Bab 64: Linksite
The coachman guided the horses down to the southern region of the city, where a giant, squared building stood; a colosseum built for the rich with deep pockets and wealthy with high connections. He stopped the horses and led the two girls out of the cart and up carpet that was rolled out, and as purple as a swollen tongue.
Standing at the front were two men dressed in black coats, trousers, and hats. Their faces like twisted iron and eyes as sharp as bullets. The Legionnaires who accompanied the Mayor, and stuck to him like black honey.
"Your tickets," one said, in a tone that cracked like the barrel of a gun.
Lyolis and Tonsi handed each Legionnaire a ticket, they pulled them out and examined them for a long moment before turning to one another. Their lips sunken.
I never thought these would work, Lyolis thought. A nervous rattle beating beneath her skin. Why did I agree to this?
Each man turned to the girls, tilting their chins down and staring beyond the bill of their hats; the crease of the brim like furrowed eyebrows. They reached into their coat pockets…
Guns, Lyolis eyes widened, fidgeting with the feeling of flight. We must run…
They withdrew two golden trinkets; a rounded edge at one end and a rod between a set of golden teeth. The Legionnaires held them out.
"These are for you."
"Thanks!" Tonsi smiled, grabbing both keys and handing one to Lyolis.
The men glared then slowly opened the doors. "Your seats are at the front of the colosseum … Don't take the stairs … Go to the end of the tunnel and they'll be on your right."
The two girls walked into the dark tunnel while the doors slammed behind them. Around them the smell of lavender was stronger than ever, uses to mask a stink of decaying flesh although it hardly overpowered it, the stink bleeding through.
"What is that?" Lyolis plugged her nose, eyes burning.
"I smelt it at the Mayor's estate … like he's trying to hide something … dead!"
The two slowly walked down the tunnel that glimmered reddish-orange from the torchlights dancing in lamps on the walls. They passed shadowed staircases and then reached the end of the tunnel where it opened up into another room.
A square ring sat in the middle while rows of seats climbed upward, so high, deep, and full of people, the shadows had swallowed at the rear. Lyolis and Tonsi turned to the right where they found two open seats in the front row. They plopped down on the bench.
It was as if the Mayor was waiting for their arrival...
Suddenly a faint a roar echoed from inside the arena; the grounds shook while loud beats rumbled the ground, quiet at first then growing louder with each step. Lyolis gasped and stood to her feet, knowing the beast call before his brownish-thick fur appeared in a beam of silverlight.
Lyolis couldn't stop the word that fell off her tongue, "Brusk'Kab!" She screamed, as the great bear rose on her hind legs, lifted her chin, and roared.
"Quiet!"
Lyolis felt her hide dress tug and she stumbled back, collapsing into her seat. Tonsi placed a hand over her lips, eyes ice blue even in the dark.
"You mustn't draw attention to yourself." The girl whispered. "Remember … we've come on our own accord."
The ground shook as the bear collapsed on all fours, head twisting, searching for life inside the shadows. There came murmurs in the crowd, even with the ten foot wall, from ring to stand, they feared the beasts abilites; able to scale the wall and mangle all in it's path.
Lyolis knew better, Brusk'Kab was gentle amongst the calm.
The bear patrolled center ring, swiping claws, and tossing dirt ten feet in all directions, until it was swallowed by a cloud of dust.
"Welcome my friends!" The Mayor said, lifting his arms above his head. He waved until the crowds eyes pulled from the beast and fell on him.
He is not where he belongs, Lyolis thought, brows furrowed to arrow-points. A man such as he should be wrestling with my Brusk…
Lyolis closed her eyes and she could feel the beasts energy: The way his fur rustled on his back; how his nose wrinkled with each breath; and the way his eyes glowed like light off obsidian. They seemed connected, his angered spirit drawn to her tranquil demeanor, though the rage moved through her as a destructive unseenable force.
"I have to help him—" the last word snarled through her lips.
Tonsi grabbed her hand, and the chill from her flesh cooled the fire within the Cyoakian girl. "Don't let it take over…" She whispered, as though she knew a secret that Lyolis hadn't.
"What is this?" Lyolis breathed heavy, unaware of the eyes and ears that'd taken interest in her. "What has become of me?"
"I know you're afraid … I was too when I first found it … when I first called upon the power within me … you must control it or it'll control you."
Lyolis hand pinched as Tonsi squeezed, though it calmed her lungs, and she was able to breath easy.
The Mayor waved a hand as a man appeared with large, round glasses, and hair tall and fierce as fire. He was a larger man with a blazing red robe opposite of the black robe and cape the mayor wore. Together they looked like molt and lava.
This is my companion, Voldian Gravencure, the stir doctor of these parts." The red robed man smiled like he'd been tickled by flames. Keeblor winked at the man then said, "he has shared my vision … and together we've created one of the most ingenious alchemies of our age …"
Brusk shifted her weight, twisting through the dirt, and drawing her focus on them. Drool glimmered, slipping through faded-white fangs. And she bobbed, stalking the tower they stood upon.
The Mayor smirked at her approach, he leaned close to the man, whispering, then gave him the coned-instrument in his hand then vanished into the shadows.
Voldian's skin paled. He raised the instrument to his lips and spoke, worry in his throat. "The Mayor will," he swallowed, "demonstrate Li-k-te!."
Lyolis ears drew in the words though her head could not process them. "Did he say Leansign?"
"Linksite," Tonsi said, with too much confidence. "So it's true … they've found a way." She looked over her shoulders unable to see those who were amongst them, the room black as the bottom of a cave. "This was conjured … and these people were chosen … not by mere chance or luck, but by hand of one man with a purpose."
Tonsi felt afraid. "What is Linksite—"
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone