Broken Light

Chapter 7

I pushed my way up through the undergrowth and emerged into a wide clearing with several ancient pillars dotted around it. Within the mountain wall furthest from me there was a mass of metal plates constructed in a circular format. From the pillar opposite the strange architect there was a glowing white light. "That light opens the door to the Vault of Glass." David said as he moved towards the pillar. I was slightly confused by what he meant, it just looked like a ball of light to me. "Each one of us has to stand on a plate in order to activate the key, X if you please," David said as he went to stand on a bare slab of stone. The stone suddenly started glowing and produced a white halo around him. I gasped in wonder and probably could have stared forever if X hadn't nudged me along. We hiked up a small hill that was directly in front of the door and X had me stand on the slab of stone there, he promptly left me to stand on a slab back down the hill to my right. I watched, mesmerized, as my slab began to glow and a white halo formed around me. I reached out to touch it but recoiled instantly as it made a loud hissing sound like water being thrown at a hot surface. What is going on? I thought, just then the door started to shift and move. The disks began moving down and around. The ball of light from the pillar near David began glowing brightly. A beam of light shot out from it and it connected with the center of the door. The disks began to fade in and out of reality until it left a huge arch-way that revealed a cave. Another cave? I thought. David and X were so by my side, they began walking and, together, we descended into the Vault of Glass. There was an awkward silence and I couldn't help but feel it was because of me. I don't even feel like I matter a bitter thought passed through my mind. But then again, I am fighting for something bigger than myself....bigger than everything. It was just as David said once, your real advantage in battle is that when you live for something or someone, you're prepared to die. He told me that battles would be chaotic and all I will have is the way I feel, my strategy, and a weapon. I've adopted the mentality of the life I would have after the war....I want peace yes, but I want chaos too. Sometimes still and quiet is just the perfect recipe for destruction and anarchy. "We are almost there, do what I do and don't fall behind. Remember Jean, do not hesitate." David said, bringing me out of my deep thoughts. He then faced back to the huge cliff side we had come to. At the very bottom was an arena of sorts. It looked battle torn and decayed. Without word of warning, David and X leaped from the cliff side down into the darkness towards the arena. I drew in a sharp breath and waited. "Come on pretty lady, don't be a thrall and hide haha," I was irritated by X's subtle jab but he had a point, I was being ridiculous. I tensed my muscles to jump when suddenly a voice stopped me. "So this is where Genesis brought you? He will be broken for this....after all his mission was to bring you to me." The voice spoke smoothly. I whipped around but it was empty and dark. "Whose there? How do you know my name...." I asked uncertainly.
"I've been watching you since Genesis pulled you out of that dump back on Earth. I have been here all along Jean, like that chill that flows in your blood, I've been here." I strained my eyes against the darkness trying to pinpoint the epicenter of the voice but it felt like it was all around me. Suddenly an ice cold chill touched my cheek. "Oh Jean, it is...frustrating to see someone like you in a place like this, those who bask in the light know not the comfort of the darkness. Come with me Jean. Leave them. They don't know the true you. Allow me to teach you ...Jean, Jean, Jean," the voice grew more intense and I looked around terrified, leave me alone! I put my hands on my ears to try and buff out the screaming voice. "Jean!" Davids voice cut through the harsh whispers; thoroughly dispersing them. He was kneeling down with both hands on my back, I was curled in a tight ball, my forehead pressing against the ground. My hands were still tightly pressing against my ears, my helmet had rolled across the cave floor and was just within reach. My breathing was shallow and tears streamed down my cheeks. "Jean, I'm sorry! I didn't know you were afraid of the dark....I'll jump with you okay? By the Traveler you gave me and X a real concern when we heard you screaming." David said as he patted my shoulder and handed me my helmet. I uncurled my body and shakily took the helmet from him. I put it on and followed him to the edge of the cliff side. "Okay ready? we go together." David grabbed my arm and we both jumped. The feeling of falling was nice. It took away the fear of the voice and added the fear of something tangible. "Double jump now!" David shouted over the wind. I nodded and initiated the double jump sequence. We landed smoothly and came to a halt in front of X. "Hey you good?" X asked as he patted my shoulder comfortingly. I shrugged my shoulders, "the landing was rough but I'm fine," I lied. No one would believe me if I told them. X looked at me a moment, I couldn't read his facial expression through his helmet but part of me believed he was skeptical. We all stretched a bit before moving on deeper into the caves. "Alright we've arrived at the Gorgons labyrinth," David said as we came to a halt. X nodded and patted David's shoulder, "I remember that mission, we flew together and took out so many oracles." X finished. Oracles? I thought, David had given me a book a long time ago about the enemies I might face but I don't remember reading up on oracles. X turned to me, as if reading my mind, "they're gnarly beings that mark you for imminent death, if you take em' out fast enough then you're fine." I nodded at his explanation and looked down into the Gorgons labyrinth. It was vast, one could easily get lost within its maze-like paths. David and X made their way towards it with ease. I followed uncertainly, "Can someone tell me why we are doing this mission? What's the objective?" David and X glanced at each other then back at me. "We are here looking for Vex Mythoclast, it's an exotic fusion rifle with a high bounty." X stated, David continued for him, "basically we get it, we pocket the rewards and then we get to buy nice things," eventually we stopped at a small fissure in the side of a rock. "In we go!" X said as he led the way. "Things may get a bit dangerous now I'm going to scout ahead," X said and then darted off ahead of us, great more awkward silence between David and I....David took the lead and we steadily made our way down further into the catacombs. I couldn't stand the awkward silence so I gathered my courage and spoke up, "What happened to your team? Why do guardians whisper about you in the great square....why do you have two ghosts?" I shot the questions out one after the other I was so preoccupied that I didn't notice that David had stopped walking. I looked around at where we were, there was a huge chasm and platforms were fazing in and out of reality right before my eyes. David stood alone close to the cliff side, every so often a platform would appear and shower him in white light. Almost like lightening flashes but slower. He was rigid looking out across the chasm. "Jean," he whispered, "you know not of what you ask. I told you long ago that....some questions are best left unanswered...for the sake of protecting those I care about, I choose not to answer." Frustration coursed through my veins but I kept my cool, "well...can you at least tell me why, including myself, you've only had one apprentice?" I asked slowly calculating my next words carefully. David looked at me, "because Jean, whenever something bad happens....I am always involved. I'm cursed, and the Speaker thinks giving me an apprentice will prove to me that I am wrong but look at yourself, you were almost killed....and I wasn't there." David sounded completely shut down and I decided to leave it alone. Suddenly loud wailing filled the chasm. David and I jolted and looked across the chasm to X dragging himself from what looked like a large arch-way. "Help me! Its....Atheon! He's....back!" X choked out. "Jean let's go." David said as he jumped onto a freshly spawned platform. I followed him step for step and soon we made it to the other side. We ran to X and crouched by him. "Atheon....he's back....get....reinforcements." X muttered before going limp. Is he dead?! I thought, "he's not dead Jean, just knocked out. Stay here with him. I am going to end this here and now." David said, and with that he unsheathed two shadowy daggers and made his way towards the sound of screeching. I watched him go, my heart beat started to quicken, I was trembling not with fear, but with fury. I will not standby and watch you do this alone. Just as I was standing up, a warlock and two titans showed up from the direction David and I had come. They took one look at X and then held their weapons strained on me. What's their deal? I thought angrily. "Take X- I mean this titan back to the tower. Tell them we are in danger." I said harshly. The group hesitated a moment before moving quickly to attend to X. I looked after where David had gone and heard sounds of gunfire and screeching. I clenched my teeth, the cold feeling in my heart was spreading now all throughout my body. Ice cold determination filled my soul and for the first time ever, I felt powerful. David was going to witness this power and then he would have to tell me everything. No more secrets David. This ends here. I opened my fists and lighting sparked from them, two steaming daggers took the place of my empty hands and this time the lightening spread all around my body. Rocks and pebbles began floating and the walls shook. Like it or not David I'm coming to help you. And with that thought I ran into Atheons lair.