Dead Army

Chapter 3

Abhyaarany, on Woodhill mountain, Jackson, Mississippi

Abigail's eyes fluttered as the warm sunlight peeked through the light fabric of the curtains. She rolled over, patting the bed next to her in hopes to find Ishaan still laying next to her. Abigail sat up, the space beside her was neatly made and a fresh outfit laid nicely folded at her feet. The room was quite except the sound of people down on  the roads below her, making her way to the window her small hands pulled back the curtain. Right down below on the dirt pathes made into roads was a small community, Abigail could see children playing and laughing. Men and women worked in shops build around the center of this small village. Abigail sighed, all these people were clueless to the war just beginning to stir beyond the mountain. Pulling herself away from the window she grabbed the clothes off the bed and heading into the bathroom. Reading the clock above the sink, Abigail settled for the walk in shower being that it was almost noon. Standing in the hot water for a good extra minutes she turned the water off, wrapping her short frame in a fluffy white towel before taking a good long look in the mirror. Her long brown hair fell damp at her shoulders, her face looked worned and tired. Looking down she took a better look at the burned handprint in her skin, the pain was bareable but the new itchy sensations wasn't. To avoid anymore discomfort, Abigail throw on a light short sleeve white button up and a pair of light blue jeans. After pulling a brush through her tangled mess of a hair, she stepped back and looked herself over. Other than the visible burn on her arm she looked like any other normal teen in the community. Grabbing a light jacket she hurried down the stairs to the to the front door she came through. Pushing the hardwood door, she stepped onto the stone stairway. Taking in a deep breath of the fresh mountain air, she smile for the first time in a long time. She hurried down the stairs and down the gravel road, pushing past the iron gate she stopped as a group of Indian kids ran by not much older that six. She smiled as she made her way up the dirt road, look at all the stands sell all sorts of fruits and veggies. She pasted stands with short old women making honey and candles. Their wored and tired eyes look up as she came closer to their stand, a small smile on her round face. A small old women reached for Abigail's hand, pulling her closer in the group. They smiled at the young girl, handing her different items in their store for her to see speaking in a hushed tone a language she didn't understand. Smelling the soap each lady handed her, liking one in particular smelling it again. Abigail pointed at the light pink bar, "May i?" She spoke softly. Placing the bar of soap in a small brown bag and waved back at the old women as she made her way down to the next shop. Passing butches copping meat and hanging them to dry, passed stands of mem working on tools for the garden and even armor. Abigail scratched at the burn on her arm as she walked up close to a stand on her right, a young middled aged man stood selling buckets of freshly grown flowers of all sorts and colors. Her brown eyes scanned the vibrant colors mixed together to make beautiful arrangement. "Look for something miss?" A mans thick Indiana accent reached her ears. She turned looking into the warm kind brown eyes of the man behind the stand, he had wrinkles around the corner of his eyes when he smiled. "Just out, seeing the town and the people living here." Her small hands brushed over the soft velvet petals of a fully bloomed rose. Her eyes picking up the faint hint of gold from the center of the rose spreading halfway up each petal. "Ahh I see, new to the area, and I see you take a liking to the rose of Raanee." He reached over grabbing about a dozen of the roses, wrapping them in a soft white cloth slightly damp to keep the flowers alive. "A flower fit for a Queen." He smiled handing Abigail the bouquet of flowers. She smile wrapping her hands around the stem and taking in a deep breath of the flowers intoxicating perfume. "Thank you sir." She reached around looking for her wallet or any sort of change, the man smiles placing his firm hand on her arm "No need madam, its a welcoming gift. Our home is yours." His honey voice spoke. Abigail smiled sweetly before turning her way further down the road of shops. A small Indian girl pulled on the edge of Abigail's shirt, she squatted down to the girls level. "How can I help you sweetie?" Abigail said with a smile, as the little girl pulled a string with beads of all shapes and colors shinning in the light. She reached up placing the string around Abigail's neck "meree raanee kee raksha ke lie" her quite voice whispered in her ear before running off back down a dusty trail between shops. Abigail watch as the little girl ran behind another building and disappeared before continuing down the road, stopping in front of a fruit stand. Picking up a handful of reddish pink fruit, it had small bumps covering its harden outer shell. Leaning in closer, Abigail turned the fruit around in her fingers, trying hard to figure out what about it is edible. "You must crack the shell to get to the sweet flavor of a lychee fruit." A deep but fimilar voice spoke behind her as a large hand laid on top of Abigail's, grabbing one of the hard shelled fruit from her pale hands. Turning her head a warm summer breeze caught her hair as she watched Ishaan's hand close around the red shell, when he opened his hand a small round white ball sat in the palm of his hand surrounded by the now broken shell. "This here, is the fruit. Some say it taste like a pear or watermelon, others say its more like a grape mixed the the taste of roses." He brought it up to her soft plump lips, parting them slightly she let him push the soft squish fruit into her mouth. She closed her mouth around it, "Mmm" she hummed as the sweet but tarty taste exploded in her mouth. She slowly opened her eyes meeting the golden hue of Ishaan's a playful smile dancing on his lips. Abigail smiled, turning her eyes to the ground as a warm blush creeped up her neck to her cheeks. Ishaan motioned to the boy behind the stand, speaking in a smooth but thick Hindi language. Abigail watched as he filled a bag with a handful or two of the lychee fruits before handing it to Ishaan, "So are you enjoying the town and the people who live here my lady?" He looked down at the short girl beside him as they walked down the busy road. Waving here and there as they past the men and women, their faces a mixture of worn and exhusted. "Do in fact enjoy it here, but I noticed everyone looks so worned out or more beaten down, why is there a small village hidden in the mountains Ishaan? Why aren't you in your hometown?" They paused as a group of kids ran infront of them casing after a chicken. Abiagil smiled shaking her head at the young ones. She watched the children play and run among the busy roads, little girls hiding behind their mothers skirts from the boys their age casing after them. "This is a whole town, families with children Ishaan. What happened for you guys to up and leave?" Her brown eyes scanned the face of the man before her. Picking up on the veins popping in his neck, the way his brow pinched together. She reached her hand up placing it just below Ishaan's jaw bone gently rubbing his scares face. Bringing his golden eyes to the light brown ones below him, taking a sharp shaken breath grabbing Abigail's thin wrists bringing her arm to her side "Let's go sit somewhere, i know this nice place to eat around the corner." His rough voice seemed uneasy as he walked towards the direction he had mentioned. Jogging a bit to catch up Abigail stopped in front of a small Indian bar on the corner of the road. Ishaan held the door open for Abagial as she walked into the dark cold bar, rubbing her eyes adjusting to the dark from the bright sunlight outside. She followed behind Ishaan as the came to a round table somewhat in the far corner. Taking a seat across from Ishaan as a chuddy Indian girl dressed in long brown skirt and a white top walked up to them. She spoke in a rushed voice, non that Abigail could understand. She scribbled down the order Ishaan gave her before turning and hurrying back to the kitchen. Abigail looked around the cramped room, a few men sat at the bar being helped by a thin Indian girl with rhinestones piercings on her face, even in the dim light they shone. On the other side of the room three town soldiers stood around a tall round top, smoking cigars as they waited for their drinks. Abigail turned back towards Ishaan as the waitress came back with two plates of steaming food. Placing forks and napkins on the table she turned heading towards the next table to be helped. Picking up his fork he pointed towards her dish, "Eat." His voice was stren. She leaned back crossing her arms over her chest, "Are you going to talk to me?" Her voice laced with a hint of sassy. She held her head high, trying but failing to look intimidating. Ishaan shook his head smirking at the girl before him. His eyes flashed a look of playfulness. Leaning on the table looking straight in her round eyes, he got close to her face, "Eat first, then we talk." He whispered watching her take in a sharp breath. Her eyes darted down to the vains poping out of his arms, swallowing before bringing her eyes to his. She moved her hand to pick up her fork as Ishaan sat back. He watched as she shoves some of the noodles on her plate into her mouth before turning her eyes to his. He sighed, "Stubborn one you are." He's tone light and playful. Abigail smiled as she listened to his lighthearted laugh, watching he face relax and smile. Her eyes fixed on his warm golden ones, smiling along with him as they enjoyed their meal together. As much as she wanted to stay in the moment forever she needed answers and she couldn't wait any longer. Clearling her throat she put her fork down, an unsettling silence fell among them. "Ishaan, you know this is unavoidable. I should know all the details of why you guys are here and why I play a part in any of this war." Her voice pleaded with him. He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his hand over his rough chin. Taking a deep breath and look at Abigail, " This goes back 6 years ago, back in my hometown 
Varanasi in India. We lived in a quite town, didn't draw much attention to ourselfs. I knew I was sick, I lived the best I could for 18 years, hiding behind common human medicine. Locking myself away ever night just for the safety of my town. So when the night came that the pills didn't work and I felt myself shift and lose control, I thought it was over. Everyone would know and even more confusing was why after 18 years with not problems, no slip ups or scares did it all change." Ishaan's gold eyes looked straight at Abigail's. He lowered his eyes, "Before I could even stop myself I'd had broken down my doors and ran the streets of the towns. It was quite being as late as it was but when the beast is free, everything heightened sound, smell, sight and even feeling. The way the ground felt under my paws and the burning feeling of the icy cold wind filling my larger lungs. It's just unreal, it's like you've died to be reborn but with a beast comes the lust. The want to hunt and kill." Abigail sat still never once moving her eyes from the broken mam before her. Watching his face shift with each emotion, fighting with the haunting memories. "I had reached the center of my hometown I could see everything so much brighter. The town look beautiful that night and the moon was high. I felt at my strongest, like a young pup again. But then I heard them, about a mile up the road a group of young men. Drunk from their night out at the local pub. In my mind I knew I should run the other way, far into the woods until morning came but my animalistic nature had me running toward the men. The look on their faces." He stopped, his eyes shut tight and he clenched his fists. "Their screams. I couldn't stop myself as I tore them to pieces. And I just ran, taking off towards the woods. Leaving the town behind." His voice broke as he continued his story. "I figured I'd wait out in a cave until morning came but when the sun rose over the horizon and I was still trapped in the form of a beast, I didn't know what to do. I stayed hidden in the cave far back in the woods for a better half of a year. I stayed low and didn't dare go near town or the people in the town. The hunger was the worst, fighting the beast from within. But soon enough someone came just close enough for my ears to hear. After so long I couldn't stop myself from sprinting towards the smell of a human. The sound of their hearts beating, I was no more than a foot from them when I froze. My whole body stopped, I stood there watching as the teens from town walked by and away out of sight. Not able to move a muscle the whole time, then I heard it. A soft jingle, very faint coming from behind me. I watched as a small Indian women came around from behind me. She brought her hands to my face, she didn't even flinch at the beast before her. She just whispered to me, 'You are free my son.' And my body shook amd cracked as every bone in my body broke and shifted back into the half man form. Nadia saved not only the humans from a horrible death but the man trapped in the body of a beast." He sighed rubbing the back of his neck. "She brought me to this town here in the mountains. Nadia brought her hometown here after her home was burnt to the ground in a war by her leader. She was a known witch and when the leaders wife fell ill he blamed her and the witches in her coven. A battle with witches is never pretty. And those who survived came here to live and all those hurt or in need of a place to hide or be safe comes here. There's a spell over this town, nothing can track us here. Not while Nadia is alive and as long as she lives the beast stays locked away. Everyone here has seen war and has seen loss. These people know whats coming and they will fight with all they have. Many of the children show signs of gifts. Rare and strange gifts, we train them and protect them. They are the key to helping us win this." He grabbed his cup gupling down the cold water. Abiagil sat still, processing everything she just heard. Trying to wrap her head around it all. "Did you ever figure out why there was a sudden change in you? What caused...um you true form to come out?" Her voice a soft whisper. He watched her face, taking in ever detail of her. From her soft round face to her full bottom lip. Up to the freckles dancing across her nose and her warm brown eyes. "Six years ago a young witch of great power came to realise she was of the magic talent. When she first created her first beam of power all powers near or of the unnatural nature lost control. My pills didn't work beacuse of you Abigail. You are the most powerful witch of your age. You brought the strongest of beast out the moment you found you powers." He watched her face as the fact sunk in. Abigail twirled her hair between her fingers, chewing on her bottom lip as everything in the past six years fell into place. "So that's why my mother trapped my magic. Why she channeled my powers to her own benefit." Her teeth clenched as she gripped the table unaware of the vines coming out of the ground and up the tables legs. "Abigail?" Ishaan's voice echoed in her head. Just before the vines reached the table top she felt large warm hands wrap around her own. Opening her eyes she gasped, watching as the vines worked there way back into the ground. She covered her mouth with her hands. Tears streamed down her face "I'm sorry Ishaan, I wasn't even aware I was doing that." Her voice shook as her body trembled. Ishaan stood grabbing her small hand in his as her guided her out the bar, "We need to go see Nadia." He's voice was rough and stern again. Gone with the playful tone and Ishaan opening up. They hurried down the dirt roads, making their way through the iron gate and back up to the stone mansion. Pushing through the hard oak doors, Ishaan made his way toward the great hall, down the hallway of armor status. Abigail tailed behind, her body shaking uncontrollably. Her head started to throb as a shooting pain shot through her skull. She grabbed her head, a high pitch scream left her mouth. The ground shook as her voice send waves of vibration around her, she through her head back. It felt like her head was being split wide open and all she could do was scream. With each wave of screams she shook the foundation below them. The people in the town below grabbed onto whatever they could as they tripped and fell with the ground shaking. A women screamed as the ground below her cracked open creating a gaping hole in the ground. She jump out of the way as the ground shook more causing everyone to run. Abigail laid on the ground shaking as her body raided shocks of wave through her body. Her vison went blurry as the pain became unbearable when she heard the fimilar jingle coming down the hall. She turned her tired head towards the sound, tears steaming down her face. Leaning down Nadia place her hand on her cold forehead, whispering an ancient spell as Abigail's body stilled and the shaking stopped. Everything stood still Abigail laid on the floor staring at the ceiling. Her body tired and aching, her eyes fluttered open and shut. She slowly drifted asleep as strong arms reached down, wrapping themselves around her small frame she leaned her sore head on the strong shoulders of Ishaan. Abigail closed her eyes and listen to Ishaan and Nadia talk, "What's going on Nadia? Why is this happen to her?" He spoke quietly as he walked with Nadia to her room. "Her mother kept her powers compressed for six years. The girl has abilities that even the Elders fear." Her voice was calming even when saying the worst of news. They pushed throught the doorway and heading up the long stairway. "What are you going to do, her episodes are strong and soon its going to hurt someone or worse draw her mother here." Ishaan's voice was heavy with worry. He push open the door to Abigail's room with his foot. Placing her small body on the bed before covering her. Nadia walked over to the side of the bed, sitting lightly next to Abigail. Placing her hand on her cold face, "For now we can only hope she can learn contol her power. The Elders want to see her tomorrow, let's let her rest, she'll need her strength for the Elders." She whispered as she pulled her air out of her face. Abigail waited until she heard the soft click of the door closing behind them before letting out the breath she had been holding. A soft cry left her lips as all the emotions of the past couple days caught up to her. Her body shook as she silently cried to sleep.