Ciana Pandora

SIX

                      [OHR]

Jedrek leaves at noon to see Nefeli, his lover. She is the most ravishing woman in the whole of Ohr, besides Lady Dionne. His relationship with her however is a secret, because Nefeli is the daughter of Lamia, the most powerful sorcereress of The Penumbra and The Gibbous amalgamated. Nefeli is radiant; the dream of every god in Ohr and even beyond Ohr to Fos, Lucifer, Nidavellir and so on. In her chamber where Jedrek sees her, she is practicing enchantments behind a wild fire. She is reciting some words when she senses a presence.

“My love! Are you really here?” she smiles euphorically with her eyes still closed.

“My apologies for disturbing you.” Jedrek says, walking towards her.

“What were you doing?”

“I just wanted to make my own dragon.” Nefeli says as Jedrek helps her rise. He kisses her hand.

“Amazing.” Jedrek stares at the unfinished dragon, morphing in the flames. It had all parts except hind legs. Jedrek reaches to touch it.

“Ferocious.” He remarks.

“What do you want?” Nefeli asks.

“I want to refresh myself with you, in your chamber.” Jedrek walks over to a seat, assumes a royal posture and pours himself a drink.

“What happened? You’ll be doomed if Lady Dionne finds you here.”

“Father and mother have been giving me a headache about finding my sister. It’s so stressful; I don’t even have time to breathe. You know Mother wants me to be king. She’ll do anything to make me it.”

“Is it Pandora?” Nefeli hisses as she walks behind Jedrek and massages his head.“Isn’t she dead? Besides, Jedrek, she disappeared without notice.”

“Yes, that is exactly what I’m thinking. My father is just chasing after a cadaver. However, the diviners say that Ciana ran away. I don’t believe that story. She was going to be made Crown Princess, after that marriage to Khalil of The Gibbous. Why would she want to run away? Someone must’ve abducted her.”

“But if someone was keeping her, Lord, the diviners would have known about it. She’s probably dead. The only reason why the people of The Gibbous cannot find her is that they cannot see the dead. Only The Penumbras can do that. Lord Magnar chases after a cadaver.” Nefeli says.

“You are right.” Jedrek points out.

“Mother never thought of that. It will bring her joy if Pandora was dead. Show me Ciana’s corpse, Nefeli. I want to see her.”

“I do not have such training to command vision of the dead goddesses especially great ones like Pandora. I am only a student of my mother. But we should go and see my mother. She can help you out.”

“But I am forbidden to see Lamia. Her presence can adulterate my moonlights.”

“Do not fear. Mother is harmless.” Nefeli whispers. She walks before him and cajoles him to his feet. Jedrek smiles at the sounds the ornaments around her waist make.

“I can’t argue with you, can I, Nefeli? Your persuasion never fails.” Jedrek says and plants a kiss on her neck.

High Priestess Lamia of The Penumbra, bearer of several deadly pythons, dark killer powers and tremendous pessimistic visions sat around dark flames, opening scriptures in a large book in her dark room. Her hair stood up erect as she went on with her incantations and a dark mist roams over the room, knocking all the maidens down to the ground except her daughter Nefeli and her lover Jedrek. Lamia senses that the mist which had escaped from her belly returns to the flames. She discerns that the fruits of her incantations didn’t harm all the people present there. She frowns and calms the fire down knowing that it was only a powerful presence that could interrupt her ceremonies.