The Circle Of Ten

Sacrifice

Fayala gazed out at a universe that spread into the vast darkness without end.  So many stars she thought, is there even a number large enough to account for them all.  Is this what it is like to be born, to be exposed for the first time to a world so vast it overwhelms your senses yet excites your imagination. She desperately wanted to visit them,  the stars,  galaxies, and civilizations. She wanted to explore, learn and interact with all manner of beings. However, she had seen enough in Sativia's mind to know she would use her power to conquer and rule.  She would consume all she encountered and destroy that which refused to succumb to her will.

Fayala needed but a few moments of distraction before it would be too late for them to stop her.  Sativia was conversing with Ceraon in Miorpean and Idiyanale's attention was entirely focused on the portal.   She went to the rear of the shuttle and found a recess out of view from the front to the craft. She stood, closed her eyes and placed her hands on her abdomen left over the right and cleared her mind.

She began recalling the most traumatic incidents of her life; the day her closest friend Deyan was crushed beneath the foot of a cruel Miorpean, when she was assaulted and nearly killed by covetous men with muskets and the sacrifice of so many to bring her back from the brink of death, the great fire that destroyed the temple and killed her servants, the heartless killing of Ohas's niece, the woman who held her dead husband's hand and vowed her daughter would be free.

She let these thoughts flow freely and unabated through her spirit allowing the emotion they engendered to build within her. She took in deep full breaths of air to fuel the fire that rapidly built up in her core.  Her skin darkened and eyes began to glow with an ominous yellow radiance. She would make no effort to calm the volatile passions of hatred and fury feeding the intensely hot blaze that seethed within her.

Fayala knew that the occupants of the shuttle would feel the increased temperature long before she could build up enough energy to accomplish her task. She used her psychic power to create a barrier that would keep the growing inferno confined until she could build up enough thermal energy that when released would obliterate the craft and everything in it.

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Idiyanale was captivated with what she was seeing out of the shuttles portal.  The planet, moon and stars were more beautiful than she could have imagined. Suddenly a strange glow shown on the portal that seemed to be coming from nowhere. She touched the window and realized that she was looking at a reflection in the glass itself and the source of the glow was actually behind her in the shuttle.  She turned in her seat and looked at the source of the reflection.

It took her a moment to realize that it was Fayala but her skin was dark, almost black like burnt wood that shimmered and smoldered, the naked figure slowly turned its head and Idiyanale could see the most terrifying yellow eyes that burned into her face.

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Sativia was studying the giant Miorpean ship that increased in size and radiance as they drew near. She was eager to get on board and put her plan into action.  The thought of actually having that magnificent vessel at her command was exhilarating. A scream from the rear of the shuttle startled her.

Ceraon also cringed and turned to look back over his shoulder, "what is going on back there."

Sativia saw a strange yellowish glow that originated from somewhere in the rear of the shuttle. She then realized she could not sense Idiyanale. She slowly walked rearward towards the seating section.  At the midsection of the shuttle Sativia saw Idiyanale's body on the floor, she gasped, Idiyanale's face was completely burnt off,   green bloody tissue lay scorched and smoking against blackened flesh and eyeless sockets.  She was dead and her spirit was gone, but how?

Sativia was joined by Ceraon and together they crept to the rear of the shuttle towards the ominous orange glow. They reached a recess in the shuttles superstructure were cots for sleeping were folded away.  They saw Fayala, she was encased in an invisible shield and within a broiling firestorm swarmed around her body.

Sativa tried to contact Fayala psychically and had to push with all the strength she possessed to get through the turbulence. "What are you doing," she asked frantically. 

"Correcting a terrible wrong," responded Fayala, "we should never have existed Sativia, this must come to an end."

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     Mira and Ohas had watched the shuttle lift off and rapidly ascend into the heavens. Ohas and the humans were awed by the sight of such the large craft rise and magically move through the air.  Melete and Aphaea however were not awed at all, they were fretful at being left on an unfamiliar planet in bodies not their own with beings they once viewed as little more than specimens. They stayed close to one another warily eyeing the band of humans that glared threateningly in their direction.

Mira picking up their anxiety attempted to comfort the pair. Knowing they were unfamiliar with speaking in their new bodies or even understanding the language she contacted them telepathically, "don't be afraid, no one will hurt you, we will take care of you."

Melete  tried to repeat verbally what she had seen in her mind, "take ... care ... of us." 

"Yes," replied Mira moving closer to Melete, "we will help you." Mira motioned for several temple servants who approached and gently took Melete and Aphaea by the hands, "teach them, they have much to learn."

A flash drew their attention to the sky, for a moment it was brighter than the sun and the sound that followed was like thunder that rolled across the hills and caused the trees to tremble.

Ohas stepped alongside Mira, "I don't feel her anymore, Fayala, I can't sense her."

"Neither can I," replied Mira.

Ohas looked knowingly at the sky, the glow began to recede into a soft yellowish red haze that expanded outward and began to fade. "She could not allow her to leave, Sativia I mean, she was evil."

     Mira continued to watch the heavens as if expecting Fayala to come floating down on the wind as a spirit. She spoke softly, "it was long ago, I remember thinking how the concept of sacrifice confused me, Fayala knew, her sacrifice has saved us all."