As the bell signaled a stop inside the trolley, the three of them got out and began trudging along towards the music building a short distance away. Moira had brought an umbrella from home on the return trip and was now very grateful that she had as the three of them huddled tightly together underneath the tightly woven, waxed canvas fabric and wooden mechanisms. It was barely big enough for them but they managed to make it work as they approached their destination. Both Moira and Severin had on traveler's cloaks that sheltered their hair from the rain and Aslan had on the sweatshirt he could be known, without a doubt, to be wearing or carrying close to him.
"Hah, it's only 7:50!" Moira said as she gently shook the raindrops from her umbrella.
"Yeah, record timing! We totally intercepted that trolley!" replied Aslan, cheerfully. "I love this weather! Nothing like good ol Autumn rain; reminds me of back home."
"Oh right! You're from the jungle too!" Severin replied, realizing that he was almost as close to the Kiillaanian jungle as Aslan was. "It rains a lot like this in Jadali too, but mostly in the forests near the mountains."
"And Rengoll!" Moira added.
"Hah, yeah, and Rengoll..." Severin added, "It's always raining there!"
"Wait, where's Rengoll?" asked Aslan, as they entered the warmth and dryness of the music building.
"Montàlo," Moira and Severin said together.
"Oh duh, I knew that... I think..." Aslan muttered as he headed for the lockers to store his bassoon before heading upstairs, Severin by his side.
"You two go ahead, I've got something to do upstairs," said Moira. She had gotten a message from Nathan Surcaston the night before and was expecting him, knowing full well what he was going to talk to her about. As the figures of her flatmates disappeared from view she opened the door to the stairs and headed to the top floor, passing Carey in the stairwell.
"Ohai, Carey! What are you doing?" she said cheerfully.
"Oh, just heading for my reed-making class. Starts in 2 minutes!" he replied, full of energy and slightly out of breath from running around.
"Sounds like fun, you better hurry up!" she replied, smiling. She could tell that Carey loved this class and was picking up his enthusiasm, becoming suddenly more energetic. It was a lovely gift that Carey had and one that Moira loved.
"Haha, I love this class! All 6 of us + Dr. Sorela telling us stories for an hour = fun! Best hour ever!"
They climbed to the top floor together. He opened the door for her and they walked in together. With a wave Carey gleefully skipped away and disappeared down the dark hallway that led to Dr. Sorela's office, leaving Moira alone, heading for the lounge. She hadn't been there much but had heard loads of stories that were spoken, created, or retold there- mostly from Declan but also from the upperclassmen who had some classics. She made her way to the old, dusty couches and knew that Nathan was there waiting for her. She could feel his aura long before she saw him.
Sure enough he was sitting alone on a couch along the back wall, wearing a nice collared shirt and tie, a blue vested sweater over it. He was sitting tall, his wide eyes almost glowing, a soft smile on his face. His hands were folded neatly in his lap and he appeared motionless and almost ethereal. He turned his head when he heard her footsteps and once he saw it was her he quickly stood and glided his hand forward.
"Hello, Moira! I'm glad you got my message," Nathan said in a soft voice.
"Good morning, Nathan!" Moira replied, shaking his hand. "You know, you're more like Dr. Sorela than you think!"
Nathan smiled and looked at her, his big blue eyes masking the obvious scars that covered his face from his accident two years earlier. "Oh yes, we are much alike. We must have come from the same aural plane."
Moira knew that he wanted to talk to her alone and away from anyone who might hear and made her way to the couch in the corner, sitting down. Nathan joined her at the other side, still sitting totally upright, a feeling of serenity surrounding him.
"Do you know why you are here?" he asked, lowering his voice even more, his eyes locked with hers.
"Yes. You've sensed it. Dr. Sorela told us and so I assumed you'd know too. He knows that you know," Moira replied, a tone of seriousness in her voice. "I'll answer all you need to know."
Nathan turned his head slowly, looking at Moira out of the corner of his eyes. After a pause he spoke. "How does it present itself?"
"Fear," Moira answered, her expression not changing.
"...and the word too?" Nathan continued.
"Yes, and all the words possibly relating to it."
"How common is it?"
"It's recognized but uncommon."
"Am I in danger of saying it?" Nathan asked earnestly.
Moira took in a slow breath before she spoke. "Yes, but we all are, but with you here I think he'll be all right. You're drawn to stay by him and protect him, aren't you?"
"Yes. Terabi has told me to watch him so I know it's real. It's not an... insect... or reptile, is it?"
"No, it's not any sort of animal. I don't have his permission so I don't want to say in case someone hears us," Moira whispered, barely audible.
"That's fine. I respect his business and your loyalty," Nathan replied, his eyes filled with trust. Moira knew that it wouldn't be long before he, and Aslan, would discover that Severin was deeply cursed. The imminence of his curse coming out was looming ever closer, she could feel it.
"I just hope that when it comes out you'll be nearby and that nobody sees it. I've heard the word a few times but Severin wasn't around. Just know that Severin knows that you know that he's cursed, but he doesn't know if you know by which and what it is."
"Worry not. I know when to act and how. I have a feeling it won't be far from now."
They stood up to leave but before they headed for the stairs Moira stopped him.
"Nathan?" she asked.
"Yes?"
"Stay close to Severin today. The beast is coming. I can feel it in his countenance."
"Fear not, I will. I plan to spend the evening at your house. This premonition is so great that you and I can both feel it. Enjoy your day, Moira."
*****
Their worry that Severin's secret would be revealed came faster than they both thought.
The room was dark like usual. A complete opposite from the usually intense sunlight outside ("Hey, it's easier to see today since it's cloudy out!"), Severin and Aslan fumbled around, clumsily squeezing past the people getting out of the class before who were heading the opposite way in huge packs. Finally they found their way to where Nathan Surcaston was sitting, a backpack on one chair and a small book on the chair on the other side of him. He greeted them with a smile and scooted over so that Severin was now in the middle with Nathan to his left and Aslan to his right. They watched, their eyes getting used to the darkness, as the large auditorium room, the kind used for large class lectures, slowly filled up. People of every kind were milling in, climbing around others as they made their way to their seats. They could hear tiny snippets of conversations and smirked at a few of them ("Oh my GAWSH this yoga class is like... soooo awesomeeeee!") but otherwise remained quiet and still. Soon the room was mostly full and buzzing with hushed voices as they waited. Finally a door opened and their teacher, a tall man with a neat moustache and short, brown hair came strolling in.
"All right class. Today, we're going to talk about behavior modification therapy. I told you last time that we were going to watch a video so if you're afraid of spiders I would advise you to leave the room and have a friend take notes for you."
At this, several people snickered, and looked around waiting for someone to stand up. Nobody did so and after a couple more tense seconds the psychology professor continued on. In the darkness of the room none of them saw Severin begin chewing on his lip and wringing his hands, knowing that what they would watch was something very real and personal to him.
"We will be watching a video about someone with Arachnophobia who is learning to overcome that fear. The attempt of the researcher is to separate the anxiety from the object. If nobody has any questions we shall begin. It will take most of the hour."
The movie clip began. It was about a college-age girl who was deathly afraid of spiders in a completely irrational way. Her fear had no known roots, she explained, and she was willing to subject herself to major discomfort for the sake of information that could possibly be used to help others. The clip went on to show her getting hooked up to some machines that would read her blood pressure, heartrate, breathing, and temperature. Some of the class snickered, others looked bored, but the three best friends in the back of the room were watching with total attention, getting annoyed at all the texters and whispers of conversation going on around them.
The film was surprisingly intense, even for many who had appeared to be bored. It was as if the class could feel her aura of profound fear as she was very slowly confronted with a harmless spider. She was hysterical- panic, crying, hyperventilating at times. She looked absolutely miserable and it became hard for her to think, although despite all that she was able to narrate her feelings and thoughts rather well. Most of the room was now silent as they watched on as, near the end of it, she actually held the spider in her hand. A short followup signified the end of the film, with her a month later saying that her nightmares of spiders had gone down a lot and that she felt slightly better about the whole thing. She ended saying that it would take time to get over completely but after the first step it was much easier to do.
In the row in front of the three, a bored-looking boy was laughing to his friend, going on about how absurd phobias were and how they should be able to "just suck it up." Just then an angry voice interrupted him and he realized he should not have said that.
"You don't know what it's like! None of you! Nobody knows unless they have it. It's a very real thing and you better be grateful it's not affecting you!"
It was then that both Nathan and Aslan suddenly realized that Severin had been unusually quiet, and had now burst forth, vouching for this girl. The boy opened his mouth to say something but, after seeing the angry and serious look on Severin's face, knew that it was not highly advised so he simply yet truthfully said "I'm sorry" (Nathan, a Terabikai, confirmed he was being honest) and grew quiet, walking with his friends out the door. Aslan looked at Severin with a look of surprise, for he had never seen him defend someone other than his sister so fiercely.
"Severin... I noticed that you know an awful lot about the Realm. How do you know so much about uh... about phobias? You don't have one, do you?" he asked, lowering his voice so that only Nathan could hear them.
"I- ...I'll tell you later. It's a... long story..." Severin trailed off as we said these words, with a definite shakiness to his voice. "Just know that... well, I trust you guys."
With this, he sped off for his next class leaving Nathan and Aslan alone, heading the opposite way. Nathan turned a warm, caring eye towards Aslan and whispered in his ever so soft and Keoen-hinted voice,
"He felt her anxiety as much as I did, Aslan. I have a feeling he's about to tell us something that he's never told anyone before and it's important that we listen."
"Of course I will. I never knew that- someone so strong willed as him... would have a secret like that to try and hide..." Aslan's voice trailed off as he walked with wonder and slight guilt in his heart. What if I made fun of the thing that is his very fear? he thought. What could he possibly have been hinting at? What if it wasn't him who had this, but a relative?
Late that afternoon, after the late classes ended, Moira and Aslan returned to their rental home, followed soon after by Severin and Nathan. Severin was fumbling for the keys, deep in conversation with Nathan, having gone to the local tea house for hot chocolate on this cold and rainy day. They entered, drying off in the entryway, before joining Aslan and Moira on the couch, talking about their day.
Before long, but not in too big of a hurry (none had forgotten what Severin had said), the topic turned to psychology and what had happened in class. They (mostly Aslan) relayed everything to Moira, telling her about the movie clip that was played. Instead of looking confused or shocked, like Aslan expected, she kept stealing wide-eyed glances at her brother, as if expecting him to say something awful. Severin kept quiet and the color began to drain from his face. He nodded blankly as the story was retold. Nathan and Moira shared a look confirming what they had felt all day and both shared a reassuring look with Severin. Not forgetting his promise, Severin took a deep breath once the story had ended and opened his mouth to speak.
"I- ..." his once strong voice had suddenly gone weak. He opened his mouth to say something but he found it difficult to speak and so he closed it again. The three others were looking at him, Moira feeling a knot of dread at what would likely happen, Nathan looking as poised as ever, and Aslan slightly confused by everything.
"T-there's something I have to tell you," he began. They realized with a pang of horror that Severin had begun shaking, and sweat was forming on his face. He stood for a moment and it was clear that all color had gone from his face again and he sank back down, his legs shaking too much to support his weight. Moira got up and walked over to him, putting her hand on his arm, kneeling beside him.
"I'm right here Severin. You know you'll be safe with me here, and both of them as well. If you need me to talk for you just let me know." She spoke this in a very sweet and strong voice, and it took a moment for any of them to realize that she had said this in Keòen. It didn't matter, for all four of them spoke it, and Moira looked up at Severin, her eyes filled with compassion and encouragement.
"Yeah..." he replied, looking at his feet. "I trust them. I am going to tell them! Nathan's a Terabikai and would understand everything as it is, and Aslan has proved himself trustworthy."
Severin took a shaky breath and told Nathan and Aslan to sit on the opposite couch so he could face them. "I want you two to face me," he said, "and gather close. It will help."
Both of them, though Aslan more than Nathan, were a bit scared at how he was acting. They had never seen him like this before. They had seen him angry and certainly strong, but never reduced to such a feeble and anxious state. Nathan, of course, knew what he was about to say but Aslan really had no idea. Both of them felt and knew that he had something to hide; little subtle hints were dropped by Severin himself, but now they were going to hear just what that secret was.
"Draw that curtain behind you," he said, and Nathan sprang to his feet, blocking the small rays from outside with the beautiful butterfly tapestry that graced their large window. The room was now much darker, but this seemed to bring peace and comfort to Severin and Moira. Nathan returned to his seat and, moving the other couch closer, leaned in along with Aslan, their wide eyes glowing with trust, as they wondered what on earth he was going to tell them. They knew that it wasn't going to be easy and were prepared for anything that may happen.
"You must promise not to tell ANYONE of what I am about to say," Severin said, his voice slightly calmer now that Aslan and Nathan were so close. Moira had taken a seat right next to him, knowing that her presence brought him calm.
"We wouldn't dare," Aslan whispered. Nathan did not need to speak. By simply being a Man of Terabi he was bound to trust and would never dare mention a stray word. Severin knew this, and as he looked in Nathan's large blue eyes, he thought for a moment that he saw the defining mark glow briefly across them.
"What I am about to tell you is something that I have never told ANYONE. The only people that know are Moira and the rest of my family. I have gotten very good at hiding this and it's easily my weakest point. Watching that video today and as we've been studying this kind of thing has really set off this spot in my heart. Yes, I have a phobia. Mine is rational in its nature although it has gotten out of hand and has run away from me. I guess I should-"
His voice trailed off, as the realization of what he was about to do suddenly hit him. He tried desperately to stall his confession, to help his anxiety go down. He was quiet for a moment and nobody spoke. Then suddenly he began talking, a little too fast, and all at once.
"You know, this is kind of like jumping into a cold lake. If you hesitate at all you get more anxious and then you chicken out and it becomes unbearable. I just have to go right out and say it. I heard somewhere that by avoiding straight talking about it, it makes that fear unnecessarily worse..."
Once again he stopped, contemplating what to say first. Moira was looking up at him, his left arm in her hands, and she was rubbing it in a motherly sort of way. She was looking at him with a mix of worry and amazement now, as it was clearly evident that he had told nobody of this dark secret.
"I... I guess I'd b-better give a... back...ground..." by now he was shaking visibly. "You know... talk my way up to it...
"When I was five years old..."
At these words he made a sort of shuddering jump, as if he had said something awful. Beads of sweat were forming on his face more readily now and with a very shaky hand he wiped them on his sweatshirt. Breathing hard and fast he paused for a long time before speaking suddenly.
"I have the curse," he said quickly, eyes wide, "...the Curse of the Realm. The worst one out there since Sorela killed the next in line. I got it when I was five years old."
Nathan looked at him knowingly but this was all news to Aslan, who sat wide-eyed and silent.
"I- uh... we- we had this house along the coast you see... it was made of.... w-wood." The words gradually got faster until he was talking much too fast again. He began stuttering and his eyes grew wide again.
"...and it was owned b-by not just my mom but her brothers and sisters... I remember it like yesterday. It was small, but it had two floors. It was just... just a few of us. My aunt was there, and t-two of my older cousins... and Moira of course... We were downstairs on the ground floor and -"
His voice trailed off even more now and he looked like he was going to be sick. Moira looked at him and started rubbing his back, saying nothing. Finally, after collecting his wits, he continued, even more shakily than before.
"The word. I can't say it... But I must! I trust you... I'm going to say it... I have the protection of two of you and trust from all... We were p-playing outside... W-we were j-just h-having some f-fun... And then.... It j-just happened....."
At this it seemed that fear had gotten hold of him. He let out a scream and curled into a ball, shaking so badly it seemed like he would fall over. He was now crying out, as the memory of what had happened, one that he had suppressed for so long, was now fresh and in the air. Nathan and Aslan said nothing, but they both were feeling the immense aura that was present, even stronger than the girl in the video. Moira looked at him, ready to continue the story if he could not. Finally, Severin seemed to have found his wits once more and sat up, continuing his story.
"You don't have to say it if you think it will call the demon," Moira said, calmly.
"I can say it... I'm going to say it. Yes. Easy now... Then..... t-the house... there was a f-flash... it... it..... it c-caught... h-..... f-..... v-.... Oh Word, it c-caught F-F-FIRE!"
That last word that erupted from his mouth sounded like it didn't even come from him. It sounded so foreign that it was if someone inside him had said it. Upon saying this, hot tears of panic and nearly 15 years of suppressed anxiety had suddenly come out. Severin was now sprawled across the couch, his head in his hands, screaming and crying as if his whole body were on fire. He was digging at his face and it was Moira who gently took his hands away before he hurt himself.
He had done it. Tried only a handful of times, he actually named his own Unmentionable. Everyone in that room knew that he would only say that in front of people he truly trusted. He could barely even talk about it in front of his own family. As if a floodgate was open, crying uncontrollably, Severin began to howl out the rest of his story and many things after it. It became easier to tell the rest now that he had seemingly gotten the worst part over with.
"They became consumed! I was outside but they were in there! They perished! My aunt and two cousins gone! I watched as you-know-what engulfed that house and took it to the ground! We all were there and witnessed it! I stepped closer and was hit with a feeling of ice. I stepped closer though I was warned not to! It was caused by the beast who was after my aunt but it hit me instead! The cries! The anguish! It haunts my sleep! It haunts my days! It infects my mind and I can't stop hearing their cries or seeing people- everyone! Everyone engulfed in f-f-flames!!! I'm the toughest person anyone knows and I can't even say a four letter word!
"Nobody understands unless they witness it or have it themselves! It's a curse I would not wish on anybody but I know far more have it than let on! People think it's so easy to get rid of! They have no idea what desperate and great lengths they will go to... to dispel any mention of the word! They laugh when they hear people can't even mention certain words! They think it's some big joke! I've been carrying this burden for FIFTEEN YEARS! Don't tell ME it's a joke! This is REAL! I know because I LIVE WITH IT EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE! I may be good at hiding it but don't tell me it doesn't exist! I've tried to live with it but it takes so much more time than a day- a month- a year! I AM A CURSED MAN"
Suddenly, at the conclusion of these words, something happened that was not expected but prepared for anyway. Neither Nathan nor Moira thought that the demon would be daft enough to attack in both of their presence but they knew as soon as he hit the floor that they were wrong. Severin let out a tortured scream, his body jumping out suddenly, violently meeting the floor. His arms and legs flailing, his back arching, they could just make out the mark of the curse shining red in his eyes.
"HE'S GOT THE CURSE!" shouted Aslan in horror. "HE'S UNDER ATTACK!"
Nathan had already reacted and dove right at Severin's twisted body, moving faster than they had seen before. As he made contact with the floor he disappeared from view, leaving Moira and Aslan to look on with horrific awe as Nathan would demonstrate the power of a Terabikai 'most famous; the one they wish they never had to use but were grateful to possess.' All they could do were hold each other tightly and look away as bright light filled their living room.
"GET BACK, YOU UTTER FOOL!"
Severin, though barely able to control any part of his body, fully aware of where he was, could see the majestic figure of Nathan wielding a bow that glowed brightly blue. The curse imbedded in his chest stung him, pain and despair shooting in all directions, the nasty and twisted form of the demon that had captured him pinning him down.
"HOW DARE YOU TRY AND ATTACK HIM WHEN A TERABIKAI AND AN AURA OF PROTECTION ARE IN THE SAME ROOM!"
Nathan's normally timid voice was now loud as thunder, his eyes shining brightly, the mark of Terabi so visible in his large eyes that it seemed to cast its own light. He was poised, ready to fire an arrow of pure Lovelight straight at the demon.
"LEAVE HIM BE! RETURN TO YOUR FOUL WASTE OF FALSE DOMINION!"
He hissed and lunged forward, letting his arrow loose a second later. It pierced through the darkness of the Realm and as it hit the beast it shattered into lightning, spreading all over in small pathways along the beast's exterior, before collecting again, the mass of light flying back into Nathan's upheld bow. The beast, realizing that he could not cause more harm, let off a scream and retreated, leaving Severin in a diminished heap on the cobblestone floor.
He was totally exhausted mentally and physically collapsed in a shaking heap. Nathan approached Severin and silently placed his hand on his arm. On the other side, Moira and Aslan knew that the beast had left him because his screams were silenced and the mark of the curse no longer glowed in his eyes. They knew that Nathan was successful.
It was with a soft voice of deep love that Nathan spoke.
"Severin, what you have told us was very brave. We cannot possibly fully understand but we are honored that you trust us enough to help us carry your burden, and carry it we will. It is not a sign of weakness at all and I know that you know that. Our understanding has deepened and I can sense that some of that burden has been lifted off your heart. Your sister and I felt this coming but we did not expect that he would attack with both of us here."
Nathan stowed his bow of Lovelight back into his chest and with a final deep breath, closed his eyes and whispered Terabi's creed. Almost instantly, a feeling of warm peace came over Severin and he knew that Nathan had placed in him a calming aura. He felt immensely better at confessing his secret and knowing that he had two more people to help him carry this meant the world to him.
"A bow..." Severin whispered with awe before falling still. He was too exhausted to say more and watched with heavy eyes as Nathan knelt beside him and cradled him in his arms. They remained for a moment before Nathan whispered once more and fell back through the floor of Terabi's Realm, his body and Severin's soul appearing in the rental house once more. The horrors of that night were great and all of them were exhausted. Aslan and Nathan carried the barely-conscious body of Severin to his room where they laid him down in his bed. He promptly fell asleep and for the first time in his life slept soundly, too exhausted to let the bad thoughts of people and places on fire to further poison his soul. Even in as miserable a state as he was, he could hardly remember any days that he felt happier.
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