Chapter #3Awaken, Alan Grieves... by: Authrox   The lone woman awaited within the house. Her slender frame and aesthetic looks identified her as above standard stock. With a knock on the front door. She lurched forward to greet her lover.
Alan welcomed her. The tall man of average build and favorable looks smiled and gazed upon the woman's face. "I have made the arrangements my love."
"Then lets began."
Alan placed his hand lovingly on the woman's cheek. "Please, Cheryl my love, I wish you would rethink this."
"We both failed our examination, without the power of the arcane, I cannot stave off my cancer. Even now my health falters."
"Is it not better to live with a loved one for years as yourself, then bound as an item to be used?"
"Your power is strong enough to sustain you. Since we've met, you haven't aged a day. My power cannot handle my condition. This will freeze the cancers advance my love. Plus I'll be held by you."
"I promise, once I'm strong enough, I'll cure and restore you." Alan grabbed Cheryl in a loving embrace. "I just wish..."
"Linger no longer my love, my affairs are in order. I await only my final step."
Alan resigned himself. He pulled out a sheet from his backpack. The old style paper once placed upon the table, was large and covered in arcane glyphs and designs. Alan and Cheryl sat on opposite sides. "Once we start..."
"We cannot stop." Cheryl completed. "I'm aware of the risks."
"If its power you seek, then let me become your amulet."
Cheryl smiled, gave a slight sigh before continuing. "It isn't power I seek my love. Neither do you. We both seek advancement, and it's only you who has the ambition and commitment to ensure this works. That said, our dreams rest with you."
Alan gave a sigh. Before placing his hands upon the paper. The arcane ink began dancing in response to his presence. "This machine is only good for one use and will require sometime to sap the energy necessary to trigger the transformation."
"Silence you fool.' Stated Cheryl with a loving face. "Let this, our final moments we spend together, be our most memorable and cherished ones." Cheryl placed her hands upon her side of the arcane diagram. "Remember my love, no matter what, I will always love you and trust you to do what's right..."
Alan and Cheryl would spend several hours facing each other, reflecting upon the whole of their shared history. Their conversation stopped when the changing ink visibly started glowing with a powerful light.
"It is at last ready." Stated Cheryl.
"Keep you hands still." Stated Allan. "I'll activate the final sequence."
Alan's hands danced across the diagram. In moments, the arcane ink detached itself from the paper and raced forward onto Cheryl's skin. Rings of arcane light soon possessed her form. Before her face was concealed, she spoke one last time. "I love you."
Alan broke into tears. "I love you too."
Cheryl's body vanished in a pillar of light. The old paper atop the table crumbled into dust. Alan wept for a few minutes before standing up and inspecting Cheryl. He rummaged through her cloths. He began to panic when he didn't find anything. Finally lifting the clothes up to inspect their entirety. A lone, decorative bracelet fell to the floor. Alan looked at this odd piece of Jewelry. He placed Cheryl's belongings down before reaching out.
"I was wondering when you would come to wear me." Stated Cheryl in a blissful tone. "Whatever may come, I am yours now and forever my love."
Alan wiped away the last of his tears. Smiled in thanks. Before affixing Cheryl, his power band, upon his wrist. "Whatever may come my love, I shall not forget..."
Alan awoke, his mind still remembering that day. He lay in bed next to a vibrant and naked young woman. Who like Cheryl and himself, had failed her examination.
"Whats wrong?" She groggily asked. Siting up and stretching in greeting.
"Nothing Alex." Stated Alan. "I really would wish you would reconsider."
"Unlike Cheryl here." Stated Alex, holding up the bracelet on her arm. "This isn't about love, but political alliances. I mean, don't get me wrong, our time spent together has been great. But your a guy who is going somewhere and I'm a girl who wants to help you along. So, I'll be your little trinket, and when you make it big, you make me an enchanted gauntlet. The power boost I'll gain is well worth a few years in your service, or even a few decades."
"I'm old enough to know there is comfort in company."
"I'm old enough to know, its all about position. I have what you need. I want what you seek. So?"
Alan gave a quick smile. "I understand what your talking about, just low enough to qualify for lab rat detail, too high to age gracefully."
"We don't age."
"My point exactly. Time wears on us differently."
Alex got up and walked around the coffee table, she unfurled the arcane paper. Its sight, a reminder to Alan of his first love and her sacrifice. "I know what I want. I know we're not immortals. The magic that imbues our veins sustains us indefinitely. That magic, my magic, I wish to yield to you. That you might advance and help me to change my station."
"The system isn't fair."
"Then raise in ranks and change it. It's not absolute. Its only a tool, a means to maintain order. Nothing more, nothing less."
"And if I fail?" Asked Alan, walking up to the opposite side of Alex.
Alex reached over and touched Alan softly on his cheek. "My sacrifice, your gain, your failure, my loss. I trust you Alan, as did Cheryl." Alex took the arcane band off her wrist and handed over to Alan. "I've enjoyed her use to much. Now at least, I will repay her kindness by offering her and you my company, my service." Alex touched the arcane diagram, starting the process.
Alan steadied his resolve, with the power of Cheryl at his disposal. The process went considerably faster this time. Like before, the confined energies climaxed. Like before, the ink lurched forward, enveloping Alex. Alan accepted Alex's sacrifice as a pillar of light consumed her form. Where once had been a woman. Now remained a decorative neck piece. Retrieving a string to mount it. Alan wore the transformed Alex with pride. It was sometime later that he would add a golden chain...
Alan's eyes shot open at the sound of a passing siren. His body reacted sluggishly following this sudden disturbance. His surroundings were moderate at best. He just finished using the rest room when he heard knocking on his apartments front door. With a stretch, and a yawn. He attempted to compose himself for presentation. Answering the door. A woman stood, dressed up. "How many times are we going to have this conversation." Stated Alan in greeting.
"Don't be daft boy. It isn't for me." The woman stepped to the side. To reveal a teen girl. "I heard about your little indiscretion to gain status within the society. I know you wont sell me your trinkets, so I'm asking you to make me one from my daughter."
"I cannot." Rebuked Alan.
"How come? She has failed the examination. Her life is one which will be relegated to the service of the higher practitioners, and that's only if she is lucky."
"An average life isn't that bad Mrs. Wellington. Plenty of people who fail the examination, live long and happy lives."
"That will not do. My daughter deserves only the best, and with her power, the best is what I'll give her. So tell me now, who is your contact."
"I am."
"What?"
Alan looked to the side for a bit in contemplation as to how he would explain the process. "I know how to convert a human into an enchanted trinket, the process requires a pact, it requires trust, it requires understanding."
"She's blood, I know what's best for her."
"Lacking any of these things triggers a degradation of the matrix that would bind her. This translates into damage against her personality."
"I want this." Stated the teen. "I've given it a lot of thought. I've..."
"Your not listening. What will you become? Do you understand the duration of your confinement? Do you understand and accept the forfeiture of your abilities to another? The questions and complications are plentiful child. This isn't a game."
The teen stepped forward. "I've decided that this is what I want."
Alan reached out his hand, thankful that he could call upon Cheryl's powers to help augment his own and make them powerful enough to assess this bold young woman. "I'll admit you are a suitable candidate."
"Then convert me."
"Patience child." Stated Alan in contemplation. "But first, negotiations..."   indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
| Members who added to this interactive story also contributed to these: |
<<-- Previous · Outline  · Recent Additions © Copyright 2024 Authrox (UN: authrox at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Authrox has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work within this interactive story. Poster accepts all responsibility, legal and otherwise, for the content uploaded, submitted to and posted on Writing.Com. |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
More by this author