The Enchantments: Book 4 - The Key of Mulastef

Chapter 26: Skywards

Mogat stared out at the landscape as the constant rhythm of the metal wheels on the tracks reverberated through the open door of the rail car. Even though his body was caporal his mind still worked the same as it always did. Simeneon was someone he was starting to like, her grit really, her spirit he knew tested every day, and still, the glint of determination poured from her. That didn't mean her body wouldn't give way before her spirit would this scared him more than he ever thought. Being unable to help by the restrictions of the beings frustrated him to no end, but still, she persevered. His question was how much more could she take?

The dreams this child had endured made him believe her journey shortly would test her to a greater height than he realized. He had a horrifying feeling she would have to sacrifice more than she had ever had to in her short life. Could she come out of this the same way? Could she do what was needed? Would she survive? All questions that would need answers, but not by him, not by him.

Simeneon began to move restlessly as the last remnants of sleep wore off her troubled face, and she let out a long breath reflected in the frigid air. Trying to open one eye she found it crusted over with sleep and with a little bit of effort she forced it open, this had been occurring on a regular basis now, and she knew the fever she had felt coming on a few days earlier was starting to spike. Looking out amongst the ever changing landscape she wanted so much to revel in was almost uninteresting to her now. Days were a mishmash of lights and darks and the occasional streak of color mixed in. She wanted to feel the excitement of the adventure coming to a head, but the virus raging inside her small frame was taking all the fun out of it. In fact, she tried to admit to herself she was feeling better but that wasn't the truth, and she knew it, she was getting worse and help was a thousand miles away.

She shivered at this revelation and pulled the thin blanket in closer. The cool air inside the box car was soothing at times but the fire her body felt from the infection made keeping warm almost impossible. But she had to admit the fire building inside her was much better than the dreams she had been enduring the past few nights. Terrifying could not describe what she went through during her broken sleep cycles. Even Mogat sensed something was going on but what she thought could a ghost do to help her, if he had just been straight forward with her and end this before she had even gotten sick.

Peering through the one good eye at the ghost hovering just inside the door and she sighed. She had never felt so much alone before in her life, and she felt her eye tear up with loss and longing. Wanting her friends there with her tore through her, and she had finally realized she had made a huge mistake in shutting them out. Why the hell did she believe she could have done this by herself? They all wanted to help, but she shut them out like they weren't important in her life. If they were here now, she would spend a lifetime apologizing for all she had done and thought. Her will broke, and she began to shudder ever so slightly letting the pain and regret pour out of her like a raging river.

"Are you alright dear?" Mogat asked concern emulating from his voice.

"I'm fine," she said smiling.

"You are not!" He shot back. "I see the fever on your brow and the sickness in your eyes. You have not been well for days now!"

"I'll be f..."

"... Stop the lies!!" He yelled his voice echoing through the moving compartment. "You have not been the same for much of the last month, these dreams are draining your life force and must end soon."

His eyes took on the look of concern, and before long they were pleading with her. "Let's work on these dreams to determine what you must do next."

Simeneon looked in his direction, the fear and resolute in her eyes told him all he needed to know.

"What did the dreams tell you to do?" His voice now harsh and scared sounding.