Day 4

Akame’ye Accia spoke of Ull Ghis before and appeared shocked that Giliad hadn’t heard of the man. Once again, Giliad showed no apprehension of what she just revealed to him, which visibly irked the awakened spirit.

“Do you have any idea what am I telling you?”

He didn’t so he shook his head then said, “I am more concerned with a question why are you telling me this? First, you wanted to kill me, now you say stuff I don’t need to know but it seems important.”

She extended her hand to the right but nothing happened. She then sniffed, annoyed. Was she trying to use her power but couldn’t This could give Giliad an opening … and how far will it get me? She controls the weather around the lake and the lake itself. This place might be blocking her ability to manipulate the water but without knocking her out, Giliad’s chances of getting out were slim. And of course, he couldn’t forget about his companions. It was highly probable that the idiots got themselves in trouble already.

“Are you sure that power like yours is inside me?” he asked, feeling nauseated by the possibility.

“Yes. Very certain.”

“Do you want it? It’s yours.”

She made a disgusted face as if Giliad offered her a red frog’s eggs to eat.

“No. Of course, I don’t want this power. How could your kind fall off so hard that you don’t know the basics? One body cannot hold two awakened spirits. Such profanities had been tried and failed horribly.” She shivered. “Never again offer me this.”

Giliad stood up, turning toward the exit. “It won’t happen again because I am leaving.”

“No. You’re not.”

She remained seated, but then also she forgot that her powers didn’t work inside this room and Giliad didn’t stop.

“Wait!”

Giliad returned to the room in which had awoken and realized he didn’t know the way out. Ceiling…

Akame’ye Accia darted into the chamber and her fist connected with Giliad’s ribs. He gasped as the pain blinded him. Then he smashed against the wall. She crossed over to him with bossy steps and fists on her hips.

“You won’t go anywhere. I need a companion … a servant.”

Giliad grunted. Breathing hurt. His body would heal quickly but for now, he wasn’t feeling great. It looked like the water wasn’t her only weapon. Her punch was too fast to evade. And all of this while she looked delicate like a flower.

“I can’t stay,” Giliad said between breaths, ignoring the larger part of the pain.

“And where is it you are going? What can be more important than accompanying me?”

“You should ask the man who betrayed you.”

She turned her head sharply toward him but her gestures yielded no water attacks. She can be beaten, Giliad foolishly told himself.

“So, you pay attention after all,” she said with an air of superiority. “But I cannot … or can I?” She asked herself more than she asked him. “I will let you go. I don’t think I could suffer you for long. I’ve never sympathized with mentally handicapped folks.”

“I am not…”

“Hush.” She put a finger to her lips. “I want you to promise me something.”

When Giliad didn’t answer, the woman frowned and made circular gestures hurrying him up. He managed to find his feet. Damage caused by her punch was half-way healed. But he still didn’t speak.

“Half-wit!” she snapped but lacked the true anger. “I want you to relay a message to someone. Promise me you’ll find and tell him my words and you can be on your way.”

Wasn’t this too easy? Either this woman was mad or her offer was a trap. It sucked that Giliad had no way of knowing. She certainly could be beaten but what kind of monster was capable of this feat? How strong would I have to be to stand a chance against her?

“Who?”

“Etohay. Once known as Yij Eon the Blessed Monarch, the King of North. But now he should be closer to an eel than a king. Tell him this: I am coming for you.”

Giliad frowned.

“What?”

“He won’t believe me.” If I ever manage to find him.

“What? Why?”

“Because I don’t believe you.”

She tsked, spinning away from Giliad. The ceiling wavered and for a moment Giliad thought the lake would drop on their heads. It didn’t but something changed. Akame’ye Accia chuckled softly, embracing herself and rocking, oblivious to his presence, or so he thought.

“He begged me to save Ull Ghis’s library. I didn’t care back then and agreed only to keep Hygia Salia dry for a year. He accepted these terms and since much has changed. This library holds secrets Ull Ghis unearthed somehow. That sleek reptile knew my weakness. He imprisoned—”

“No,” Giliad interrupted her. “You imprisoned yourself. You’re free to go.”

In a flash, she was by Giliad, her hand on his throat. Her fingers felt soft and iron at the same time. He didn’t need much imagination to see them snap his neck without effort. As terrifying as this vision seemed, Giliad stilled his body, his heart barely beating. The Awakened Spirit noticed it as well.

“For a half-wit, there may be something that will redeem you in the future,” she said, Giliad exhaled and she chose that moment to press him against the wall, keeping the air out of his lungs. He ignored the burning pain and stared into her mesmerizing, changing eyes. “Your mind is too small to comprehend the kind of knowledge laying beneath our feet. Secrets that could shatter your little empire apart. Secrets Ull Ghis feared and this man feared no one and nothing. Do you think I will walk away from this?”

Giliad’s vision started growing fuzzy but he kept his composure immaculate. If she wanted to kill him, he wouldn’t beg… At the last moment, she let go of him. Gasps he took were small and few, born out of his stubbornness and defiance.

“It’s getting boring, you’re behaving like an angry ant. Go. Tell Etohay the words. If he doesn’t believe you, too bad.”

Giliad meant to ask about the water she’d put inside his body. She gave him no chance. The awakened spirit grabbed and threw him with startling strength against the ceiling. Even though it was made out of the water it hurt like seven thousand wasp stings.