I sat by the fire, watching the sunrise through the long Victorian style windows as they fire dwindled down. Curious, just curious, I thought to myself. I really should start moving ahead. Time was of the essence.
No time like the present, I told myself as I wrenched myself off the armchair and walked up the stairs. Walking along the corridor, the floorboards creaked under the pressure of my weight. I sought the comforting presence of my mother but I could only feel the faintness of her energy. I followed it to what I believed was her room, at the end of the long hall. There must be a sign in here somewhere, I thought as I looked around her room.
White sheets covered most of the furniture. The chair in the corner and the overbearing four-poster bed was covered in various white sheets, in an attempt to save it from the dust. My hand trailed along the dressing table as I walked through the room. Dust gathered beneath my fingers, it was the only item in the room that had remained uncovered. The white wood was frayed yet held pretty strong, it showed signs of age but as though it was more beautiful because of it. The beautiful oval mirror attached to it was surprisingly free of dust. I turned around to further look about the room but I was drawn back by that single oddity. I explored the table further, hoping to find the clues that I desperately sought. Quickly, I opened to drawers. I skimmed through, nothing out of the ordinary just the usual things like jewellery and perfumes. My attention was then drawn back to the mirror. My fingers ran along the thick edge of the mirror, instinctively, I pulled it towards me to reveal the back of the mirror. Upon it was a small deep purple velvet box hidden with a groove. I carefully took it out and opened the box. Inside lay a fine triquatra hanging upon a delicate silver chain. As my fingers outlined the pattern, visions of a graveyard entered my mind. The rusting of the crisp leaves overpowered my senses. Blurred visions of headstones and statues flittered around. One was not blurred and it caught my eye as it was so sharp and focused. A stone like alter stood out in a fuzzy sea, etched across the front was inscribed 'For a lost daughter in the awaited hope of her return. Alaina, wherever you may be we pray you are in peace. From your loving parents and family.
My breath caught in my throat, something was drawing me to my mother's memorial yet I could not help but to follow the call. My legs slowly began moving of their own accord, down the corridor and along the stairs. The imposing oak doors opened as if they were never there, almost like they faded out. My heart began pounding louder and louder, hitting my chest over and over again. Fear consumed me, as I walked on against my wishes. My heart was a heavy weight in my chest, weighing me down filling my mind with dread. My arms lay helplessly at my side and my hands shook with my anxiety.
With each step the panic grew and I knew that if I did not control my fear now, I would never be able to break free. I closed my eyes, ignoring the fact that I was still moving yet unable to move my body. I tried to block out the fact I was moving towards an unknown destination, where he was likely to be. The echoing of my beating heart resided in my ears causing me to focus solely on the sound. The fear, slowly, began to subside as my beating heart reminded me of what I have survived, of whom I have survived. You are still living and you still have to keep fighting, I told myself. Anger filled me as the cause or at least the aggravator of my misfortune, danced around my mind, never letting me forget. Dying can give closure and yet there was still one thing I had left to do.
My eyes opened allowing the diminishing sunlight to fill my vision. I clenched my fists and seized control of my body, as it should be. Time to fight, I thought as I ran towards the direction I had been previously forced towards. Thick foliage and trees overwhelmed me as I continued running, gaining momentum. Twigs and branches scratched and my legs, my bare legs? That thought brought me to a halt. Looking down at myself, I could see I was no longer in my comfy clothes of jeans but in a fluid white knee-length dress. I laughed aloud, causing the birds in the trees to flutter away, after waiting so expectantly.
Still had to have some element of control.
Shaking my head to myself, I continued towards my destination. I could feel it calling me towards my mother's memorial. Not wanting to resist, I followed, needing to feel some connection to the only family that I had ever known. My hands ran over the simple stone casket accompanying the alter. The tired part of me desperately called to lie there and join the rest of my family. To stop running, to stop fighting.
The bitter breeze whistled through the trees distracting me from my thoughts. "Go", whispered the wind. "Fight on your terms", whispered the voices. "Go". I recognised one of them as my mother; I did not think twice but turned around and ran towards the thick dense forest. Only primeval fear and shock driving me ahead. As I reached a clearing, I stopped to pay attention to my surroundings. The air had become unnaturally still, the trees no longer swayed; the birds were quiet as if they were waiting. Instinctively, I turned towards the nearest tree and began to climb up. Anything to get away, to have the advantage. The rough bark of the trees rubbed my new delicate skin raw but all thoughts of pain were pushed out of my mind as I grabbed the branches and hauled myself up. I was not exactly the epitome of grace climbing the tree in a restricting fluttering dress; well it was not exactly my choice of attire. Not that I seemingly had a say in the matter.
My thoughts were consumed with reaching higher, anything to increase the distance between myself and him; when he chooses to grace me with his presence. Ignoring my blistered hands and the scratches I had newly created upon my bare legs, I reached the higher branches and settled upon one that looked sturdy and thick enough to hold and continually support my weight. I settled down and lent my body against the trunk of the tree and sighed. Now up there, I felt cowardly and slightly ridiculous but with distance I could think clearer but was at the top of a tall tree really the answer?
A slight tremor began building underneath the ground causing the tree to rumble slightly. After all I had been through; I could see the sheer irony of the situation if I had met my death by falling out of a tree. Well, meet my death again. Groaning internally, I pondered why life was so complicated. The shaking became more violent causing me to forget my thoughts as I tried to cling to the trunk of the tree. Natural fear for my life coursed through me making me very anxious.
Then, all was still and yet my anxious feeling did not subside. He was there. I did not need to look down to check. I feared to do so. I wanted to retain some element of control.
"Hiding in a tree, are we? Is that not somewhat childish?"
I debated on whether to answer him. His voice sounded so close as if he were right next to me though I sense him standing below.
"Not hiding, waiting", I replied.
"Would it not be better to come down here and face me?"
"It would be more advantageous for you, less so for me", I whispered.
His deep chuckle at my quiet remark resonated throughout the forest, causing the trees to shiver in fear. Tired of feeling so helpless and ignorant to what was going on; I decided to bring the conversation into my favour.
"You have what you wanted. The world is slowly succumbing to darkness so why can you not just leave me be. To live my unnatural life in peace"
"Now, Keaira, where is the thrill in that?" I could feel his breath against my ear and my heart almost jumped out of my chest.
Whilst attempting to regain my balance on the branch, a suppressed sliver of my subconscious reminds me that it is time; time to face my fear and hopefully finish this once and for all. Using the trunk of the tree to support me, I carefully stand upon the branch. Trying to keep my balance, I walked slowly across to the end and jumped off the edge. The wind rushed by my head, tickling my face in the process. Even though I knew that the jump could not have been more than a couple metres from the ground, the fall down felt much longer than that. I could feel the air that was passing me at an alarming speed, slow down and guide my fall. Attempting to suppress my smirk; I knew he could not resist but to interfere, I settled to enjoy the fall. He probably thought I sought to end it all, quite possible but this was not how it was meant to be. The empty trees void of leaves looked sorrowful; nature always feels what we cannot sense before us. I could feel the ground coming towards me and he was there, just standing waiting. I bent my knees preparing for a harsher impact than what was experienced. As I knelt upon the ground, I looked up to see that he had not moved. His eyes were twinkling and an amused smirk was plastered across his chiseled face. Brushing myself off, I straightened myself and turned to face him.
"Are you finally ready to come without protest?" he asked. Showing no signs of whether he believed the sincerity of his words.
"mmm? When have I ever made it that simple for you?" I replied as summoned energy from deep within and propel it in his direction. Streams of purple and red light mix and intertwine in the air and hit him. He brushed it off as it were nothing.
"Keaira, you can do better than that", Lucifer teased.
I let his words slide over me. This was not the time to get distracted and allow his words to get to me. He must not suspect. I quickly suppressed that thought, aware that he may be listening in.
Calling upon the fire that ran through my veins, I allowed the flames to circle my arms. I had to put some effort into it. It must not seem as if I am willing giving myself up. Everything must go to plan. I used my anger and desperation of my situation fuel the flames that were circling around my arms, faster and faster, with nowhere to go. I gladly directed them towards Lucifer. I knew at the very most, a little damage would be done. I watched them flow from my arms circling around him. He stood there seemingly unfazed as expected. The flames barely touched him, until it got to his usually well kept if slightly too long hair. Knowing what was to happen, I attempted to suppress my chuckles. The flames slithered around the upper part of his body, spinning around gaining momentum. His mask showing no emotion as the fire blurred around obstructing his vision. His hair rose as the fire set about their target. The ends of his hair began to singe. Biting down my lip to stop my laughter, I looked to see his reaction. No longer twinkling, clouds begun building in his eyes. He was becoming furious. Good, that meant he was distracted.
Suddenly, the fire died out from around him. Clearly, he was just indulging my display. Not that it mattered to me; it had achieved its goal. The ground began shaking violently, shoving me against a tree. I tried to balance myself. The fun was over and the fight had just begun. Desperately trying to cling to the tree to support me, I looked to see what he was up to. Perfectly balanced and upright he stood, his arms folded. It seemed he was done playing along too. The earth began to crumble around me. I did not want to be buried that soon. Soon, the ground that I was standing on started to lose its firmness and began to crumble around my legs. I continued to hold onto the tree as my legs dangled over empty space. The bark was too rough and my hands could not continue gripping it for much longer as the pain amplified. Closing my eyes as the branches slipped through my fingers, I felt the ground close in around me. Suffocating me.