Purple Flames and Candlelight

Once again, Simone wakened with the sense that she was being watched. It didn’t help that she had been having or dream – or rather, a nightmare – involving a large, catlike pair of yellowed eyes. She shivered as a chill ran down her spine, despite the many layers of blankets covering her. She wished she didn’t have to be alone, that Penny or even Jasper or Timothy were there with her. She grabbed her cell phone and called the only person she could think of that would be awake at this hour.
“Simone?” Thank God, he picked up.
“Jasper,” Simone whispered, relieved.
“Is something wrong?” He asked.
“I…” She began, “I couldn’t sleep, that’s all,”
Jasper sighed, “Don’t lie to me. You had another nightmare, didn’t you? You’re always having nightmares. But I know they’re getting worse,”
Simone blushed, and was indeed quite glad that Jasper couldn’t see it. “Okay, fine, I had another nightmare,” She explained what she saw in her sleep. “I just needed to calm down, so I called you,” She admitted.
“Why didn’t you just say so? You should always call me when you have a nightmare, Simone,” Jasper chided, “After all, Penny and Tim are both asleep, and your mom won’t listen to you about this.”
“I know…” Simone was still blushing.
“Hang on, Simone; I’ll be at your house in a few minutes,”
“Wait, what?” Simone exclaimed, “You’re coming to my house?”
“Yes, and we’ll do something and get your mind off your nightmare.”
“Um, alright, but…” Simone began.
“Be ready in ten minutes!” Jasper interrupted before hanging up the phone.
Simone rolled her eyes and climbed out of bed. It was 2 a.m. If Jasper honestly thought that there was something for them to do together, Simone couldn’t figure out what it was to save her life. Nevertheless, she pulled on a pair of blue jeans and an old t-shirt – one of her dad’s. She put on her sneakers and proceeded to brush her hair.
As soon as she was ready, she heard a car sneaking up the gravel driveway that led to her house. Not wanting to wake her mother, Simone opened her bedroom window and climbed outside. She ran to Jasper’s car and got in, sitting shotgun. “Where are we going?” She asked eagerly.
Her answer was a simple smile.
They drove around neighborhoods all night looking at Christmas lights, chatting about how great it was that they were out of school for two weeks. Eventually, they came across a large, empty field where Jasper parked and they sat in the powdery snow. They both were exhausted.
Jasper yawned. “Having a good time, Simone?”
Simone smiled sleepily. “Yeah. I’m really tired, though,”
Jasper stretched his arm out toward her. “C’mere, then,”
Simone happily obeyed, resting her head on his shoulder. His arm tightened around her and they both remained silent. Both Simone and Jasper knew that there was absolutely nothing romantic between them; their relationship was merely platonic. Nobody else seemed to accept that, not even their closest friend, Penny and Timothy.
“I heard Clarissa Mason has a thing for you,” Simone said.
“I heard that as well,” Jasper winced. “She asked me to go to a Christmas party with her,”
Simone raised her eyebrows. “Oh, really? Are you going?”
“I told I’d go if you could go with,” Jasper replied, “Let’s just say that neither one of us are going,”
“Aw, Jasper, that’s so sweet!” Her face lit up. “I can’t believe…”
“Hush,” Jasper interrupted. “Do you hear that?”
She stopped talking and listened. At first, she didn’t hear anything. She continued to listen and discovered he was right; something didn’t sound quite right. There was a sort of crackling noise, and Simone thought she smelled smoke. “Fire?” Simone whispered.
She was answered by a loud explosion and a purple flash. Simone realized that she and Jasper were surrounded by a circle of ten-foot-tall purple flames. “Whoa!” Jasper yelled. “That’s definitely not normal!”
Well, duh, Simone thought, but she was so shocked she was unable to speak. There was so much smoke that Simone’s eyes watered and she was beginning to choke on the toxic air. She passed out just as she saw a figure moving toward her through the fire.

When Simone woke, she was completely alone. The room was dark and her only source of light was the dim light of a single candle. Simone knew she was on a bed – small, filthy, and uncomfortable. She tried to get up, but her wrists were bound to the bed. “Great,” She muttered.
She waited for what seemed like forever. Finally, the simple wooden door swung open and a young girl walked inside. “Oh, I see you’re awake, miss,” She said calmly, as if it was completely normal for her to have girls tied to beds in her home.
“Yes, I’m awake. Will you please untie me?” Simone requested, her voice quivering silently.
“Of course, miss. You were only to remain tied until you woke,” The girl replied.
She immediately began working on the ropes binding her. Simone studied the girl. She was pretty, probably around Simone’s age. She was redheaded and had startling yellow-green eyes. When Simone was completely untied, the girl left the room for a moment and then returned holding some white clothing.
“You are to wear these,” The girl told her.
“What?” Simone questioned, “I’ll freeze to death!”
“You are to wear these,” She repeated.
Grumbling about how ridiculous the request was, Simone snatched the clothing and quickly changed. The girl left the room with a curtsy as soon as Simone was fully dressed. Almost immediately, a man entered the room. “Good,” He growled, “You’re awake,”
Simone was beginning to get very angry. “Of course I’m awake,” She snapped, “And I would like to go home.”
The man chuckled. “Don’t you understand? This is your home now,”
“What? That is absolutely ridiculous. Where is Jasper?” She demanded.
“They boy? I assure you, he’s not here. He isn’t special, like you are,”
“I’m not special,” Simone said. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, you stupid girl!” The man laughed. ‘You have no clue about what you are, do you? Do you even know the ability you possess?”
Now Simone was confused. “What in the world are you talking about?”
“You will find out soon enough, girl,” The man replied.
“I have a name!” Simone yelled angrily, stomping her foot.
“As do I. And I know your name, Simone,”
Simone was shocked. She could not believe that this man, who had clearly attacked and kidnapped her, knew her. He’s clearly crazy, she thought. “Then who are you?”
“My name is Ignacio.” The man said before turning and leaving the room.
Simone was left completely alone. She threw herself on the bed, sobbing. Sobbing because she was afraid. Sobbing because she was confused. Sobbing because she was alone.
The door opened again and Simone shot up, quickly wiping the tears from her face. The girl walked in, carrying a tray. “I brought you a meal, miss,” She smiled.
“Thank you, Miss…”
“Gala. My name is Gala.” The girl told her, setting the tray down on the small table with the candle on it.
“Do you have any idea where Jasper is?” Simone blurted.
Gala looked at her with a blank face. “Who?”
“My friend, Jasper,” Simone explained. “He was with me when I was attacked,”
“Attacked, miss?” Gala tilted her head.
“Explosion. Purple flames. Kidnapped. Do you have any other words to describe what happened?” Simone continued, “That’s what it seems to be,”
“Don’t worry, miss,” Gala smiled, and added with a wink, “You’ll be out of here sooner than you realize.”
With that, Gala left the room. Simone was left completely alone with her thoughts. She would be out of here soon? What had Gala meant by that? After what seemed like hours of torturous waiting, Simone collapsed onto her bed and drifted off into dreamless slumber.

A Pair of Catlike Eyes

The next few days were torture.  Simone had no way of knowing how long she had been there, but she was positive that she hadn’t missed Christmas.  She wondered if her mother had begun looking for her, or if her mother was even alive at this point.  Her only real company was Gala, other than when Ignacio came and demanded that she show him her abilities, screaming about how ungrateful and stupid she was.  He claimed that she could help him destroy the enemy, that they would never see it coming.  Simone was convinced he was a madman.

“Miss, Master Ignacio has requested your presence,” Gala called through the door.

“Thank you, Gala,” Simone sighed.  She dreaded these visits with Ignacio (“Master Ignacio”, as he had demanded he be addressed by).

Her clothes were filthy and were beginning tear.  She had not been given any new clothes since she had arrived.  Her hair was a mess.  It was hopelessly tangled and frizzy.  If only she could be provided with a hairbrush and pair of blue jeans… but no, it was not meant to be.

Simone ran a hand through her hair and asked Gala to let her out of her prison.  Happily, the poor girl obeyed, opening the door and leading Simone to the library.  “He is waiting for you,” Gala told her before turning and leaving.

“Thank you,” Simone whispered, even though she knew Gala would not be able to hear.

Simone entered the library, quietly closing the door behind her.  “Master Ignacio,” She called out.

“Over here,” She heard him grumble from the other side of the room.

She went to him.  He was sitting, arms crossed, in an armchair in front of a fireplace.  Simone had noticed that Ignacio was very fond of fire.  His eyes were closed and he was whispering something that sounded foreign.  Simone walked up to him and touched his shoulder.  “Master Ignacio?” She said softly.

He grabbed her wrist and squeezed it tightly.  She cried out in pain.  His eyes opened and she could see the firelight reflected off his dark eyes.  He didn’t look crazy; he looked positively evil.  “Do not disturb me, you stupid girl,” He said in a dangerously soft voice.

She nodded her head.  “Yes, Master Ignacio.”

Ignacio sighed, “Well, since I’ve been disrupted, we might as well begin.  Try again, Simone.”

He asked her to do this everyday.  To tap into her ability, whatever it was.  He refused to tell her what she could do, and was beginning to wonder if he knew himself.  She would close her eyes and try to concentrate, but it’s difficult to do something when haven’t the slightest clue what you’re supposed to be doing.

This particular day, she was beginning to get a rather fierce headache by the time he gave up.  “Very well,” He was clearly disappointed, “Perhaps tomorrow.”

Just at that moment, a cat ventured into the room.  Simone hadn’t been aware that Ignacio had a cat in his home, but he picked the creature up and set it on his lap.  “I don’t suppose you’ve met Romulus, have you?  He’s named after the man who founded Rome, after killing his brother, Remus.”

Simone hadn’t thought that Ignacio of being affectionate or caring for something.  She looked at the cat and blinked.

Ignacio looked at Simone, wide-eyed.  “You-you did it!”

Simone tilted her head.  “What do you mean?  I didn’t do anything.”

Ignacio dug through his pocket and retrieved a mirror.  He handed it to Simone, who held it up to look at her face.  She was so shocked at her reflection that she dropped the mirror to the stone floor, where it shattered.  Her eyes… her eyes…

They were the same amber color that they usually were, but they weren’t her eyes.  Her eyes had been replaced by the eyes of a cat.

“That’s impossible!” She exclaimed.  “That-that isn’t normal!”

“Believe me, it’s very possible.  This is the first step to you fully achieving your ability.  Do you have any idea what can accomplish?” His lips twisted into a sinister smile.  “Do you have any idea what we can accomplish together?”

Simone shook her head.  “No, I have no clue. Mostly because you’ve refused to tell me anything.”

“Relax.  We shall dine together tonight, and I will explain everything to you.  But for now…” He called out, “Gala!”

Gala entered the library.  “Yes, Master Ignacio?”

“Take Simone to get something pretty to wear, and let her wash up.  Tonight, we celebrate.”

Gala nodded her head.  “Come with me, miss.”

Simone gladly followed her.  They went down a hall that she had never been in before, to a room much nicer than the one Simone had been staying in.  There was a bed, large and plush, along with a wardrobe overflowing with nice things.  Gala took out a baby blue blouse (the neckline a bit lower than Simone usually would have worn) and a long, flowing white skirt.  Simone was then led to a restroom, where she was left alone to bathe.

Strangely enough, the room was stocked with Simone’s usual brand of shampoo, conditioner, and toothpaste.  It didn’t take long for Simone to realize that Ignacio had been planning on her arrival for a while now.  He had somehow been spying on her.

Simone quickly washed, dried, and brushed her hair.  Finally, her one beauty was beautiful again.  She looked in the mirror.  Her eyes had somehow changed back.  She dressed and exited the room.  Gala was waiting for her.  ‘Supper is not for another hour, miss.  You are to wait here until I come to get you,” She said.

“Alright,” Simone nodded her head.  “Thank you, Gala.”

Gala came over and gave Simone a hug.  Simone felt the girl press something into her hand.  Gala whispered, “I wish you the best of luck.”  She then left the room.

Simone looked at the item in her hand.  It was a piece of paper, folded up and filthy.  Simone carefully unfolded the note.  The first thing that she saw was a photograph of two boys.  One boy had sandy blonde hair and a beak-like nose.  The other had red-brown hair and big brown eyes.  Simone couldn’t help but wonder who they were and why Gala had provided her with their picture.  She looked at the note in her hand.  It read:

 

Simone-

 

You are not going to join Ignacio for dinner tonight.  You will either be dead or be out of here – let’s hope for the latter!  The two boys in that picture are going to come get you.  Go with them.  I will see you soon.  You have to trust me on this, Simone.

 

-Gala

 

Simone studied the words, not believing what she had just read.  She was going to get out?  How?  Any why had Gala arranged this when she worked for Ignacio?  She must be a spy! Gala realized.

Then she sank onto the bed.  What if it was all a trick?  What if those boys would come and she would go with and it turned out they worked for Ignacio?  He would beat her bloody if that was the case.  But what had Gala said?  Simone should trust her?  Simone sighed, unsure of what she should do.  She went back into the restroom and looked at her eyes, which had not too long ago been replaced by a pair of cat eyes.  What that really her ability?  To have cat eyes?  Simone wondered if she could do it again.

She closed her eyes and began to focus.  She thought about the pair of cat eyes and focused on them.  After a few minutes, she opened her eyes.  They were still normal.  She shook her head and scolded herself.  Now, what made you think you could just randomly give yourself cat eyes?

Then she started thinking again.  What had made today so special that she could change like that?  She thought of everything unique that had happened.  When she first saw Ignacio today, he was muttering to himself.  Maybe he was using some sort of magic to focus her?  No, that’s preposterous. 

She continued thinking.  Nothing had really happened except… Yes, that must be it!  The little cat that came into the room!  Simone focused on lithe Romulus and closed her eyes.  When she opened them, they were the same amber-colored catlike eyes that she had seen earlier that morning.

She fell backwards when she realized that they were the same pair of eyes that she had seen in her nightmares.

The Secret Prisoner

Simone got up and looked in the mirror again.  Sure enough, they were the same eyes.  Simone wished desperately that they would go away.  She rubbed her eyes – no, she couldn’t believe that they were hers, the eyes.  They stayed.

She heard a crash outside the bathroom and a voice.  “Wow, this room is nicer than mine!”

Simone cracked open the bathroom door and watched.  There were two boys – the two boys from Gala’s photograph.  They both wore long trench coats and blue jeans.

“Yeah, except for the color.  I despise pink!” The brown-haired one said.

“Who cares?” The blonde questioned.

“You know, I’m sure you could easily repaint your room pink,” Replied the other.

“Shut up, Vix,” The blonde responded with.

“Where is she?”

“I have no clue.  I’m more curious about why this guy wanted her.”

“I don’t know why,” The brown-haired one shrugged his shoulders.  “She must be important, though.  We need to get her out of here.”

“Do you think she’s… one of us?”

“Who knows?  We’ll find out soon enough.”

Simone slipped on the tile floor and came tumbling into the bedroom.  She looked at them, frightened, with her cat eyes.  “Oh,” The brown-haired boy said, only a little surprised.  “That’s why he wanted you.”

Simone blushed.  “Yes, go ahead and stare.  I’m a freak.  So what?”

“No, no, it isn’t strange at all,” The brown-haired boy held out a hand to help her up.  She didn’t take it.

“Who are you?” She inquired.”

“Why, can’t you tell?” Said the blonde boy.  “I am your knight in shining armor, come to save you from this dungeon.  Don’t I get a kiss?”

“Shut up, Corinth!  Can’t you see she’s scared?” The other boy scolded.

“Sorry, just trying to have a bit of fun,” The boy called Corinth shrugged his shoulders apologetically.

Simone wasn’t amused.  She was trapped, starving, thirsty, and freezing, yet these boys had the nerve to joke around?  Didn’t they realize the danger that they were in?  Ignacio was absolutely crazy, possibly, evil!  Shouldn’t they have been trying to escape?

“Come on, little cat, come with us,” Corinth told her, grinning.

“Will you quit teasing me?  At least I’m attractive, unlike you,” Simone snapped.

The brown-haired boy chuckled.  “Quit laughing, Vixo,” Corinth muttered, blushing slightly.

“C’mon, Miss…” Vixo looked at her.

“Simone,” She whispered.

“Well, Simone, if you want to get out of here, then you’re going to have to want to come with us,” Vixo smiled kindly.  “I promise we won’t hurt you.”

Corinth rolled his eyes.  “Speak for yourself, Vix.  You leave me alone with a girl, especially a pretty one… Well, you never know what I might do,” He said with a wink.

“Corinth!” Vixo exclaimed, “Look, you’re only frightening her.” He turned to Simone.  “Don’t worry, I won’t do anything to hurt you, and neither will Corinth.”

Corinth didn’t say anything, which wasn’t very reassuring.  He just took off his trench coat and handed it to Simone.  ‘We’ll be walking for a while.  I can’t have you freeze.”

“Is Gala coming with us?” Simone blurted, which seemed to take them by surprise.

“Of course Gala is coming with us,” Corinth said, as if it should have been obvious.  “Ignacio would torture her if she disappeared.  I can’t let that happen to her.”

Simone smirked.  “Why?  Is she your girlfriend?”

Vixo laughed, “No, no, she’s his sister.  I suppose she could be his girlfriend, but Corinth isn’t the type to make a commitment.  Perhaps he’s just invited her to bed.  That sounds like Corinth.”

Corinth hit Vixo, but Simone noticed he was blushing a bit redder.  She put on the trench coat.  “Okay, let’s go.”

Vixo smiled as Corinth led her out the door.  “I need to go find Gala,” Corinth said before turning and leaving quickly.

Vixo and Simone were left alone.  “Don’t mind Corinth.  It isn’t often that we rescue pretty girls.  There are only four girls where we come from.  Two of them are his sisters and a third is twelve.”

“What about the fourth?” Simone inquired.

“Kyrie?” Vixo grinned.  “I think he tired of her a while ago, and she never liked him much.”

“Oh,” Simone couldn’t think of a way to respond.  “So he’s quite flirtatious?”

Vixo grinned, “You could say that.”

They were interrupted by a loud groan.  Vixo stopped to listen.  The noise had come from one of the rooms.  Vixo slowly opened and door and Simone joined him to look at who – or what – was inside.

She nearly fainted when she saw Jasper.

He was lying in the middle of the floor, unconscious.  His head was surrounded by a very scary puddle of blood.  “Who is this?” Vixo whispered.

“Jasper,” Simone choked out.  “This is Jasper.”

“You know him?” Vixo tilted his head.

“He’s been my best friends since fourth grade,” Simone sounded like she was in a daze.  “He was with me when Ignacio took me.”

Vixo glanced back at the boy.  “He’s normal?”

“What do you mean by that?” Simone snapped.  “Of course he’s normal?  If he was… like me, Ignacio would have been trying to get him to use his… ability, too, wouldn’t he?”

“Yes, of course.” Vixo nodded his head.

Simone flew to Jasper’s side and kneeled on the cold stone floor.  “Jasper?” She whispered, touching his shoulder.

He groaned again.  “Jasper, please!” She begged.  “It’s me, Simone.  I’m here.”

He cracked his eyes open.  “Simone?” He murmured.

She smiled, relieved.  “Yes, yes, it’s me.”

“You need to get out of here,” Jasper whispered urgently.  “That man – he’s crazy.”

“I’m not leaving without you,” Simone told him.

Vixo entered the room.  “Help me untie him.”

They began working on the knots binding his wrists.  The ropes were tough and the knots were well-tied.  Simone’s fingers were bloody by the time she was done, though not all the blood was hers.  Jasper was free.  Vixo tried to help him up, but Jasper couldn’t stand.

“Oh, no,” Simone whispered.  They were running out of time, and there was no way they could escape while carrying Jasper.

Vixo sighed, “I think it’s about time I showed you something.”

Vixo closed his eyes and whispered something.  At first, nothing happened.  Then, there was a flash of light. Simone shielded her eyes with her hand, and when she looked again, Vixo was no longer standing there.  In his place, there stood a rather large elk.  Simone stared in astonishment.  “Vixo?” She asked.

The elk lowered its head in response.  “That is… wow!” Simone was amazed.

The elk – Vixo – looked at Jasper.  Simone picked Jasper up.  She may not have been strong, but Jasper was light as a feather.  Simone wondered if he had eaten anything since he’d been kidnapped by Ignacio.  She lifted him onto Vixo’s back.  “Hold on,” She whispered into Jasper’s ear.

Jasper slowly lifted his arms and wrapped them around Vixo’s neck.  “Let’s get out of here,” Simone suggested.

In response, Vixo quickly darted out of the room.  Simone silently prayed that Jasper would be able to stay on his back.  She swiftly ran after them.  They ran through the cold, dark halls.  Every once in a while Simone would have to stop and catch her breath, but Vixo would not wait for her.  He was going much faster than her, and she was having an awful lot of trouble keeping up.

Vixo was clearly slowing down when Simone ran into a wall.

As she picked herself up, she realized it wasn’t wall.  It was Corinth.  “Watch it!” He told her.  “That hurt.”

“Get over it,” Simone stuck her tongue out.

“Where’s Vix?” Corinth asked.

Simone motioned toward the elk running back toward them.  “Oh.  So, I suppose you know what we can do?” Corinth tilted his head.

“You can do that, too?” Simone was truly amazed.

“So can I,” Simone hadn’t noticed that Gala was there as well.

Simone backed away from them.  “Are you… are you working with Ignacio?”

Corinth laughed.  “What kind of a question is that?  No, we’re the good guys here.  He’s not.”

Gala chimed in, “I was actually a spy.  You can trust me, I promise.”

Vixo reached them.  Gala took one look at Jasper and her eyes widened.  “Oh, no.”

“You know, didn’t you?” Simone questioned angrily.  “You knew all along that he was here.  You lied to me.”

“No, no, I swear I had no idea!” Gala’s voice didn’t give any hint of her lying, but Simone still refused to believe her.

“Whatever.  Let’s just go,” Simone snapped.

As if to agree with Simone, the hall behind them burst into flame.  It was the same purple flames that Simone had seen only a few nights earlier.  “Ignacio!  He knows where we are!” She exclaimed.

Vixo took off running.  Corinth sprinted after him, leaving Gala and Simone in the back.  “I tire of this,” Gala sighed.  Then she stopped running.  Simone kept running, not knowing why the other girl had stopped.

Within a minute, Simone was shocked by a tiger running past her.  Vixo the elk and Gala the tiger?  Simone couldn’t help but wonder what Corinth would transform into.  A peacock, perhaps, or a Chihuahua.  She noticed Gala turning around and running toward her before stopping.  It wasn’t long at all until they caught up with the others.

Eventually, they came upon a dead end.  Vixo and Gala both began muttering a foreign tongue and soon they were human again.  “What do we do now?” Simone asked.

“Relax,” Corinth told her.  He took out what looked like a pencil and began drawing odd figures on the stone wall in front of them.

“What is he-” Simone began.

“Shush,” Gala whispered, “Close your eyes.”

Simone obeyed.  After a moment, Corinth told her to open them.  The dimness of the candles lining the walls had been replaced by bright daylight.  There was an opening large enough for a person to step through in the wall.  Simone watched as Corinth picked Jasper up and walked through the opening.  “Go on,” Gala told her.

Simone followed Corinth back into the world.  “Well, that was fun!” She heard Vixo say behind her.

She turned around and was shocked to see that the opening had been replaced by a solid stone wall.  “How did you do that?”

“No time to explain,” Vixo said, grabbing her wrist.  “Now, hurry up!”

She was dragged several blocks until they ducked inside an alley.  “His wounds have no magic or demonic power in them,” Corinth told Gala.  “Disguise yourself with a rune and take him to the nearest hospital.

Gala picked Jasper up and quickly ran away.  The boys walked a few feet away to have a quite, private meeting with each other.  Simone took the opportunity to collapse to the ground, sobbing.

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 27.12.2012

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To everyone, because there's never been a person to discourage me