Chapter 5:

Sorceress

There was a clicking sound.

The seconds passed, every moment, something drew nearer.

The clicking continued.

An alarm? Was it time to get up already? Minako clenched her eyes tightly. Rather than awaken, she wanted to befriend the darkness once more. The moment she opened her eyes, the dream would fade into light, and become only a sun-exposed picture. If that happened, how would she remember it? She would hold it in her hands for years to come, only a flash of yellow and red, covering what used to be an intricate image. That flash of color was not enough, even though it hurt to breathe, and even though the darkness clouded her sight and sought her life, she wanted to hold it in her two hands. When she opened her eyes, it would slip from her fingers and shatter. She would lose the warmth she felt.

The clicking continued still.

As she struggled to hold the darkness, a bright light entered her nightmare; she felt the warmth upon her cheeks. Had the darkness claimed her? No… this light seemed to come from Heaven itself, beckoning her away from the demons and darkness. The bright hand that reached toward her called her back. Renee was on the other side with open arms. Minako opened her eyes slowly, hoping to find herself embraced by the arms of Renee. What she found were not the welcoming arms of the light-breathing angel Renee, but a continuation of her desolate nightmare.

“Where…?” Minako’s weary body only allowed one word to escape her lips in her disorientation. She blinked her eyes quickly.

Nick held her closer and stared off into the distance. Even in the light, the desolate darkness shrouded that land. They stood before a plane of earth, which kissed the horizon. The brown desolate land lacked the green strands the wind would whisper through with its gentle breath. In truth, the earth was stained and defiled. Blood gave sustenance to this land; the red rivers flowing through the ground gave a swift death to any living creature. Very little grew in this land, except for one special plant. Everywhere, the stained earth sprouted tanned, sun-dried bones and corpses. This valley of death provided nourishment for only the vilest creatures; crows and vultures, too weak to hunt the strong, preyed upon the scattered bones growing from the earth. They were the pickpockets of the putrid landscape. The place reeked of rotting and decaying flesh. Everywhere, it smelled like death and the stench choked anyone who breathed, clogging their throat. Had the other girls been right, even though the darkness tortured them, was it safer than this world? Even though stale air filled the darkness, it did not choke its victims quite like the smell here. No, this was entirely different. It was a brand new land of death-filled nightmares.

Nick’s faced twisted in horror, an expression he had never felt. As he knew it, the most hideous creature in the world was himself. But this place… How strange and different it was from his desolate darkness. He was king of that frightening black, but here… even the king of darkness was terrified. The rancid land before him, the rank smell of flesh, the rivers of blood, he had no idea that such a world existed.

Minako had believed the darkness was hell, but this valley of death was truly hell.

He let in a quick gasp; it was shrill, an exclamation of awe and fear. “I have no idea…”

Minako blinked, looking up at Nick, instead of the vast wasteland before her. “Have you never been outside the darkness…?”

“It always seemed like a prison for the abandoned of God, but even the desolate darkness is tame compared to this gruesome valley. The darkness was a sanctuary.”

“Were they right? The outside world is too frightening, too violent, and too lonely for anyone. Maybe… we should have stayed with them…”

“No,” Nick let out a low growl, “I want it back. Nothing will stop me, no matter how rancid and foul… It belongs to me!” Nick stood tall, his wings stretched, he began to walk through the valley of death. What lay beyond it was a mystery; all he had ever known was infinite darkness. But the darkness lay behind him, and he traveled onward into the light.

~*~

The ominous darkness seemed to disperse as Minako and Nick reached a large walled city. The white alabaster walls loomed over their heads, growing toward the sky. The world of light was so much more complex than the world of darkness. Here, darkness did not cloud sight; as far as the eye could see, there was some lit corridor to explore. Nick found that the walled city was another terrifying site as he entered it with Minako. People lined the crowded streets like an ocean. Everywhere Nick turned, there were crowds and smells to behold. The wafting smells of warm food tantalized his tongue. His wonder belonged to a child, stepping into the world for the first time. He walked farther into the walled city; Minako followed closely behind him. As his feet hit the ground, they stirred up dust and dirt. Even the smallest intricacies of this city amazed him. But what amazed him was mundane for the citizens of this walled city. They, instead, were amazed, no, frightened by the horned boy with a tail, wings, and claws. Though his wings fell in resting position, his great demonic aura shone through. The shrieks of the people echoed through the city, so shrill that they could freeze blood. Nick turned in fear, what had scared them so badly? He stepped back, dust clouded his feet.

“Monster!!!!!” a woman shrieked, pointing toward him.

“M-monster?” Nick’s jaw dropped in alarm.

“The devils are attacking the city!!!!” another voice cried.

“Devils?” Nick whipped his head around wildly. Somewhere, the answer existed; he only needed to find it.

The citizens grew angry and frightened. Oranges, pears, plums, and peaches began flying through the air. They hit their target straight on; the juice of the fruits oozed down Nick’s face and body like blood. As it hit his eyes it stung like acid. He put out his hands, in a plea for the citizens to stop their torment, but all they saw were his claws. To them he was a monster, the Devil’s minion. He stepped back, hoping to run from this place, but he had no chance. Spears surrounded him; the army of the walled city stood before him, intending his death, and even Minako’s by chance. Nick pushed her out of the way and she landed in the dirt with a thud. The dirt clung to her clothes, attracted by the juice of the fruits.

Minako struggled to rise from the ground. Her voice struggled painfully as well, “Nick!!!!”

Nick growled. Spears from every side. The metal glistened in the light; they were precious stones of death. How luminous their luster was, but in a moment, the beautiful death stones would be defiled with his blood. In all his years alone, waiting, searching in the darkness, he had felt hate. The hate he felt was the strongest, most violent hate he had ever known, his own. But, he felt hate now also. The fruit juice stung his eyes, but instead he smelt their anger. It was the blood on the valley of death, the valley had not yet absorbed it and it baked in the sunlight. But something tainted that blood. Nick licked his lips, this tainted blood, he desired it. The anger and fear of this city, it could be his in an instant. He raised his hands to eyes, hoping to clear the acid from them. His claws glistened like the beautiful death jewels in the hands of the army. A threat on their lives, they drew the spears nearer to his neck; they intended to make a necklace of precious death jewels, chained together with his blood. Through his clouded eyes, Nick saw the glistening light of death and a flash of flesh so fast, it startled even him.

“STOP!”

The cry rang through the ears of the walled city. The guards pulled back their shining death jewels. The maiden he had pushed aside guarded the hideous creature before them. Her hair fell against her shoulders as the wind tousled it playfully. Minako held her arms outstretched, she would protect Nick, even if she was his shield, because she owed him all the time he had spent waiting for her in the horrid darkness.

One of the guards pushed the tip of his spear toward her. It brushed her neck slightly, leaving a small gash. Blood dripped from it like red rain and formed dewdrops on her skin. “Move Maiden, unless you wish to die with the beast.”

Minako’s lips shook as a low growl formed in her throat. Beast? How could they! These people, they have no idea about suffering and pain. They live in this walled city together in harmony and the towering walls protecting them. They only know safety. The terror of the darkness… And even the world outside… is an endless mystery.

“She must be a spy.” “A spy in cohorts with demons? Even the other nations would kill them.” “She protects him unwaveringly, she must be a demon.” “Look at those weird clothes.” “He’s right.” “Such a bewitching demon, she could have fooled me.”

The chatter of the crowd reached the ears of the soldiers, Minako, and Nick. Demon? I’m not a demon. And strange clothes? For the first time, she noticed the dress of the people. Long, simple robes and dresses, cloth pants, tunics tied at the waist… What was this place? They wore shoes with thongs or simple shoes without soles, laces, or buckles. And the colors were mundane: blacks, browns, grays, tans, whites, and creams. Even Nick, she had never noticed in the dark, wore a black ankle-length tunic, tied at the waist with a cream ribbon, and tattered, black pants. But he had not accused her of being a demon, or even thought her out of place. He must have known I was a foreigner, but, did this mean that the Priestess Pandora came from another world entirely?

The guard drew his spear closer to Minako’s neck. “Are their outbursts true? Are you a demon in cohorts with this devil? If it is a lie, Maiden, move quickly and your life will be spared.”

Minako’s eyes shook with rage. She understood how Nick must have felt upon their first meeting, when she accused him of being a monster who ate women. Her blood grew hot, and she could feel it rising throughout her body. This elevated anger consumed her system. Another growl escaped from her lips. “Do not call him a devil… To suffer does not make one a devil!” Minako’s eyes glowed red as her body trembled in rage. Who was she to direct her anger towards? All in her presence were guilty of their misconceptions. Minako began to raise her hand toward the guard who pointed his spear at her when a trumpet sounded. The people before her dropped to their knees, the dirt rose around them all, clouding Minako’s sight of what approached. There was soft pounding on the ground, almost like the earth’s heartbeat. In this desolate city, it was dying; in the desolate world outside, it was already dead.

“You lesser soldiers are insolent, bow before his Majesty.” A decorated soldier on a horse stood beside the guards. His eyes narrowed in frustration—the only part of his face revealed from behind his helmet. The metal of his armor glistened in the sunlight, almost like the spears of these guards, but much more regally. It was not death metal, it was polished like silver and shone like the sun, a shining beacon of light in the darkness of this desolate city. A carriage stopped behind him. The outside was a bright blue, almost like a jewel, and the open window had curtains of the same color. The carriage was ornamented with gold and stood above the citizens here. It was a moving throne for the man she assumed was the king behind the window, sitting regally in his splendor.

All of the soldiers, except the one who held his spear toward Minako set to kill her in an instant, bowed at the soldier’s command. The dust formed around them again, clouding Nick’s already blurred sight. The eyes of the guard narrowed again as he stared at the guard who still stood, disobeying his order. “Explain your disobedience, or face death.”

The remaining guard stood before him, unwavering, “Forgive my actions, but it is to protect our city. These demons entered unwelcome and sought to kill our city and king. They are spies from a neighboring land, they have been hired by our enemies.”

“Lower your spear and bow to his Majesty.” The guard followed instructions as the decorated soldier dismounted his horse. He stood before the guard and removed a sword from his sheath. Although it was a weapon, it shone in the same manner as his armor. It was a beautiful weapon of light; it was a blade of Heaven and its strike brought a swift and peaceful death to those it touched. He aimed it for Minako’s neck, but not near enough to touch her. “Explain yourself, Maiden, I would not wish to add another gash to your beautiful neck.”

As Minako opened her mouth, Nick’s voice struggled, “Do not speak, Pandora, it will only bring us under more suspicion.”

“Pandora?” the decorated soldier raised an eyebrow.

Minako drew back from the decorated soldier, who then turned his attention to Nick. “Of course, it would be improper to ask the woman. Explain yourself, then, and perhaps your lives will be spared.”

Nick cleared his throat and tried to look into the eyes of the man before him, though he could not see clearly and the figure was only a shining mass of metal with the deep, proud voice of a man. “Do not assume us to be spies, or foreigners, I assure you that is a false assumption. We are from the outskirts of Safaiananpou, and only chanced upon this city in our journey.”

“You do not know of the city in which you stand?”

“In truth, we have never left our city.”

City? It was a prison-like cave of darkness on the outskirts of a death valley. No one, save the God forsaken and imprisoned maidens would set foot in that place.

The soldier let out a low laugh, “You claim to be from Safaiananpou, but do not realize when you stand in its capitol, Aoihouseki. That statement represents treason or is the words of a foreigner.”

“I assure you it is truth. A man who has never set foot outside of his home would not know what exists in the world beyond it.”

The soldier aimed his sword at Nick’s neck, “Your statement is suspicious. Tell me the truth, or you will lose your head.”

“It’s no lie!” Minako’s shrill voice escaped her mouth. In her fear of Nick’s imminent death, her words escaped her.

Nick’s eyes shook in fear; both their lives would shatter in an instant. “Do not speak, Priestess…” He managed a whisper. No one needed to hear except for Minako.

The soldier turned toward her, “And I should believe you, Maiden? Your dress tells me that you are a foreigner.”

“I am, yes. I found myself in his city one day, a place of darkness, no one could live there. Other maidens and I found ourselves trapped, unable to return to our home, but… Nick took care of us and he told me about something precious that was stolen from him. It is…”

“Don’t say another word,” Nick growled, choking on his words, “They don’t need to hear it!”

Minako swallowed, “The item that was stolen, I don’t know what it is, but… But somewhere it is sealed in a box! We are looking for it! That box is very important to everyone and I’m supposed to find it!”

“DON’T SAY ANOTHER WORD!!!!” Nick’s voice pierced the silence that followed Minako’s explanation. His eyes, still stained with acid, began to shake and narrow with his exclamation. “THEY DON’T DESERVE TO KNOW!”

Minako turned to face him, “Nick…”

The soldier pointed the sword back at Nick’s throat. “You may want to end your outburst. Even if you are a native, you are still a demon.” He turned to Minako, “And you, Maiden, have no right to speak either because you are a foreigner.”

“A box?” The voice wafted quietly from inside the carriage.

The soldier turned to him, “Your Majesty?”

Minako stepped forward, her legs shook beneath her. “Your Majesty… You know about the box? Where is it? Tell me, please… I am… I am the only one who can open it…” Her response was met with silence. “Your Majesty…”

The soldier grabbed Minako by the hair and pulled her back.

She let out a small shriek.

“Minako!”

He poised the sword at her neck. The beautifully glinting blade moved closer toward her, as if the weapon itself desired her death.

She choked for a moment.

The soldier sneered, “A foreigner cannot speak to His Majesty so informally. You will pay for your conduct with your life!”

Minako choked once more and shut her eyes tightly. If she could not see it, if she tried hard enough, she could rescue herself from this nightmare. If she could wake up and scream, she would find herself back with Renee, back in the warm light of reality.

Nick pulled her back toward him, as his eyes shook with rage. If she were to die, who would find what was stolen from him? As much as I didn’t want anyone to know, even her, I need her to find it. How pathetic I am, cowering in the darkness, afraid to ever leave that desolate place… I know what I am… This town doesn’t need to accuse me of being a monster, I already know… I am no foreigner or native... I am just a creature who was meant to be sealed into the darkness. But the Priestess Pandora, she gave me hope. I believed her when she promised to help me find what was stolen from me. She swore to find the box, and I believed her. I want to believe her desperately… How could they kill a woman who had been afraid of me, and yet still pulled me close? Her kindness was undeserved, but she gave it anyway. How could they? How could they kill the only person who treated me so kindly!?! Nick held Minako close in his arms, but they burned as he pulled her closer. Was this death, or…? He blinked his eyes as they filled with droplets. The acid cleared from his face, and though his eyes still burned, he saw Minako’s form. It glowed with the brightest blue light he had ever beheld. The color of the carriage shone on her, and it blazed on her form. Nick drew in a breath, “Pandora…”

Minako opened her eyes and saw her hands glowing bright blue. What was this? She turned to Nick and reached her hand toward his own. Her eyes shook as her hand disappeared from her view. The murmurs of the crowd reached her ears.

The soldier stepped back in alarm. The whole city was ablaze with fear and disorder. Everyone stared in wonder and fear as Minako glowed with blue light and began to disappear before their eyes.

“Your Majesty!” he cried, “This woman is no foreigner! She is a demon sorceress!”

The voice wafted from inside the carriage, “Do you intend to kill her?”

Nick drew in a breath. His power was not as fantastic, and was even non-existent compared to this aura Minako exhibited. And even if this power distracted everyone from him, the true demon, they intended to kill her. He was the demon, and she was a Priestess. No, the Priestess who was fabled to lead the demons to the box and save Safaiananpou from its terrible fate. How could they kill her? Everyone’s lives depended on her! Even though her skin blazed with the blue fire, Nick pulled her closer to him. It stung like one thousand blades piercing his skin and the gashes they created overflowed with blood. Even though his heart struggled, he held her close; he would not give in to the pain. He would protect her.

“Don’t… leave me…” His voice struggled.

Her fiery blue glow subsided. Her body grew limp before him, no longer disappearing, but strained from her previous act. He was her strength now, since she had closed her eyes into the darkness. Perhaps her soul had managed to escape, but, her body remained and it would draw her soul back.

“What has happened?” the regal voice called.

The soldier caught his breath, still drawing away from Minako. “The foreigner’s sorcery has subsided.”

“Place them in the dungeon.”

The glistening death jewels surrounded Nick and Minako once more. In his panic, tears formed in the corners of his eyes.

***

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