A DARK PRESENCE PT 1: The Ahn-Kin Door Revealed
The rooms kept changing trying desperately to keep the empty room from showing itself to Bara again. The Castle knew of its evil visitor and wanted to delay Baarda as long as possible. The spirits and the children hadn’t caught on yet and for the past three months the Castle had been doing so well to keep Baarda out. Now it was overwhelmed and finally the empty room with the forbidden door had appeared to Bara again. There is a sinister smile that crosses Bara’s face, but it’s forced on by the once warrior God. He walks slowing into the room waiting for something to happen. When not even so much as a flinch of change occurs, Bara walks over to where the door once stood. Suddenly the wall opens up and there is a dark stairwell descending downward spiraling into the Ahn-Kin Lair. Baarda had finally found his way back to the dried dragon fountains and was ready to begin phase two of his plan to get into the heavens. Igara is standing there waiting anxiously looking at the small boy who now was his master. He smiled wickedly and with a wave of his hand produced the blackest waters that Baarda worked hard to control and change while trapped within the sea of Apera.
Igara:
Master we can’t reach the lost souls. The fountain has been dry for too long so the connection to the Serpent Waters has been severed. I have been trying for the past three months still nothing has been produced. I believe we need something more.
Bara/Baarda:
Exactly what do you propose Igara? The boy is still learning his powers. But he has come into his shadow form; they all have. That might work to our advantage. We need those lost souls they will create the staircase to the Heavens. I desperately need those souls since my plan to take Sala's weapon and use it failed so long ago.
Igara:
You must wait until his shadow form is settled, but if he changes into his shadow form you can take him near the Serpent Waters. There you will plunge his hands into the waters until they are completely covered with the impure waters. Once in he may grab all the lost souls and bring them forward. He may also carry a single drop of the impure waters and drop it into the empty fountains here. The fountains will fill up with the black waters as it has done here, and this is where he must drop the souls. After this is done the lost souls will return ready to do your bidding.
Bara/Baarda:
How long do I have to wait until this happens? I grow impatient over here. This god can’t take much more waiting.
Igara:
Sir, but you must remain patient. If they catch on to you they will be able to take you down even without the proper knowledge of how to use their powers. These four are rather powerful and their powers being so new to them could truly mean the end of you since their powers would be out of their control. Now you must wait until the shadow forms are finished settling within the bodies and their animal forms come to visit. They will give them the power to turn into their spirit shadow forms within the animal form. After this the process will be complete. You have to wait one full week for this to take place.
Bara/Baarda huffing loudly:
But I can’t wait that long! I want to take down Sidia and Charma now! They took away my power, my strength…at least they thought they did. But I am Baarda the Devil God and therefore I can beat them; take over and show them how to really run a universe.
Igara:
You must know that the four reincarnations of the Four Clans can still defeat you. So I suggest you do this with caution.
Bara/Baarda:
Why Igara, why do you think I have you around? It’s not for your looks my dear man no, it’s because I can count on you to get this done without a hitch in the plan. Now I must go before they think me suspicious. That Yuki is becoming a real pain. (Talking to Bara) I see what you go through with that little brat!
Igara:
Remember, one week--
Bara/Baarda:
I’m aware of this… Now if you’ll excuse me there’s a pest I must take care of. Igara since you know I can't wait that long see if you can figure out how to speed this process up.
Igara:
But-but--
Bara/Baarda disappearing:
Just do it!
**
Yuki has just re-entered the Castle taking in the trash from lunch. As he walks from the foyer towards the kitchen he sees Bara appearing, literally, right before his eyes out of nowhere. Yuki jumps back dropping the trash and a stack of odds and ends on the counter top next to the sink. Bara stands there without a look of indifference. He then opens up his mouth letting out a bellowing laugh that terrifies Yuki who is shaking by now. His heart was now thumping loudly in his ears as he waits to see what will happen next.
Yuki still stunned:
Wh-where did you come from?! You just appeared out of nowhere!!
Bara glaring at Yuki:
It’s the walls Yuki, this place is different, or have you forgotten that?
Yuki:
Why did you laugh like that?! It didn’t even sound like you! Was that always in you?
Bara coming closer to Yuki:
You could say that and then again… Maybe not!
Somewhere in the castle there is a loud scream that no one seems to hear. The spirits aren’t around and Baarda was now in control of not only Bara but Yuki as well. He found Yuki to be special and quite useful for the plan he had in mind. Yuki was no longer standing by the sink in the kitchen he was nowhere in sight; he’d vanished just the way Bara had appeared and now he to belonged to Baarda.
**
Sitting on the grass are Casee and Fazil lazing about gazing up at the semi nighttime sky. There were several spirits floating about transparent against the clouds causing shapes and color change. Fazil and Casee were enjoying this greatly when Casee notices that Yuki still hasn’t come back from the Castle. She sits up and feels something wrong. Fazil sits up as well puzzled by Casee’s sudden change in attitude and wonders what she could be thinking.
Fazil:
Casee, what is it? Is something the matter?
Casee:
Yeah, Yuki hasn’t returned from the castle He was only supposed to be taking in the trash and coming right back. What could be taking him so long?
Fazil with laughter in his voice:
Who knows, its Yuki maybe something spooked him and he’s in his room hiding.
Casee frowning at Fazil:
That’s not funny Fazil. It shouldn’t take this long.
Fazil:
Don’t worry so much look here comes Bara maybe he’s seen Yuki.
Just as soon as Fazil points out Bara Casee turns and sees him sauntering over to them looking innocent enough. He comes up to them sitting on the grass and takes a seat next to Casee. There is heat coming from him that Casee can’t explain, but knows that something isn’t quite right. She couldn’t put her finger on it but she knew something was different about Bara.
Fazil:
Bara have you seen Yuki? He was supposed to go into the house and take in the trash, but it’s taking him way too long to get back.
Bara:
Oh Yuki told me to tell you guys that he wanted to rest up a bit. He was tired from the picnic today and wanted to take a nap. After I spoke to him he went to his room.
Fazil sticking his tongue out at Casee:
See I was right he did go to his room.
Casee:
Yes he did, but it wasn’t because he was spooked Fazil. You were just being mean!
Fazil:
Aw come off it Case Yuki’s fine. Hey Bara guess what Yuki used his wings today while you were in the house. You should’ve been out here to fly with us it was really cool.
Bara sounding emotionless:
Sorry I had other things to do, but I promise I’ll go with you guys next time. Right now I just want to sit here and relax.
Casee trying to feel at ease:
It does feel good to take some time to ourselves we’ve been in classes or meetings everyday for the past five months and I’m super tired.
Fazil with a weird expression on his face:
Hey guys I’ll be back Coil and Bakta are calling me for some reason. They sound... I don’t know scared of something. I’ll be back in a few.
Casee now lying back down:
Okay tell us what happened when you come back.
Fazil getting up:
I will. Let me go and figure out what’s the problem.
Fazil walks off in the direction of the Castle and enters leaving Bara alone with Casee. He hovers over her blocking the little light there was. She frowns and pushes him back, but he continues to hover and smiles broadly making her feel uneasy and a bit annoyed.
Casee pushing Bara away again:
Hey Bara, calm down. Whatever game you’re playing it can wait. I’m tired right now.
Bara:
Yeah, but I want to play.
Casee:
We can play later. I promise.
Bara hovers over Casee one last time before covering her mouth with a black liquid hand killing all sound trying to escape from her mouth. Her eyes grow wide with fear as she struggles to free herself from Bara’s grasp. He looks her in the eyes as his glows a bright yellow/black color with lack of emotion and danger. Casee knew something was wrong, but she also knew that her reaction time was off and she should've acted a bit sooner.
Bara with glowing yellow/black eyes:
No Casee, we can play now…
