Chapter One
Was this real? Arilyn looked up. Clouds of steel blurred her vision as she tried to study the distorted blob in the sky. The other souls passed by her, not noticing the apparition in the sky. When the clouds finally parted she shook her head, deeming the apparition contrived by her imagination.
She turned around and continued onward. Her golden locks swayed just below her shoulder blades as she moved with the stream of souls. It had been a long journey and one she continued with no end in sight.
She winced a little as she remembered hazily of how she got here; obviously, she had to have died to get here but for some reason, if she tried to remember, her mind would snap back as if she was touching a red, hot iron. The blistering-like aftereffect in her mind would then have her scrambling to conjure up a pair of azure eyes. Those gentle, stoical eyes always calmed her; to whom those eyes belonged, she could not recall.
Nearby a wavy image of a boy convulsing and wheezing appeared. She passed him indifferently, like so many she had done before, for she knew it was soon for him to make his long journey in the afterlife.
Another one comes to this gilded wasteland, she thought.
Arilyn lowered her golden eyes. The afterlife was not what she had expected. At least not like this where she followed a line of souls for how long she knew not of. The land of the dead itself was bleak and life sucking; slates of grey dunes and monochromatic horizons, a far cry from the descriptions she heard or perhaps it was because she hadn’t reach Yaaru, the utopia of the dead?
She had never doubted the words of the Isiana Order. The priests and priestesses, wrapped in their distinct blue robes, preached all over Landoa of the teachings of the great goddess, Isiana, the giver and protector of life. They said all who followed the Code of Isiana would be granted entrance to her throne, Yaaru. But where is it? Why is she still walking? She had followed the Code. That she was certain.
Then the apparition appeared again, further in the horizon, but this time she saw a face. A strange looking face that bore a resemblance to her race yet there was something not quite right. She had stopped to ponder on this, when she realized that she was not standing on solid ground.
She looked down and to her horror, found herself sinking into a black puddle. She tried to run but it only made it worse and she sunk faster than if she stood still. She wailed wildly to grab onto the other souls but her hands went through them.
How can this be? I am dead as them yet I pass through them as if I was living?
Now shadowy hands rose from the dark puddle and grabbed her arms like leeches. She screamed for help but the other souls did not hear her. She tried again to free herself but a giant hand wooshed upward and pulled her through the dark puddle….
% % %
Arilyn awoke and shielded her eyes from the blazing light from above.
“Wow, it worked,” said an astonished voice.
She turned her head to see who it was that was speaking.
It’s that woman I saw in the sky!
Looking down on her with ruby eyes was a tan skinned woman wearing a sheen long coat. The woman bent forward letting strands of her red-streaked black hair fall off her shoulders. She poked Arilyn’s arm with her black nailed finger.
“You are real! I did it!” shouted the woman and she smiled wide, showing a small pair of fangs. “I can’t wait for those monsters to hear what I just did!”
“Who are you?” whispered Arilyn.
“Ah, I’m sorry Miss for informalities. My names is Jayashri but you can just call me Jaya.” The woman bowed while tucking her hair behind her pointy hairy ears.
Hairy ears? Arilyn propped herself up with her elbows and stared at Jaya. Then she looked around the room. It was white stoned with a floating light hanging from above of which she wasn’t sure was flame driven. In front of her was an oaked door with an iron skull as a doorknob.
For the platform she was lying on, it was made from the same material as the walls. There was a small desk with an opened book propped on it on the other side of the room. Her eyes then trailed back to Jaya. “Oh, um, my name is Arilyn. Where am I? Is this Yaaru?” She asked. She was confused. The room and Jaya did not have that sense of death.
“Well, firstly, I brought you back from the dead,“ said Jaya so causally.
“What?”
“You’re alive. I resurrected you.” Jaya thumped her chest proudly.
Arilyn could not believe what she was hearing. Alive? Was this a trick? Before she could ask how, rapid thumps on the door shook the room. Jaya cursed in a strange language that she never heard of and she had studied all the languages in Landoa. A shouting and rambling of foreign sounds came from the other side of the door.
Jaya pulled off her coat and offered it to Arilyn. “Here, put this on.”
Arilyn looked at the coat confused at first but quickly realized that she was naked! She hurriedly sat up and putted on the coat. Another blaze of shouting and Jaya moved quickly to open the door.
A slender woman with pale skin, jet black eyes, and silver hair stood angrily in the door way. Jaya was tensed despite towering the silver-haired woman by a foot. Some words were exchanged and Jaya smiled broadly, nudging her chin at Arilyn. The silver-haired woman looked at Arilyn and then at the book on the desk.
Without warning, the other woman jumped up and wacked Jaya on the head with a mighty fist. Then more words, Arilyn assumed were curses, spouted out of the shorter woman. Jaya shielded herself as the silver-haired woman wacked her three more times. Then the silver-haired woman turned to Arilyn.
“You are from Landoa?” asked the silver-haired woman with an accent.
Arilyn nodded slowly. She noticed that the silver-haired woman had hairy ears like Jaya but were not pointy.
The silver-haired woman bowed. “My name is Harduke Lamart. I deeply apologized for my student’s recklessness. It seems that she practiced forbidden magic and has plucked you out of your journey in the underworld and brought you here,” she said.
“Here?” asked Arilyn.
Harduke sighed. “You are of Elven blood aren’t you?”
“Yes,” said Arilyn and was about to add that she was a princess when Harduke said something that brought chills down her back.
“We are what you call demons in Landoa,” said Harduke quietly. “This is the land of the demons, Arangkor. Beyond the Chasm that separates this land from Landoa by Isiana. ”
Arilyn mouth went dry.
“Please come with mer12;“
“Her name is Arilyn,” interrupted Jaya.
Harduke turned and gave a threatening glance at Jaya who casted her eyes to the ground.
Harduke continued. “Please come with me Miss Arilyn. I have to take you to our Overlord as this is beyond my remedy.”
Arilyn hesitated. They were demons? Harduke and Jaya did not look like the sickly creatures that hounded Landoa but when she squinted her eyes, she felt her blood went cold. Harduke’s and Jaya’s auras were red, a sign that meant they had no protection from any gods; this also meant that Jaya and Harduke were undeniably demons.
Harduke sensed Arilyn’s apprehension. “Miss Arilyn, I assure you we will not hurt you. We are not the same as those demons that your people have encountered. We are civilized demons,” said she and let out a hand.
Arilyn looked at the hand. The words ‘civilized demons’ echoed awkwardly in her mind, but what choice does she has now? They certainly seem nice. If they were going to do anything evil to me they would have done it already, she thought. Then again…reluctantly, she took Harduke’s hand and was surprised how gentle they were as she scooted off the stone table.
Harduke led the elven princess out of the door as Jaya followed silently while rubbing her head.
They walked down an open corridor and Arilyn took in the scenery like some strange dream. Giant creatures in black robes gaped at them as they passed by. Some of them certainly looked like the sickly demons in Landoa and some not. She caught the sight of a humanoid creature with one huge eye amiably talking to another humanoid with butterfly like wings. Others she saw had long necks that moved snake like.
After many turns and false doors, they finally arrived at a grand stone door. Jaya, who had been silent, spoke something in their language to Harduke.
“No, you are coming into the throne room,” replied Harduke in Landoanian.
Jaya sighed.
“Speak your mother’s tongue so our guest can understand everything as this concern her,” added Harduke and opened the door.
Arilyn now believed that they were certainly civilized. The throne room was golden and exotic plants decorated the sides. A breezy lofty smell weaved into the room through huge arched open windows. Statues of beautiful austere decorated the pathway to the throne.
At first glance, Arilyn was uncertain if the demon on the throne was a man or a woman. Though she had found this demon to be very beautiful with lush crimson hair, ruby eyes with long lashes and snow colored skin that sparkled. The demon looked up from reading a scroll as they entered.
“My Overlord Krshin, I have some unfortunate news,” bowed Harduke.
“Why are you speaking to me in my wife’s native tongue?” asked Overlord Krshin with a thick accent.
Male. Definitely male, thought Arilyn after hearing Lord Krshin’s voice. The Overlord’s voice was deep and melodic.
“Our guest is Landoanian. Elven, specifically. I’m speaking out of respect so that she can understand us,” said Harduke.
Overlord Krshin looked at Arilyn keenly.“How did she get past the Chasm and the barrier?” he asked in an incredulous tone.
“Miss Arilyn here did not go through the Chasm. Your daughter revived our guest from the River of the Dead,” said Harduke.
“What?” bellowed Lord Krshin and almost dropped his scroll. He stood up and Arilyn figured he was at least seven and a half feet tall.
“I-I’m sorry, pa,” stuttered Jaya and hid behind Arilyn. “It won’t happen again.”
Overlord Krshin walked down from his throne with such fury that Arilyn almost wanted to run out of the room immediately. Harduke lifted her palm up to stop the Overlord in his track.
“Please, do not be so angry with Jaya. It is as much of my fault. I should’ve watched her more closely,” said Harduke and she kneeled onto one knee. “We can think of my punishment later but we must think of a way out of this gravity.”
Krshin anger subsided. “Harduke, I will not punish you,” he said softly but shot a look at Jaya who knelt down at once.
“What were you trying to do, Jaya?” asked Krshin.
“I, I, wanted to do something grand,” mumbled Jaya.
“What?” shouted Krshin.
“Your temper, Overlord. We have a Landoanian. We don’t want the lovely guest from fainting from your fury,” warned Harduke and winked at Arilyn.
She is smooth. Assuaging her lord and flirting with me at the same time, thought Arilyn.
Krshin sighed heavily. “What did you say, Jaya?” he asked more calmly.
“I wanted to do something never done before. I, y’know,” said Jaya quietly. “I just wanted people to be impressed.”
Krshin rubbed his temples. “You’ve certainly accomplished that. No one of Arangkor or even Landoa had brought someone from the dead back. Couldn’t you resurrected her in Landoa or brought someone back who is Arangkorian? We have a citizen of Landoa here. Isiana will be furious.”
“Perhaps, m’lord, do you know any spell to return our guest back onto her journey in the River of the Dead?” asked Harduke who now stood up.
“Maybe we should ask the numskull who did the deed,” said Krshin curtly.
“Er, it’s a one way spell…there’s no reverse spell,” answered Jaya meekly who was still kneeling.
“Well, we can kill her. That’ll do the trick,” suggested Krshin.
“Kill?” asked Arilyn shockingly.
“Oh, it’ll be painless. Take your pick: poison, hanging, head chop…etc. Any way you want to die. We can’t be having you here. Isiana would be furious that we broke our promise again and I do not want that vile goddess making war with us right now. I have other problems to deal with,” explained Krshin. “Besides, you want to continue with your journey, right?”
Arilyn was at a lost to answer. Death was a calm surreal but living was not devoid of touch, smell and taste. In death she could not experience these senses and she missed them dearly. Only the senses of sight and hearing were the same for both living and the dead.
“Well, what will it be?” asked Krshin.
Before Arilyn could answer, Jaya stood up and looked up at her father. “No. She will not die! She stays here,” she declared.
“Young pup, you are already in much trouble. Don’t make me make your punishment more severe,” said Krshin.
“Hey, you have Ma. Isn’t that already breaking it?” protested Jaya.
Harduke let out a long whistle. “She got you there. Like father like daughter.”
“Can’t we just take her over the Chasm to Landoa?” asked Jaya.
Krshin shook his head. “Impossible. Goddess Isiana has banned all citizens of Arangkor from even approaching the Chasm with a barrier after I brought your Ma over here. Besides, we can’t be interfering with life and death.” He turned to Arilyn. “The choice is up to you, Miss. What will it be? I’ll respect your decision whatever you decide.”
I should say yes but then again… A memory of a hand slapping her flashed through her mind. “I dunno,” she answered.
“Well, if you’re not going to decide now then might as well live here until you decide to return to the dead or not,” Krshin turned to Jaya. “Jayashri S’mraoha III, as punishment you have to take care of the guest.”
Jaya smiled at the prospect of not having a real punishment.
“However,” continued Krshin, “you will meet every needs she has until she decides. Till then you are her slave.”
“What?” shouted Jaya. “I am not going to submit to someone who isn’t even a demon!”
Krshin ignored Jaya and turned to Arilyn. “What is your name, guest?”
“Arilyn,” she answered.
“Well, Arilyn, give me your left hand,” said Krshin.
Arilyn obeyed and lifted her left hand upward for the Overlord to take into his hand.
“I apologize in advance. This may hurt,” said Krshin as he bent down and whispered some words over her left hand.
Arilyn grimaced as a burning sensation shot through her hand. A rune in the shape of a wolf’s head appeared on her backhand and then disappeared into her skin. The pain ceased when Krshin let her hand go.
“Snap your finger with your left hand,” ordered Krshin.
She did so and immediately Jaya was on the ground writhing in pain. Arilyn was taken aback.
“Snap twice with the same hand in quick session to make it stop,” said Krshin.
Arilyn quickly did so. She did not want to inflict pain.
“Just in case my daughter doesn’t comply I have given you complete authority over her. If she misbehaves you have a way to punish her,” said Krshin.
What kind of sadistic spell is this? thought Arilyn.
Jaya got up and dusted herself off.
“Well now my young pup, go show Miss Arilyn around. She’s probably hungry from returning from the dead,” said Krshin.
“Yes, pa,” replied Jaya gloomily. “Come this way,” she said to Arilyn and led the elven princess out of the throne room.
Harduke chuckled lightly.
“What’s so funny?” asked Krshin as he returned to his throne.
“That wasn’t a punishment,” said Harduke.
Krshin arched an eyebrow.
“Hmm, I thought that was a marvelous punishment,” responded Krshin.
“Oh no, old friend,” said Harduke and she wiggled her right index finger.
“If it wasn’t punishment, then what did I do?” asked Krshin in bewilderment.
“You just sealed their fates forever,” smiled Harduke impishly.
“Hmm, is that so? Well now, we’ll see how it’ll play out then?” said Krshin and leaned into the back of his chair.