Eclipsis: Water

Chapter 9

Ondine couldn't sleep. There's no way that she could, not in this environment. The coldness of the wall she was leaning against was seeping through her light-weight clothes, making her have to shift every couple of minutes. She didn't dare move away from the wall, though. She felt safer backed up into this corner than being anywhere in the centre of the room. It was unnaturally quiet - silent almost - the only thing her webbed ears picked up was the sound of her own ragged breathing and the thump of her heart.

She had thought about going over to the small black basin, about dipping her hand into the water to try and draw energy from it, but she wasn't completely sure if the water was safe. What if it was a trick? Poison? What if this was a test to see how fooled a Sun could be? She had decided not to go anywhere near it.

She had no idea how long she had been there. With nothing to do, and no windows for her to look at the sky, it could've been hours. She wondered about Alara, why it was taking her so long. Her sister was surely on her way to find her, yes?

A dark thought of that oddly-cold creature killing Alara flashed across her mind, and Ondine quickly shoved it away. Alara wouldn't let that happen. Besides, the fall that he took was enough to end his life. Ondine felt the tight hold on her stomach release slightly. Alara had gone back to Sol, and had formed a group of Suns to come and find her. All she had to do was keep herself alive until then.

A knocking on the steel door entrapping Ondine in the room made her feel as though her heart had jumped up and been lodged in her throat. She didn't reply, her head turned to the direction where the black basin sat. If it came to it, she would throw it at whoever was knocking, along with the potential poison that was inside it. Either way, poison or not, the creature was sure to be injured.

A second knock, much louder this time, forced Ondine quickly to her feet, and she rushed over to stand next to the basin, her heart thumping. She forced herself to focus, steadying her breathing. She placed her hands on the rim of the basin, eyes on the door.

"Water-nymph? I know you're in there." The voice was nasally and male, and she could almost picture the wicked smile on his face.

Ondine didn't reply. She didn't want to converse with a Moon.

"We're coming in whether you like it or not, girlie. Orders from the boss."

The boss? So there was someone that Moons answered to in Lune. Ondine wondered if Lune was split into four kingdoms like Sol, or if it was only the one.

The door opened with a loud creak, its edge hitting the wall. There were two creatures standing in the dimly lit hallway, who took two steps into the room and regarded Ondine.

"Pretty, pretty, pretty." The one who had spoke was a ponaturi, a goblin-like creature with greenish-white skin and red hair. Sun-light was fatal to them, so Ondine knew that the night had not yet ended. He stretched one of his long, clawed fingers out to her in a point.

"Silence. You will not do anything to harm the girl." The second creature was an akhlut. Since she was on land, she was maintaining her wolf appearance, but had the colourings of an orcha, which she would turn into when in water.

"Oh, but she's lovely, isn't she?" The ponaturi grinned horribly. "So young, so beautiful..." He stepped closer as if to touch her, and the akhlut barked loudly, turning her head to snap at him.

The ponaturi recoiled to avoid her jaws, but his face was still holding that wicked grin. Ondine's grip on the black basin tightened.

"You need to come with us." The akhlut declared.

"I'm not going anywhere with you." Ondine tried to make sure her usually-quiet voice was confident and loud.

The akhlut growled slightly. Ondine was beginning to wonder if she could win the fight if it came down to it. The ponaturi was small - she was sure that a swift kick to his head would knock him out - but the akhlut looked incredibly viscious. A nasty bite from one of those was sure to lead to significant blood loss.  She could probably rip Ondine's throat out if she wanted to.

The akhlut spoke. "Listen, Sun, you either come with us willingly or we'll have to report to our boss that you denied our request."

The ponaturi giggled beside her. "He won't like that, girlie."

Ondine made her expression fierce like she had seen Alara do countless times. She was not going to let them see her fear.

"By all means, go ahead and tell your boss. I'm not leaving."

The akhlut's eyes narrowed significantly, and Ondine swallowed, bracing herself for the wolf-creature to jump.

"Are you sure you want to do that? He will send creatures who are not as kind as us. They will take you by force."

"Let me take her by force." The ponaturi muttered, receiving a growl from the akhlut.

"What kind of creatures?" Ondine asked hesitantly.

"Strong ones, most likely ones that will tower over you. Putting up a fight to not be picked up and carried out will just feel like leaves hitting them, I imagine," The akhlut replied. "Our boss does not like to be kept waiting, so he will probably ask them to knock you out."

Ondine didn't say anything, her eyes moving from the akhlut to the ponaturi, who was currently biting on one of his long fingers. At least if she went voluntarily, she would have an idea of Lune's layout, and perhaps even a chance to escape.

"Where are you taking me?" She asked.

"The boss wishes to see you." Is all the akhlut said in response.

"Maybe he'll let me keep a lock of her hair, as gratitude for my service." The ponaturi whispered to himself.

"Do not be disgusting, Tai. He will do nothing of the sort. If you keep up this behaviour I'll report it to him and you will be severely punished." 

There was a flash of unquestionable fear in the ponaturi's eyes, and he shook his head twice.

"No, no. That's not needed."

"Just do your job and help me escort the nymph, then." The akhlut snarled.

She nipped the ponaturi - Tai, his name was - on the elbow, making him yelp, and he followed her out of the door. They both turned around expectantly for Ondine to follow them. She thought of throwing the basin at them, but what good would that do, really? She didn't know her way out of Lune, and was certain to bump into any of the nasty creatures that inhabited this land trying to find her way out.

So she took a deep inhale to try and calm her beating heart, and joined them out of the cell.

***

Tai is pronounced like "tie"