Gosh! I finally got this chapter done. I kind of changed the name of the chapter so I'm sorry about that. I would like to take this time to thank my sister for helping me get some ideas. Okay, here it is chapter two, hope ya like it cause i had fun writing it.
Darien fell asleep soundly during the next few nights. His dreams of the angel began to fade away. Instead his dreams were now of the beautiful princess who danced with him all that evening in London. But he knew in his heart that he could never have her in his arms again. Except in his dreams. He also knew that he needed to stop this silly dreaming. He didn't want to be covetous of something he couldn't have. He wrote these thoughts in his journal.
Darien's face fell ashened to the ground and thought of the words he had just written in his journal just recently. He was now back in his home land, Caspian. Suddenly, there was a hard knock on the door. "Come in!" he called out. Jed came in with a pile of old books in his arms. His blonde bangs dangled in his eyes. Sweat drops formed from his forehead. The long flights of stairs left him out of breath.
"Where did you want these, your Countenance?" Jed asked trying to catch his breath.
"On the floor would be fine. Now, let's see..." Darien said fumbling his fingers through the pages of the books. "Hmm...that's not it, this isn't it, nope, not that one."
Darien turned around and looked at Jed then throwing his arms up he said, "I can't...I can't work with these. They are worthless to me. No, no. I want you to take them back to the library and see if you can find anything else about sacred writings. I'm sure that these symbols on this paper have something to do with the old priests of long ago." That caught Jed's attention.
"I know of this priestess. She's new, but she is as intelligent as the head master that owns that old temple by the hill. And not to mention beautiful. Long dark raven hair. Eyes very intense like shining flames...and the rest of her, well, Wow!" Jed said with a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Please, Jed don't drool on the carpets. Lita just starched them." Darien said rolling his eyes. "Sorry, master. I just can't help feeling the way I do. Ami and Lita think that the priestess had cast a spell on me."
Darien smiled at his friend then said, "The only spell she cast on you is love." Darien wondered, "Where did that come from?" Jed grinned and answered, "I can't imagine where."
Changing the subject, Darien said, "Do you really think she can help?"
"Yes, I really think that she can."
That evening, the count got dressed, and left for the temple to see the priestess. He decided to go alone. Jed insisted on going, but Darien thought that he would only distract her and vice versa.
Darien approached the old sacred temple on Cherry Hill. The lights were all out except for one room which glowed. The flame of the candles flickered violently. Darien knocked on the bamboo door. It slid open slowly. The young priestess appeared. "What do you want?" she asked him with an almost rude tone.
"I want to ask you a favor. If you help me, I will make it worth your while."
"What is your name, no, wait let me guess::she waves her arms around and touches her forhead:: "You are the Count from the old castle."
"Correct." he answered. "But who are you?"
"I am Rei, priestess of Cherry Hill. The head master is my grandfather."
During the session with the priestess, Darien told her of the mystical scroll that intrigued him. He told her of the journey of his friend, the Earl to the deserted island that was not located anywhere on any map.
The priestess looked over the Count, again then said. "What has happened here?" She pointed to his scars on his face and hands.
"It was a mishap of mine when I was a child." Darien answered.
"You are quite devestated by this, yes?" she asked him.
"No." he stated.
"You lie. I see darkness in your eyes. I'm not sure I want to deal with liars and evil, and I sense something else, too."
Darien stood up and paced the room.
"It's a nice place here. Beautiful gardens. I wouldn't want a place like this to suddenly close down."
Rei stood up in defense. "You wouldn't dare! My grandfather and I...this is our living. Our sanctuary!"
"Oh, wouldn't I?" the Count grinned. Suddenly, Darien showed the scroll to her face and said "I suggest you read this."
Rei took the scroll and unwrapped it. Her eyes widened as she read it through. Then she closed them, slowly.
"It is from an old priest of long ago. Banished to a deserted island."
"Tell me more." Darien told her.
"The priest was obsessed with himself, so, he decided to create a spell to transform him to perfection. So, he found an uhibited island and experimented with spells and chants. This scroll is the product of his studies."
"What happened to the priest?" Darien asked her.
"No one really knows. No one has heard of him again. This scroll is the only thing left of him."
Suddenly, a glint caught Rei's eyes. "What is that around your neck?"
Darien took off his medallion.
"Oh, I almost forgot. Does this have any connection to the story?"
"I was wrong. The scroll was not the only thing that was left of this priest. That is his symbol like of the one on the scroll."
"What does the scroll say?"
"Maraturi Consa Shetu. That means: Unleash the beauty within.
Aratu Lunar Itaparas: When I see the moonlight.
Kasta Noriam Garlingodam: Give me eternal beauty."
Rei closed the scroll and gave it back to him.
"So all you do is say this and it will transform you?" Darien asked her.
"Precisely."
"Sounds simple enough." Darien said.
"I don't think so. I'm not sure it is complete."
"What do you mean?" Darien asked.
"It just doesn't sound right."
"Well, I'm sure it's okay."
Soon Rei felt a sudden chill and the candles grew dimmer. "You must go now! I don't want my grandfather to find you here with me."
"Why? What's the matter?" Darien said.
"Like I said I don't associate with evil. Now go!" she said.
Darien raised his hands.
"Fine. I'll go. Thank you for your help. Here, take this." he said handing her a bag of silver.
"Keep your money." she said, but Darien did not take it back. Instead he turned around and walked off into the night.
The next day, Darien decided to go for a walk. He hadn't done this in a while. He had always either went on business trips or stayed in his castle and read books. But this time, he decided to walk through the village and smell the flowers that made him feel calm. He told Ami that he wouldn't be gone for long. Soon he came upon some people that were also enjoying nature. He greeted some ladies picking flowers, but they seemed unsure of him. Then he came upon some children who were playing a game.
"Hello." Darien said to them.
The children were cautious at first, didn't return his greeting. Then two children came and asked him if he wanted to play. So, he took the ball and played like he did when he was little.
Soon he became popular with the children. They now held his hands and jumped up and down and begged him to stay and play some more. Darien wiped his brow from sweat.
"Okay, okay! I'll stay a bit longer." he told them.
"No you won't. Get away from them you freak." called out a lady with a big stomach.
Soon the other grownups began to turn on him.
"Leave them alone! I don't want my child to grow up ugly like you."
"Get away from my children!"
"You beast!" one cried out throwing a rock at him.
Darien's eyes filled with sorrow. At first, he thought he would finally had made some new friends. 'But not in this kind of a world.' he thought. He felt something trickle from his forehead. He felt the liquid with his left hand. He looked at it. "Blood." he said. Without warning, the crowd thre sticks and pebbles at him to stone him. Darien tried to duck, but it was of no use. "My scars!" he thought. He had waited almost twenty years for them to heal and now some were opening again. Darien tried hard to protect his face. One of them hit himhard on his back which made him lose his balance. He fell to the ground and stayed there because he couldn't get up. He thought he had injured his back. He prayed for them to stop. Suddenly, it began to rain...hard. Water poured down like gates of wrath. The thunder roared and lightning began to flash. The crown started to leave. Darien gasped for breath. His head ached and his ears were still ringing when he heard someone calling out to him.
"Master Darien!" Nicholas cried.
Nicholas quickly approached the Count. "Ami told me to check on you. Oh, no what happened?" Nicholas helped him up, but he slipped and fell on the now muddy ground.
"Leave me!" Darien yelled at him.
"But master, you're bleeding. Let me help you."
But Darien shoved him away. He scrambled up and headed for the castle.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't here sooner, master." cried Nicholas. The whole household now came running to the count's aid.
"Oh, no. I knew you shouldn't have been outside. The weather was getting worse when you left." Ami told him.
"Master Darien, let us help you get back to the castle." Zed said.
They all gathered round him. Darien grabbed his shoulder limping as he treaded the muddy path. But they cornered hiim, and he stopped his tracks.
"I said leave me alone!" Darien said swinging his arms around them. Then he lost his balance and fell and hit his head on a stone knocking him unconscious.
"His head is really bruised up." Lita said.
"Thank goodness he stopped." Ami said.
"I thought I was going to have to wrestle him down." Michel added.
"Doesn't know what's good for him...Is he dead?" Jed said.
"I'm not sure," Nicholas said nudging him softly.
Darien groaned in pain and coughed out blood.
"Come on, you guys, let's get him out of the rain." Lita told everyone.
So they picked up his wounded body and headed for shelter.
Well that's it for now. I got tired of typing. Stay tuned for Chapter three: Notice me
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Chapter Three
