In the Heavens

Chapter 12

The sound of heels clacking against the abstract marble of the floor echoed throughout the otherwise silent halls. Everyone else was in the ballroom, acquainting themselves with their peers, specialists, and even a few of the teachers who were in attendance. 

Musa, Stella, and Bloom strayed behind the headmistress, making sure to keep a few feet's worth of distance between them. "Do you think Flora or Tecna found anything that can help us figure out what's wrong with Kalani yet?" Stella asked, making sure that she kept her voice low. 

"I don't even know. But if they have, then Faragonda might just be our last hope." But even after her encouraging words were spoken, she wasn't even sure that Kalani would wake up. After all, when the others had found her, she already looked half dead.

But all of her inner turmoil came to a complete stop once they reached the apartment. But instead of the usual cheery feel that they got from the room, a somber tone. How could things go so wrong within a mere matter of hours?

Faragonda pushed the green doors open and took in the sight that lay out before her. Kalani was spread out on the couch, the intricate hairstyle long forgotten, and instead, her hair spread across the pillow, giving the appearance of a dark halo surrounding her. 

She would've looked so peaceful had it not been for the tinge of blue on her fingertips and lips that were darker than before. She was freezing from the inside out, and it didn't take a genius for them to know that they were running out of time. 

Faragonda approached Kalani with her hands raised as if she didn't know what to expect. But once she was a simple few inches away from her, she placed a hand to her forehead and removed it just as quickly. 

"I won't be completely sure until I do a full check, but I think that this is an ancient form of magic- one that I haven't seen in my decades as a headmistress." That did nothing to ease their worries. 

"Well, you have to know if there's another form of magic that possibly counters that?" Tecna asked as she and Flora emerged from the hallway. "I have to do a bit of digging, but I'm not sure. But if this can't be cured, then you may want to prepare to say goodbye."

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"Is that you're response for everything?" Kalani mused as she walked through another hallway. 

I follow the rules that allow me to see you.

 Some things cannot be revealed until you're read, and I can only hope that you're ready soon, Anika. And where are you going anyway? You've been walking up and down these halls, spirit knows how long.

Kalani let out an exhausted sigh as she raked a hand through her mane of curls. "I want to explore this place and escape that dreary room and all of your cryptic ramblings." She muttered as she turned down another corridor. 

Call me cryptic all you want, Anika, but I would prefer it if I abided by the rules set in place in order for me to see you. And if I need to keep my mysterious demeanor, then I will do that. 

The voice chastised. Kalani let out a long sigh as she continued to race up and down the halls, although at a much slower pace than before. 

"Ok, if you can't tell me who you are, then can you tell me why I can never see you, but I'm able to hear you like some nagging voice in the back of my head?" She shot question after question at the voice that let out a laugh, followed by a deep sigh. 

You really are your mother's daughter, Anika. But very well. As of right now, I don't have a physical form; therefore, if I were to try to summon some otherworldly bod, then I would appear disfigured. I would resemble something straight out of a nightmare. And I wish for you to see me like that.