Page 12 of Tempted
Not bothering to dare move them from their protective covering of my head, my arms continue to take on the sharp pings of pebbles, roughened dirt clots and the like. It’s that pain I focus on the most despite my body taking on the worst of the damage from the fragments of the wreckage still falling from the ceiling. Even the pellets of water sting with the force at which they’re raining down on me. The wind is sharper too. Despite the steady heat of the island, the air is biting and harsh in its frigidity.
Is this what Professor Carmichael had been talking about? Did he know about the instability of these ruins? Does this island suffer earthquakes and storms regularly and I not noticed in my research?
I’m an idiot for coming here alone and without telling anyone of my whereabouts. This isn’t actually news, but I’d truly hoped that this little mission of mine wouldn’t be that big of a deal. I’ve gotten in over my head with my overconfidence and need to prove my worth to mother and now she’ll be more ashamed than ever before. If anything, I doubt she’d mourn my loss much. She’d be too embarrassed at my failed attempts to supersede her in her own damn profession—one she’s been working on for longer than I’ve been alive and yet my arrogance somehow had me thinking that I could best her? If this isn’t a lesson in humility, I don’t know what is.
Too bad I’m learning this as I die.
Humiliation and sadness take over me when a loud roaring sound reaches my ears. The sound isloud. Really, really loud. It’s as if a beast of some kind is in pain. No, not one singular beast… several. The noise isn’t like anything I’ve ever heard before, sounding part man, part monster—angry and aggressive in ways that call to my aching soul while I fight to keep from getting knocked out by the barrage of rocks raining down upon me.
I want to help these creatures. I need to.
Not knowing why won’t stop the longing in my chest to dissipate. The sound is almost entirely animal, but what if it actually is a grouping of men? It’s sort of hard to distinguish what with everything that’s happening, not to mention the distinct lack of lighting. If anything, the small peeks of vision I’ve had only show a soft illumination glowing like the flames of a bonfire on a dark starry night.
“Are—are you—oh gods!”
I’m cut off by more tumbling rocks falling onto me when I move my hands from above my head and pull my forearms from my face. I was only trying to see what’s making the sounds by calling out to see if anyone responds as an indicator of man or beast, but the pain is too excruciating. Up until this point, it’s mostly been smaller debris but the distinct crack of one crushing my leg beneath its weight has me screaming in agonizing pain, which seems to only infuriate the grouping of whatever’s out there because the roaring gets louder as if it’s getting closer to me while I’m being buried alive under the crumbling foundation of the ruins.
I can feel the frustration and hurt over these beings sensing my own pain. A wretchedness washes over me and I can instinctively feel their fight to get to me, almost as though they’re fighting the elements themselves to reach me in my distress and even though my whole body hurts in ways it never has before, all I want to do is reach out to whatever’s out there and calm them down. Knowing that they—whatever they might be—are hurting because of me is killing me faster than any earthquake or storm ever could.
They feel like a memory.
I wish I knew how I knew all of these things or why I’m feeling some kind of way over all of this, but it is what it is and I’m too tired to do anything much more than accept it all right now.
There’s a violent tinge in the air burning so hot I’m imagining the smell of it, like sulfur and tar. The quakes settle down and another small stone hits me in the temple, making my already darkening vision blur more so I close my eyes and lean into the creeping state of unconsciousness.
Flashes of pale gray eyes that are serious and thoughtful, boring into me with a fierce intensity cross through my mind. Images of another man’s long dark hair running silkily over the tips of my fingers on a warm breezy day float in like a visceral memory next, along with the boisterous laugh of someone else. Then another picture of wicked smiles made of thick, wide lips and more of strong arms wrapped around me, holding me close as though I’m precious… all these things running through my mind like a montage of different character traits that feel vital to my existence. The scents of campfires, forests, sea salt, babbling brooks and sunshine invade my senses and I’m lost to it all. It momentarily helps me forget the pain, forget the fear. I want to savor these things and live in them forever.
That feeling of longing and coming home hits harder than ever so I muster up all the strength and courage I have, open my eyes, and slowly start to crawl toward the howling bellows, keeping off of my injured leg as much as possible. It doesn’t feel broken, just badly bruised and I’m hoping with all I am that I’m right so I have a better chance of making it back to my house before daylight. As it is, I only have a few hours left to get back.
Fat chance of that happening. Might as well accept the fact that expulsion is in my future.
“Ziiiiiiiiiiiiiii!” A cry of rage echoes all around me, sounding off like thunder trapped within a cave, but that can’t be true seeing as there’s rain and a windstorm brewing all around me. There’s no way we’re in a cave. It’s still too dark to see much, but as I amble closer to the booming voices, I can make out shapes. Big shapes. I’d even go as far as to say giant shapes, even though it feels a little too punny after seeing the inside of the ruins and trying to make my logical mind believe in the unnatural—or rather the supernatural.
Sparks of light illuminate the space all around me as the storm breaks and I find some reprieve from the onslaught of earth, air, and water. If I weren’t already on the ground, I’d fear of fainting and knocking myself out at the sight before me. As it stands, nothing about tonight has been believable and I’m starting to question my own sanity.
Fair assessment, in my opinion. Sanity is for the weak anyway.
Not only am I still inside the ruins, but I’m surrounded by hulking men that are somehow holding off the storming elements with magic.Realfreaking magic. Because, you know, that’s apparently a thing.
Deep breaths. In, two… three… I’m not crazy. Am I dreaming, maybe?
One man is using the fierce winds to create a shield of sorts to deter the rain from reaching me on one side and another is using the flames of fire streaming from his hands to turn the water droplets into steam, which creates a foggy mist all around us, adding to the insane atmosphere. Three more guys are standing directly in front of me in protective stances with their hands raised upward as they speak a language that feels so foreign and so familiar all at once and it feels like I’m heeding the call of a drug, getting pulled into a trance like state as I let the strange words seep into my being.
We call upon you, our goddess, and thank you for bringing our mate home. Our magic has always been a gift from you and for that we are grateful, though we stand before you offering it back. We only ask that you keep it from harming she that is born of your blood now, whatever the price may be. Our sacrifice will not be in vain, as long as she is safe from all harm. Shall we keep it, we will avenge you and resume our fight of wickedness amongst our people now that we are all together once more.
Scalding flames of bright white light rain down like the fires of heaven, scorching us all and I can’t help but close my eyes to protect them against the blinding burning singe that’s overtaken this room while curling up into a ball as if I can shield myself from the pain I know is coming my way. It won’t work but I think it’s instinct. Sadly, I just know that here will be my final resting place as I perish in these flames. How could it not be?
So much for this being a dream. Dreams don’t hurt like this.
Just when the heat becomes blistering enough that I assume it’s about to wholly consume me, my skin prickles and I can’t help the giggle that leaves my mouth when it feels like I’m being tickled rather than burned alive.
Is this what happens when you die? Does everyone enter a state of delirium? Maybe my mind is trying to protect me one last time before the call of Death claims me.
Opening my eyes, I’m left reeling over what I’m seeing yet again. Gone is the fiery blaze of the gods and the windstorm from hell. Left in its place is a surprisingly spacious room with the same kinds of hand built furnishings, only the stuff is more fitting to a bedroom if that bedroom was decorated by a more primitive species. There’s mostly just bedding made up of animal hides and plant materials but it takes up enough of the room that it could fit all of these men and more.
Speaking of the men…
I must have gotten hit by one of those rocks harder than I thought because there’s zero percent chance what I’m seeing is real. It would appear as though I’m trapped in these ancient ruins with actual giants that are now worshipping at my feet.
