The Tale of Our Lives

[Niessa Lucine Zanlaraniel]

She looked over the architecture of the castle. Even in most of her years of life she hadnt laid eyes on this castle. She'd been told stories by her mother about the mysteries that were held deep within it's gates but for a majority of it, she was never really bothered by it. But now when she knew her brother and husband's lives were at stake, she would take on any actions from within with as much stride as she could. Already she could sense something very ancient and powerful inside, and she wondered if it was the power that her mother had always been search of. For an instance, she felt a a strong pull inside and wondered if this was the same thing her own mother had felt. Deep down, she knew once she entered things would change, but this was a risk worth taking. Even after everything she said about quitting, she knew she would be back, she had to help her family, her best friend. She couldnt just turn her back on everyone, even if she was mentally at wits end. She moved towards the outer gates, but stopped waiting for Nailana. She knew better than this, and was very careful about the barrier surrounding the area.

[Zora Lee]

She stood beside Niessa waiting for her grandmother, the tales she had heard about it once making her shudder slightly. She kenw the story too well. Her grandfather had nearly killed her mother and Uncle. Even almsot killing himself because of some dark power that was inside. She looked up wondering why they theirselves couldnt enter it. But she knew there was some barrier that warded them off from it. She looked down the path seeing no one insight. She sighed and turned her thoughts to the events of the last few days. Her son's health and her brother and Alder's safety all worrying her. She sighed and waited, knowing her grandmother had to attend to her aunt before she could come.

[Nailana King]

She appeared suddenly at their sides, her fighting gear strapped to her body like she was going on a hunt. She smiled to the girls and gave Zora an encouraging pat as she moved to the door. She stoped for a moment remembering the last time she had been there and what she had seen. It seemed Maezyl was in that same position again, near death, but it was for a different reason. She turned and looked at Niessa and then to Zora, "Are you sure this is what you have to do? Abusing the power inside could get you killed. I have seen the power first hand, you bot have heard the story. It's dangerous. But I have heard that someone will be able to wield it. It could be one of you, it could be someone else. I just want you both to know what it is your getting yourself into it." When she had first heard their plan she had been skeptical but she saw more and more into what they said and believed it might work.

[Niessa Lucine Zanlaraniel]

She nodded to Nailana. "I'm not worried about the power inside, I'm worried about finding information to help Rionos and everyone from this situation." She gave a firm nod. She knew what her main goal was. Besides, she knew better, she knew the stories she was told by Mae too. Some rooms that just didnt open no matter how hard you try, as if there was yet another barrier, shielding it until the right person entered. "Please Nailana..." She motioned to the door, they were already dawdling and she didnt need to be warned any further. She had already accessed the dangers, and had even spoken to a friend in case anything happened to her, her baby wouldnt die. She took a breath. That same pull calling out towards her. Why was it so strong, she wondered. She shook her head, trying to keep her mindframe on what was on task. And what she needed was information on anything that may have happened. Maybe there was even something hidden deep within the castle, to speak about this power that was held deep within.

[Zora Lee]

She looked at her grandmother and sighed, "We know, we have heard the stories. We aren't here for the power just the secrets the castle might hold. We are doing this for mom, and dad, Rionos, Dorian, and...Alder." She looked at Niessa sadly and then back to her grandmother, "Please just open it, the sooner we get teh information the sooner we can be on our way and try to help Rionos." She looked at her grandmother expectantly hoping she would not stall them further.

[Nailana King]

She looked at Niessa and smiled, "Very well then. If you know what your getting into then I can not say anythign more to you." She turned halting only when she felt the dull ache in her stomach return. She brushed it off again and then stepped to the door. A eagle appeared on her forehead as she moved closer and a slight wind picked up around them. She closed her eyes and ran her finger along one of the doors and then placed it on it. She could feel the barriers lifting from around them slightly and she took her hand away. She grabbed the door and then swung it open looking at them, "Come on let's get inside."

[Niessa Lucine Zanlaraniel]

She turned to look at Nailana with a little worry. Something as wrong, but she would question her about it after she found something. The instance the barrier liften ahd ran inside, moving past Zora and Nailana in a heartbeat. She looked up to see quite the sight meet her. There were lit torches and the smell of something ancient. There was a large chandelier in the middle, and in the distance you could see tables that were beyong wealth and luxury. There were statues of gargoyles, demons, and other creatures that went bump in the night. It was quite the sight and it left such an impression. She stepped to the middle of the room, and turned to see the stairway to the right. Something was calling to her, but she wouldnt move just yet. You could sense many ancient and forgotten creatures within, and a power that couldnt be explained. It was a bit unnerving, but she had to keep her cool. She pulled placed her arm near her sword, incase anything popped up by surprise, and turned to look at Nailana and Zora. "I'm going to start searching." And she ran up the right side stairway. It was quite the run, the stairs were long and winding, but she made it to the second floor. The hallway was huge, and there were so many doors. She took a deep breath and started to walk amongst the doors. She would only stop if her gut told her too. At her age she learned to trust herself more and more, and it was rare that she was wrong. She moved to a particular room, holding her hand against the door. Something...was inside...but when she grabbed for the knob, it wouldnt let her open it and a greenish barrier appeared to send her back. The door was shielded. Her back hit the wall, when she was pushed back. She stood slowly. Maybe there was a way to open this door, but it might take her awhile to figure it out. She went back down the hall until she reached the end, but nothing besides that shielded room had called out to her. She frowned and moved back towards the stairway, making her way to the third floor of the humongous castle.

[Zora Lee]

She watched in astonishment at how the barriers were lifted. She had heard of how her mother opened it but seeing it was somethign else. She hurried inside and looked up in amazement. It was huge, and beautiful. An Ancient beauty that she appreciated with each turn she made. She looked at Niessa and nodded, "I'll look around down here. If I find anything I'll call for you." She moved off down the hall, looking at the many different artifacts that lined the walls. She found a door and tried to open it, but it was locked. She moved off further and found another room that glowed with an erie light. She moved towards it cautiously, and reached out barely touching the handle. Nothing happened so she gripped the knob and turned it, opening the door slowly. She entered the door only to hear it slam behind her. She turned to it only to see it was gone. Suddenly images began to runn across the room. Images of her past, of her families past, of a man and woman who where brutal murderers, and of herself, being raped. She looked at the images in horror, wondering why she was being showed this.

[Nailana King]

She watched the two girls run into the castle and moved in behidn them. Shutting the door behind her. She nodded to both girls, "Be careful both of you. I will be here if you need me." She watched them both run off and then moved up the stairs. She vaguely remembered the room that she had found Hannibal and Maezyl in when Hannibal was evil, and she wanted to see if anythign had changed. She moved along the corridors and looked into the rooms. Finally she came across the one that she had never really got to see before. She looked around, nothing had changed much. The things that had been there those few years ago were still there. Even the stain of blood that had run from her husband's body. She moved towards it and knelt down, running her hand across it slowly. Tears fell from her eyes as she remembered how she had almost lost her husband. She bit her lip as the dull ache in her stomach began to intensify slightly but again she pushed the thought out of her mind.

[Niessa Lucine Zanlaraniel]

She closed the door behind her. That room held nothing but old artifacts and scary looking statues of things that were no longer there. She sighed. This would end up being a very tedious task and she knew this, but it wouldnt deter her from searching every nook and cranny to find anything that could help them. She moved up the stairs again, this time more slowly. She heard a sudden growl come from the beneath her, yet she was sure it wasnt in the first floor, maybe the place had a basement? She didnt know but she would check soon enough. She looked around the fourth floor, as she passed it. She didnt even have a slight inclination so she wouldnt dawdle there for longer than needed. But when she stepped onto the fifth floor, something hit her suddenly. She looked around, she could see a light from one of the rooms, and she sensed someone there as well. She knew it was probably Nailana or Zora, but something in this place was blinding her from knowing which one. She looked around, everything around her started to turn red, and the floor began to shake. She moved to the door frame of one of the rooms, and looked up. The air around the place had changed drastically. It was as if something ancient and powerful had been awakened. A greenish fog began to cover area the area. The fog turning a shadowy color when it touched certain items. The doorframe began to shake violently and dove from her spot, landing on her her side and she looked up, her hands beside her to hold her up. "What the hell is going on in this place!" She shouted and stood in a hurry, as a column fell right where she had just been seconds before. And then she noticed the strangest thing of it all. A dark greenish light that was coming out of the room that she could sense someone in and it was heading straight for her. She didnt know what it was exactly but it was extremely powerful and ancient. She jumped up over the column and started in the direction of the stairway. She turned to see that light had begun to surround the entire hallway. She turned to see and stopped suddenly. The light had covered the exit to the stairway, so she was stuck now.

[Zora Lee]

She cowered in the corner of the room as the images began to progress backwards, she saw her grandmother standing at a lake, and then a man came out and attacked her. He slahed her arms with a knife and beat her. She gasped in horror as he left and her grandmother just laid there. Then her Aunt Yarizel appeared and took her away. It amazed her that she had been the one to help. She knew that Yarizel disliked her grandmother greatly and had never expected her to do such a thing. And then the images went back further she saw her mother being thrown into a room by a woman who looked much like her, she heard her words and stared in horror. It was her real mother, and the man she had just seen was her real father. She shuddered slightly and kept watching. She saw everyone and everything, from teh time each of her grandparents were born to even the moment her father died. She cried out when she saw it and heard what he said. There was no mention of her but she didn't care anymore. She loved her father despite his actipns towards her. She shuddered violently and then a new image appeared, her son in a clearing surround by a barrier and then Rionos. She could make out some of the area but that was it. She stood when the images stopped, and one halted on an image of Alder. She stepped towards it and tried to reach out and touch it. But when she tried something shot through her. A ray of light went throughout her body and she felt herself raised off the floor a bit. Then just as suddenly it was gone. The images were all in her head now. She bti her lip then moved from the room quickly when the place began to shake. She threw herself out the door and hurried to the front of the castle where her grandmother was supposed to be.

[Nailana King]

She closed her eyes as the images from those years washed over her. The words that had been spoken, the threats, and the forgiveness that had been offered. She didn't understand it at times how somethings could be forgiven that were her fault. While others were considered a worse action. She hated the fact that she didn't have the comfort of her husband at nights anymore. The images that plagued her mind kept her awake most nights and others she couldnt sleep because she felt so empty inside. She side and stood, grabbing her stomach when she felt a sharp pain and looked around. She began to get an ominous feeling as a haze began to form in the room. She looked around not knowing what to do. She saw a shadow appear and move towards her and she stepped back. It took the shape of a haunting man with empty eyes and as she was pressed against the wall he thrust his hand forward and into her stomach. She could feel him constricting the life within her and she cried out desperately, "No..." The man cackled and continued to squeeze the life out of her child. Tears streamed down her face as many thoughts ran through her head. Her child was being killed, Hannibal's child.....Suddenly a white light appeared where the man's hand was and he cried out in pain. He pulled his hand from her stomach and cursed her. She barely heard the raspy words he spoke, but she concentrated only to hear, "Hannibal King's child will die...tainted......tainted...." She watched as the man disappeared and then felt the ache in her stomach intensify three fold. She clutched it as the castle began to shake. She looked around and then quickly moved out of the room, still holding her stomach.

[Niessa Lucine Zanlaraniel]

She stepped back slowly the color around the room turning darker. She stopped and moved against the wall. Maybe she could fade from the area. She closed her eyes concentrating for the stairway, but nothing happened. It was as if two green walls of light were heading straight for her to crush her. But she wouldnt allow this. Slowly they came closer and she broke into a run. She moved passed the column, jumping up into the air and concentrated her energy into a shield. She dove pass the green light, and toppled on the ground, until she came to a halt, one leg extended infront of her as she watched the two walls merge. She stood slowly. Was it really over? And what the hell was it to begin with. Then something hit her...this was exactly as Mae had described it, the light that had entered her when she was pregnant with Rionos. But why was it out here? Why did it seek to attack her? She turned to see Nailana there. "Step back, Nai...I dont know what this or what it wants, but step back."She moved forward, closer to it, and stopped just short of the column. It looked as if the wall was disentigrating, and she sighed with relief. Whisps of light flew past her, and she stood, taking her breath. But suddenly she felt a strong burst of wind, and her body was immobolized. She was sent up into the air and the whisps of green light that were in the hallway, started to envelop her body. Her arms were forced to her side, extending out just slightly, as were her legs. Something pushed her head upward, gaping her mouth open. The whisps of the green light entering her body through her mouth. The light enveloped her completely, molding into her being. Tears were coming out of her eyes, as she writhed in pain. This was like a poison that was merging with her completely and it was shooting excrutiating pain all throughout her. She struggled to release herself from it but the grip was just too strong. She managed a whimper from her lips, forcing her head to look in front of her, and still more of this eerie power was coming forth and uniting with her body. She could feel the walls of the castle shake violently, the sounds of desks and books toppling over coming from everywhere in that castle.

[Zora Lee]

She was scared, no one was at the front of the castle. She remembered when she had went into the room in Niessa's house and had been made into an adult. HAd she been in there for a long time? Had they left her? The Castle continued to shake adn she looked around as things crashed to the floor. She jumped out of the way when a rather large statue fell and looked back as the dust flew at her. She coughed and looked around, "Niessa!! Grandma?!!" She stood slowly brushing the dust from her and felt something painful in her leg. She looked down to see she had landed on a sharp peice of wood and it had went straight through her thigh. She winced and pulled it out and then quickly tied a ripped sleeve over it. She looked aroudn then looked at the stairs. There was a haunting glow coming from up there and she wondered if Niessa and her grandmother were up there. She moved as fast as her injured leg would let her go. Finally she made it to a floor and looked on in astonishment as Niessa was suspended in the air and writhing in pain. The castle still shook and she had to dive out of the way of something else that was going to fall on her.

[Nailana King]

She came out of the room to be met with a sight. She let her hand drop from her stomach and looked around. She watched as the walls of light began to close in around Niessa and she pressed herself close to the wall. Suddenly Niessa was torn with light, it engulfed her and she writhed in pain. She moved forward her hand outstretched, "Niessa!!" She saw Zora come up the stairs and she threw out her hand, "No, stay back Zora." She watched as Zora halted and she moved to where Niessa was suspended in air. She looked at the light and grabbed the whip at her side. She swung it around her head and then let the end fly and wrap around Niessa's leg. She tried pulling at her, but she didnt budge. She Whiped her wrist around again and pulled the whip from her leg and stared helplessly at her. "If you die Yarizel is going to murder me....."