Where The Spirits Sleep
The group found themselves huffing and heaving for plenty of air after their great walk had finished. In the end, Lucy however felt no tiredness as unlike the group got Andre and Adrian to take turns carrying her along the way. The tour guide shook his head and closing his eyes when seeing the inactivity that Lucy managed to get away with.
"You aren't going to get the real experience just waiting for people to carry you to Machu Picchu."
The group all grunted and shared no sense of relation towards that comment, disregarding it with their non-agreeable noises and slurs. "The only sense of experience is getting a pain with your foot and only to get to a bunch of ruins." May argued, raising her fist as she spoke. She then collapsed, tumbling over Andre and then eventually Lucy creating a domino effect.
"Thanks for covering my fall. Who knows? I could have got myself hurt!" May said, laughing as she got up.
Lucy got up and dusted the dirt from her dress and decided to get off of Andre. "Is everyone okay?' she said, concerned of the state of those involved with the accident. Andre, the one who suffered most from the fall spat out the dirt that was caught on his mouth and then wiped his lips with his arm, stamping his feet like a child as he felt the weight and pain of both of the girls tripping him over. "I hate this trail! Ugh, that news report better be right." Andre yelled out.
"Ya' think you have to be that loud, you big dumbo!" May said, shouting louder towards the man, beating him in decibels.
"What news report?" asked the tour guide, interested in what the big muscle man had said previously.
Just as Andre was going to ask the question, May interrupted and like a moth to light, thought in her head as if it was her time to shine with the information. She closed her eyes and opened her mouth, only to be muted by a goat that had walked straight passed, right in front of her. The goat was white, with curved horns and noised as it crossed May, as if it was laughing at her attempt to steal the spotlight. The goat then walked away, casually as the people stared at it with obscure thoughts and undivided attention.
"Apparently according to the big knuckle head, the spoilt brat and the…" Mark looked over to Socrates, who still suffering from many sores kept quiet. Mark almost revealed the identity of the cat, but quickly recuperated from his stumble and shook his head. The tour guide confused, squinted his eyes and pursed his lips. "And the what?" he asked.
You idiot! Thought Lisa, putting her hand over her face, swaying her head. The girl falls all the time dropping me on the sharp rocks… And I suffer in silence only for the boy to ruin everything… What did I do to deserve this? Socrates thought, almost wanting to punch Mark in the face as he was resting in Adrian's care. Mark could see the tension of Lisa and Socrates by watching them glare at him. He ignored them and then thought of the things to say.
"The plush toy. We got that little plush cat from Japan and when you press its stomach, it talks like a normal person." Mark said, looking towards over Socrates giving him a sinister grin. Socrates tried his best to restrain himself, but his faced twitched in absolute rage over the boy's choice of words. I'm so going to kill you! He thought to himself, thinking about evil ways to return the favour.
"Oh really? Can I try? I've never heard of a talking cat before. You say Japan? They are so advanced with technology it's incredible in what they make." The tour guide then observed the cat with such interest, Mark's almost "sales pitch" piquing his interest much more. "I never realized until now, but the cat looks so realistic too! Is there anything the Japanese can't do?" the man said with much enthusiasm. "So where to I press it for it to talk?"
Mark took much pleasure from the comment, having a little giggle to himself thinking about his next move in what to say.
"Like I said, in the stomach. Adrian please, show the man our dear plush toy figure from Japan."
The tour guide then decided to stroke the furs of the cat, to Socrates dismay, was actually content, as he felt overjoyed that someone was stroking his furs. Then, all of a sudden the man then pressed on his belly once and then again. To the tour guide's dismay, the cat said not a word and Socrates was truly feeling the pressure from this situation.
"The cat isn't talking when I pressed his stomach, are you sure that this is the one you got from Japan."
Lisa shook her head while Lucy and Mark laughed from the banter that was going on.
"Try again, it should work this time…" Mark said, anticipating a response from the cat that easily suffered from its facial expression that it showed.
The tour guide was then going to attempt a third time, the cat dreading the thought of another attack on his belly and wanted to close his eyes but couldn't due to suspicion.
"That kid Mark stinks like crap. You should see him in the hotel room, stinking up the whole place." Socrates said, after the impact of the Tour guide's blows.
The tour guide grinned in delight, "So the saying is true, the third time is a charm. What else does it say?" the tour guide said, turning towards Mark and laughing at his expense.
Mark struggled to find the words to say. "Well, I think that's enough. Would you like to know where the switch is?" Mark said.
"No no no! I think that's enough Mark, lets just get onto the ruins right now. Please, I'm just waiting in anticipation for them" Lisa said, desperate to deter them away from discussing more about Socrates.
"Lisa, I think it's fine to actually show the man how our toy works and what kind of functions it has. So, there's the switch." Mark pointed out. The tour guide drawing closer towards the cat and observing it and nodding his head. Socrates, in a spur of hostility reached his claws attempting for the tour guide to stay back. The tour guide fell shocked at the cat's violent behaviour. "The cat is feisty!" the Tour guide said, laughing.
Mark drew closer to the cat and raised his index finger and swaying it from side to side. "Now, don't be a naughty cat!" Mark said, grinning evilly towards the cat that had tried to remain stationary after his attempted attack. Mark then nodded his head, content in his victory. The cat then sent a projectile of flowing liquid towards Mark's face. The group was shocked that Socrates had intentionally urinated on Mark; the boy disgusted began wiping his face and was boiled with anger. Still he tried to keep his cool, his face shaking and his arm constantly wiping it as if they were windscreen wipers of a car on a rainy day.
Everyone apart from Lisa managed to get a big laugh out of the incident; the tour guide in particular was in awe of this so-called invention. "So that was there the switch to turn it off and on was? The Japanese are good at inventing things with humour! I've got to get one of my own soon!" The tour guide told the group. I can do a whole lot more than that… Socrates thought to himself.
The group managed to make it to the ruins, passing by an interesting stone structure. Claire felt compelled to the rock, closing her eyes and seeing blue spectres of spirits flocking towards the rock.
"What is that rock for Mr Tour Guide?" she asked. The guide nodding his head, "Yeah we get a lot of people asking us what that rock is. Apparently this is a ritual stone called the Intihuatana Stone, which was made by the Incas, those that built Machu Picchu and lived here. This stone according to legend was used to perform religious rituals and according to historians and scientist, this is what they used to tell the time and has big astrological impacts as well."
Astrological impacts…? Claire thought. Maybe this stone is the way to get to Capricorn.
"The stone is sacred, but as legend says when you rub your head on the stone, you will either get an epiphany or a vision to the spirit world. But the effect won't work, unless you are a sensitive person."
The group looked towards others with disinterest of the stone and most of the group walked away observing the ruins while trying to find Capricorn. Lisa paid attention to every detail the tour guide spoke as she had an undying devotion and appreciation to history. "The ruins are fascinating, don't you get a sense of awe when you take tourists here all the time?"
"It is fascinating, it's part of my job but I feel privileged every single time I come here."
Lisa jumped up and clapped her fingers excitedly. "Then please show me your favourite spot then!" Lisa demanded with a force in her tone. The tour guide widened his eyes and smiled slowly, questioning the sanity of the woman. "Sure, follow me."
As the group passed the stone and into a new section of the ruins, Claire then approached the stone and remembering the legend rubbed her head against the stone, realizing that those spectres that she saw in her brief visions were indeed around. She then saw a cluster of the spectres banging their hands on the stone, demanding to be released and into a different place. Claire's vision was then obscured, as if the spirits were moving in slow motion. Spirits then approached the stone; she felt nothing as the spirits just went through her like a holographic image.
She then moved away from the stone, watching spirits from all over different places of the world approaching the stone, banging their hands on the stone. She could hear the sounds of their fists coming into contact with the stone like a constant rhythm or beat in her head. The beat then grew louder and louder, almost unbearable in Claire's ears. She walked away from the stone, hopefully getting away from the sound and commotion, covering her hands with her ears and closing her eyes. She then heard a little girl's voice, and felt someone pull on her clothes. "Claire, it's me… Can you see me Claire?" A brief silence occurred in Claire's mind. "Big sister?"
Claire then opened her eyes, looking back at the stone, the spirits still beating their hands on the stone, but she then could not hear the rhythm that she heard before. She looked around and saw little sisters' spirit, following it. "Kristen! Kristen. Where are you going?" She ran as fast as she could, desperate to be in contact with her again. May heard the screams that Claire made, kicking Andre in the leg. "We've forgot about Claire! She's apparently found her sister, but she's run off. We have to find her before she gets too lost!"
The spirit of her sister than stopped at one point, Claire not knowing where she was then realized that she was standing at a really narrow peak, with her sister. Claire's muscles in her face ached and she gaped her mouth in amazement to finally see her sister again.
"Kristen, tell me where you are… Please tell me that you are still alive. You don't know how much I've missed you. Adrian and I might have lost you that night years ago, but I'm not ready to lose you now! So please just tell me where you are."
Kristen nodded her head. "I missed you too Claire… I remember when the witch of the shadows took me to her lair, we passed a place called Au…" Kristen's spirit had faded before she could finish.
"NO!" Claire yelled, falling to her knees, "This can't be happening. WHERE is she?" Claire cried, swaying her head in belief. "This can't be happening."
Claire then felt a small nudge, as she opened her eyes her astral amulet was quivering rapidly and then she realized it was the same goat that had just previously passed them during their trail, this time with a bell attached with a collar and in that collar, a star patterned was encrusted on it, similar to the astral wand.
The goat's mouth then opened and then cuddled Claire on the shoulders. "Don't worry, the star's child, you will see your sister soon." The goat spoke, in a calm woman's voice.
"What? You can talk?'
"The same way as that cat you call Socrates can speak in human dialect. I alone prefer to speak the Goat's language, as it is simple. We simply baa our orders towards others."
"But what are you? Who are you?"
"You should know. Your powers are getting stronger, and I am willing to give mine to you."
Claire closed her eyes and then started to ponder. I should know… But I don't. What is this mysterious goat? Another toy from Japan… Actually scratch that, I don't even know where Socrates came from. Oh! That's right… It's Capricorn.
"Judging by your thought, I shall confirm my identity to you. I am Capricorn, the thoughtful one of the Astral Beasts. I, with my compassion, empathy and my drive to succeed shall hopefully be of use to you. May we form the pact?"
"The pact?"
"Yes. As you capture our presence and forms in that wand, you actually are making a pact to use our powers and qualities to aid you on your journey. Surely you should have known that."
"I didn't… And now I know how I possessed these extraordinary powers. It's because I've been making pacts with powerful beasts like you… But you are different, how come you aren't attacking me with your powers?"
"Ah! That is a good question, my dear. I am no hostile beast nor am I looking for conflict to ruin these beautiful, sacred ruins of the past. Unless you are looking for a fight yourself."
"No, no. I wish to not fight either… it's just a little strange."
"I can tell from your eyes, Claire Nash. But you are special. Let us speak no more and hold your wand up and let us make the pact."
Claire stood up and then held the wand over the goat's head. "Oh Capricorn, the compassionate and caring beast of the Zodiac. Lend us your aid!"
When the pact was completed, Claire could hear Capricorn's voiced inside her head. "Now, this journey will not always be easy. You will face challenges that were never presented to you before, beasts of great power that are capable of defeating you in battle. Beasts of heart that will challenge your morals, but don't fret Claire Nash… Us beasts tapped inside this wand, because of your golden heart will support you in anyway we can."
Claire closed her eyes, nodding her head, a green glow surrounding her and her bodily filled with compassion was what she could feel.
Claire then opened her eyes, deactivating the wand into the amulet and spoke to it. "Capricorn, when you told me that I will see my sister again… Could you tell me where she is or if she's alive?"
"I'm afraid that is not for me to decide. I do not know the whereabouts of your sister, or state of her condition. However, I will say this. If you believe that you sister is alive, what's stopping you from seeing her again?"
"Your right Capricorn and I do believe that she's still alive."
"Then what are we waiting for? Once we get a lead we will find her and save her."
Claire finally felt a bit of joy and regained her determination towards finding her sister. May behind her at a distance called to her. "Claire, I just saw that! You've found Capricorn and contained her in that rod haven't you?"
"Yes." Claire said shrugging her shoulders, acting coy and cute. "I did."
"Geez Claire, you're getting good at this whole business. You found the beast yourself and you've contained it all by yourself without our help!"
She then felt proud of her accomplishments. Andre, suddenly appeared behind May panting. "We should get to the others! They are moving pretty quickly."
"Oh no! Where are they? I hope I didn't make you lost! How are we going to get to them? These ruins are huge!" Claire panicked.
"Claire! Stop it. Don't worry; I've got something that will make getting to our problems into a happy, happy conclusion. Hold on tight!" May said, releasing massive wings from her back.
"What? Are you sure?" Claire asked. "Don't worry, I've got the perfect thing to say if they get too suspicious."
As the three flew, Andre and Claire holding onto May for flight, they saw the rest of the group back at the sacred stone. As they landed, May saw Lisa crossing her arms, while the tour guide gaped his eyes, his eyes widened yet again in awe of what he saw.
May looked towards Lisa, with a cheeky grin. "What! They are from Japan remember?"
The tour guide smiled, with nothing but the sight of those angelic wings on his mind. Is there anything the Japanese couldn't do? He thought to himself. Claire observed around, but couldn't find the spirits, but she finally knew that the stone was no legend, but foretold a great vision of where the spirits slept.