Spirit Bound

By: Zinnia Greyson

Spirit bound

This was the end I knew that already. My breathing became heavier I found myself
sweating off my skin almost. I heard my foot steps slowing. I knew that I would have to
succumb to the end of my life. As I ran from my killer I thought why and who would try
to kill me. I had never been the one to socialize in parties or banquets. I was what in my
days called painfully shy. It registered me exactly I never found boys cute. They almost
seemed to scare me more than the girls who I was supposed to socialize with. I pondered
on that note when I felt gravity take me down. I rolled down a hill. I felt my leg snap and
my head bang right against a sheer, hard rock. I almost lost consciences this was too
much for one person to take. I felt my body slow and then I stopped completely. My ribs
seemed to be fractured because every time I took a breathe it hurt. I laid there thinking of
my mother. I would soon enough be united with her.
No more pain, blood, misery, sadness and no more of my putrid father. I heard footsteps
the same very footsteps I heard as my father came toward me to beat the hell out of me.
The same heavy footsteps that sounded when my father arrived drunk, the same heavy
vibrations that thundered above me as my father paced. But oddly enough the footsteps
did not comfort me. I knew they never would, they signaled that my father was about to
kill me. I felt his breath against his my neck. Was he going to kiss me? If he did I would
hope he never get through the gateway to heaven. “I’m sorry baby. You have to die you
are not what I want or need.” He muttered. I felt his heat he was too close for my liking. I
couldn’t move but at the temperature it was now I would die of hypothermia like this. I
then felt some thing cold touch my neck. Then a tingling feeling spread from the back of
my neck to my forehead.
I felt wet warmness as it seeped down my neck to my back. I felt my father stabbing
along my neck and back and laughing like the drunken fool he was. I knew this was
happening my screams seemed to make it more realistic. Still this all felt like a dream, a
dream that would haunt me for the rest of my life, but then there was no more pain, I
couldn’t see or hear anything.
I felt oxygen fill my lungs, there was more pain as I took deep breathes of this new
wonderful oxygen. It tasted sweet but with almost a garden spice hint to it. I sighed I
made to where ever dead people were supposed to go and be placed.
Then a light shined above me as well as a ferocious heat burned my cheek. I jumped up
scared out of my wits at the flames under me. I looked up to the golden light, there were
gateways they looked to made of solid gold in its purest form. I was amazed at the beauty
of heaven, there was the sweetest fragrance coming from the wind that blew. I watched
until I saw the gates open, I was terrified I was going to be placed wasn’t I Hell or
Heaven.
But there in the gateway was not God or Jesus but my mother laughing in happiness. I
was about to wave when a man walked up behind her as well as a young girl.
I put my hand down they didn’t seem to notice me they kept on looking happy and soon
enough left the gateway closed and Hell remained. I felt fury raging in my veins; I felt
anger and grief sadness and pain. The pain was back but it was not physical but mental.
She had left earth and found two new people to make her happy. I bet she didn’t
remember my name. I know she didn’t love me any more I was a person who caused her
pain and pain was not allowed in Heaven.
I looked down loathing her to see people clawing at my feet. I didn’t hear when the
judges arrived but they were there all right. I looked up pain still on my face one of the
judges flinched as I looked up. One just looked at me with a thoughtful expression the
other grinned at the pain on my face as though it was the most work of art on the planet.
“Choose where you belong.” One said. I turned to something more than good and pure
but the light that guided me here. It was more than a single bulb but more like thousands
of thread of light weaved into a blanket. “What are you? I asked timidly.
“I am who I am.” The voiced boomed like a thousand thunders. “I do not understand
what you ask of me.” I said. “You choose were you belonging.” He repeated. Then it
dawned on me he was the almighty God.
The God I prayed to when my Father beat me and when I felt there was no hope left in
my life. I felt gratitude and shame I knew that I was not worthy to walk on the ground he
smiled upon.
The women in the middle she seemed to glow but not as bright as the Lord. She smiled
at me she wanted to me. Well so did the devil and I was not going to burn in the depths of
Hell. “May I ask who the woman in the middle is?” I whispered. I stared at her hoping
my face showed curiosity. “My name is not important none the less is yours. I control the
earth my name is Mother Nature. You can remain on Earth but as a spirit.” She said.
I didn’t ask for the last person because I thought I would be sick if he explained about
Hell. “I think I would like to remain on Earth.” I whispered. I still didn’t get it they were
supposed to choose my fate. I mean I have lied and tried to get people to forgive me. But
I have done wrong but I wanted to remain on Earth and try to fix things. “Okay but trust
me this will be your life over again. But as an immortal.” Mother Nature said smiling at
me.
I felt my body shimmer and then I was gone.
“Do you think she is the chosen one to release the spirits and to make there gifts help the
Earth. Even stop the destruction of the Earth.” God said smiling. “Yes because I watched
her when she was young. When she was young she could persuade anything or anybody
to see her way.” Mother Nature said smiling also. They watched as I Elizabeth Jane Lion
floated down to Earth.

Chapter 1: the second Death

 I floated back down to earth thinking of everything. Some spirits who were unconscious
floated past me they were still like they were when they died. I looked down on Earth
smiling this would be my chance to stop all the horrible things. I was back on Earth and
soon I floated on to a tree and sat there sighing. I looked down and tried not to cry. No
time had passed in my absence my Father was still stabbing me. He was still the crazy
drunk and I felt anger that would have burned up my flesh if I was still alive. I bent down
from the tree and grabbed the knife.
This surprised both of us, as a spirit I expected my hand to go through it. I marveled at
the crazy idea of spirits being able to touch things when I remembered my father staring
at the floating knife. All the hatred things that he had done to me I wanted to get back at
him I was going to get back at this crazy fool. I raised the knife about to strike when my
father flinched and curled in to a ball whimpering and praying. I couldn’t do that, I
couldn’t kill my Father.
He was alive and I was dead I couldn’t kill him. I sighed and dropped the knife and he
heard the clink and looked up. I felt my self become visible and my father stare at me.
“You didn’t kill me, why?” He asked. “Because I am not a killer. You may have taken
my life away but I refuse to become a monster like you.” I spit at his ugly plump face. He
stared at me frightened by the person who he frightened before. I smirked. He would die
soon and it would lift the heavy weight off my shoulders. I stared down and left him there
to let fear leave him paralyzed. I was not a monster I was free of his hatred and his pain
he released on me. I felt free there was no end to the pain I would have to deal with when
I came across him again. I took a deep breath and breathed in my surroundings. I looked
down and saw that I wore the same outfit I had worn to my death. I needed to clean the
blood off. I was of course going to my funeral so I wanted to look presentable. I walked
through the familiar twisty roads that would leave me to freedom when I was alive. I
sighed, I wondered why I felt exhausted, maybe spirits ha to sleep and eat just like when
they were alive. I then sat down I needed to rest. I sat there and watched the sun go down
and the moon slowly appear. I now smiled at myself, I had not even twitched I had new
patience.
If I was human some ‘thing’ would have popped up and made me leave this peaceful
place. Now that it was later in the day I became aware of the glow that came from well
me. Okay so I was freaking out. That was something I had kept from my human life. My
panic well that would come in handy, I looked down and saw a small little pond, it was
the one I use to play in when I was three years old. I laughed at the old memory and then
I got sad because those were the days when my father wasn’t a cheap drunk fool. I slowly
walked down in to the water that would supposedly clean the dirt and blood of my skinny
figure. I nearly yelped at the temperature, I had expected the water to pass through me.
Well so much for those stupid superstitions that the priest at the church had looked up or
made up.
I slowly took off the clothes I wore and sat down in to the water and sunk my head
below and felt water enter my lungs. I didn’t choke me like I had guessed it actually
caused me a great deal of calming down. I put my clothes under the water and scrubbed
them with this little brush I kept under the water when I made my attempts to escape the
living Hell I lived in. I scrubbed hard and watched the stains easily remove from my thin
clothes. Then I looked down at my body, it wasn’t clean it had many scars that brought
tears to my eyes.
 Well not really because well I was under water so did tears really exist in this fabulous
kingdom? I shook my head afraid to laugh at the silly little inquiry I had answered. I
scrubbed my body and hair calm hoping this peace would remain forever. I stood up and
hiccupped, note to self don’t abruptly stand up in water after breathing water. I looked at
the water still remain on my shoulders. They glowed with the rest of my body; I sat down
in a little pocket of a tree. I closed my eyes and listened to the night sounds and sighed
when I heard no footsteps. I waited for the sunrise so my body and clothes would soon
dry. I smiled as I remembered as Carly Jane coming up to me and yelling that spirits
came to her bedroom and told her stories.
Carly Jane was my little sister she said spirits came and went. I then waited for the sun to
rise again; I couldn’t take anymore pain as it is dying and every thing. I remembered my
sister’s death she had died from a seizure. Neither I nor the doctors in my town knew
what a seizure was but with it being the 1200’s you really couldn’t count on science. I
stretched my body and not a single drop remained on me.
I needed help and if I was going to find my funeral site I needed to figure out where my
funeral site was. I stood up curious of my surroundings, I looked down to see my clothes,
ragged and torn. I quickly put my clothes on and my stockings on with my boots. I
looked around there must be a way to see were I was. I sighed; it was time just to go with
my gut which told me ‘run fool run like the wind’. I took to the advice and ran for my
life.
I ran until everything erased from my mind. That was much better than having to think
of the past events. I laughed at how fun this was. I didn’t get tired anymore that was a
great advantage to being dead. I smiled and urged my legs to move faster. This was so
great I could do this forever and never take another thought. As I ran I saw a couple
walking through the woods.
Okay I know that I was running in the woods and all but I’m dead I have a good excuse.
There was no danger to me, I hope. I couldn’t slow and I supposed that I would ram into
the couple. Idiots, who in this time of daylight would take a walk, Instead of what I
suspected I flew right through them and felt the most peculiar feeling. The young man’s
name was Thomas James he had just married his wife, Kali; they had risen to take a walk
to see the love cove. I passed through him and we both were utterly confused about that. I
looked at him confused and reached toward him. When our skin made contact I read
through all his memories then there were dark and made me want to cry out in pain they
were evil they showed a horrible childhood his mother left his father was dead. Then I
lost contact he was on the ground sobbing in agony. His wife bent down trying to comfort
this sobbing weak man. I felt sorry for him he had to go through those memories twice.
I slowly rapped those memories in the darkest part in his mind. They were never to be
taken from Thomas James head again.
I stared at him scared what had I done there was no pain to me but this innocent young
man. I looked at him feeling tears fill my eyes in wonder I touched my eyes. Did spirits
cry? I would find out one day because I had forever and ever to solve the mysteries of my
new life. I turned to leave and walked away a sick feeling rapped around me. Was I
dangerous? I wish and hope I was not what if I couldn’t control myself and do what I did
to Thomas James. Was I a walking time bomb if I got angry or curious? I sat down scared
of myself. I sighed, thinking of how this might become a problem if I didn’t learn self
control. I turned my head and my eye caught something in the sunlight. I tried to stay still
but curiosity raged inside of me to see what it was. I stood up my willpower crumbling
and I leaned down to pick it up. As soon as my fingers closed over the small object a
tortured scream arose from my mouth. I saw pictures of my life I had rapped in to the
darkest void of my mind. They scared me and they caused me great pain. Darkness soon
rapped my eyes so there was no light I saw my mother dying my sister dying and me
being beaten by father.
Those memories escaped my mind and they pounded against the protective wall in my
head trying to escape back in to the world they were brought into. I slowly felt my body
freezing the locket was freezing my body. I tried to feel my hand and felt my frozen
fingers release there grasp on the locket. I felt the locket from my hands. I awoke with the
pink sky above me pink clouds swirled around effortlessly in there ballroom. I wish I had
not picked up that stupid locket in the first place. I tried to sit up to fall back to the
ground sick and dizzy. Would I get better soon for I did not want to die a second time? I
clamped down hard on my mouth so if I were to get sick on the floor of the forest it
would be accident. I slowly waited for my body to reheat itself. I was so cold and before I
had felt perfectly warm so this was not normal. As soon as my body wasn’t as cold I
stood up quickly. There was a slight ringing but other than that I felt perfectly fine. I
needed to get out of here but the locket may come in handy. I smiled evilly for the first
time ever I had thought of an evil thought this was going to be fun.
___________

I was totally lost in my own town which is very weird since I had excellent memory. Oh
wait Demise road how I could have missed that. Oh yeah to recap on what has happened
so far I am dead and I just found my funeral home.
See nothing to it this explaining stuff. Ok all I need to do is somehow get past the gates.
When ever got near humans I sometimes became visible which really spoiled my plan of
sneaking in invisible. Ok I need to convince the guard to let me in. Well here we go
“Hello I am here to see my Uncle … Uncle.
Well this part of the plan I forgot my father name. “Yes little girl who is your uncle?”
The guard said an ugly smile started to creep on to his repulsive face. Okay plan b which
I didn’t want to resort to but hey desperate times call for desperate measures. I thrust my
hand on to his face and clicked open that little Pandora’s Box in all mans head. He was
suddenly on the ground whimpering and whining.
I felt myself smile ugh I was disgusting I wanted to be in heaven than torturing people of
now my past present and future.
I shivered because the funeral home was cold. I closed my eyes and took deep breathe
and put my instinct of invisibility in to affect. I opened my eyes and put my hand in front
of my face to see nothing but the front hallway. I sneaked down the hallway to a bunch of
rooms.
Oh great how was I supposed to find my funeral room. Ok maybe I could sense my
body. I walked past the whole row of front doors and nothing happened great that idea
wasn’t going to help me at all. Wait ugh oh my word that is just foul. A ghastly smell
came from the last room.
I opened the door trying to save the poor people from that shocking smell. I couldn’t
help gasping I mean you would have to if your father was standing red eye talking about
what a great daughter you were. I stood in the door trying to calm down and let my
instinct remain. Not a head turned as I stepped in. I walked down the isle it felt like a
dream my father actual loved me. “She was a wonderful daughter and she was always
there for me.”
My father said. I think I started to hyperventilate and I started to sweat was this man
really my father. When I was right in front of the pew I took in a large breath and walked
right behind my father. I immediately gagged the staggering smell came from my father. I
took a step back and took a deep breathe and let my instinct fall. I listened to my father
talk about me; half of the stuff was twisted. He had never in his life cared about me and
tucked me in for bed.
What a lie, he never knew when my birthday was. By the end of his speech I was
trembling with anger he made me want to torture every person in the room. I took calm
breathes but they didn’t soothe the rage. I was so mad I blanked out and before I knew it I
was searching for his darkest memories and I found them. I made them pop into his head
and made them worse than the originals.
His worst memories were my mother dying. I literally snarled at that memory. He didn’t
deserve my mother. The next me being born, I shrieked in agony. He did hate me those
looks he gave me when I was younger he believed that I was the reason of my mothers
death. I screamed again this time misery he hated me and I had loved him that revolting,
vicious, drunken fool.
I remember his thoughts cutting off and screaming lots of screaming and before I fainted,
fire, black and blue fire dancing around the people and devouring the flowers and the
people also the building.
Ow everything hurt and things smelled funny. I sat up to see burnt remains and people
like me digging in the remains of the funeral home. I had a raging headache it made every
thing blurry. The smell of smoke woke me up a bit. It also made me sway as I tried to
stand. I fell back on to the ground. I fainted and something caught hold of me and I
fought to stay awake. Who was picking me up? “Well what is this?” I heard the person
gasp. “Could this be the ancient person that God has sent us?” Whispered the person the
person sounded like a male. I felt his strong arms rap around me and towed me to
something maybe a wagon. “What is… put that poor girl down Sese” Yelped a female
voice.
“My name is not Sese my name is Masculin.” The man muttered angry now. “Put her in
the wagon she has a cut on her forehead and burns on almost every part of her body
Momma will know what to do with her.” The girl said. She actually sounded concerned.
“E`chiner we need to hurry and get supplies before the living find her.” Masculin said.
“Vous êtes un cochon et tu pue comme un bout de chèvres.” E`chiner yelled at
Masculin.
“Fine just stop insulting me.” Masculin yelled back at E`chiner. Why were they so tense
I mean there was nothing going on so far or was there?
“Run mort courir à partir de la guerre de la mort!” E`chiner yelled suddenly. I smelled
something funny it caused me to shake and tremble. The feeling made me want curl in to
a ball and sit there for centuries. Something boomed out in to the darkness,
“Stop grands imbéciles”. I understood it as Stop great fools. I felt Masculin grab me and
throw me in to the wagon. E`chiner yelled out in to the darkness which seemed to be
closing in on the small wagon, “courir les chevaux de la mort run!” I believe that meant
run horses of death run. Horses of death mean that animals could remain on earth too.
This was to overwhelming especially since using all that energy. I let darkness overcome
me.

When I woke I was in a small hut and it smelled of honey suckle and lilies. I bolted
upward and immediately regretted the action. My head slammed against a hard ceiling.
“I believe that she is awake.”
A heavy French accent spoke from the darkness. I turned to see a little tunnel leading
somewhere. I crawled out of the hole to see a nice living room. The place was warm
because of the fireplace at the far end of the room. There were odd assortments of
furniture. There was a bright yellow couch with a gray ottoman. Above the fireplace were
pictures of three children. One had to be E`chiner, she had long silver hair that was
braided. There were two boys one had spiky blonde hair with blue streaks through it, how
unusual. The last child had dark black hair with red streaks that looked like flames where
licking the sides of his head. Fire, ugh had I done that, destroyed those people, buildings,
and even my own body. I was a monster. I sat down feeling colder than ever. “Are you
okay?” said a quiet voice.
I looked up scared. “I’m sorry for scaring you.” She said in a soft voice. I pushed my self
against the wall and willed my self to become invisible. “Please don’t go I am sorry that
this is new and all but you need to learn the rules.” She said her eyes flicking back and
forth. I stood up and walked toward the hole I had crawled out of. I quickly crawled
through the hole. I lay down on the thin blue sheet. I watched the blue light come through
a small hole in the wall. I needed to escape and soon.

Chapter 2: Comfort
When I woke up the smell of bacon comforted me when everything rushed back to me. I
was dead and in an unfamiliar place. I closed my eyes and tried to ignore the scent of
breakfast. My stomach had other plans and wanted food. I sighed; one bite wouldn’t hurt
would it? I stretched my stiff sore body and crawled slowly toward the light at the end of
the tunnel. I was blinded momentarily and I was face to face with s black mastiff. A
scream was building in my throat. “Ah sit down noir chien. Stop scaring the girl.” Said a
calm older female voice, the dogs startling expression changed to a sly smile. The dog
trotted away and sat down on the adobe floor, still grinning. I shivered, I felt drained and
shaky.
“Please sit down you are turning blue!” The woman said, startled. I looked at her while I
sat down. She had long silver hair braided like E`chiner. She had many wrinkles that
made her face look like a bruised flower. She had big emerald green eyes that were cat
like.
I buried my face in my knees; tears were streaming down my cheeks. I was scared I
didn’t want to be dead. I wanted to be alive and not glow or be dangerous. I contained a
sob that threatened to rip through my chest. I sniffed quietly as I could. “Is she awake?” I
slowly looked up to glare at the boy with the red streaks he had just entered through a
small hole.
He smiled at me; I glared back and looked away. “Hello my name Fire.” He said in a
quiet voice. “Are you hungry?”
 Fire asked me. I didn’t answer, I couldn’t answer, and my throat was on fire. I coughed;
it hurt like a person stroking the fire to let it grow. “Momma mai-je obtenir de l'eau?”
He looked at me, “What’s your name?” He asked smiling. He turned toward his mother
and said [in English for my benefit], “May I get the girl water.” Said Fire looking at me
amazement as he poured water in to a small silver cup from a tap in the wall.
I took the cup and chugged down the water aware of Fire and his mother looking at me.
My voice shook but I answered, “Thank you.” I leaned against the cold wall. I felt
exhausted my muscles felt burned up. I opened my eyes to see E`chiner in the kitchen
smiling at me. “Hi?” I said quietly. “Hello, look she speaks.” E`chiner said smiling at me
and pointing at me. I wanted to snarl at her ‘it’s not nice to point’ but I was tired and
don’t think I have the guts to do that.
“Are you hungry? We have food.” E`chiner asked. I nodded slowly, unsure. She took my
skinny arm and sat me down at the table. She crawled quickly out of the room. I heard
scrunching like the sound of plastic against a hard surface.
I shivered violently unsure of why. “Are you ok you’ve been shivering a lot?” She said
frowning. “Here eat this,” she pulled out an orange and an apple and something that was
in a bag labeled ‘lay it down in the sofa’. She crawled through a hole on my left. I
quickly ate the two fruit but looked at the bag. I opened the bag slowly unsure of what the
contents were. They were flat and crisp and surprisingly room temperature. I sniffed it, I
know primitive, but I was not going to be drugged and stolen or kidnapped even farther
from my city. I took a tentative bite out of it. I ate all of them, it tasted crispy and salty.

I then looked around to find a place of disposal for the peeling of the orange and the bag
of lay it down on the couches.
I shivered this time so hard that the room began to blur and flashes of a man with flames
started to creep in to the edges of my sight. “Are you ok?” A quiet voice asked from to
my right. I whirled around the shivering to a minimum. He must be Fires brother the blue
streaks in his hair signaled him off. He wore huge bifocals that flashed in the firelight. He
smiled at me, “Hello my name is Daze.” He whispered. “Would you tell me your name?”
both light blue eyes were teasing.
“My name is Elisabeth, I prefer Liz.” I said staring in to the fire frowning. I was scared
of getting lost in his eyes. They seemed to swirl like mist. “Are you ok? You are blushing
blue.” He said looking at me concerned, but not moving to assist.
“I’m fine I just feel shivery. I said quietly. He had a towel in his hand while smiling.
“You probably have fever.” He said while placing the towel on my cold forehead.
It felt nice making the tremors slow and finally subside. “Thank you.” I whispered while
stress put me to sleep. In a sweeping motion I was up in Daze’s arms.
I clutched to him afraid to fall. He kept on smiling and placed me on the table. “You’re
very light.” He said casually. While I calmed my breathing he got an apple from the
storage hole.
He munched the apple while I sat on the table, towel on my forehead. After he was done
we crawled through the hole to the living room. He went and sat on the couch, I crawled
through the hole to my little room. Once I was in my room I laid my head against a
pillow, which was added for me.
I covered my self in the deep comforter and tried to sleep, but Daze’s eyes kept creeping
back in to my mind also the man being devoured by fire with a boy next to him.
 I took a deep breath and snuggled deeper in to the quilt that surrounded me. I soon fell
asleep looking straight in to those mysterious eyes. The blue scared me it held secrets that
I wanted to uncover.
Maybe near dawn, Momma came in with a hot rag and placed it on my forehead. When I
woke light swirled through the window. The glass reflected light right on to my face. I
slowly got up; movement near my feet caused me to pause. At my feet was a pair of
clothes. They were black and sleek and I slipped in to them.
I crawled out my hole and sat down on the yellow couch. The black mastiff came over
and put his massive head on to my lap. I scratched noir chien behind his ears and his foot
beat against the floor. I laughed, he was cute. I heard soft clink, clink, and clink. Noir
chien looked up, “Woof”; he skidded toward the front the door. “Woof, woof”. “Shh
you’re going to wake people up!” I whispered. Daze, Fire, and E`chiner smiling entered
in through a small hole.
“Well look who decided to wake up.” Said Fire a grin on his thin face. I didn’t know
how to answer that. “Well Momma says you need to come with us to the underground
mines.” E`chiner said smiling at me. I nodded, underground mines? I got up and followed
them in to the kitchen. Daze lifted up a wooden door. He climbed down in to until we
couldn’t see his glow anymore.
Fire and E`chiner followed his example. Noir chien jumped down the hole. I closed my
eyes, terribly afraid of heights, and gripped the ladder until my fingers were numb. It was
wet and cold in the small hole, I climbed down quickly wanting to be reunited with Daze
and E`chiner, to tell anyone the truth Fire scared me, when I got to the bottom the
temperature had changed to freezing to pleasantly warm. E`chiner smiled and said,
“Welcome to Spirit Bound.”

Chapter 3: Spirit Bound

I gasped. It was like a normal village but more extraordinary. People were growing
flowers, blue and silver flowers burst out in numbers through the city. Gold and red
littered the floor and made the city smell of roses and lavender. There were buildings so
high that they seemed to scrape the sky.
The buildings showed all sorts of culture that kept me turning. I was going to get whip
lash sooner or later. It was so bright I had to continuously blink my eyes wouldn’t water.
There were millions of tunnels that shimmered like all the jewels in the world. Over
most of them Daze said that was where the people of Spirit Bound work.
The floor was glowing faintly not as bright as the people walking them though. “Come
with us to City Grande Hall.” Said Fire already walking forward in to the crowd.
We walked behind him. E`chiner laughed and told me my eyes were going to pop out
and remain like that if I didn’t stop gawking at stuff. I laughed with her, but who could
stop? Even Daze and E`chiner were gawking as though they had never seen it in their
lives. I watched as skeleton horses raced past me and people rode them.
People played hockey and cricket. People were singing lovely tunes and people danced
everywhere to the music. Some people were dressed in rags others were dressed in robes
of velvet.
People were feasting and food made my stomach rumble. They were eating chicken and
beef. With grapes and apples, and soups of all flavors, we followed Kronos road and
walked past a peculiar farm. It looked like many other farms but there were creatures
farming other than humans.
They looked possessed they looked like cats but they stood on two feet they had a hunch
like monkeys. One seemed to smell us and it charged toward us. ‘Screeeech’ it made
the sound like it was a war cry. A fast whistling sound zipped past me and shot the
creature between the eyes. It eyes widened slightly and it said in a dead voice. “You are
not worthy.” It said looking at me. We turned to see a spirit holding a gun. He was
dressed like a hunter ready for the hunt. Daze stood in front of me and slightly looked in
to the man eyes. Causing him to step back and he looked so confused that I wanted to
quickly help him.
“Why did you do that?” E`chiner said looking at the man angrily. “It was about to…to
hurt us!” I said looking at her as though she was insane. I was going to say kill but we
already were dead so what was the point.
“Come on!” E`chiner said angrily pulling me along with Daze’s ear. Fire rolled his eyes
and followed us; he lit sparks on the hunter’s shoes. The hunter started to curse and hop
trying to kill the flame. “Ugh I hate those snobby hunters who think its fun to hunt
innocent animals!” she screeched looking angrier than I had ever seen her.
“Well E you know people aren’t always going to be as nice as you.” Fire said trying to
keep a straight face. She kept on grumbling until Daze said, “Please sis let go of me and
Elizabeth.” Daze whispered in pain as she twisted his ear. She let go and she gripped the
sides of her chest while trying to calm herself down. Daze and I both caressed our
wounds, Fire snickered. Daze slapped his head and Fire still snickered quietly. “She loves
an animal that’s why we have Noir chien.” Said Daze pointing to a snake coiling around
his neck.
“Wait wasn’t he just a dog?” I said looking confused at the small black snake that smiled
at me sheepishly. “Yeah, but you see when some animals and humans transfer to the
Spirit world they sometimes acquire a gift: for an example Fire over here well his name
speaks for itself. Daze said smiling at Fire who at the time was chewing a hangnail. “I
have the gift of confusion. I can ‘daze’ people hence the name Daze.” He said looking
deeply into my eyes. I lost concentration and forgot what we were talking about. I shook
my head to avoid the deep gaze. “Noir chien can change his shape and turn into any
animal alive or dead.
“E`chiner can communicate to animals, only dead though, we don’t know why though.”
Daze said a mischievous smile lurking on to his face. “Come on we need to hurry before
Darke arrives.” Fire said lighting his arm. We followed him until we came across a
beautiful building in a middle of a dark plain. It was like none other building I had ever
seen in the 1200’s. It was tall it seemed almost to scrape the sky. It had reflective
windows that showed the sun hidden behind peach clouds. I saw myself walking on the
dusty road and Noir chien turned in to a deer. He pranced along our side and ran straight
toward the glass windows. He pawed them and swiped at the almost mirror like shield
keeping us from seeing the people who I felt looking at us.
We entered the double doors and I gasped. It was like my teacher use to describe to us
The Queen of England’s castle. Gold carpets with gold walls chandeliers sparkled above
our heads casting rainbows on to the room. The desk was made of diamond and quartz
and skeletons were at each one waiting for a command. The hall was buzzing with people
in magnificent robes and suddenly they all seemed to pause. We continued walking but I
noticed the stares they gave me not Fire, Daze, or E`chiner.
We walked up to desk number 6 there stood erect a white skeleton with empty sockets
but with marks of nonexistent veins on his head. He took a rattling breath that scared me.
I took an immediate step back. “Oh as I forgot to mention to you our father works here,
Masculin, he saved you when the Threat came.” E`chiner said ringing the bell twice, even
though I am sure the skeleton knew we were there.
“Good morning Mr.Kyronisth, at the current time do you know were our father is?”
E`chiner asked in a polite voice.
“Upstairs.” He answered in a rattling voice that seemed too blocked out every other
sound in the room.
“Have brought me anything, Mistress Rale?” He asked in the ringing cold voice, he could
be the Grim Reaper. “Well yes of course, why would I forget?” She said taking out of her
pocket a dark black square, it smoked and fizzed. She placed it in the wide mouth and we
watched as his mouth caught fire. I jumped and looked at E`chiner questionably. She
dragged me away from the skeleton who smiled and waved at me, I waved back
Mr.Kyronisth was a nice skeleton, or Grim Reaper? “What was that, that small square
what was that?” I asked as she pulled me toward a big mahogany door. “A death bar is a
bar that allows disabled dead to take the form of a human.” She said in a bored tone.
“Witchcraft?” I whispered under my breath. I remember witchcraft it was said that
Witches came and performed. I thought my father’s mother was a witch. We arrived at
the mahogany door and E`chiner turned the big knob shaped like a dove.
I gasped the room was beautiful. The floor was not gold theme like the main hall. It was
made from diamond and quartz. The floor gleamed and sparkled and in the middle of the
floor was a red velvet carpet with ruby for the fringes. The ceiling was stunning. From
the ceiling were stalactites that created chairs for the council. Women and guards were
situated between the door and the council. Each time we passed the people they bowed. I
supposed that they bowed to Daze, Fire, and E`chiner. Since there father was apart of the
council making them to commoners like royalty?
There in the grand hall the council sat, composed of six people who all wore robes of
white velvet with gold braided into rope that tied at the middle of there robes.
Still admiring the room I loved it. My eyes then fell on a black corner were two red eyes
met mine.
There was a huge crow, I mean it was like 5feet and it looked able to carry a person. I
turned away from the crow to see the council; my eyes ran quickly over the sign of Spirit
Bound. The sign was six birds in a circle; they were all sitting on a wreath. The birds
were a dove, falcon, eagle, albatross, owl, and crow. They seemed to be talking there
eyes closed, content. For the last time. I jumped and looked toward the enormous
crow who sat grinning at me. Its dark red eyes focused on me it laughed a spine chilling
laugh that filled my ears. The dark smile and the red eyes were familiar. Something about
that bird kept reminding me of something, someone?
“Welcome to Spirit bound!” A voice interrupted my thoughts. I flinched and turned to
see a chubby man standing with his arms held wide as though to hug me. His faced was
lined but his cheeks were dangling near his chin which kind of made me wish I hadn’t
eaten anything since dawn.
“Oh I am sorry his name is Hades.” He said staring at me hungrily, as though I was a
sweet tart. I was slightly confused one by the crows name to be Hades, god of dead, and
also the hunger in his eyes the way he raked over me and licked his lips.
“Are you of descendant of Jadith Lion?” I think that was my father but I couldn’t be
sure. My father was probably Jadith so I frowned and glared at the man. ‘I absolutely
hated my father I didn’t want to be related that son of a b-,” “Well woman speak up now
or never this is of important information that the council need to know.” He said looking
at the emotions that played across my face.
“Um well maybe I’m not exactly sure since my last name is Lion but I don’t think, my
father’s name is Daneth.” They all sighed, “You are the Pure Warrior, and that is that, no
shush as we decided if you should live.” Well that stared me laughing. They all watched
me laughing until I looked up.
“Well please don’t KILL me that would just break me apart!” I said sarcasm leaking
between each word. They all looked insulted. “Why do you laugh at the council’s
decision.” said a tall blonde woman.
“Because for all you know it may be impossible to kill when already dead, theory it is
just theory so I can’t die!” I yelled. All the council then started to talk with each other,
shooting curious glances my way, which ticked me off.
“We have decided to ignore your rude comment and overlook your execution.” The fat
greedy man said smiling down at me, bags of fat almost covering his entire face. “I
scoffed and said quietly,” Theory that is which your empire stands on.” I whispered. His
plump fat, ugly face flushed violet and the bags of fat seemed to tremble in his anger.
“You little…” He started and then the big mahogany boomed open, there in the doorway
stood a tall lean man. Curtains of midnight black hair covered his cheekbones. He seemed
haunted in a way.
His eyes were black with a hint of red around the edges, like the legends of vampires.
“Gorthious, what is the problem?” The young man said sneaking glances at me while still
smiling at the council. “That is the problem.” He said pointing at me. I glared at him my
blue eyes freezing in to cold walls of ice.
E`chiner grabbed my arm and tugged at me, “I think that we should let them discuss in
privacy.” She said.
She grabbed my hand getting a good grip and twisting my arm causing pain. I followed
her while we walked down the long hallway. “What the heck were you thinking?”
E`chiner yelled twisting my arm even more. “Just theory, I mean do you even know if
they can kill I mean you would know with your father being apart of this ‘council’ thing.”
I said. Looking between each one of them feeling triumphant when none of them
answered. “I thought so,” I said.
“Never mind we need to take you to the university.” Said E`chiner pulling me still
behind her. “What, if you don’t mind me asking, is a university?” I asked looking at the
path we were taking which was leading us back to Spirit Bound.
 “A university is a school of further education, institution of higher education, a bunch of
schools and subjects it’s kinda like grade school but harder.” Fire said. We all looked at
him in shock. “What I have got brains you know.” He said lighting his finger and holding
it above his head. Something flashed in the distance. A signal?
We then entered Spirit Bound; people were still hustling and bustling on the cobbled
streets. I looked at the Spirit Bound this time in more detail, noticing the buildings where
many people lived; also huge lots of empty yard were no houses were. Children played
there laughing happily.
There were wagons parked in front of the big houses. There were skeletal horses who
wore bright yellow ribbons which said cab. I wonder what a cab is.
Many people stopped and stared, poor women came and kissed my hands. Young men of
poor descent bowed to me. Rich people looked at me wide eyes, mouth opens, trying to
speak to me. “We’ll need to take taxi there, with all these people we’ll probably arrive on
foot near moon up.” Fire said waving to a guy in a yellow carriage. The guy jumped up
and he rolled right toward us.
“Where to Master Rale,” The man said staring right at me, when I made eye contact
with him he blushed cherry and bowed awkwardly then falling out of his cab. “I am so
sorry,” He began. “Well it’s all right just don’t do it again.” E`chiner said. “I was talking
to… never mind, yes Mistress Rale.” He said bowing to where his sharp beaklike nose
skimmed his pointy lumpy boots.
He helped all of us in and smiled continuously at me, which I returned often causing him
to blush purple or red. He raised al long whip and said, “Courez la course sketal de
cheval!” It reminded me of E`chiner yelling at her own horses. We raced down the streets
squeezing between people. We never hit a person or got stopped we then reached the
tunnels. It was a big dome like arena with tunnels everywhere in the cave. “Which route
should we take, to get to USB?” He asked “Tunnel 456 please.” E`chiner said.
“Right yes, on the way to the 456 way ma’am,” He said racing us forward into a dark
tunnel. The horse’s eyes suddenly lit a flame causing me to jump. Fire lit his thumb,
“Thank you.” I whispered. Daze suddenly shifted slightly so my head was on his
shoulder. Fire then stepped on his foot. “DA… never mind.” Daze said I took my head
off his shoulder wondering what was going on.” I stared straight ahead ignoring the
darkness all around us. Then we hit the second part of Spirit bound, it was not as big and
rich as the first part but it had beauty. There were small cottages with peasant folk all
around tending to crop or child. Some just sat on the long green grass blowing dandelions
with the wind.
Some kids were doing chores most of them were playing, the younger ones were
following there mothers. I looked at all the children a deep longing to have a child. Daze
and Fire then fidgeted even more. I turned away from the window and looked at them
with confused eyes. “What,” I asked. They both avoided my eyes, men.
After going through the country we stopped at a small bright tunnel. “This is how far I
can take you; the rest is a short mile.” He said. He smiled once again, and tipped his hat.
“Well thank you, how much will this cost?” E`chiner said. “Oh this don’t cost a thing
with royalty with the, who could charge ‘The Pure Warrior’.” He said smiling at me
again, causing Fire and Daze to glare at him.
His smile disappeared and he; left quickly only slightly nodding at Fire, Daze, and
E`chiner. He left and there we stood alone in front of a shimmering tunnel. I looked again
to Daze and Fire to see them both looking at me, lovingly. My eyes grew twice there size
and I looked away blushing blue. “Can we just go?” I said pointing toward the tunnel.
“Fine,” E`chiner said the word was hard ice cold like her eyes.
“Is something of the matter E`chiner/” I asked. She looked at me and her eyes softened a
bit, why I don’t know? “Just come on the Professor will be waiting to meet you.” She
said tugging on my arm. We entered a long crystal tunnel. It sparkled blue and purple and
lit the entire path. Daze and Fire’s eye glittered in the light oddly.
I wonder why Daze and Fire fight for me. Why does everybody treat me so different?
And why the cab guy said royalty, maybe he meant E`chiner I mean she did wear a silver
wreath. Then why didn’t Fire and daze wear one either maybe they didn’t want to be
known in public? I ‘m so confused, or that could be Daze.
I looked over at Daze and this time he wasn’t looking at me but Fire. I think that it
maybe its sibling rivalry. Carly Jane was all the time trying to be better than me.
We must have been walking along time because, by the time I retuned to reality,
E`chiner was panting.
There in front of us was a 9 foot door made of diamond and quartz. E`chiner took out a
small gold key and unlocked the door. When the door opened I couldn’t help gasping, the
building was not like Spirit Bound at all. It was big and tall reaching up past the sky’s
limit. The front of the building was Greek, pillars of marble connected to the floor to the
sky. The other sides were just like brick buildings except with statues of what the subject
must have been.
There were thousands of people walking around talking, sparring, eating laughing
enjoying what today was. They all wore the same thing. The girls wore short black skirts,
the boy’s pants, they all wore white shirts.
On the top of the building was a 25 foot woman. She was tall thin and had long marble
hair that fell at her shoulders.
Her face was what amazed me. She looked so familiar, so peaceful, just plain beautiful.
Her cheeks shined in the silver light of the mortal sun. She had tears streaking down her
face. Hmm, it reminded me kinda of Pandora, she had a box maybe that was Pandora
they just froze her before she opened it.
But why is she crying? Curiosity killed the cat you know. I whirled around very quickly
to see who had said that. There was nothing there but students and teachers and stuff. I
looked everywhere still looking for that weird voice so calm.
I looked at E`chiner who smiled at me. We walked toward the front of the building,
Pandora getting taller and taller as we continued.
We then entered into a huge grand room, there were six decorative floors descending to a
glass plate. E`chiner led us toward a golden staircase; we traveled to the third level and
walked into a room labeled Corthinus Descur. We entered the room to a gray haired man
messing with a broken clock.
His room was confusing his room held mystery. He had charts of the stars and magic and
sorcery books, was he training to be a wizard, but then again teacher Furl said to never
trust those who use magic.
He looked up at us with dull gray eyes. His face was gnarled like the bark of an old tree,
like his room he held mystery, he emitted mystery.
When he saw us his gnarled face became even more gnarled, he smiled a toothless smile.
He stood quickly, faster than any old men I knew, and walked quickly toward us. “Hello
now children of Council what have the brought thy to tinker with?” He asked kindly his
eyes passed over E`chiner, Daze, and Fire then his eyes fell onto me. His eyes seemed to
pop from there sockets and he let out a wild hoarse screech, causing me to step onto
Fire’s foot. He bent slightly moaning, “Sorry,” I said looking down at his hot breath
making it harder to think.
Daze suddenly glared at Fire who stared confused back. “Is it she who shall save us, the
‘Pure Warrior’?” Corthinus asked, still looking at me the same, but less intense, hungry
stare. “Maybe we don’t exactly know, she doesn’t know who Jadith is.” E`chiner said
sitting on Corthinus’s desk and fiddling with his inventions.
I stood their confused by the topic of the conversation which they called me this ‘Pure
Warrior. Well some of it made since but something was muddling it all up as to make it
to where I wouldn’t freak out. I then glared at Daze who was looking at me with sparkly
blue eyes. He smiled and quickly took my hand, his hands felt like he had just dipped
them in cold water. He took me to a couch and we sat down, I sat on the edge away form
Daze, who at the time was making it hard to breathe.
Then from the corridor came a loud shout, “Wait up, Donovan. Hey ugh,” Yelled a
person. A short a boy with blackish-brown eyes burst through the door. He smiled
revealing a chipped front tooth. Then a small thin blonde child slammed into the boy
named Donovan. They started to fight; punches and kicks were thrown even though they
were on the ground, 32 seconds later they both fell apart, panting. Fire smiled and rubbed
both their heads, “Draw,” He said laughing. One, the blonde one, jumped up as though he
had been shocked. He rushed on a pair of crooked gold spectacles and two huge blue eyes
peered from behind them. He looked at me in awe and then looked over at Donovan who
was about to speak. He pushed him down hard on to the floor. Donovan grabbed him and
pushed him on the floor next to him. Donovan stood up putting his foot on the blonde one
who moaned a bit.
“Hello, I’m Donovan and this pathetic thing under me is Drawthisis we call him drew
though a lot easier to pronounce and say.” He said smiling and shaking my hand. I smiled
back. Then Drew jumped up and stuck out a small thin hand. “Hey as you already know
I’m Drew and you are?” He asked I took his hand, which was wet from whatever his last
activity had held. I tried very hard not to flinch away from his sweaty hand. He smiled
then bowed to me as well as Donovan.
I had gotten a lot of this so far that vaguely I had gotten used to it. But it was still
disturbing, I didn’t come from royalty. I looked over to E`chiner who looked angry again.
She couldn’t be jealous I mean did she see this as some kind of reward? This was a
punishment. I absolutely hated attention I mean I guess other people; normal people
would probably love attention.
I jerked away from Drew and Donovan and leaned against the wall closest to Fire, I
thought they wouldn’t dare come near big old Fire. Well Daze then looked as angry as
E`chiner. While my eyes raked over the siblings they fell again on Corthinus.
He smiled at me kindly, which I didn’t return. But still he stood there looking at me and
shaking with pleasure. “So is it true she is The Pure Warrior?” He asked still looking at
me but aiming the question to E`chiner.
I stood up looking at all of them, the emotions, the admiration was too much for me to
take I needed a quiet place to think. But I needed not to be stopped. “I’m sorry but do you
have a latrine?” I asked. “Yes ma’am, down the hall to your right.” Donovan said
opening the door for me. Well that went extremely well if they hadn’t need to use the
restroom my plan would have gone horrible. But thank the Lord my plan is already
beginning.

Chapter 4 Trust

I walked quickly down the stairs panting slightly. I ran through the open doors. I ran past
the noise the people past the obstacles keeping me from what I wanted and needed. I hit
the wide dark tunnels, I couldn’t call a cab each one had people in them already. I ran
past them, feeling fire burn my veins, it was that chemical that made me run faster then
when I was human.
I loved this feeling the feeling that I was invincible, nothing could stop me. I ran through
the city having to stop. It amazingly it started raining, underground this went against
physics; then again I was against physics too. I sat down in an empty alley; Spirit Bound
was pretty on one side, dark and scary on the other side. I leaned against the hard cold
wall hoping sleep would come, tomorrow, I would return to my normal life and maybe
just haunt a few people mourn, normal ghost stuff. How to get out from Spirit Bound that
was the big task, I think that I’m under ground, but then the rain I couldn’t rain under
ground.
I fell asleep and kept waking up constantly, by the morning hours I was exhausted and I
didn’t notice that something small and warm was cuddling me. I nearly jumped fifty feet
in the air once it yawned. I was literally clinging to the wall when the small black lump
opened to big golden eyes.
“Oh, a fox?” No little girl I am not a fox, I am Ragu. “You can talk, your mouth didn’t
move?” I said climbing down quietly and landing agilely on my tiptoes. The small fox
stood up and bowed to me.
“Enough with the bowing I’m not royalty you know, what my mother was the queen of
here or something?” I asked looking away from him onto the empty streets.
Yes and no
“Okay you not moving your lips is freaking me out.”
Okay want to know something little girl, I’m speaking to you with my mind
“Oh well that just makes me want to stand here and talk to you.” I said slowly backing
off from the baby fox. May I come with you? He asked trotting to my side and rubbing
me, against my leg.
“Um sure I’ll let you come but don’t cause any trouble ok?” Ok I’ll stay as quiet as I can
He said chuckling quietly leaping onto my shoulder. I emerged from the alley with Ragu.
For some reason I felt light and happy, I even started to levitate. Ragu jumped off when I
did. He smiled and jumped back on.
After a few miles we stopped to buy. When people saw me they gave me whatever I
pointed to. I had a large sack a weird hat with two points, and plenty of weird exotic fruit.
I left Spirit Bound I followed the path that Daze, E`chiner, Fire and I had taken a few
hours before.
I ran past the demon farm Ragu looking at me weirdly when we stopped so I could take a
breath. What was that for? “Well the last time I walked past the farm the demons
attacked.
You looked trouble when you said the word ‘demon’ “It’s nothing.” I said standing up and
walking away listening to the pitter patter of his feet. Your personal life.
“Shut up ok, you promised to be quiet!” I yelled glaring at the small shadow. I walked on,
ugh I am so stressed. With the demon talking the deranged look in its eye, the crow, and
the bowing.
Everything was just stressing me out. I wish that I hadn’t died. That if I did I would
choose heaven, where I could be with my mother and dysfunctional emotions don’t exist,
if I could rewind time then I would’ve done it differently.
I continued walking on for hours willing myself not to fall asleep. But eventually I had to
stop because Ragu needed to sleep. I stopped under a giant oak tree and I watched him
sleep.
I looked up into the tree’s long willowy arms. The leaves were a silver color which
sparkled in the moonlight. As I looked closer I saw that each leaf had small slanted
handwriting on it. As I stood up one of the leaves started to glow gold. I reached my hand
out and picked the small leaf. I could barely make out the handwriting.
I squinted and got closer. It started to get brighter causing my eyes to water. A single tear
fell from my eye and landed on the burning leaf. The leaf the enveloped me in golden
ribbons of light, I was amazed.
You are lost and you think you are alone but you are not. Do you wish to learn your
prophecy?
“Ragu if this is a trick stop it, you’re scaring me!” I screamed looking at the burning leaf.
It was burning my fingertips. Wait the leaf asked me a question, “Um sure why not.” I
said to the leaf but feeling like I was talking to the universe.
You are one lost upon many and overlooked
You have the power of not many
The power you have is powerful
This is the reason bow to you because of your power
The devil shall strike you and those as loved
The lord shall always win the spy is one you hate and loathe
Find the spy and you shall stop the war before the innocence is gone
Never stop believing Daughter of Jadith
Once the voice had stopped I felt tired exhausted. It was still night and I fainted narrowly
missing Ragu. In my peripheral vision I saw the city rising high into the seemingly
endless sky.

Chapter four Trust

When I woke up, which was Ragu’s fault [licking my nose]], we started walking again
entering the country. Or a simulation of the country. I strolled through the green fields. I
was starving Ragu had pigged out on the rest of our fruit leaving none for me, another
reason to boot him out of this friendship thing. I lollygagged for a day, this time not
stopping just sticking Ragu in the sack. I walked maybe for another day, this time finding
a small river that ran south, right where we were going, good plenty of water. We both
drank till our stomachs bulged. We ate some reeds which I knew were safe to eat. We
slept there that night.
 The next day we ate till we were full, again. “Hey Ragu I have and idea there are a few
pieces of stray wood why don’t w make a raft and find a village down by the river. We
quickly started sailing and we made faster progress than on foot. We sailed for hours until
the sun was blood red and dripping into an orange ocean.
Ragu snored loudly once I spotted a village. A long wood ran around the edge like a
crescent moon. I didn’t move because memory was hitting me like knives.
The village was a pale yellow and I was enclosed behind the wood and protected be the
sloshing river that we now rode in. The streets were cobblestone and in the middle was a
cross with a wreath of horns on the top.
I glared at the village, and we docked in. I walked toward the empty village. Nothing
moved there was no sound, I felt like air was crushing my ears. I walked the empty
streets opening each door looking for signs of life. My town was deserted, nothing living
or nonliving was here. I walked down the road past the cross and stopped breath taken
away. Because there on the tip of the hill was my house, it didn’t lie where it originally
was.
I walked up the curving winding hill, I noticed that everything in 5 feet away from the
path was burnt and covered with frost. I was jogging now fear closing my chest, making
it hard to breathe. I stopped at the door and watched the house, looking for nothing, just
trying to see the home, there was no homey feeling.
“This can’t be happening.” I said as the door creaked open. I looked closer the door it
seemed to be inviting me in. I slowly entered into the dark house. I felt my father in here
and it took all my strength not to leave screaming. Curiosity killed the cat. I jumped and
hit me head on the ceiling. I looked down to see Ragu smiling at me. Well cats have nine
lives. I floated down and just glared at him, for some reason I couldn’t speak. Something
bad lurks in your house. He said quietly and he hissed slowly. The lights slowly turned
on with his hiss. My house was beautiful this must have been what it looked like in its
youth. I walked forward some thing smelled funny. The smell burned my nose; it was the
smell of a dead body. I walked into the parlor and the scent changed from terrible to
wonderful. A beautiful bouquet greeted my burnt nose. Spice and Sweet kind of like at
the judging place, spice and sweet, they coexisted together. I stopped in the middle of the
parlor, Hell and Heaven coexisted together, never to befriend another.
“So the small girl finely found out the truth?” said a raspy voice from behind me. I
whirled around; there in the shadow of the kitchen was a man of such ugly: I backed
away. “My name is Satan I have come to help you. He said smiling. His face was terrible.
His face was pale and crinkled like old paper. His eyes were slits like snakes, his hair was
darkness falling off and causing smoke to appear at is wrinkled feet. He was slightly
hunched over and he wasn’t breathing.
“You are one to deceive.” I said stepping forward unwillingly. He smiled and this time
he had teeth. Bright, white even teeth, He had long silky orange hair. He smiled again,
and again unwillingly I took another step forward, mesmerized, by lie that he had just
begin to spin. He took a step to the right blocking the door. Some part of me noticed and
tensed to fight. That part of me was dazed and trying to awaken.
Ok, the truth, I needed to remember the truth. He couldn’t keep lying, though I believe
pure evil has no soul. I walked closer remembering the lies I had told. “So you’ll help
me?’ I asked coming closer to the door. His eyes widened slightly barely noticeable
though. I guess most of his victims gave in easier. I had a strong will so however
tempting I could slightly stand m ground.
“Yes I can help you.” He said smiling. But I could see slight curiosity. I stretched my
hand out and touched his smooth forehead. I closed my eyes and searched for memories.
There were so many thoughts all so gruesome that I had to literally bite my tongue of not
to scream.
There were too much screaming to much blood. Fire eternal burning, souls screaming for
help, crying to Lord they see as a legend and not real. But I found that even the soulless
creature, the apprentice of the devil, had one fear. The light was so bright that if I were
alive I would have died. I heard Satan whimpering a pathetic little baby in the face of the
Lord.
I heard his screams, and soon he disappeared in a wisp of smoke, he disappeared. I fell to
the ground, all the energy in my body drained. The horrors in that mind which I had
entered would haunt me forever. I stood up and collapsed to the floor. Be fore I flickered
out was black boots standing in front of me.
When I woke I was laying on thin cotton. I lifted my head slightly to see Masculin. His
head rest on an old white tree. He snored loudly, one of my many dislikes about people,
and he probably woke me up. I sat up and felt my head. I had a turban of bandages
wrapped around my head. Dried blood covered half of my face. I looked around; we were
still in the country. I wonder how long it has been since I had talked with Satan.
My stomach than growled, I was starving and I was thirsty. I found a canteen and drank
the cool water. I ate scarps of bread from tied up cheese cloth. I ate little because I still
felt slightly nauseous.
I sighed and looked around for my crazy fox. But everywhere I looked and he was
nowhere to be found. I sighed again, life at the moment sucked. I looked over to the
sleeping ‘bear’. He really needed to just stitch his mouth up. I climbed over to him to see
the city. We were right over the city. I looked at the busy streets, people were
everywhere.
I felt waves of nausea and I sat back down and was sick all over the tree. I went back to
my original spot, and sat down. Masculin (still asleep) suddenly stuck his hand in my
sick.
That woke him up. He jumped up and looked at the sick on his hand. I chuckled; he
glared at me with cold black eyes. “Did you throw up on me?” he asked washing his hand
off with some water. “No, I threw up on the tree; you stuck your hand in it.” I said
looking at the city lights. “Sick.” He said. “Yes I threw up, it’s sick whatever.” I said
snuggling the blanket.
“No not like sick as in throw up, I mean like disgusting. It’s a future term.” He said
standing up. I didn’t the more I got know this guy the more I hated him. “Well you going
to stand up?” he asked looking down at me. “I can’t or I’ll be sick again.” I said looking
toward a sudden sleigh, which had just appeared. “Cool isn’t it. I can make whatever I
want appear.” He said looking proudly at the sleigh a though it was his first son.
“That’s not creepy at all.” I said liking the annoyance on his face. He whirled around; he
was just itching to slap me. I knew because my father made that same face and his hands
always twitched before a good beat down.”
He picked me up and placed me in the sleigh. “How are we getting there?” I asked.
“We’re sliding, the main concept of a sleigh.” He pushed the sleigh closer to the edge.
“So we as in the both of us are going to plummet a billion feet and hope we don’t kill
anybody or ourselves, or arrested?” I asked looking at him. “Yep and we won’t get
arrested?” He said grabbing the reins and tightening his grip ever so often.
“Well then ‘ I am smart’ how are you and your newborn son going to get us down to
Spirit Bound with out injuring me any further or yourself?” I asked.
I watched as he debated my words and then easily shrugged my words of wisdom off
like a fly. He then picked me up and slowly placed me on the sleigh. He fastened me
down and put a clunky pair of goggles on my thin blood encrusted face. He then (I
believe I couldn’t see right in the fogged up goggles.
“Hold on princess.” He said smirking.
“Don’t call me princessssssssssssssssssss!!!!!! I screamed and we sped at top speed
down the hill.

Chapter 5 Race-o-rama

We sped down the hill me screaming and trying not puke over Masculin. He as well as I
was screaming as blurred vegetation, Thorn and needles with bristles scratched our faces.
We both clutched at the sleigh as we approached Spirit Bound. Then I noticed an uprising
in the land which we were heading toward. “You idiot, we need to turn it around!” I
screamed my eyes still on the ramp of doom. “Wait who are you calling an idiot and I
can’t turn this thing!” He screamed right back at me.
There were a lot of things passing through my mind at the moment; many words were
very foul even for my 12 year old mind.
At that very moment we hit the rising and we flew through the air and fell upon the
cobbled stoned streets, shooting sparks at passersby. We fell upon the road screaming and
flailing. A hazard to the people of Spirit Bound and at the moment we were heading
straight toward a yellow cab and only to see E`chiner and Daze not noticing the pain
coming toward them.
Well the rest was a bloody and bone filled blur and I being me was already unconscious.

Bloody orange sun dripping into the ruby red city below, sparkled and breathed like a
living creature the force and love and magic where powerful;
There on the white cobbled stone road was a carriage of silver and gold and white
elephant tusk for wheels bumped up.
Inside shrouded in mist was the queen from Spirit Bound. Alexandria Edria Duress the
third, she had been living for great years now and was over centuries but her daughter
Jadith Olly Duress was proving to be a real failure all in all to be the next Master to
Spirit Bound. She turned her head to see a small thin pale face with glowing orange cat
eyes staring right back at her. The thick blonde fog curls brushed the red rode cheeks
which had tears falling down them. “I heard you.”

I woke up to be found in my bed with a rag with cold water and hot. The window to my
right was open letting in a pleasant warm breeze.
Good Morning I jumped slightly and saw Ragu sitting right next me licking my elbow as
though it would heal all my other wounds and end the pain, but it was kind effort. I
brought a heavily bandaged hand and stroked his black glossy fur. I heard scraping and
Ragu dashed and jumped out the small window. Mother A. came in she smiled at my
surprised and bandaged head. She sat and unwrapped my head which felt tender and
fragile. She cleaned bruises and smiled at me. “I need to take out your stitches.” She said
beginning to clean the tender parts. I closed my eyes and escaped into bliss barely
noticing the sharp tugs and pulls from Mother A. I sat in my mind thinking of things of
unimportance.
Like the college the two weird children and then an important thought passed through
the unimportant. Corthinus, the old mans’ eyes, they were deep and black like space and
millions of stars were twinkling kin his large watery eyes.
I looked over his face in my memory he looked sad and ancient. The look he had was of
trust as though my very presence was good and pure.
Mother A. left she had put a light turban around my head. Light and soft as cotton, there
was no stained blood on the turban and through the diamond window none on my face; I
still felt pain but l knew it wouldn’t effect running because one single thought was taking
over my head. Who and what was this Pure Warrior. The answer was hidden in Corthinus
eyes and i was going to pry it out in those eyes even if it re-killed me.
But now at the moment I needed to device a plan of escape without being caught and at
the time I believed I was being guarded. I slightly sat up and looked out the small hole to
see two burly men. They both wore the sign of Spirit Bound on their heavily armored
chest. They had to long poles and were standing as still as a rock on a windy evening.
I watched as they twitched and fidgeted around looking for a non existent enemy.
How in God’s glory was I supposed to get past these to demons. I suddenly saw chubby
cheeks near a wobbly chin. Gorthious, the fat cow was in the living room sitting drinking
a barrel of tea with his pinky up. What the never mind but why is chubby here I though
slowly looking around from the slurping man. I saw Masculin paler then a ghost (no pun
intended) and he sat trembling and glaring at Gorthious with cold black eyes with
flickering silver. He sat tall and his gaze never wavered on the fat man drinking casually.
I, if it was me in the chair, would have been whimpering mercy at Masculin’s feet. But
there the man sat and he soon enough noticed the waves of cold fire running of his face, I
could literally see the scars the fire was causing on the face.
“Masculin we both know why and we both are doing here for, the young maiden in the
quarters.” He said lightly smiling a sick smile at Masculin.
“We also both know that I am not letting you come near the girl none is of importance at
her state.” He said coldly.
“But why have you grown fond of the maiden.” Gorthious said licking his purple lips.
“Also we both need not be reminded of the incident you caused in the city.” He said this
time licking his chubby fingers slowly as though they to were dry.
“I pledge that I would never commit a crime as that and I have paid for the meds and
the taxi and for my wrongs I am off of office for 2 more hours seeing that my 3 days are
over, or are you going to tell me that I have been added on for more hours?” Masculin
said the fire now grew colder in his eyes and the question now lingered like smoke in the
heavy air.
They both glared at each other and Gorthious soon stood. “The maiden is of importance
and if your young heart has sown itself to hers and I assure you I myself will rip the
thread one by one.” Gorthious assumed and he and the guards left. Masculin stood there
fuming shaking silently. He looked in pain. Was he really in love with me, I am not that
pretty so I see no reason for him to see me as attractive.
He stalked out of the room. I waited for the sharp clicks to end and when the muffled
and stopped. I crawled back in and quickly changed avoiding touching my head wounds.
I dressed in a velvet cloak with a quilt for a lining. I rushed it over my shoulders and
grabbed the cold locket and quickly snapped it in to place. The cold settled in my
collarbone and numbed the pain in my head but now the locket belonged to me and
would do well to freeze people like Gorthious when I needed not to hear his scrabble
about himself and his pompous slurping.
I quickly got out and slid down the ladder with me leather gloves and rushed in to city
looking for an answer and searching for something else that my mind had no name for.

I rushed in to city dodging activity and I then stopped in an alleyway to catch my breath
and then heard a low scuttling. I turned my head to see two large golden eyes looking
right at me, but with a smirk quality, he jumped silently on to my shoulder.
Onward captain
I rolled my eyes and brought a small dolls hat from the pocket and put it on his head. He
glared at me but played along and sat there sulking about the hat while I pushed the
cloaks hood on my head and strode toward the university.
I soon saw the tunnel and rushed toward the busy highway tunnels with a complaining
fox pup on my shoulder.
I then made my way to the second part of Spirit bound. The country spread wide and
now that I was on foot the beauty stunned me. The dew on the grass sparkled better than
my diamond window.
I watched as animals were grazing and I walked along the dirt paths. I watched the sun
and the fields and it was truly a better home than a small sparkling cavern. I walked fro
minutes when the wind blew waking me fro the beauty. I remembered the task of the
university.
I looked to Ragu, who was asleep; I put him lightly in my pocket with his head sticking
it. I started to sprint lightly then the wind started and I was a bird letting the wind guide
me only faster through the country. I ran through all and soon enough reached the last
tunnels exiting the country.
I watched as the doors came and stopped the doors were locked they needed a key. I
stood at the door and I put my hand against it, the run had tired me out. I felt warmth that
started to gently throb through my body then began to pulse and dance faster.
I looked at the door which began to glow and pulse as well. I shielded my eyes, I heard a
low creaking and when I open my eyes there was the university.
I looked at my hand which had the signs of Spirit Bound on my palm which was still
white. I looked to my other hand there was a cross with seven threads spreading around it
like the earth.
This one was already cool and painless. I stepped forward and my shoes burned right off.
I looked at the cool earth that I now stood upon. I looked up to the sky and I spread my
arms and I felt one with all. It was frightening, I felt so good but I felt so clean and fresh I
always wanted this feeling but at the moment there was business. I felt the feeling leave
and I looked upon the grounds and I continued toward the main building.
I danced over the grounds feeling the sugar sweet wetness on my feet. I quickly made my
way to the Lady she was beautiful. The tears were still there but she seemed to be almost
smiling. Maybe it was the light but she looked happy.
I put my head down quickly and continued going toward Corthinus office. I ran up the
stairs and stopped at the doors of the library. Corthinus could wait; I slipped into the
library and was greeted by lulling music.
I stopped and I looked at the pictures on everything. The ceiling showed the 7 days of
the earth’s creation and a small scribbled name. The shelves then told other religions, I
ran my finger over the paper and met the soft feeling of cloth. Amazing but I was not to
be looking but searching for the answers to my single question.
I headed to the white shelf with no pictures there was only six books there each one
stacked and mashed together perfectly.
I grabbed all of them and began to read the old words. By dawns break I was exhausted,
but I had finished and now I knew some of the answers but Corthinus was still a bigger
contender to the process of the greater understanding of this legend. I walked to the third
floor and I didn’t knock but barged right in the find Corthinus sitting and smiling to a
small white bird. He looked up and saw me looking at him with cold vault doors.
He smiled even wider and motioned for me to sit. I curtly sat down farthest away from
him.
His smile was still there but directed to a sleepy drunk-like Ragu. Ragu of course was
still tired and just stretched his warm little body and fell right on my lap. The white bird
gave an alarm call and twittered to its cage.
“What brings you here Elizabeth?’ he asked his eyes glowing like owls.
“A legend that has been passed through ear to ear and I think you know if the legend and
you my professor must know of the tale that I believe that I have been spun into?’ I said
looking at the small black lump on my lap.
“Well Elizabeth which tale has the cunning spider spun you into.” He said looking right
on my face trying to catch on my face.
“This tale is called the pure Warrior-I started and I watched as his eyes dimmed and
sadness.
“I have been treated like royalty and I don’t really appreciate being called what I am not.”
I snapped at him noticing the hidden veil behind his eyes. He was hiding something.
I felt my face harden and my hand clench. I looked up snarl building in my chest.
“You are hiding something from me I need your help I came here by myself with head
trauma only to be told that there is nothing to be told!” I snarled at him his eyes looked
up to my carefully covered head. He frowned as though upset more about my head then
the problem and stake. What was wrong with him why couldn’t he give me the answers?
This was sickening I had been hidden and nurtured a small baby and here I was now
grown and strong again and I needed answers and to be told that there are none was
killing my mood.
I stood there I felt the cold at me chest and I wished to grab it and show him how strong I
was but I instead stood there shaking and shivering. The pain to my head was returning.
The cold from the necklace was gone only making me more irritable.
We stood at our stances what felt like hours but only a spare two minutes
. He sighed and he stood tall and he walked clumsily to a door behind his maps and
motioned me to follow. I at first hesitated but then curtly followed him to the door and we
both rose higher and higher. The sun rose high now in the clouds of mist. The higher we
walked the warmer the locket became.
We both arrived at the top me slightly panting but old Corthinus sat down and smiled
and he lifted his hand I watched as they glowed like my own with the door.
I watched as the room began to spin and I watched we were staring at ground s where few
small dots moved around. I looked to the professor. “Where are we?” I asked my voice
trembled slightly. He smiled, “You know the answer so why are you asking me this
question?” He said laughing slightly. I then touched the alabaster. The statue of the
woman, this made no since.
“Corthinus who is this women?” I asked turning ever so slowly to look at the wrinkled
gnarled tree behind me.
“She is the Queen from one reign ago. She created the pure warrior. It is the Queens job
to create the next leader. She did indeed become carrier to child but the child died 2
months in its life she became desperate. It was illegal then to mate with humans but she
was so lost and no man dead was fertilizing her so she returned to the humans world to
think. Here she met a young Wiccan who took pity on the queen, and she that night
prayed to the Lord that the young g women would become carrier to child. It was not
supposed to happen so it didn’t but then she found a young g women giving birth to a
young girl. The woman was screaming in pain. Her eyes fell on the Queen and she
screamed for her help. We as Spirits had made our own land we never trusted humans or
helped them by the least but the Queen saw the life span deteriorating and the child. She
helped the young humans who died after naming the baby Elizabeth.”
I snapped out of the story that name was my name and I didn’t remember much of my
life as a young infant other than that calm smiling face who I believed that was my
mother.
Maybe the face wasn’t her face.
Corthinus had paused seeing me breathing stop, and I had turned to the sun and was
watching the people.
“Continue” I said no voice in the voice I spoke in.
“The Queen left the dead young woman with a sign that would show the woman the right
way.” The Queen returned to Spirit Bound with the young human child. To make a
human a spirit you would have to kill it or give great amounts of energy.
“The young Queen took off her mother’s locket the queen, her mother Alexandria, and it
opened it and made the child swallow the amount of energy. /she kept the young girl for 1
year and then the Ancient War started.” He said with a grave voice.
“Wait hold on what War I never read of such a war.” I said turning toward him.
“Of course the war was hidden and the council made sure that the younger couldn’t read
about it. There were originally seven books you know/’ He asked looking at me with a
curious glint in his eyes.
“How did you find about that?” I asked looking straight into his eyes.
“The whitest book shelf was Twit-twit the white bird who you saw I was talking to.” He
said casually and he crossed the floor and stood at the door.
“My lessons are about to start I shall finish the story soon enough find me later upon your
own time.” He said.
“Wait1” I said in a chilling voice he flinched and turned slowly toward me.
 “I came here not only searching for answers but help. I need to ask a favor of you
professor?’ I said looking into his eyes and bowing at his knees.
I need the help of you to allow me to start early classes for a something.” I asked
casually forcing his eyes straight into mine.
He looked at me and was unable to move his head soon and then sighed. “For what some
thing Elizabeth?’

“I am unable to speak of this with you for I fear it shall cut into your classes but indeed to
be put in with classes with other children in my age or form of age I could then show you
more than just tell you the words and you not understand.” I said standing up and then I
nodded at him and whispered. “Tell me your answer soon enough and on your own
terms.” I said walking down the stairs and snapping my fingers for Ragu He came from
under the couch yawning and easily jumped on my shoulder.
I, in a hurried walk, left down the descending staircase avoiding people’s eyes. When I
arrived at home Masculin demanded of my whereabouts. I refused to speak with him and
only ate a shriveled up apple. I went to my bed room to find Twit-twit with a scarlet red
envelope laced to his leg. I quickly plucked it off and soothed his feathers and smiled
greatly. He hopped on one foot and pecked my finger lightly. I unlaced the envelope and
read the dark emerald ink.
Dear, Elizabeth
I have decided to meet you at my house this Friday and discuss in
private about your idea.
Corthinus
I touched the velvet and wondered about how much velvet they used to write. I needed
training I mean the only people I had met gave me the same sign. They would lift their
right hand and placed it on their heart. Maybe there was something greater than that sign.
I knew E`chiner was home so I crawled lightly out of my tunnel and looked around. I
had never been to any place of the house other than the main dining area, the living room,
and my own room. I looked to a hallway that was made of a dark rock that spread into
nothing. I tipped toed into the hallway to find a door sign with flowers and E`chiner on it.
I knocked 3 times on the door and a bright flash of silver light blinded me for a few
minutes. E`chiner smiled warmly at me and announced me in to her room.
‘To live in a hole and then see the castle and only return to the hole is torture of a
thousand stings.’ Children I remember my teacher quoting that form my favorite book.
“Go to see”. Well this quote was putting it to exact measure. I felt like the hobo who
scraped the dirt off the floor. Her room had a huge window made of sapphires. The room
was not made of cheaply carved brown rock. Her room was the whitest stone and the bed
was of elephant tusk. Her bed was bigger than my room. The floor looked like fresh
powdered snow. It smelled of freesia and roses and she sat on the edge of the enormous
and patted the gold silk sheets.
I stood and shook my head. She smiled, “The bed is pretty right?” She whispered running
her hand through the tangled sheets like her own hair. “Yes kind of intimidating at first
sight though” I said smiling and shuffling my feet.
“Is there reason for your visit, Elizabeth.” She said looking into a mirror across form the
bed. “Yes I have observed and have noticed that some of the people here use an unknown
sign language that many people used to greet me and others.” I explained quickly looking
her in the eyes and inserting a kind warmness into the pools of sapphire upon my face.
“Well you figured well we do indeed have a sign system that shows levels of our kind.”
She said standing and taking my hand and leading me to a diamond door with a bronze
handle. She pushed lightly and took me into a small room with an arch for a window
showing the powder violet sky.
I looked around all the rooms in this house were magnificent. I took a look around the
roman based room. There were violet flowers on the mantle of the arch. They were a
deeper color than the sky behind it. One long bench straight through the room was the
only sitting space and E`chiner lead me toward a stack of open and flustered books. She
found me one that’s aid earning the edicit of Spirit Bound.
“May I ask why you are eager to learn such basic elements of our world?” She said
lightly twisting my short hair in her thin spindle fingers. “A guest who I wish to impress
and also I have little time to learn your ‘basics’ so I can fit in to my soon-to-be plan.
She sat upright and her hands soothing rhythm was gone. “What kind of plan and am I in
your soon-to-be plan?” A calm voice emitted from the window. I whirled around to see
both Fire and Daze sitting there and grinning right at us. I felt my heart race upon seeing
them both. Daze glided and Fire scraped toward us and they stood above me.
I looked at them all and realized something I needed there help because they though I
barely knew them they felt and acted like the family that I had always dreamed of.
I smirked lightly and looked up into all of their eyes. “Of course you are in it but right
now I need your help and the deadline is Friday do you think you can do?” I asked the
smirk glowing in the candlelight. “Sure”

Chapter 6: The beginning of education

The week seemed to blow by so very quickly. By Friday I was jittery and nervous about
the meeting with Corthinus. E`chiner being one of those just too annoying people about
outerwear rushed me to her favorite tailor and before I was prepared I was watching just
me transform into the most beautiful flower on earth.
Of course I absolutely loved the look I had but as soon as I didn’t tell her where I was
going I threw the too glamorous for me outfit out my porthole window. I would have to
leave early though because E`chiner was begging me to wear in front of Masculin which
I rudely refused.
When I woke up the morning of the big meeting I was really nervous. E`chiner said a
dress could make a girl feel excellent that morning smiling at me with her ultra-white
teeth. Well at that exact moment her ultra-white teeth where being covered in my spit and
tea. Fire began beating my back while I coughed up most of my tea.
When I recovered I was barely breathing and hanging on to the old dusty table way too
hard. I broke off a large chunk of wood while coughing. E`chiner’s bewildered gaze
started me laughing while crying and coughing in pain. When my episode was done I
neatly stood up ignoring Masculin and Fire’s quiet snickering returned to my room
dressed myself and left haughtily. During my hurried descent all the men were laughing.
Well I was way off schedule and now I was rushing to get a new outfit for my meeting in
14 hours. I ran through the streets barely exhausted when I rushed into a modern
woman’s outerwear tailor shop.
 An annoying 3 hours later I was still rushing. I calmed down after a light hot tea at
Debut’s shop. I calmed down and avoided spirits and went to areas less packed.
I calmed down enough to sink my essence into a wonderful world of text. So much
enough that I read the entire series and didn’t notice the heavy rain or the shivering cold
that had befallen on the shop. When I had awakened from my daze I was shivering and
the shopkeeper had forgotten I was here and blew out all of the candles. Before I could
begin to think of harsh insults I noticed that my being wasn’t there anymore.
Just the old dusty table, I looked through the shadowed pane and heard the loud pitter-
patter increase.
Weird thing is how deep you go into that simple minded book that has no love but only
the grief of a milkmaid?
“Ragu,” I shouted.
“How dare you even insult this classic you haven’t even probably read a good
masterpiece?” I screamed at the air just looking around for that rotten piece of coal.
My eyes are closed so you have no landmark of where I am and the same for you. I wish
you would resume your normal position so I could see your lovely pale face again
Elizabeth?
A crack if thunder and a strike of lighting and we were both whole again. He smiled
lightly and I had noticed that his wimpy form had grown a bit fuller. “I suppose I should
have known to bring a parasol with us both seeing a fair share of water?” I answered
touching the cold glass.
I heard the clicking of his nails against the cherry wood floor and he jumped lightly and
curled protectively around my neck. His tail lifted high over my head. “Do you think that
shall shield you as well?” I asked tracing my finger under his eye.
Do you dare insult me I am strong and I can withstand this light rain besides I am no
longer a kit but a young fox that now has a duty to protect you young master.
I snickered lightly and put on a brave face. I opened the door and was hurled with only a
quarter of the storm now escalating beyond freak storm.
“Darn who knew it to be so hard just to travel now days?” I said quickly. But I soon
calmed the worst that could happen was a simple cold no pain here right, then again that
was heaven.
I leaped out into the storm running like a wild woman. Somehow through the blur I
found my way through the streets and made it to the old apartment that belonged to
Corthinus.
There was no other word for his apartment then the word quirky. He lived over a
therapist’s office. I was shocked that how fancy his office was, but here he lived in a two
room apartment filled to the coffee brim ceiling.
“I’ll get us some tea from Barbra upstairs.” He said smiling and opened the old beat up
door and made his way upstairs.
I looked toward the dusty windows, and the old parlor was small but well organized. The
old sofa was a dim gray and was bitten in various places. The door knob jiggled and
Corthinus entered in with a plump lady. Her hair fell in locks around and old pale face.
She had a large tray full of snack galore; Corthinus had a tray full of broken antique
China tea cups.
 The old woman smiled at me and set down the baked goods on the old table. The table
groaned with discomfort but remained upright just a little longer. Corthinus wisely set the
tea on the kitchen counter and smiled warmly.
“This dear Elizabeth is my upstairs neighbor Misses Huyi she has spent years traveling
through the Middle Earth and Earth searching for her calling. She found 20 years ago
living here was all that she was looking for. She started ‘To be Tea’ down the street in the
folk market.” He said kindly patting the woman’s hand while he gave her her cup of tea. I
smiled lightly at her lightly ignoring how soaking I was for a minute my mind amazed at
the term Middle Earth. I had never heard of at the church I went to but maybe it was not
of the religion I practiced.
“Oh my,” I heard Misses Huyi say shrilly. I looked up quickly my hair dripping on the
table.
“You are all wet and covered thoroughly with it to. We must immediately get you
something dry and dry your wet hair as well should you agree.” She said standing and
stopping looking at me.
“Um I wouldn’t want to cause any trouble.” I said quickly pulling my wet hair into a
graceful wet ponytail. She smiled and nodded as though my question had answered a lot
more than I knew. Corthinus stood up and walked to the backroom with a weird sort of
elegance and returned with an old blanket and rapped it around my shoulders, while
Misses Huyi gave me a large mug of tea and a thin yellow-grayish towel to dry my hair
with.
“Thank you for you courtesy.” I whispered not comprehending why they pampered me
so.
“Corthinus I have not much time here and soon night shall cover the city like a thick
wool blanket. If I am not back by then I am sure to get in more trouble with Masculin.” I
said sitting up straighter and looking into his eyes.
“Well then I see you have important business to discuss so I shall leave the both of you
alone to reminisce.” Misses Huyi said smiling and leaving in a quick bustle.
‘She is very kind but a single raises in my mind.” I said looking at the old beaten down
door.
“Oh really then what sits like a rock on your head.’ He asked sitting the cup on the table
which groaned again this time in annoyance.
“Not now when more important things need to be discussed.” I said kindly holding the
chipped mugs between my two cold hands.
“You’re a professor so you must know the one who assigns new students to the college?”
I said releasing all that I had held in for days upon the old frail man before me.
“Elizabeth the college here is not the only school to teach you besides college is for
students who are of the age 19 and up.” He said gravely.
“That is so… stupid I will never grow again and have the enjoyment of ever being able
to go the school because I died.” I spoke in a low whisper.
“Elizabeth that is not,-”
“No that is exactly what you are implying as a rule though you made the mistake to
make it so obvious. I can never really become that age and if I have lived that long here I
will still never really be that age. The soul remains untouched by time does it not, so what
if I remain a child in my soul so am I never permitted to come?” I said standing up
placing the tea cup on the kitchen counter. I whirled at him he looked bewildered at my
tender care to the China.
“I was murdered and I sent myself here wanting to help and the way I plan to help save
what I think is your home and others home who have been born or have chosen this way.
Age is nothing here only on the physical earth does it matter but not here. It doesn’t
matter here anymore but if think because you see the body you have lived with that you
are still the Mind, Body, and Soul than you are wrong! I am disappointed to think that
nobody here as figured that out or registered it into there heads what we are now or what
they’ve always been. Inside are not the organs but something we have always begun with.
We are so used to having this stuff to carry it around with us that we forget that we are no
longer like that.” I said staring through the balcony window.
“Do you know why we hold this form?” I asked turning toward Corthinus who was
staring at me amazingly. He barely shook his head.
“We never really can expect that we are here and not with cherished love ones up there. I
miss my mother and my sister and my friends. None of them came back they either went
to the top or to the bottom but none of them landed here with me. Without them I feel
useless because I am alone. No matter how many people surround me they can’t embrace
me or love me like my family did.”
I said looking toward the bustling and hustling to get to one place than another.
“They all continue as though they’re still alive physically. They don’t and think on how
much they can grow and love and learn but here they are continuing forever like this.
Always remaining doing the same thing and nothing will ever really change.
“That’s what scares me that you can live in Heaven and always feel happy there because
sorrow doesn’t exist but here we are all still pawns to negative feelings that will torture
forever.” I said turning around to see Misses Huyi standing in the doorway with tears
coming down her coffee face.
“I have traveled and traveled to find nothing that I really want because nothing will ever
change and I’m still going to cry and feel anger sometimes I question the answer I said.”
She spoke in such a sad voice as though I had made her see something she had never seen
before.
“You speak the truth why can’t others speak and change like you do.” She asked
crossing toward me and holding my hands.
“Because unless they accept it they can never move on to bigger and better things this is
all they know and familiar is safe and comfortable. Moving past the walls and barriers we
set up is harder than any physical task.” I said swiftly. Though I felt a headache coming
on after that speech, even so I turned toward Corthinus and looked at his wise eyes, “
So because what you see isn’t so will you ask the Head Director?” I asked looking into
his now sparkling granite eyes. He stood up slowly and stared right back with a fire
burning in his eyes.
“There is something I must tell you and then I will tell you my answer to your request.”
He began. He had a sad smile on his gnarled face.
“Gorthious ordered me to not allow you to come and study with our students-“He started.
I opened my mouth to protest but he held up a spindly finger.
“He thought that you meant only to embarrass the council more since you first visit.” He
said smiling at me while my face flushed.
 “But he is not the master of the school so I shall ask and if you are approved as well if
your request is approved as well then you might see a new education and find a way to
break the loop of time and open those eyes that see only what is in front of them but not
within.” He said.
I dismissed myself and cluttered down the wooden stairs. Even though the meeting was
over I felt still nervous for the answer of the Head director of the school. For once I felt
fear here stronger than when my physical body held and contained it all.
I looked up toward the eerie sky that glittered down on the wet pavement and signs. The
smell of rain and wet cloth reminded me of the rain when I was alive. Only know a few
drops fell I stuck her hand now and tried to forget what rain was like.
I stared as a bead of water fell toward her wrist when it came an inch away from my
wrist it hovered slightly it trembled ,as though confused, as though it had forgotten what
it was. I frowned and flooded my mind with thoughts of the physical attributes of rain
and the bead stopped trembling and dropped with a harmony bell sound.
My headache had become so bad I could barely process the thought of what had
happened it was as though my mind was stopping me from understanding the greater
meaning of what just happened.
My instinct told me I just imagined it that it was too much that I needed rest, but some
part of me said Why, How, and what am I hiding form myself?
I stood there with a dazed expression. I shook it off quickly whatever had just happened
was not real and I need only to forget it and arrive at the Rale residence. I rushed up the
mountain side and stopped by sheer awe. The view was beautiful you could see every
glittering thing in sight. Everything was so alive and bustling. My awe soon turned
toward depression. This wasn’t alive only rock and a light that was supposed to be the
sun.
Why does it hurt to exist now as I am when I should feel no pain and be at peace with
my family? I wish-
“So Princess how did it go?” I turned to see Mavolent with noir chien standing faithfully
at his heels with large amber eyes.
“Fine- Achoo!” I finished wiping my nose.
“Well it seems that you walking around in the rain like a stray kitten has caused you to
become sick Princess.” He said swiping his hand across my damp hair. I glared angrily at
him.
“Stop calling me princess if I do not wish to be called so then why don’t you stop?” I
asked. He opened his mouth but I held up my finger
“I mean what has caused you to be so determined with calling me such a foolish name?” I
asked looking up at him I felt better getting that off my thin chest.
“Are you done?” He inquired lightly squinting lightly at the sun peeking out behind thick
cotton clouds.
I nodded and waited. He stood staring behind my shoulder, then his feet, and last my
eyes. His dark soot eyes had flecks of silver and amber, almost as though under the soot
there was a treasure just waiting to be found.
“I call you Princess because you talk so formally.” He said casually rolling his shoulders
in the mid-afternoon sun.
“I do not speak formally I speak just like the others who speak here.” I said frowning. I
was remembering things.
 “Yes you do you speak like a princess and you have a weird accent I think Corthinus has
if you listen closely you can hear it he uses it softly.” He said with a quick glance of my
face he turned his entire body turned away from me.
“Isn’t it beautiful, the city I has such grace and beauty. Who could hate it?” he said with
a wide grin.
I could, I did I hated it here where everybody was intent on calling her names, where the
Council was a pack of fat globby unorganized hyenas. I hate Spirit Bound and I hope that
one day when I have a chance I will run away from here and I will forget this era in my
life and haunt like a normal spirit lost form the world they were ripped from savagely.
“Pardon me.” I said quickly walking pass the black dog and the human wearing all black.
I rushed toward the house and went to my room only to find an empty hole.
The yarn drapes were gone, the blanket and mattress I slept on where gone. I tuned to see
Daze standing there calmly waiting for me. I stood and he walked toward the hall without
a back glance. I sighed deeply wishing that surprises would just give me a small break
only for just a while.
We went to the farthest room in the back where on the solid oak door, uncommon in a
stone house, had a bronze name plate. When I moved closer engraved on the metal where
two words: Elizabeth Rale. Never in my entire life had I had my name on anything other
than parchment. Even so it was amazing and for once I felt as though I wasn’t a
disregarded piece of dirt but now a Rale who could exist here throughout time finally
with a family where happiness would surround us like the strings of light that I saw the
thundering voice of God in.
I looked at Daze who smile a genuine smile with a hint of excitement as though my
becoming a Rale meant much m ore that a room of my own instead of a nasty hole.
“It was E`chiner’s idea though.” He stated simply looking at the door with a sense of
pride.
“Fire took her out because she was getting on all of our nerves as though you wouldn’t
like it.” He said staring at me through his sapphire eyes. I smiled none the less and
grabbed the cold doorknob.
I took a deep breath on anticipation and fear and opened the door. Light blinded me
momentarily and I then saw the most indescribable room that the heavens light had ever
touched.
There was a huge window clear like as though nothing was there. The scent of lavender
and peaches greeted me. The walls were a deep violet with light lavender strakes near the
very top. The floor was covered in petals, leaves, and salt. The most magnificent thing
was not the enormous bookshelves with seemingly endless books that rose to the ceiling
nor, the painting of the large silver tree and gold leaves that seem to burn but, the water
bed.
When I say water bed it isn’t just a mattress filled with warm water. But the floor cut
deep in to the ground and the wood of a steady oak tree connected to the wall held a bed
with scraps of silk and velvet. It was a dark reddish-purple and lilies opened gracefully on
the mattress.
It reminded me of a crib the way the tree almost created a nest full of warmth for a small
chick waiting for its mother. I smiled at the room it was like stepping into yourself to see
through your memories.
 I turned toward Daze my eyes glowing with joy and acceptance. He smiled and left the
room so I could be left in the comfort of my mind and room.

As I sat in the library my eyes puffy and tired I still couldn’t sleep in my room. Though
the bed of water did not shake or move. Whenever I tried to sleep my muscles would
tense my eyes would blur and my mouth would fill with the hot metal taste of blood.
The room though was relaxing and if this pain didn’t occur I probably would have slept
like a baby. I sighed and continued not reading this book of plants for treatments for
stiffness in my body.
Whenever though I felt this feeling it wasn’t exactly annoying but thrilling. As though I
was about to launch myself into something that I shouldn’t be in, I remembered this
feeling when I was younger my father one night was filling sympathetic. Instead of
hitting me he just stood there, drunk, laughing at me telling me what a pitiful existent I
was to his life. I had felt the heat and soon rise in my body until I shook with fever and
my mouth tasted blood and for some strange reason I enjoyed the sensation and u
remember nothing else of the night except my own laughing and the whimpering of a
child.
When I ever I remember this memory it made it even harder to sleep. I leaned against the
chair and groaned. My chest hurt from letting the sharp edge of the table sink into my
plump flesh. I felt the bruises and went back to my room in exasperation to escape the
heat and bloodlust.
I jumped into my bed and sank myself into the cold sheets liking the way the cold
desperately covered as though they felt pity for the heat that rage within me. I felt
exhaustion from the extra heat and I fell into a restless sleep.
When the sun slapped my eyes hard I hissed with annoyance. Hadn’t I closed the
curtains? I nuzzled myself deeper until the harsh sun was only a past problem. I took a
deep breathe of the peach and lavender. It calmed me down and relaxed my tense over
worked muscles.
I didn’t feel well. I felt as though I had run the perimeter of Spirit bound 7 times over
without a break. I breathed evenly and I felt myself sinker into unconscious. Well though
my pool of sleep was shallow it couldn’t withstand ripples of nose.
My door banged open with a gunshot and I didn’t even bother to look up knowing that
only two people in this household would do this out of excitement. My muscles burned in
the sun and I didn’t want to hear this stupid reason for being up and about.
I didn’t move as I heard the panting of whomever. Maybe they would leave if I remained
still. E`chiner sharp whistle bounced noisily off the walls. I flinched and grudgingly
opened my eyes.
The worst thing about the morning is that morning qualifies at 7:45. E`chiner smiled at
me standing with her hands on her frail frame in front of my window with the long beams
of sunlight shattering the peace of sleep.
I glared at her and barely mumbled a ‘Get out” When she leaped into the great pool of
water surrounding my bed. I am not a morning person nor am I a water type person so
you can imagine the cold chill of the water and my lack of sleep combining together and
wanting to kill the small woman-child in the pool with a wide grin.
 After properly punishing E`chiner I started getting ready for the long day ahead.
E`chiner , while being punished, told me that my schedule consisted of the meeting the
Council and their opinion on my going to the school, going to the college to sign papers
as a register, then I had to go with Daze, Fire, and E`chiner to the Moon Pool.
As already mentioned today would be a long day. I quickly checked the overly-bright
sunshine and scowled. I had been rudely awakened by the sun and wasn’t happy about
being in the eye of its heat all day long either.
I put on a thin cotton shirt with a pair of trousers that were cut short. I sighed as I walked
though my door. My first official day as a Rale and I already hated the first few minutes.
I went to the kitchen to see my traveling companions all gun ho and ready to travel. I
scowled mentally and trudged to the counter not wanting their happiness to spread on my
food. After a quick cheerful breakfast we were off to the Council building.
I who was exhausted from the long walk down the mountain was surprised at a new way
to the main city. A long hole with glowing crystals and elevators, Ladders, and stairs all
heading to Spirit Bound, today was not a good day to take the Main Path.
“It’s always crowded on Sundays.” Daze said neatly avoiding colliding with people. I
looked at most of the people who lived like the Rale’s in the Hill country near the fake
sun. They weren’t like the main city people nor the country people they were highly
dressed they wore expensive things and they all wore thick clothes even though I was
sweating in my thin outfit.
“Why do they were such thick clothing if the ‘sun’ reaches the Main city as well?’ I
asked Fire who unlike many wasn’t sweating at all.
“To them it is cold in Spirit Bound. The sun’s rays reach Spirit Bound reaching warm
71o degrees in the hill country it’s usually 89-97 degrees. So it’s unusual to see them
dressed as anything else.

My eyes darted toward the long blue tunnel. Everything was crowded today the stairs,
the elevators, and even the ladders were booked. How are we supposed to get down to
the there without wasting much of our time? As we were being shoved I noticed a young
boy of maybe five or six standing in the middle of the crowd not moving not reacting.
The young boy had red hair blood red hair. His skin was as pale as snow, yet no one
noticed him. Standing there motionless it was almost like he wasn’t even there. I kept
my eyes on him as we were rushed. Before we were on the stairs he looked up at me.

I had seen some strange thing is but nothing as strange as this. His eyes were diluted and
pupil almost forgot the entire eye. Around the enormous pupil a thin thread of blood red
watched me. He raised his hand as though to cry out but his hands started to disburse
into a powder. I watched in horror as his entire body disintegrated. No one saw except
me. That boy who didn’t exist anymore was it like any other spirit.

In his eyes was not business or hurry, but realization. “Denny where are you?” cried high
pitched voice.
“Has anyone seen a small little boy with red hair?” the voice asked again. This time
closer I looked around. I spotted a woman with fancy clothing hustling and bustling
calling for her little boy. I looked at my group none of them and noticed me. So I set off
don’t blame me now this is the mother must go crazy when their children are missing. I
grabbed her thick coat.
“Ms. I saw your little boy.” I said staring into her large eyes.
“You have where was he? Where is he? “She said loudly into my ear. Quickly rubbing
my ear I pointed to ward the rail. With eager eyes she searched. She stepped on the pile
of ash. She looked down her eyes grew wide or wider than they already were.
“No not my son they shouldn’t have happened the disease is only for commoners.” S she
howled.

I slowly retreated try not to bump into any body. The look on her face was frightening
she looked up and I’ve barely escaped her eyes. With a newfound spirit no pun intended,
I’m rushed toward an empty elevator. I heard the woman screaming behind me.
“Why not my boy not mine!” the cry echoed and I rushed to Spirit Bound looking on the
way for my companions.
What disease had conquered the boy? I bumped into a tall figure. I fell roughly on my
backside. I brushed off the dust and looked up to see a bewildered Masculine. I sighed
and got up ignoring his outstretched hand. I walked past him in a fluster entering the cool
dome of Spirit Bound traffic.
“Hey princess where are you going? Why were you running and you could at least say
you’re sorry?” He said keeping pace with my brisk walk. “Hey,” He said reaching to my
shoulder and spinning me around.
“Stop it I’m trying to find your darn kids. Leave me be.” I said smacking his hands and
whirled around to the highways trying to get a cab. Amazingly a cab pulled over with an
old creaky skeleton horse. The cab was beat up and rusted not that much different from
the old man holding the reins. He had a grey beard and twinkling blue eyes, he wore a
large smile with crooked front teeth.
“Well little lady you need a ride.” He said tightening his grip on the horse.
“Yeah I need to go to the Council building and quick.” I said stepping into the carriage.
I watched in annoyance as Masculine hopped in as well. He had on a casual revenge
smile. I scooted to the window as far away from him as I could.
“So princess fess up or else.” He whispered leaning on my ear. I blushed and bit my
tongue. I turned around my cheeks on fire.
“What are you going to do to me?” I whispered back angrily.
He raised my hand and lifted onto it a black spider. It took all of my restraint not to
scream. The furry legs, the eyes, and the small it in my hand made me shake.
I mumbled quietly a curse and a plea.
“What did you say I couldn’t hear that?” He said grinning evilly at my terrified face.
“Get it off”
“What princess I couldn’t hear that?” He chuckled. Petting the spider he leaned on my
ear and blew ever so lightly.
I’m not a violent person but power and rage hit me head on. I could say I didn’t enjoy it,
but then I would be lying. I absolutely loved cracking his head against the glass and
nobody really noticed that Masculine Rale of the council was getting beat by his house
guest.
 When the cab stopped my gown was ripped and he had a black eye and his lip was
swelling. I didn’t really care though, I’m pretty sure that the Council will though. As we
both walked toward the grand building.
“Princess tell me what was with that pale blue face? You looked petrified.” He said
wincing and rubbing his purple jaw. He said, “Did I not hurt you at all?”
“I look at you and you are hurt but I feel no pain anywhere. Can you even fight?” I asked
looking at the purple and blue bruises.
“Yet I will tell you why but in private where there is nobody to speak to us or hear us.” I
said whispering walking through the warm lobby. Last week I might’ve screamed at the
skeletons but now I was used to them.
Masculine walked with a proud cocky stride leading me to a stairway. I bit back a laugh
at the strange looks we were both receiving. By the time we entered the dark room I was
coughing to hide my laugh. The light was a cream colored candle almost dying out
because of the end of the wax.
“Now Elizabeth tell me what is it that has made you afraid?” He asked looking into my
eyes intensely. I shivered at the memory. I quickly explained to him the event that had
taken place. While I spoke he became more rigid and for once he truly looked
frightening.
“You saw realization.” He said his eyes dull and empty.
“A what?” I asked quietly processing the mood and his tone.
“Realization is a terrible thing. It’s when a spirit realizes what was and what is.” He said
rubbing his jaw.
“You mean when they realize that what was their physical body is only an image of the
thought and that what they see isn’t real/” I asked uncertain of the circumstances. He
looked up surprised.
“So what we see isn’t real and this place is only a sanctuary for those who haven’t
realized yet where they lie. So here it is like earth but if we change ourselves it could
break the illusion of what we see.” I said now pacing the room.
“Here God made a place for us where we could stay until the full blow hit. But then that
makes no since seeing that I was asked there was no here you go. Maybe though there is
something more than our mere existence here in Spirit Bound. Maybe we have something
more than the other souls that separates us or maybe this is a different religion
altogether.” I said pacing faster.
“Maybe so but now we won’t know I’m sure though Corthinus should know. He’s been
alive for eons I’ve heard.” Masculine said. He held his head lightly grimacing.
“We should hurry now my children probably have already left. Did you know where
they planned to go next?” He asked opening the door letting cool air rush to blow out the
dying flame.
“The market downtown in Egress lane.” I replied as we both hurried down the stairs.
“And where are you to going?’ A pompous voice boomed over the lobby. We both
turned around to see Gorthious his cheeks plump and his lips shiny with beaded water.
On a leash next to him was the crow, Hades, his red eye glimmered and he smiled at me.
I shivered and turned toward Gorthious which wasn’t helping at the vomit factor. Both
Gorthious and Hades were ridiculously ugly and pompous as though the world was their.
Souls like Gorthious what made them different than the ones in Hell, Heaven, the
Underworld, or maybe nothing.
 He stood their head high and with a stubby finger he curled it toward himself inviting us
to come with him. I sighed in exasperation we didn’t have time for this pig, but I
straightened my back and smiled at him. Masculine grimaced and pouted like a child. Hr
blew the hair out of his eyes and slouched and shuffled his feet as he walked. I noticed
that Gorthious looked annoyed at the behavior. His hand twitched with the leash and he
turned swiftly toward the arch with Masculine. I sighed as rushed after them embarrassed
at the looks of the civilians on my back.
“What is it Gorthious we have much to do that don’t involve you.” He said
straightforward while playing with his also straight hair. He look in pain from the
boredom and the ends of his mouth was turned down in.
“You are an idiot with no hope how you dare come out of a closet with her you bastard!”
He said stopping his black coal eyes matching the intensity of Masculine. I looked at
Masculine and our faces both flushed a murky memory of red.
“If what I think you say,” I began quietly.
“Yes my intentions are correct and you two better have a good reason before I send you
both to the crows.” He said holding his grubby stubby hand up covered in like twenty
rings. As I concentrated more on the rings they began to shimmer and then glow like a
candle. Gorthious face was pale as snow now as the rings glowed. I suddenly felt tired
not like physical tired but something deep in my chest felt heavy and tired.
I thought maybe I would flicker out but I was still here and seeing the rings glow
brighter and brighter until the light was too bright to look at.
So is this the power of ones soul one who has found themselves?
I saw Hades standing outside the bubble of light with pained and hatred eyes his red eyes
looked so lost. The crows feathers even though about five feet away from the light were
burning and turning into ash.
I stood their and watched in awe the power of this small column of light take its toll on
Hades the once dark crow. I then turned to both Gorthious and Masculine who were
looking around in fear and amazement.
“What is this, what did you to brats do?” Gorthious screamed. His arm was shaking and
kept flapping his hands at the glowing rings.
“Us what do you mean us? What did you do?” Masculine screamed right back taking
hold of his hand.
“Princess I need you to grab the rings and fling them off okay?” He yelled. He then
screamed, “You pig stop moving or I’ll kick you in the groin so hard you’ll never father
children again.”
Gorthious struggles weakened and then stop altogether. I put my hand close to the rings
expecting heat only to be met by a pleasant breeze and the smell of fresh bread. I sat their
puzzled and bent toward another ring. This time the smell was champagne and dust. I
frowned and looked at both of them. Why were they so scared and I didn’t feel any heat
so what was so dangerous about the twenty rings forced upon his potato fingers.
“Elizabeth what is wrong with you get them off me can’t you feel it? The heat and the
pain, so stop it!” Gorthious yelled. His hands were shooting sparks, yet no heat came
from them. Curiosity got the better of me and I lunged for a spark without thinking. I
caught it in the palm of my hand. When I opened my palm instead of a small ash clump
which I expected I got instead a bubble. Not one of those bubbles that you get in the sink
while washing cutlery but a small perfect orb of a foggy blue.
 “What the-“
“Masculine Erthuis Rale don’t you speak a word of your nonsense in my council.”
Gorthious roared while launching himself toward me.
For an old man he could surprisingly jump like a wildcat, but as soon as his hand waved
over the ring barely the building disappeared and then reappeared. But, not the building
that we had been in but an old beaten cabin with a small fire in the corner, it was a two
room cabin with a kitchen and a bathroom. Outside it was snowing hard covering
everything in a white frosty quilt.
Gorthious stood frozen as well Masculine gawking at the old cabin. The door suddenly
swung open to a black cloak. From the dusty cloak there came a long high pitched yowl
of despair. I watched as two plump cheeks covered in dew and snow emerged and
straightened. Gorthious was panting heavily and his cheeks were flushed. He took his
hand out and he cradled the small bundle which wailed louder and louder each minute.
Gorthious placed and unwrapped the swath on the crooked oak table. Once uncovered the
wailing stopped, two large black eyes shimmered in the firelight. Fluffy black hair
covered the child’s pale head. When I sat next to the panting Gorthious I saw the child
was a boy.
“You kept this memory?” I shaky voice said from in front of me. I looked up to see
Masculine staring at the child, who now cooed lovingly toward Gorthious.
“Yes why couldn’t I it’s my mind is it not?” Gorthious said sternly closing his eyes and
rubbing his temples. Suddenly the room darkened and disappeared to be replaced by a
green meadow with wildflowers everywhere. The sun shown on the dewdrops which
were sprinkled on everything, yet something here was dim like a hue was missing.
I smiled and leapt into the field and fell into the grass.
“Elizabeth? Where did you go?” Masculine called. Suddenly Masculine landed right
next to me with a muffled thump.
“What is this place?” I asked sitting up and drawing my hands through the mist that acted
like water.
“It’s a memory ring. How many did you activate?” He said rolling around in the grass
like a dog.
“Activate? What do you mean activate?” I asked picking grass out of my skirt. I stood up
completely and looked at the faded paradise.
“You idiot.” A deep rumble spoke. I whirled around to see a toddler form Masculine. His
pale skin was flushed and he his cheeks were puffed out and his lip pouted.
“I don’t see what I did wrong? Father what is it that I did wrong?” He screamed. I
gasped but kept my look on the small adorable Masculine.
Crack Gorthious slapped the smaller Masculine. I watched little Masculine fall to the
ground in a crumpled heap. I gasped in shock at the anger in Gorthious’s eyes.
“You bastard, you almost gave me away! How many times have I told you as a half-
spirit you must never let anyone find out or the balance will come undone?” Another
Crack sounded and Masculine flinched to the right. Little Masculine sat up with a
throbbing cheek.
Suddenly Masculine stood up and started destroying the meadow.
“Masculine stop it! What are you thinking?” I screamed trying to grab at his clothes, but
I stopped when I saw his eyes. He was sobbing his entire body shaking with rage and
something I couldn’t identify. Soon the memory flew into nothing.
 Hee hee hee Look at what Liz did now what are you going to do now that you’ve shown
Spirit Bound you true power?

I opened my eyes which I didn’t remember closing. Masculine sat slumped against the
fancy wall while Gorthious sat huffing and puffing for air. I looked around the floor to
see all Gorthious’s rings glowing white spinning on the floor. I reached my hand toward
one and almost enclosed my hand, but Masculine grabbed my hand and stopped me. He
stroked my hand lightly like a delicate rose.
“Elizabeth leave us please.” He said quietly releasing me. I jumped up and watched the
hunched figure shiver and shake. Before I left I hugged him, the selfish, thoughtless, idiot
who I loathed, yet I held him like a small child. I stroked his hair and rose tugging his
hands of my tunic. I smiled and said, “Insult me later when you’re feeling better okay?” I
said quietly. I lightly ran off with darting footsteps. I felt tears cascade softly down my
cheeks.
I had learned many things about my new home. I think maybe the school isn’t the
beginning of my real education.

Chapter 7: Friends and Enemies

“Elizabeth why are you wiping your eyes?” Daze asked shaking my shoulder lightly.
“No reason present.” I answered quietly. “Just something in my eyes that’s all.” I said
rubbing my eyes vigorously. We all were at the market about to get a cab to go to Moon
Pool, but Fire was having no luck with cabs.
I sighed and stepped next to Fire and started waving elegantly as I could. I opened my
eyes wider and smiled lovingly. Seven cabs stopped. I turned to Fire and smiled at him
and opened the door of the largest cab.
We all stepped in comfortably and E`chiner said Moon Pool and were off.