Read Apotheosis :: CHAPTER 9.1

Chapter 9

Age of Solstice, 16:71

Tulasquss, Drazul's Plane

Judith escorted them out, leading them back towards the courtyard. Drazul was feeling tense with anger and annoyance. She was pondering her next move but would rather do without the thorn in her side keeping her from her main goal. The Dark fellows took so much from her, she should have never let them go free. The wind blew betwixt the corridors and around them, the sounds of trees rustling seemingly calming her mood. It was a clear day, young and bright. She took a deep, quiet breath, embracing her surroundings, allowing them to calm her as they continued. She glanced at Whisper and noticed that Whisper, however, was nervous. Drazul paused and stared at Whisper, waiting for her to speak her mind.

Whisper was afraid the church would steal her away. A silly fear to Drazul, but this fear to a child who is attached to their current home and new family is everything. Whisper doesn't want to be stuck, trapped, within a church all because of some weird tale. She clutched at Drazul's cloak, her fearing showing through her trembling hands,

"The priest saw me. When we arrived...the wind blew me hood off."

Drazul paused in step, replying swiftly,

"Do not fear the Tuldarian's. They cannot take you from me."

Drazul said so with overwhelming confidence, making it known to Whisper that she was safe and that her fears were trivial. Whisper calmed down, feeling reassured and much better since leaving the room. Judith glanced back,

"We're at the courtyard. We are nearly at the exit now." Judith said smiling, in her effort to assure Whisper. Whisper smiled back, feeling much more secure beside them both. They were coming up to pass by the statue of Tuldar, the flower crowns and stray petals all rustling in the breeze. Whisper glanced at the statue, staring at Tuldar's veiled face, his facial impressions appearing faintly underneath. Whisper thought that Tuldar was quite a creepy God, in terms of appearances. Before looking away, though, Whisper saw a faint movement from Tuldar's veil. Whisper swore that she witnessed his lips move under the veil, but she could not make out what it is that he said, or if he had moved at all. Whisper shook her head, wondering if it was just a trick of the eye. She didn't even notice she was far behind Judith and Drazul.

She noticed too late, however, as she didn't hear the priest come up from behind her, interrupting her thoughts,

"Did he speak to you?"

Whisper jumped, absently reaching behind her to steady her footing. She held onto the base of the statue, scanning the courtyard for Drazul but she was alone. She stared at the priest, wide-eyed. The priest put his hands up, as if to show he meant no harm, but the way he asked his question was odd.

"Whoa, it's alright. Are you lost?"

Drazul was ahead with Judith, nearly at the entrance to the cathedral but after a while Drazul didn't sense Whisper near her. She turned and saw that she was gone. Drazul froze and suddenly found herself feeling slightly panicked. She stood up straight and took a deep breath, exhaling slowly before expanding her mind across the cathedral, searching for Whisper. Voices came in loud waves, crashing into Drazul in a cacophony of musings. She carefully listened for Whisper's voice, hoping Whisper had opened her mind. The only problem, however, is that Drazul has never heard her voice. How was she able to determine which was hers, if she had opened her mind?

The mild panic was stabbing Drazul slowly, making her feel as if she wasn't sorting through the voices fast enough. The loud voices of those in the cathedral were not helping either. Until a loud, resounding voice overpowered all the others.

'I AM ALONE.'

It was jarring, causing Drazul to flinch. The voice was speaking fast; she heard the fear in every word.

'I AM ALONE. I AM ALONE. I AM ALONE. DRAZUL...'

The voice began to falter as it spoke her name. Drazul's eyes opened, already turning her body towards the direction it was coming from. Without a second thought, she transported herself to the voice, emerging from behind the Tuldar statue. She stepped out, and there she saw Whisper on the floor clutching her chest and the priest holding onto her arms. Drazul's power moved according to her emotions. The air around them began to convulse from where she stood in small waves, growing stronger with each second. A few seconds passed before the priest found himself flying as if he were just shoved by a warrior. He went flying a few feet and fell on his back. He tried to sit back up, but he felt immense pressure above him despite nothing being there. It was keeping him grounded, and it made him feel like he was about to die.

Meanwhile, Whisper didn't know what to do. After she had encountered the priest, she began to panic, her vision blurring at the edges. Her breathing grew uneven, feeling an immeasurable amount of pressure on her chest. She clutched her scarf, feeling her body drag down against the base of the statue for support. All she could see was the priest's face of concern in one blink, and in the next, Drazul's face.

Drazul found her.

Whisper felt her anxiety calm and began trying to control her breathing. She couldn't make out what was being said, but she felt two hands on her face. It was Drazul, staring back at her.

"Whisper, breathe. I am here. Calm yourself."

Whisper suddenly felt weary, but calmer. She was fine now, nodding to Drazul that she was okay. Drazul stood back up and turned to the priest,

"You."

Drazul's glaring gaze struck the priest, her anger permeating through the atmosphere, making the air around them hot. Judith came into view, looking winded. It seems she worked hard to catch up. Judith stood beside Drazul, her hands up to calm her. The priest was stuttering, feeling Drazul's aura wash over him as he desperately clutched the grass under him. Without warning, the priest suddenly clutched his neck, appearing as if unable to breathe. Judith panicked and held him in her arms as he struggled.

Drazul's eyes glowed, the rage in her voice was almost palpable,

"You will learn that crossing me means death."

Once Whisper got her wits about her, she stood up and held Drazul's fist. Drazul whipped her head around towards Whisper, her rage tangible. Whisper began signing clumsily,

"It's alright. I panicked on me own."

Drazul's brows furrowed, her anger calming. As her anger subsided, so did the invisible grip on the priests' throat. The priest began to cough as he gasped for air, his face red and strained from the lack of oxygen. He stared at both Whisper and Drazul wide-eyed as they both stared back down at him. Judith rubbed the priest's back,

"Oh my, what did you choke on, Father?" She spoke loudly to draw attention away from Drazul.

Understanding, Drazul smiled,

"Yes, Father, what did you choke on?" She reiterated in a mocking tone. The priest stared at her as he was helped up by Mother Judith. Judith turned her attention back to Drazul, keeping the priest steady in her arms,

"Dear maiden, if you follow the corridor that way, you will soon find the entrance."

Drazul smiled,

"Thank you for your hospitality during our brief visit. We shall take our leave."

Whisper followed Drazul closely, her hand still in hers, as they went down the corridor Judith pointed out. Judith patted the priest's back,

"Who were they?" He spat. Judith's brows furrowed, and she let go of him, forcing him to reach out towards the statue to support himself,

"They are no one. Merely family visiting me after many years." Judith was drained and annoyed. The priest shook his head,

"It seems they've already found each other." He mumbled, staring at the pair until they left their line of sight. Judith stared at him, confused by the words he uttered, but she pushed it out of her mind, grateful they avoided worse. She must return to her daughters of the Ring to relay Drazul's orders, or they'll all be facing her terrible ire.

Whisper held Drazul's hand as they made their way to the entrance. When they got there and exited, Drazul turned towards Whisper,

"Are you unwell?"

Whisper shook her head, feeling silly. Drazul must think her dramatic. Drazul could still hear Whisper's thoughts, her worries seeping out in front of her. Drazul frowned,

"I think no such thing, my dear. You were experiencing a panic attack. Did that priest harm you?"

Startled, Whisper fidgeted with her hands before signing,

"Naw, but he was weird. That statue was weird." Whisper's thoughts became scrambled with images. Flashes of what she saw, experienced, and heard came pouring out at Drazul, allowing her to see what transpired during her absence. Drazul felt the pain and discomfort Whisper experienced, her panic attack. Then she saw a glimpse of the statue. It had moved in Whisper's eyes. Drazul grabbed that memory and watched it loop in front of her. As she was watching the statue move, she heard another memory, the priest approaching her and asking if 'he had spoken to her.'

Drazul swiped at the air, the images that were in front of her, to remove Whisper's thoughts from her mind's sight. Whisper watched Drazul curiously, as she seemingly stared at Whisper. However, Whisper knew she wasn't staring at her; she was staring through her. She waited for Drazul to continue their discussion, but no other question came. In fact, Drazul's face contorted in what seemed like concern but ultimately turned into an expression of annoyance. Drazul moved her body away from Whisper, finding herself questioning if Whisper really was more than she appears. Was Whisper sent to her, for her to find? If so, for what purpose?

Drazul stared at Whisper for a time before finally breaking the silence,

"I know we are finally outside, but we must turn back inside. We need to hear this so-called prophecy before we take our leave."

Whisper huffed and groaned, albeit silently,

"Must we really? Golly..." Whisper's shoulders slumped as she began dragging her feet back into the cathedral with Drazul beside her. There were many acolytes and religious associates about; there were some that are bound to inform them of the prophecy, but as they made their way through the halls, they were empty and quiet. Only distant choirs could be heard.

They continued on towards the prayer hall, finding the hallways long and dull. All they saw were stone walls terribly high and white, as if worthy to dare touch the heavens. There were round columns, and the floor beneath their feet was white marble. The entire interior was white except for the gray of the stone throughout. There were canvases of various depictions of the lore and scripture behind Tuldar along some of the walls. Once they reached the prayer hall, behind the holy podium was another statue of Tuldar but his arms were outstretched outward as if in welcome but his face was still veiled. Although, this statue depicted him with his wings, one of which was made from glass. The stone wing looked similar to a bats', having stronger bones but still having thin membranes of skin betwixt them. There were torn holes throughout the membrane and blood falling from them, however. The glass wing was feathered, like a bird, but stronger and perfect. It was accompanied by the large stained glass behind it, depicting Tuldar in the early beginnings of Tulasquss. The sun that shone behind him within the stained glass was a bright golden color, its color shining on his glass wing, making it appear as if it were glowing.