with her, my Lady?" Prince Cronin yanked Earn to her feet; he would obey Dorothea's every command because the witch struck fear in his heart.
"Let the men 'take care' of her." Dorothea's laughter receded with her footsteps, as she disappeared around the corner.
Hidden in the shadows, a lone figure followed Prince Cronin, unnoticed, as he gathered the guards for the mission. When Dorothea arrived the trail had already been found, and soon they set off; the mysterious figure in the rear.
(Break)
The ride to the northern Alter would have been quicker on the Red Winds, but with Zalean, in the state she was in, Jolouque played it safe on the lighter Winds; so it was midnight before they arrived. The Priestess meet him at the door took one look at Zalean, asleep in his arms, and hurried about preparing a sickbed.
"What happened?" The Priestess piled together the last of the blankets and motioned for him to place her atop it.
Jolouque laid Zalean down on the makeshift pallet, before turning to the Priestess. "A man from Dorothea's court did this, he must have been under order, or something. I- I got there too late to save her."
"What are you talking about? She is alive isn't she?" The Priestess clucked, trying to make the best out of everything.
Jolouque didn't want to hear it though. He trudged out of the room and out of the sanctuary, to be alone with the night. He should've been there, should have seen it coming; then none of this would of happened. She could've been killed. Furious he punched a near- by- wall, crushing it under his fist, he should have been there. But he wasn't, and Zalean paid for it deeply.
A noise interrupted his thoughts; footsteps. Sending out Red tendrils to search the night around him, he felt the tug of a Purple Dusk heading steadily his way. Sliding into a defense position he waited for the intruder, most definitely one of Dorothea's minions; but how had they tracked him down so fast? He had been careful, or so he thought, to cover up his trail, but obviously that didn't stop them.
The footsteps were close now, so he threw a sight shield around him and readied his jewel. The witch that came out of the darkness though, was nothing like he expected. A young Hearth witch, breathing heavily from her sprint. Throwing off the sight shield, he caught the witch in mid dash and smothered her screams with a palm.
"I won't hurt you." He hissed in the struggling girl ear, dragging her inside; now suspicious of the night. "I'm going to let go of you, if you promise not to scream."
The witch didn't listen; instead she elbowed him in the stomach and stomped on his foot. Not prepared for such an attack he loosened his grip enough for her to slip through. "Where's Zalean!"
The red headed vixen didn't wait for an answer, she barged her way into the room where Zalean lay and stopped, stunned. Jolouque saw her reaction and knew she was no threat, this was a friend who cared; the tears that painted her face proved that much. "Wasn't what you expected?"
The witch looked up at Jolouque her mouth moving, but no sound coming out. Finally in a whisper she asked, "How could someone do this?"
"Dorothea, that's how." Her taint could infect the purest soul and destroy without a cause. Jolouque shook his head, and went to kneel beside Zalean; it was all too much to think on now, now he had to protect Zalean.
"She can't stay here," The vixen stepped forward sending a questioning look at the Priestess. "If your going to open the Gate you better do it know, because Dorothea is on her way with a whole company of guards."
"I know I can here them coming, but it will take time." The Priestess went to the Alter sharing a knowing glance with Jolouque.
A Purple Dusk Hearth witch: an Opal Jeweled Priestess: and a Red Jeweled Warlord Prince, were no match for a troop of dark jeweled Blood.
"How many are there?" Jolouque got to his feet and questioned the Hearth witch face to face.
"Twelve, at least."
"I'll hold them off as long as I can, stay here and help the Priestess." Jolouque left with a last, linguring glance at Zalean. If she could make it to Kaeleer, she would be all right.
He stepped out into the night once again, throwing a Red shield around the Alter and everyone inside. The dark night hampered his sight but not the rest of his senses, and he knew that they were waiting for him. He was up against two Red Warlords, three Green witches, two Princes one wearing an Opal the other Sapphire, and of course Dorothea. There were others as well but they wore darker jewels that he couldn't read; he'd only have one shot.
Letting out a roar he lounged forward, his Red Jewel trained on the Opal Warlord nearest him. As he let go of his power in a burst, the Warlord fell, and Jolouque turned on one of the witches snapping her neck like a twig. A blow to his head, combined with a pulse of Sapphire strength, caught him off guard. Tumbling into the dirt Jolouque sent a flare of Red into the eyes of his newest opponent, temporarily blinding his foe. A dark power seized him dragging him to his feet, like a rag doll, and he could fell his mind give way.
With a surge of power, Jolouque shot out randomly feeling the Sapphire disintegrate before his touch, as well as one of the other witches. He had also struck someone else, and Jolouque found himself free of the dark jeweled grasp. His Red was draining fast; he knew his shields would give soon. Climbing to his feet he discharged one more burst of his jewel and made his way back into the Alter.
As he staggered in the vixen ran up to meet him, "The gate isn't ready. We need more time."
Just then his shield around the Alter collapsed, and a dark wave barreled through Jolouque sending him to his knees. The vixen let out a shriek as Dorothea stepped through the door, not even bothering to open it. Her Purple Dusk cradled about Jolouque, lifting him a couple of inches off the floor, and dragged him after the vixen as she ran. In the Alter room the candles had just been prepared, but there was no time; Dorothea's men were there.
"Did you think you could really get away?" Dorothea's laughter filled the room. With a flicker of her Red power the dark candles burst, leaving them useless. "If you give us Zalean I'll spare you, Jolouque. I am rather fond of you."
"Jolouque?"
The voice was small and faint but it gathered everyone's attention, for it came from Zalean. Jolouque crawled to her side, gently lifting her into his arms; she stared at him with blue eyes, filled with pain. "Jolouque."
"Don't worry I won't let them have you." He soothed back her hair, cooing softly in her ear.
"Awwww, but my dear, foolish man, you have no choice!" Dorothea released a bolt of the Red and it shook Jolouque from head to toe, throwing both him and Zalean against the wall that held the Gate.
A deep haunting voice belowed about the room, "Oh, but he does." Zalean rose gracefully to her feet and, before Jolouque could register what was happening, the dark light seeped out of her cloaking Jolouque in nothingness.
(Break)
Dorothea didn't understand what was going on, it didn't make any sense. The dark… the dark light, which had just completely engulfed Zalean and Jolouque, as well as the Priestess and Hearth witch, was now climbing up the wall creating a new kind of gate. It also seemed that the new Gate was slowly sucking in the dark light, as well as those within.
Venturing forward Dorothea brushed her jewels against the light, and surprisingly found a familiar Red jewel brushing back. Then the dark light was dissipated completely, and Zalean and the others were gone.
"Get a Priestess to open this Gate." Dorothea ordered; however her thoughts weren't on the Gate, they were still stuck on the feeling of having her own jewels turned against her.
Callie here; Please Review, it will make me oh so happy.