Time is Running Out

My tears fell on the spot of soft grass where Mother Gana's body once was. In my mind she was still there. The tall, Native American-looking Spirit in disguise with long jet black hair with gray streaks, black eyes, and tanned-brown skin was still lying in front of me in my tear-blurred eyes. But as I blinked away my tears, reality came into play, and I saw the empty space in front of me.

"Mother Gana . . ."

I whispered her name but the wind carried it off.

"She's gone, Violetmoon."

I turned slowly. Rock was standing behind me. His furless body was like wrinkly peach-colored pudding. But his eyeless sockets, was what kept me looking.

The Spirit walked to my side. He put a comforting tail on my shoulder.

"I thought Spirits could never die?" I said, my voice low and depressed.

Rock nodded. "True. But we can be destroyed. And if Kiara, a half-Spirit, can destroy a regular Spirit . . ."

He went silent, as if he discovered a terrible truth. I had a feeling what that truth was. "If she could destroy a Spirit, then that means we're in some serious trouble here."

"Rock!"

We both turned. A giant brown horse came trotting to us. I guessed it was another Spirit considering it could talk.

The horse stared down at us with beady black eyes. "Rock, you have to come now. Something's happened."

"Oh, in the name of the Spirits, what could possibly be wrong now?"

We followed the horse to another part of the garden. Soon we were led to a giant crowd of Spirits (both humans and animals). They were gathered around something. The horse led us through the crowd, and what I saw in the center of the crowd brought a terrible feeling into the pit of my stomach.

Lying still, her dress stained with blood and dirt, was the leader of the Spirits herself; Alena. But it wasn't her dead-like presence that brought worry to me. Running up and down in random stripes on her body were black stripes, like some had rubbed charcoal on her. I knew for a fact Kiara was involved in this somehow. That girl was a monster.

I padded up to Alena. Poking her with my paw, I softly said her name. "Alena. Alena."

No answer.

Rock asked a Spirit what happened.

"A hit with one of Kiara's weird spells. There was a loud boom, and then next thing we all knew, Alena was lying down on the ground. Kiara was gone. And a few seconds after we discovered her, the black stripes appeared."

"A killing curse no doubt," a Spirit added.

Rock agreed. "But whether it will kill her or not is the question."

"How can she?" the horse that brought us here said. "Surely no one's that powerful to kill Alena."

Rock looked back at him. "I think if you were in the same womb with her for nine months, you might have some on her."

Murmurs rose between the Spirits. We were all thinking the same thing: Kiara wouldn't be heartless enough to kill her own sister?

But then I wondered if these Spirits knew Kiara like I did. How she tortures for fun, and murders just for the heck of it. Half these Spirits probably only knew Kiara's name.

"Kiara destroyed Mother Gana."

A dead silence filled the air as I said that. Then at that moment, Alena blinked open her eyes. Everyone took a few steps back as she rose up to her feet. Not even bothering to dust the dirt of her face or arms, she looked at me, sorrow in her eyes.

"Mother Gana's dead?"

I nodded, summoning back tears. "Kiara destroyed her."

Alena's hand covered her mouth. She looked away from me, but still was looking down. Then she began to wobble, like she might faint.

Two Spirits in human form ran to her side and helped her down. Once she was sitting down, Alena looked up at us.

"Spirits, we're in more trouble than we think. Mother Gana was the second most powerful Spirit in this spirit world. Kiara managed to destroy her, and harm me as well."

She looked down at the black striped on her body. "I don't know what these are, but coming from Kiara, I know they're bad. Did all the evil spirits leave?"

Rock nodded. "They're gone. As soon as Kiara left, they followed her."

"Good." Alena looked back to all of us. "Spirits, I want you all into my palace. Rest, gain back your strength. Kiara obviously wants a war. Well, looks like we have no other choice but to give it to her."

She dismissed the shocked crowd, but she asked Rock and me to stay.

"Rock, is our spy here?"

"Yes. I summoned him a little after the evil spirits arrived."

Alena did a half-smile. "Perfect. Fetch him and bring him here."

Rock nodded, and left.

Now it was just Alena and me.

Alena crawled next to me and sat down. "How are you Violetmoon?"

I remained silent, not exactly sure where to start.

"Never mind," Alena said, shaking her head. "That was stupid question. No doubt you're depressed about Mother Gana."

I looked up to the dark sky to avoid crying again. Hard to believe this place was a paradise just a little over an hour ago. Now it was more depressing than a city after a World War II bombing. It broke my heart a little, and I'm sure it broke Alena's too. Her precious little world was destroyed.

Alena pulled pieces of blood-stained grass from the ground. "I lied to them you know."

I whipped my head around to her. "What?"

"I do know what these are," she said, stretching out her arm to fully see the stripes. "I've seen her use them before. Once, when we were living on the streets in Rome, a man tried to hurt us. Kiara blew black smoke for her mouth and when it sprayed on him, these stripes appeared. We found him three days later, lying dead in the sewer."

I gasp, shaking my head in disbelief. "Alena there's no way you can be-"

Alena cut me off. "Don't try to tell yourself otherwise Violetmoon. Just face the truth. I'm going to die."

"How long will it take?"

She shrugged. "That man was a mortal, that's why he died quickly, but for me, I say about . . . ." She looked up for a second trying to think. "Six days."

"Six days?"

"Exi imeres."

I lowered my head to the ground and rested it on soft grass. For a moment, I heard my own heartbeat. Then I heard another heartbeat parallel to mine. And another parallel to that one. And another.

My tail touched my belly. Those heartbeats were . . . . my kits'. It was the most beautiful sound I've ever heard. The heartbeat of my children. I was carrying these precious living things inside of me. Even in this most depressing time, these little unborn children brought a smile to my face. I don't know why, but something about helping these soon-to-be lives grow, and to bring them into this world . . . . . it brought great joy to my heart. It helped to lift the many burdens off it.

Then I saw Alena's arm, how it carried the dark stripes on it. Suddenly I was brought back to my troubles.

"What will we do when you're gone?"

Alena held a handful of grass in the palm of her hand. She raised her hand in the air. A breeze picked up, and the pieces of grass flew away, one by one.

"That's what will happen with the Spirits when I'm gone," she said. "Without someone to lead them, they'll eventually fall apart, and our world will be no more."

I looked at her empty hand. "No more Spirits? What will be left?"

"Evil spirits." She let out a depressed sigh. "This was Kiara's plan all along. Break down the Spirits so she can rule."

I shook my head. "I will never understand her. She went through such great lengths. I mean, she even cursed you. Her own sister."

"That's been Kiara from the beginning," Alena said. "Ever since we were little she's struggled to be the strong one. Even when our mother was alive, Kiara wanted to be sort like the man of the house and provide for us. I remember, while my mother and I sewed clothes, Kiara would be outside practicing battle moves, pretending the sticks from the forest were swords."

She giggled suddenly. "We use to play these games where I would be Princess Andromeda and she would be Perseus. We would gather a bunch of rocks and sticks and build a statue of a sea monster . . . . ." She stopped herself as she saw how she was babbling. "Oh look at me, talking away like an old woman."

"Strange . . ."

Alena looked at me. "What's strange?"

"You and you're sister seem to cherish your memories a lot, more Kiara than you."

Alena furrowed her brows. "I don't understand how that's possible. Kiara never showed that much love for our mother when we were little. She would constantly fight with her."

I shook my head. "No . . . it was all an act. Your sister loved your mother more than you can imagine. I think . . . . . I think your mother was the only more she had a strong love for. But if anyone ever found out . . ."

I gasped. "Alena! That's it!"

"Her love for my mother is the only thing that can destroy her!"

"And once we destroy Kiara . . ."

"We destroy her army!"

The two of us smiled wide at each other. It all made sense. If Kiara tried so hard to hide her love for her mother, then when someone finally finds out, she's be freaking out. And when someone freaks out, they usually have a hard time staying strong. It would be that moment that we can take her down, once and for all!

"There's just one problem," I said. "How exactly are we going to bring out her love for your mother? If we just accuse her of it she'll deny it on the spot."

Alena nodded. "You're right. We need something that she can't deny." A smiled formed on her face. "And I know just the guy to help you with that Violetmoon."

She turned around looking at something behind her. I turned around too, following her gaze. I almost had a heart attack at who I saw standing behind us.

Alena smiled. "Ah yes, my best spy."

"You called for me Alena?" Sol said.

A/N: Oh snap! Sorry for such a short chapter, but cause of the holidays I haven't had much time to write and stuff. Well anyways, I wish you all happy holidays! I Santa/your parents get you all your presents you wanted. A shout out to all my Jews out there and wishing you guys a happy Hanukah! Feliz navidad my sweeties! :)