Ch. 6

Past

Pamuya

The ice walls that enclosed me began to melt away from me and I could feel heat warming through my skin. The chains that held me suspended in the air had loosened, descending me to the floor. My arms were still bound to my sides, but I could move my feet easily, no longer shackled.

I looked around, surveying the area for any guards but mostly to glimpse my savior. There was no way I would have broken out of that prison. The ice doors were enchanted with celestial dusk, designed to withhold any celestial being, including Amek himself. And the only way to be freed was for the guards on duty to use their magic to free me. Although, there was one other way and that was to gather enough celestial dust to overpower the seal. And the spirit had to be strong enough to behold that much magic.

Slow, languid steps entered into my prison. I didn’t need to look up to see who it was. I would know that lazy, self assured walk anywhere.

Wi appeared from the shadows, revealing himself.

“To what do I owe the pleasure,” I spoke.

“Is it a pleasure to see me? My, you have lost your mind in this place.” He stepped forward, closing the gap between us.

“No, not really. What do you want? Surely you didn’t come all this way to assess my mood?”

“Hmm,” he chuckled lightly to himself. “I never could get one pass to you. Always so suspicious.” He finally reached me, crouching down in front of me, lifting my chin with his finger.

He was right, I never did trust him and I wasn’t about to start now. I yanked my chin away, pushing myself backwards on my heels, giving us some space.

“What do you want?” I asked again.

“Amek hasn’t been by.”

That was stating the obvious. Wi knew as well as I did that Amek wouldn’t be coming by here. Amek made it quite clear how he felt about my transgressions. This was a punishment, one I would be serving for all time.

“Your face confirms my theory.” He circled around me.

I rose up on my hind legs but he placed a hand on my shoulder, shoving me back down. “No need to get up. Why don’t you hear what I have to say, then decide?”

“Fine.” I decided to listen.

He inched his way closer to me, slithering like the snake he was, his grin ever present on his smug face. I wanted to slap his face off his neck.

“Why do you think Amek locked you away in here?” He asked.

“I broke the rules. I saved that boy,” I simply stated.

“If that were true, he would have done so that very instant. Not let you continue to sneak off and see him.” His grin grew larger.

“How did you--”

“Oh nothing gets past me. Why I’m a snake aren’t I? I slither around where no one can see and watch all their dirty deeds.”

“Did you tell Amek about–”

“No, of course not. I have no interest in you or your love affair with that human. But you got careless, sloppy. It was only a matter of time before Amek found out. Correction, before Amek got tired of turning a blind eye.”

That couldn’t be true. If Amek had always known what I had been up to, why continue to lock me back up in The Frost? If what I had been doing wasn’t so terrible that he could overlook it, what changed his mind now?

“I know what you’re thinking, ‘Why now?’

“We both know as well as I do that you can read my mind. You’re not that clever.”

“Ouch but fair. I’ll tell you what, you agree to my request and I'll tell you why daddy suddenly snapped?”

I knew this was a trick. Anything he wanted wouldn’t be good for whoever was on the receiving end. But I had done far worse in the name of The Spirit King. I had killed friends and innocent beings who didn’t deserve it just because of Amek’s unyielding wrath and blind sense of justice. Wi was merely a thorn in my side, an annoyance at best. He only killed those he felt wronged him and only tricked those he could gain amusement out of. Technically, he hadn’t committed nearly as many injustices as Amek had. I had to think of Wi as better than my father. Surely he wasn’t but when I thought about it, who was the bigger villain?

“What is your request?”

“Help me take down Amek and you can be with your human, always.”

I couldn't believe what he was asking. Actually, I shouldn't have been surprised. Wi had gone on and on about how he was the sun, and thus should rule over the moon. Wi was too prideful whereas Amek was too lawful. And when it came to ruling, you needed someone who cared about the greater good, even if it meant looking like the bad guy.

Thinking about it now, though I found it hard to agree with Amek, I didn't know what it took to be Spirit King. And neither did Wi. I knew for certain that the heavens would fall apart if he were to rule and I couldn't let that happen.

I lunged forward and pinned him to the ground with my feet. Pressing my full weight against his throat.

“Princess, I didn’t mean--”

“Amek’s wrath is nothing compared to mine when I’ve been crossed. If you ever ask me to betray Amek again, I will end your existence. Permanently! Do I make myself clear?”

“Crystal,” he croaked. “You really should have joined me.” He manifested his staff out of thin air and tapped it on the ground, The Frost doors were closing. “Have fun in your prison. Princess.” He shoved me off him and slinked away backwards, bowing graciously.

He made me sick to my stomach. All his fake praise and false pretense. I would show him.

Opening my mouth, I summoned all the spiritual energy I could muster and fired a blast in his direction. He stumbled, falling flat on his behind. A small smile curling upon my lips.

“I hope you rot in here! You wench!” He spat as he ran out, leaving me alone in my prison.

Present

Annalee

            I stirred awake, reeling from my dream. I looked outside the window, noting the heavy downpour, sheets of water billowing across the campus, barely making anything visible. Pools upon pools of water littered all over.

            It had been a couple days since Pamuya’s encounter with Ayden. Our detention time had been silent and heavy laden with regret and sorrow. I only wished I knew how to change the atmosphere between us.

I pulled the covers off me and let the cool air wash over me. Maybe the cold could quell the turmoil tumbling inside of me. Grant me some clarity on the situation. But alas, all I felt was cold, in more ways than one.

Deciding there was no way to avoid the inevitable, I schlepped my way to the showers and allowed the warm water to wash all my concerns away. When I was done, I wrapped a towel around my full figure and slipped back into my dorm room. But I was met with a petite figure in a tank top and pajama bottoms.

“Hey roomie!” Kelli beamed.

That was Kelli, my roommate. She was like the sun itself. Always happy, super bubbly, a permanent smile on her face. Nothing seemed to bother her or faze her. It was as if the world was truly her oyster, meant to serve her, please her.

Kelli was pretty, with long, gorgeous blonde locks and sparkling blue eyes with flecks of green in them. Although they looked darker today, reflecting the weather outside. She was a petite thing, with an hourglass figure, apple bottom and perky breasts. Basically, a Disney princess.    

While me, an actual princess reincarnated, wasn't too tall or short but my hips were wider than hers, my butt bigger than hers, my breasts bigger and lopsided (at least they felt that way to me). My hair was too long with split ends and my arms and legs had a bit fat on them that jiggled when I walked. But Kelli would just shrug and say I was full figured. That I had a lot more curves for a man to hold on to. 

I wondered if that’s what Ayden saw when he looked at her? Or did that even matter to him? Did he see Pamuya for who she was when he looked at her? Was he attracted to her looks or her power or both? And the even bigger question that was negging me was: what did he see when he looked at me?

“What’s up?” Kelli jarred me from my reverie.

“Oh. Nothing. Just thinking.”

“About?” she inquired.

“Nothing. It’s silly.” I shrugged.

“Well, let me know if you ever want to talk. I’m here.” She placed a hand on my shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. “But not right now. Right now, I’m going to shower and try to be on time for class. Wish me luck.” She skirted off.

“Good luck,” I said to her retreating form.

Noting that the rain still hadn’t let up, I decided to forego the wool socks and pull out the black leggings. So long as I still wore the appropriate school uniform over it, I’d be fine. Slipping on my gray skirt and white button down, I decided the burgundy sweatshirt would be warmer than the blazer and easier to slip my raincoat over.

Looking in the mirror, I weighed my options for my hair. I normally wore it up but in all my flashbacks, Pamuya had her hair down. Maybe I’d try that. See if Ayden would like that.

Why am I trying to impress him?

I scratched that idea and went with my usual ponytail. Besides, it’d be easier to manage in the rain. No muss, no fuss.

I put on my raincoat and headed down the stairs. I took a deep breath and prepared myself for the onslaught of precipitation coming my way. Once outside, I felt the wind, as well as the rain, slicing right through me. Droplets of water pelted my face feeling like pin needles pricking the skin. My leggings were soaked in seconds and my feet sloshing around in my shoes.

I wondered if it was too late to skip detention and class altogether today? I just wasn’t feeling it.

It was times like this I missed home. I missed the tall, clay mountains that encompassed the wide open plains; the little vegetable garden behind my house, my neighbor’s horses, my stucco brick house with the wooden fence. My room with its cream colored walls, my soft, quilt covered bed, my stuffed dog (since Dad wouldn’t let me have a real one), my safe space. Back to Dad and Theron and all the elders, despite their incessant nagging about my powers, the life I used to know.

It hardly rained there and my family was there. I was surrounded by people I loved who I could talk to about anything. People who truly understood what I was going through and knew how to help.      

I didn’t blame Ayden for shutting me out. Pamuya was making things difficult. As she usually did. But at least at home, the shaman knew what to do. Even if I asked Ayden for help, did he really know how to tame Pamuya?

I looked up to the sky and let the rain pelt my face.

I just want to go home.

Then it hit me. If my dreams could manifest on their own the things I think up, maybe I could force myself to dream of home and somehow go home.

            I closed my eyes and tried to imagine myself at home. Easily enough, I saw my house and me standing in the living room. Now that the easy part was over, the hard part was getting my powers to take me there.

            So far, nothing was happening. I was beginning to think I was doomed to lie here soaked and miserable, then out of nowhere, the water began to rise, and I sank below.

For a moment I thought my powers were on the frits, though if that were true, I wouldn’t have fallen in. Yet where was I? I saw nothing but vast open water and there was indication of anything for miles around. This was not home and I didn’t create this space. So if I didn't, who did?

Think Pamuya think! Wait what?

Suddenly long, gray columns rose up all around me, porcelain tiles appearing beneath my feet, rows upon rows of gardens surrounded me, a cascading waterfall forming in the distance, and in the center of it all, a glistening pond. But instead of water in the pond, there were clouds.

Clouds? Strange . . .

This place felt familiar. As if I had been here before. Then it dawned on me. This was exactly like my dream. The columns I once snuck through . . . through to the gardens where I had once strolled . . . strolled to the Looking Pot! The pond that wasn’t a pond but the gateway to the mortal realm.

This was her/my home. I was here because I had called myself by my past name instead of Annalee. Thus, my powers did work. Only they took me home. To the home of my previous life.

I walked around for a bit, running my hands over the flora, dipping my fingertips into the ponds. They felt warm and inviting. I remembered playing in them in my youth. Little clay feet jumping about. My father, Amek, standing by, watching me.

It seemed like only yesterday I was here. Living an eternity of freedom and no worries. And yet, I could see the tears falling from my eyes, the screams of Amek, my body flinging over the edge of the Looking Pot before plunging into the ocean and rescuing Ayden.

“What are you doing here?!” A voice shouted from behind me.

I quickly whipped around and was met with large, round,  statue-esque figures with faces as copper colored as mine. Upon further inspection, they weren’t round, but wearing huge cloaks that covered their whole body. Suddenly they pulled back their capes to reveal long, sharp, silver spears and took aim.

“Oh shit!” I high tailed it out there, running as fast as I could while trying to dodge shooting spears. I guessed they had called for backup because soon, the weapons went from glittery and metallic, to wooden and just as pointy. I assumed arrows. Much easier to kill me when you had a bow making the projectile faster.

I didn’t usually find myself fleeing for my life in my dreams, just going through the motions. I could tell my body was still at home, safe and sound but my mind was doing all the action. Right now, I very much felt in danger and if I stopped, they would hurt me, possibly kill me. And if I died here, I would cease to exist.     

“Argh! Damit!” An arrow whizzed by and nicked my side. I pressed my hand there trying to apply pressure. I needed to stop the bleeding, but I couldn’t stop running.

Slowly the world faded away and I was back in open water, squirming around trying to find an exit. The spears and arrows had disappeared and it seemed my nightmare was over. But that was too good to be true. Giant arms sprang out of nowhere as its hands tried to grab.

I wasn’t getting anywhere with this wound bleeding. Maneuvering as best I could from the death palms, I peeled off my school jacket and tied it around my waist. Hoping that would seal the cut and keep pressure on it. Then I merged legs together into a mermaid’s tail and propelled myself as fast as I could through the water.

Everything was hazier than it had been before, making it hard to see but I figured if I kept swimming up, I’d soon find the surface. But that was short lived as one of the huge hands grabbed me, oversized fingers, squeezing tightly around me, straining against my torn torso, making it painfully worse. I writhed and thrashed about, summoning every ounce of strength in me to break free. Alas, no use.

Fearing the end, I prayed to the spirits above, willing them to let my family know what had happened.

Just then, another appendage came towards me, a smaller one more my size. A hand reached out and grabbed my arm, pulling me away from the giant hand. With arms gripped beneath my own, I felt myself being dragged through the water towards the surface.

Back on the PAA campus, I heard a familiar voice call out to me, “Annalee, are you okay?”

“Ayden?”

“I’m here.” He dropped down beside me, cradling me in his arms.

I nuzzled my face in his chest, breathing in his clean, ocean scent. I remembered Ayden always smelled of the ocean. A reminder that our souls were entwined for  all eternity.

“Hello Princess,” a mysterious voice spoke beside us.

A chill ran down my spine. That voice didn’t sound familiar but the sensation he made me feel wasn’t foreign to me. Like snakes slithering.

Ayden immediately pulled me closer to him, wrapping me tighter in his embrace. “Who the hell are you?”

“Just a stranger passing by. Saw she was in trouble. Decided to help,” the creepy voice replied.

I turned in Ayden’s arms to get a better glimpse at my rescuer. He was tall, almost as tall as Ayden but not quite. He had copper colored skin, same as mine with golden, amber eyes that eerily pierced right through me. Like I said, he didn’t feel so foreign to me yet I couldn’t quite place him.

“You be careful. These puddles are dangerous.” He smirked, bowing theatrically before sauntering off.

“Oh no.” I covered my mouth.

“Annalee, what is it?” Ayden appeared before, eyebrows knitted in concern.

“Wi.”