Fan Fiction ❯ She Chose Death ❯ Monks ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter 3: Monks

The walls were adorned in many portraits painted directly onto the wall as a beautiful mural.  She gazed at the small blue orbs that glowed atop what looked like tall silver candle holders, their soft radiance in contrast to the candles on the walls.  Before she could finish her survey of the strange room, Ann looked up in horror as several of the monks she had passed earlier crashed through the heavy wooden doors.  If it were a different situation she would have laughed at the three bald men as they stumbled upon each other to get into the room.  Attempting all at once to go down the small set of stairs, they ended up in a heap of dark colored robes and flesh on the stone floor.  Instead the young woman's reaction was to get as far from these strangers as possible.  Moving her stiff limbs, Ann forced herself to walk over the pieces of broken glass as more flaky flesh fell from her body.  The pain on the bottom of her feet numb as adrenaline and fear overtook her senses. 

To her horror just beyond the darkness of the candles at the back of the room was a wall.  Turning around to face the disheveled threat, Ann felt a lump in her throat as she backed into the sturdy stone barrier.  The cold feeling of the marble floor was as though it crawled up through the cuts in her feet throughout her body.  The young woman flattened herself against the wall as her new company finally straightened themselves out holding shakily onto plain wooden staffs.  Their dark eyes were wide as they regarded her unsteadily in the dim room.  One of them took a few steps closer to investigate the mess on the floor.  Suddenly his surprisingly steady voice echoed eerily in the room.

What happened here??  Who are you? he seemed to ask her a question.  

Shaking her head Ann had not understood a single word from his mouth.  The tallest of the trio closed his eyes and began to pray, or so it seemed to Ann.  She shook her head again in fear and slid down the length of the wall to the floor covering her head.

"Please don't hurt me!  I didn't do anything I swear!" she shouted over his heedless chanting.

The silent monks watched her warily as their brother finished his prayer, causing the end of his staff to give off a radiant light.  It easily lit up the crouching figure at the end of the room without getting too close to it.  Their expressions regarded her with a new wonder.  Straightening up with dignity in their dark eyes, the trio of men bowed down to her respectfully before kneeling on the floor.

Please forgive us, Majesty. the monk with the staff said softly.

Once again his words were nonsense to Ann's ears, but hearing no sign of threat in his voice she looked up questioningly.  Her hands dropped to the sides as she witnessed the scene in front of her.  What was going on?

She looked up as the double doors to the outside of the building were opened slowly, there she could clearly see the chimeras she had taken notice of earlier.  The four-legged creatures gracefully stepped through the doorway and down the stairs, the monks having moved out of the way with their heads bowed.  The trio of heads on each body regarded her, the many eyes looking her over.  A rather tall monk proceeded to enter after them in a manner that had demanded almost immediate respect.  His light green eyes were pastel in color, the candles and orbs reflecting in them.  Though his expression was blank Ann could see the wrinkles of laughter and the gentle way this man carried himself.  Slowly she found herself standing, bowing to him clumsily in her new body.  As she did so a long braid slipped past her shoulder to the ground.  It was a dark brown, very close in shade to her own…or what used to be her own.  She looked at the long hair in the candlelight.  It was soft and heavy as long hair is and it went to her shins at the least.  Small light blue jewels were intertwined into the strands beautifully as were small flowers and even trinkets.

Her large eyes looked back up to the chimeras and the monk beside them.  His face was graced with a small smile as she realized he had been watching her.  When he spoke his low voice reached her ears softly.

Welcome back, Majesty.  What is the reason to which we owe the honor of your presence? he asked gently as he unconsciously rested a hand on the back of the chimera to the right of him.  He began to stroke the beautiful blue and green fur as he waited for an answer.

Exaggerating a look of confusion to get her point across, Ann shrugged and simply replied with a look of bewilderment.

"I can't understand you…"

Seeing this reaction he frowned and retracted his hand from the beast.  The trio of monks who had been standing silently suddenly stood up to attention when he curtly gave an order.

Secure the village.  The ancients know our language, this woman is strange.  We must take every precaution. he commanded.

Bowing two of the monks slipped past and up the stairs to do as they were told.  The third, the taller one who had lit up the room turned and looked at her.

I don't think she's a threat sir… he began quietly.  She looks frightened.  All that was needed from the elder man was a stern look to get the last monk heading for the door.  Even so, he glanced back at her with a look of pity before going about his own duties.

Swallowing, Ann remained against the wall feeling the lump in her linger.  Her lips slightly trembled as the freezing temperature of the room began to take its toll on her body.  Afraid to move to warm herself, however, she didn't budge and gazed into the pale eyes of her company. 

He had in turn studied her, though he knew her looks all too well.  With his observations it became obvious by the way she stood that this was not the original owner of the body, perhaps in their prayers for redemption something had gone terribly wrong.  This was not Majesty and he knew it.  His eyes moved from the trembling youth in front of him to the creatures beside him.  Regardless of her foreign soul, they were not threatened by her.  If anything, the numerous heads sniffed and focused their eyes in eager curiosity. 

Hmm. he pondered as his eyes were drawn back to her.  She met his gaze fearlessly to his surprise.  He smiled, wondering if the previous occupant of that body had been similar.

Ann sighed when she began to realize he was waiting for something rather than going to attack or restrain her.  Her stomach turned as the reality of the situation was beginning to hit her.  She was in a strange place in a strange body with a strange man watching her every move.  The young woman closed her eyes as she relaxed her body against the wall, keeping her senses alert just in case.  Her heavy lids opened when she heard the doors to the building once again open.  It was dusk outside she could see past the tall man as he came down the stairs and bowed.

Everything is prepared, sir.  Including quarters for her and duty is doubled for tonight. he announced to his superior.

The other man nodded quietly, Very good.  Make sure everyone knows the situation and to stay clear.  Also, pack up two horses for a two week journey.

The monk asked quizzically, Two week journey sir?

Well, since you're so concerned about her, you're going to be the one to take her to Savenkova.  The elder man couldn't resist the smile that grew from his lips upon seeing the wide eyes of the man who was before him.

M-me?? But she might… he began to stumble over his words.  The young monk's superior held up a hand to silence him.

Afri, you were the one who insisted she wasn't a threat.  And so you are the one who is blessed to take her to him…

But he's so far away!  And grumpy… he mumbled.

Ann watched them in curiosity as she began to notice that she was the likely subject of the conversation.  She bit her lip in frustration at not knowing a word of what they were saying and instead looked at the chimeras that stood next to the bickering monks.  Without either of them noticing, one of the chimeras dared to take a few steps towards her.  Its nostrils flared as it tried to smell the air around her and its eyes were curious.  She smiled slightly, stretching those stiff muscles painfully.  The three foot tall beast casually made its way across the room towards her, approaching more cautiously as it grew near.  Its sibling watched its every move from the side of the elder monk.

She didn't notice as she stared into the six golden eyes that the conversation had long since stopped.  Nor did she notice the ten other sets of eyes on her.  All Ann was aware of was that before she knew it, her own hand was reaching out to the chimera that stood right before her.  This beautiful creature of fantasy stories and myth was standing as a living breathing creature right before her.  Perhaps not on as grand a scale, but she was amazed all the same.  The head of a lion leaned forward on its long graceful neck and smelt her body's new pale skin.  She smiled and had even let a velvet coated laugh escape as she felt the rough tongue slide down the length of her palm in a friendly manner. 

With that the elder monk turned to Afri, Tomorrow your journey starts.  Savenkova is the only one who would know what to do.

A/N: Er, yeah, sorry if that was long and…bad! I might come back and redo this chapter, but I was stumped and I'm sorry, hope it wasn't too bad. I hope there's no confusion about the lack of quotation marks when the monks speak, but since I can't seem to get a format that will allow me to post with stars or italics or something that's the only way I can make it different from whether or not she can understand them. >_<