Mia's Odyssey - Chapter 13
Rock Chick:
It seemed an eternity before everyone fell asleep..Zephyr had insisted on walking around double checking all the torches had been lit, despite Jassu fervently trying to persuade him not to worry.
Mia couldn't sleep, she lay a little away from Zephyr, he'd instructed her to stay put behind him til morning ..having witnessed him and Allora in a clinch earlier that day she wondered why Zephyr was being so protective over her.
Maybe it was simply that he was a good person..it was hard to say.. there seemed to be so much mystery surrounding everyone she had come into contact with so far.
She walked outside slowly..the night was so still..no sound came from within the village. Even though torches burned here and there, it was still eerie..mist from the dark forest seeped around the tiny huddle of huts. Fear gripped her chest tightly, making her breath come in tiny shallow gasps.
"Mia?" a hoarse whisper made her jump
"Who is it?"
Kai moved out of the shadows - quickly and quietly up to face her
He smiled , happy to see her..."You came! thanks for humouring me"
She regained her composure a little
"What did you want to tell me?" she asked... Kai leaned closer
"A lot...it's just hard to know where to start....but OK....the other three I'm here with? They've changed... they're like..brainwashed or something...they're hooked on that mead crap..we found it all over the place when we woke up..they thought it was some kind of alcohol so they drank it...got high on it almost..I don't drink so I didn't have any....the next day they started to act strangely...like different people"
Mia frowned.."That's why you said just water"
"Yeah..it seems normal..."
"I'll let the others from my group know" Mia whispered
Kai took a deep breath and continued
"Good, because things are getting weirder ... the two guys that I said went missing?.. it's like no-one cares...but i think something must've happened"
Mia gulped "Allora told me the forest was dangerous"
"Not just dangerous...not just snakes and spiders..somethings watching..I feel it"
Mia was frozen to the spot...it really did feel like that...
"So why tell me in particular?"
Rock Chick:
Kai smiled at her, "Lots of reasons...you looked like you weren't buying it...this whole situation.. and I guess I couldn't bear the thought of you going all zombiefied like the others...especially not you."
Mia's heart fluttered a little..."Oh?"
Kai blushed..or at least it looked that way...the torch light made it hard to tell.
"What's that place?" Mia motioned to the larger hut behind them...it was raised slightly off ground level and had large bolted doors.
"Dunno, it's locked up pretty tight, Jassu and I tried to knock it open before he changed..I dunno what the hell it's made of..the two of us couldn't make a dent..I still have the bruises from trying"
Mia looked over Kai's taut body..."Well...you two are certainly strong"
He grinned widely, blushing again..
"That's another thing...all the guys are ripped....um...not being a big head or anything....and the women are stunning..some more than others.." he moved a little closer
Mia tried not to get flustered..she looked away from his gaze..."Yes and no kids...or old people..."
Kai sighed deeply.."We better get back...I don't like the look of that mist...promise you'll go straight back inside"
Kai grabbed her and hugged her tight..."I'm so glad you're here" he whispered
He walked back to his hut...Mia paused to watch him before carefully creeping back to try and get a little sleep herself.
All was still in the village again..Jassu and Malandra stood silent in the shadows, unseen by Mia and Kai..now they were alone Malandra spoke
"She makes trouble...she will not drink.....she must follow the teachings"
Jassu stared blankly at the locked hut..."All will be well...Celina will persuade her"
They disappeared quietly into a dark doorway.
A strong wind swept through the village centre blowing out a few of the torches....The large doors on the raised hut creaked open and a strange figure emerged....
A low rumbling distant voice filtered through the trees...deep ...rasping
"Watch the new girl.....keep her in line Celina"
The solitary figure raised her face to the moonless sky
"As you wish my masters"
Rock Chick:
Mia's body ached from another night sleeping on the ground..she'd had such livid dreams..being chased through the forest, naked in Kai's arms..Allora smiling to her , arms outstretched...Her emotions collided ...fear , lust and excitement all mixed together...all her senses were on fire and deep down within her something primal was waking and relishing it all.
The hut floor seemed to pulse under her body..she could hear the wind sigh and the flap of gulls wings above the clouds...
"How's Mia today?" Zephyr smiled at her as she emerged from their hut into the morning sunlight.
His eyes twinkled...almost as though he'd sensed the change in her...
"I'm ready" she blurted... not sure what she meant she shrugged it off quickly...there wasn't much time to tell them what she'd learned from Kai.
Byron and Luna moved over to greet them..
"Kai told me a bit about what's happened here ..It seems like the mead is some kind of sedative...mind altering drug...he said Jassu and the girls completely changed after drinking it..."
An unfamiliar voice interrupted her
"Changed for the better"
They swung round, by this time Kai had joined them too...a strange woman stood a little distance away
"Who are you?" demanded Byron
"I am Celina. I am sorry I did not welcome you to our village yesterday..I could not help hear what you said..."
"What exactly is that stuff?? " Mia asked , pointing to a jug of mead nearby
"How can it change anyone for the better?"
Celina stared hard at Mia...a slight smile played on her lips
"Oh I wouldn't listen to Kai...such a trouble maker really...the rest of us merely wish to live peacefully in our beautiful surroundings...attain bliss...how can you deny us that?"
"Bullsh*t" snapped Kai...
"My dear friend, so anxious....mead is nothing more than a healthy tonic...if you were to try some you would see...you're being so childish..can you not be happy that your friends enjoy carefree tranquility?" Celina's monotone voice was almost hypnotic
"They're like drones!! " Mia protested, "They're not at peace...they're oblivious!"
Celina glared hard at Mia
"Oh dear...how backward of you Mia...I pity you...how hard your life must be...so bitter..."
Mia frowned ...Celina's eyes burned into hers
A seering pain ripped through Mia's temples..Celina's voice was shrill inside her mind
"YOU WILL OBEY"
Mia clutched her head in agony....
"Get out...get out!!" she screamed
her eyes were closed but she saw Celina looming
She felt unsteady...about to black out..then Kai's hand steadying her.."Mia!"
Deep in her core Mia felt a surge of power...she stood straight and shook free from Kai...
"You can't reach me...You can't"
But Celina had already vanished..
"Smash the jugs...all of them..before the others wake up..." ordered Zephyr
The men started to break all the jugs they could find....Luna rushed over and threw her arms round Mia...it was the first time she smiled since they'd arrived...
"Ready" Luna whispered.
Rock Chick:
Meanwhile back on the shore Allora stood over the man laying on the sand...he seemed to be just coming round..she prodded him gently.
He groaned a little..shielding his eyes from the bright sunlight.
"Who are you?" he croaked...sitting up with some difficulty. Clearly he had been through a rough time.
"A friend.....you're a soldier?"
The man chuckled softly.. " Oh yeah...join the army ..see the world and all...I seen enough here" he mumbled..
Allora helped him to his feet..." Come with me yes? I have food and water..you need to bathe those wounds and rest" She nodded in the direction of her hut...just a tiny spec in the distance..but not too far for him to walk it
"I appreciate your kindness Ma'am"
"Did you have anyone else with you?" she asked
"I did" He fell silent ..squinting out towards the ocean
They began a slow painful walk towards the hut..
"I'm Nathan....Nate if you want"
"Pleased to meet you Nathan...my name is Allora"
Nathan paused again to scan the horizon
"Looking at this beach...that sky up there...you could never imagine what it would really be like here" He glanced towards the edge of the forest..
Allora touched his arm gently, "You said you were with someone"
Nathan kept his eyes on the glistening sea... "Yeah a bunch of us were at this little village....if you could call it that...just a half a dozen shacks really . Me and this other guy, Cambell...went to check out the area"
Allora pulled his arm carefully..."Come ...let's go"
His hands had begun to shake..." We couldn't find our way back...it go so dark"
Nate dropped his arms down by his sides, fists tightly clenched
"We were attacked...this thing...dragged Cambell out of my reach I couldn't
help him..I never saw anything like it...it ripped him right open...."
"I ran like a coward" Nate hung his head in shame...still trembling..
"No Nate..there is nothing to be ashamed of..surely you know it is sometimes wiser to retreat...and live to fight another day"
"I couldn't do anything.....I couldn't stop it... I'll never forget the screaming...and the look in his eyes"
Allora gently took his hand again and led him closer to shelter
"Your friend would not have suffered for long...I know the village...your friends are safe and others have joined them...we have a chance....We'll fix you up and go to them later...but right now you need rest"
Nate didn't speak anymore..his eyes were drawn back to the sky and the sun on the water...anything to blot out Cambells horrific last moments again.
Rock Chick:
Allora was suprised to find another man making himself at home in her hut when they arrived.
"Oh this is awquard" he exclaimed...
He was quite different from the other men...slender and elegantly dressed..
" I er...didn't think anyone was living here"
Allora raised her eyebrows..."So it would seem....take a seat Nathan" She motioned to the couches.
Nathan glared at the other man...
"You want me to throw him out Allora?"
She turned and smiled..." It's allright Nathan...now please rest!"
She faced the trespasser again
"Well I don't turn away those in need....you are alone?"
The stranger sighed dramatically...
"Yes and No...we crashed...I am Garrett...my airship came down in the forest ..over near the mountain .."
Nate interrupted..looking puzzled..."Airship??? what ? like a blimp?"
Garrett rolled his eyes...."an AIRSHIP! ...what in the Goddess's name is a blimp? It sounds ghastly!"
"How badly damaged?" Allora asked, not batting an eyelid..
"It's not irreversible....my crew...the few there are...are making repairs"
Allora narrowed her eyes
"Wait ...what are you doing here in the first place? I've been here a while and I have never seen any ships...people usually just appear"
"We came upon this place by chance...this whole continent is uncharted..the first time we came we found some valuable items....finders keepers and all that"
"Uncharted?? ...and what kind of valuables?" Nate asked...he didn't trust this guy at all...
"Oh you know...trinkets...personal jewellry..and such...we came back to check for more...they fetched a good price...I wasn't expecting anyone to be alive......" his voice tailed off as he saw the expression on Allora's face
"Tell me what you know" she spoke through gritted teeth
""About what?" Garrett retorted..slightly annoyed
Allora's eyes seemed to flicker... "I have no qualms about killing you where you stand if you don't start talking Pirate"
Garrett smiled nervously..."Only a fool would anger a sorceress"
"What the hell are you two talkin' about?" Nate boomed
Allora turned to face him...."I'm sorry Nate" she clicked her fingers...
"I need to know what's happening....Uhhhhh"
In an instant Nate passed out cold on the floor
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