Chosen by the Sky

Chapter 32 - The Elder Returns

The lightning ceased abruptly, leaving me stretched out on the ground.  I blinked up at the unfamiliar colors, then slowly pushed myself up, feeling a subtle ache start to settle in each limb.

I stumbled as I got to my feet, and steadied myself on a nearby bookshelf.  The enchanted books gleamed under my touch, giving extra light to the basement.  Strange... I thought I'd end up on the dais, like last time.  I frowned, stepping back.  Books and notes were crammed tightly into the shelf, the papers filled with belated warnings.  My mouth quirked into a tired smile.  I knew which Sky Person those had come from.

A shaft of sunlight was coming down from the staircase, and I felt a tugging in my chest, like it was pulling me up and back toward the sky.  It felt unnatural, being underground like this, even if it was technically part of the temple.

I climbed clumsily up the stairs, blinking as the sunlight streamed onto my face.  All around me, the temple radiated power.  I could feel the energy tingling in my fingers like the lightning of a coming storm.  Despite the low altitude, it felt almost like home.

I perched on the dais, gazing up at the intricate details around me.  I had heard from the others that it was beautiful, but hadn't come down to see it myself until now.  I'd thought the Winter Temple was fancy, but the end rods cast an otherworldly glow over this place, making my hair and clothes shine like carnival glass.

My eyes flitted upward, staring through the skylight at all the clouds hovering above me.  Their faces all seemed so blurry...  I waved up at them, and a few waved back, their hands no more than faint shifts in the clouds.  It always unnerved me, how little our chosen steves could see us.

I wonder if we look this way to Sabre?

I glanced around again, this time looking through the gaps in the temple to the world outside.  Flowers seemed to stretch out in every direction, many of them tulips, but I didn't see Sabre.  I frowned, scanning a few seared and blood-splattered patches on the ground.  They were faint, probably a few days old already.  I hadn't come fast enough to help.

I got to my feet, gesturing for the clouds above to come down and join me.  I needed more information.

They swirled around me, creating a dense fog over the ground.  

"How long has it been?"  I demanded, my voice ringing clearly through the air.

"A few days." they whispered back.  I frowned.

"What happened while I was reforming?"

"A few steves died, and M was kidnapped."  My eyes flitted across each of them, my whole body going stiff. 

"What do you mean, 'kidnapped'?"

"The Demon Steves took him!"

I closed my eyes, cursing inwardly.  Of course the demons would use him as leverage against us.  The First Curse might even be targeting me specifically, if he realized my reasons for choosing M.

"To the World Below?"

"We don't know for certain, but that's what we assume."

"What about Sabre?  Is he okay?  Why isn't he here?"  I was fighting to keep the panic out of my tone.  I didn't want them to see me panicked.

"We're trying to call him now."  The voice of my friend soothed me a little, and I spotted them floating serenely a few inches above the grass.  "He's ignoring the flashes, though."

"Are you serious?"  I muttered, half to myself.  "Doesn't he realize we probably have something important to tell him?"  I rolled my eyes, then leaned against a pillar of the temple, using the time to braid my long hair out of my face.  I didn't need it blowing into my eyes while I was trying to fight.  Whether I liked it or not, I was going to have some battles to win before I could go back home.