CHAPTER NINE

AURORA

"Is it really you?" I asked dumbfounded

The hooded figure abruptly stops stroking my chin, it reaches up and deftly pulls down the hood revealing a skeletal face with a pit black darkness occupying its eye sockets

"this is what I have become daughter'' he says in a raspy voice "nothing but a mere shadow''

He reaches for me and I instinctively back away afraid, he pulls back immediately and his features slump

"why do you fear me daughter?" He asked "My form may be very hideous, but surely you must recongize your own father"

The figure whatever it was, was lying through it's teeth, I could feel it

"My father's soul was pure of heart, yours is the dimmest of night, tainted by pure evil, your soul is condemned"

I have no idea how I know that but I speak those words with utter conviction and as soon as they are spoken the figure throws back it's head and let's out a word sound, it's entire skeletal frame shakes through the hood and in a moment I realize that he's laughing

"Clever girl" he rasps " never mind that now, it's good to see that you're coming into your power"

"W-who are you?" I asked, moving farther from him

"That's not important now" it said and in a flash, it closes the distance between us and grabs my face with its skeletal fingers

"Your questions aren't important my love, soon even the world will know us, but awaken for now and wait for me my queen but first" it said

Its fingers left my chin and suddenly it gripped my head and muttered some strange blend of words and instantly the memories I'd acquired began to fade

"Sorry love" it rasped into my ears " but those memories aren't mine to give, I'd just have to take it back,but don't worry I'll leave our little encounter intact"

I struggled to no avail but the bag of bones maintained it's grip until every single one was completely washed off my mind, it then let me go and I crumpledyo the ground sobbing

"Don't cry darling, soon we'll have forever" it said

A searing pain washes over me as he resumes his chanting and soon I am quaking on the floor

"It's back to reality for you now, don't have too much fun with lover boy" it rasps

The wind how's as he chants even louder and the pain becomes unbearable, I close my eyes to embrace the oncoming darkness and I hear it whisper one last time

"See you soon my queen"

And then everything stops, the pain, the howling of the wind, the horrible metallic rasping, it all just stops, and then I open my eyes to the light

UNKNOWN

He'd gone to see her, he'd gone against all odds, just to see her and as usual I was stuck handling all the in-betweens, as I chanted the revatilization spell, to give the skeleton a new life, I felt the energy leave me in waves, my body was not meant to entomb the power needed for this

"Master" I telepathically called to him "hurry!"

"Don't rush me" he snarled over the link "just a few seconds longer"

After what seemed like forever, I called out to him again, but was turned down repeated, with a final grunt I gave all it all the power I could muster and collapsed on the floor

"Master get out now!" I rasped weakly

The skeleton begins to crumble and just when, it seems like master would have to deal with a new limbo state, he exits the body.

"Insolent fool!" He snapped " were you trying to get me trapped?!"

"I'm sorry master" I said weakly "not enough energy"

"Pathetic" he spat " that is what you are without me and my power, always remember that" he says

I feel him flow through me once again and soon instantly I am renewed

"Onward" he says harshly "we have guests to prepare for!"

TERRENCE

I'm halfway through the stairs when Aurora ear splitting scream hits me, my legs move faster and in a flash I am by her side

"What happened" I spat out angrily

"She was doing alright I swear and then all of a sudden she starts screaming" he says "she's probably in a oneiroi talk, might explain why she won't awaken"

"Snap her out of it"

I said grimly

"I can't, she might lose part of herself and the it takes time, you know that, just stay with her and I'll see what your father wants"

And just then father voice booms through the house

"Son I know you're I there, I just want to talk" he says

At that instant Aurora begins to moan something about giving her memories back, she shakes abruptly, lets out another ear splitting scream and opens her eyes,

Her eyes were completely black and devoid, it was like she possessed no emotion

"Aurora" Horus calls out " are you in there?"

She doesn't answer us instead she stand up and makes a beeline for the door as my dad's voice resonated round the house, we follow her as she storms out of the house to face my father.

QALOS

The door is blown off his hinges and she walks out unscathed, her eyes, it was just like her father's, completely black and soulless, I shivered in equal amounts of anticipation and fear,

"I just want to talk" I said

I tense up waiting for her to probably strike, but instead she cocks her head in a confused manner and speaks

"I am confused" she says in a harsh tone " why bring a legion to just 'talk'"

She proceeds to snifc the air and a small lopsided smile forms on her face

"Forty five minor warrior gods for little ole me" she says "I must have quite the reputation around here, but I prefer my 'talks' to be one on one"

Instantly the earth opens her maw and one by one, I see my warriors sucked into her pit, they wail and scream yet to no avail, she shows no remorse or pity, I was wrong she was nothing like her father

"That's better" she says once every trace of my warriors have disappeared "now we can have that little talk"

She gives a small smile and I readied myself.