PORTIA
I couldn't utter more than
that one scream.
"What is it Portia?
What's wrong?" He looked terrified now. I hadn't realized
that I'd been backing away until my back was pressed against the
wall. He stood, but made no move to come closer.
What was I so scared of? I
briefly closed my eyes and cleared my mind to calm my nerves.
"It's...your eyes. Your eyes Yasuo... They've changed."
He went to the full-length
mirror in the corner of the room. I could see he hadn't looked
directly into it yet. His eyes were shut. Almost as though he
knew what he was about to see. I saw the lift of his shoulders as
he breathed deeply.
There couldn't possibly be
anything more evil in this world. Crimson irises that peered into
and pierced the ethereal self. Portals that held centuries old
power, an ancient knowledge that I had only read about in books.
As I gazed at them, my
pulse raced, and my palms sweated. I thought I knew this boy
before me. In just these past few days he had changed. Granted,
we weren't terribly close before, but there was a bond. One that
I hadn't noticed till now. Now that it had been invaded. Was I
looking too deeply into this sudden twist of the Fates? I
couldn't help but think it was an omen...of what I was uncertain.
"I'm sorry that I
frightened you." Yasuo's voice was barely above a whisper,
transgressing into my thoughts. He still didn't look at me.
"I don't know what's happening to me Portia... I think it
would be best for you to stay away from me."
I was silent again. I
didn't know what to say I was so unsure of so many things.
Suddenly, I knew that whatever happened I had to stay close and
protect him. If it had been any other time I would surely have
laugh at the absurdity of my feelings. "I don't think that
is the answer Yasuo. We must see this... This whatever it is to
the end. Together." I moved forward as my childish fear
slipped away, and lightly laid a hand on his shoulder.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I had heard the
fortuneteller, Royce, of Black Rose Street was very authentic,
and very accurate. I was sure that the answers Yasuo was
searching for would be answered. I think he too sensed the same
and his nerves were on end.
"Try to calm yourself
Yasuo, you're being a big baby!" I snapped, having reverted
back to the quarrelsome Portia that Yasuo knew all to well. Okay,
perhaps I too was a little on edge.
He grunted as he pulled on
the hood of his newly purchased cloak, leaving his face hidden in
a shadow. He was sure that the townspeople would panic if just
one of them saw his ruby eyes. "I'll have you know that I am
composed. Stop being so callow, Portia
." I hid a smile at that.
We paused in front of the
Fortune Teller's abode. It was a gothic looking building
surrounded by demonic looking gargoyles, magic and something else
I couldn't quite describe. I began to feel uncertain and weary,
night had fallen, and wasn't helping.
"Would you rather I
wait out here?" I asked. I knew that I promised that we
would be in this together, but I didn't want to interfere either.
I was sure that any monsters outside were far less formidable
than those within this... domicile.
He answered in taking my
hand as he moved forward up the stairs to enter. As we approached
the door it opened by itself and a bitter breeze of cool air
reached out to greet us. Yasuo squeezed my hand gently when I
shivered.
"Welcome Yasuo... And
Portia. I was expecting you." A soft and surprisingly young
voice sounded as the door slammed behind us. "Won't you come
closer and have a seat?" Two chairs appeared before us, as
we hesitantly moved forward. Rather, I moved hesitantly, Yasuo
was more confident in his stride and was the first to sit. I took
my seat and my confidence vanished. I didn't like this one bit.
The magic surrounding us was so thick, almost suffocating with
its power.
"Since you were
expecting us, you must also know why we're here." Yasuo
stated.
"Yes... As I said
earlier to a few visitors, I can see many things... But are you
sure you want the answers for that which you seek?" Royce's
voice queried with an eerie calm.
I felt like a long tailed
cat in a room full of rocking chairs... I was sure that I was
going to bolt at any moment. The energy in the room was becoming
almost too overpowering. I was finding it rather uncomfortable to
breathe.
"And you," Royce
continued, looking at me. That's when I noticed her red eyes. Not
exactly like Yasuo's but I could see the power being held in
check behind them. "Portia, are you ready to see into your
future? To realize what the Fates have in store for you as
well?"
I cleared my throat; it was
becoming uncomfortably warm in the room now. "No, thank you.
I'm here for Yasuo, not myself."
"I see. Too bad you
feel that way. You have a very... Trying, future ahead." The
Fortune Teller's eyes narrowed as she said this and I felt that
my soul lay naked before her intuitive insight. I looked to
Yasuo, but he was still looking ahead, having never taken off his
hood. I looked down to our linked hands and I loosened my
bone-crushing grip.
"I feel that when the
future is not meant to be seen that it should not, for it can
only cause ruin. But in this instance, Yasuo must know." I
replied, hoping guiltily that she wouldn't be long. I was having
trouble breathing now.
"Very well,"
Royce turned back to Yasuo. "My dear boy, it appears that
your future is filled with... A variety of misfortune. A dark
veil surrounds your being, be careful not to let it consume
you... At the same time you must embrace it to reveal your true
self."
Yasuo was so quiet, yet I
knew that he was far from calm. I could feel the drumming of his
pulse at his wrist as Royce's prognostication ran through his
mind. Silently, he stood.
"Thank you, Royce. You
have been most helpful." Yasuo said as we walked for the
door. Again, it opened by itself as we approached.
"Believe me Yasuo,
this is just the beginning."
The door closed not too
gently behind us, and I welcomed the fresh air into my esurient
lungs.
Yasuo sat with me on the
stairs. "Are you ill Portia?"
"I'm okay," I
answered, as my breathing returned to normal. "I was just
having a hard time breathing in there... I guess it was a little
too confining." I smiled up at him, as his arm came around
my shoulders to support me as we got up.
"Even still we are
going straight back to the apartment. I think you've been through
enough today. You need rest." I wasn't going to argue as we
walked back to our shared haven, his arm loose, yet protective
around me.
I think it was when we
reached the end of Black Rose Street that it happened. Yasuo and
I saw the mob awaiting us in front of our apartment... And then
he was at my feet, having fallen, another attack of pain jetting
through him... The mob having discovered us came swiftly in our
direction. Torches lighting their path, weapons of all
descriptions in their possession.
"Yasuo!" I knelt
down. Why Althena! Why now? What is it that we have done to
deserve your wrath?
"Go...now!" Yasuo
gasped through gritted teeth, and screamed as he clutched at his
stomach.
"I'll heal you; can
you get up?"
"Dammit Portia! Go!
NOW!" Even in his weakened state he managed to push me a
good distance away. But no matter what, I wasn't going to just
leave him for them and their questionable intentions.
I covered him with the
cloak as I knelt before him again, and whispered a protective
spell. The mobs of townspeople were almost upon us and the shield
I erected would not hold long, unfortunately not even long enough
to heal Yasuo.
I was finally able to get
him to his feet, the townspeople not more than twenty feet away
and closing. I noticed that there was something peculiar about
them. It was then that I caught the flashing color of their
eyes...
§ Chapter
Three § Main
Page § Chapter
Five §
