Soul Bound: The City Of Almara

Chapter Six: Who Are You

Nora stood staring into her mother's multicoloured eyes, lost again in the endless whirlpool of colours of green, brown and blue. "What is this?" Nora angrily pointed at the photo she placed on the table

"A photo?" Dayna tried to avoid what the picture meant and she squirmed under her daughter's fierce gaze.

Nora rolled her eyes at her mother's pathetic attempt to playing dumb "Why are you with Jessepi?!" Nora yelled losing patience. 

"It's a long story Nora, you wouldn't understand..." Dayna said guiltily 

Nora's eyes narrowed dangerously "Try me." She growled. Alara growled along with her. 

"Okay, okay. I knew Jessepi, some would say I was his work partner, we where friends. And I, the witch of Almara. I was married, to Hasnd keep in mind, this was long before the downing of women, and I had an affair. I got pregnant and it wasn't Hasnds. It was Jessepies, when Hasnd found out, he went into a rage, he broke into the castle and attempted to kill Jessepi and i. Jessepi probably did this because i lied, i lied to them both and...and it was you. You where the baby i had." She said quietly. 

Nora's eyes darted left to right, she was trying to process all this information. "So wait, does that mean..."

"Your the new witch of Almara, Nora." She said. "I am not actually stuck in this chair and neither is Jodi, this appearance you know us by is fake. i changed us so we could never get caught because if we where to be caught, we would be hanged."

Nora's eyes widened and Alara's fur rose slowly. "So, you lied to me... the whole time i've been alive.... you've lied to me, about my farther, about you and even about me." Nora lifted her head to look into her mothers eyes. "I don't even know who you are...." 
"Nora i'm still me i just_"
"You just what, changed your name, changed your appearance, changed Jodi... Is that even her name?!" Nora yelled. Alara pressed herself against Nora to calm her down. 

"Well-"

"Precisely!! This whole time of hurt and anger and slavery could have been stopped if you had just.... never had me....." Nora's eyes went dim. "My existence.... caused this." She whispered. 

"No Nora-" 

"i don't know you anymore, you have no say." Nora whirled around and packed her little bag. 

Jodi turned to her true form of a panther scratched at the door and Dayna hit the door "Nora its not my fault, neither is it yours!" she yelled banging on the locked door. Nora sighed and pet Alara on the head before quietly jumping out of the window. 

Nora ran and ran and ran, as fast and far as she could. She ran until her lungs stung and legs screamed to her in pain. She ran as fast as her snow leopard anima. She slowed down and sat at the top of the highest staircase outdoors. It was to the north of town and had a beautiful view of the sea behind the green mist that kills any who breaths it. Nora sighed and started to sob, all this new information was overwhelming, but, she knew she asked for it, and she indeed got it. 

Alara rested her head on Nora's lap and purred, closing her eyes. They sat there till sundown, when the first of the stars started to twinkle above. Nora heard footsteps, they seemed to be approaching fast. Nora waited until the last second then turned, spinning and flipped the person over her shoulder and sent them flying down the stairs. When the body stopped tumbling, Nora squinted, She wasn't sure who it was, but whoever it was, got up quickly and waved in a strangely friendly matter. 

Nora narrowed her eyes to slits in pure curiosity, then, the person gestured to follow them, and so, giving into her curiosity, chased the stranger. She jumped on Alara's shoulders and gave chase, slowly gaining on the person, when they realised she was close, they would speed up. Nora found that this wasn't a follow the leader, but a chase. Nora jumped of Alara's back mid stride and chased after the person.

The person turned and ran backwards, Nora got a glimpse of the persons face but it was too dark to tell. they where running down the alleyway of a random street Nora has never been down before. Nora waited till she was close enough then leaped, tumbling with the stranger untill they crashed into a wall. 

They untangled themselves and stood up. Under a dim yellow light Nora saw the stranger clearly, They looked feminine but masculine at the same time, blonde short hair with a bit ot fluff hanging over their brow and the rest was a undercut. They had pale green eyes and a long old but prominent scar danced across the bridge of their nose. They wore a white jacket with gold stripes down the sleeves and silver grey track pants with blue shoes. "Your fast!" they said. "Hi im Emmerie!" Emmerie said holding out a hand for Nora to shake. Nora was hesitant but as Alara stood beside her, she took the strangers hand. 

"Nora." Nora introduced herself briefly.

"Oh i know. i wanted to find you actually, i wanted to join what you are doing." Emmerie said. Nora blinked, not knowing to trust this stranger. "Aw, come on. I, i'm not like them, i didn't feel like i was.." Emmerie was trying to put words together that made scene but Nora knew. Emmerie was a boy. "I was Emmeris, now i call myself Emmerie. i.. i even have an Anima.." a great white tiger came out of the corner