"Echo your thoughts in ours? Destroy! Destroy!"

- Louis Macneice, "Brother Fire"

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Soundtrack of the chapter: Dark Times are Upon Us by Immediate Music

Media: This is totally irrelevant but I just gotta show off a beautiful artwork a lovely friend made for me--it's a story header!

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Chapter Thirty: Arise

Eli tried to look away when Jasper and Cady entered the Healing chambers, laughing and holding hands. She didn't seem to notice that Eli was in the room. She whispered something to Jasper, who grinned and gave her hair a tug. Cady swung around, saw Eli and the smile slipped from her face. She coughed and shuffled her feet, stealing a glance at Jasper.

He wanted to stride over and punch that protective look from Jasper's face. It bugged him that he couldn't as he was his savior. Oh, Cady, he thought. "Why did you choose him?"

"Good morning," Jasper said casually. "What do you need?"

Eli tried not to stare at their intertwined hands. "I-I am here for the last dose of the Blood flower concoction."

The other boy gently shook Cady's fingers from his and strode over to the huge cabinet at the back of the room. He threw the doors open and picked a small vial from the neat row. Holding it up to the sunlight, he gave a satisfied nod at the scarlet liquid and handed it to Eli. "Glad to see you're recovering fast."

Cady dropped onto a stool. He couldn't help but to notice she was avoiding his gaze, playing with her thumbs again. His spirits lifted when he saw a golden gleam on her ring finger. She hadn't thrown away the Celestial ring; he might still stand a chance.

Jasper gave Eli a solid thump on the back: a friendly gesture, but Eli was in no mood for his attempt at friendship. He would rather return the pat with a punch.

"Are you ready for your crowning?" he asked. "You should be on your way to the main halls now."

"Planning to do so once I get this last dose." He raised the vial to Jasper's face, as if toasting to his health. He wrenched off the stopper and downed it in one go, ignoring the horrible ashy taste which lingered behind as it went down his throat. He plonked the glass bottle into the sink and straightened his robes.

"Jasper, mind if I have a word with Cady?" he asked, holding back his emotions, trying not to let them seep through the cracks of his façade. "You don't have to ask," he said. "I'll leave you two to it."

He rose and left the room, closing the door behind him. Eli felt a sudden coldness seep into the room, hanging around them like a heavy cloud that refused to dissipate. Cady brushed her hair aside, eyeing him with huge eyes.

Eli exhaled, his hands balling up the fabric of his robes. "Cady, listen...I don't want you to remember whatever happened the other day. Just, pretend it never happened. I don't want it to ruin our relationship."

Cady broke into a toothy grin. "I was hoping you would say that."

He held out a hand. "So, friends again?"

She shook it solemnly. "Friends."

Although Eli had a beaming smile on his face, he was shattering inside. He didn't want them to be mere friends, but rather something more than that. But at the same time, he didn't want Cady to hate him by forcing himself on her. He swore to himself that he would try, no matter how long it took, he would try to win her heart.

He jerked his chin toward the door. "Are you and him...?"

She blushed, hiding her face behind her hair. "Yeah..." she answered, a shy sound coming from between strands of red curls. Cady suddenly reached out and squeezed him on the arm. "I didn't have a chance to thank you before."

Eli was bewildered. "Thank me for what?"

Cady laughed, gesturing at her hand. "The ring of course! It's beautiful."

"Oh, for a moment you've got me confused," he laughed.

She cast him a thoughtful look, the kind where she looked like she wanted to tell him a secret, but decided it wasn't the time. "I'll see you on the crowning ceremony. I don't want to keep Jasper waiting for too long."

The mention of his name sent spike of jealousy arching through him. He looked away, trying to hide the bitterness oozing from his face. "See you in a few then."

She left first. Eli paused for a few minutes, staring at the door which swung shut, slamming into the metal frames. It sounded louder than before. He wondered if it was because Cady had used too much force or his heart had been hollowed out by someone who could not love him back. His hand closed around the handle and yanked it, so hard it almost banged into his nose. Snarling, he dusted his robes and strode down to his chambers where he quickly showered and changed into a set of fresh robes sewn by the Feorhs.

Eli stood before the mirror, eyeing his reflection. He felt like a different man, just like how regal the person looked in his reflection: white and gold robes, folded over and over by the sleeves which marks his soon to be status as the High Priest of the Hall of Spirits. He could already imagine the crown resting on this head, heavy in weight as well as the great responsibility that came with it. His eyes landed on his old staff leaning by his dresser. Picking it up, he ran his hands over the polished wood, smiling at the familiar touch.

After giving the jewel an affectionate rub, he placed it on his dresser and walked out.

The crowning ceremony would be taking place in the main hall. As per tradition, he was not allowed to see the place. His thoughts went to his grandfather. For more than four decades, Raphine was the ruler of the Hall of Spirits, master and patron of the Oracles. Today, that duty would fall onto him.

No one dared to question Raphine why he would suddenly give up the throne. But he knew. Raphine was getting sick, a chill he caught since the death of his father and his uncle. The best Healers in the Hall had suppressed the chill with their secretive magic, magic which he was never allowed to touch. But now with all the Healers dead and gone, there was no one who could treat him. Eli had suggested that Raphine should see Jasper, but his grandfather had waved the offer down, saying that it was nothing a Physician could do to save him.

"I'm already an old man, Eli," Raphine had said. "It's time for me to step down from the politics. It is a new era for your generation. My time is over."

Staring at the great doors swinging open, Eli tried to imagine himself sitting on the throne, directing the Feorhs about, leading the council meetings as well as writing reports for the High Priest of the Hall of Games.

He walked down the red carpet. Hundreds of eyeballs swiveled and landed upon him, followed by a blanket of quietude. He spotted Cady among the many heads. Almost at once, the image of her holding hands with Jasper flashed by. Eli picked up his pace, ignoring the stares of his soon to be subjects.

His grandfather stood by the throne, the crown nested in his old hands. His robes were washed to the point of blinding, as were the jewels on his many rings. He looked tired, more than before. Eli's heart went warm in his chest. He loved his grandfather. He was a father, mother and brother to him. When he had no one to confide in, there was always his grandfather, a reckonable force which he can rely on without being afraid of getting hurt.

For Eli, it was easy to look past Raphine's misgivings to the Hall of Shadows. He did it all for his family, to avenge his father and mother, as well as his uncles and cousins and thousands of dead comrades.

He almost laughed. There were no more Walkers now. At least, in his reign, his empire wouldn't be threatened by the opposite force of the Oracles.

He knelt down before Raphine and repeated the vows he had spent the past few days hammering into his memory. As each word fell, it burned his lips, reminding him of his sacred oath to protect his people. A strange buzz filled the air, spreading the sweet scent of magic of his words. When he finished reciting the oath, Raphine raised the crown where it caught the splendor of the sun, still sparkling when it was laid on his head.

Eli rose to his feet, almost kneeling over when his feet skidded on the elaborate sides of his robes. But somehow, he managed not to do so. A thunderous round of applause greeted him as he turned around. He remembered in the older days, the newly appointed High Priest or High Priestess would hold up their arms like they were embracing everyone in the room. He did just that, bringing the applause and cheering a notch higher.

He cast a look at his grandfather. "Would you like to give a speech?"

Raphine smiled. "I thought you would never ask, kiddo."

He walked up to the edge of the raised platform. All it took to silence the Oracles was a single raised finger which came down to his waist in a short while.

A deep breath penetrated the silence before it was thawed by the deep boom of Raphine's voice. "Fellow Oracles, at long last I can stand down from the throne. I am more than proud to see my young grandson ascend to the place of High Priest. He was a truly talented and remarkable Oracle, mature for his age and far more experienced in council affairs than anyone I know."

Eli felt his cheeks burn. He wasn't very comfortable when his grandfather showered him with compliments in the public. It gave him way too much attention than needed.

"I am certain Eli will be a very responsible leader. He will follow in my footsteps, and we will do whatever it needs to protect our home."

A firm voice suddenly pierced the air, making every head swivel toward him. Jasper walked out toward the aisle, his eyes burning. Eli could see Cady tug at his hand, trying to pull him back. But Jasper shrugged her hand off.

"Even destroy an entire civilization?" he said, both eyes burning right through Raphine.

Eli stepped forward. "Jasper, this isn't a time for history," he hissed.

The dark haired boy ignored him. His entire being was focused on Raphine. His hair, dark as the night, danced dangerously in an invisible breeze, stark against his deathly pale skin. A dark aura emanated from him, so thick and viscous, Eli could almost taste it. Was it...loathe?

"Master Silverbird, I'm having a speech here," Raphine said calmly, even when his face betrayed surprise.

"In the past, you led us to war, a war that tore two Halls apart. Today, you're teaching the new leader resolution by armed force?"

Raphine drew to his full height, his face dark and his eyes blazing. "Eli will do whatever it takes for the best interests of the Hall, even lead the next war if it comes to it."

Jasper laughed--a cold, cruel laugh that made the hairs at the back of Eli's neck stand, sending a chill pouring through the windows and into the Hall. Jasper gripped the side of the pew, doubling over, still laughing.

The entire Hall had gone eerily quiet, static. Cady stared at Jasper with wide, horrified eyes.

"You never learn, do you?" he asked, pacing up to the platform. "What happened to your oaths never to act on impulse? What happened to your given word on violence? I understand now. Every politician in the world is a fraud, cutting the lives of the innocent for their own selfish whims. You're no different. You're a tyrant, a bloody coward!"

A collective gasp went up from the crowd, shocked that someone had hurled insults at the most important man in the Hall of Spirits. Raphine slammed a fist on the wooden banisters surrounding the stage. The wood shattered upon impact, splinters spurting everywhere. Someone screamed, ducking under the pews.

Eli took a step back. His grandfather looked absolutely infuriated. White light was already starting to seep from his fingers, ready to burst forth and zap Jasper into smithereens once that thin strand of self-control snapped.

Jasper wasn't even intimidated. He pointed a finger at Raphine, a finger filled with so much hate, it seemed to burn a red line through the air. Eli started at Jasper, too shocked for words. All these months, he had never managed to see the hate that boiled underneath his skin, or through the mask he had paraded. He wanted to scream. Who are you?!

"You've been given far too many chances, Raphine Sanguinis," Jasper said, a malicious glint dancing in his eyes. "Death shall reap the one who started it all."

He turned on his heel and left the Hall, without noise and without a sound. The curtains breezed behind him and he vanished.

The silence was shattering. No one dared to move, no one dared to make a sound. Until finally, a scream pierced the air, reverberating through the entire Hall like a spear-the terrible scream of a mandrake.

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A/N

Welp, that escalated *very* quickly. The man he seems to be isn't quite the man he seems be after all! An Oracle betraying his people to...what? Dark times has fallen on the Hall of Spirits for a second time. This time, they won't escape as easily as they did in the past.

Hit me with your thoughts! >:)

Pudding with silver coins,

Stef