Aisling looked at the image on the scroll that Ryuu held. Where had she seen that image? She thought back to all the books on folklore that she’d read. She remembered seeing a similar image in a book about Ancient Eastern mythology.
“Is …it of,” Ryuu said looking up at Matsu.
"It's a legend among my people that the fox and the crow came together to form the dragon," Matsu laughed lightly. "The story is really long, but that is the basis for the picture."
Aisling remember about an Eastern legend that explained the creation of a dragon just like what Matsu said. But she couldn’t remember the name of the culture that the legend came from. Aisling sat back and was lost in thought. No she didn’t first learn about the legend from a book. She remembered her grandmother telling her about it as a bed time story.
~FLASHBACK~
“What came first the fire or the phoenix?*” The old woman Áine asked the four year old Aisling braiding her long red hair.
“Uh…” Aisling said her small index finger touching her chin. “….I dunno.” Aisling said swinging her legs over the edge of the bed.
“Come on its easy if you knew what the phoenix symbolizes.”
Aisling forward her brow thinking. She saw her grandfather purposely eyeing the frame hanging on the wall and winked at her. In the frame there was a symbol of a snake biting its own tail and it made the image of a perfect circle the Oroborous. Aisling smiled as she figured it out. “The phoenix is another symbol of infinity or that life has no end. So it’s neither.”
Áine glanced at her husband who looked away and whistling innocently. “Patrick I told you don’t give her hints that’s cheating,” she scolded playfully.
“She’s four years old dear she still needs a hand.”
“Yes but she’s sharp as a tack.” Áine finished braiding Aisling’s hair. “Okay time for bed.”
“Not yet!” complained Aisling loudly.
“How about a bed time story?” Her grandmother asked her.
“Okay!” Aisling jumped back in her bed and her head hit her pillow with a thump. “Can you tell me about Cinderella?” She asked as her grandmother pulled the blanket over here.
“Hah no that’s story is not at all education and it gives little girls silly hope about being rescued by Prince Charming so encourages them not to be independent and makes surrogate parents a bad name.” She shook her head. “I’ll tell you a good story one that could prove useful when you’re older. It’s a story from the people called the Emishi an ancient tribe of shamans.”
“What’s a shaman?”
“They’re…like me. A Fairy Doctor and Shaman both act as mediums to the other side and deal with beings beyond human understanding.”
Aisling stared blanking at her grandmother. “Okay what’s the story about?”
“It’s about the birth of a dragon. There was a white fox with two tails that wished to fly in the sky like the birds. And there was a crow that wanted to walk on the earth. The two meet and struck a deal to make their dreams come true. So then the dragon was born a creature that could both fly and walk on land.” Áine was about to tell more but she had stiffen and her sharp eyes shifted over to the window.
Aisling didn’t have to look. She sensed the entity’s presence and her heart beat faster as she felt the temperature around her dropped. The window frame rattled and there was the sound of something scratching on the glass. “Nana….” The red head girl said fearfully as she pulled the covers over head.
She felt a hand rested on top of her head gently. “It’s all right dear I’ll take care of it. Don’t worry…”
Aisling jolted out of her daydream when she felt her cell phone vibrating in her pocket. She took it out and saw that it was her grandfather calling. She remember the text message from him that morning and wonder if he was calling about that. She walked out of the leaving room and into the hallway to be alone.
She press the talk button and put the phone to her ear. “Hey Granddad what’s up?”
“Aisling you need to come home right away!” Her grandfather said sounding both excited and urgent.
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“Well it’s about your grandmother…I don’t know a good way to put it without scaring you but…”
“Granddad I know I saw her at the hospital today.”
“Oh…” He said and paused.
“How did you know that she’s back in the living world?”
“Oh I knew the entire time. We’re Soul Mates remember? I sensed her return last night and then I sensed she was in endangered but now I know she’s fine. I’m so happy to see her after all these years.” He said he sounded he was on the verge of tears.
“What?”
“She came home. She’s here right now…what?” Aisling heard another voice speaking in the background. “She wants to talk to you Aisling.” There was a pause as her grandfather handed the phone.
“Hello Aisling my dear girseach.” Her grandmother’s voice said happily.
“Nana how did you…you’re not still in Resa’s body are you?”
“No thank goodness. My power is fully restored. So you’re at Ryuu Yuki’s birthday party eh?”
“…How do you know about Ryuu?” Aisling said feeling nervous.
“Oh a lot actually. Being an angel has its advantages and I know Asa pretty well.”
Aisling said nothing not sure what so say.
“What’s wrong dear? Oh you’re worried about Ryuu. Don’t worry I know about his lineage and even though I’m an angel it doesn’t bother me. I know he’s a good friend of yours’ and I wouldn’t lay a finger on him.”
Aisling breathed a sigh of relief.
“But…” Áine said her tone had turned surprisingly dark. “If he were to become a threat to you or the family. I won’t hesitate to kill him…”
She had never heard of her grandmother speak like that. Not even when she saw her battling demons when she was a small child. “Anyway,” Áine said her voice back in that light tone she had used before. “Has he opened you’re gift yet? A lapis lazuli is a very lovely gift. Did you bless it?”
“Wait how did you know what I got him I didn’t told any…never mind. What do you mean bless it?”
“You purchase it in a hope it would be helpful to him right? Its spiritual properties won’t work unless you bless it if you didn’t it’s just an ordinary gemstone. Oh that’s right you don’t know how to do that sorry I didn’t taught you about it back then. That’s another thing I’ll put on the list of things I’m going to teach you while I’m here.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll explain when you’re home. Speaking of which who’s taking you home? Molly and Richard are out working.”
“I’ll ask Daniel or Ian to pick me up.”
“No,” Áine said sharply Aisling raised an eyebrow. “They can’t take you.”
“Um maybe Takara could drop me off but I can take the bus.”
“You can’t. It’s too dangerous even with the crystal you carry. It isn’t strong enough to protect you at night.”
“How did…never mind. What are you talking about?”
“Have you noticed you’re being followed?”
“…no…”
“Did you see any crows today?”
Aisling thought back when her mother took them to the hospital that afternoon. “Something wicked this way comes…”
“Yeah…”
“It’s not safe for you to be out alone. I’ll have to come and get you.” She sighed heavily.
Aisling frowned. “What you don’t want to come and get me?”
“No it’s not that. It’s just… I don’t want to leave my Patty!” She whined
“Don’t call me Patty Áine.” Aisling heard her grandfather said in the background.
“Sorry love,” Áine said affectionately. There was the sound of kissing and it went on for almost a whole minute. Aisling made a face, “Uh…I’m going to hang up now…” There was no reply but the kissing noses continued. “Bye.” Aisling hung up and sighed.
“Dang they were acting like high school sweets they’re as bad as mum and da.” Aisling said to herself putting the phone back in her pocket.
She felt a cold chill suddenly. Aisling shivered and looked down the hall. What was that? She walked across the hall and passed a window. She looked outside and came face to face with a crow. “AH!” Aisling yelped and recoiled away from the window. The crow cawed and flew away.
Aisling clutched her chest where her heart was pounding fast from the fright she had.
A crow? Was that a coincidence? No she didn’t believe in coincidences. What was following her? Demons? She shook her head and was beginning to dread when she had to go outside.
***
That’s it. I just wanted to post. I hope it’s good. Now G’ Night everyone ^^
*What came first the fire or the phoenix? ~ Do you know where I got that from? XD
