Shadow's Advent

Chapter Two

"Caraka?" Kytheran's voice sounded distant, ghost-like. She kept her eyes tightly shut. She knew if she opened them, her world would be spinning. 

The pain rushed down her neck and into her shoulders, making them achy and sore. Even through her eyelids, the light of the fire made her eyes burn. 

Suddenly, she could sense it. She could sense her. 

Hello, my dear. Are you not going to introduce us? A sensation tingled up her arms 

Go...away... Caraka thought weakly. You are...hurting me. 

Tsk, shouldn't you be used to this by now? If you had spent less time pushing me away... Her ear flickered, the air around it warming. 

Please...just, go back to your hole, she said exasperatedly. My head...it hurts. 

Like I said, she said, if you spend your time actually interacting with me, you wouldn't be in this predicament. 

I want nothing to do with you, you are a mad woman. 

Mad? Me? Looks as though someone needs to get out more. 

Just go away. He's probably staring at me. 

Oh? Are we infatuated with someone? 

Don't try to go and read my emotions. I have enough to deal with. Just go away. 

Oh, you always take the fun out of everything.  

Caraka felt a shiver run up her back. She gritted her teeth to keep from shivering. Is he attractive? Sure. Do I like him in that sort of way? No. Have fun with that, Caraka spat internally.  

Is someone a little touchy? Looks like you are in dire need of a nice hot spring. Maybe you should find one. 

Caraka heaved. The hot pain seared her brain. She bit her tongue. She didn't want to concern Kytheran-where ever he was. Can you just go away? I need to get some rest. 

A scowling sound reverberated in her head. Fine, go have your rest.  

There was a swooshing sound and Caraka's ears popped. She lurched up, taking in a sharp breath. Her hands trembled in front of her. 

Kytheran grasped her shoulder gently. His eyes were wide with worry. "Are you all right?"  

She nodded vigorously. Her lip quivered. "I'm fine. I just think I should get some rest." 

"Are you really sure? I can just wake Aaralynn up. She can give you some energy, make you feel better." 

Caraka raised her hand. "Honest, Kytheran, I don't need any help. I think I'll just go to sleep. Will you be all right?"  

"Don't worry about me," he said, squeezing her shoulder. "I'll just wake Cipher up in a couple of hours." 

She smiled softly. "Thanks." 

He smiled back. 

"Kytheran, I want to apologize for kicking you in the...you know...," Caraka said, rubbing the back of her neck. 

He grinned sheepishly. "I should be lucky you kind of missed. I'm sorry for dragging you off like a madman. I should have explained the situation a bit better. I just didn't want people eavesdropping on us and all. I wanted to get you somewhere a bit quieter." 

She hand waved him. "Don't worry about it." Caraka held out her hand. "Apology accepted?" 

Kytheran looked at it and then shook her hand. "Apology accepted." 

Caraka went to grab her blanket, some tiredness touching her eyes. She wrapped the blanket snugly around her shoulders and lay down, using her rucksack as a pillow. It wasn't long before she was asleep. 

# 

Kytheran moved so he could lean against a tree. He stared at Caraka for several moments; she hadn't taken off her belt which held her swords. 

It seemed a bit overprotective; then again, she had been on her own for a long time. One never did know when someone, anything, would pounce.  

Nonetheless, he thought back to earlier. He could still feel the immense fear in his heart and his hands were still slightly clammy.  

What he thought strange though, was why he saw the silver eyes and heard the clock. The sickening fear he understood; many people placed spells on their weapons to keep them from getting stolen. Many of which tried to scare people off and what better way to make would-be thieves afraid of the very things they sought to steal. 

Still, he didn't know how those other two things factored into it. Maybe he really did see a sorceress's spirit that lived inside the blade. Yet, Caraka was adamant that her swords were normal, or at least somewhat normal. Even Cipher backed her up. Why would Cipher back her up if it wasn't true? Why bother searching them out and begging them to help her if she was just to put them in danger like that? 

He sighed. He would have to go with his gut, like he did before. He would have to trust that Cipher had something up her sleeve that was in their favor. 

Yet, despite her apology, Kytheran didn't feel like he could trust Caraka. When she went into that trance, she looked like she was in such pain. He worried that she was being controlled.  

Kytheran leaned his head against the trunk of the tree. Not worth worrying about it now. Cipher will have to deal with her if anything goes wrong. He was wiping his and Aaralynn's hands clean of Caraka; she was Cipher's sole problem. 

He stared out into the ethereal silver and red colored mists, his thoughts wandering away from reality.