"Akaine...?" Lara took a good look at her brother. Now she knew who he was, she could see the family resemblance. They definitely weren't identical, but they did have similar features. Besides the silver hair, they both had almond shaped eyes, although hers were green and his brown, matching nose profiles and high cheek bones.
His skin was ghostly pale, and he was gaunt looking with sunken cheeks enlarging the appearance of his bleak eyes. Although, considering he had been locked up within these walls, for who knows how long, it was not surprising. He was also taller than her by at least 2 inches.
"Not so fast. You're speaking to me, not that troublesome one."
"Who are you?" Lara tried to distinguish who this puppeteer of her brother was.
"Now that is a great question. WHO AM... I?" Returning to his chair, his manner a lot more relaxed this time. He seemed to be giving this a lot of consideration.
"I have been called many names in my time. Master of Darkness. Emperor of Gloom, Thread of Destruction and my all-time favourite, 'Elemental Destroyer.'" He listed each name as he counted off on each finger
"Some dared even call me 'A Freak of Nature... 'Can you imagine it...Me! A Freak...? Hah!" He kicked the legs of his chair petulantly.
"They couldn't be any further from the truth." He hurried back to the door, "They knew, you see." He whispered loudly, looking around to ensure no one else could possibly be overhearing their conversation. "They were aware of exactly what they were doing when I came into existence. And believe me, I was no mistake. Zanaltra council, are very careful about such matters. "
'Zanaltra Council?' Lara's ears picked up. What was their role in all of this? The more she heard about this Council the less she liked.
He snorted, straightening his shoulders. The threatening look he gave her, pearcing straight through her.
"But I found out their devious plan." His generous mouth curled, his nostril's flared at the disdain of such an action. "Destroy me, will they?" He scoffed.
"How can you obliterate something that doesn't exist?" He laughed forlornly. "They made sure of it - I'm just a shadow!" He continued ranting and raving wildly gesturing with his hands as he started striding up and down the room.
"Life for a Life! How they do like to play their silly little games."
"But, I showed them." He paused, in mid stride. Looking up at the ceiling before slowly turning to face Lara.
"Maybe, I didn't need the whole painting." In no time he was at the door, his face so close to hers.
"I knew you and your brother were the key. So, I took their all-too-valuable 5th Lifeforce, and I would have taken you, too, except your fool of a mother decided to best me with my own game. Where did she hide you, anyway?"
His head slightly leaned towards his right shoulder, pensively looking up as though seeing into the past, before speaking slowly, as if to himself.
"She never would tell me."
He slowed his words even more, emphasising each one harshly. "I watched and waited, all for nothing!" He slammed his fist against the wall beside the door frame.
"Akaine? I need to talk to my brother." Lara had had enough.
"Well he doesn't need to talk to you. You're here for one reason only." He yelled.
"And what's that?" Exasperated Lara threw the words back at him.
He just looked at her strangely for a few seconds before he continued, his voice, suddenly calm and bitterly cold.
"To tell the Elders to open the door."
"Why should they?!" Lara exclaimed, unsympathetic to his demands.
"Let's just say that I'm getting tiresome of this weary body of your brother's. He's too weak."
"Then let him go!" She pleaded.
"Oh, I intend to. But I want you... to take his place."
"Lara, don't do it!"
The man transposed again, right in front of her, his body sagged; eyes softening. The pleading tone of his deep velvet voice gave earnest to his hurried words,
"This is no life. I need your help but not on his terms. No matter what he says, he will never let me go. He needs the two of us now that our lifeforces are activated. Don't let them open the door. He will destroy you all."
"No. Akaine I will get you out. No matter what it takes."Lara banged her hands against the door frame...She had to make her brother see that she wasn't going to abandon him. That he was not alone, any more. Lara tried to push her hand through the door opening, but was still not able to cross the threshold.
"Not on his terms. You must recover the Sovereign Cross." Akaine implored.
"The Sovereign Cross?"
"Tell the Elders..." Akaine started to speak.
"Tell the Elders what?" Lara asked, just before she saw her brother disappear, it only took one second, and the rigidity and hardness of no soul, took over again.
"Tell the Elders..." he barked, the scowl back into place. ' 'A life for a Life. Yours for his'.
...AND OPEN THIS GOD DAMN DOOR."
YOU ARE READING
Wings of Grace
Fantasi'A life for a life'- Who said finding true love was going to be easy for nineteen-year old, Lara Wakesfield? All it took was being pushed off a cliff, transported to another world, kidnapped and engaged in a life threatening sword-fight. But that w...
