The lone note from a flute drifted into Anelle's subconscious. The tune continued to pick up the tempo, overflowing with energy, pulling anyone into its rambunctious rhythm.
Anelle opened her eyes. The song was far off into the distance. The small window in her room revealed the echoes of dawn light. The white moonlight was cut short by a yellow flicker that seeped from under her door.
Anelle climbed out of bed and stood frozen. Her door was gone. In its place an imposter made of a dark crimson wood. Carved across the door were long sweeping gold lines that drew close together at the doors edge.
"…a…tail." She whispered.
She remembered the beautiful woman from the night before. "Follow the fish." The woman's words echoed through her head. But the lady's dark smile gave her pause.
Anelle reached for the door handle but hesitated. Did she want answers? Did she want to know why ten foot tall creatures with pointed ears had invaded her homeland? Did she want to know the fate of the people who were left behind? Yes. Not knowing would eat her alive.
She shook off her fear and opened the door. The carving joined its body on a stone wall, stretching out with massive flowing fins extending onto the floor. A carved stream of blue meandered down the long hall, collecting more fish, towards the yellow light at the end.
Anelle stepped through the threshold and fell forwards. Pain sprung from her knees and outstretched palms. She leaned on the wall with shaky legs. Her fingertips gripped the fish scales for support. The fish pulses under her touch. White dye seeped out from her fingers. One visible eye sharply moved. It watched her. She flinched away, cradling her hands to her chest. The carving was motionless stone again. The eye remained. Staring at her.
Anelle took a deep breath and brushed off her knees. Her dress. The fall. The moment she stepped through the door her night dress and slippers were replaced. The dress was simple but beautiful. A single layer of ivory taffeta, crisp to the touch, flowed down from under her bust. Her chest was wrapped flat in multiple layers of cloth. A triangle of fabric was attached to her waist, it extended along the length of her left arm and secured around her wrist. As she extended her arm the fabric looked like a delicate wing. Her feet were wrapped in the same fabric with a leather sole.
Anelle took a tentative step forward, only a small twinge of pain spiked her knees.
She heard the music down the hall repeating the same tune. The lonesome flute sent its notes drifting down the tunnel. As she walked the fish moved alongside her, getting gradually smaller. She stopped just before the light at the end and looked back to the small bedroom. The white moonlight shone in from the window. A small ember of fear smoldered in her chest. She slowly turned away, extinguishing the ember. Going back to bed would be safer. But nothing made sense. Her life had been turned upside down. She had felt the pain of a spear being rammed through her chest, yet she still lived. She had woken up so far away from home that no one knew where Garlon was. She had to know.
As she turned the door slowly closed. Her next steps were in time with the lock clicking into place. Her decision was final. She had to move forward.
The sound of thrashing water drew her attention to the wall. The fish was no bigger than her hand. It thrashed its head and tail side to side desperately against the wall. The stone cracked. Anelle jumped backwards.The crack was small at first. The fish continued to thrash and the crack splintered outwards. Water spilled from the stone and the fish leapt through the hole. It swam through the air circling her, gliding high and low, fluttering its tail in joy. Anelle stood frozen, her eyes wide. The fish stopped above her. It tilted its head to the side and slowly edged towards her. An uneasy smile spread across her lips. The fish seemed friendly. It watched her as if waiting for her approval. Anelle remembered the woman and the flaming fish, she lifted her hand towards the creature. It looked at her hand then nuzzled its head into her palm.
The fish suddenly sprung up and flew out of the tunnel towards the music.
"Wait." She called as she stepped into the light.
The tunnel opened into a massive circular chamber one hundred and fifty feet wide. The stone walls were carved by a giant tornado. Above was a roof of water impossibly suspended against gravity. Nothing but darkness beyond; the cavern lay deep within the ocean's depths. Schools of fish broke the surface before being sucked back up and dispersing as larger predators edged closer.
The music was coming from three figures on the opposite side. Each humanoid in form. They wore giant colourful masks obscuring their faces and green flowing robes. Each figure played a different instrument. In the centre slightly higher than the others was the flute player. The instrument looked more like three flutes tied together with extra tubes bent in different directions. The musicians took no heed of Anelle watching dumb founded.
She stood on a ledge close to eight feet above the ground. In the centre of the room was a spiralling whirlpool. Dancers moved around the pool in flashes of colour-red, orange and yellow- as flames danced along their skin. The flames reached out as they passed, licking each other and mingling together.
"Incredible." She whispered.
Anelle leaned over the ledge. The dancers moved as one, fabric and flames rippled through the air. They moved in circles, the yellow flames moving towards the edge of the room and the orange weaving, heading towards the pool in the centre before the song ended. The red flames stood at the edge waiting for the next song.
Anelle sat watching as the song repeated again.
The white fish shifted in the air, catching Anelle's attention. It flew above the dancers' heads, following the red group making their way to the centre before diving into the whirlpool. Follow the fish. She had to join the dance to continue on. As she watched, a pattern emerged. Each colour moved together. The first position was starting in the dance and moving towards the centre. The second group started in the dance but moved towards the outside. The third started on the outside and changed with the second group as they exited. To get to the centre of the room would take two whole songs.
Anelle looked around her and realised she had overlooked another problem. She was standing on a ledge eight feet above. The wall had little ledges she could climb. She lowered her foot onto a smaller ledge, testing its strength with her tow before lowering her full weight onto it. She continued lowering herself down the wall, getting more confident. Her toes slipped on a tiny ledge and she fell. Anelle let out a yelp as she hit the ground. The waves of heat coming from the dancers skimmed her skin and she rolled away. She lay there for a moment taking stock of her limbs. Surprisingly her body didn't hurt at all. She looked up and was relieved to find neither the dancers nor the musicians had taken notice of her fall. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Somehow no one noticing her fall made it worse.
Now on the ground she could see the dancers properly. Each wore a simple black mask with no eye or mouth holes. Any visible skin was covered with flaming ribbons. The dance itself was relatively simple, consisting of only eight beats repeated over and over; moving forward for four beats then a turn that lasted four beats.
The dancers moved their arms in wide sweeping motions and intricate wrist and hand movements along with the beat. These would prove more tricky. But she only needed to move with the dancers, not assimilate completely. As long as her feet stayed in time she would reach the middle by the second turn.
She was only going to have one shot at this. When she jumped in she would have to take the place of another causing one dancer to be left out.
O mother in heaven please let this work. She prayed.
The drummer shook their hand across the drum's hide to signal the end of the song. In a second the flute would start again.
Anelle took a breath in an attempt to quell her rising nerves. She walked over to where the yellow dancers stood at the edge of the room and sandwiched herself in between the third and fourth dancers. Once the second dance ended only the first five would be standing at the edge of the pool. Safer to be certain she would be in the middle then risk the fifth position.
Her hands shook. Energy coursed through her legs. She was ready to dance. With a deep breath she stood watching the figure in front of her. The flute began its tune. The sound felt louder now. The call of the music penetrated deep within her chest and held tight. She pushed the feeling away and followed the dancer in front of her. Focusing solely on keeping her feet in time to the drum.
The first spin sent her dress blazed into life. A white flame amongst the yellow, orange and reds. The tips of the flames staining the bottom of her dress blue. The heat filled her lungs. She gasped for breath. Anelle focused on her feet and keeping in time with the dancer ahead of her. The music was at its crescendo. One more spin before the end. She spun into the final turn.
Finished.
The first dance was done. The second would be even longer. Every layer closer to the centre forces the dancers to get closer together, leaving even less space for error. Her legs began to shake from the exertion. The dancers stood stock still waiting for the music. The flames filled the silence with hushed inaudible whispers. The heat didn't burn. It felt warm and comfortable. Anelle felt her eyes growing heavy, her tiredness fell on her in waves. She wanted to close her eyes and dance to her heart's content. To join this hall and never leave.
She opened her eyes wide. This place was doing something to her. Dragging her down and chaining her here. The lone flute began again. She shook her head and focused on the dance, moving her body forward. She stumbled on the first step. The dancer behind pushed her forward. No one seemed to notice her folly. Anelle quickly righted herself and forged onwards. The tempo was beginning to pick up. Every step was more precious than the last. Another turn into the next circle. The centre was so close now. The music was almost at its crescendo again. Two more turns. It was so close. The final turn.
Hands from behind shove her into the pool of water. The flames on her dress fizzled out as she fell. The whirlpool dragged her deep into the abyss below. Her lungs scream for air. She flailed her arms trying to move. Pain exploded through her chest. Taking the last bit of air from her lungs. She sank down into the darkness.
The whirlpool spat her out. She coughed and inhaled more water. The pain radiated through her chest. She lay motionless floating. The pressure on her chest slowly began crushing her heart. Her face contorted in agony. She clenched her jaw. The sound of the flute's notes contorted and shrieked through her head.
Cold hands lifted her head. A beautiful face as white as snow hung above her. Blue tinted lips moved but she heard nothing over the shrieking. The woman leant down and kissed her. Light emanated from their kiss. A circular symbol flashed behind her eyes.
She breathed deep. The water surged through her lungs and she breathed. She breathed water with no pain.
Anelle looked wide eyed at the woman before her. The woman smiled with satisfaction. She stood on the ocean floor unaffected by the water.
Anelle looked around. She floated at the bottom of the ocean. Ancient stone pillars rose up from the sandy floor trying desperately to reach the surface above. The stone shone from within, casting soft shadows in all directions. Crumbled stone and broken pillars lay strewn about the edge. Etched into the stone was a carved symbol, similar to the one that still streaked her vision.
Anelle tried to speak but only gargles escaped her lips.
The woman sat lounging on a stone daybed across from Anelle. Her eyes were the same as the woman she had seen the night before. But her hair had a slight red tint to it and fell in ribbons around her shoulders. Her nose was more button shaped and her cheekbones were less pronounced. A softer beauty. Her dress was another marvel of construction. A satin fabric resembling the frock coats and dress the Athon nobility wore to church. Strips of fabrics in shades of dark blue were layered to make the skirt. The tendrils ended at different lengths to give the illusion of an octopus queen lounging in her castle under the sea.
The woman's eyes scrutinised Anelle. "You let your fear control you." There was no condemnation in her silky voice. She was simply stating facts.
Anelle let the silence answer for her. Not even knowing if she could answer. This woman was not from the mortal realm. If the hours of reading books on history and legends had taught her anything it was best to appease this being. It would be like walking a tightrope. If she acted too subservient she would appear weak. Knowing when to stand her ground and when to bend won't be easy. Anelle studied the woman's face, trying to discern any slight changes.
Anelle opened her mouth and tried to mouth her response. The woman laughed.
"Think it and I will hear." The woman's voice sounded inside her head. The words clouded her own thoughts as they sounded over everything.
"Why bring me here?" Anelle thought softly, lacing her words with the innocent curiosity of a child.
"Straight to the point I see." She sucked her lip at the edge, failing to hide her smile, with a slight gleam at the edge of her eyes. Anelle slowly released the breath she had been holding. She stood taller, pushing down her fear. "I was curious."
"Curious?" Anelle thought.
"Yes." A devilish smirk brightened her face, "you heard the call of the tides and listened. A lesser mortal would have pushed aside the dancers and walked through. But you didn't. You feel it, don't you? The Tue." Her words hung heavy in the silence.
"…it was a test?" She thought.
"Indeed." Her smile broadened, her eyes singing with joy.
"And I passed?" The woman's only response was a nod. "What happened in Garlan? Why did those creatures attack?"
The woman walked over to where Anelle floated and looked up at her.
"Garlan is gone. You know why the elves attacked. You saw the sacred bird that was killed." She whispered.
"Garlan will never be gone, not while its people live. Not while I live."
The woman chuckled. "Oh child, that poor excuse of a human colony was never your home." She looked past Anelle. "It seems our time is up."
White light sprung from the woman's palm. She grabbed Anelle by the back of the neck and thrust the light against her chest. Anelle felt the water leave her lungs. The sound of ice cracking as it collided erupted through her mind. Razors cut her insides with every attempted breath.
Anelle's body froze. Her mouth opened in pain.
The woman looked sympathetically at her. She waved her hand and Anelle felt her body sway. The current of the water moved her body in swirls, collapsing in on itself.
*****
The girl was gone. The only trace of her was a small shift in the sand.
"Do you intend to lurk in the shadows till the black abyss consumes you?" Coara asked as she walked back to the daybed.
The water rippled. First a leg, then an arm and a torso. A man wearing black leather from head to toe stepped into the circle. He had a half cap the same dark blue as her dress, draped over his right shoulder. A smirk made his cheekbones as sharp as glass. His wavy dark hair flowed down to his eyes.
Jiian stood on the ocean floor, unencumbered by the flow of water like her.
Sitting on the daybed, Coara tilted her head to the side, watching him approach. He lifted his left arm and a bottle of wine appeared in his hand, the label tilted towards her. Two wine glasses appear between his fingers. He cocked an eyebrow at her.
"Care for a glass?" He asked, his deep voice washing over the entire space.
She nodded in response, watching as he strolled around and leaned against the back of the daybed. He handed her the glasses, opened the bottle with a pop and poured them both a drink.
"A toast." He said, lifting his glass towards the dark sea beyond. The fluid started to drift out of the glass. "To the high lord Cazien for allowing us to hide in his domain."
"To the high lord of the mortal realm."
They both took a sip from their glasses, letting silence fall between them.
"So you finally figured it out?" A soft smile graced her lips. She watched her wine settle back into the glass as she twirled it back and forth.
"I can't believe it was so simple." He looked down at her. His eyes searched her face before landing on her eyes, waiting for them to find his.
"Ha! So Jiian finally learnt how to ask permission?"
"Ah! Your jest wounds me like an arrow to the heart!" His voice strained in fake pain, his hand holding his chest. A laugh shared between them trickled off into comfortable silence, accompanied by only the sound of their sips. Moments passed before he broke the silence. "Why not simply give her the answer?"
"She must learn to survive on her own." Their eyes met. Coara turned her head to the side. "I wanted to give her the tools to survive in the future. If she can't hide herself, history will only repeat. No matter the age there will always be power hungry people. And although you may think me callous and sometimes cruel, I don't think it's fair that this bloodline should continue to suffer due to their ancestors' folly."
"Will there ever come a day when the world is no longer scarred by their flames?" His voice was so quiet his words barely made it to her ears. He looked out towards the dark sea, his mind adrift in memories of the distant past.
"Mortals will soon forget as they always do. It only seems like the world is stuck repeating itself because we have lived far longer than we should have." She caressed his cheek and he turned to face her. She waited with her eyes on his until he looked back. "We are both bound by bigger forces than our own desires." The conversation was no longer about the mortal world, nor a girl who held the power to reshape it. It never was. They danced around one another longing to be selfish but blocked by duty. She could not bear to lie to him. But she could never be his alone.
He let out a humourless laugh. "Will they always come first?"
She gave him the only answer that was true, one that meant a thousand words and none at all. Silence. Coara gently leaned up and placed a kiss on his cheek. His question was left unanswered. The answer he was constantly left with. She knew the words left unspoken hurt him more than pretty lies. But she refused to break her promise even if it hurt them both.
Coara stood and placed her wine glass on the edge of the bed. The red fluid drifted up like a steam of blood. She refused to look back at him.
"Thanks for the drink. But I have pressing matters to attend to."
Coara waved her fingers and a book, bound in hogs hide with a glowing symbol, materialised in her hand. She walked across the sand into the abyss beyond, knowing his eyes lingered on her silhouette as she faded into the ocean.