Chapter 6: Gone
A chilling breeze swept through Totokonta and it bit at their heels.
"Oh Cleao…" Hartia said forlornly.
" 'Oh Cleao' indeed!" Jeremy sneered at them and turned to face Cleao, smiling appreciatively.
Cleao laughed hollowly, " The new and improved Cleao Everlasting," she spun around slowly to show herself off to everyone. All the dark energy that she had absorbed had transformed her and the power within her flowed rapidly through her body. The wind caressed her new midnight black tresses and her long ebony dress floated weightlessly around her. "Don't you like?" she pouted at them in mock disappointment. Orphen paled at the sight of his partner, he was speechless. What has he done to you? he asked himself. All he wanted to do was get Cleao away from Jeremy and rid her of all the black magic that was in her.
"Cleao…" he trailed off and took a hesitant step forward.
Cleao shook a finger at him, "Uh uh uh… not another step, Krylancelo." Not heeding her words, Orphen continued to walk towards her. Cleao's sparkling azure eyes were now a brooding dark blue and they narrowed dangerously. The power within her reacted to her emotions so when she reached out a hand a black flame ignited it. It wasn't painful, but it tingled. Even Cleao was surprised by the power she could feel inside of her, but she didn't show it. Orphen stopped in his tracks as he faltered in his approach to Cleao.
"She's powerful, Krylancelo. Be careful," Azalie warned.
"Something we finally agree on, Bloody August," Cleao said, not taking her eyes off Orphen, " The dragon's right, Krylancelo. I am powerful, so be careful of what you do. You wouldn't want me angrier than I already am."
Jeremy laughed and walked towards Cleao, putting his arm around her waist, which angered Orphen more, "I think you've finally met your match, Orphen."
Cleao put her hand down, " Don't ever come near me again Krylancelo. If you do, I'll kill you," she warned coldly. Cleao turned and walked away, vanishing into the night. She was gone.
Orphen felt conflicting emotions as Cleao left them. He turned to Jeremy, " What have you done to her!"
"The question is, what have you done to her? I just gave her… let's just say… an 'energy boost'." Jeremy smirked.
"How dare you violate her like that!" Orphen exploded in outrage.
Jeremy shrugged, "You do what's necessary. Well, as much as I would love to stay and chat, I have a girl to go after." And with that, Jeremy was left.
Azalie stood and watched as Orphen just stood there, unmoving. She shook her head sadly. So much had happened in so little time. It had taken them all by surprise and now they were practically clueless as what to do next. Azalie decided to do something before they were all rendered helpless. She made her way to Hartia, " Go inside and check on the others. We'll discuss everything when we get inside." Hartia followed the order immediately, not missing a beat. Azalie then walked to her brother, "We'll get her back, Krylancelo. Don't worry." She tried to reassure him as best as she could. Orphen faced her, pain in his eyes, " I was meant to protect her and I failed," he told his sister in a flat tone- only making Azalie's heart heavier for her brother's sudden loss.
" Don't blame yourself."
" How can I not when it was my carelessness that pushed her away?"
" The only one to blame is Jeremy. Come inside and we'll discuss the situation."
" Discuss the situation.." Orphen echoed bitterly, "The only girl that I've ever been in love with and now she's gone." Orphen's voice was barely a whisper and Azalie had to strain her ears to hear him. They were both silenced by Orphen's last words, his admission of his love. He couldn't believe that he had just said that he was in love with Cleao Everlasting! Orphen sighed heavily, " I don't know what to do anymore."
Azalie embraced him tightly, " Everything's going to be ok. Let's go inside." Orphen nodded and followed her lead. They entered the house and all eyes turned to them.
" Where's Cleao?" Mariabella cried. She just about pounced on Orphen and Azalie as they walked in.
"How's Tistiny?" Orphen asked in genuine concern, avoiding the topic of Cleao.
"She's sleeping in the living room," Mariabella replied softly as she was diverted from her question. She led the others into the living room where Majic was drifting off to sleep in a chair by the couch whereTistiny slept. Hartia was at the window, pondering the events of that night. Leki was lying on the carpet, his green eyes showing alertness, but at the same time his yearning to be reunited with Cleao. Mariabella stroked Leki gently, doing her best to comfort the Wolven. She stared at Orphen and could see in his eyes that everything was not all right. There was such loss in his eyes and his body was extremely tense. Somehow, Azalie appeared calm and collected. Mariabella couldn't control her emotions any longer and she burst into tears.
Hartia went to comfort the weeping girl, "Shhhh… everything will be ok," he whispered in her ear as he put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
Mariabella sobbed silently and looked up, "I want to know…" she barely managed to choke out in-between gasps for air.
Hartia turned to Orphen who had taken Hartia's place at the window, "Krylancelo…"
" Wake the others," he replied, not taking his eyes off the darkness looming outside. But Azalie was one step ahead, already rousing the young apprentice and Tistiny.
"Cleao!" Tistiny exclaimed, sitting up instantly as she was woken. She glanced at the room, searching for Cleao's beautiful face. But she was nowhere to be seen. "Where is my Cleao!" she wailed sadly. Mariabella rushed to her mother's side, comforting her.
"Master?" Majic questioned sleepily.
Hartia interrupted before any discussion started, "Umm… before anyone says anything else, I believe that Azalie and I should tell you all why we came here in the first place," Hartia looked to Azalie and she nodded for him to proceed. "I don't want any interruptions while I'm talking," Hartia paused, "It all started when I found an old piece of writing in the archives…" Hartia retold the story of the prophecy and then of Lai's vision. Now and then, Azalie would add bits and pieces of information that Hartia had left out despite his request for no interruptions. But Hartia was actually glad that he wasn't telling the story alone. As he was recounting everything, he would occasionally glance at Orphen, noticing his emotional change from sad and confused to just plain angry. Even so, Orphen respected Hartia's earlier request and decided to wait until the end to start yelling. Mariabella and Tistiny had calmed down and their eyes showed identical confusion and they were about ready to burst with a million questions. Majic's expression wasn't that far off from Mariabella and Tistiny's state. The only people who were not affected at all were Dortin and Volcan who seemed to have run off once again amidst all the tragic events.
"And now we are in this predicament," Hartia finished, exhaling sharply.
"And you decided to tell us now! Now, when it's already too late!" Orphen shouted in anger and frustration.
"It isn't my fault, Krylancelo. You were the one saying, 'I think we should wait until after Mariabella's birthday'," Hartia replied in a calmer voice, understanding his friend's frustration and anger.
"Don't quote me, Hartia."
" You still haven't explained the 'predicament', as you call it," Mariabella interjected before an argument started.
"I want to know where Cleao is," Tistiny demanded, turning to Orphen for the answer she was looking for.
Orphen remained silent for a moment or so, "The energy that encased her infused her with black magic," Orphen began, getting straight to the point, "She's become very powerful and very dangerous."
"Is she ok?" Majic asked quietly as he stroked Leki who had fallen asleep on his lap during the discussion.
"It's hard to say…" Azalie trailed off.
" What do you mean, 'It's hard to say'?" Tistiny exclaimed.
" I believe that the longer she is infused with dark energy, the harder it will be to reverse what was done to her," Azalie continued, ignoring Tistiny's outburst. Azalie pitied the older woman, the pain she must be going through at the loss of a daughter. Tistiny began to weep silently into Mariabella's shoulder. The eldest daughter doing all she could to control her own emotions and still be strong for her mother.
" But you're not entirely sure about that are you?" Majic asked with hope in his heart.
"Don't worry. We'll get her back," Orphen said, "I'll get her back."
" How do you plan to do that?" Hartia inquired.
"I'll find a way," Orphen replied with determination and confidence in his voice. But Orphen wasn't confident at all… he was just trying to convince himself that there was a way to get Cleao back. No one wanted to say that it was very unlikely, almost impossible, to reverse what was done to Cleao, as if saying it aloud would make it come true.
Orphen bid goodnight, saying everyone should rest after what happened that night. He left them and the others sat in silence.
The sun shone vibrantly the following morning and like in Totokonta resumed as if nothing had happened the night before. But how were the townsfolk to know that Cleao Everlasting had been turned into a dangerous sorceress and that she was missed dearly by her loved ones? The townsfolk of Totokonta continued with their daily lives while Orphen tried to save one… Cleao's life. Orphen had hardly slept the previous night and had skipped breakfast that morning. He felt fatigue towering over him, ready to consume him at any moment, yet he fought against it with all the will power he had left in him. He was going to save Cleao, even if it happened to be the last thing he ever did. He would never be able to live with himself if he lost Cleao. Once again, he was at the tower where he always was when he needed to think something out. "How do I save you, Cleao?" he wondered aloud. Orphen nearly jumped out of his skin when there was an answer.
" You have to talk to her."
Orphen turned around to look at Hartia, " How do I talk to her when her plan is to kill me if I get too close?"
" She won't kill you, even if she says she will. She loves you too much," Hartia answered earnestly and he would have laughed at Orphen's incredulous facial expression., if only it was under different circumstances. "As if you haven't noticed, Krylancelo. She cares for you deeply, but all you do is push her away." Orphen looked angry at Hartia's last words, even though there was truth to those words.
" So you mean to tell me, that when she calls me a half-baked magician and a whole other bunch of other callous names, she's showing her affection for me?" Orphen asked skeptically.
Hartia shook his head, " I think that's her way of showing her affection for you."
"I would have never guessed," Orphen replied sardonically.
" You always keep her at an arms length away and you always know the right things to do to make her upset."
"That's how we always are though. Ever since we first met."
"My point is that if you love her, then tell her. The only person who can save her is you."
"I don't even know what my feelings for her are. What am I supposed to do, Hartia?"
Hartia had never seen Orphen so confused about anything in all the years he had known him, "You'll know when the time comes."
Despite Hartia's reassurances, Orphen was still uncertain. What would he do if Cleao didn't listen to him? He suddenly remembered Cleao's eyes… the way you could see the darkness take over and how all her pain glazed her eyes. Their usual sparkle had disappeared. Wanting to distract himself from the image of Cleao burnt in his memory, he decided to talk. "So… how are the others?"
"Well, Majic's really worried about you- we all are- but Majic's staying strong. Tistiny is near hysterics, but Mariabella is there to keep her grounded," Hartia paused noticing that Orphen's inner turmoil surfacing, "It isn't your fault, Krylancelo. We know you'll get her back and we have faith in you." Orphen just nodded in reply. "Leki is in great pain. He's so lonely without her, much like you are," Hartia had dared to add, " But I think that he understands the circumstances. The Wolven are an intellectual species. Azalie's in control and she's planning on returning to the Tower of Fang to report the events. She's just waiting for you to get back."
"Sure," Orphen replied absent-mindedly, but he seemed to snap out of his reverie, " You didn't tell me how you are."
Hartia shrugged indifferently. " You know me, I'm as strong as a rock," he said sarcastically.
Orphen cracked a smile, "Isn't someone modest," his expression turning grave once more, "Seriously though, how are you holding up?"
"I'll be ok… I just want Cleao back safe and sound. She's like my long lost sister…" Hartia replied softly, " I remember when I first met her. She was so spirited. At first, I thought she had some serious issues," Hartia paused, smiling at the memory and Orphen laughed as he also remembered the interesting times they had all shared on their journey to save Azalie, "But I soon realized that she was born that way."
"Can you imagine what I have to put up with?" Orphen said.
"She's a great catch, you know," Hartia stated.
"I know," Orphen surprisingly agreed.
Hartia smiled at his friend, seeing how much Orphen was beginning to open up, " If I were you, I wouldn't let her slip through my fingers."
"You saying you're interested?" Orphen asked suspiciously.
Hartia shook his head immediately, "No, no, no. That's not what I meant. I meant-" he began to defend himself.
"I know what you meant, Hartia. I'm just playing, lighten up." Orphen interrupted his babbling friend.
Hartia smiled again, " It's been a while since we were like this."
"Like what?"
"You know… just doing what friends do. Not worrying about runes, relics or impending doom. Just relaxing."
"Yeah, it has been a while." Orphen returned the smile that Hartia gave him. Hartia was right, it was good to just relax and reminisce over old times. Orphen enjoyed his friends company and the feeling of not worrying.
The two sorcerers were both silent for a few moments. Not an awkward or bad silence, just a silence to savour the moment.