Fan Fiction ❯ Vailla ❯ Chapter 9

Vailla rode on in a steady pace. She would make it to Laces on time now that the weather had cleaned up and she was feeling rather refreshed. She had been troubled with her dream the night before, she knew that people were searching for her and her only so Trigger and the others should be safe as long as they weren't seen with her. After much researching of the map she had decided that maybe it would be quicker if she went round the Judia Mountains instead of going across them, also because of the weather it was more than likely to become extremely dangerous travelling through those mountains. It was lonely without the others, Vailla had never thought she would ever miss them this much but she was sure that she would see them again. She took comfort in the fact that her father now only had one hand, and even though he was still powerful she was certain she could beat him. Then, Vailla thought, when this is all over I'll find Trigger and the others. She listened to the wind blowing gently around her ears. She listened to nature. So many times before had she sat in the desert wastelands of Wrendore doing nothing but communing with the world, and in truth it always made her feel good. It was coming up to midday and the pale sun rested at the top of the sky, sending gentle rays of warmth down to the world below. Vailla decided that she would take a small break here; it would also give Nyme, who had been walking all day, a chance to rest. She got out some dried oats that she had `borrowed' from a farmyard she had past on the way and fed her noble steed. Vailla had lit a small fire and melted some of the surrounding snow and stored the melted snow for drinking water. She hummed merrily to herself, it was after all a beautiful morning and even though it had caused her a lot of trouble to begin with she decided she rather liked the snow. It was a refreshing way to introduce winter and, in her opinion, winter was a very refreshing time in the mainland. She sunk her hand into the snow, oblivious to the ice-biting cold snapping into her hand, and hummed the seasonal ritual that her mother had taught her. She formed the words and their meaning in her head but never actually saying them out loud, the only noise she made was the humming of beautiful music. The sprits around her gathered, nature was listening and remembering the words. Soon Vailla could hear the chirping of birds, the purring of cats, whistling winds and every other natural thing singing along. This ritual was held to welcome in the new spirits of the season and to thank them for being there for everyone; it would also used as a way to invite good luck. Vailla had missed being alone, she liked being able to be herself and use her magic whenever she wanted but in a way she missed not being alone too. Something inside of her told her that she needed to be with other people while the other part told her that she was happy the way she was.

"Vailla?" That voice! She recognised it and could have kicked herself for being so careless and letting them catch up with her. She searched franticly for a place to hide, there was no way she could out run them, and they would see her before she got away. An invisibility spell would do the trick but it would only hide her and her horse for a maximum of three minutes, she looked desperately for another solution but they were coming closer, Vailla could now hear the horses.

"Fine, I'll do it that way. A little help, please?" He grabbed her staff and started to mumble the invisibility spell that would cover her ass for now, she just hoped that they didn't hang around.

They had slowed down a little because their horses were getting tired, but they still rode at a steady pace. "I think we should rest in a minute Trigger." Laurie told her big brother gravely. "But only for a very short while, something is going to happen." Laurie climbed off her horse and sat down on the snow, she sat next to Vailla's handprint in the snow. Before anyone else saw it she collapsed the hand-shaped hole so no one would recognise it.

"But I got a feeling Vailla is close, we got to find her." Trigger objected, not climbing off his horse. Laurie just ignored him and continued to sit stubbornly. Galdine looked at Trigger but seeing no change in his expression she sighed and climbed from her horse.

"Don't sit on the snow like that, you'll get a cold. I got a blanket in my pack, we'll use that to sit on." Galdine suggested. Jads also climbed from his horse and went to fetch the blanket from her pack when Laurie stopped him.

"We're not saying for too long, just until those people have gone." Almost as if they had been summoned by Laurie's voice two men dressed in rusty armour walked up to them.

"Greeting travellers." One said. Their faces were covered by heavy old helmets and they both seem to walk strangely, almost liked they had never wore armour in their lives. The one who spoke had a low hollow voice that sent a shiver up Trigger's spine. "We have had reports that a evil being is travelling the country and we wish to contain it immediately. You must tell us if there is any member of your party is on their own for whatever reason, she or he may be in grave danger." Trigger almost blurted out Vailla's name but something kept him from even opening his mouth.

"My friend went off alone after she got scared." Laurie told him. The man showed some interest but made no reply. "She was such a cute bird but she flew away when my kitty jumped at her." Laurie continued to tell him sadly. Trigger looked at Hayley and for some strange reason she looked like a normal black and white kitten.

"I'm sure she will come back. Thank you for your time and be assured that we will catch this evil. Farewell." The other man said, his voice scarcely above a whisper. The two men bowed then ran off where they seem to disappear in the distance.

Vailla had watched, she knew who these men were. They were minions belonging to her father and they were searching for her. What a cheek! Vailla thought, how dare call her evil? She felt her body shivering and the strain was almost too much for her, it was almost like trying to hold her breath for a long time. She wanted to scream at them to hurry up and leave but that, of course, would just be a stupid thing to do since she was trying to hide from them. Laurie knew she was there, Vailla was sure of that, so this is part of her little plan! They were leaving now and once Vailla was sure they were out of sight she let go of her spell and fell to her knees, breathing hard from the amount of strain she was just put under. Once she caught her breath she jumped onto Nyme and carefully followed behind her friends but keeping out of sight.

Soon they had to go through a forest, and this made it a lot easier for Vailla to stay out of sight. Together they had been travelling for five weeks now and were approaching Laces at a steady pace and hopefully they would make it to the fabled city about a day or two before the trail. At night Vailla would keep an eye on her friends and guard them and normally in the morning her Staff could protect her and prevent her from falling from her horse when she fell asleep in the saddle. The Staff had seemed content with the recent events and so she did not nag Vailla for leaving the others because after all she was doing as she was told (in a strange way) and travelling with her friends. This certain morning was cold and the ground was covered in frost but yet it still wasn't cold enough for snow and so instead rain and hale fell upon them. Snow had covered the ground only a few days ago but what was a white fluffy blanket was now horrid grey slush. The hail was the worst, it would beat down upon their heads and snap at their freezing cold skin and would make it hard to travel. Luckily though the hail only lasted for about half an hour at the very most and so after these little spells they would carry on their journey. The others in front had settled down for lunch, and so Vailla was forced to stop as well. In a way she was pleased with the way everything turned out so far, this way she could keep an eye on Trigger and the others and on the last night instead of camping she could ride on to Laces get the trail over and doe with and be out by the time they found her. However the one thing that wasn't turning out so good was that the fact Hayley knew she was there and every so often Vailla could see Hayley looking for and meowing before Laurie could pick her up and carry the little creature away. Vailla had fed Nyme and then left her she climbed up a tree so she could get a better view of her friends. The branches were bare but thick so she was able to hide without being spotted. Here she listened and watched and even though she wouldn't admit it she wished she could sit beside them like she used to do.

Trigger reluctantly agreed to stop for lunch and now they all sat round a small fire and waiting for a chicken that Laurie had stolen from a local farm to roast over the open flame. It was a fairly large so they decided to cook and eat a little now and then the leftovers would be used in a soup to eat later on that night. Laurie sat on Galdine's lap and Trigger and Jads cooked the food. "How long are we resting for?" Trigger asked as he brought more wood to the fire.

"I'd say an hour if the weather stays put." Jads speculated. He saw the look of disappointment on Trigger's face and smiled. "Don't worry lad, we'll find her. She only had about a day head start and even she got to eat and rest."

"But what if she runs into trouble on the way? I got a feeling that those guys we ran into back there were not looking for what they said they were looking for."

"I think Vailla can handle herself don't you?" Jads laughed a little awkwardly. "You better not let Vailla hear you talking like that, you know how she likes to independent."

"Yeah." Trigger gave a half-hearted smile. "I just wish she didn't leave like that, you know?"

"Stop worrying lad, you'll give yourself a nosebleed. Vailla wouldn't want you to worry about her, in fact I' sure if she was watching you right now she would probably find a way to stop you."

"Jads, would you come here a second?" Galdine called over. Jads patted Trigger firmly on the back and then walked over to Galdine.

Vailla saw Trigger sitting by the fire alone and couldn't help a pang of guilt. He looked so miserable sitting there on his own. He looked lonely. She knew this was her fault; she had left him letting him know how she felt and giving him new hopes about having a relationship. Vailla saw Trigger sitting by the fire alone and couldn't help a pang of guilt. He looked so miserable sitting there on his own. He looked lonely. She knew this was her fault; she had left him letting him know how she felt and giving him new hopes about having a relationship. She felt more sorry for the others though, apparently Trigger had been a pain in the neck since she left and Vailla wanted to make it up to them but did not know how. "I'll think of something to make it up to you, all of you. I promise." Vailla whispered to herself. Trigger suddenly became very alert and spun round quickly. Vailla cursed herself and ducked while praying not to be spotted.

He sighed and turned round when he noticed that something had fallen out of his pocket. He bent over and picked it up, it was the small talisman that she had given him. Trigger frowned at it and threw it to the ground in all his fury. It bounced of a rock and landed very near to fire. Vailla gasped, she felt an agonizing burning inside her and feared she might even fall from the tree. She clung onto the branch while clenching her hands round the branch in some failed attempt to relieve the pain.

Jads fell to his knees and clutched his heart in pain. "Jads, are you alright?" Galdine lent beside him, eager to help. He held up one hand, unable to speak and Galdine was at a lost. Trigger saw his friend in pain and rushed over to him, leaving the talisman heating by the fire.

Through eyes of pain Vailla saw Jads collapse almost at the very same moment she had felt the heating pain but she couldn't worry about the connection right now, she had to get that talisman away from the fire. Carefully she climbed down from the tree, trying her best to ignore the pain and get down without walling. It was like a fire slowly being built up inside her, a fire she could not put out. She reached the ground and fell to her knees, gasping for air. Please Laurie, help me...

The small and serious child calmly walked away from the entire ruckus and picked up the talisman by the fire, it cooled almost instantly in her hands. Having rescued the small object from the roaring flames she quietly walked up to Trigger and handed it to him. Jads expression eased and lifted his hand from his chest and sighed in relief, Galdine hugged him gleefully, and her own worried expression disappeared. Trigger looked at the item his little sister and returned to him and wondered if there was any connection between Jad's pain and the talisman. Almost as if a voice had urged him to Trigger held the talisman to his lips and spoke. "Hello?"

"Its nice to know what you think of my gifts!" Vailla screamed back. The sound was coming from the object he held in his hands and Trigger almost dropped it in surprise.

"Vailla?" Trigger almost could not speak, his throat had become very dry and now everyone was watching Trigger and listening to Vailla's voice in total shock.

"Well who else would it be? Next time take better care of that thing I gave to you. Fire is the only thing that can destroy it and because a little of me is inside it, it bloody hurts like hell when you heat it too much! Are you trying to kill me or something?"

"Err... sorry Vailla I didn't know." He frowned and then quickly added, "Vailla where are you?"

"I don't think I'll tell you after I escaped the other day. All I can say is that you're safer travelling without me trust me I know. On my own I can stay out of sight so in a way I'm also safer travelling without you lot. Well I better go now, oh and Trigger stop annoying the others, I ran off and there is nothing you can do about it okay? I know you're heading towards Laces and I also know there is nothing I can do to change your mind, so if you insist on going please don't push the others like you have, from where you are you'll make it there with days to spare." Then the voice disappeared. Trigger shook the talisman franticly as if it would bring her voice back to him but it didn't. It stayed silent.

"Vailla? What do you mean from where we are? Can you see us?" Trigger's questions were never answered.

Vailla sighed and slowly walked back to where she had left Nyme, even though the pain was gone she still felt a little dizzy so she relied heavily on her Staff for support. She was glad in a way that she had been able to talk to Trigger but she realised with a groan that now he knew how to use that damn talisman he would probably never shut up. Once she got back to Nyme she reached for some food in her pack and began to eat her lunch, I would sure like to have some of that chicken soap, she thought grimly as she bit into her stale bread. Nyme sat beside her and looked lovingly at her, silently asking about the health of her good master. Vailla just smiled and gave her the rest of the dried oats; she would have to get some more later. A sudden chill went up her spine and she shivered as she recognise that same shallow breathing from behind her. Being careful not to make any sudden movements she slowly clutched her Staff in her hand and brought it closer to her. "It's been a long time." Vailla spoke coldly, her voice not betraying her hatred.

"Too long." It hissed. Vailla stood up and turned round to face her foe. Standing six feet tall it was an impressive site with its brown scaly skin and white wispy hair. Yellow hark-like eyes watched every move (though slow and steady) Vailla made and the bat-like wings twitched in the cold.

"So Morge what brings you here into the mainland's, I thought you despise the coldness." Vailla asked her own eyes watching his every move.

"I do and I grudgingly come in search for you despite this horrid climate. The guys back home miss the daily fights Vailla." His voice had risen to a more sarcastic tone.

"Why are you here? I'm pretty sure its not because you miss me now is it?"

"No, I've came to…" His voice became very quiet and muffled, Vailla could just about hear. "…Help."

"Did you say help? What for?" Vailla was caught off-guard; she had not been expecting this.

"I don't care what your father does to you, he can torture and kill you for all I care but we do care what happens to us. He is going to challenge our Master and he could very well succeed…" He quickly hurried on, as if explaining irritated him. "We will become slaves to his power, unable to break our chains and fly to freedom. The guys and I have discussed this and we don't want to be minions but fear what he may do if we were to refuse. In other words I'm doing this for my fellow demons, not you or any other puny human."

"You the great Morge afraid of a puny human? Who is related to me no less, you must be crazy." Vailla laughed but did not take down her defence.

"Do not mock me. You and I both know you're the only one powerful enough to defeat him, even our demonic powers are limited on this Plane. I was sent to help you get to Laces unharmed because we know our cousins have already been attacking and trying to prevent you from reaching your goal. Our cousins are fools! They do not realise the danger we face as a race! I do not come willingly Vailla, but by hook or by crook I will make sure you make it to the final confrontation with the only man who scares us." Morge's voice was dangerously seriously, this was a rarity in this specific race of demons, and normally they were very humours creatures willing to share a joke with their dinner.

"You know what I will do to you if you're lying? My father does place a threat to you demons as he places a threat to us humans, but I too place a threat to you demons. Just the other week I killed over half a dozen of `your cousins'." Vailla replied. Morge laughed at this and ran a scaly claw down the scare almost covering her cheek.

"So I see." He sniggered. Vailla glared at him, she would not allow herself to be mocked by a demon!

"Crawl back under the rock you came from demon, I'm in no need for you help. If that is what you offer of course, more likely to be a trap though. Fly away Batty, its too cold for you here anyway." With an angry toss of her head she jumped onto her horse, but before riding off she pull up by Morge. "I'll return in the spring, we can settle our differences then but right now I got bigger fish to fry." Vailla was about to ride off her she was held by his steady cold gaze that begged her to listen even though he was too proud to voice his desperation.

"Wait human, I got something for you." He reached inside a pouch that was attached to a thick leather belt he held. "I think you'll recognise what it is." He held out a black crystal, it was about the size of a clenched fist and was strangely shaped into a heart.

"One little crack and that will send you straight back to Hell, you'll be stuck on that plane of existence, never to escape. Why are you giving this to me?"

"You know that we demons cherish our freedom considering that only very few possesses it. It is a bargain, take the stone and if I betray you, you know how to destroy it. It is the Will of the council. Trust me Vailla, you're not worth placing a trap for, especially not in this weather." Another serious moment, twice in a row! Vailla almost had to conceal her amusement behind one hand but managed to gain control. "I want to help my kind, and if that mean I have to help you also, so be it." Vailla slowly took the crystal from his hand and wrapped her fingers around it, as cold as steel it bit into her fingers, leaving them numb.

"You may help then, but you are not trusted. I can become very jumpy sometimes, and you know I'll find this easy to destroy." Vailla threatened while already placing the object securing into her own pouch.

"Whatever Vailla, just remember to return it after this is all over, okay?"

"Sure, I have no need for it then."

"So…" He clasped his scaly hands together greedily. "What's for dinner?" Vailla just made a sound of disgust and rode on, leaving him to hungrily follow.

"Come on then, if you must come there is something I must show you."