Darkness was a funny thing, Kerissa thought vaguely, as she faded in and out of consciousness. Why was it that when you were unconscious you thought the randomest things? For that matter, was "randomest" even a word…?
"She's coming around," came Tymmie's lecherous voice, and foul breath from somewhere above her.
"Good." This voice was different, deeper, and more male? Somehow that didn't sound right… "Little Goddess, are you ready to play?"
"Always ready to play," Kerissa tried to mumble, but her lips weren't moving. She realized that she was tied up. It would be awesome if one of the Followers near her had a power to cut rope…. randomness! Grr….
She let her eyes drift open. She was in some sort of tomb building, and she was covered in cobwebs! Ew! Now, however, was not the best time to worry about her clothes….
"She's awake," Tymmie announced.
"Thank you for telling me," snickered the 'male?' voice. "I couldn't have figured it out without your help."
Tymmie muttered something about the stupidity of leaders, and how he simply thought…
"Shut up, Tymmie," muttered a guy to Tymmie's right, who was covered in tattoos…. Kerissa randomly wondered if, when you had that many tattoos, if there was any need for actual clothes…
"Is the ritual ready?" The leader asked.
"Yes, Zahi," Tymmie muttered. "Oh, Zahi, may I lick your boots? Zahi, may I follow you like a useless puppy? Would you like a coffee, dearest Zahi…"
"Yes," Zahi said pleasantly, interrupting Tymmie's tirade.
Tymmie stalked off, grumbling.
Meanwhile, Kerissa's not-so-random-anymore mind was ticking. Ritual? What kind of ritual? She'd never heard of any weird Follower rituals before? Were they about to send her soul into oblivion, or maybe exchange it for another's, like that movie, "The Mummy"?
Zahi smirked at her. "You'll find out soon enough, Little Goddess."
Kerissa mock-sighed. "You know, I'd cooperate a lot more if you weren't so demeaning," she said, with a little pout. How she loved playing the airhead…. RANDOMNITY! AGH!
Zahi gave her a mocking bow. "Of course, my dear Kerissa, I'm ever so sorry."
Kerissa let the tears come to her eyes. "Look what you've done," she said, in a tremulously reproving voice, "You've hurt my feelings."
"Ever so sorry," Zahi repeated, smirking.
Tymmie reappeared. "The ritual is ready, your Zahi-ness."
Zahi grinned. It was one of those grins that said 'I'm-so-irresistible-check-me-out-you-know-you-want-me' grins. "She's on her way."
He picked her up, strong arms encircling her body. This was sooo undignified, Kerissa fumed.
She was pulled out of the err… tomb, and into the entrance to a huge stadium-ish thingy. There, Zahi brushed the cobwebs from her hair, and attempted to clean her off. Pawing at her the whole time. Finally, he pronounced her 'acceptable'.
She was led into the huge stadium. Followers filled the seats, floating in and out of the shadows. The crowd went deadly quiet when Kerissa appeared. Suddenly, they began to chant.
"Lecta, lecta, lecta", over and over again.
In the center of the stadium, was a huge fire. Her first thought was, why do they need a bonfire? But, on closer examination, Kerissa could tell that this was no bonfire. The flames roared through the night, disturbing not even the air. The blue tongues of fire seemed almost crystalline in appearance, sinuous and sensual. The very air was freezing, and suddenly, Kerissa was terrified.
She had no idea what this was, or what the chanting 'lecta' meant, but she knew that it could only be bad. She had the funny feeling that she would never be the same after this night.
Suddenly, a long-forgotten memory drifted to the front of her mind. Memories of the days, with Serena and Stanton, when the Demon inside had been unknown.
She remembered one of the first attacks, and the vision of the Cold Fire.
What was it? She had to remember; something told her that it was vital that she remember.
"The Cold Fire bestows immortality to the Followers," Stanton had said, "but you pay a price: your soul. Your goodness.
"You must resist, or the world as we know it will cease to exist."
Crud. This was not good. Definitely not good.
They had reached the edge of the fire by now. Zahi began untying her, but immediately held her, his physical strength overpowering her's easily.
Kerissa's keen ears picked up the sound of screams, and footsteps running towards her. Suddenly, the door to the stadium, burst open, revealing the Daughters.
Kerissa struggled harder. She had to get away. Maybe if she could wiggle through his arms…
But Zahi knew what she was doing. He had seen the Daughters rush through the door to the stadium, like the river breaking a dam, and he knew what to do.
He tossed her into the Fire.
"No!" screamed Kerissa, thrusting herself from the frigid flames, only to be shoved in. The flames felt so good… so right. So wicked. She spread her hands languorously over her body, as if reveling in the feel of her own flesh. Ancient patterns burned themselves into her skin; frost coated her eyelashes and hair, making her look like an ice goddess.
Through the haze of thought, Kerissa could see the Daughters struggling to reach the fire. Who were they? What were they doing here? Something inside of her snapped awake. What was she doing? She had to leave! Now!
Summoning her self-control, Kerissa stepped from the fire. The flames felt after her, whispering and pleading for her to return to them, but she couldn't. She hesitated slightly.
Wham! Something hit against her, hard. She fell, barely managing to stay away from the fire's clutching fingers.
Zahi leaned over her. How sweet, Little Goddess, he smirked, did you decide to walk from the fire? Naughty, naughty… his mind reached for her's. But he had forgotten one important thing. Her Goddess-power.
Kerissa had as much power as he did. And, she knew, more. She had her own, Stanton's, Serena's, Alex's, his, and that of every Follower in the stadium. Mimic, not leech.
Wait, if she was a mimic, how come she had so much more power then them? Suddenly, she knew what to do. Tapping into a part of her power as-yet-undiscovered, she began to tap into his power. Leech, not mimic. She smiled, satisfied.
Zahi looked at her, shocked. "What are you doing?" he gasped.
"Leech, not mimic." Kerissa grinned. This was fun! Hee, hee. Time to kick some Follower butt.
She ran to join the other Daughters, who stepped away from her.
"Are you okay?" Serena asked tentatively.
Icicles still clung from her hair, and her eyelashes were a pure, frosty blue.
"Never better," Kerissa grinned.
"Then," Serena grinned, echoing Kerissa's thought, "Time to kick some Follower butt!"