Eclipse

Chapter 6

Alaska sat alone in the dark. Her face was streaked with tear stains but she no longer had any tears to shed. She just sat and stared into the darkness. She kept her mind black, because thinking only brings thoughts of Aya and freedom and Hayden. When she made the vow of vengeance against him she still had hope that she could escape. But all that was gone. She clutched the swan around her neck and sniffed.

"Can I ask you something?" asked Levi.

"You just did," sniffed Alaska.

"Right. Who is the man you hate so much?"

"I don't hate him," Alaska sighed, "I just don't like him very much."

"Why not?"

Alaska didn't answer. The light appeared again and for the first time she could see it cam from a man. He was like a glass phial filled with moonlight. She couldn't make out his features, only that he was tall and lean and he was wearing a coat that was also made out of glass. She didn't notice she was staring until Levi cleared his throat.

"Sorry," she hung her head in embarrassment and fingered the swan around her neck.

"It's alright, I suppose. I haven't had company in a long time. I suppose staring would be normal," he said and sat down beside Alaska.

"It's rude to stare. At least that's what my mom taught me."

"Sounds like she knows her manners," joked Levi and tears began streaming down Alaska's face, "hey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean what I... uhm... I..." stammered Levi and looked at the small woman.

"It's not that," whispered Alaska.

"Then what is it? If I may ask."

"She's dead."

"I'm sorry," he said but Alaska didn't hear him.

"She's dead and now my little sister is dying too. I hate him. I hate him!" wailed Alaska.

Levi looked at her in confusion before putting his arms around her and held her close. Alaska's sobs gradually died down. Levi continued to hold her until she pulled away.

"I'm sorry," she said and wiped her nose.

"It's okay. Seemed like you needed to get that of your chest."

Alaska gave him a small smile.

"Who is this man you hate so much?"

"The King. He is responsible for all the trouble in Allyris."

"What do you mean?"

"When he murdered King Bartok and Prince Levi, he broke the royal line. And because of that the Night people are suffering. He taxes the Night people more that he has a right to. And a plague has spread through the kingdom. Many had died from it. And in the last few months, even some of the Sun's people were starting to get ill."

"I take it that's how your mother died."

"Yes. She was a healer. We lived near Clariel, for a time. But the storms ruined her herb garden so we moved closer to Lake Towns. That's were she got sick. She helped those who were sick and one of them must have infected her. She died six years ago. A few weeks after my little sister got sick. I did everything I could to protect her, but I couldn't. Do know why he did it? Killed King Bartok?"

"Because..."

"Because he was a traitor," spat Alaska, "can you believe it? My mom always said the King Bartok was one of the best Kings we ever had. And the Sun King had the nerve to call him a traitor!" seethed Alaska