A new chapter. I am sorry for the wait.
Disclaimer: They are not mine.
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Temperance was floating; she knew that much, and she was safe and warm. She didn't know how long she'd been floating, or how long she would be, she only knew she was. Floating in a sea of red. After much slow consideration she recognized the red as blood. And as if that thought was a catalyst Temperance suddenly began to sink, and then to drown. Frantically she struggled to hold her breath, trying in vain to reach the surface - if there was one. Flashes of light to quick to see were skipping across her vision leaving her blind. Sounds not meant for mortal ears left her deaf. Panic fuelled her struggles, but she knew she was weakening, her limbs grew heavy and then light, and the breath she had so vainly struggled to keep was dribbling out of her lips in the form of bubbles. It was during this moment that Temperance St.Clare achieved a kind of clarity that few people, even during death, are able to reach. She stopped struggling; she stopped fighting, and simply accepted what was to come. Within this calm sphere she was everything and nothing, she was both blind to the future and aware of all possibilities, was both deaf, and heard. Oh yes, she heard. Far, far more then she ever wanted to hear.
………
Before her stood a woman, she was tall, far taller then any woman Temperance had ever seen and her features, though not unattractive, were oddly shaped, pointed and thin, her pale skin and hair giving her an ethereal quality. Temperance was surrounded by reflections of herself as she was, as she had been, as she wished it and as she didn't. Those that were and those that were yet to be. Silently she stared at the woman, while her other selves' simply stared at her. The woman opened her mouth,
"I'm sorry." The voice came from everywhere and nowhere. It was hers and yet was completely alien.
"This was not the way it was supposed to happen." Temperance sensed the frustration of the speaker, "Hatthorus died too soon, Rhennet did not appear, and you, you were not supposed to be born at all. It is almost too late." For what? Temperance wanted to ask, and yet when she tried to form the question, her lips would not cooperate.
"For us all child. For there are none as blind as those who can See and none as deaf as those that can hear." Anger, pain and fear "I'm so sorry child, for what I am about to do. But choice so far has played little part in my actions. The Others would not allow my interference; They believe that each should begin on their own, learning as they go. But how can you create a platform on which to build if your foundations are nothing but sand? They will not listen, and I believe They no longer know how, They have ignored so long. They believe in an infinite amount of power, of Seers and opportunities. I do not." Purpose now, intent as sharp as the icy north wind and as hard as iron.
"We have already failed so many times. So much death. They will waste your life like They have wasted all the rest, but the bloodlines are almost gone, soon, there will be no one left to try and write the wrongs of the past." Temperance felt sadness surround her and also an underlying tang of fear. Desperate loss warred with shattered hope. "So, I will defy Them, one last time. I will have my way. I will help you, as I should have helped the first one, and all who followed her."
"I was silent too long, believing in Them and their assurances. But you are the last, I can feel it. Josis has seen to that. With the death of every Seer he has come a step closer to finding the Book, and with the Book, the Blade. You are the last. You who should have never been born. You are an abnormality that the others did not foresee. It is to you I will show the way." Temperance screamed as a beam of light forced its way into her brain. Pain like she had never before experience dropped her to her knees. Her head and hands were on fire and her synapses burned, with potential, with knowledge. She could feel her other selves' crowd around as one by one, they stretched out their hands.
"Lapis the blue stone of enduring strength, vitality, and communication."
"I give to you." The voice of the woman burned along her synapses, echoing through her brain.
"We give to you." Her selves chanted in kind.
"Alexandrite for connection, to yourself and others. Know that all things, wether they be mighty or low, are connected."
"I give to you."
"We give to you."
"Emerald for heart, insight and healing. For only by knowing your own heart can you hope to know the hearts of others."
"I give to you."
"We give to you."
"Sapphire for the grace and blessing of the divine. Know that no power, no matter how small, is ever wasted, and remember that a blessing can take you father along your road then a curse."
"I give to you."
"We give to you!"
"Garnet for commitment and resilience of self. Know that though the most obvious strength comes from without it is nothing when compared to the strength that comes from within."
"I give to you."
"We give to you."
"Onyx for protection, and balance. To ground your spirit when all else around you crumbles to dust."
"I give to you."
"We give to you."
"Diamond for clarity of mind, body, and Sight. To see your way clear when all paths appear dark."
"I give to you."
"We give to you."
The words, chanted, were not so much heard with the ear, but rather felt in the bones. And each wish, each gift, was accompanied with a parcel of knowledge. The pain in Temperance's body was beginning to grow and her surroundings started to spin.
"And so I give you the knowledge they found before they died, knowledge of yourself you did not possess before, and something else, something they did not have the chance to learn. I give you… your Power." Temperance screamed and writhered, it seemed the very breath in her lungs had turned to flames. And if her body was a blaze. Her mind was an inferno. Temperance didn't know how long it went on, it seemed to be but a moment, and yet she swore that she could feel all the grains of eternity slip through her fingers. It stopped.
"Now child…Forget… Forget and sleep…for now."
………….
"Where is she?" The tall, well built, man paced back and forth in front of the alter
"She will be here, we have made to Call, the Scrolls foretell it. She will be here." The small man pushed his glasses nervously up his nose "Patience is a virtue." He tittered nervously. Suddenly he found himself shoved roughly against the wall, two feet from the floor.
"Do not. I repeat. Do not. Patronise me. Ever."
"I'm sorry, Sir –" He was interrupted by the entrance of another man.
"Sir, the girl has arrived!" Josis gave what, on another made, might have been a smile, but on him simply looked like some kind of bestial leer.
"Very good Ahmeena." Turning he released the throat of the skinny Egyptologist causing the man to slide down the wall and hit the stones that formed to foundation of the temple with a dull thud.
"Then what are we waiting for? We should greet our guest."
…
Temperance woke slowly, acutely aware of the throbbing coming from the base of her skull. God Damn Judas! Groaning she levered herself up, ready to strangle her friend. Her thoughts of vengeance were interrupted though, as she took in her surroundings. They were 'different' to say the least. Where once cabinets had stood, displaying artefacts from ancient Egypt, broken pillars, rubble and sand was all that remained. Temperance herself was sprawled on a carved stone tablet. As the fog in her mind recede the acute pain in her head and hands took over.
What had happened? What-
Temperance caught sight of her hands and discovered why she was in so much pain. The jewellery she had put on in jest was now fused to her skin, embedded in her flesh. Temperance franticly stared at the underside of her wrists, vainly looking for the clasps of release. Only smooth metal greeted her terrified eyes. The stones that decorated the cuffs winked coolly back at her. She followed them with her eyes. Lapis,
For strength
Made a decorative border that edged the cuffs. Alexandrite also followed the lapis.
For connection to yourself…
"And others." Temperance raggedly whispered "And emerald, emerald for healing, mind, body, spirit, for insight…" How did she know all this?
Temperance heard a grinding sound behind her, what had previously seemed a wall was slowly moving aside.
…
Hope you like. It was a bit rushed. Feedback is, as always, appreciated.
Most of the information on gems sourced from this sight: also found this site, Gem by Gem: interesting