The Rise of the Sea Ghosts (from The Gelid Times Trilogy)

Chapter 8

The Tree of Lux Brumalis; To the North

As Vega circled the Tree of Lux Brumalis the first of three times, the aura of the tree made her flesh tingle. It was after the second turn that somehow the tingling turned to pain, as if all of her skin was being stabbed by tiny pins, tattooed with the essence of the tree. Circling the tree a third time, Vega could swear that her skin had become detached from her body, floating in undulating motions away and nearer her tendons, ligaments and muscles. Her heart burned as the light of deep winter scored her soul, branding it with mark of Decision Maker.

Struggling to complete the third turn around the Tree of Lux Brumalis, Vega closed her eyes and forced herself to emerge on the other side. Disorientated and in pain, she stumbled forward as she felt her way over the pulsating roots of the tree. She tried to find her footing on solid ground, but everything below her seemed to be moving. Vega reached out with her hands, hoping to find something solid to steady herself.

There was nothing steady and she knew she had to open her eyes fully and take in the sea of gemstone rocks, focusing on the first one she saw. Vega stood still. Mama Knowe had said that when things became unsettled – stop - take stock – assess, and Vega could not have felt more unsettled.

Motionless, Vega took several deep breaths. Her skin had settled and felt as if it had reattached to her body. Her heart no longer burned but rather glowed within her. She smiled. She felt good. Really good. Almost like she was no longer human.

Mama Knowe had prepared her well for this moment. Stories passed on from one generation to the next. Some called them fables. Others, fairy tales. Others, folklore. But Mama Knowe believed. She believed in the truth embedded with the tales. They would not have existed for this long without threads of truth, and despite the propensity for oral storytelling to alter the tale from one person to the next, the most important thread of truth that remained was the danger of overwhelming avarice.

When Vega opened her eyes, she was determined not to be overwhelmed by the sea of gemstones. She was determined not to become a stinking fish decomposing in the roots of the tree as a result of greed. She was determined to assess the situation, adapt to what she saw and overcome the desire of wealth that she knew would infuse her like a tea.

Vega imagined the blinders on her eyes. She breathed slowly and with each breath she let the image of herself with blinders form more solidly in her mind. Mama Knowe insisted Vega do this every night in the lead up to this journey. Vega felt Mama Knowe's spirit next to her, speaking quietly into her ear as they sat on her bed before bedtime: see what is only in front of you – reach for only one gemstone – hold it tightly in two hands – do not be tempted to let go and reach for another.

Vega repeated the mantra in her head several times with her eyes squeezed so tightly shut the lids felt almost glued. The ground began to feel solid under her feet and Vega smiled, pleased that she was able to control her heart, mind and body.

She was prepared to open her eyes.

As she allowed her eyelids to slowly open, the multicoloured light of the gemstones immediately overwhelmed her. Topaz, ruby, opal, emerald, garnet, amethyst, pearl, diamond, aquamarine, sapphire, citrine and peridot glittered, glowed and spiralled in a vastness that she only imagined was present in the stars of the night sky. Her eyes widened. Her breath quickened. The imaginary blinders melted away and the vast sea of gemstones that emanated from the circumference of the tree compelled Vega to look around.

And as Vega digested the sea of gemstones, the only sound she heard was her heartbeat. The silence of the other side enhanced the immense beauty before her. She breathed in the riches, and they smelled sweet – a heady, sugary floral scent that she could almost taste. Salivating, she licked her lips. The beauty of the gemstones seeped into her very pores and all the advice that Mama Knowe had given Vega faded into a distant, suffocated memory.

Before she knew it, her feet moved in the direction of the largest topaz stone she had ever seen. Reaching down, she picked it up with two hands; it just about fit in both palms. Its surface was jagged and the light of the Tree of Lux Brumalis reflected off its many sides. Vega turned the gemstone over in her hands and each time it shifted, the light altered creating varying hues of deep, pure crystal blue. Mesmerised, she moved towards a large smooth opal stone. It too reflected the light of the Tree of Lux Brumalis. Together, Vega thought, the two gemstones would be more powerful as they would reflect a blue white light of power when she brought them back to the other side.

Vega held the topaz stone close to her chest cradled in her right arm. With her left, she reached out towards the opal stone. As she did so, a fluctuation in the air occurred - a wave like ripple. She could almost see the air around the tree move. It was distinctly disturbing. The light of the tree altered and darkened as her hand reached closer to the opal stone. The sea of gemstones parted, the ready to swallow and deliver her to the roots of greed. And as the gemstones parted, their intense beauty ever growing, the roots of the Tree of Lux Brumalis roared with desire ready to devour Vega.

Undeterred, Vega's fingers reached towards the opal and as she closed in on the stone, her heart began to pound, her brain screamed, and her skin crawled as if covered in a million biting red ants. She could see her hand reaching towards the opal but could not stop it. She could see the topaz that she held close to her chest but could not let it go. She could see her death waiting for her in the roots of the Tree of Lux Brumalis and she could not hold on to life. And in that moment Vega could see all - all that was past, all that was present and all that was to come.

And Vega opened her mouth and let out an almighty scream.