Zinc 01 - Altors, page 17
part #1 of Zinc Series
"You don't wish to apologize?"
I puffed out some air. "I do, but-"
"Ah hah!" I hated it when he cut me off. "So, I was right." Narrowing my eyes, I counted several heartbeats while he smirked down on me. Breaking the eye contact, I set off in a sprint.
"I was not jealous!" I shouted over my shoulder.
"Cali!" Datura shouted, the fear in his voice instantly making me feel frightened.
I'd come to learn that contrary to popular belief, death experiences didn't happen in slow motion. I had barely been able to blink an eye when Isa had pulled a gun on me.
At this moment, Datura had already saved my life before I understood why it had been in danger in the first place.
One moment he stood a few steps away and then the next, his arms were around me, flipping us around in the air. He took the brunt of the fall, his back connecting with the ground while my head bounced off his chest.
He didn't let go, one of his hands shooting up to my head so he could thread his fingers into my hair while the other one was still wrapped tightly around my back. Neither moving or pulling away, I stared with wide eyes at him, my breathing bordering on hyperventilation as I tried to comprehend what had just happened.
"Crack in the earth." Datura murmured, nodding at something behind me. Turning my head, I saw the split and the slight fall we'd suffered through. He'd run, jumped, caught me and made sure we'd ended up on the other side.
"I'm sorry." We said both at once. Clearing my throat, I offered a shy smile all the while getting back up on my feet, waiting for him to stand too.
"I thought you had seen." Datura clarified.
"I should have seen." I said before he could apologize again. "I shouldn't have punched you then, and I should have apologized sooner so the whole situation with the Rangers would never have taken place." I pointed a stern finger at him when he was about to cut me off. "No, listen. You're a good guy and don't deserve to put up with my sour behavior."
He smiled uncertainly. "You are not that sour."
I rolled my eyes. "I was being a little bitch. Just accept the apology would you?"
"Very well." A short and soft chuckle escaped him before he began humming that melodious tune of his again. He walked to the opening in the earth we'd just jumped over, staring down into it. "I would like to show you something."
Curious, I came to stand beside him, looking down as he was. There was nothing to see. Everything was black in there.
"I won't risk dying again, will I? Because I think two near deaths is enough in one day." I muttered, wrinkling my nose at the darkness below.
"I know you don't know me, but if you can, please believe me when I say that I would never hurt you." I could feel his eyes on me and that tightening in my stomach returned. It was insane how uncomfortable he could make me feel. Could I trust him? If I were to take his actions as a way to prove I could, then there was nothing about Datura that told me I shouldn't trust him. He'd been honest with me from the start.
"What is this place?" I asked.
"The crack appears to those who have never been to the Valley of Death. You can only enter that place once. After you've in gone and returned, the crack closes."
I frowned up at him. "Then you've never entered either?"
He smiled. "I have."
"Then how?"
"I am the Keeper of the Dead." He said this so simply, as if there was nothing to it.
Before I could react to that, he stepped off the edge, letting himself drop down into the dark hole. Pursing my lips, I thought it over once, twice and by the third time, I shrugged and knew I couldn't just walk away without finding out what was down there. Taking a deep breath, I jumped down after Datura.
I'd prepared myself for a tough landing, trying to remember how that slight pain would shoot through my feet up into my legs once they connected with the ground. Instead, it was as though there was a momentary problem with gravity, making me feather light and allowing me to slowly place my feet onto the ground.
Datura was standing right in front of me and behind him I could see the Meadows of Serenium, or what looked like them only darker. The grass hills were black, the sky a dark grey and everything was highlighted by a blood red moon, the same red in Datura's eyes.
"Keeper of the Dead?" I asked softly, feeling that if I were to speak too loud, I may disturb something. I tried to act as though this was the most normal situation I could be in.
"If you need to freak out, I will understand," He said.
Gulping, I hesitantly smiled. "You kept me from dying twice. I doubt you'd go through all that effort just so you could kill me now." I paused. "Why didn't you just let me fall through if I'd just land here?"
"The ghosts would have tried to obtain your body." He explained. "I am a therapist to those who do not wish to be dead, yet are, so to speak." He shrugged. "They obey me and won't harm you because I make sure they don't." He pointed up to the hole we'd just jumped through. "That crack was made by the souls in this place. They need me to guide them to peace; without me they are literally stuck here forever. Before I was gifted with the death tongue, they were without a Keeper for quite a long time. They grew more restless than they normally are and the hatred built up so much, they managed to pierce the earth."
I came to stand beside him, allowing myself to stare at his face. "And it would be dangerous for them to get out?"
Datura nodded. "The rule applies in both realms. If someone enters the Valley without me, the souls can touch their bodies and try to invade it for personal use and they would be able to do the same if they found a way out of here. You see, the only reason they cannot pass on to peace without guidance is because they are tormented; their need for revenge is so large, it trumps the need to release themselves from this world."
"These souls," I started, looking around to see if any where apparent. "They died in the war?"
"There are only Altor souls in here. Civilians don't die the same way we do, neither do the Regius or the Palliums." We really were different from one another. So much so, even in death.
"How do you become a Keeper?" I asked.
"My voice sounds different from yours. Those who don't know about the Keepers write it off as a different speech pattern." I had noticed that. If I were to be honest with him, I'd tell him right now that I'd simply believed his voice to be beautiful and that was what separated it from others. But I wouldn't tell him that. "Like the blue blood cell, the death tongue is passed through lineage. I don't know who my parents were, so it came as a surprise to me when I could see and hear the souls. Nobody knows much about the Keepers of the Dead." He said that last in a confused manner. I could tell that it had bothered him, only now it seemed as if he'd made peace with the fact that he'd never find out what exactly he was.
"So, they died violent deaths and can't let go because they want revenge." I deduced. "And then you need to speak to them in this death tongue to guide them in the right direction."
He smiled at me. "They embrace my presence, albeit reluctantly. It is that constant conflict of wanting revenge and peace at the same time. Because throughout the centuries it's been forgotten as to how this conflict truly started, it is hard for them to forgive and so they remain tethered to this world." I could see the logic in that. How do you forgive when you were killed for something that was never truly explained?
"What about the crack?" I asked worriedly. It was just out in the open. Surely, that couldn't be safe.
"There are people in Zinc, different from the Altors, Palliums, Regius and even myself. They hold a different kind of power that is to be used in a different kind of way." I felt a cold wind slide by me, my breathe quickening and fright washing over me as I knew that wasn't a simple breeze. "They can sense your fear." Datura said, momentarily halting his explanation when he realized I was scared. Gulping, I nodded. I could deny being afraid, but it would be pointless.
Placing my hand in his, I held onto it tightly. "Don't read too much into it." I muttered.
He smirked. "I wouldn't dream of it."
I rolled my eyes. "Okay, cut the sarcasm and just tell me how these souls aren't out in the open trying to invade peoples bodies." Oh, he was delightfully amused alright. Staring at me a moment longer, he finally obliged me.
"These people have the power to create barriers. We know of a few. One has been created in Cobalt City, blocking the Civilians out from a certain part in those streets that is owned by the Rangers. Only Altors, Regius and Palliums can pass through. Another such barrier is located in Corium Desert. There, only Palliums and Altors are able to enter."
"And they placed one of them over the crack. Why didn't they make it so nobody but you could go in or out?"
"I wasn't yet born when the barrier was created. They had no idea who the next Keeper was going to be. They were forced to restrict the barrier to dead people only."
We fell silent for a moment, allowing me to absorb all the new things Datura had introduced. While he hadn't said it, I knew that his 'gift' had to have been born from great power. Quite like the blue blood cell given to the Regius and Altors. Or the Palliums with their connection to the Creatures of Origin. And then these people that created barriers.
"Why are you showing and telling me all of this?" I couldn't help but ask. I knew that I had a lot more to find out where it concerned the Altors. Ilex was very careful about what he told me and I was sure that Jatrop purposely only showed me certain books and most likely in a specific order.
"I know you're afraid of me, Cali." The guilt that hit me was so overwhelming when I heard him say that. It's not like I'd purposely wanted to be uncomfortable around him, I just couldn't help it. But I hadn't wanted him to know. He'd been so honest and welcoming, I knew it had been wrong of me to feel that way about him.
I squeezed his hand gently, looking down at the ground. "I don't want to be."
He surprised me by laughing. "Altors, alive or dead, can sense who I am. While it soothes the souls, it intimidates the living."
"So it's normal?" That made me feel slightly better, I think.
"Now that I've explained, you will be able to identify that feeling and won't be afraid anymore."
Pursing my lips, I felt a grin tug on the right side of my mouth. "Don't get any ideas."
His eyebrows shot up. "You realize that you are the one bringing that subject up every chance you get?" What was that word? Oh. Busted.
I stopped myself from ripping my hand out of his. "Or you just can't tell when I'm joking."
He gave me a toothy grin. "Or maybe you're just not that funny." I let out an indignant sound, but before I could speak, he cut me off like he so often did. "There is another reason I brought you here." I offered him a questioning glance. "I'd like to introduce you to one of them."
"Will it hurt me?"
"Not if you are willing to see the good." He murmured, walking forward and onto the dark plains, pulling me along with him. The red glow of the moon outlined his figure, and I relaxed as he started humming that tune again. If they couldn't resist the peace that hum offered, then surely they would be too occupied trying to fight it rather than notice me. When he stopped, he guided me to stand before him.
"I trust you." I was pretty sure I did.
His voice was low and then gradually turned from hum to actual sounds. Or words. I wasn't sure because if they were words, I didn't understand as he dragged them out. It was the Tongue of the Dead. It seemed like he didn't need to breathe. They faded into one another. It was smooth, sometimes the sounds were very low, but then they overlapped with a higher pitch. It made me think of a lullaby as I felt a bit sleepy listening to the chant.
"Cier ove za muer, emants Acacia." My posture stiffened as he spoke her name, my right hand shooting up so I could grasp Datura's left hand on my shoulder, hoping the contact might steady me. I felt light in the head, because I knew he was demanding for Acacia to reveal herself. I gripped his fingers more tightly, a small cough escaping my mouth as I'd tried to keep the lump in my throat from forcing its way up. When I let my gaze drop to the ground, he simply gripped my chin, tilting my face back up so I could look out before me.
A soft red glow, kind of like dancing smoke, started to appear a couple of steps away. It floated in the air gently for just a moment beforee twirling into a spiral. When the leading tip reached the center, it burst out into a large cloud, a body slowly starting to take form. Although it was translucent and a bit blurry, I recognized her face instantly.
"Acacia." When Datura stepped back, releasing me, I wondered nervously if I would be okay.
"She'd never hurt you, Cali, not even in this form." He murmured reassuringly. Staring awhile longer at him, I decided to believe that as I returned my gaze to Acacia.
Her full lips quirked into that smile I knew so well, making me take a trusting step towards her. Why wasn't she moving on? Why was she hanging on to this realm? I took in a shaky breath as she reached out with her hand. She'd have to float closer if she wished to touch me, but she seemed to wait for me to do it.
I breathlessly took that last step, letting her fingers gently flow over my cheek. When her smile widened, I felt myself release a long soft exhale, the sound of it making me think that I'd been holding my breath ever since I'd heard of her death. My muscles relaxed as she traced the contours of my face. Frowning, she reached up with her two index fingers, lifting them before her mouth and showing me without words she wished for me to smile. The chuckle that escaped me disturbed the silence in the valley, but I don’t think anyone minded.
"I love you." There was no sound, but I could read the words off her lips as she mouthed this to me. Detaching my gaze off of her, I felt my knees buckle and shortly afterward I was sitting on the ground, wiping away a tear. I closed my eyes when she started to fade, the red glow of the moon becoming stronger. Letting my fingers twine in the damp grass, I exhaled heavily.
I didn't feel sad. Instead, it felt like a wound had healed.
I’m not quite sure how long I sat there in silence, Ilex’s watch momentarily forgotten as I let my mind wander through the memories I had of Acacia. She and Lupinus had been my sanctuary. A place I hadn’t appreciated as much as I should have.
"When will she move on?" I asked Datura, looking up at him. She couldn't stay here.
"She just did."
"But..." I didn't understand.
"I have been trying to make her pass on for weeks. She is a stubborn one though, ignored my chants." He paused, raising an eyebrow. "She needed to make sure you'd be okay." I shook my head, pushing myself back up onto my feet, Datura helping me as he grasped my hand along the way.
"What about Lupinus? Sol? Didn't she need to see them before being able to move on?" The confusion was laced tightly around my words.
"Lupinus and she were together for many years; they were also both Altor soldiers who knew the risks. Like many other couples in their situation, they most likely reminded one another they loved each other every day so they could never forget, even after death. As for Solenum, wasn’t she with Acacia when she died?” I nodded my head. "Then the only reason why she wished to remain in this realm was to make sure she could tell you herself that everything was going to be fine." He paused. "Don't you think you deserve that kind of gesture?" He squeezed my hand, the warmth returning to my palm.
"I didn't think I needed it." I told him honestly.
"You are allowed to want things, Cali."
* * * *
Chapter 16: Calycanthus Esquivel
“Don’t worry, we only let the enemy get a shot at killing you”
* * * *
I'd barely stepped over the threshold when I was attacked by a shout. "Calycanthus!" Looking down at Ilex's watch, I saw it was only three in the afternoon. Why was he angry?
"Don't look at me," Datura muttered when he saw me frown at him. "You're the one always getting me into trouble."
"It's not six yet. He shouldn't be mad." I pointed out.
"Oh." He said, sounding wise.
"What 'oh'? I'm not late!" I hissed, which was quickly cut off with a noise of discomfort on my part when I saw Ilex storming out of the training room. I gulped at his weapon. "Hide me." I stepped behind Datura, which only led him to chuckle.
"He already saw you."
"I don't care!" I pushed him forward, hoping Ilex would just concentrate on him. Datura stretched an arm behind him, placing it around me all the while placing the tip of his index finger to the point of Ilex's blade, carefully directing it away from his chest.
"You two better explain yourselves." When Ilex was being extra serious, you could nearly hear his teeth grind together. The tension in this guy was impressive.
"The Regius put a price on Cali's head." Datura offered, pointing his thumb over his shoulder at me and then shrugged rather simply at Ilex's twitching right eye. The man groaned, sliding the blade into its strap tied around his back before sighing deeply and rubbing his temples.
"That still doesn't explain why you weren't back by six last night."
"Last night?!" Ilex seemed surprised that I was surprised. Our raised eyebrows turned into narrowed slits as we simultaneously glared at Datura.
"Hey," He said indignantly. "Don't gang up on me. I kept him alive and you should both be very grateful I did."
"You took him to the Valley, didn't you?" Ilex accused.
"Time doesn't work the same in there as it does out here." Datura explained my tardiness. The Valley of Death or anything else I'd witnessed in that place wasn't something I could have imagined being real back when I'd been in LV. I blinked only once at the information and then just accepted it, because at this point information like that didn't really surprise me. Or, I knew I hadn’t found out about everything yet, and I assumed reacting in surprise like I truly wanted too would just end up being very tiring and energy consuming.
Datura started humming like he always did, making his way to the kitchen. Ilex gave me an expectant look, waiting for me to explain since my ‘friend’ obviously wasn't going to.
