Chapter 1

Awaken

           It began with smoke, then all turned into the empty vastness of space. Sound, light, smell gone in a second. I tried to remember…my name. What letter does it start with? What sound does it make? What is sound? Further and further down this pit I fell until every thought entering my mind instantly faded, until thoughts simply ceased. Is this…death? Peaceful and silent, like sweet sleep.

         Precipitously, a familiar sensation stirred my consciousness—something, something wet upon my face. Was this my face, my hand upon it? I knew it, or I thought I did. Sensations continued with increasing frequency. A flash of light broke the space, sight came back, and sound returned with a crash that crushed my ears. It overwhelmed my shattering mind and enveloped it in constant pain. I sought to return to the ease of emptiness—the safety of silence—yet the sounds, lights, sensations persisted, spinning around me, falling down a dazzling and colorful rabbit hole.

           The colors, the flashes, the sounds, the cold, prickling water pulled me closer and closer to the terrifying waking world. What is that light? No don’t go back, this is safe. But I want to know. The choice split my mind, but curiosity settled my tightening stomach, resolving me into blinding light.

           To the waking world I crashed. Racing streams of water—rain—fell from the sky, chilling me to the bone. A tree pressed its bumpy and rough bark against my back, but all I saw was the hypnotic hazel-brown eyes before me. They were as familiar to me as a song’s melody, except the name escaped me. His face was hearted, sculpted, and handsome with a strong clefted chin and bold cheek bones, streaming with water. The rain clung to his soft tan face through the fruitless fight against new drops from his dark hair, rolling over his shoulders onto his smooth black clothing desperate not to absorb it.

           The man tried to speak to me, but my ears rang a high-pitched whine. Finally, a word broke through. “Kata!”

           Kata…Was that me?

           He shook me from the shoulders. “Kata, please snap out of it, love.” His deep voice reminded me of something…extremely important.

           One breath shocked my entire system, shoving me back in my skin. My breathing quickened as my wide eyes raced back and forth. Where am I? What am I doing? Who are these people? Three women with sharp, pointed earlobes and two other tall men stood on either side of me, looking concerned, presumably for me. Friends? My eyes narrowed as I leaned back against the tree’s sharp bark. My finger pressed ever so against a splinter in the trunk. Sliding my feet back, gravel pushed around the soul of my shoes before finding the space between the thin roots. Looking left, a straight row of blurry trees lined the stone path way I found myself upon. The man with hazel eyes leaned to try to catch my gaze, but I cranked my head as far as I could to avoid the prying eyes. I don’t want to see. It hurts to look at him.

           As the hold on my shoulders released, a pair of large, rough hands grabbed my chin and turned my face right. A new man with soaked honey hair and brown eyes narrowing with stoic inquisitive stare. The other’s leaned over the intrusive man’s shoulders. I struggled to move my chin from his firm grasp. My mind spun with the sight of the faces. So many faces. In a blink, their faces disappeared.

           I tried to scream, but all the others hushed me. Wide hands enveloped my shoulders, steadying my pounding heart. Whose hands calmed me? Why does this feel safe? Blinking over and over, the faces returned as did the gnawing sense of emptiness inside. Who are you? What do you want from me?

           “That damn smoke. She breathed it in before she realized what was happening,” the man who held my face murmured, his words hanging ever so slightly in the back of his throat. A square pale face and strong jaw marked him along. Hoods protected the thoughtful brown eyes that flanked his broad nose.

           The hands sliding down my shoulders, I shivered as the hazel eyes rounded me and stood near my left. Smelling of sweat and pine, the tall man stared at the other holding my head. “Can you reverse the effects?”

           Reversal…Why is that idea more terrifying than the alternative? I started to shake my head free from the rough hands on my chin. Having a free hand, the inquisitive man reached towards my forehead. I cringed away from his hand.

            Mouth downturn, the words caught in the mouth of the brooding brown eyes. “Seeing as I do not know enough about curses, it would take an exorbitant amount of time. Time, we do not have.” I began to step back until the inquisitive man spoke. “Do not run, Kata.” That name again. The way he said my name brought a headache in the corner on my temple. Who are you? Why shouldn’t I run?

           “Are the rest of us going to feel comparable effects?” A woman who spoke with plucked precision leaned against the inquisitive man. Her almond shaped, amber, and curious eyes set against her olive skin highlighted her rolling and unique vocal patterns. Like the other women, she tied her soaked nearly black hair in a high ponytail that lowered down her head to rest over her right shoulder.

           Shaking his head, the intrusive man held his hands out so I could see he held nothing in them. “Slight headache” —he told the unique speaking woman— “maybe some disorientation or lightheadedness. Kata got the brunt of the curse.” Before I could object, the man took my wrist, checking my heart rate against his watch. If my pulse wasn’t elevated before, it was now. How do I tell them to stop? Leave me alone. His face darkened. “Kata, you need to relax.”

          Some sort of smoke cursed me to forget. How can I relax? My thrashing heart pounded harder and harder the more they encouraged me to remain calm. Their voices dissipated behind a hissing voice speaking my name over and over. Kata, Kata, Kata. These unknown people stepped closer and closer, surrounding me. The ringing returned. Lights flashed behind my eyes. I tried to remember anything or simply own my name. Relentless, the whispering name taunted me, yet my mind wouldn’t allow me to keep it.

            Make it stop! With a burst of rage, I broke free from the people who suffocated and surrounded me. Running across the gravel, the rain darkened the world in a fog of night. I walked lost in the storm, my footsteps blurring in the sheer aggression of the rain. My face stung while the wind attempted to force me back to the others, whose words distorted beyond recognition. I stepped onto solid stone with the unclear sight of more gravel and trees resting before me. Exhausted, I could not move any further, my limps becoming like weights.

            Rain battered my low head dragging the pony tail upon my head lower and lower. Free me from this nightmare. Where do I go? Twisting my heavy head left, the vague impression of marble step broken through the fog while an endless dark sky greeted my mind to the right. Toward the peaceful emptiness I stumbled until a flood light blinded me. My arms flew up to defend my eyes, but could not stop the stabbing in my head to reach eleven. I dropped to my knees, unable to function. My hands covered face, the smallest flashes of light breaking through my chilling fingers. Bring me back to the eternal night, please.

          Water splashed about with growing urgency. Shoes skidded across the smooth stone before coming to a halt in front of me. The ground trembled until shade guarded me enough that I could see once more. A strong woman with a flowing blonde ponytail stood behind a slab of stone that she held up from the ground with her finger dug deeply into the slab. Appearing in the light, the sight of the brunette and a redhead running out into the light passed my peripheral. I gasped as horrific screeches filled the sky.

         Leaving the balanced slab, the strong woman put my left arm over her shoulders. Once she rose my trembling body with absolute ease, a frenzied shadow shoved us. I tumbled backwards and tumbling to the stone. Before I hit the ground, I saw the strong woman spiral through the air and into the darkness beyond. I cried out from the rough pebbles my face struck. Rolling over onto my back, I realized the shadow tossed me from the slab’s protective shade. The headache began all over again, and I winced and tightened my eyes as my ears rang. I slid over onto my left side to hide from the light. In the puddles of falling rain, reflections of golden flecks and flames rippled from each drop of violent rain. Is this what being submerged in water feels? What are those lights?

           My trembling arms pushed me onto my knees. The light, the dark, I rubbed my face desperate to hide from it all. Yet the sounds of shouting, shrieking, the rain, broken through my resistance. I began to relax into the sheer onslaught until each thunderclap undid all my screws. Leaning over the ground once more, my eyes opened to find a woman reflected in the puddle. An oval white face reflected the lights around. These light blue almond eyes widened as I pressed fine fingers into my soft cheeks. Is this me? Loose pieces of soaked dark hair trickled rainwater into the puddle, wavering my appearance with ripples.

          An explosion made me jump as a small beast flew through the air before rolling across the ground. Its dark form splashed through the puddles before its momentum ceased. Lifting his bald and black head, water battered its smooth cranium and surrounded its sharp ear that long overstretched its head. My god! My fearful gasp alerted the snarling beast, its blood red eyes locking onto mine. Growling though the blistering winds gust, the monster’s nails scraped across the stone as it rose onto all fours. I began to scramble backwards away, but it broke out into a sprint. The creature launched itself at me. its long fingers sharper than claw. Curling into myself to block my face, I suddenly heard the slice of metal. No attack upon myself arriving, I looked over my shoulder to see a tall shadow grasping a long sword, shimmering along the edges of blade from the bright flood light that dared to reveal all. My eyes could not fully see the truth of the shadows. At the man’s feet, the decapitated monster disappeared into whisp of smoke.

           The obscure man approached, his sword dragging behind me. Bowing with one hand outreached, he brought me to my feet, those hazel eyes finding their way into my light. Our hands intertwined, slick with rain. What I forgot of him made my stomach flutter until I could not draw breath. I do not want these feelings. They aren’t mine. Whose are they? I took my hand away from his and put my hands behind my back. My heart pained when he frowned. Why does everything inside me ache?

           Turning his back to me, he shouted into the light. “Come on! Get a move on!” Waving the company of five towards him, the hazel eyes watched as they ran out of the light towards the strong woman’s forced guard. “This way!” Taking ahold of my wrist, the leader led the running five away from the unnatural, blinding lights towards the unknown darkness I believed were stairs.

           Behind me, a third man’s voice spoke. His intonation resembled the precise brunette’s though with great speed, ruining his precision. “This mission might not be going as planned, but it’s certainly keeping us on our toes!” He and the others panted behind me, their breath like razors in my ears broken by the stomping footsteps through the eternal splashing puddles.

           While I tried to keep pace with the leader for dear life, my legs wabbled with each stride, my balance impossible to keep. The rain washed away everything I picked up from the ground as we climbed stairs that felt like they would reach the sky. When we reached the top, the leader turned left, but my body stayed behind. My eyes stared into the rain, until they fell upon a black abyss before me. The rain poured forevermore into the pit whose bottom hid from sight. The emptiness called me, wanted me to return. Do I want to return? It hurts to be here, yet is it death who calls for me? No matter how I resisted, the encroaching darkness enveloped my sight. My knees buckled, crashing me to the ground all sensation gone. I don’t want to die. My mind submitted to the darkness. The world fell away.

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Floating in emptiness, the ghost of myself became aware once more of my body and all around. Voices lingered, the tingle of their hands against my arms, legs, head, and back brought me further into this shell. A crash of stone cold struck against my back, and I gasped awake. My eyes wider than ever before, I felt the chill of rain upon every inch of my being, but now stagnant as the dark sky had been replaced with a soaring enclosure. Strange lights danced with shadows upon the vaulted ceiling. Turning my head about, six sets of eyes stared down upon me, kneeling on a marble floor and creating puddles that glowed with the same light dance though brighter than the ceiling. I startled some when I jolted awake. Raising my chin, I realized they lied my body in a grand hallway with flickering torches bolted to the marble pillars.

          From my right, the precise brunette took hold of my wrist and placed her hand on my forehead. After a few moments and her brow tightening, she lifted her eyes to the others. “Her fever broke, but her heart rate keeps fluctuating wildly.” Stop talking about me like I’m not here! The prompt woman placed my wrist down against the cold before she gazed at me. “Can you tell us your name?”

          I flinched from the cold marble against my bare hand as I cleared my throat. “You are all calling me Kata” —my eyes wondered around the circle of people— “but aside from that, I don’t know.”

         They all exchanged glances themselves, their shoulders slumped and eyes wide. What are they afraid of? Me? My eyes darted back and forth between each and everyone one of them. Why can’t I place you? I should know you, shouldn’t I?

           “How does your head feel?” The precise woman beside me tapped my arm.

           My eyes drifted back to her and met her amber eyes. “It’s bad. Not that I know of any feelings to compare…” I attempted to rise my head, pausing only when the world spun sideways. “When I try to remember, it hurts more.” The precise woman and the hazel eyed leader lifted my torso before propping me against the wall. Careful, the hazel eyes guided my neck to a steady position before removing his warm hands from my skin. I long so much and feel so empty.

          Further down the wide marble corridor, colossal windows faced us, revealing the dark downpour pounding against the paned glass. Behind the men to my left stood a large wooden door. They must have just set me down when they entered. My eyes began to search the surrounding face once more. How long will we be safe here? Probably not long…but why?

           “What are we doing here? Where are we?” I felt my stomach twist, “Who are you? Who” —I swallowed the rising lump in my throat— “am I?”

           The hazel eyed leader breathed deeply. “As much as I’d love to fully explain, there isn’t time. Crash course.” He forced a kind smile upon placing his hand on his chest. “I’m Brayan.”

          Raising her hand to my right, the precise brunette tapped my wrist with two fingers. “Lili.” Noting the wanting looks from the others, Lili parted with a sigh and rolled her eyes. “My full name is Lilibeth. Please, do not call me that.”

          The strong blonde woman readjusted her ponytail, water flicking around the floor, enlarging the pool forming under her. “I am Seraphina. You can call me Sera.” She smiled, brightened greatly by her sweet, diamond, and fair face. All her words sounded to escape with clear fluidity. The woman reached over into Lili’s space, placing her hand over mine. “It’s all going to be fine.”

         “Tyler,” said the fast-speaking man with dark brown hair and matching mischievous eyes watching the hall in all directions. Sighing, he shrugged with a shake of his head. “Just Tyler. My parents didn’t give me a fancy long name.” The man inclined toward Brayan. “Though I always liked the name Tiberius.” He snapped his fingers near his chest and shook his head. “Darn, I should’ve introduced myself as Tiberius! She wouldn’t have known!” Tyler bent a little closer to me and spoke in a deeper voice. “I’m Tiberius.”

          “The rest of us know your name isn’t Tiberius,” uttered Lili.

         Tyler violently shushed her. Yet his attempts at levity did not raise the woman’s lips as they continued a whispered across me in spirited discussion. His and Lili’s facial structure appeared very similar to each other, both sharing round cheeks and almond eyes. Though the character of their noses were comparable, with hers finer than his, another difference resided in their face shape: hers a heart, his an oval. I believed the two to be related, siblings or cousins.

      Realizing the two relatives had little else to say, the final woman vibrant fiery-red hair glanced in my direction. “Solaris.” Despite her quiet voice, she emphasized her name in a rise and fall of a song, each constant in the way of the vowel. Perhaps disinterested, Solaris continuously looked around like Tyler with jittery hands and legs. Her faded diamond face with burnt copper skin possessed more red undertones than yellow, as though fire birthed her from its smoldering embers. After scanning the hall fully, she gave me a very small smile with eye contact before returning to observing the surroundings. In that flash, I noted that her upturned burnt-amber eyes burned with unseen fires.

          The inquisitive man spoke last. “Maxim.” He knelt behind Lili, his dark eyes studying me. I felt perturbed and turned my head back to Brayan. 

         The hazel eyes latched onto mine. Brayan— a name meaning of noble—exemplified such a definition. He carried himself tall and dignified, like a king, not to mention his beauty of flesh all wrapped in a six-letter name. What secrets lay behind those bewitching eyes? I began to blush at my own thoughts. Why do I care? Stop. They could be lying to you. Why would they? Heat went from my face into my stomach.​

         Brayan began with gentle, precise words. “Your name” —he rested his hand over mine— “is Katarina. We call you Kata for short. We came here to this” —his eyes wondered around the hall of grandeur and frowned— “manor of horrors to find an amulet. You saw it in visions.” As he spoke, a red jewel flashed in a blur behind my eyes.

          I have seen it. I know it, like a voice from the beyond. “What does it—” At a loss for words, I stared to shape move my hands to try and find the words.

“It is large, adorned with a red gem in the center. You warned those who sent us that we must retrieve it or something awful would happen.” The sight faded as he lifted my hand to rest over his beating heart. “Please, my love, try to remember.”

          My love. My heart stirred, and my head ached to hide the knowledge peeking out from the shadowed fog. Is this real? No, you cannot simply trust. “I want to I just” —I shut my eyes to the desperate and pleading eyes— “can’t. It hurts.” Tears welled up, all the muscles in my face tensed, and the stabbing consumed my temple.

          “Do not push her.” Sera gritted her teeth and held my other hand tighter. Was that Sera?

         Eyes darkening, Brayan’s brow tightened, ready to challenge her. Upon opening his mouth, the echoing of snarls alerted them. We all turned our heads to the unknown source of creatures shuffled, and whispers of disembodied voices steadily growing in intensity and aggression. My companions’ bodies tightened while my stomach twisted and looped. Manor of horrors. What else awaits me?

          "Screw this curse,” the hazel leader man muttered under his breath. Wrapping me in his arms, the man lifted me before resting me on my feet. Wow, he is strong. Bound to their leader, the others rose. “You told me you could sense the amulet, like a beacon reaching out from the dark.”

          How did he know? Searching my mind to find the blurry sight, I shook my head, running my fingers through my tangled, damp hair. “I don’t” —accidentally tugging too hard, I ripped out a knot, causing me to wince— “I don’t know. What does that feel like? Did I ever describe the feeling in more detail?” I searched for the answers in their wide, childlike eyes of fear. Another bang and the increasing proximity of shouting and snarling energized our hearts, causing us to look and see if anything headed out way.

           Taking firm hold of my shoulders, Brayan twisted my attention to him. “Sera knows best, but to me you called it a dull ache in the back of your mind.”

           “Nails on a chalkboard,” Sera clarified.

          “Can you feel it?” Tyler asked through jittering teeth. “ ‘Cause if not, I think we better bail. This place is giving me the creeps.” He waved his hand around. “The heebie, jeebies if you will. Bad vibes.”

           “She does not need to be concerned with your feelings.” Lili pushed the jittering man’s shoulder

          Taking a deep breath, I pushed them all away, past all the berating sensations, all the horror. I fought against the sharp blades pressed my temple. Scrapping upon the back of my skull, the feeling of being pulled clawed against the cage of my enveloping curse. I opened my eyes, relief finding the awaiting stares. “It’s faint, but it’s there.”

         Brayan’s eyes brightened as he gave my shoulders a gentle squeeze. “I’ll distract Laila’s beasts.” Pulling from me, he stood tall and faced the larger group. “Find the key and get out of here. Do not wait for me. Do not search for me.” He pointed at the fiery-haired woman. “Can you handle making the bridge

on your own?”

            Solaris lowered her head and shrugged. “If you leave me no choice, I will have to.”

           After nodding to her, the leader pointed at the inquisitive Maxim. “Get them to Belatorum, Maxim. Whatever the cost. Get the amulet to the Elders.” He placed his hand on my shoulder. "Help Kata. Make sure you find a way to break this curse."

            With lowered heads, they all nodded, agreeing without question.

            Another twist in my stomach signaled wrong reared. I placed a hand on his arm. “What about you?”

            The man’s smile returned, gesturing to the sword sheathed on his back. “Don’t worry, love. I can handle myself.” Brayan gave one solemn nod to the others before turning to go, but I grabbed the sleeve of his form fitting damp black jacket.

           “Can you?” The weight of the question pressed upon my hoarse voice. In that moment, I took in the curvature of his face, his dark brown hair dripping in remembrance. I did not allow the sight to distract me from my point. “We’ll be safer together. Leave no one behind…you always said…say that.” I shook my head. Where is this coming from? Why are these words not stopping? “I’m not leaving you—”

            In one motion, his hand pressed against my back brought me into his solid chest before pressing his lips against mine. I knew this sensation, his soft lips, his body’s warmth, his hand in my hair, cupping my head close. His warmth was a dream, the sweetest, most wonderful dream. I melted into his very essence, my heart pounding as loud as the crashing thunder beyond the windows. It lasted for a moment of sweet eternity before he pulled away, slowly untangling his hand from my hair.

            “I will always come back to you.” Brayan grasped my hands before releasing me to follow his own path.

           I reached out to stop him, but my head sunk under water again, ears ringing. Talking with him and the kiss almost brought every memory back. So close. I could taste it, feel it on my fingertips, but damn it. Gone again. Tears of frustration welled up in my tightening eyes. How could he just go? I gripped my long hair against my head. Why do you want him back?

            Sera placed her hand on my arm, attempting to meet my gaze, “Are you alright?”

            I nodded in concurrence.

          “Okay.” She breathed out deeply. “I know this is difficult. I know that you’re stressed beyond your wildest dreams, but we need you to be our guide. We need you. How can we help?” Her wide eyes filled with hesitant hope.

          At first, I turned away. I wanted to retreat into the dark, to be alone, until I remembered the monsters’ growls, the long nails and fangs. I cannot just abandon them. Why should freely I trust them? All your feelings match what they say. You know them. Try. My fears meant little with the five other lives at stake, not to mention Brayan protecting us from afar.

           I swallowed my fears and looked at Sera. “Let’s start down this hall. Once I start moving, maybe I’ll feel something.”

          “Maybe?” the woman with red hair, Solaris, inquired further with apprehension.

          “It’s a good start.” Sera took my arm, glaring towards Solaris. The blonde and I led the group down the eerie torch-lit hallway, guided by hope and

a lot of faith.