Inferno

Chapter 11

P.O.V- Taryia

"Hello young child, we welcome you to the house of the sages." The room Taryia had entered was filled with outside light since the walls were nothing more than glass. The ceiling above was arched, and had paintings of constellations. The floor had a picture of a red dragon breathing fire leading to the seats that the seven sages sat upon. There were seven seats each filled with one of the sages. "I am Gust, the leader of the Seven Sages."

"I am Niomi, pixie queen, one of the only remaining to this day," said the women on the far right.

"I am Zephyr a lowly human," said a man on the left. He looked pale and sickly, and had an aura of submission about him.

"I am Obsidian, the late king's brother," said a dwarf on the left boldly.

"I'm Gloria, centaur warrior, and I shall share my knowledge with you!" She said raising her fist.

"I am Galroy," he eyed her coolly his gray eyes seeing through her outer shell. "And you will address me as such," he said looking away from her.

"Calm down, Galroy give her some space," the elf turned up his nose in disgust. "This here is the smoke," he waved his hand over to a smoky figure. It had yellow orbs floating around in it black smoky body. It's body swirled never staying the same. Tendrils spread throughout the room tenderly caressing each of the sages heads.

"Um. . ." Taryia said her eyes roaming over it huge body that took up most of the room.

"What are you here for?" Asked the pixie queen Niomi her pink eyes sparkling. Her pink see through dress covered the hot pink one that was underneath.

"Yes why did you disturb us, shifter scum," Galroy said still refusing to look at her.

"Who are you referencing? Gust?" Taryia said confused.

"No you dimwit, I'm talking about you!" He said outraged that she would dare question him.

"But I'm an elf," she insisted.

"No your the legendary dragon shifter," he said sarcastically. It took a little time before she realized and comprehended the words that he spoke.

"What?!?" She yelled, Cole seconded her.

"Yes you didn't already know? You surely are a dimwit," Galroy said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

"While he does speak the truth, Galroy you could have been a little more subtle," Gust said addressing her and Galroy. The began to bicker each one calling the other names.

"Taryia, Cole we know the knowledge, but we don't give it freely. In order for us to be sure the knowledge is in good hands the Smoke must check to see if you are worthy. If you are the knowledge will be given to you, but if you aren't your soul will die along with your body," Niomi said over the two others bickering sages. The smoke only floated above their heads silently watching them converse.

"How will you check me and Cole's worth?" she asked the pixie queen.

"I won't, the smoke will," the pixie queen replied gesturing to the smoky tendrils that were approaching their heads. Both of their mouths fell open in sheer terror. Neither could move. They were forced to stand frozen as the smoke entered their heads.

-Mind-

"Where am I?" Taryia said quietly. She was standing in a vast plain of white nothingness. The only feeling she had was that of the solid floor beneath her feet.

"Hello young shifter," a voice boomed creating an echo throughout the space. Taryia looked around trying to pinpoint the source of the voice. "Yes you cannot see me, and I know you don't trust me, but I hold the key to the knowledge you seek," the voice sounded more masculine this time, and a figure was forming off to her left. When it was done a handsome young man stood on her left. His eyes were a dark blue the depths of which held many secrets, his hair was slightly longer than the average male hair style, but it suited him quite well. The world shimmered, and wavered. Bright colors burst forth, and the place now resembled the place she had called home. She began to tear up, this place brought back awful memories and those that had helped shape her.

"Why. . . why did you bring me here?" she cried falling to her knees.

"All knowledge comes from hardships, but first all attachments to the mortal world must be lost for one to gain the knowledge that they truly seek," the man said. He walked around her looking for what she could only fathom. The sky darkened, and clouds filled the sky smelling of sweet rain.

"No! No! Please stop this, I don't want to watch them die again," tears were streaming down her face.

"You wanted to know who killed them right?" he asked his eyes sparkling maliciously.

"Yes I did, but now. . . seeing them die again . . . nothing is worth that price," she whispered fading out at the end. Her head fell all since of hope of this stopping lost. "Why? Why? Why must I watch them die again. Why did you send me on this journey? Was it just to spite me, to watch me fall apart again? Or was it for your own selfish reasons? I ask why?" she yelled to the heavens pleading for an answer. The started to fall. It dripped down her face, plastering her hair to her head, fueling her rage. She stood up the man was still where he had been standing this whole time.

"I see that your fighting spirit has returned," he said. She reached in her belt and drew out her sword, and pointed it at him.

"I will not stand by and watch you invade my head or my friends. You have already twisted my emotions and feelings, but I refuse to let you hurt Cole. If I have to fight you to stop you I will, but I vow not to let you leave," she charged drawing her sword back. The rain still splattered around her feet changing the dirt to mud. She was almost to him when a bright light flashed in his hand, and a giant scythe appeared in his hand. The scythe was massive the handle was made of purple crystal, and the blade gave off a malicious black light. Another bright flash, and she was fighting the man, Akakios. His aura was dark and cold slowing her down. Dark thoughts began to fill her head. She was two steps away, but his aura had already killed her. Her sword fell to the ground, the point driven deeply into the mud. He walked over to her scythe in hand. She fell to her knees accepting her fate, her head hung low.

Akakios pulled on her chin, so that she was looking him in the eyes. "Your life has never been your own. I have always held it in my hand. Your parents were killed by my assassins. Your life was only a pawn in a bigger game, so small and insignificant that it was hardly worth my time at all," his eyes shone with the want for blood, for death, for her death. "Now that you're no longer useful I shall eliminate you, and take your friend Cole and enslave him," He backed up and raised his scythe above his head it dropped with a whoosh. His scythe had only hit air because Taryia was gone. She had rolled over back to her sword, and retrieved it from it place stuck in the ground.

"As I already told you, I will not let you hurt him!" She lunged, her sword slicing through the air. Her blade met his scythe, creating an arc of sparks. The both upped back, and prepared for another striking volley. Again they met each going for what they thought was a weak spot on the other. Taryia slashed low at his knee, while he went for the neck. Both missed due to the fact they were striking different angles. Taryia recovered first, and brought her sword up using her charging momentum to aid her speed. Akakios brought his scythe down, and forced Taryia to kneel in the muddied ground. Lightning flashed giving both the fighters an eerie look. Akakios dark aura wasn't as strong now because she had gradually gotten used to it. She pushed back with all her strength, but could not find purchase with her feet, so her push was futile. Akakios grinned evilly, as he pushed her further, and further, closer, and closer to her death. Her sword was inches from her throat almost sending her spiraling into the abyss known as death, when he spoke, "This was fun, but I getting tired of waiting, so I will end your petty life," he pushed harder, and the anger she had been consumed by had been starting to fade. This last comment reignited the burning flames within her, and quickly she threw him back several feet.
"You will never end my life, I will chose if and when I die," A black void filled the space she had been previously standing in. It sucked in all of the world leaving blank again, and then dispersed. Only Akakios and a midnight black dragon remained. It's sapphire blue eyes stared coldly at Akakios.

"So you want to play that game," another black void appeared where he was. He reappeared as a huge purple serpent. "Let'sss play it." His red eyes flashed maliciously after he shifted.