emsiecat
March 13th, 2008, 06:15 pm
Chapter 6:
Lucinda and Rhys had been up since sunrise. They had made sure to get all the chores allocated to them finished early so that they could continue the search for their friend. Some people gave them pitying glances; a larger majority didn't seem bothered by the ordeal at all. In their opinions the girl was gone, probably finished off by any multitude of carnivorous creatures or perhaps Mewtwo himself. She should have stayed in the village like she was told to and it was of no concern of theirs so long as they were safe.
Before setting out they went to check on Liana's uncle. Thanatos was his name and he was an imposing man. Tall and broad shouldered. He had dark auburn hair that didn't have a hint of grey even though the man was now into his forties. His eyes had always disturbed Rhys a little; they were a flinty grey in colour and never belied the man's true emotions. In fact the only time Rhys ever remembered seeing the man upset was with the passing of his wife, Cassie several years ago.
He doesn't even show emotion now. Rhys thought incredulously. His niece is missing and presumed dead but he doesn't look bothered at all!
Lucinda had solicitously made Thanatos some tea; the man thanked her but said nothing else, just stared into the cup for a while. Lucinda fiddled with a lock of her hair and glanced nervously at Rhys, clearly at a loss at what to say, she tried anyway.
"We're going to the forest. To see if we can find Liana y'know?" her voice sounded fake with enthusiasm even to herself. She winced a little. "W-we'll be back in a few hours."
Thanatos didn't even bother to reply. Lucinda shared a look with Rhys, shrugged and silently exited the hut.
Once they were heading away from the village Rhys muttered confidingly to Lucinda, "You know, Liana's uncle sorta gives me the creeps. He never used to but these last few years…" Rhys paused and shrugged as if to shake off a bad vibe, "he's just seemed to become really withdrawn. I think something might be wrong with him."
Lucinda gave her friend a sidelong glance. She was used to Rhys's hunches, his strange foresight and sixth senses, just as she was used to Liana's shape shifting abilities. "What do you mean 'wrong with him'? You got one of your hunches?"
Rhys shrugged yet again before replying, "He's changed, Luce. Everyone has, but he's changed more. I dunno what it is but whenever he looks at me I just get this weird feeling like something's not quite right. I'm probably just being paranoid." He pulled himself out of his thoughts and started walking at a quicker pace, "C'mon let's go, we've got to be back before dark and I want to have a really good search."
***
Liana decided that getting herself clean and staying clean on this island was probably out of the question. No sooner had she bathed in one of the many rooms and got herself dressed was she approached by a Vulpix who told her that there was more work to be done. Sighing and rolling up the sleeves of her blouse, Liana had followed the diminutive creature to where she was needed.
***
Rhys and Lucinda trudged back into the village just before nightfall. The search of course had proved to be a useless exercise. There was no trace of their friend anywhere. As they entered the group of ramshackle buildings Stefan hobbled up to them, his gait swaying and bow-legged as usual, as if he were more used to sitting atop a horse than walking, which in fact was most likely true. Accompanying him was a woman. She had a calm aura about her and appeared to most as if she was very powerful. She had cocoa hued skin and pale lavender eyes. Her hair was steely grey from age; she wore it long with a single brilliant feather peeking from behind her ear. The woman wore robes and carried a walking stick engraved with runes. Despite the stick her back was straight and her posture proud. The pair stopped before Stefan and the woman known as Lady Maria Mayonaka.
Maria was something of a mystery. She had been with this village since it formed at the beginning of Mewtwo's reign. However nobody really knew her except Stefan as she kept very much to herself.
"No luck then?" Stefan looked disappointed as Lucinda and Rhys shook their heads.
Lady Mayonaka spoke, her voice quiet, "I've been scrying for the girl-"
"Lady Mayonaka, you hardly ever get involved in the disappearances of the villagers." Lucinda interrupted the woman.
"I have been scrying for the girl," Lady Mayonaka repeated a bit louder, shooting a hard look at the impudent girl, "and what I have found puzzles me."
"What did you find?" It was Rhys this time, who gave Lucinda a sharp jab in the ribs in an unspoken request that she hold her tongue. Maria was not known for her good temper with youngsters.
"Nothing," the elder breathed, "Which is why it's so puzzling. Whenever others went missing from the village I could always tell what had happened. I 'never got involved' (another glance at Lucinda) because I had already felt their life force drain away. With Liana it's different. Her life force hasn't drained it's simply missing."
"Missin'? How can it be missin', auras don't just disappear Maria." Stefan was familiar enough with the woman to be blunt with her.
"It is missing because it is shrouded, masked if you will. The girl is alive but her life-force is being kept hidden from scrying. Someone doesn't want us to trace her. No human has the power to do that…" Maria let the rest go unsaid. It was obvious; to her anyway, what had happened.
"Mewtwo's got her!?" Rhys stated the obvious.
"So it would seem. I doubt any other psychic Pokémon would have the mental stamina to keep a shroud up for so long, and what purpose would they have to do so anyway?"
"Why hasn't he killed her?"
"There are rumours of humans being used to aid him under servitude. However they are killed once their usefulness has waned." The careless way that Maria spoke nearly sent Lucinda into a rage; Rhys put a hand on her shoulder to steady her.
Maria noticed the anger in the girls face and, for once, gave them a small smile, "I looked into the matter. Something is looming, a change. I cannot say what it is or when it will happen but it concerns you two and Liana. This means that she will not be killed."
Lucinda arched an eyebrow at the cryptic remarks. She just couldn't help it, she distrusted the woman. Not because she doubted Maria's motives or thought her a cruel person, but because she was a Seer. Psychic powers were all well and good when it came to Pokémon, but she distrusted the use of such powers in humans. Foresight and scrying were unreliable in Lucinda's opinion; it had taken her years as a child to accept that Rhys and Liana had possessed any psychic talent at all, and that their hunches and predictions weren't mere flukes and coincidences. She had not known Maria for as long as her friends. Now this hippy-dippy woman with a serious lack of fashion sense wanted Lucinda to believe her best friend was safe and well in the clutches of a mad-man just because she had 'seen' it? Nuh-uh, she wasn't buying it.
Maria sent her infamous look-of-a-thousand-evils toward Lucinda once more, "This 'hippy' has a few years on you girlie. So mind your manners. If you don't believe what I say fair enough, but do not insult the gift that the Gods bestowed on us psychics."
With that said Maria turned and walked back in the direction of her own dwelling her hair practically crackling with angry energy. Stefan rubbed the back of his head in a tired gesture.
"Ar lass. Ye'd best not insult them Seer types. They're very proud." Stefan gave the pair a toothy grin before hobbling back toward the stables, calling back to them as he went, "I think Maria's right y'know. In fact I'd be sure o' it. Don't you two worry."
Lucinda still looked a little thunderstruck that Maria had read her thoughts so effortlessly. Rhys only just managed to keep a straight face at her expression. Lucinda ignored him.
"Rhys, what should we do? If Maria's right and Liana's with Mewtwo how can she not be in danger? Do you think we should try and y'know, rescue her or something?"
Rhys looked dubious, "How the hell could we rescue her? For a start nobody's really sure where Mewtwo hides out, all past attempts to find him proved worthless, you know that. Furthermore even if we found the place he'd kill us without a second thought. I'm just hoping Maria's right that Liana's safe."
Lucinda nodded at Rhys's conclusion glumly. Lucinda wasn't one to stand around hoping things would work out. She liked direct action, even if it was perilously stupid.
"Let's just wait and see what pans out. I'm inclined to believe Maria; she's trustworthy no matter what you think of her, Luce. If Maria's right then Liana's safe and it seems that she'll remain safe too then we're best off staying put."
With nothing else left to discuss the pair said their goodbyes and then went their separate ways to their homes for the night.
Lucinda and Rhys had been up since sunrise. They had made sure to get all the chores allocated to them finished early so that they could continue the search for their friend. Some people gave them pitying glances; a larger majority didn't seem bothered by the ordeal at all. In their opinions the girl was gone, probably finished off by any multitude of carnivorous creatures or perhaps Mewtwo himself. She should have stayed in the village like she was told to and it was of no concern of theirs so long as they were safe.
Before setting out they went to check on Liana's uncle. Thanatos was his name and he was an imposing man. Tall and broad shouldered. He had dark auburn hair that didn't have a hint of grey even though the man was now into his forties. His eyes had always disturbed Rhys a little; they were a flinty grey in colour and never belied the man's true emotions. In fact the only time Rhys ever remembered seeing the man upset was with the passing of his wife, Cassie several years ago.
He doesn't even show emotion now. Rhys thought incredulously. His niece is missing and presumed dead but he doesn't look bothered at all!
Lucinda had solicitously made Thanatos some tea; the man thanked her but said nothing else, just stared into the cup for a while. Lucinda fiddled with a lock of her hair and glanced nervously at Rhys, clearly at a loss at what to say, she tried anyway.
"We're going to the forest. To see if we can find Liana y'know?" her voice sounded fake with enthusiasm even to herself. She winced a little. "W-we'll be back in a few hours."
Thanatos didn't even bother to reply. Lucinda shared a look with Rhys, shrugged and silently exited the hut.
Once they were heading away from the village Rhys muttered confidingly to Lucinda, "You know, Liana's uncle sorta gives me the creeps. He never used to but these last few years…" Rhys paused and shrugged as if to shake off a bad vibe, "he's just seemed to become really withdrawn. I think something might be wrong with him."
Lucinda gave her friend a sidelong glance. She was used to Rhys's hunches, his strange foresight and sixth senses, just as she was used to Liana's shape shifting abilities. "What do you mean 'wrong with him'? You got one of your hunches?"
Rhys shrugged yet again before replying, "He's changed, Luce. Everyone has, but he's changed more. I dunno what it is but whenever he looks at me I just get this weird feeling like something's not quite right. I'm probably just being paranoid." He pulled himself out of his thoughts and started walking at a quicker pace, "C'mon let's go, we've got to be back before dark and I want to have a really good search."
***
Liana decided that getting herself clean and staying clean on this island was probably out of the question. No sooner had she bathed in one of the many rooms and got herself dressed was she approached by a Vulpix who told her that there was more work to be done. Sighing and rolling up the sleeves of her blouse, Liana had followed the diminutive creature to where she was needed.
***
Rhys and Lucinda trudged back into the village just before nightfall. The search of course had proved to be a useless exercise. There was no trace of their friend anywhere. As they entered the group of ramshackle buildings Stefan hobbled up to them, his gait swaying and bow-legged as usual, as if he were more used to sitting atop a horse than walking, which in fact was most likely true. Accompanying him was a woman. She had a calm aura about her and appeared to most as if she was very powerful. She had cocoa hued skin and pale lavender eyes. Her hair was steely grey from age; she wore it long with a single brilliant feather peeking from behind her ear. The woman wore robes and carried a walking stick engraved with runes. Despite the stick her back was straight and her posture proud. The pair stopped before Stefan and the woman known as Lady Maria Mayonaka.
Maria was something of a mystery. She had been with this village since it formed at the beginning of Mewtwo's reign. However nobody really knew her except Stefan as she kept very much to herself.
"No luck then?" Stefan looked disappointed as Lucinda and Rhys shook their heads.
Lady Mayonaka spoke, her voice quiet, "I've been scrying for the girl-"
"Lady Mayonaka, you hardly ever get involved in the disappearances of the villagers." Lucinda interrupted the woman.
"I have been scrying for the girl," Lady Mayonaka repeated a bit louder, shooting a hard look at the impudent girl, "and what I have found puzzles me."
"What did you find?" It was Rhys this time, who gave Lucinda a sharp jab in the ribs in an unspoken request that she hold her tongue. Maria was not known for her good temper with youngsters.
"Nothing," the elder breathed, "Which is why it's so puzzling. Whenever others went missing from the village I could always tell what had happened. I 'never got involved' (another glance at Lucinda) because I had already felt their life force drain away. With Liana it's different. Her life force hasn't drained it's simply missing."
"Missin'? How can it be missin', auras don't just disappear Maria." Stefan was familiar enough with the woman to be blunt with her.
"It is missing because it is shrouded, masked if you will. The girl is alive but her life-force is being kept hidden from scrying. Someone doesn't want us to trace her. No human has the power to do that…" Maria let the rest go unsaid. It was obvious; to her anyway, what had happened.
"Mewtwo's got her!?" Rhys stated the obvious.
"So it would seem. I doubt any other psychic Pokémon would have the mental stamina to keep a shroud up for so long, and what purpose would they have to do so anyway?"
"Why hasn't he killed her?"
"There are rumours of humans being used to aid him under servitude. However they are killed once their usefulness has waned." The careless way that Maria spoke nearly sent Lucinda into a rage; Rhys put a hand on her shoulder to steady her.
Maria noticed the anger in the girls face and, for once, gave them a small smile, "I looked into the matter. Something is looming, a change. I cannot say what it is or when it will happen but it concerns you two and Liana. This means that she will not be killed."
Lucinda arched an eyebrow at the cryptic remarks. She just couldn't help it, she distrusted the woman. Not because she doubted Maria's motives or thought her a cruel person, but because she was a Seer. Psychic powers were all well and good when it came to Pokémon, but she distrusted the use of such powers in humans. Foresight and scrying were unreliable in Lucinda's opinion; it had taken her years as a child to accept that Rhys and Liana had possessed any psychic talent at all, and that their hunches and predictions weren't mere flukes and coincidences. She had not known Maria for as long as her friends. Now this hippy-dippy woman with a serious lack of fashion sense wanted Lucinda to believe her best friend was safe and well in the clutches of a mad-man just because she had 'seen' it? Nuh-uh, she wasn't buying it.
Maria sent her infamous look-of-a-thousand-evils toward Lucinda once more, "This 'hippy' has a few years on you girlie. So mind your manners. If you don't believe what I say fair enough, but do not insult the gift that the Gods bestowed on us psychics."
With that said Maria turned and walked back in the direction of her own dwelling her hair practically crackling with angry energy. Stefan rubbed the back of his head in a tired gesture.
"Ar lass. Ye'd best not insult them Seer types. They're very proud." Stefan gave the pair a toothy grin before hobbling back toward the stables, calling back to them as he went, "I think Maria's right y'know. In fact I'd be sure o' it. Don't you two worry."
Lucinda still looked a little thunderstruck that Maria had read her thoughts so effortlessly. Rhys only just managed to keep a straight face at her expression. Lucinda ignored him.
"Rhys, what should we do? If Maria's right and Liana's with Mewtwo how can she not be in danger? Do you think we should try and y'know, rescue her or something?"
Rhys looked dubious, "How the hell could we rescue her? For a start nobody's really sure where Mewtwo hides out, all past attempts to find him proved worthless, you know that. Furthermore even if we found the place he'd kill us without a second thought. I'm just hoping Maria's right that Liana's safe."
Lucinda nodded at Rhys's conclusion glumly. Lucinda wasn't one to stand around hoping things would work out. She liked direct action, even if it was perilously stupid.
"Let's just wait and see what pans out. I'm inclined to believe Maria; she's trustworthy no matter what you think of her, Luce. If Maria's right then Liana's safe and it seems that she'll remain safe too then we're best off staying put."
With nothing else left to discuss the pair said their goodbyes and then went their separate ways to their homes for the night.