Phases

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

        "How do you even know the ancient language?" Yoongi pulled a small vial from within the folds of his robe and poured the contents down Jungkook's throat.  Soft blue light pulsed through his palm as he hovered it over the younger man's throat.

   Marianna's head felt as though a boulder were crushing her skull as she rolled her head towards Yoongi.

        "Ancient language? What are you going on about?" She rasped, her throat raw and swollen.

   Yoongi tsked in annoyance. "Don't play with me, woman. I heard the words for myself."

She would have ripped him open with a scathing response had she the energy to do so. Instead, she turned to her side, showing him her back as she lay before the fire. Her stomach lurched with the movement and spots swam before her vision. The stink of her own vomit wafted through the air, and she gagged. The action caused a white-hot poker of pain to scorch down her throat. Marianna was unable to hold back a quiet whimper as hot tears began to run down her face.

        "Areketa," uttered the mage and Marianna couldn't control the shiver that ran through her at his words. On the floor near her bed, Jimin groaned.

        "That is enough," she whispered back in English.

        "So, you do know it."

        "No. I don't. I – I can't explain it," she argued.

   Behind her, Jungkook had begun to cough, a harsh, hacking sound. He's alive, Marianna mentally thanked the gods as her eyes began to slip shut.

        "Easy," Yoongi comforted the guard in a hushed tone. "Drink this. Slowly. Do not rush yourself."

        "Jungkook?"

   Marianna's eyes shot open at the sound of Jimin's voice. Her body stiffened, unable to turn and face the man that had nearly killed her as well as his own best friend.

        "Kook?" Jimin's voice trembled.

        "Jimin," the mage's voice was stern, "Stay where you are."

        "Yoongi, I – what happened?"

        "Do you truly not remember?"

   Marianna curled into a fetal position on her side.  This was one of the seven layers of hell.  It must be.  For what else could explain all that had transpired this day?

        "I'm not sure. I remember... I remember being angry. So, so angry. And – and then – " Jimin's voice cracked as his words stumbled out of his mouth. "Yoongi, what happened? Marianna?"

   She could feel him as he moved closer to her, and her body trembled. Unable to help herself, she slapped her hands over her ears as he continued to call her name, dropping to his knees at her back.  

        "Marianna, are you hurt? Marianna!"  His voice was frantic.

        "Do not touch her!" Yoongi's voice cracked like a whip through the room.

   She flinched at the coldness in his tone, eyes screwed shut.

        No more. No more. No more. Please. Please, no more. The words played over and over in her mind as she lay on the floor, Jimin still at her back. She could feel him as he hovered over her, not quite daring to touch her.

        "Chim," Yoongi's tone had softened. "There are three of you and but one of me. I'm not certain of all that transpired, just yet. But I need to take care of Jungkook and Marianna, first. Until then, I need you not to move. We don't want to trigger your lykos again."