Soul of Light, Sophie Matthews [short books for teens TXT] 📗

Prologue

 

Something disturbed the peace of heavens. All seemed quiet in the marble white castle. The wind blew softly the white curtains at the entrance. Underneath, thick dazing white clouds kept the castle afloat. Inside, a wide passage led the way to a room painted in puffy white. Behind the large window frames white filled the horizon. In the middle of the room was a huge bed covered in silk-white linen. A woman, black hair, porcelain skin and red lips, slept profoundly on one side of the bed. Beside her, a man with raven hair, green eyes and the same marble-like skin as the woman.

 

He wasn’t asleep. He stood on his elbows with a frown on his face. From time to time he rubbed his temples. He looked at the woman beside him for a moment and squinted his eyes. He repeated the same ritual for a few minutes. Then he suddenly stood up, went to the window and dived head down into the sea of white. The wind hurled around him as he fell faster and faster. A different kind of white started replacing the absolute white he had come from. Strands of black smoke, yellowish lights and occasional patches of glistening blue completed the view.

The distance got smaller by the minute. He was headed straight for a huge mountain of white. Just before he hit the ground he shifted his body upright and landed on the white plain. The frozen ice melted where his feet touched it. White arrows poured from the sky. The silhouette standing in the middle of it, white skin, white clothes, remained unnoticed.

 

He looked around: first left, then right. He closed his eyes, tilted his head to the left and touched his head with a frown. He walked through the narrow streets. A sharp sound reverberated through the storm. He got closer and closer to it. The wind blew even stronger inside the dark alley where it came from. At the end of it, there was someone huddled against the wall. Someone clothed in black with bluish hands. The shriek he had followed came from the persons arms. A thick white blanket covered the creature inside. He starred at it biting his lips and frowning. He turned around and headed for the alley’s exit. Suddenly, he went back to the noisy little creature. He moved the frozen hands clutching the edges of the blanket. He took the creature and wrapped his arms around it. It stopped crying. He picked inside. A small round face and a pair of black eyes starred back at him. He took the child and disappeared in the night. 

                                                               

                                                               ∞∞∞

 

“The Gods are not our masters. The Gods are our teachers and friends. They are our guardians.We are their disciples, the ones that make this land sacred.”

( Verse 12, Ch 1, Vattor Holy Book)

Chapter 1

Do you know that awful moment when you hear birds chirping in the morning. It’s like an annoying buzzing in your head. It’s nature’s version of an alarm clock. It’s not loud, but it’s definitely nerve-racking. So I did what I do every morning. I stood up, grabbed my pillow and through it as hard as I could against the innocent glass window.

-Shut up you damned birds!

-You’re gonna brake that window someday.

I turned around and looked at the blond Madonna brushing her hair on the opposite bed.

-Good, I said with a scowl. Maybe than I’ll hit a couple of them and they’ll stop coming here.

-You don’t really mean that, she said smiling softly. Besides, it’s not their fault you’re a sleepy head.

I look at her, my eyes made tiny.

-Whose side you’re on, Lia?

-Yours of course.

-Than let me sleep, I said laying back on my bed and covering my head with the blancket.

-If I let you do that you’ll be late for Miss Xander’s class.

I threw the blanket away and jumped upright. Anemona Xander wasn’t a teacher I wanted to cross. I already had one transgression too much on her list. I started digging in the mountain of mismatched clothes beside my bed.

-Where’s my shirt? I asked, my voice raised an octave.

-On the chair, Lia answered calmly.

-Where’s my skirt?

-Under the bed.

-Where did I put my tie?

-On the windowsill.

-Oh here’s my coat, I said picking up the crumbled piece of cloth.

I straightened the visible ripples with my right hand and put it on.

-I’m ready, I said happily.

Lia raised an eyebrow.

-Aren’t you forgetting something?

-Hmm. Damn, my backpack.

I looked around until I found it. I picked it up from the floor, whisked in the textbooks on the night stand and closed it.

Lia look at me for a second then sighted.

-Give me that, she said pointing at my backpack.

I silently obeyed. She grabbed it. Spilled its contents on the bed, took out some of them, placed them on my desk, dug underneath my bed and behind my trash bin for books I didn’t even know I’ve left there, placed it inside and then closed it. Then she came to me, fixed my tie and brushed my hair with her hand.

-Now you’re ready, she said. Let’s go.

I let a small grin slip on my face and followed.

 

                                       

 

Chapter 2

 I slowly began to wake up. It was quiet around me. My body was still numb. I tried to get up so I can see where I was but a sharp pain made me close them again. Obviously, the effects of the White Torture haven’t completely disappeared. I heard someone move closer, a warm hand touched my forehead and a voice asked:

-Are you alright?

-Yes, I think I will be… I answered after a few seconds. Where am I?

-At the infirmary. I brought you from the forest.

-Who are you?

-My name is Nem. That’s all you need to know for now. Don’t you think you should say thank you first?

-For what? I asked surprised. I kept trying to open my eyes so I can see his face but I got dizzy every single time.

-For saving you from the claws of your ‘friends’.

-That was you? Sorry I was otherwise preoccupied at the moment, but thank you.

-You’re welcome. Your friends are on the lobby. They are worried about you. I’ll let you be with them. Se you later, Vaira.

This time my eyes flicked wide open:

-How do you know my name?

And that was the first time that I actually saw Nem. A weird thought crossed my mind” I know him”. He looked somehow angelic: deep blue eyes, black hair, smooth, white skin, high build. He was in one word mesmerising. I think that for a moment I was caught with my mouth open.

-Your friends told me, he said smiling.

-Oh.

-I’ll let you rest.

He walked to the door and opened it. I could see Lia, Mirai and Shiel waiting out there. They looked dead worried so I shouted as loud as I could:

-I’m fine.

I probably shouldn’t have done that because the next second I felt a throbbing pain in my head, but their smiles made it worth the sacrifice. They rushed in and sat on my bed. Behind them I could see my saviour closing the door.

- I thought you were done for, Shiel said the second the door closed.

Lia pinched him and he squealed.

-Don’t even joke about it. I was terrified. God knows what could have happened to her if that guy hadn’t showed up.

-That’s true. It was so cool. He just sprang out of nowhere and took you in his arms. The Discipliners just immediately scattered when they saw how easily he repelled the white light.

- Then he carried you all the way here and told us to get the nurse, which hasn’t showed up yet, said Lia angry. Honestly, what if you were badly heart and no one was here to help you. It’s outrageous.

-I’m glad you’re fine, said Mirai holding my hand. I can’t believe they can be so cruel.

The door suddenly opened and the nurse finally appeared.

-What are you all doing here? She asked obviously surprised.

-My friend is not feelling well. Isn’t that why people come to the infirmary? asked Lia in obvious consternation.

-You again, Miss Garial. In what kind of trouble have you got yourself this time?

-It wasn’t her fault, Shiel jumped in, it was the Di…

Lia stomped on his foot and looked angrily at him. We all knew that no one would believe us. The Discipliners were like a ghost story until you actually saw them.

-Alright, let’s take a look at you. What’s wrong with you?

-My whole body is numb and I fill dizzy, I said angrily. To prove my point I tried to stand up just so I can get another round of paralyzing pain crossing through my head.

-Ok, this time you’re really sick. I’ll patch you up in a few seconds. As for you…

She turned around and looked at the others.

-You need to go to the main hall. The headmaster has called all the students there for a General Gathering.

-But… Lia tried to protest.

-Nothing. I’ll help Miss Garial here get back on her feet and I’ll bring her myself there. Now go on, or you’ll be late and you’ll get detention.

They unwillingly started to walk toward the door with the nurse behind them. She pushed them out of the room. Before she closed the door I could see Shiel winking to me, Lia sent me a flying kiss and Mirai smiled sweetly.

18 June 2011 

 

                                                             ***

 

 I had to admit. Nurse Yvonne’s treatment worked like a charm (Which is probably what it was). I already felt much better. After she finished treating me she ushered me out of the room and rushed me towards the auditorium. When we got there the hall was full. The entire school seemed to be there. I saw Shiel waving to me from the far corner; the others were with him as well. I hurried up towards them.