The thoughts ran though her head the whole time they packed and for the rest of the night and into the plane ride the next day. Katy could not get the vision of the white being out of her head, how did she know this being? And why was this being so bent on Katy becoming a dark being? What scared her most was how easy it would be to give into the white being. It would save her family. She was so tempted for that reason, but she knew that Darkness was good at temptation.
They landed in the Mexican jungle. They decided that going to China now would not be the best thing to do, as the Guardians there shut down the boarders. They would go and visit the Aztec ruins instead. There was a large connection to magic and the elements within them and their past may shed light on our future, according to Professor Adair. They set up camp about a hundred yards from the ruins they were to study, but everybody noticed that Katy wasn’t very excited.
“Katy, what wrong?” Edgar asked as they finished the set-up of their tent.
“Nothing.” Katy stated as she walked in and plopped down on her bed. She pulled out her book. She checked it out about a week ago; it was all about myths in the world of magic. However she had yet to find a single story similar to Edgar’s. And she was afraid to ask for more information. She was afraid it would confirm her fears.
“Katy, I think you are lying.” Edgar simply stated but let it go. He just sighed and shook his head, and went off in search of the other parents who came on the trip.
Deen walked in just as he left. “What is wrong Katy? I can’t get anything clear from your thoughts; they are all snarly and dark.” He stated as he plopped down on his bed.
“Nothing Deen. Nothing at all is wrong.” Katy jumped up. “I am going to take a walk. Come with me?” Katy asked and walked out without an answer, but shortly she was joined by Deen.
“Where are we going?” Deen asked after they had walked for almost twenty minutes in silence.
“I don’t know. I just have to come this way.” Katy was sure she had to go this way, answers were this way, and she knew it. She didn’t know how, or why. But she knew she couldn’t stop, not yet.
“Okay.” Deen stated and continued with her in silence.
About an hour later they came to some caves, and a group of fairies they knew were Bogles Fairies, from Creatures class, stopped them. “Katherine Lillian.”
“Yes?” Katy wasn’t afraid though she knew they didn’t like liars or murders, and she was both, no matter how she spun it, she had taken a life, and she lied by omission.
“Come with us. The Banshee Queen needs to speak with you.” They turned to walk, and Katy didn’t hesitate, she followed.
They continued to walk, they didn’t know where they were or what would happen; they just knew that something would change. Banshees only came around when there was death. And the queen didn’t live in this dimension. Finally they came across an opening.
“We do not enter, we are afraid to enter this dimension; death comes to most whom enter. Mortal or not.” The Bogles gave their warning. “If you wish to continue we have been given the power this one time to open the door to the Banshee’s world. Do you wish to continue?”
“Yes!” Katy stated, she didn’t know what lay ahead but knew that it might lead to answers.
“So be it.” The Bogles stated and placed their hands on the opening. There was a shimmer of light then there was a whirlpool of elements.
“Deen… If I don’t come back…” Katy hugged him.
“Oh no you don’t I am going with you!” He stated and grabbed a hold of her hand, and together they jumped into the whirlpool.
They landed together on a hard cold floor, the floor and the walls were all black and sparkled with millions of gems. Then they heard a voice, which sounded a bit like nails on a chalkboard. “Welcome young ones. Katherine Lillian, so pleased to meet you. Deen Joseph, what a good companion for her.” The being was more like a ghost, but where there should be a face there was more like a skull; skin seemed to shrink to it. Souls seemed to be trapped in the eye sockets. She hissed her s’s like a snake but the voice was still a bit like the screeching of nails on a chalkboard. “Thank you for coming, don’t worry I shall let you leave!” The being said with a crackle of a laugh. “Let me introduce myself. I am Shieka, the queen of the banshees. I have called you here to tell you things others would choose to keep from you. Please follow me.”
Katy and Deen looked at each other and followed Shieka. They seemed to walk forever again, before they found what looked like a throne room. Shieka walked up to the throne and sat down. She then looked at the two of them, as they stood front of her. She waved her hand and Katy and Deen now sat on throne like chairs in front of her. “Now we can get down to business. You know of the story of Goodness and Darkness?”
“Some.” Katy answered.
“Good, here is some more.” Shieka started. “They were twins, born from the Goddess of Paradise, and the God of Torment. They were given free will from the other gods and goddesses as a gift of their birth, and then sent to Earth. They each chose a side as you know. Darkness became Darkness, and Goodness became Goodness. They were nameless until they chose their paths. Goodness as you know became the mother of humanity. Darkness created all other creatures. However she tortured us, hated us, and tried to make us pure Darkness as she was, but it was not to be, due to the life already created by Goodness. Not that there are not evil creatures, or should I say creatures that choose Darkness, there are, but most of us wanted to be free. Somehow a lone little brownie found its way off this Earth, off this plane of existence and found its way to Goodness. Who was in mourning over the loss of her world, and the magic she had given all just to see most of her children striped of the gift, by her twin. The brownie pleaded with Goodness to return to defeat her. Goodness was at first reluctant as she had found a love. He was an immortal who had given her a peaceful place to rest her head, and to heal. They fell in love, so much in love that he knew to come with her to Earth he would give up his immortality. And he did so. They came back to Earth. Goodness knew that things would never be the same. She gave up her immortality to create the elements. She gave the power to her love and their four children, and told them share it with the world. There was a major battle it was huge, Goodness knew that if she were to lose, the world would know nothing but pain and darkness. She also knew she would lose all those she loved if she didn’t do something drastic. She lost an ally, a being full of power, which followed her and her family to the very gates of darkness. She was hurt, and she used that hurt. She went to Darkness, and their last battle was hard on both of them, so she did the only thing she could do. Goodness let down her walls and drained Darkness, and took all that hurt, that hate, that Darkness into her. She drained Darkness of everything. At the end of it Darkness lay dead on the ground. She teleported back to her husband, she nodded and then collapsed onto the ground, she had given her life, to save ours, to save humanity. For that Goodness was prophesized to return. That Darkness would be reincarnated, unknowingly, and try to bring about Darkness, instead she would give birth to Goodness. And once again Goodness shall be reborn to bring peace and balance to the world.
But this time she wouldn’t have to do it alone. Her husband and her four children each created an object; made from the blessed element that she had gifted them. Her husband made that dagger that you now have in your procession. It is a vessel for the power he placed into it. Each of their children made an object as well. The dagger was made of Fire. The cup made from Water. The Staff made from Earth. The wand made from Air. And the infinity jewel was made from Spirit. Goodness shall find them, and join them. Releasing a great power within her, allowing her to once again defeat Darkness, she shall have help, witches and warlocks that shall help her hunt them down. That shall swear their lives to defeat Darkness and evil she stands for; Goodness shall unite all of magical community to prevent humanity from being destroyed. And this time it will be for good. There will always be Darkness, but never again if Goodness prevails again will there be pure darkness. Darkness may win, or Darkness may fall. But in the end only one shall be the victor.” With that Shieka stood up and Katy and Deen found they had fallen through another whirlpool. They fell to the ground just feet from their campsite.
“That was interesting…” Katy was lost in her thoughts. That was a lot of information to be thrown at them, and she knew they would have to process it at their own rates. But the one thing Katy did know was that this war was just not a minor battle, it was a flat out war. A war that must be fought for the chance to even have the opportunity to live. She would have to help win the war, and she just didn’t understand her part.
“Katy… what did all that mean?” Deen asked as they entered their tent.
“I don’t know, but one thing is for sure, we are connected to Goodness and Darkness somehow. The question is how.” Katy said nothing else but crawled into bed and let her mind try to work out the information that she had received. She was asleep before Edgar could ask where they had disappeared to for so long.
The next morning however Edgar cornered them. “Where were you yesterday?”
“Walking.” Katy stated.
“Yep, just took a walk around.” Deen agreed.
“You both are lying.”
“So?” Katy asked.
“There is a war coming and you two seem to be in the bloody center of everything!” Edgar yelled.
“So?” Katy asked again.
“I don’t want lose the two of you!” Edgar yelled.
That shocked Katy into silence. It took her a moment to form a coherent thought. Edgar, she knew loved Deen, but to care for her? It shocked her.
“You won’t lose us dad.” Deen stated.
“The Banshee Queen wanted to see us. She told us more about Goodness and Darkness.” Katy opened her mind to show Edgar what had happened yesterday afternoon.
Edgar was shocked. So many beings were trying to seek Katy out. He had blocked countless, especially fairies. He never imagined the Banshee Queen would take Katy and Deen to her world to talk to them. “Oh my…” Edgar started. “Okay, so, no more going off alone okay? Please?”
“Okay.” Both Katy and Deen responded, the fear in Edgar’s eyes at the mention of the Banshee Queen was more than enough to make them agree. From that moment on, they were always watched, either by Edgar or by Professor Adair. This was okay with them, because all of a sudden creatures of the magical world seemed to surround them wherever they were, both friendly and dark alike.
Kris Charles - Author 