Voices

The night was cool and quiet around the temple. There was no single noise heard, except for the momentary hallows of night owls, and squeaks of bats swaying around and flapping their leathery wings. The temple, among all other places in the realm, was regarded as the quietest, and the secret to this was due to its distance away from residential buildings. Although it was situated in the center of town, it was still far from the buildings, because the buildings near it weren't residential buildings, they were structures like the center arena, the mine, and the dungeon.

Although the temple was endowed with peace and quietness, this night, the case was the opposite that for Zelta, who twisted and turned on her bed, she was finding it hard to sleep. Every of her attempt to shut her eyes was followed by the image of Gideon, obstructing her innermost mind. She blamed herself continuously for his death, and she was still unable to forgive herself for sending him out to his death. She lifted her head from the cold damp pillow but could see nothing but the void shadowy forms of the very few pieces of furniture, backlit by the dying lamp fire. She sighed, realizing that she had been imagining things. She fell back on the bed, giving her all to sleep, but the sleep she sought to have, wouldn't come. She jolted back up again, after some minutes, as if she was struck by something. Glancing around the room, Zelta saw no one around the steps, or in there with her. Slowly, she laid her head down on the bed, willing herself to sleep, but sleep wouldn't come. She jolted back up from the bed again, this time to her feet. She looked so confused.

"What was that?" she muttered to herself, she felt like she had been hearing a voice, which was impossible, because no one was in there with her, and she couldn't hear anything going on outside, from inside there. She looked around the shadow-cast room, went close to the door, and checked the dark steps, leading to the outside, but there was no one else there. She took in a deep breath, then gulped down the whole quantity of water in the stainless brass cup on the table.

"I must've been worrying myself way too much," she muttered to herself, sitting by the end of the bed, in the silent chamber.

She stood up and tip-toed close to the dim light of the lamp. She was holding the pendant of the necklace she was wearing, twisting its string around her finger. She took off the necklace now, and studies it, as it brought back memories. This necklace had been so special and irreplaceable to Zelta, it had in its treasure store, significant, and lasting memories with the priestess. It has been to her a comforter, and a symbol of hope, even till now she was passing through sorrow. This necklace was given to her by her mother; the late priestess, a month before her painful demise, along with a box, which she thought to be dumb and worthless. She had followed her mother's dying wish, by keeping the necklace as her most priced possession, but the box, she abandoned. The pendant of the necklace was gold in color, and smooth egg-shaped, it glittered in the light. She took it close to her lips and kissed it softly.

"Mother, I wish you can hear me from wherever you are," she muttered, looking intensely at the golden pendant on her palm.

"I want to tell you that... I can't get some sleep anymore, these horrible nightmares keep tormenting me all through the night. The moment I close my eyes, I see his face, his innocent eyes looking straight at me in regret. I wish you could make them stop, I wish you were here to sing to me one of your lullabies," she said in a soliloquy.

Since sleep won't come, she just slid back into bed, throwing the already tangled covers over her body, covering herself completely with them. She was awake throughout the night, watching and listening. The shadows cast on the four walls, and ceiling, were in form of frightening images of imaginary creatures. She saw one with the form of a demon, with seven crooked horns, and sharp fangs, another like a large tiger, with terrifying saba teeth, protruding out of the upper jaw, and another, a fire-breathing serpent, that circled the ceiling. They appeared to be surrounding her, this night got scarier than ever. Zelta stayed still, using the sheets as a shield against anything hideous, that roamed this horrible night. She didn't hear any more voices again. Finally, she dozed off, the sleep taking her unawares.

Zelta woke up very late the next day. Head heavy, and eyes red and stinging painfully. So weak she was, that she couldn't even summon enough strength to roll out of bed. This outcome was a result of her not having reasonable rest at night. The imaginary creatures that clung to the ceiling and walls the previous night were gone now, this relieved her somehow, even though she knew she was just imagining things. The bright rays of yellow light from outside were burning her eyeballs, and the veins in them. A messenger guard had been waiting since at the door, to give her her breakfast. She was getting dizzy. Her temperature abnormally rose, higher than never before. She was shivering aggressively, clattering her teeth. She had developed a terrible fever.

"Hay blonde, aren't you gonna take this food? I don't have all day," said the messenger guard.

Zelta was breathing heavily, sweating like someone who just ran from extreme distances.

"I... I have n... no app...itite," she managed to reply, with a tremendously shaky voice, showing that she was shivering.

"Well that's your problem," replied the messenger guard, "I only do what I'm assigned, and right now I'm assigned to serve you breakfast."

He forced the food through the spaces in between the bars of the door and dropped it on the floor.

"You look sick," he said to Zelta.

"The food is here. Whenever you're ready," he added, then he left.

Zelta remained on her bed, she was in immense pain.

Early that morning, as she was busy in the lab, Zain heard a knock on the main entrance door of the house.

"Zain!" called her father; Munt, from upstairs.

He was calling her because of the knocking he heard.

"Don't worry father, I'll go get the door!" she replied from the lab, as she made her way to the main room, where the entrance door was she casual went to open the door, it was quite the norm, hearing a knock on the door every morning. Maybe one of the neighbors had come with another health issue for her to treat, she thought. As she opened the door, her heart leaped into her throat, by the people who were standing outside the door. What on earth were they doing there? Why have they come? These were the questions she kept on asking herself. One thought raced through her mind now. Let it not be, let it not be, she said continuously within her. She was scared to death, but she didn't show fear. They were both looking at her like they wanted to tear her apart and devour her.

"Good morning sirs, what brings you both to our wonderful abode," she said to them.

"Oh wait, let me call him," she said.

"Papa... Papa...!" she called her father, "You've got visitors!" she said.

After a short period of time, Zain's father came to the main room, eager to know who came to see him, at his house. Zain helped him to the chair.

"Where are the people that came to visit me?" asked Munt; her father.

"They're right outside Papa," answered Zain.

"Let them come in," said Munt.

Zain came to the door, where they stood.

"Papa says, come in," she told them.

They both came inside the house and sat down on the couch.

"I must ask, who are you people, and what actually brings you here?" asked Munt.

"Zain, go prepare tea for the guest," he said to Zain; his daughter.

The men have been quiet ever since they came Right now, one of them broke the silence.

"Actually, we haven't come to see you, we have come to see your daughter," said one of them.

"My daughter?" said Munt, looking so puzzled.

"Me?!" exclaimed Zain, scared to death.

"Why would you want to see... me?" she said.

"Yes, why have you come to see my daughter?" asked Munt curiously.

Zain recognized one of them, it was Raja, and another one, with overgrown beards, and heavyweight, like that of a tree trunk.

"It's none of your business, old man, we're here for a very important matter. De voe sent us himself," said the big one.

The mention of the name: De voe, suddenly changed the mood of Zain's father.

"De voe? So that means you're his followers," said Zain's father.