THE LOCKER AUGUST 1694
The next morning, Britannia took Long Shadow outside.
"The cycle of the sun works opposite here than it does back home. Sunrise in your world is sunset in this one." She explained. "As you follow its track you will never see night."
Long Shadow nodded. "How do I go back and forth between them?" She asked. "If I'm gonna ferry souls I have to have a way to reach them.
Britannia chuckled. "There are methods." She said. "None of them particularly pleasing but likely your powers will compensate for that."
Long Shadow nodded and rested low on the water, her side aching again. Britannia nudged her gently. "Hey, you alright?" She asked.
Long Shadow nodded. "Just, it hurts is all." She replied.
"Well if you feel like you need to rest just let me know. I can't have you capsizing on me." Britannia said.
"Will do." Long Shadow grunted.
Britannia led the way farther out and as she did Long Shadow began to notice strange formations in the water. They shimmered and glistened, sparkling like rainbows on the surface and just under it. They had no substance, no solidity and moved with the water as though they were part of the ocean itself.
"What are they?" Long Shadow asked. To her, they looked sad but all the more beautiful for it.
"Spirits." Britannia replied, her voice tight. "Souls beyond the care or help of you and me. They must find their own way to the next life and most never make it."
Long Shadow looked at them again, wishing she could do something to assist them. "Why are they beyond my help?" She asked. "I thought you said it was my duty to guide those who perished at sea."
"It is." Britannia confirmed. "But these souls- when one dies their spirit only has a certain amount of time to reach the afterlife before it becomes, corrupted." She struggled to find the right words. "Over time they fade away, until all that is left are echoes. Like what you see before you now."
"And that's all these are? Echoes?" Long Shadow asked sharply.
"I'm afraid so." Britannia replied. Long Shadow glanced over her mentor's shoulder at the Ancient who had to be Britannia's sister Tevet. But she too shook her head in resignation.
Long Shadow sighed. "So be it." She decided. "What can I do for those who have yet to become corrupted."
"You find them and you help them." Britannia said.
"But how? I don't even know where to look!" Long Shadow exclaimed.
"You use your abilities." Britannia replied, circling around to come alongside. Her hull pressed against hers. "Close your eyes and concentrate. Expand your senses." She ordered softly.
Long Shadow did as she was told. She could feel the emptiness in the sea around her, all those souls beyond her help. But if she looked further she could find those who were still within her scope. "I found them!" She exclaimed.
"Then go to them. Remember, this world is a mirror of the living one. Take them wherever they wish to go." Britannia ordered.
"And you?" Long Shadow asked. "I'll meet you back at the base." Britannia assured her.
Long Shadow had her orders and set out. It didn't take her long to locate the spirits, huddling together on an imitation lifeboat which looked shockingly like hero own. She could scarcely believe her eyes. "Captain?" She breathed.
YOU ARE READING
The Founding Sisters #1 The Damned
General FictionRedoing my original and tying it in with the main series. We go back to the beginning, before the founding of the United States. Several ships were key players in this founding and this is their story.
