Post by Croscema Trinity Aikia on Dec 15, 2006 18:13:22 GMT -5
Chapter One
I bowed at an alter. The room was dark, illuminated only by the torches that lined the dark brick wall. About twenty other people were in the room with me. It was the temple built to our God, Serathin. He was what kept us well and kept us safe from the humans. At that time, I had been very grateful to him.
“Rise, Xaytania.” Said a deep voice in front of me.
Without looking up, I stood and looked straight into the face of my superior. His skin was dark and his hair was darker. His eyes as black as the walls of the temple, like all Death Shadows, and he stood tall. His name was Cleytan. He was part of the Council and I looked up to him. He was a powerful Shadow; there was no doubt about it. He was one of the first Council Members. He had taught me many things, and I was forever indebted.
“You may enter the Chamber and receive your Assignment. I hear it’s a special one.” He gave me a small smile as I walked by him, up the stairs and then into the Chamber.
The Chamber was the only place we were allowed to get our assignments. Only one of us was allowed in at a time. This is because our Assignments were not to be public, especially if they were something special. I thought about what Cleytan had said. A special assignment? I wasn’t even a level five yet, and I was still young, only one hundred two. I was a little anxious about what it might be.
I pressed my hands against the wall and a black quickly covered my body. My body flattened like a shadow and slid underneath the door. My body reformed on the other side of the door. The Chamber was long and narrow and took me twenty minutes to cross. When I reached its end, I was at another door. It would be rude to use my powers to get to the other side. So, I grazed my lightly colored knuckles against the hard, rough door and waited.
Normally, it took the Council quite a long time to answer the door as they got their things together and set up, but that was no the case today. After only five minutes, they had answered the door. I was startled when they opened it and straightened myself.
“Come in, Miss Zerxec.” Said a man dressed in a black robe.
I walked in stiffly, my back straight, my eyes straight out in front of me. A small chair sat in front of seven podiums. Each of them was filled except for one at the end where Jalk, the man who had let me in, sat. I took my seat and waited for Jalk to take his seat. He sat down and each of them looked intensely at me.
The Council was very intimidating. Each of them was very powerful. Two of the Council Members were Vampires- Valdita and Blednee. Two of them were Werewolves- Lupin and Baynese. The third set of two were Death Shadows- Shaden and Haedet. The last of the seven was a mixture of races. He was the highest among the Council and was Vampire, Werewolf, and Death Shadow. His name was Sethilas.
Sethilas peered at me with piercing eyes as if he were deciding my fate. I sat there with a cool expression, even though inside I was jumpier than a Vampire at sunrise. Finally, Sethilas spoke.
“Miss Zerxec, it’s been a long time since we’ve had to assign a job like this. We have picked one person from each of the races to join in this task. I need to know that you will be able to handle it.” He said with a hidden fierceness in his voice.
“I believe I can handle it, Sir Sethilas.” I replied confidently.
“I was overthrown by my fellow Council Members, but they believe that you are strong enough. I object, though. I think that you will get too involved with this instead of doing what is necessary.”
“I will not, Sir. No matter what my task may be, I shall not falter.” I said to him, holding my head up high.
“That’s good to hear.” Said Sethilas, though he still sounded unsure, “We are giving you a very special Assignment this month. There has been a Dragon-Elf Rebellion. We have tracked their points of attack and they are attacking both over and underground. While we handle the underground, we need you and couple others to explore above ground with the humans. You know the rules. Here is your folder.”
Valdita held out a thin envelope. The envelope explained our Assignment in detail and gave us all the things we would need. I took the envelope and our eyes met. I could tell she had faith in me.
“I am greatly honored to receive this Assignment.” I said, standing and bowing.
“Stay strong in your faith. We will be keeping close tabs with you.” Said Lupin, nodding his head, “You are dismissed.
I bowed once again and exited the room. As the door closed behind me, a great smile spread across my face. This was great! I had been granted with an incredible Assignment. I would get to infiltrate and spy on the Dragons and Elves- our rivals. There was no greater honor.
I quickly ran down the tunnel, never tiring in my run. I held the envelope close to my black tank top, wrapping my olive-colored arms around it. As I reached the end of the hallway, I quickly formed into my shadow form, the folder floating on top of me, and went under the door, forming on the other side. Clayten spotted my large grin and he too smiled.
“You got a good assignment, I assume?” he said to me as I walked up to him.
“Yes! I… come here.”
I dragged him over to a corner of the temple where there were no people.
“My assignment is to go and control the Elf-Dragon rebellions!” I said excitedly.
“Wow. That’s great, Xay!” he said, hugging me.
He must have been very happy for me. Hugging was a very rare thing among us. Even though we showed happiness, it was very rare for us to hug or kiss. It meant we were extremely happy. This was my big break. If I proved myself to the Council, then I could become one of them. This was my big break. I had to make it work.
“Alright, I’ve got to go home and open this! I’ll see you later, Clayten.”
“Bye, Xaytania!”
I quickly walked out of the temple into the bright moonshine. We had our own moon underground. It was for the werewolves. It shone high above and I looked up to it. Thank you, Serathin. I thought, as I dashed towards my house. My house was a large, Victorian style house. It had been constructed when our race was banned from the Mortals’ world.
I opened the door- we never locked our houses- and ran through the hall to my kitchen. I sat at the small wooden table and placed the envelope on its light surface. I stared at it for a few minutes, too anxious to open it. Finally, I unwrapped the string and pulled out the papers. I quietly read them aloud.
“Dear Miss Xaytania Anaxandra Zerxec,
The job you have been assigned is a very special one. You must not tell anyone. If you are to tell someone, make sure they are completely trustworthy and have no ties with either the Elves or Dragons. It was very brief in our meeting, because we cannot allow enemy ears to hear us. You and two others- Natalie, a Vampire, and Will, a Werewolf- will be teaming together to gain information on the EFs.
To do this, you will be meeting at the Plaza Fountain at midnight tonight. You need to do whatever is needed to stop the Rebellions. They have been showing themselves in extremely conspicuous ways and killing Werewolves, Vampires, and Death Shadows in front of the public. The Humans are starting to believe in these now. We need to stop us. Handle the riots first, then you can settle with the Humans. If it gets to where they have enough proof to prove everyone, we must execute them all.
Included in this folder is a map of all the places the EFs have attacked. We have assumptions that their next attack will be in a place called Paken. Go to the fountain square, that is where the riots have all started.
When you meet up with Natalie and Will, go to the outer edge of town to the Weapons Shed. You can pick out whatever you think you’ll need there. We wish you luck in your endeavor. Do not let us down.”
The letter was signed “Shaden”. I reread the letter three times before I could take it all in. I then examined the map. There was a small line of kingdoms that went straight down the map. And sure enough, Paken looked like the next to be taken. I glanced out the window and looked at the moon. It was probably about eleven thirty and if I was going to get there in time, I had to leave now.
I quickly hurried to the other side of town. My feet made light padding noises on the cobblestone walkway as I jogged. I wondered what these people would be like. The only werewolf I had ever met was Cleytan. Were wolves were beginning to become scarce. Most of the people who lived in Jasaina were either Death Shadows or Vampires, as we will die if we go into the light. But since the werewolves could live in light, they mostly lived on the surface and acted as spies on the Elves and Dragons. This also meant they were the most killed.
I found myself at the Fountain just before midnight. I didn’t see anyone who I thought male Vampire or female Werewolf, so I sat on the edge of fountain and put my purse in my lap. Soon, everyone left, leaving me all alone. I waited, wondering where they were. When I was just ready to leave and give up, I heard someone coming.
My head snapped towards the noise of heels on the lightly colored cobblestone. Finally, a woman came out of the darkness. Her brunette hair was streaked with blonde and ran just past her shoulders. Her eyes were a lightly colored green. Her skin was pale. She was dressed in a trench coat-type thing but the bottom of the trench coat stopped just below her needs. Under the coat, she wore a deep red camisole and flared out jeans.
“Are you Xaytania?” she asked, putting a hand on her hip.
“Yes. You must be Natalie.” I said, standing up.
“Correct. Do you know where the other guy is? Is he here yet?”
I shook my head.
“I apologize for being late, I had too little time to read all of my folder.” She said.
“That’s fine. So, I’m guessing you got yours after me.”
“I think so.” She said, nodding.
We just stood there in awkward silence for a few minutes until a man came to the Fountain. His hair was platinum blonde and his eyes were a sparkling blue. His features were smooth and striking, making him look very handsome.
“Will?” I asked, eager to break the silence.
He nodded.
“I’m Natalie”, said the Vampire, holding out her hand to him.
He took it and shook it gently. He looked at me.
“So you must be-“
“Xaytania.” I said, nodding slightly.
“Good. Now, are we all ready to go? I’m eager to get this started.” He said, clapping two tan hands together.
Natalie and I exchanged glances, then looked at Will and nodded. When we walked, Natalie and I hung back, keeping a few feet away from him. Natalie said something I didn’t think would come from a girl that looked like her.
“Oh. He’s yummy, isn’t he?” she whispered to me, her eyes gleaming with joy.
I chuckled a little.
“Maybe in looks, but in attitude, he’s no my type.” I whispered back.
“How can you tell? He’s barely spoken.”
“Look at the way he walks. He strides. That tells me he’s cocky. The way he spoke sounded soothing, making me think he’s the kind of guy to sleep with you and never call you again. Then, the way he shook your hand. It was gentle, meaning his probably self-conscious.” I said, and smiled as I finished.
I loved to read people, especially guys. I can usually tell if they’re a nice guy or ac cheat. Usually, they’re cheats. But sometimes I meet the rare ones that are nice. Natalie shook her head.
“He’s still gorgeous.” She said.
“That he is.” I said, smirking.
