Disclaimer: (Sigh) I own nothing. And it makes me want to cry! Anyways….
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Castrata, needlessly said, did not sleep well. Correction: She didn't sleep at all. She lay in bed, turning the riddle around in her mind… the answer was right there… she just knew it… If only she could reach it!
Castrata walked to school—she wanted time to think. (Not that she hadn't had all night…) She had the feeling that she couldn't tell her friends about this. Much as she wanted to, she knew that they'd all give their own advice, and right now, what she needed was her own answer. It was right in front of her face, she just knew it.
School was surprisingly empty. Viruses, it seemed, were running rampant. Jadyn was out with the virus, and Lanya had left LA early that morning on a family trip to Lake Tahoe.
Castrata faded out so much in class that even Ariasti, who was busy doodling on her notebook, noticed.
"What is it?" Ariasti asked as they sat down for lunch.
Castrata paused. Her first impulse said not to share any information, but out of the three, Ariasti gave the best advice—and didn't make you follow it. Castrata knew that whatever she decided, Ari would back her up.
"It's this riddle—" Castrata blurted out, and found herself telling Ariasti everything. Ari listened carefully, occasionally asking questions.
"So," Ari said when Castrata was done, "Let me get this straight. Ethan appears to be of Follower ranks—and more powerful than your father. Just how many people are above your father in rank? I thought he was the Prince of the Night."
Castrata's face paled. "He is…" she whispered, "There's only one… one who's more powerful…." she trailed off.
"The Atrox." Ariasti finished. She bit her lower lip, drawing blood, but she didn't seem to notice. "This complicates things. And you say he kissed you?"
Castrata nodded.
"Was he a good kisser?" Ariasti asked. Then, catching sight of Castrata's face, she sobered again. "Sorry. But He wasn't draining hope from you…? It was just a normal kiss?"
Castrata nodded.
"Did it seem… sincere?" Ariasti asked. "Passionate." She clarified, at Castrata's bank expression.
Castrata thought back, and then nodded. "Unfortunately."
Ariasti thought for a second. Suddenly her face clouded over.
"What is it?" Castrata asked.
"He asked you a riddle. And Tymmie… Tymmie said that it was customary to ask the woman a question—correct?"
Castrata nodded, not sure where all this was going.
"Think, Castrata!" Ariasti said, exasperatedly, "When does a man normally ask a woman a question?"
Castrata frowned—there were hundreds of scenarios…
"A BIG question, Castrata!"
Castrata froze. "You're joking."
Ariasti shook her head. "Think about it. Ethan asked you this question-riddle-thingy. He said that if you got it right, then you'd be answered the true question. This riddle was a test to see if you were worthy. That means that the next question will be…"
"But I don't want to marry him!" Castrata said, practically yelling. The people at nearby tables gave her odd looks. She lowered her voice. "I don't want to marry him!"
"I heard the first time." Ariasti said wryly, rubbing her ear. Castrata wondered how loud she had been. "Fine, let's skip to the important part—the riddle." Catching Castrata's look, she said, "If you don't answer this riddle correctly, I doubt that he'll let you live."
Castrata nodded.
"Now," Ariasti said, taking charge of the situation once more. "We know its from and Ancient Myth. Hmmm… Let's see. When I think 'Ancient'—I think… Greece, Rome, and Egypt. Mostly."
Castrata snapped her fingers. "Greece has a beach—it's called the Sands of Time!"
Ari smiled. "We may have something…"
They were interrupted by the bell. Castrata and Ari glanced at their half-eaten sandwiches and grabbed the plate, quickly finishing the remainder of their lunches.
"This is perfect!" Castrata said, as they headed towards mythology class. "I can look through our book to find the answer—we're reading aloud today, anyways!"
It was perfect—except that Castrata had more trouble finding the answer than she'd originally anticipated.
The teacher, and the classmates that the teacher chose to read, droned on and on… Castrata tuned out—she had to find the answer!
"Miss Larhk! Miss Larhk! Your attention please!" The teacher sniffed. Castrata vaguely realized that the teacher was talking to her. Her classmates giggled.
"Yes?" Castrata inquired, drawing out more giggles.
"Please do pay attention, Miss Larhk. Why don't you honor us by reading the next section for us."
Grumbling, Castrata turned to her book. Her breath caught in her throat, and she shared a glance with Ariasti.
"Any day now, Miss Larhk," The teacher said, impatiently.
Castrata ducked her head and began to read.
"The Ancient Egyptians believed many interesting things. One of the most peculiar was a belief that the sands were guardians of Time. For this reason, Egypt's deserts were sometimes called the Sands of Time.
"Ancient Egyptians also had interesting views on the creation world. The most popular theory is that the world formed from Watery Chaos, from which the sun god, Ra, emerged. It is often said that Watery Chaos was both the light and the dark, both the destroyer, and the creator."
Castrata sped home as fast as she could. She knew! She paused only to consider how close she had come to being wrong—Greece! Agh!
Ethan regarded her curiously as she skipped into the house, her hair flying, a broad smile on her face. Her father and Tymmie looked on, apprehensively.
"Do you have an answer, Castrata Selene Raliss Nocitis Larhk?" Ethan asked, formally.
"Yes," Castrata breathed.
Ethan arched an inquiring brow, his face somehow managing to appear threatening and inquisitive at the same time. "And…?" He prompted.
"The Watery Chaos was regarded as both the light and the dark—both the creator and the destroyer."
Ethan bowed mockingly. "That is correct, if rather crude," he said, smoothly.
Castrata glanced at her father and Tymmie—they both looked rather relieved. Tymmie caught her eye and gave her a tender look. Castrata felt her stomach perform a flip-flop. She turned back to Ethan.
"Time for your final question," Ethan smirked. "Darkness or light."
It took Castrata a second to realize that he had just spoken the question. Her face must have betrayed her, because Ethan laughed softly—a chilling sound. "Darkness, or light, Castrata. It's not that hard a decision. An eternal night with me, or a day of sunshine." He laughed again, and disappeared. With him went Tymmie and her father.
We are not permitted to stay, Tymmie said, across her mind. We are unable to sway you in any way. Choose for yourself, Castrata. And then he was gone.
Castrata's knees buckled, and she slid to the floor. A single tear rolled down her cheek. Make a choice? She was no fool—she knew that if she chose darkness that she would become dark, and eventually destroy the world at Ethan's side. She would be the final straw to break the camel's back in the battle between dark and light.
At the same time, choosing light, she would live no longer than a day—Ethan had made that quite clear. How did one choose between damnation and… well… death. She knew what the correct answer was—but she also knew, quite suddenly, that without her the Daughters would perish, too. So she was choosing between damnation and damnation.
More tears followed that first tear on its way down her cheeks. She cried silently, alone. She brushed her amulet gently. "Mom, I wish you could help me." She whispered.
The house was silent. Castrata rose and brushed herself off. As she bent over, the hairs on the back of her neck prickled, and her senses registered that another person was in the house.
Castrata whipped around to meet a pair of bright green eyes.
"Mom." She breathed.
Author's Note: Hee, hee. :-) Now, if you want more, we need some more reviews. That little blue button is simply calling your name…
Oh, all thanks to Cheyenne—you rock! Here we go on your idea…:-)