Bloodlines of Archaea I. Afira
Our Way Out

He nodded, saying, “hold on tight and stay close behind me.”

“Okay,” I whispered, grabbing his hand in my own, I watched my other, holding it up to my face as it quickly disappeared. We continued to walk down the hall.

We trudged down the halls, looking for a way out. We walked into open-doored rooms, with nothing ever knowing we had been in the same room. Even those who could smell or hear us trusted their own sight over their other senses. Some even seemed to feel our presence but decided we weren’t there because they couldn’t see us. I marveled at their inability to trust in their knowledge. “This is why I’m always nervous,” he whispered into my ear as we paused at one of the rooms, looking for a way out. “It’s because we rely too much on our eyes. Just because we can’t see something doesn’t mean it isn’t there. I know all too well how easy it is to hide your presence, so I always assume something is there, lurking in the shadows,” he tightened his grip on my hand as he spoke.

Finally, after so long of walking through the dark halls, we eventually came upon a room filled with guards of shadow creatures and trolls much like the ones we had previously seen. Instead each creature held a large weapon at their side, some carrying tall spears, while others held clubs or swords. My stomach churned at the sight of them, as I thought of what any of those weapons could do to either Akuma or I. They guarded a large door at the end of the long room. It was wide open and showed a way into the outside. The tree branches blew lighty against a peaceful island night, almost calling out to us. We stepped lightly across the floor, moving silently and just barely breathing as we did. The ears of the single-eyed trolls perked up on their fat-rolled heads. The shadow creatures lurked above us, swaying silently in the wind, their old bones seeming to a creek with each and every movement, their long fingers reaching down. I put my free hand on the handle of my sword, wrapping my calloused palm around the stolen metal, I clenched my teeth, walking warily.

Step by step, the door came closer. The mountainous beasts on either side of us looked down at us, their noses twitching in the air. They seemed to be fighting the urge to move closer and see exactly what we were. Akuma’s hand began to tremble. I tried to steady it with my own, hoping to keep him from losing concentration. He seemed to be in deep pain, trying desperately to stay invisible until we were safely outside. His breathing increased harshly, although I could tell how hard he was trying to stay quiet. The door was only a few feet in front of us at that point. A fresh island breeze blew into the dust-filled room, warming our faces. I watched as the shadows above drifted slightly lower, almost as if worried to break formation, but knowing of our presence. I stepped onto the warm sand outside of the door, just as Akuma gasped and fell to the ground. I looked down at his hand, wathching black sparks cut deeply into Akuma’s skin and then disappear, leaving behind a giant scar. I winced, before realizing we were visible to every one of the single-eyed trolls and shadow creatures which inhabited the room we had left. All eyes turned to me. I cursed in an ancient language, quickly picking Akuma up and using all my strength to drag him farther from the door. I was shocked by how long it took each creature to abandon their post and run through the doorway after us. After reaching us, I dropped Akuma gently near a rock for coverage and balled a flame in one hand, watching it fight the darkness away for a moment. I drew my blade from its resting place in the sheath by the side of my leg.

“I wish not to fight,” I yelled confidently at the growing army which was still pouring from the doorway. “I, Queen Afira of the Island of Skyfire have taken entire armies to the grave. With the power of the gods in my blood, we may come to an agreement,” I paused for a moment. “I am sure the word of my arrival had spread, tales of the powers I hold in my veins. We may come to an agreement,” I said, “and if not, then you may join your friends in the ground,” I finished, arranging my face into that of a warrior’s.

“We have orders never to allow the Queen of Skyfire to leave the island,” a shadow creature yelled through the darkness.

I nodded the flame in my hand growing and becoming fiercer, roaring menacingly. “If that’s how you want it,” I said, then tossed the flame at a large group of shadow creatures, watching as they exploded in flaming ashes and fell to the ground, screaming, their weapons evaporating into nothingness along with their bodies. I chose to ignore the pain in my chest which came from doing so, instead focussing on bringing another ball to my hands as the monstrous, single-eyed creatures began to rock their broad shoulders unsteadily, dragging large clubs and spears behind them. I gulped and walked slowly farther from the approaching giants, hoping to focus on the shadow creatures which moved faster. Most of them carried long, slender swords with silver skulls at the handle.

I aimed carefully for the middle of the crowd of shadows. I threw the flame, watching it fly like a meteor through the dark sky, until finally, it hit the target area, burning a hole in many of the creatures and then enveloping them in flames. I ignored their screams, keeping my mind sharp as I had to dodge diving spirits above which swooped down close to me, their sharp pointed blades drawn. Waves crashed against the rocks, almost like a symphony in perfect sync with the first battle of the chosen one.