Chapter 4 : Nothing but a Spectre

Thanks to destinyfey, my first reviewer who made me genuinely happy and encouraged me to write more! thanks:) this chapter is dedicated to you! (I hope I don't sound too melodramatic…) It's a very long chapter…

Rimuris Sorgota's home was enormous. A huge building of polished pearl, with limestone pillars decorated with thin lines of gold placed about the beautiful garden, full of white flowers and cream coloured stepping stones. The grass here was neatly kept, not one tiny blade was out of place. Towering stained glass windows, statues of angels and beautiful women carrying water jars and not wearing much were everywhere, muted purple drapes hanging from every available crevice. Sora whistled through his teeth.

Here's a man who likes to do things big...

All the nobles of Vila Civitas had turned out in their numbers. Even Aristala, the Magistrate to the King of Vila was here, his right hand man, his"lackey".That pratically meant the King himself was present in the Sorgota household, an immense honour. Sora strode up the garden path as confidently as he could manage, while the gentle hum of aristocratic voices hushed to frightened whispers around him. He had gotten tired of being constantly ignored and feared by the general population, even animals hated him. When Minerva had pinched his cheek this morning, that was the first human contact he'd had in two years. Sora was normally an optimistic boy, but this world had really dampened his spirits, despite its youthful beauty. As he approached the front double doors, of intricately wrought gold and glass, two burly guards set themselves nervously in his way.

"I-I'm afraid I have to ask you to turn back, sir." The left guard stammered. Sora gave him a disturbingly sweet smile he had perfected. It was great for getting him what he wanted, by just using it he could make the most stout-hearted man here quake in his boots.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you. What was that again?" He tried to make himself look as tall as possible and stuck out his chest. Intimidation techniques.

"Uh...uh...," the guard swallowed hard, making his big, bushy beard tremble, and gave up. "Please go right ahead sir!"

Sora nodded to him and smiled again, showing his perfect teeth. "That's better. Excuse me..." The other guard looked at his companion, outraged, and thrust his pike in Sora's path. He was younger, with soft brown hair mashed beneath his helmet and green eyes that showed a resolute heart.

"Oh no you don't. The Master doesn't want you here, plotting murder or God knows what..." he was interrupted by Sora's sniggering. "Begone with you, demon."

"Demon, eh?" Sora grinned, and pretended to ponder, stroking his chin, "I quite like it, it serves me well. Now let me pass, I shall not ruin the party."

That's true at least, he thought bitterly, people here are very good at not seeing what's right in front of them. Especially when it's tall and dressed in black.

For once, he felt the way a ghost must feel, drifting through the world unnoticed and detached. Nothing more, than a spectre, a ghost, a phantom…

Minerva had closed her shop for the day. She didn't often get much business, as the occult in general was frowned upon by all in Vila except inquisitive, gullible schoolgirls, with whom she used the whole "crystal balls and communicating with the dead" thing to the extremes. They certainly left with an impression.

Throwing her purple shawl over her head to disguise her unusual ebony hair, Minerva wound her way through the cobbled avenues and alleys, passing beggars, stalls selling everything you could ever want and chattering buyers. Smells of spices and enticing aromas hung in the air, the tall buildings stretched up towards the Umbris, the god of Vila, that was perched on the highest tower and granted all with it's light and warmth. That was where she was going.

Finding a suitably, dark and unused corner of a market square, Minerva mumbled to herself;

"Paletho thanis Umbris ki," and was gone, in a swirl of dust, only noticed by a rather confused dog, who made a mental note to check the water he'd been drinking. Retching slightly as the supernatural forces carried her swiftly and invisibly to her destination, Minerva had never gotten the hang of flying like this. What made matters worse was that she had an extreme case of vertigo, and to see the gleaming white towers speed past her like this made the world…very…dizzy…

The invisible force released her once the destination had been reached. Minerva could feel it watching her indignantly, as she brushed the strange glitter that appeared while travelling this way off her dress, and she mumbled it a brief thanks. Still unsatisfied, it made a high-pitched squeal. Minerva sighed heavily, and gave it a gold coin from her waist-bag and then turned sharply on her heel and marched off. She wasn't going to wait to see what the invisible creature did with the money.

Now, she was on a ledge just below the Umbris, in fact, she was so close to it she could just reach up and touch it. Yet to touch the Umbris was a sin, and no one quite knew what would happen if you did, so Minerva resisted the urge. She contented herself with feeling its vibrant, pulsating waves that washed over her, and gave her the most pleasant feeling, and then she turned a corner, and saw who she was looking for.

A tall, sun browned man with his back to her. His flowing, snow white hair reached down to his knees, and it had little bells on a blue ribbon entwined in the tresses. His robes were the pale green of seas, with a large dragon embroidered on the back whose enormous claws curved down the long sleeves. Minerva fell to her knees and bowed her head low to the ground.

"Master, I have returned, I have important news for you."

"Minerva."

The man turned around. His hair was also long in front, and fell over his sapphire eyes in large bangs. His mouth curved in a half-smile.

"So, were our suspicions correct? Is he the one we have been waiting for?"

Minerva raised her face, but she did not look into his eyes, if she did, he would surely control her.

"Yes. The boy has hidden it well, but I could see it in his soul. He is too pure for his heart to be cloaked in darkness, for it was the bright light of his heart that gave him away. The key was there, clear as water, nestled in his soul."

Master bit his trembling lip, he was excited, but he would not show it in front of a subordinate. He reached down and tilted Minerva's chin up with his fingertips.

"Your superior skills of Seeing have always come in handy. Remember our bargain Minerva, only I can give you what you want, but you have to help me first."

Minerva stared fixatedly at his nose.

"Of course…my Master."