Kearney brushed out her recently washed red hair, smelling the vanilla shampoo and conditioner she had just used. Marquette watched her from her computer desk, twirling a strand of white hair around her finger. Kearney wondered if she ever missed her long hair. It had once been as long as hers, honey blonde with streaks of gray from her shapeshifting. However, when she had gone into Tartarus to save the red head, the stress of the dead had turned it white. She later cut it short, no longer able to stand it.
She went to speak to the older girl, but instead saw a tabby cat grooming herself. The cat licked her paws slowly, then smoothed down her black and gray fur. It was Marquette's cleansing ritual, a way to be back in the light instead of in the shadows. She said she always did it before traveling onto any plane.
"Kearney?" Marquette shifted back.
"Hm?" She put down the brush, and then stretched out on Marq's bed, her skin enjoying the feel of the plush comforter.
"If you have your blackouts in the plane, you could be separated from me," she warned.
"Don't worry. It won't happen. I was probably just tired earlier." She smiled encouragingly.
Marquette's face lit up with excitement as she bounded onto her bed. "Good, because this will be the best birthday gift. I've been practicing hard."
"And if you can't bring me in, or bring me back?"
"The reason why Ezraziel has decided to be there, too, just in case," she said, hugging the red head.
Ezraziel was one of the Dead, or former Shadow God (a Son of Anubis). The others included Rammelet, Aestroth, Akhet, Nafetki, Asheru, and Aidrian. When Marquette ceased to exist on Earth, she, too, would become on of the Dead, along with Evan. They could later be evoked to help the current Shadow God or Goddess.
"Okay, but for my birthday next month, I get to turn you into a shadow, and we'll go on a real ride," Kearney said.
"Deal," Marq agreed.
Kearney stared at her friend. "Ezraziel guards the planes, right?"
She nodded. "Yeah. That's why I never really see him. I also have to warn you that you can't speak. So, try not to open your mouth or scream, even if you don't feel too…attached. I felt that way at first, but it makes it worse to open your mouth. No…" She paused to think. "I'm not sure what the air really is, if there is air. So, just keep calm."
"Are there, um, spirits?"
"Just the soul mists."
Marquette took Kearney's hand, somewhat understanding her fears. Kearney feared the dark and the dead, whereas Marquette embraced it all. Kearney believed that Marq's parents (even though she technically didn't have parents) should have been the goddess and former Prince. What had happened to Jessimar and Maris between and after all the mess with Asheru and the Atrox? Who had set their lives up this way?
Kearney nodded. She wanted to go. Now, before she changed her mind. Marquette grabbed her other hand, sitting directly in front of her. She ordered the red head's eyes closed. She let the soul mists rise up and whirl around them. She focused her mind on the plane. Before she had learned to do this, others had to bring her to the first plane of the Underworld. Now, all she had to do was open herself to the passage, and Umbra would lead her.
A jackal headed demon with a human body appeared in the girls' minds, taking their spirits by the hand. This was a tricky process. If Umbra, the jackal spirit, made a mistake, or if Marq's concentration was interrupted, their souls--more like Kearney's--would be lost. It was dangerous, especially if the demoness, Ammit, was around.
Marquette smiled encouragingly at Kearney as they began to feel the cold settle into their spirits. They were passing through the barrier.
Kearney clutched her amulet. No matter how amazing this was, it was frightening. Did Marquette always come here? This was only the first plane, so the others had to be far worse.
The detachment Marquette talked about hit her hard. She forgot the warning to keep her mouth closed and screamed. Her mouth filled with a thick substance, and she began to choke. Umbra rushed to her, slamming his dark hand over her mouth. Her eyes grew wide, but she calmed enough to be quiet and shut her mouth.
Marquette smiled sympathetically. Her soul mists buzzed excitedly. They were on the plane.
Kearney's eyes widened again, but from awe this time. There was nothing remarkable about the first plane. Only minor, weak souls were stuck here, and the entire place was a dark, shadowy abyss. You could probably wander forever. Yet, the clammy feeling set a morbid mood she actually enjoyed.
Strange. Ezraziel isn't here yet.
Kearney jumped back upon "hearing" Umbra's voice. Marquette had explained about the effects of the different planes on different forms. Such as, the food in the Greek underworld would cause a soul to live for eternity only in that place. Nefandus didn't allow anyone besides members of the Atrox to see it. This Underworld didn't allow the living to have a voice, and the dead on Earth didn't have one.
Marquette looked at Umbra curiously.
He was probably just detained.
Kearney reached for Marquette's hand. Evan and Aidrian weren't around either, and they had promised to be here. Doubts ran quickly in her mind. Something was wrong. She didn't have to read minds to feel the apprehension pouring out of Umbra and Marquette.
She turned to look at the necromancer. Her face was set in stone. She felt so clueless. Obviously something…
Easy, Kearney. You're making yourself upset. You're disappearing into the atmosphere.
Both girls looked. Kearney's legs were dark. The shadows were moving in. Was she calling them to her because of her fear, or were they trying to consume her all on their own?
Marquette looked frightened. These weren't the normal shadows of Earth. Kearney could be lost in here. There was no telling if she could handle it.
Please, Mistress, don't worry. Your doubts are so loud. I'm not sure why they men aren't here. Maybe they're stuck.
Kearney gripped Marquette's arm tightly. She didn't want to be trapped here, too!
xXxXxXxXx
Kearney groaned, her eyelids fluttering. Her multi-colored eyes met concrete. Her vision cleared, and she saw Marquette's face looming over hers, her face etched in intense worry.
"Another blackout?" She asked.
Marquette bit her lip, nodding. "It was awful, Hayes. You just slumped and convulsed. I had never been so frightened before, and I was in hell!"
Kearney sat up, and Marq held her tightly. "How long this time?"
"Five hours. I tried to get out of there, but I couldn't even leave alone. It was awhile before Ezraziel got in and rescued us."
Kearney shivered and ran shaky fingers through her hair. Five hours! "Why was Ezraziel late?"
"He couldn't get in. Someone was blocking the barriers." She furrowed her eyebrows. "Kearney, that's never happened before."
"Maybe it was because you brought me in. You know, with me not being dead or a necromancer," Kearney suggested.
Marquette frowned and pushed her white hair back. "That can't be it. I, uh, um, once took Berto with me."
Kearney was shocked. "What is it with you and Berto? You're with Evan!"
She nodded. "We're just really close friends. He just wanted to talk. Kearney, it's not like I don't love Evan. I do. But Berto, he's just special. I can't really explain."
Kearney sighed and lay back down on the bed. Marquette lay beside her, and they both stared up at the silver canopy top in silence.
"Marq, I want you to tell me everything. I want to know."
"Everything about what?"
"When you were in Tartarus, when you were with the guys. Fighting Serene. All of it. Please."
"Okay, but…I mean, it is the middle of the night. This will probably go on until the morning."
"That's okay. I don't think I could sleep anyways."
Marquette nodded before she began to talk. Her fingers ran over her moon amulet and ankh as Kearney listened to her story. The whole story never told to anyone before.
