Curseborn Saga - Fade to Black (11 page)

A soft voice broke her concentration. “They are amazing, aren’t they,” said Arya, who had appeared next to her. Remi turned to see Arya leaning her hand on the glass container.

“Are they, what I think they are?” Remi whispered, not taking her eyes from the glass. Maile was the same, entranced by their pure nature.

“Tree Spirits?” answered Arya. “Yes, these beautiful creatures are the Tree Spirits of Soria.”

“Why do you trap them in the cage?”

“Trap?” she laughed, “One cannot hope to trap these creatures. They are timeless little spirits born of the Great Trees. They entered this cage of their own free will with one purpose. Lady Zeila, who is inside at the moment, is holding one of the Sacred—a stone that holds the soul of a creature who left this world with regret. Because of that, its soul was crystallized into its heart, which became the gem she now holds. The Sacred are lost souls and constantly cry out to the Tree Spirits who will seek them out wherever they are to return them to the Great Trees. Only when they are returned to a Great Tree can their souls truly find rest. This is a part of our training, young Remi.”

“How is that training?” asked Remi quickly, irritated that they were imprisoning such ridiculously cute creatures. No matter how she put it, it sure looked like they were being kept against their will. Why else would they be acting so crazy in there? Yet deep down, she felt the need to imprison one in her room forever.

“Don’t let their looks deceive you. The Tree Spirits are tenacious little creatures. They will do all in their power to bring the Sacred back to the Great Trees. This is a test of self-control. The Valyti is the Realm of the Force, but something much more than that. Here we train to overcome all the dark pieces of our souls. To cleanse ourselves of any evils and weaknesses. A Tree Spirit will only harass those who have traces of anger or greed in their hearts, for it is that which threatens the Sacred. It takes an enormous amount of patience to overcome this task, for they are relentless and will do everything in their power to overpower you. Even now, Lady Zeila is struggling immensely. I know, because I took the longest of all the Force to surpass this challenge.” Arya smirked, no doubt remembering times from her past within the cage.

Remi stared closely at Zeila and noticed that beads of sweat poured down her face. She was trembling, and bleeding from tiny bite marks and scratches from the Tree Spirits’ attacks. They had been moving so fast Remi didn’t notice they had been attacking Zeila. The idea of completing the task made her feel dizzy and slightly sick.

“How do you overcome the training?” she asked.

“Simple,” said Arya. “Once you have eradicated all anger from your heart, the Sacred will accept you and in turn, so will the Tree Spirits. They will become calm, like the tranquility of your heart when you stare in their eyes, and they will slowly, one by one, go to sleep at your feet. It is then that one has the chance of making a pact with the soul of the Sacred within. It is an alternative method for the soul of the creature to rest easily, but it comes with high risk.”

“I don’t think I could do it,” whispered Maile. “Do all of the stones glow that color red?” she then asked. She felt drawn to its radiance.

Arya nodded. “With the exception of a few Legendary Sacred, none of which I have ever seen, most are the color of rubies. We don’t even know if the Legendary Sacred exist. To be honest, if none have ever lived to witness the presence of one, how can they?”

“What do you mean by a pact?” Maile asked, still transfixed.

Arya was quiet for a moment. “An ancient art that allows one to bind the soul of a creature with their own… . It can be dangerous at times and can even prove fatal, for the souls of two were never meant to merge. Yet sometimes, very rarely actually, they complete one another. This allows certain abilities of the creature to become your own and ultimately, a power is gifted that is so great that you would not believe me if I were to tell you.”

Remi started. “You can’t be talking about–”

But before she could finish Baelie began shouting in the distance. “Hey, what’s this?!”

With a look of frustration, Remi turned to see Baelie standing at the base of a strange amber-colored tree. It had no branches, save for one that stretched far away from its trunk, and hanging from it was something that looked like a giant beehive. Remi watched Baelie strangely from afar, seeing her inch closer and closer to the tree. And just like that, Baelie ran and jumped, soaring off the ground until she clasped onto the beehive. Remi’s mouth dropped.

“Don’t go near that!” yelled Arya, and she vanished. Wind was all that remained. Remi blinked.
How are they so freaking fast?
She’d never get used to that.

“C’mon Maile,” said Remi, “Baelie is totally going to get in trouble!”

X – Lady Enies

T
he tree was far different up close. Its trunk was dark brown in color, almost like it was painted with tints of maroon, and decorated with hundreds upon hundreds of vibrant yellow streaks that gave Remi the impression of veins streaking in a dozen different ways up the tree. Shaking a sense of dizziness, Remi stared up at the massive, honey-colored beehive. It was releasing a smell so succulent she wanted to just climb up onto the branch and sit there, sifting her hand through its core, searching for the golden honey that seemed to be calling her name. With careful consideration and much effort she pulled back, remembering Arya’s warning. She felt there was something extremely dangerous about the tree, but she couldn’t pinpoint it. Nonetheless, it seemed to call for her from afar, and she had to try with all her might to not go to it.

“Shit,” muttered Arya, yet not moving closer. The three of them watched Baelie hanging from the beehive.

“Baelie, come down,” cried Maile. “That looks dangerous!”

“Can’t you get her down?” asked Remi.
How did she even get up there?
That’s a big jump.
She thought.

Arya curled her lip in shame, “Unfortunately, I wasn’t especially great at this trial either. In fact, I’ve yet to pass it. It’s hard for me to stand from this distance. Good thing there are wards.”

“If you can’t do it … then what about Baelie?” asked Maile.

They watched Baelie wrap her legs and arms around the hive and smack her lips upon it as if she were a baby desperate for the milk of its mother. Remi couldn’t help but crack a smile at the memory of her sister in silver armor, soaring through the air with her arms stretched out and a smile of supreme happiness curved across her face.

“This … isn’t going to end well, is it,” said Remi.

“Not at all,” Arya said grimly. “I wouldn’t worry about her losing her life. That is, unless she cannot pull herself free of the temptation. If I step inside the wards, I will also lose all train of thought as she has. Only fear can save her now.” She looked around but it seemed that the entire Force had turned their heads. None seemed to want to get near the tree.

“Which test is this …” asked Remi cautiously.

Arya took a deep breath, “Greed.”

All the while, Baelie was crying out in elation and digging chubby fingers into the tiny holes, ripping them apart. It was as if she was possessed, and the only thing that mattered was gracing her lips and tongue with sweet, succulent honey. Remi noticed that Arya had stopped a good distance from the beehive, and began to seriously believe that it was dangerous. Staring at the beehive once more, she once again felt the strong urge to move towards it and struggled to shake the thoughts from her mind.

“Remi, help her!” said Maile in a voice full of fear. She had never seen such a strong urge come over her sister, even when she was sneaking into the kitchens at night.

“What’s happening to her?” asked Remi.

Lady Arya took a moment. “This particular tree is known by many names, but most often as the
Liquid Sting
. The honey inside is of the finest in the land. So grand in taste, and so rich in smell, that its very essence can easily cause those with even the strongest of mental discipline to burst into a state of greed so immense, that once given in to the feeling, they would be consumed by it eternally. Only the strongest of the Force Corps have dared venture closer than a few feet, and most won’t come closer than I stand now. Only our Captain can stand directly under the beehive as if it were just a plain beehive.” Arya looked strangely at Remi and Maile, “Speaking of which, I’m surprised you can focus on anything but your own greed right now.” The glow of Remi’s pendant caught her eye for a moment. She raised an eyebrow curiously before continuing. “Liquid Stings grow very rarely, and most of the time they are cut down from afar with the use of precision bows because of the many innocent deaths they have caused.”

“Deaths!?” shrieked Remi and Maile in unison. “We have to help her!”

“Do not worry,” said Arya. “We have many different wards surrounding this tree, so that the devilish insects within may not pass more than a few feet from the hive. And even should she be stung, the poison takes at least half a shade to kill you. However, there is nothing I can do for her now. She will likely be stung, which will hopefully awaken her from the trance.”

Remi froze at her words. “Devilish … insects? Please, you have to save her!”

Arya stared up at Baelie, “Sometimes one can only save themselves.”

Remi felt a shiver run through her body and her heart pounded in her chest. As if they had heard her words, an awful buzzing sound soon grew over the air. She could feel the presence of other members of the Force Corps watching from afar and could almost hear the faint laughter of Lady Theresa. The buzzing grew louder and louder, as if she was running towards an ominously humming bell. And then they emerged; sharpened black insects with beady red eyes and bright yellow swirls rushing around their bulbous abdomens. Each one was half the size of her forearm and she watched in horror as dozens flew out of their beautiful honey home.

“BAELIE! RUN!! WAKE UP!!” screamed Remi desperately, not daring to go any further. It seemed her words reached her sister, but the instant Baelie’s eyes looked up – honey smeared across her face and hands – one of the revolting black insects stabbed its needle-like tail into her arm.

A gut-wrenching cry filled the air as Baelie released the beehive and fell to the ground. She landed with a loud
thump,
looking as if she had just awoken from a dream. Hearing the screaming buzz of the swarming insects, she looked up and saw them descending down upon her like a hail of black poison arrows. With dexterity that must have been summoned from her innermost will, Baelie rolled onto her hands and feet, crawling desperately across the ground with such a terrifying look of pain and agony that Remi flinched and cried out at the sight. Taking a deep breath, she made to run in and grab her sister, but just as she was about to move, Arya’s hand swung directly in front of her. Almost instantaneously, the succulent smell of the honey almost completely took her mind off her fleeing sister.

“Don’t move. We can’t have two of you at risk. Believe in your sister, and she will be fine,” said Lady Arya with a soothing tone. Remi felt angry at her words, but knew that if she were to run in blindly, she would be no better off. But hidden within the calmness of Arya’s voice was the distinct sound of anxiety.

Remi’s eyes flashed back to Baelie who had stood to her feet, her arms flinging wildly about her sides as she ran in a twisting manner towards them. Honey dripped and streamed from the sides of her mouth, leaving a trail of sweet spit glittering in the air. And then, dashing with such a speed that nearly blew Remi’s skirt up her legs, Baelie erupted past them. The beady red eyes of a particularly large black wasp raced toward her, inching its way toward her eyeball until with a sudden slam and a deafening screech, the thunderstorm of black insects smashed into an invisible wall mere inches from her face. She watched in horror, terrified to move as the bees swarmed about the invisible barrier, angered beyond belief at their prey’s escape. They swung downwards, extending their needle-tipped tails dripping with a thick venom, and smelling of vomit and rotting plants. After a few moments, they turned around and their wrathful nature faded. Slowly, they buzzed up to the tree branch and entered the beehive one at a time, until the final one entered the deep black caverns from whence they came.

“Baelie!” cried Remi, wheeling around. Her sister was collapsed on the ground, wheezing uncontrollably, with her body in a fit of spasms. The smell of honey lingering on her armor made Remi want to lunge at her and lick her from head to toe, but her fresh feelings of fear held her back. Far across the room, Maile had sprinted like a mouse from a flare and was still running at full speed, all the while clutching to her helmet as if it were the most valuable possession that had ever come into her grasp.

“You
train
with those things!?” yelled Remi at Arya as she kneeled down next to her sister. She had multiple sting wounds that had pierced her armor like a rapier through butter. Her skin was enflamed and still swelling, leaking a white pus that smelled strongly of rotten flesh. Remi didn’t want to think about it.

“For those who have control over their greed,” said Arya, “this tree proves completely harmless. However, as you have seen and as you now know, controlling such a tremendously powerful feeling is difficult beyond reason, or words. The wasps only emerge when threatened.”

“Can’t you help her?”

“I can and I will!” said an eager voice that sounded like a child. Remi turned to look at the little girl standing before her. She wore all white robes and had straight copper hair that flowed over her shoulders and down the front of her chest; in her hand she held an oaken staff with a gleaming ruby inlaid at its tip. Her face was kind and innocent, and Remi understood she was different than the others of the Force. The girl’s eyes bore a look of supreme worry as she kneeled down beside Baelie.

“You poor thing!” she cried out melodramatically. Remi kept staring at the girl and couldn’t help but feel like the little girl was much older than she looked. Something about her energy, something about her overall appearance … Suddenly, she forgot what she was thinking about. Remi turned slightly, wondering what had happened. Staring back at Baelie she remembered, and then looking at the tiny girl she realized something about the girl was causing a strange numbness in her mind.

Just thinking about you is utterly frustrating!!! Why is everyone in the Force Corps so weird!? Why does just being around you make my head go all crazy!?
Remi grasped her hair, trying to control her thoughts.

“Thank you, Aquas,” said Arya quietly. She looked to Remi, “This is Lady Aquas, Keeper of the Tree Spirits. Some say she is a spirit of the tree that has taken the form of a Sorian. Nonetheless, she is our strongest healer. Your sister will be fine.”

Raising her hands above Baelie’s jolting body, in which the poison was spreading extremely fast, a faint white glow emanated from her palms, glowing brighter and brighter. Remi could hear, but not clearly. She knew the white-cloaked magician was speaking because of the rapid movement of her lush lips, but couldn’t make out the words, or the language, or anything about it. Everything about her seemed to evade Remi in every way.

Remi watched the white glow take a strange form as it became almost tangible, slithering across her body like a snake over its prey. It wrapped around Baelie’s arms and through her mangled hair, and wound round and round her legs and ankles until, as if by some sort of higher power, Baelie’s body began to levitate. She came to a stop a foot above the ground and Remi could see the swelling of the infectious wounds fading, the white pus dissipating into the air along with the smell. Leaning down, Remi looked quickly under Baelie to make absolutely sure she was floating. She was indeed. She ran her hands back and forth underneath her just to be sure.
That’s not something you see every day,
she thought.

A few moments later, Maile returned to Remi’s side, breathing heavily. She also checked to make sure Baelie was actually floating, her expression becoming astounded when she realized she was. Staring in awe at their suspended sister, they watched as Baelie returned to the ground and the white slithering energy faded to crystalline particles that floated into the air as if it were snowing from the ground up.

Baelie opened her eyes and sat up immediately. She felt like she had just awoken from a nightmare. “My stomach hurts,” she said, feeling a powerful aching in her muscles and bones.

Remi, Maile, and Arya sighed heavily.

Aquas ran her hand over Baelie’s cheek softly. “It’ll be alright, little one! I’m here for you. You were
so
cute hanging from that little tree branch like a newborn, sucking and sucking away on that succulent honey. It’s amazing, isn’t it!? You are one of the few in Soria who have survived to tell the tale! I’m so happy you’re alright!” She ran her eyes over Baelie’s shocked and disturbed face, before scanning her silver armor that looked of intricately placed kitchenware.

“Ok … This is weird,” said Baelie.

“Look at you with your little silver armor! Just the cutest thing, I swear! Can we be friends? We can be friends, right?”

Aquas’s rush of words was suddenly silenced by a deep thundering voice that echoed through the training grounds, clashed with the walls, and even sent vibrating rings through the girls’ bodies.

“I can’t even have one shade of fucking silence, can I!?”

Remi, Maile and Baelie dared not move to look. The only sound was that of the speaker’s distant footsteps, moving closer and closer with every passing second, like the ticking of a clock counting down to imminent destruction.

The voice continued. “Doesn’t seem like such a big deal, does it? To be here, in our own private realm, to expect a little respect and silence?” Remi could detect a smirk in the speaker’s voice as it moved closer. “Yet here I find myself confused. Why is it that
someone
has trespassed on
our
hospitality?” The voice gave the three sisters chills as the entire room went dead silent.

What seemed like minutes of unbearable waiting passed as they peeked a silhouette, which seemed to resonate disdain and pure contempt, draw steadily closer. Finally, the woman came to a stop at the base of Baelie’s head. Staring upwards from the ground and into the light, Baelie could only make out the shadowed lining of her body, curved and muscular, with flickers of light revealing only the faintest traces of her secret visage.

Remi lifted her head in such a slow motion she felt it wasn’t moving at all. Her eyes passed over Baelie’s silvered armor, up past her breastplate where the honey was still dripping and over her sister’s face, which was twisted in fear. She crept her way up the woman’s legs, over which she was clad in tight white leather leggings, sewn together with black lace. A half cloak fell from her waist, which billowed out behind her as if a strong gusty wind were constantly moving against her. Two black belts hung in an X pattern around her hips where her bloody and matted knuckles were resting against her sides, dripping blood down her white leggings.