Puck forced his eyes opened and found himself in an empty gray universe. Where was he? He didn’t recognize this place. He knew he wasn’t in the Physical World. He realized this was the realm that only the dead was aloud to wonder.
I’m dead?! He thought with horror. I’m really dead …not that I was technically alive before but…what happened?! Am I in Hell?!
“Puck?” Some call to him in an uncertain voice.
Puck jumped in surprise.” …Kelpie?” He turned around and saw the spirit in the form of a fairy girl flew over to him.
“Oh Puck it is you! What happened to us Puck...are we really…,”she couldn’t finish the sentence and broke into sobs.
“There there Kelpie it’s alright….,”Puck said forcing himself to be steady for her sake. “Do you know where we are?”
“I don’t know…, but I think I can sense the others are here...Wherever here is...”
Puck paused to sense the other card spirit’s presences and he quickly recognize the familiar spiritual auras. He was very relieved for the moment at least they weren’t alone in who knows where…
“Come on!” Puck said to his old friend his enthusiasm returned and gave him strength. “Let’s go and round them up! We need to figure out where in the Cosmos are we.”
“Okay…but Puck what happened to M’ La...” Kelpie stared to say but backed away when she sensed Puck’s discomfort.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Puck said stiffly. “Let’s just go.”
They floated in that strange universe. It was a lot like the inter dimensional space that they sort of called their ‘home’ only it didn’t feel right and they could faintly sensed unfamiliar presences residing in the bizarre spirit realm.
At first there was nothing and then there was something forming in the nothingness. It had shapes and colors and it stood out like a beacon. It drew the other presences in the infinite space of oblivion. It almost blinded Puck as he stared at the tiny island of light and color. As he stared at it he realized it really was an island a very small island with just one tree in the center. Sitting on the tree was a man. He was a spirit of some kind but Puck wasn’t sure if this man was ever human.
As Puck drew near he saw that the man looked neither old nor young it was impossible to guess the age his form was supposed to be. He had no hair on his head or eye brows and his crystal clear eyes showed wisdom that came from centuries of experiences and looked like a carefree and lay back type of guy.
“Welcome,” The man said to them warmly and smiled gently. “My goodness...a lot of spirits came so suddenly I thought something big and terrible happened. A building was burned down perhaps…”
Puck stiffen when he had a flash back to being burned and then pushed it away.
“Who are you?” Puck demanded to the strange man.
The man cocked his head and stared at Puck.
“I have no name,” The man said simply. “I was called many things over time but I have no real name. I never find names necessary but if you like you can call me Bob.”
Puck stared at him. “Bob?”
The man nodded.
“Uh…okay Bob where are we?”
“You are in Limbo.”
“Limbo….the Limbo?!?!”
“There is no ‘the’. Limbo is different for every soul depending on how they die or their beliefs.” Bob said. “In this Limbo in particular is a place where you are staying until your fate is decided.”
“Our fate,” Puck said feeling nervous.
He looked at Puck again. “You are the Sinner Spirits are you not?” There was no reply and the man continued. “Those of you who have truly been forgiven for the sins you commented in your past life will be sent to a better place but for those who aren’t will be sent to the Fort of Sorrows. In the culture you were all raised in that is where you go if you commented a sin against your gods.”
Puck stared blankly at him then he screamed, “WHHHAAAAAAAT?!?!!?” His voice echoed and it was repeated by the other spirits around him.
“The Fort of Sorrows! No way!”
“But it’s not fair!”
“We have served as the Taoitear Spiorad for centuries and we all did our part to serve and protect our masters from the past.”
“I don’t deserve to be sent to the Fort of Sorrows!”
“Silence all of you!” A familiar voice said sharply to the frantic voices. Puck recognized the speaker as Aurelius who was the spirit of the Emperor card. “We will not be forced to go either. Our Fate can not be decided just yet. We have not fulfilled the contract we made with our master Aisling.”
Aisling…Puck thought with a pang of guilt and sorrow.
“How can we complete the contract now that we are dead?” A voice demanded Aurelius.
“We are not truly dead,” Aurelius said calmly. “Morrigan failed to completely destroy the box that was the medium of our powers. The cards gave us individuality and the ability to think independently but keeping us all in that box together created our bond with each other and our master. Once the box is restored we will come back to the human world.”
The other card spirits murmured with new found hope and excitement. Puck suddenly felt lighter with the realization that he was still connected to Aisling. He could sense that she was alive not near death so that meant Morrigan failed. He sighed with relief.
“But if the card case is never repaired what would happen?” Kelpie asked quietly.
Aurelius said nothing at first then he replied in a motionless tone, “If it is not restored in the next new moon then we will be forced to reside in Limbo forever.”
“Crap…” Puck said in an undertone.
“Hmm,” Bob said lightly watching the spirits conversing amongst themselves quietly. “What is this medium object you speak up?”
“A silver box that was created as our…prison,” Aurelius said to the man. “I don’t know who created it but it is no ordinary object. It was created by someone with very strong and unique spiritual powers. I am certain that the creator was not a typical human or maybe not a human to begin with.”
“Is that so,” The man named Bob rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “Than the one who has the power to restore the box can not be an ordinary human. I would say the best candidate would be an angel.”
“An angel?” Puck said. “I know the perfect one! Lady Áine would definitely do it!”
“M’ Lady’s grandmother?” Aurelius said. “Yes she does have the type of pure spirit power that can restore the box but how can we contact her?”
“Send Puck and Brant to find her,” A woman’s said and Puck identified her as Yolanda the spirit of the Empress Card.
Puck was surprised by Yolanda’s nominating them and he flinched when he sensed that most of the card spirits were feeling resentment and anger.
“Him?! Why him?! He and the Knight failed to protect our master!”
Puck felt anger rise up but it was forced down when he knew they were right. They did fail to protect Aisling.
“Be quiet!” Another familiar voice said sharply to the voices that were arguing with Yolanda and Aurelius. Puck was surprised as he recognized the owner of the voice was Thanatos the spirit of the Death Card.
“Those two are the only ones able to leave this realm and find the angel because of their bond with the girl.” Thanatos said in a matter-of-fact tone.
“He’s right,” Aurelius said. “They are our only hope.”
No pressure, thought Puck. “But…,” he said slowly. “How do we get out of here?”
“I can assist you with that,” Bob said smiling. “I can send you out of Limbo but you won’t be able to stay in the Living World for long. My spirit energy can only keep you in the Living World for only an hour understand? Good. All you and the spirit Brant have to do is focus your thoughts on finding the person you want to see most. Since you have an emotional bond with the child it shouldn’t be too difficult. Oh and one more thing. The only ones who we be able to see and hear you are angels, demons and spirits. Humans no matter their strength of their mana will only be able to sense your presence.”
Puck nodded and concentrated on Aisling and tried to think of nothing but her. He didn’t notice Bob raising his hand and a light glowed from his palm. Puck felt the familiar whooshing sensation of being transported from a different dimension and then he found himself in the living world.
“It worked!” Puck said amazed. He stared around the city surroundings and sighed with relief. He thought he might never see the human world again. Now to find Aisling. “Come on Brant!” He said to his old friend that stood beside him silent as always.
As they traveled down the dark and empty streets Puck wondered if Aisling was alright. She was alive he was certain but what did she went through? Puck felt guilty again for not being able to protect her from Morrigan.
“Puck,” Brant said suddenly. Puck stopped to look at the knight. Brant was pointing in a direction away from Ryuu’s family’s house. “I sensed angels that way.”
“Angels?” Puck sensed the unmistakable presences as angels and he nodded. “Your right,” He thought what they should do. “Well…M’ Lady’s alright I can sense that she’s at that guy Ryuu’s place…” Puck said glancing side ways at Brant.
Brant looked at him and crossed his arms across his armored chest.
“What? I…I don’t want to see her just yet…” He looked down uncomfortably. “Let’s see if those angels know where Lady Áine is…” He flew way quickly before Brant could ‘say’ anything to stop him.
Brant shook his head and followed Puck.
They found a small group of angels arguing and one of them was Áine. Brant felt that they shouldn’t interrupt them and held Puck back and hid in the shadows of a cluster of trees.
“NO! I will not allow this!” Áine was shouting at one of the angels. A male angel that looked slightly older than her with dark hair and the garment he wore seemed to glow in the dark night he looked at Áine with a hard scowl.
“You are a mere foot soldier you cannot disobey a direct order from the Seraphim Choir.” The angel said in a stern voice. The way he was speaking to her and held himself implied that he was in a higher rank than Áine but Puck wasn’t certain. “It is clarified that the child’s spirit pressure has gone under a mutation…”
“A mutation?!” The red headed angel snapped at him her wings flapped and the trees around them shook. Puck heard the sleeping tree spirits whisper in fear and surprise. “It is a ‘metamorphism’ you dipstick!”
“Áine!” A female angel with white hair said in a shocked voice.
“Be quiet Melody,” Áine said to the blond angel and glared at the dark haired angel who gaze back her coolly.
“It is unnatural for a soul to change in such a dramatic way when the body is still alive.” The dark haired angel said coldly. “A mutation is a more proper term to call such a phenomenon. Such a thing should only happen right after death not before it. She will become a danger to the people around her and herself as well. There is only the alternative Áine.”
Puck eyes widen, Alternative?
Áine stared at the dark haired angel and shook her head, “No…no…No! She’s just a child! She’s MY grandchild! I will not let this happened!”
“Which is why I was sent here to give you this order,” The male angel said. “If the ghost seer and reincarnation of the goddess Brighid also known as the human girl Aisling Alvey proved to be a threat or a great potential to become a new archangel than her human life must end so she shall be reborn as a warrior to fight in the upcoming war. If you do not comply and go against the Choir then you will be charged with treason.”
Áine emitted a sound in her throat that was between choking and growling.
Puck felt his jaw dropped in shock. What?!?!!
“Isaac are you sure there isn’t another way?” Another angel with light brown hair said. He stood next to the white haired angel called Melody.
“There is no other way Gabriel those are the direct orders from the Seraphim themselves,” the dark haired angel said sternly.
“This can’t be happening…” the angel Áine said covered her face with her hands and bend over in despair. The angel Melody gently rested her hand on Áine’s shoulder in a gesture to comfort her.
Isaac looked at Áine’s anguished form with a some what stony expression but his eyes became soft as he said, “But you are still charged to train her.”
Áine looked up at him questioning.
“If it is proved positive that her powers are too unstable or if the demons get wind of this then we must end her mortal life and transfer her soul to Heaven. Do you understand?”
Áine slowly nodded, and stood up straight. “I understand.” Áine said in a clear voice.
The angel Isaac nodded, “Good now if you excuse me I must look for Michael.”
“Mind if we tag along?” The angel Gabriel asked Isaac. “Melody and I have been looking for him.”
Isaac nodded, “Very well then.”
The three angels left the area and Áine stood there alone. Then she disappeared. Puck and Brant stayed in their hiding spot.
“I-I don’t believe it…” Puck said almost numbed with shock. “Those freaken zealots would go to those lengths just to make sure they stay ahead of the demons!” He shouted. “She’s already got a lot on her plate what with the terror triplets after her and now she’s got angels to worry about?! I thought they were supposed to be peaceful and protective!”
Brant patted Puck on the head to get his attention; “didn’t you hear what the angel named Isaac said? They haven’t made it official to kill her or not.”
Puck looked at Brant and slowly nodded. “You’re right…”
They left they’re hiding place and went back to wondering the streets.
“Should we go back to check on M’ Lady?” Brant asked Puck after a long moment.
“…well I don’t see the point since she can’t see us…” Puck said stuffing his hands in his pockets and kicking his feet. “How about we go find Áine…” Puck stared to say but stopped when he felt something tugging him.
“Huh?” Puck raised his hands to his face and saw that they were fading away. He quickly looked at Brant and saw that he was fading away as well.
“Oh no!” Puck said in horror. “Time’s almost up! What do we do?!”
***
Yes! Puck and the others are not gone forever….well maybe they will be unless I post again or if one you guys wants to jump in and help them. Just remember that humans can’t see them even if they’re Ghost Seers well maybe shamans or something ^_~
I introduced Inu’s Angels Melody and Gabriel I hope that’s okay Inu ^^
Poor Aisling’s has more problems to deal with. I felt like making her life screwed up aren’t I evil? >:3
I hope you guys enjoyed it ^_^
