Destiny Enslaved (editing)

Part 2

I was standing on the dock. Night had long been established. I looked around quickly to take in as much information as I could. I saw Algeciras. The bazaar was bustling in the light of torches. I stood confused. Why would I be seeing this? Nothing seemed out of place.

Then I heard the splash. I whipped my head around to look out to sea. Nothing could be seen in this darkness of the new moon- not even where the water met the sky. Then it came again. a splash only this time it was followed by a trickling. But I saw nothing. Until suddenly a creature of darkness glided into the oblivious light of the city. A dragon's head came silently towards me. I wanted to scream to run and warn them but I did nothing. I froze as my heart pounded and my blood ran like ice. I was afraid. So afraid I wanted to crumble and beg for help.

The dragon was a few feet away from me now. It made no sound still. Then a thump of knocking wood. And the dragon became smoke from which a monstrously large man stormed through with determination. Blonde hair. azure blue eyes refused the light of the city. He scowled moving closer. I fell back and landed on the soft dirt of the market. Around me, people ran, stood frozen, or charged with desperation. All screamed at their attackers. Men of darkness swept through cutting down all who could not outrun them. The lights vanished and I was in  darkness. The forms crept through this environment and melted into shadows. Men fell limp before them until finally, they came to a set of golden doors. The lock clicked like a death knell and I saw a woman in crimson weeping silent and still.

White consumed the sight and I was back in the bath house.

The maids surrounded me in silence. I realised that my back was arched off the ground, my muscles tight all over. ''calm, Lady seer, calm. You are back.'' The eldest of the maids spoke. She spoke softly and kindly. I was surprised to see something other than fear from someone who had seen me experience the hilm (sacred vision). But instead, as I eased my muscles into my lying position I allowed my head to loll to one side, I saw awe in their faces. They knelt beside me, one or two prayed, and the others whispered frantically to one another. I looked to the kinder old woman seeking her help in calming the cacophony which was smashing like waves onto my rock of a head.

She raised her hands to those behind her blindly. Yet they knew their place and the whispering ceased.  closest to me, She leant down to gaze into my eyes. Groggily I knew I shouldn't have let her but the hilm exhausted me this time. I looked back at her lazily.

''your eyes!'' she exclaimed in a hushed voice. ''they have changed Lady Seer.''

I didn't respond I knew the side effects already, they would settle, so she went on to ask what I knew was on her mind. ''is it so Seer? Have you seen something?''

This time I felt the words bubble up without my control. I needed to tell someone. Needed to save someone...

''night... run...now...'' with that I let the fatigue overwhelm me. I was released from my aching and exhaustion to be rocked by the darkness. On the horizon, I saw a storm approach in azure skies...

When I awoke it was on too comfortable cushions. I found that I did not want to wake up, I wanted to sleep through reality and let them finish the matter without me present. Unfortunately one can't sleep when the hens refuse to quit clucking.

My eyes snapped open to stare into a pair of muddy brown ones. The owner who I assume had been studying me for some time suddenly screeched and jumped back into a supporting huddle of other women. All wore fine clothes and intricate henna along the lines of their hands and feet. All were beautiful dolls for the pleasure of the master. I looked into each of their startled faces and, realising that the absence of red glazing over my vision meant they had interfered with me whilst I slept, I snarled as I had to the master of this city.