Viridescent Shadows III: Gemma Chronicles

Soul

"You're going to tell me to pass the soul fragment again."

Cicily stamped her foot on the ground. "Of course I am!" Smoke rose into the air from the multiple burial ceremonies following the Alp attack, making the air abnormally dry. "It's not about Huld. You know about my theory."

"Passing the fragment should pass the prime power of the host as well," I mocked.

"Yes! Please, this could've been less destructive than it was if Yang had your barriers!"

"I don't want to pass the fragment to do it."

"Gemma, We need someone powerful guarding our home. If you won't give up your fragment, I'm not going to come with you on hunts anymore."

"What!?" I put my hands on my head. "Cicily, we have always done everything together!"

"Gemma, I know that, we're bound to live until we defeat Huld. I was there when we made the blood pact." Cicily held up her hand scar. "We don't need to be next to each other to beat Huld, and the Alps are more pressing." She snapped her fingers and brought green fire to her fingertips, adding a haunting illumination to my home. She drew an all to familiar shape on the ground with her finger, the Enneagram spell. She snapped, bringing the flame count to ten.

"Why?"

"To show you all the fragments are safe, Gemma. Our friends or their descendants are keeping their promises. Meanwhile the Alp just took out a third of our population, and nearly killed Yang." We stood in silence, illuminated by fire.

"Give Yang the fucking soul fragment." Cicily left and slammed the door, blowing out the spell, and leaving me in the dark. I fell to my knees and cried.

Rain returned to the marsh, pattering off the buildings. Mud squished between my shoes as I walked. The air felt different. The residents were not coming to talk to me, many were in their houses, those that still had homes. I hadn't taken off the dress I'd fought the Alp in, or left my home in the three days since. I approached Cicily's door with apprehension. Water trickled down her door as I finally worked up the courage to knock. A few seconds passed and Cicily answered the door, in her nightgown.

"Are you ready?" She looked tired.

"Yes" I said quietly.

"Let me put clothes on, then." She closed the door quickly, sprinkling me with water. Her voice sounded hostile. The door opened again quickly, Cicily had thrown on a dress.

"To Yang's house?"

"No, come in," she gestured. Yang was sitting at Cicily's table, sipping on tea.

"Tea, Miss Oket?" Yang held out a cup. I nodded and held the cup in my hands. Yang poured.

"How much have we told you of Huld?" I asked, putting the tea down to cool.

"You explained that she created you, and that you defeated her, partially."

"The spell Cicily and I performed failed. Instead of destroying her soul, we each absorbed part of it. This leads to Cicily's theory."

"My theory that upon transferring Huld's soul, the hosts special ability goes with it."

"Like Miss Eden's Waking Nightmare?"

"Or my barriers, yes."

"What are you saying?" Yang seemed baffled.

"You clearly would die for this place. We think my barriers may be better in your hands."

"You want me to carry Miss Oket's soul fragment!?" She looked back and forth.

"That's such an honor."

"Cicily, show her the thing." Cicily pulled away her rug, revealing the bare floor. She began drawing the Enneagram spell, slower than normal as Yang watched.

"After you draw the circle, nine flames will appear. Once that happens, snap your fingers, and the tenth flame will appear in the middle," Cicily demonstrated. "You can check if all nine fragments are still contained this way, and pass the fragments as well. I stepped into the circle, the fire licking but not burning my legs.

"Get in." I extended a hand. Yang grabbed it and joined me in the circle. "Do you swear to keep the secret of the Nightmarish Nine, and pass the fragment and the spell on before you die?"

"Yes ma'am," she nodded.

"Sorry for how informal this part is," I said, clearing my hair from my face. Yang looked confused as I pulled her into an embrace and kissed her. Suddenly I felt something searing crawl from my throat and leave my mouth. Yang pushed herself away and grabbed her throat like she was choking. She hacked and a bit of purple smoke passed from her mouth. Then she was silent.

"I wasn't expecting you to kiss me," she blushed a little.

"I didn't want you to be afraid of it hurting."

"Well, it does hurt like hell." She coughed a few more times. "So, I can use your barriers now!?" She changed tones quickly.

"When I could still do that, I just had to extend my arm and visualize it."

Yang held out her arm and closed her eyes. Suddenly a barrier spawned and hit her full force backwards in the face, sending her into one of Cicily's chairs, which collapsed with a crunch.

"Shit," Cicily moaned while I laughed a little. "Please leave us, Yang." Cicily shooed her away.

"Why'd you do that?" I said, finally grabbing my tea.

"I'm still not going with you on the next hunt."

"What!?" My voice cracked a little.

"I feel safer with me and Yang here, guarding our things. You are smart, you can handle an Alp."

"I don't know what to say. I'm scared of being alone, I guess."

"You'll do fine, Gemma."

"I don't think I need to worry about it right away, anyhow."

"What do you mean?"

I pulled out the enchanted compass.

"Look." I held it out, the needle was un-moving, dead.

"So, either we got the last one, or more likely, the others are lying dormant."

"Hopefully, we have time for things to return to normal." I returned the compass to my pocket, and turned to leave.

"I'm sorry for yelling, Gemma," Cicily said quietly.

This log certified accurate by the high witch Gemma Oket.