Chapter 10.2
Evabelle awoke to the world falling apart.
Her eyes flashed opened. She heard crashes and felt the vibrations renting the room. She rolled out of bed and collapsed. The shaking was too much. Earthquake. Evabelle grasped at the bedpost, lifting herself up and clinging to it for support. She opened her mouth to cry out, but just then her door swung open revealing Aza, still wearing what she wore yesterday, her hair in a big blonde rat nest, and her eyes wide.
She stumbled into the room, looking completely frazzled. She clutched at the same post as Evabelle. "What's going on?" Aza shouted through clenched teeth.
"You think I know?" Evabelle yelled back.
A terrible, blood-curdling scream rent the air, making the hairs on the back of Evabelle's neck stand on end. It was a cry of awful pain that tore at Evabelle as her grip on the bed post tightened.
"Come on!" Aza yelled through the chaos. "We have to go help!"
Evabelle nodded numbly, releasing her hold, and was instantly thrown to the side, crashing into the wardrobe. Aza reached out a hand to Evabelle, who grasped it. The two miraculously managed to get out of the room and made an awkward dash to the stairs.
It was amazing that none of the windows had broken and the Sanctuary itself wasn't collapsing on them. It was just the small objects in the house that were falling from the walls and shelves. Evabelle felt as though she were on some strange rollercoaster that was making her stomach race sporadically inside her as the house shook forward and backward.
The same excruciating scream echoed up the stairwell as the two reached it. This time Evabelle recognized it to be Calandra. "We have to get her!" Evabelle cried. Getting to the stairs was one thing; climbing down them was another. The place was shaking so badly, it was practically guaranteed to be a long painful fall. But Aza just swung her leg over the banister and hung on for her life, sliding it down as the jerking of the Earth threatened to toss her over the side. "Aza!" Evabelle cried after her. "Wait you—" Suddenly warm arms were around her again, swooping her from the floor in one movement, and soaring down the stairs, right where Lucis stood with his arms around the beautiful mage, who was hunched over and pale.
Evabelle jumped from Del's arms and ran to them. It was the first time Evabelle had ever seen Calandra look so disheveled. Her dark red hair was ratty and messy, her eyes were surrounded by dark circles as though she hadn't slept in months, and her skin was white and icy to the touch. "What's wrong?" Evabelle cried desperately as Aza jumped the last bit of the railing to the floor and staggered over to them.
Lucis opened his mouth. "I don't—"
"WHAT IN ALL THINGS IS GOING ON!" Tru screeched over everyone as she descended on her blue wings.
"That is the question, isn't it." Del grumbled.
"Shut up. I wasn't talking to you." Tru snapped at him. She knelt by Calandra, who was breathing heavily. "Calandra, what is happening? Why is—?" Another ground trembling jolt went through them, bringing everyone to their hands and knees.
Evabelle felt someone's hand on her shoulder. CJ had seemed to have materialized out of nowhere. His eyes were wide with apparent fear. "Are you alright?" He gasped. Evabelle nodded numbly then turned back to Calandra, who had begun speaking.
"The pentagram, it's... it's, broken. The walls are coming...coming...down!" Her cheeks suddenly flushed and she let out another painful cry.
Lucis's hands tightened on Calandra's shoulders. He looked up at them all; with one arm still supporting the ill mage. "Sanctuaries are connected to their creators. Not only is the barrier spells coming down, but there is something beating them down. Something is coming." His azure eyes darkened. "We are under attack."
The blood drained from Evabelle's face. "W-w-wait." Her voice was shaking so badly, she couldn't finish.
Tru shook her head. "That can't be. Most children of the night can't attack in broad daylight. We'd easily overpower them, so what could be attacking us now?"
"No," Calandra gasped. "It's not... morning."
Del's supernatural gaze bore into her. "It's eight A.M. I managed to see a clock. How is it not morning?"
Evabelle straightened. She never slept in until eight, normally. That didn't make sense. She looked out the window. There was light, but not much. It was either early morning or...early evening. Evabelle didn't realize it, but she had voiced her thoughts aloud. Everyone was staring at her. Calandra nodded.
"Evening?" Said Tru. "How is that possible?"
Del moaned suddenly. "Drugged!" He exclaimed. "We've all been drugged! That's the second time this month for me!"
Aza gave a huff and muttered, "When are you not on drugs?"
Faux, more or less, fell from the sky, just then, and landed unceremoniously in front of Evabelle causing her to fall into CJ. "Is it just me," Faux said, rising to his feet and shaking his head like a dog. "Or is the world spinning rather violently?"
Tru smacked him over the head which normally would not have knocked someone down, but with the quakes setting everyone's balance off, it sent Faux spiraling back to the floor. "Idiot." Tru grunted as she braced herself. "Can you just try and be serious?"
Faux just grinned up at her. "If I act serious, that makes the situation serious. I'd like to make this as fun as possible." Then he saw Calandra hunched over, looking as though she were about to hurl. He jumped to her feet. "Or, you know, I could try." He put a hand on her shoulder. "So catch me up."
The shaking suddenly stopped, and Evabelle, who was just starting to get used to it, fell forward. Calandra straightened at the abrupt moment of stillness. Lucis and Faux stood nearby, if she were to fall again. Her black eyes narrowed, glaring at the front door. There were two knocks on the door that echoed through the entry like gunshots.
Evabelle's heart thudded harshly against her ribcage as she stared at the doors. The ragged sound of everyone's breathing surrounded her. It was suffocating.
Rushed footsteps caused Evabelle's gaze to flash up to the top of the stairs. It was Kai with Gem clinging to him. Jewels circled the pair, agitatedly flicking her tail back and forth. Kai opened his mouth, but before he could utter a sound something slammed into all the windows, it seemed all at once giving off a huge cavernous bang.
Evabelle screamed and went to her knees. She put her arms over her head as though she could block out the monsters that were sure to get in and attack.
"Stop that!" Calandra exclaimed at Evabelle. She was obviously recovering from the earthquake. "Now is not the time to panic."
Aza was staring out of the window. "Well do tell me when that is. There are zombies out there." She gestured to the tall window by the doors, where a dark figure stood hunched over. His posture was twisted. He jerked his head back and forth, leering at them all with a lopsided grin as his hand slapped clumsily against the glass.
Calandra shook her head, her eyes darkening. "There are no such things as zombies. Those are possessed humans. They're more or less the same though. They're those who followed Satan originally, but got cold feet, but it was too late for them. They are the vagi, or the roaming spirits. They wander aimlessly, longing for a body. They are too afraid to ask of God's forgiveness, so instead they turn to the witches for help. Witches cannot give those things bodies of their own, but they will seal them to weak willed humans in return for slavery. The vagi are so desperate for bodies that they accept the deal, even if they can only stay in the bodies for a short while."
"They're so stupid." Tru muttered, eyeing the gaping creature. "Even being sealed to a body they're still not really connected to it. You can see they don't really have complete control of the human." The vagi's head rolled back and he let out a terrible strangled sort of sound.
"Is he trying to speak?" Aza asked.
The knocking increased around the house. There weren't many windows in the front room, but Evabelle realized that there must be a vagi at each one, for the clumsy pounding was sounding from all directions. "So a witch is behind this?" Evabelle asked. CJ's hand tightened on hers for just a moment.
"Not just witches." Kai had descended stairs and was approaching the window. He was looking passed the contorted form of the vagi and on to figure in a thick white cloak.
Aza went to stand beside him. "They must be burning up. Don't they know it's summer?"
Calandra's eyes widened. "Kolasi!" She swore in some other language, Evabelle was sure. "Vampires! The window could probably withstand the vagi for a time, but vampires, on the other hand." She ran over to the window and pulled the mauve drapes shut.
Evabelle blinked. "Vampires? You mean..." She glanced at Kai, who gave her a brief nod.
"Yes." He said. "The not so friendly ones. Those white cloaks can help reflect the light away from them." Kai explained. "As long as it's later evening. If it was in the middle of the day the cloaks wouldn't be much help."
Calandra whirled back them all. "Everyone go shut the curtains on all the windows!" She ordered. "The house is protected, but vampires could break the glass. The curtains should be able to keep them out long enough for us to call in help."
Everyone stood there for a moment. "GO!" Calandra yelled, exasperated. They all scattered. Evabelle dashed into the kitchen and went to the window. She hesitated for just a moment as her eyes caught sight of the vagi. This one was a woman. They all just looked so wrong. Her hair was a matted mess; her clothes were twisted and torn. They were like people living on the streets. And Evabelle wondered if that was exactly what they were. It would make the most sense, taking those that no one would miss and shoving evil souls inside them. The thought was awful, but so were witches. Evabelle bit her lip, went for the cord and tugged. The curtains swung shut. She ran to the next one and this time didn't ponder it. Out of the kitchen and into the next room, Evabelle closed drapery after drapery. How many windows are there? She thought as she tugged at another cord, but this one was stuck. No!
Evabelle had seen the hooded vampires circling the Sanctuary, but none had really tried to get in yet, but now, one had turned its head toward as if it could sense her struggle. Evabelle caught her breath as the sight of the smile lit the vampire's face, showing off his fangs. Dark hair swept on his forehead as he approached the window. Evabelle tugged harder, but the curtains refused to obey. "Wait, no, no, no!" Evabelle took a step away from the window as the vampire stepped up behind the vagi. He pressed an ice white palm against the glass. The window shattered.
Evabelle ducked and screamed as the glass fell around her. She felt the stings across her skin where the glass penetrated. She turned to run, but a hand groped out and caught her arm. Evabelle screamed louder. "NOOO!" She pulled, but surprisingly the vagi, though without much control of its temporary body, was rather strong. He wrapped both arms around her with a strangled laugh bubbling up in his throat. Evabelle squirmed and called out for anyone to help her. She gasped and shuddered as she felt the possessed man's tongue slide up her neck. "Let me go!" Evabelle whimpered, even though she knew it was useless.
Suddenly the Vagi released her with one of its harsh cries. Evabelle whirled to see Lucis with one of his glowing feathers blazing in the eyes of the Vagi. The possessed human crumpled, unconscious. Evabelle was breathing hard. "Th-thank you." She managed to say before she saw the hooded vampire leap into the room directly at Lucis's back. "LUCIS!" Evabelle screamed. But the Anahalian was ready he struck out with one of his wings. It flung the dark creature across the room, where is slammed into the opposite wall.
Evabelle gaped. She had no idea their wings were so strong. Lucis came to her. "Are you alright? We have to go—" The vampire wasn't out yet. With a snarl he leaped again, but this time a blur of gray streaked forward and caught the monster before he could hurt either of them.
Kai had come and was now wrestling with the cloaked beast. The bad vampire's hood slid back, revealing dark hair and sharp eyes. Evabelle marveled for a moment on how different Kai and this thing were. Kai's coloring was faded and washed out, but this vampire's features were sharp and hard to miss. "Stupid firstborn!" The dark vampire hissed. "You should be on our side!"
Kai laughed as he dodged his oppressor's fist. "Like I would ever be on your side."
Lucis grabbed Evabelle's arm. "You have to get out, now." Evabelle blinked at his swirling blue irises. "We can take care of this guy. Just go back to the entry. Hurry!" he gave her a small push toward the door.
Quickly, Evabelle obeyed and ran from the room, and back out to where they had all met when this had began. The sound of more glass breaking behind her, made Evabelle spin back to see Lucis bolting from the room and heading toward another where the sound had come from. "Go!" He told her again as ran out of sight.
"I—" More glass being blown out made Evabelle turn back to the entry. It sounded like it came from upstairs. Could vampires climb that high?
Gem screamed. At the top of the stairs, the little elf girl was running away from a cloaked figure. "Gem!" Evabelle cried.
The vampire caught Gem fairly quickly and slammed her against the wall that hid the library doors. Gem cried out in fear and pain.
Evabelle's heart thumped wildly. Kai was in the other room with his own vampire foe, and Lucis was off with his own as well. Evabelle had no idea where everyone else was, but she couldn't just let Gem... Evabelle took a step forward and paused. What could Evabelle do? She had already made it quite clear she couldn't handle these things.
Gem's scream brought Evabelle back as the vampire let out a deep cold laugh. It was different than the vagi. The vagi's was harsh and diluted, but the vampire's sharp and pure. No! Evabelle thought. I can't just sit here! But I'll just end up dying... Evabelle cursed herself for being so pathetic. Suddenly she thought of Chi being pinned to the wall. Would she just stand there and let the vampire kill him, or would she try to do everything she could to stop it.
Evabelle bolted for the stairs, but she had barely made it five steps up before Aza came crashing out of nowhere.
With her entire body, Aza flung herself against the monster. The vampire staggered away with a hiss. Gem crumpled against the wall, sobbing.
Somehow, Evabelle's best friend had found a long stick. It looked like the staffs that they had had during the fear training. Aza now swung the weapon around, but the vampire caught it and snapped it in half, but that didn't stop Aza. She took her broken piece of wood and thrust it forward like a sword. Once again the vampire caught it, but this time it pulled forward taking Aza with it. The beast caught her in an iron grip and snapped out his fangs to pierce her skin.
Evabelle's eyes widened. There was no physical way she could reach her. And what could she do if there was?
A black shadow shot down from the right stairway and bowled right into the demon and Aza. Del yanked Aza from the clutches of the beast. "You idiot!" He yelled at her. "What do you think you're doing?"
Aza jerked her arm free from him and glared. "Why is it that every time I save someone's life you have to criticize me for it?"
Del shook his head. "You're not saving someone when you're the one who ends up needing the saving!" He flicked his head toward Gem. "Take her and go!"
Gem rose to her feet and walked over to them. Aza kept her harsh gaze on the Anahalian. "Can't you admit that I'm helpful? Or is that just too painful for you?"
Del rolled his eyes. "You—" His eyes widened.
Evabelle saw it too. There were two more vampires darting toward them from where Del had flown from. And the vampire that had had Aza was on his feet, coming at Del from behind. Evabelle opened her mouth to let out a cry of warning, just as Del's arms thrust forward and caught both Aza and Gem, bringing them to him, just before the vampire from behind shoved him over the side of the railing.
All three tumbled down, and with no time to release his colossal wings, Del instead wrapped them around the three as they crashed to the floor in a black, feathery cocoon.
Evabelle just caught sight of Tru and Faux soaring from around the corner to take on the three vampires. She only prayed that they could handle them and leaped from the few stairs she had climbed and sprinted over to Del and the other two. "Are you alright?" Evabelle asked frantically as Del opened up his wings allowing the girls to roll out.
Gem, as pale as her brother clambered over to Evabelle and wrapped her small arms around her waist. Evabelle rested a hand on the little girl's head and watched as Aza rose to her feet still looking furious, and then Del with more or less the same expression. Evabelle gasped as she saw the slight off angle of one of his wings. "Your wing!"
Del waved her off. "Just bruised." Then he jabbed a finger at Aza. "And it's your fault!"
Aza put her hands on her hips. "My fault?" She yelled back at him. "My fault for you taking a nose dive off the railing?"
Del shook his head. "I didn't just decide that! I was shoved and you don't get to say anything about jumping off anything!"
Evabelle felt a small tug on her shirt. "Evabelle, is Kai alright?" She glanced at the little elf girl. The last she had seen Kai, he'd been battling a monster of his own. She turned to look at the room she had left him in, just as he was emerging from it, to her relief. Evabelle watched as a smudge of blood on his cheek unsure of whether it was his or the other vampire's, drip down his face. He seemed unaware as his tongue instinctively slid out and caught the small drop of blood.
Evabelle squeezed Gem's small hand. "He's fine, Gem."
A sudden bolt of lightning struck between Kai and Evabelle, right in the middle of the painted black star. Evabelle cried out and pulled Gem away. A great dark cloud was forming over everything and striking out along the rim of the star. "What's happening?" Gem screamed.
"I don't know!" Evabelle replied.
Aza stepped up by Evabelle with her hand up to block the wind that was now spiraling around them all. Evabelle noticed Del had returned back up to where Tru and Faux were battling the vampires, but now they were all distracted by this phenomenon as well. "Lightning storms indoors, what next?" Aza murmured beside Evabelle.
Another flash of lightning and a dark plume of smoke billowed up from the star. Evabelle held Gem close to her as she squinted through the cloud and saw a tall human form. The smoke swirled around him and Evabelle wondered if perhaps the time to run was now. What sort of monster was this?
The smoke cleared enough for a thin wiry older gentleman to be visible. His mouth was no more than a stiff line as his eyebrows knit together creating deep creases across his forehead. He had black hair and beard streaked with gray and eyes dark as charcoal that flashed dangerously. This man was furious.
He swung his arms around his head and roared out. "Ictus accudo!" And the storm cloud above his head echoed his thunderous cry and flashed once more and struck out at the vampires attacking the Anahalians on the staircase. The hooded beings flew through the air and crumpled against the far wall.
Evabelle stared at this man with her mouth agape. What kind of power was that? Who was this? "Is that Velrose?" Gem asked in a small voice, so that Evabelle barely heard her. She glanced down at the child. Her blind eyes were wide but shining with the tears of fear that she had held back. Evabelle couldn't even imagine what it must be like; hearing all the shouting and footsteps; the shattering glass, the feeling of falling and cold hands holding her in an iron grip, yet not seeing any of it just the feel and sounds of chaos surrounding you. Evabelle held Gem closer to her.
"Who's Velrose?" Aza asked the little girl.
"Callie's dad." Gem whispered.
Evabelle glanced back and the formidable man that stood in the center of it all. Now she could see the dark green robes that flapped around him through the mist. They were just like Calandra's. Suddenly the man's eyes flickered onto Evabelle, Aza, and Gem. "Bring me Calandra!" He bellowed at them.
"I'm here!" Calandra ran out from behind the three. Amazingly after all of this, she looked better than she had when Evabelle had first seen her that morning. Somehow Calandra had found the time to pull her glossy hair back, her face before had been streaked with black make-up now looked as perfect as ever. It wasn't fair.
"Father, the Sanctuary—" Calandra began.
Velrose waved her off. "I am aware. The council is doing what they can. Bring everyone to the star immediately. We are leaving."
Calandra's eyes widened. She opened her mouth as though to protest but closed it reconsidering. She nodded and swept away.
Velrose returned his sharp gaze back to them. "You three, get on the star." He snapped.
Evabelle's eyes darted around at the painted mark on the tile that had just moments ago been alight with lightning strikes. She gave Gem a squeeze before the girl broke away from her. "Gem." Evabelle whispered. "Wait."
"Kai?" She went toward the man in the star.
"Gem!" Kai cried running to her from the opposite side. Evabelle had lost track of him after Velrose's appearance. He bowled right into his little sister, sweeping her off her feet and held her close. "Are you alright?"
Gem returned her brother's embrace, burying her face in his neck. "I am if you are."
Jewels streaked out of nowhere and ran into the pair of siblings. Her fur was spiked out in all directions and her eyes were about the size of saucers.
Aza brushed Evabelle's shoulder. "Well, I suppose we should listen to the crazy wizard."
Evabelle bit her lip. "I—"
"Look out!" CJ cried suddenly and Evabelle felt his hand on her back shoving her forward just as one of the hooded vampires seemed to swoop out of nowhere, nearly taking off both her and Aza's heads and crashed right into CJ.
Evabelle watched the vampire tear at CJ, who was currently pinned underneath the beast, with long nails that were more like claws. CJ arched his back at the pain, but he was in no position to get the vampire off him. "CJ!" Evabelle heard her own and Aza's voice's scream as one. Aza darted forward.
"No!" Exclaimed Del as he swooped down from the staircase. "Get to the star!" He then tackled the vampire, getting him off the wounded boy.
Aza clenched her teeth. "I'm not leaving him!" She yelled and continued to him.
"IDIOT!" Del roared as he threw another blow at the vampire. "I can't save you every few seconds!"
"Then don't!" Aza screamed at him and gasped as Tru suddenly scooped her up and dumped her by Velrose and the siblings at the black star, where they were currently fighting off monsters of their own.
"Just shut up and stay put." Tru hissed at her and swooped back to the fray.
"NO!" Velrose shouted. "Everyone get to the star now!"
Evabelle was still staring at CJ's form, which was awfully still. He had a large gaping wound in his shoulder where the blood was beginning to pool on the cold floor. Evabelle shook herself and took a step to him herself just as a hand closed around her wrist and began to drag her in the opposite direction. Her head whipped around and glared at Faux who was taking her to the star. "Sorry, your highness, but your safety is a priority." He told her.
When they reached the star Aza came by her side. "CJ is our friend." She glared at Faux too. "If you even think about leaving him—"
Faux nodded. "It never crossed my mind. We will help him." He was just about to go and help when Velrose held out a hand.
"No, I need everyone here." Calandra's father said. Just then Calandra and Lucis came running out. The older mage nodded at them. "Get on now." He instructed and they complied. Velrose turned back to Tru and Del. "You two get that boy and get on the star."
One of the vagi that had managed to get in was heading toward them. Velrose swung his arms around and another crackle of lightning sparked in his direction. "NOW!" He thundered.
Tru dropped the vampire she had had, which fell and landed with a sickening thud, and spun back and flew to the painted shape. Del gave one more punch, sending his foe spiraling and ducked down, swooped up CJ, and streaked to where the rest of them were.
"Put the boy down." Velrose instructed. "I need you four to put up a barrier around the star." The vampires and vagi surrounded them all now. Evabelle stood frozen and was only shaken out of it when Del laid CJ gently on the floor at her feet.
Evabelle fell to her knees by his side. He was so pale. "CJ," She whispered.
His eyes fluttered and Evabelle took a deep breath. "Am I dead?" He rasped.
"Don't even think it." Aza had come by Evabelle, kneeling at CJ's side. "You saved our lives. If you died, I wouldn't have paid off my debt. I can't have that."
CJ laughed softly and winced, grabbing at his shoulder.
Aza shook her head. "Careful." She murmured.
Evabelle looked up to see the four Anahalians at a corner of the star with a different colored feather floating in front of each of them. They were all chanting in that weird spell language. A dim light pulsed from each feather and now Evabelle saw the vagi just inches from them, but they couldn't go any further. They appeared to be walking in place, swinging their arms, but unable to get past the invisible barrier. The vampires all stood just watching them. A few had removed their hoods and Evabelle caught sight of their terrifyingly perfect features.
Other chanting brought Evabelle's gaze to Calandra and her father. They stood at the very center of the star. Their gazes were locked and their arms were raised. Their chanting was is complete unison. Evabelle could feel the energy stirring the air. She grasped CJ's hand and held it tight. Closing her eyes, perhaps Evabelle thought she could shut out all of this, but all the voices were beginning to blur together, giving her a headache.
Just when she thought she was drowning in the sounds of gibberish and the chilling moans of the vagi it all stopped. Silence.
Evabelle opened her eyes. They were no longer in the Sanctuary. In fact they were longer anywhere. All those who had been on the star stood in the same position as they had moments ago, but their surroundings were completely blank. It was so unnaturally still and devoid of... anything. Evabelle shivered. Something about this place was very wrong.
"Where are we?" Evabelle said. Her voice carried strangely, echoing harshly or softly on her own ears.
Calandra stepped away from her father, her footsteps not making a sound, but maybe that was because there was no ground for your feet to make sounds. Her dark eyes were narrowed and her posture stiff. She didn't like this place either. She took a deep breath that also created strange vibrations, which warbled through the place, and yet remained deathly still. "We are in Oblivion."
~(A/N: Sorry for the super long update, but here's the rest of chapter 10? What do you think? Was it intense? Anyways, I'm planning on only doing author notes only at the end of chapter so that includes the challenges!
This chapter's challenge is a "most" challenge. So I have 10 "most" questions. They are all for you to answer about one of the characters at the Sanctuary. Rule: you can only use each character once. Alright here we go...
Who do you want to kiss the most?(best question first :b)
Who do you want to slap the most?
Who do you want to kill the most?
Who scares you the most?
Who makes you laugh the most?
Who makes you cry the most?
Who bores you the most?
Who excites you the most?
Who do you relate to most?(why?)
Who do you wish you were most?(if you could choose to be one of them)
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