The Black Stars of Melanin

Fire & Ice

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In a land, foreign to almost all Melanins, save for Jaleel and his steely companion; an eccentric, extravagant voice contested in anger, eager for retribution.

"That wretched Vermillion Voice! CURSE that wretched Vermillion Voice!" the scorned woman cried out. Her sheer anger, conjured up a wailing storm of ice shards, revolving around her and her confidant.

"Oh, don't you worry Bayis. No filthy human can ever triumph over the Origin and live to tell the tale..." Bayis's companion assured, whilst her caustic embers engaged in a wicked waltz with the blitzing ice shards. Rather... no one can harm the last person I will ever trust enough.. to call a sister...

"OOOHOOOHOOHOOOH! Spoken like a true Origin! This is why I've always looked up to the daughter of the esteemed Sword & Shield of the Origin!" Bayis howled in melancholic joy.

"That's right! I am the daughter of the great protector and smiter!" Damar echoed with pride, making a flaming fist.

Bayis began to slowly circle her sister, her amber eyes invigorated and bright. "That's right-that's right! None can withstand your flame! None can measure to your might! Your talents are only second to Dharun himself! It should be you leading us in his stead! Not that rigid, pompous... and creepy Sakar!" Bayis boomed!

Excited flames burst forth from Damar once more, as she felt something return to her. A long lost vigour. An esteemed pride embedded within all Origin kind. "Do you really think so? You really think that I'm second only to Dharun? You... really think I should be leading our people instead of Sakar?" she asked.

"Yes-yes-yes! A thousand times yes! It's only natural that ones as beautiful as you and I, are in charge! Sakar is twisted and cruel, pompous and arrogant! Dharun's true intentions are as veiled as the night sky. And Maalik... eww, his bald head and beady eyes give me the creeps. Him and his motley crew. But you! You Damar, are different. Your vision extends beyond the pride of men. It's time for the people of the Origin to recognise their mother! Besides... Everything is better with a woman's touch!" Bayis exclaimed, as she halted her steps.

A powerful smile etched itself upon Damar's face, "You're nothing like Haytalek. You really believe in me that much?"

Bayis eagerly grasped her sworn sister's hands, "OOOHOOHOOOH! Of course I do! I'd never let a man come between our sisterhood! The ice of the Earth is sooner to melt, than me turning on you, sister. Besides, I've kept one of your most deepest, darkest secrets hidden all this time, haven't I?" she chimed.

"My most deepest darkest secret?" Damar whispered in confusion, pulling away from their hand's embrace.

"You need some lessons in deception, sis! Ohohoho! I know that you planned for Dharun to become entrapped in his icy tomb. How tragic! To think the one he loved the most would also be the one to hurt him so..." Bayis sung, dramatically placing the back of her hand on her forehead.

Damar's heartbeat accelerated! Anxiety pierced her pores like a thousand needles. "HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT!?" she aggressively whispered. Her words shooting out like pressurised water, forced through a tiny hole.

"Well..." Bayis said with an upwards inflection.

Damar's eyes grew dull and devilish. Her face, darkened by the decadent shadows cast upon it by her caustic flames. Am I to be betrayed once more? I've already lost those I loved. My parents gave their life for our people. Dharun... and well Haytalek too, she... (sigh) Jinto, it really is just you and me in this world, huh? Sakar was right about one thing, I have become soft. But no more! I'll burn you to ash, Bayis. Should you threaten to turn against me. Even your days are numbered... Frederick of The Steel.

"Don't look so tense sis, it's our little secret ok? Anyways, it's a bit embarrassing but, you already know how I'm your biggest fan. So, sometimes I would follow you... that's how I know. I saw you change your form and conspire with the leaders of Nsukyaneee. That and, I also know that you merely feign the ineffectiveness of your flames against such ice of the land. Were we to locate the actual location of Dharun's icy prison, Sakar would order you to melt it. That is one of the reasons why he wants Jinto. If yours 'can't' then his can melt it right?" Bayis explained.

"It's true. During our last expedition to that land, Sakar ordered me to melt the ice in the location he believed to hold our true leader. I pretended I couldn't. And he knows my flames are the strongest amongst the Origin, so he didn't permit anyone else to try. But the ice imprisoning Dharun is special, it is a mix of magic and Qudra. I don't know if it actually can be melted. And even if it could. I never will! Dharun must stay frozen. And Jinto, must remain free of the trifling life of the Origin," Damar divulged. I don't know how much longer I can keep up the charade. Sakar is no fool, he knows I could melt that ice. Sakar, Thüban-Alsumi, Yastamie, Jawda Kameel... one by one, I'll get rid of them. Perhaps Mahek and the others can be swayed to join me without violence.

Bayis's tone suddenly became more serious and balanced. "Jinto... I heard he looks just like one of the two sons Dharun had almost one hundred years ago."

"He does. As well as Jaleel," Damar confirmed.

"Jaleel resembles the one who belied his father in favour of the Anaikas. To think he'd betray his own kind for a filthy Anaikas girl," Bayis scoffed in disgust.

"Dharun Tarheen... to some, he is esoteric. To others, he is an emotionless pillar of power. But I know that loss hurt him, it hurt us. If he is freed, he'll surely..."

"Ah, forget about that dusty old ice relic! He's history! We are the Embers of Damar! And our first order of business... TO CAST THE VERMILION VOICE INTO THE DEPTHS OF OBLIVION!" Bayis eccentrically boomed.

Damar looked at her with adoration, running her hand over her face. "We Origin have access to most Qudra in varying degrees of effectiveness. I'm decent at healing. Let me heal those burns and cuts, then... Then we will go and slay him and the Seven Siblings!" Damar exclaimed in a sonorous tone, as she finished tending to Bayis's injuries. Yes, all of them. Except Sienna. I will adopt Dharun's methods for now, but with my own womanly touch!

"OOOHOOHOOH! Yes! YES! Let's rend this world asunder!" Bayis cackled, as the two vanished in a storm of icy fire!