December 22, 2006

  • Angel of Oblivion II

    edanded

    Yah, sort of rewriting the first one, since it sucked. Plus, this one can sort of stand alone anyway. I want to post the first chapter of my NaNo, but after my beta saying he could tell what was 'word vommit' and not, I've decided to just wait until I got back what I gave to him...which I'm fearing since it's gonna be slaughtered... Ah well. So you get a decent story instead. Don't you all feel lucky now? Don't forget to tell me what you think!

    Angel of Oblivion II

    She was warm. That's all she could feel. Warmth, safety, and a pulsing white light. Not the bright light, but a calm, soothing. Not blinding or hindering her sight in any way, nor trying to overwhelm her with the harshness of its color. Just existing, like she was now. Neither Heaven nor Hell, but like a Limbo, waiting area to confine those who were going to either plane. It was so comforting though, so she decided that it wasn't a bad thing to be exist here, although it felt odd to be alone.

    “Where...”

    “Here,” a voice said. It sounded so familiar, but she couldn't place it. “Now, go. Your punishment awaits you.”

    Then, everything went back.

    ~~~~~On the Mortal Plane. Dimension One.~~~~

    The sun floated through the small, high window that lighted a cramped stone room. On a bed of hay, Senna stretched and yawned, not yet ready to wake up. She curled up in a ball, trying to run from the morning's light that invaded her dreams. Dreams of things she knew that were important came in and out of focus, but the results of her grappling remained the same each morning She'd never remember them, nor the messages that they held.

    Finding that resistance was futile, she sat up, looking disheveled and groggy. Stray strands of hay poked out from her black hair, as golden eyes looked sleepily around her small quarters. A poor excuse for a blanket covered her legs, clothed by long burlap shorts that revealed tanned skin as she moved to get up and start her daily routine. She wore a white long sleeved shirt to help with the chill, which seemed to seep into this place even in high summer. Bare feet padded across the cold floor to the door, which was only about four steps away.

    She stopped short of opening it, turned around, and walked to a small pile of clothes that was left out for her. Her mother was a kind woman, and always had a clean pair of clothes out and ready for whenever she decided to wake up. She dressed quickly, not wanting to spend too much time out in the cold of this forsaken place. Her clothes consisted of long cotton shorts and a short sleeved green shirt with the emblem of a Dragon on it, something that told of her position in this place.

    Senna was a Summoner, someone who could summon Dragons to the plane of the mortals. The existence of her kind was kept a secret, and only those of the most wealthy families were able to know of this unique kind of human. They all had the Eyes of the Dragon, and therefore were rumored to once have been a part of them, hence their ability to be able to call them forth from the planes that they usually reside. Each wealthy family had at least one Summoner, and made them summon the Dragons to duel and to see which Summoner had the strength and will to control the beast they had summoned.

    Dragons themselves had colors and body types, that told of their skill level and abilities. The colors going from weakest to strongest went yellow, tan, orange, brown, turquoise, navy blue, red, gray, and black. The markings told of their sires, but solid colors were the most sought after, since they held the strongest abilities. The body types from weakest to strongest went Wyvern, bulky, slim, slim and toned, and the rare feathered winged Dragons, who had the strongest abilities of all.
    '
    Currently, at the age of sixteen, Senna could summon Red Dragons of the slim type, which was almost unheard of for her age group of Summoners. Most adults had Red Wyverns as their limit, but Senna had always been exceptional with her skills, the Summoning part anyway. Controlling them was a whole different matter. She could only control the Red Wyverns with any sort of confidence and had summoned the Red Slim by complete accident. Luckily, the Dragon was relatively understanding and allowed her to let it go back to wherever it had come from.

    Usually when something like that happened, disaster followed and legends were born. Castles and kingdoms were torn apart and a Dragon Slayer would have to come to kill the beast, or it would get bored and return to it's own plane by going to a Summoner or Magician. Senna had been very fortunate in the incident, and vowed to try only control the ones she knew she could until she was sure she could Summon the stronger ones.

    She went for the kitchens, which were down the hallway from her 'room' and right to the right where the hallway veered into the main coordinator of the castle. The kitchen was already bustling in activity as she entered through the thick wooden door that was designed to keep the heat and commotion from going out into all the places where it wouldn't be so acceptable. Ovens roasted breads and deserts for the lunch that would be soon coming after breakfast, as cooks and the servants all ran about, either gathering food for those who owned them or finishing the preparations on the dishes that were to be served.

    Senna quickly closed the door behind her, hoping that no one noticed her entrance. But her luck was rarely any good with sneaking around these people. The owners, to her, were dumb as rocks and she could therefore do whatever she pleased, except here. Either her mother or Vanessa, the head cook, caught her whenever she did come.

    This time, it was Vanessa.
    “What do ya think you're doing',” the large woman asked, placing fat hands on fat hips. She was overweight, tall, and one of the scariest people who lived in the place. Dressed in a long gray dress with what was once a white apron, that was now covered in dough and speckles of chocolate. Frizzy red hair was atop her head and glaring blue eyes made anyone bend to her will. Although one could find kindness to this woman if they knew her long enough, her strictness was her most dominant trait.

    “Getting something to eat,” Senna squeaked. It was true, she'd rather come down here and make something herself rather then have someone else do it. Because of her being a Summoner, she was just above the highest paid servant in authority. However, Senna didn't see that as any reason that she should make them do whatever she asked them. The only reason she was higher then them was because she was born with a talent that was greatly coveted. Otherwise, she'd just be another lowly slave, like her mother.

    “Child,” Vanessa cried, throwing her hands up into the air. “I have told you time and time again! Just make the rest of 'em do it!”

    “But...,” Senna began in protest, but Vanessa would have nothing to do with it.

    “You,” she shouted, pointing at some girl that Senna had never seen around before. The Master of the House must have bought a new slave in the past week. “Get this young 'en somethin' to eat!”

    The girl scampered off, and soon returned with some fresh bread and an egg. Senna thanked the girl and slipped back out of the kitchen, not wanting to face the wrath of Vanessa a second time before lunch. She saved tormenting the head cook until after lunch, mostly begging to help with getting dinner ready. Sometimes, it worked but most of the time she was sent away to go find something else to occupy her time.

    She took her food outside, to a large shade tree that she had claimed years ago. It had a few low branches for her to pull herself up on to climb it, and it was the easiest place for her to summon Dragons, since most of them came through the dimensional rift flying anyway. It was like they knew exactly what they were called on for, or at least had an idea. To see a Summoned Dragon was something to behold, because that is when they look their fiercest and worthy of their reputations as terrible beasts.

    After inhaling her food, she decided to Summon her little familiar, Bakuhatsu. Bakuhatsu was a small red Wyvern, the first Dragon she had ever Summoned to this plane. A familiar was a Dragon that was treated like a Summoner's second half, their link to the Dragons. They could relay messages and help to call a Dragon if it was needed more urgently then another that was readily available for them to contact. They were also used to be a Summoner's closest friend, since most were lonely people because others feared their power and what they could do with it whenever they were feeling a little moody.

    She drew a circle on the ground, and then a triangle inside and another outside the circle. Runes that she didn't know the meanings of were drawn at all the points, and then a cross encased in wings. Standing on the cross, she spread her arms and began chanting in a language that had been dead to man since the dawn of time. However, it felt so familiar, like she once knew what these words meant and she knew how powerful they really were, but she couldn't place them anymore. Like a memory long forgotten after not being used for so long. Not dwelling on this, she focused on bringing Bakuhatsu to her plane, to help alleviate her boredom.

    The Wyvern came through the rift, flying right above Senna's head and calling out to whoever may have been challenging it. He was the length of her arm from nose to tail tip, with it's body reaching just past her elbow where the tail continued to become whip like and decorated with spikes. Shining crimson scales flashed in the early morning light as did four navy blue horns and the trail of spikes that flowed down his back. Eyes of the same golden color as Senna's kept watch for any danger, as tattered wings that easily spread the length of Senna's arm span gave the beast flight in the still air. Talons were tucked tightly to his slim body, making him like a dart when he wanted to be. One of the most perfect looking Wyverns of all the ones Senna had seen, and this one was her familiar.

    Senna smiled as she watched him dart through the air, apparently enjoying the freedom he was granted. She didn't know what it was like to travel through the rift, nor was she in any hurry to find out. It was said that the Realm of the Dragons was cursed and any Human, Summoner and non Summoner alike, could get in but never get out. Many horror stories came from this fictional plane and the great things it held.

    “Bakuhatsu,” Senna shouted in a greeting, chasing after the Dragon. “Ready to cause trouble today?”

    The Dragon looked over from where he was flying, and turned around to land on her shoulder. He wasn't as heavy as anyone would have thought, having scales and such, but still not the lightest thing to be carrying around on the shoulders. Senna had become used for being her familiars perch, and didn't complain much.

    He chirped the affirmative, or at least what Senna took as the affirmative. Whether Bakuhatsu liked it or not, they were going to cause some trouble for the higher ups today. She hated the fact that they had everything offered to them by the slaves and tenants that worked to their deaths to please their 'Masters'. She wasn't too fond of any of them, and only did her duty so that she could continue to have her own room and her mother could stay here. She especially hated them after hearing the horror stories some of the other slaves told and seeing some of her opponent's scars that weren't from battle.

    She went back to the castle, and entered through the main doors, something most other residents couldn't do unless they wanted to be beat or executed. Both of which were activities routinely carries out through the day. However, no one in their right mind would attack her with a Dragon on her shoulder, or period since it was commonly feared that Summoners, when agitated enough, could Summon Dragons without a Circle at all. She was given a wary look by the doorkeeper, but he said nothing as she passed him by. Bakuhatsu hissed at him, something that made the old man back away a few steps. A hissing Dragon was never a good thing, and he had the burn scars to prove it after crossing the little beast before.

    “Senna,” a boy of about her age of 17, dressed in fine violet velvet and wine said in a kind tone. He was tall and stood over her at almost six feet, just a few inches above her 5'8” with short messy blonde hair and looking at her with amused violet eyes. “What are you doing around here?”

    Senna glared at the boy, and continued on her path. The only son of her Master, he was spoiled rotten with the earnings that she made on defeating those that challenged her. She didn't like him and found him rather annoying. If she had anything her way, he'd be thrown into the slave quarters to rot the rest of his days away. Just the thought of it made her smile. “Nothing that concerns you,” she replied. “Now leave me alone before I let Bakuhatsu roast you.”

    The boy frowned, clearly displeased with her response. “Why are you always so testy?”

    “The same reason you're stupid,” Senna replied, walking away. Bakuhatsu hissed at him, making the boy take a step back.

    “You can't treat me like that,” he yelled after her.

    Senna stopped dead in her tracks, turned around, and gave him a glare a Dragon would have been proud of. "Dalal, shut up before I really do let Bakuhatsu lite you on fire.” With that, she turned back around and continued like she never said a word.

    She hated that kid, and if she knew that she would never get caught, she would have acted on her threat. She was not one to be messed with, especially with it being barely after breakfast. She usually wasn't all to pleasant to be around until after lunch, and even then she was trying to work in the kitchens.

    Deciding that she had nothing better to do, she opted to go find her mother and help her with the daily chores. Her mother was a maid, so she cleaned all the rooms of the castle once a week in a routine that Senna knew like the back of her hand. Looking outside for a quick second to determine the time, she went for the room her mother was sure to be finishing up.

    Senna's mother was a kind older woman of late thirties, with graying hair that was once a platinum blonde color. Sharp blue eyes focused on her current task of putting clean linen on the beds and rearranging the pillows. She was a little shorter then Senna now, and wore a gray dress with a white apron.

    Senna came into the room, Bakuhatsu leaving her shoulders to perch on one of the four posters that rose over the bed. “Can I help?”

    “Senna,” her mother yelled in surprise. “What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be training? You have a match in a few days and from the rumors I've heard, this boy's no pushover like the last ones. You should be more worried about that then what I'm doing! Now out with you! Go to the fields and train if you want something to do!”

    Senna sighed. It was true that in a few days she would have to Summon and control a Dragon, but she wasn't too worried about it. In fact, she rarely was. Unless her opponent could Summon a Black, she really wasn't all that worried. She was the best, and there was no pride in that statement or anything self satisfying. She had been told that by her Master, Dragons, hell, even those that lost to her. She still needed to practice though. For her, being the best meant Summoning a Black, a strong Black at that. Then, she could get her and her mother out of bondage, because there was no way to stop a Black on a rampage, unless the one controlling it told it to stop.

    Finding her way to the field her mother had specified, Senna stopped dead in the middle and sighed. There was once a grand temple here, that had since been destroyed in an effort to stop 'her kind' from dominating the world with their powers by disallowing them to expand too far. The Circle that was underneath the temple still existed, a hidden treasure that no one but she and the Dragons knew about. Everyone just thought the field to be a prime place to practice because of it's large size and little distance away from the castle. Little did they know that the foundation and underground chambers were never completely destroyed, and magic still was able to access the runes that all Summoners knew at birth.

    Bakuhatsu circled in from above, flapping tattered looking wings in the light breeze he created by his flight. He could feel the magic moving deep within the ground, and was calling to it. He was a child of magic, so it was like an infant crying to it's mother, it's creator to come and help it in anyway it can. All Senna had to do was call for it to come up, he had done the rest by awakening it from its slumber.

    Senna knew of the old temple's existence, and stood on the center point, which was also the center point of the field. Why nothing was build on or around the place was a mystery to her, but she never thought about it too much. As long as this place was here and gave her peace to practice, that was all that mattered. So no one wanted to build here. That just meant they most likely thought that the place was cursed. In the end, it worked out for her.

    She closed her eyes, to see what was calling to her. An image appeared, but it wasn't that of a Dragon. It had a human feature to it, but the eyes were an eerie aqua color and hair jet black and long, falling over the shoulders and great black wings. A cocky smile adorned the creamy face, one that she didn't really care for at the moment.

    When she opened her eyes to try again, the ground below her began to glow a yellow light. She had awakened the magic? But how? She didn't call the soul and body forth, nothing should have happened!

    “Bakuhatsu,” she yelled, finding that she was planted in her spot. She had never been rooted like this before. Something was wrong, very wrong. The Dragon could only fly in circles, powerless to do anything.

    Senna soon become very nervous for a number of reasons, including the fact that her familiar wasn't doing anything to help her. The rest of her reasons were with what happened before she had become intertwined with the magic. First off, she had seen a rather human looking face. That sent off warning flares in her head. Was that what happened when someone entered the Realm of the Dragons? They become something else and only get let back on the plane of their natural birth? If she were able, she would have started to shake, but the magic had tied too deeply into her already.

    As suddenly as it started, the glowing stopped, and for a brief second Senna was relieved that nothing had happened. But upon turning around, she was face to face with the face that had appeared when she closed her eyes. He was taller then her by a least a foot, and had those gleaming aqua eyes that had peered into her mind now peered down from her under dark heavy bangs. Robes of dark gray and navy blue flowed in the light morning breeze, as did wings of black that shone a crimson when the feathers hit the light.

    The figure approached, and then bowed at her feet. Senna looked down at him, wide eyed and a little scared. Why was such a being bowing to her? Who was he? What was his business with her?

    “Daughter of the Leader of the Fallen,” the being spoke. “I am humbled that you Summoned me, Mistress.”

    “I have no clue who you are, why I Summoned you, nor do I know the Leader of the Fallen, whoever that is,” Senna said, taking a step back.

    Bakuhatsu looked at the guy, back to Senna, confused on why she didn't acknowledge him. Then it was true, she had lost all memory of her former life and glory! Here he was thinking that she was just trying to play the part of a lonely mortal in a world in which she did not belong. He twittered at the kneeling man, trying to tell him that she didn't remember. Damn this curse for not being able to communicate properly!

    “You do not remember any of us. That is a shame.” He rose back to his feet, glaring down at Senna. “I am your Guardian, appointed by Kaggren, Leader of the Fallen of the Shadows. I am Vlad, your appointed one. You are Senna, Heir to the Throne of Oblivion and Halfling Queen.”

    “You've got to be kidding me,” Senna said, staring up at him. “I'm just a slave girl that happens to possess the Eyes of the Dragon. That's it. If it weren't for that, I'd be in the kitchens or with my mother cleaning rooms.”

    “Such a lowly state they have you at,” Vlad sighed. “To think, Namoki would approve of such a thing!”

    Senna's mind kept coming up with more questions then she had answers to. Who was this Namoki? What was Oblivion? What was even a Halfling Queen? “You're off your rocker,” Senna finally decided, turning to leave. After this, she really didn't need to Summon anything. That and she was a little afraid of what else may come from the Realm of the Dragons.

    Vlad followed her, as did Bakuhatsu. The Dragon landed on Senna's shoulder, and kept looking back to Vlad and then Senna. He sorely wished that he could explain everything that was going on, but he had been cursed as a Hatchling to be mute for the rest of his days, that or if someone could lift this curse. Getting tired of turning his snaking neck all the way around, he left Senna's shoulders to perch on Vlad's, who didn't seem to mind and rubbed the Wyvern's nose.

    “Little one, it seems you can't speak like the others,” Vlad whispered. “But don't worry. I mean her no harm.”

    Bakuhatsu knew that already. If he could only explain!

    “Many trials are to come. Hell is in turmoil again,” Vlad explained. “And with this new uprising, I'm afraid this plane won't go unscathed unlike the Hell was, little one.”

    That disturbed the Dragon greatly. But again, the only thing he could do was remain close to Senna and pray to whatever deity listened to a Dragon that it all turned out to be nothing once again.