The door in front of me was crafted of a deep rich brown wood that was polished shiny, with heavy guilted locks, chains and knobs. The clink of metal tapping and rubbing against itself ringed as the clerk unlocked the pair or ornate doors. Heavy wood opened with a creak that echoed through the empty hall behind us, and I felt a shift in the cold air as ages old dust began to swirl just beyond the entrance's threshold.
"You'll have three hours Miss," the clerk, Insight, said, "Any longer and you'll be locked inside by the next guard shift. I know it's not a long time, but it's all the Counseling will allow and I'm afraid me and the others are bound by their order."
"It's not a problem, Insight," I said, "I know how lucky I am to just to be given these few hours."
"I wish you luck Miss Firefly, may Her blinded gaze guide you to the answers you seek."
With a deep breath, I looked through the now open doors. The archives were in reality just a glorified library, and that was common knowledge. However, those were the ones that were open to the public. The inner sanctums were another matter entirely. Cut into the core of Nexus' Mountain, these chambers rested far away from the average's citizen's grasp. Built to be long twisting labyrinth of tall corridors, in its hold rested the deepest darkest secrets and knowledge that our ancestors held. Only those with permission from the Counseling itself were allowed to walk these halls. It was the second most sacred place on the island.
The entry doors, opened to a winding staircase, that twirled downward. I slipped out of my shoes before entering, the marble cold against the soles of my bare feet. Still the lack of shoes muffled my steps, insuring I didn't disrupt this home of the ancients. The deeper I descended, the darker the world became. I felt no fear by it. This place was never meant to be illuminated; it was made to rest in black fog. To mutants the shadows were safety, we saw the not just the beauty in the dark, but the danger in the light. In the light you could be seen. In the light you could be caught. Killers couldn't see you as well in the shadows.
Still, I set my two right fingers aflame to keep from tripping and falling to my death.
The staircase came to an end in a large somewhat rounded chamber. Stepping into the off-center of the room, there were halls branching off in all directions. I sent a pulse through the stagnate atmosphere, feeling the sun-like shape the cavern took form of. Infront of almost every hall was marked with the name of the Clan of which it held the history of, and a recreation of the clan's first leader in stone flesh.
My feet carried me to one of the sculptures on the right. Eventually I stood in front of the memorial of woman, who was maybe close to my age. The ore skin was comprised of black marble, with gold flecks sprinkled on her face and shoulders. Her hair long, and dress worn off the shoulders with skirt that had two slits in the sides. A set of twin blades resting in her grasp. I knew this woman well, if only by legend. The first Clan Leader of Natura, only known by her chosen name, Prima Hieme. My ancestor. My left hand I held up to the middle of my chest while the right was brought to my left shoulder, stepping my right foot forward I bowed my head. Saluting her with respect, before continuing onward.
Just beyond her stone person was a hall of black, the pathway of my clan's leaders lives, from Prima to my own Father, was stretched out before me. I swallowed, a shivering creeping up my neck as I entered. I could sense the power and history this hall held, almost as if I could hear the echoes of my ancestors singing their victories and weeping their loses.
I pulled out the small list of files I needed to find from the pocket in my wrist guard. I only had so much time, and I couldn't waste it aimlessly searching. There were maybe thousands of scrolls in this place. I could get stuck in here for months and not find what I was looking for if I didn't have a clear goal, and somewhat of an understanding of where the needed papers were kept.
The first three on my list were easier enough to find. Though, pulling out each scroll or book, did result in a large amount of dust bunnies coming to attack my dress and lungs. Maybe we should invest in a filtration system, I pondered quietly to myself, flying up to the top shelf the grab the fourth item on my list…only it wasn't there. My eyes widened as I stared at the empty space in the dust where a small ornate box should've been.
Now, there were three ways that the mutants of old recorded their history and intelligence. One was on paper, in our needlessly complex ideographic language. The second was through dancing, persevering stories with our movements. Both of which were difficult to decode to an outsider, but the third way was practically impossible without mutant blood. They were called Lux Relics. They could take many forms, maybe a gemstone or some other old trinket. But they were all enchanted to project hidden messages when in contact with mutant DNA. They were incredibly rare, and hard to make, a craft that had been sadly lost to time. Meaning any Lux Relic, and any information of the homeland they held, was immensely precious.
And one was missing.
I could sense the thinner layer of dust in the awkward rhombus shape on the shelf. The box was gone and it had been gone a long time. A couple months at the least. Almost dropping the items in my hands I zipped around the sanctum, sending out small breezes sensing for any small empty holes that should've been filled. My heart dropped and I froze in place, slowly drifting to the floor with the stair case too my left. Nausea rocked my stomach with horror clawing at my soul.
There were so many empty holes…
There was both the sense of urgency and anxiety as I stood in front of the Counseling. I had pleaded with Baba to hold an emergency meeting after frantically fleeing from the inner sanctum. For a single Lux Relic to be missing was cause for a panic, but for as many as I suspected it was time to hit the Lost Queen damned emergency button! Thankfully, having a father in the Counseling came with the perk of getting a meeting before dinner. Not that I would ever abuse this power of course…
I honestly never wanted to be standing in front of their raised golden thrones again. The counseling had two meeting rooms according to my father. One was hidden in the mountain and used if they needed privacy or were handling smaller matters. Baba claimed it looked like a candle lit office meeting room. The second was the formal court.
Formal…that was a good word to describe I was standing in as I presented my discovery to the Counseling. The room was grand in size, a vast dome shaped chamber with a crystal roof, and stain glass windows lining the curved walls, curtains of blue velvet adoring them. The thrones rested on an raised step, in a semi-circle formation forged of solid gold, to which I was positioned in the middle of. Clan leaders on all sides of me, searching eyes leering down through their masks. Grand Mother was off to the right, in her own designated seat with guards at her sides. She sent me a comforting if worried smile.
The last time I had been in this room…well it was just after mother had passed…and not everyone had been as forgiving as my family for my transgressions regarding her death…
"Firefly, are you certain in your findings?" Frost Mist said with a quiver of fear in her tone.
Swallowing thickly, I nodded, "I'm certain, there are near 20 different relics and scrolls missing from the Natura branch of the Sanctum, and possibly many more from the others. I didn't have time to do a full head count, but the clerks will no doubt be taking a full inventory by now."
"Oh, they will, many times, considering this happened under their watch," Lennox spat, looking over my notes, with flaring nostrils.
"That is if this intel is in fact correct," Alkeli grumbled, "And not a childish prank."
I could feel the heat from the glares my father and grandmother were sending the Antisha Clan Leader and they weren't even directed at me. Baba looked three seconds away from snapping, but he held his tongue. I didn't blame him; he couldn't show favoritism for me just because I was his daughter. He had to remain objective when with his peers.
My grandmother was another story…
"Thought young she may be, Firefly is not a child and knows this is no joking matter," she said.
"I have to concur," Clan Leader Prowler chimed in, "Even the youngest of pups wouldn't joke about this."
"Besides it would be easily disproven when the clerks come back with their inventory," Frost Mist said.
"Whether or not this is real should not be the question, it's how this even happened in the first place?" Clan Leader Shi Qui Qui stated, "because right now we have a serious security breach on our hands."
"I have to agree," Baba said, before turning to me, "Firefly, have you already interviewed the clerks about this matter?"
"No sir, I came straight to you with it," I answered plainly.
"Good," Alkeli said, "If word of this reached the gossip rings of the palace, it could easily cause mass panic."
"For once Clan Leader Alkeli, we're in an agreement," Frost Mist spoke.
"We can't keep this from the people forever. We'd lose their trust," Lennox said.
"Not forever, Lennox, just until we have a plan to recover the relics stolen," Frost Mist said, "They are far too dangerous to be left where they were taken."
The meeting continued like this, each leader giving their thoughts and bouncing words off one another. I felt my mind getting lost in the seemingly endless debate. Brain slowly becoming mushier and mushier with every suggestion and criticism thrown about. That last line Frost Mist spoke, however, stuck with me. Lux Relics of Nexus could hold all sorts of secrets, be them from old recipes for traditional dishes to designs for weapons of mass destruction. If someone learned how to break the code of those relics, unlock their secrets…it wouldn't end well for anyone.
"Then it's decided," Frost Mist stated, drawing me back into the conversation, "Agent Firefly will lead the search for the stolen relics, while we induct an internal investigation in to the matter here."
What?
"With all due respect," I spoke without much forethought, "I can handle both the recovery and investigation into these matters. With how interconnected they are it might be easier if the tasks aren't-"
"Silence, child," Alkeli spoke, "These matters are far above what you are meant to see."
"Despite, Alkeli's less then tactful explanation," Prowler said through fangs gritted in annoyance, "You have done well in bringing this discovery to us, Agent Firefly. We will do our part now, just as you can do yours."
I looked to my father out of reflex, and there was an apology in his eyes as I was dismissed. I forgave him.
There was a level of anger that someone with the gift of fire could allow themselves to have without bursting into flames. I was two steps away from that threshold, as I left the meeting. Despite the calm expression I forced my face to make, heat was flowing from my body in waves.
It had been four years since that fateful day, and yet they still felt as if I couldn't be trusted. Four years of training and hard work to prove myself trust worthy, and yet it had done nothing. Frustration had become a close friend in recent years.
"Well, someone is grumpy," The teasing voice, was like a balm on my burning soul.
Junia appeared at my side through one of his portals, a playful smirk on his face. I felt my own lips twist at his smile.
"I'm not having a good day," I admitted.
"Aw, I'm so sorry to hear that love," he looped an arm around my shoulders.
"You already knew, did you?" I raised a brow.
"Well, darling word travels fast when your mother is called in for an emergency meeting while having lunch."
"Sorry," I winced.
"It's alright," his smile dimmed, "You found something didn't you?"
I nodded, glancing around to make sure we were out of ear shot from anyone else, "Several Lux Relics have been stolen from Nexus' inner sanctum."
Junia paled, his eyes going wide, "That is not good."
"No, it is not," I sighed, "I have been assigned to track down and recover what was stolen."
"That's wonderful, you've been wanting to into the field again," my boyfriend's brows furrowed, "But some about this is bothering you."
I nodded, biting my lip, "The only way for something like this to happen would be for one of our own to do it. The Sanctum's location is only known to those with clearance and even then, it's so heavily guarded you had to have powers in order to get inside much less get out with no one noticing."
Junia frowned, "You still believe there is a traitor, darling I thought I told you I didn't want you anywhere near this?"
"Since when do you get to dictate my life?"
"As your partner shouldn't I get a say?"
"In our relationship yes, not my work life. You're my partner not my boss."
"Darling, I'm only looking out for you," He reached out, tucking a lock of my hair behind my ear.
"Are you because it seems like you're trying to stop me at every corner, shouldn't you be supportive of my work?"
"Supportive? Arrow all I am is supportive! I'm not the one who forgot Valentine's Day, or has been late to our dates, am I?"
I winced, and sighed, "Alright, I did do that, and I'm sorry if it made you feel under appreciated."
Junia rolled his eyes and smiled, "As if I couldn't forgive you. It was wrong of me to get mad at you for such petty things."
"It's okay, I know you just want to protect me, but stopping me from doing my job it's the way."
"Very well, where are we heading first?"
"We?"
"I'm coming with you, if I can't stop you I might as well join you."
His lips met mine, and while my soul still burned, I was soothed for now. I really didn't deserve him.
A/N:
Been over a year since I updated, I am so sorry.
Between a whole lot of drama regarding college issues it took me a minute to find it in me to write this.