Dark Realm 61
Brinley swallowed the fear building in her throat. She rubbed her palms against her pants. Reliving the moment, the surroundings changed, in the trees, the shadows grew long as they played out Brinley’s memory. Pyramus stood behind Brinley unnoticed. He took a glance around at the shadows showing Kier’s violent death. Hues of red pulsated like a heartbeat surrounded her. “Focus,” Pyramus whispered. Like air being sucked from a balloon reality set in.
“Whoa.” Brinley stumbled back.
“I have you, little one.” Pyramus caught Brinley.
“Did I do it?” Brinley glanced up at Pyramus.
“Do you remember?”
“A bit.” Brinley locked her knees. “Did you see what I did?”
“Yes, I saw you kill someone who would have killed you. Do not carry his death.”
“I tore him apart. How normal is that?”
“What is it with you wanting to be normal? There is a battle raging inside of you, Brinley. You’ve fought your way through so much in this life. I understand you wanting to like everyone, but deep within your soul you love the power, the sensation building up like a volcano.”
“Am I evil?” Brinley kept her back to the old man.
“Why would you be evil?”
“Like you said I love the power. It starts in my chest; it fills me with such euphoria. What if I can’t control it?”
Pyramus chuckled. “You’ve shown you can. Brinley, when you touch the veil, you could have destroyed the Isle, but you didn’t. I felt your soul. Keir’s blood falling upon you hasn’t changed you, you are not evil. You are the realm walker, Brinley. The balance is within you. People will always want to change you or corrupt you. It is your choice whether you allow them to lead you into darkness.”
Brinley exhaled. “What am I supposed to do?”
“I wish I could answer your questions.”
Brinley dropped her head. “I know, Pyramus. You give hope.”
“What kind of hope.”
Brinley smiled. “Maybe someone does love me after all.”
“You can count on my love, sweet Brinley. My Leonora would adore you.” Pyramus stared down at Brinley.
“Do you think my father is alive?”
“I don’t know. Clear your mind. Try it again.”
Brinley nodded dropping her shoulders she slowed her breath. Instead of channeling her power from her right hand, she visualized the spark cascading down her left arm. The center of Brinley’s chest burned as the current ran from the crown of her head down to her feet and back again. Wind spiraled around the trees. Pyramus squinted as shadows bounced from one side to the other.
“Did I do it?” Brinley’s voice came from the wreath of trees.
“Brinley?”
“Yes.” Brinley stepped out of the void on his right.
Pyramus stared in awe as Brinley’s image surrounded them. He erupted in laughter. Pyramus turned to stare at Brinley who remained frozen. Pyramus stepped closer to Brinley. Whispers from the obscurities surrounding them made the tiny hairs on the old man’s neck stand on end. Amazement mixed with horror made Pyramus glance around. Brinley slowed her breath even more. The air crackled around them. With vehemence building, Brinley felt wave after wave of raw emotion. Her body vibrated and tears flowed from her burning eyes. The replicates of Brinley closed in around them.
“Do not allow them to overcome you. You are in control. Focus.” Pyramus tried to place his hands on her shoulders. No matter how much he tried to touch her a shield kept him away. The ground beneath them quaked. Pyramus gasped as a slender shadow appeared, the red-eyed demon circled Brinley. Drool dripped from its stained teeth.
“Don’t allow it to overtake you. Your power is yours to control.” Pyramus whispered.
Brinley drew in a deep breath.
“Darkness dwells inside of you.” The figure hissed.
“Your power is yours alone,” Pyramus replied.
“Shut up.” The thing flicked Pyramus away from Brinley. The old man hit the tree with a thud.
Brinley clenched her fists.
“Your soul was born in the void.” The shadow placed its face near Brinley. “I can teach you more than that old man.”
“I don’t need your help.” Brinley returned the entity’s glare.
“I feel your soul.”
“Feel this.” Brinley clamped her hand on the creature’s throat. Brinley laughed watching the slender man struggle within her grasp.
“How?” It hissed.
Brinley glanced over her shoulder to watch Pyramus struggle to his feet. She squeezed the slender shadow’s throat. “If you ever cause harm to him again, I will scorch you into oblivion.” Red bolts of lightning rippled across the inky sky. Brinley released her grip. The looming shadow stepped away from Brinley.
“You cannot control the shadows. They all belong to me.” Its laugh echoed.
“We will see where you truly stand.” Brinley didn’t move. She watched the shadows recede. “Are you okay?” Brinley’s soft voice made Pyramus step closer.
“I am fine. I have never seen anyone touch the King of Shadows.” Pyramus cleared his voice.
Brinley stared at her hands.
“Don’t fight who you are.” Pyramus urged.
“But who am I?” Brinley wiped her damp cheeks.
“You are my sweet Brinley.”
“I am a monster.” Brinley scoffed.
“A monster lives in the heart of every being. You cannot force this, Brinley. This is not something that everyone can do. You must open yourself to the void. You are the realm walker. The lost princess of Aella. Your gift is not just contained to one part of your body, the lightning flows through you like blood. You need to focus on your body, learn to listen, and do not be afraid of what others think. Lightning is one of the most powerful energies on the planet. It exists everywhere but your energies are raw. To defeat the new power, you must learn control.”
Brinley nibbled on her bottom lip.
“Thank you for protecting me.” Pyramus chuckled.
“I will always protect you.” Brinley smiled.
“Do you want to try again?”
“Yes, I would.”
Pyramus looked down at Brinley with a stoic glance. Brinley stiffened. Then Pyramus let out a boisterous laugh.
Brinley relaxed, clearing her mind.
“Move your arms like you were in the water. Your movement must be fluid.” Pyramus showed her the movements. “Believe in yourself.” Pyramus stood next to her. “Follow my movements.”
“Can I ask you something?”
Pyramus nodded.
“After this battle I will I die?”
“Are you afraid of death?”
“Yeah, maybe a bit.”
“Death comes to each of us. Tell me what troubles you?”
Brinley exhaled. “You said I am in the middle, the key to balance of the realms.” Pyramus nodded. “Should I continue my search of who I am? Does it even matter?”
“Does it matter to you?”
Brinley nodded.
“Then it matters, plain and simple.”
“I feel like a stranger in my own body. I’ve got all these built-up emotions inside of me. I’ve been tempted by evil, and sometimes I want to know what darkness has to offer. I feel torn.”
“Do you think you would be happier in the darkness?”
“That’s what scares me I don’t know,” Brinley mumbled.
Pyramus laughed.
“That’s not funny.”
“Yes, yes, it is. Everyone feels the same way. Life is all about the choices we make. What is it that you think you don’t have?”
“Love.” Brinley wiped the tip of her nose.
“Oh, my sweet, love surrounds you, but you must realize love hurts and in that pain is how we grow. I will never love anyone other than my Leonora and I know she awaits my arrival. You are so hard on yourself. Love is the catalyst of your power, and only you can control it. Don’t allow your gift to control you.”
“Do you think I can defeat this coming influence?”
“I believe you can do anything you set your mind to. Evil never dies You were meant to meet Joy. The two of you are linked. If you didn’t love Joy, then why would you save her? You tore a murderous centaur apart with your thoughts, and that happened because you are filled with love. Yes, the darkness tempts you, but it tempts all of us. My Leonora had a big heart like you. You have a lot to learn.”