Vanishing Tides 4 (The Intruder)
Two new warriors come to join red and company. Is something really wrong or are red's intuitions correct?
THE INTRUDER:
Takshak had come late in the evening the previous day. By that time Red had shown Almond the beach. He had loved the beach. He loved the way Red played with the waves. She was glad to have finally found someone who knew a lot about her that other people did not know. She showed him her various swords. The moon sword which drew energy from the moon, the sun sword which used the sun, the water sword which worked under water and her fire sword, perhaps the most powerful sword ever. Red had accidentally forged it from herself. That was two years back. Red could sense warriors and even differentiate between them as death and life warriors. Almond on the other hand could not sense warriors, let alone differentiate them. His only source of energy was his own soul. And so he had the greatest regeneration power. He could absorb anyone's life source and pour life into any living being. He had almost full control over his powers but pouring life was not his specialty. Due to his horrid past involving a lot of unwillingness, his ability to pour life had run wild. So he had to be very careful whenever he gave a part of his soul to someone else. Slowly and slowly he was losing the power to prevent excess energy from leaving his body. He made Red go underwater and come out without getting wet. He had built an air shield around her. Red's power seemed so much more with her summoning swords and her ability to adjust to the dark very fast owing to life detection. Almond's was no less. His was equally great; after all he could manipulate life, death and the air. On the beach Almond told a lot about himself to Red. She remarked after hearing his heart out, "I guess being on line via phone is not as good as chatting with the actual piece, the actual junk." He chased after her till the house for calling him a junk piece. They raced inside to find Takshak still not at home. Red was making soup when she sensed something was wrong. She felt the presence of intruders in the house. How many were there? Where was Almond? She wanted to see who it was but she also had to alert Almond. The soup was left to simmer as she tiptoed in her slippers across the kitchen to reach the hall. Nothing. Just the rustling wind. She leaped upstairs in one jump using her powers and banged Almond's door, now a bit tensed, "Al! Open the door. Hurry up!" Almond took a few seconds before he opened the door wearing a jeans and a white shirt in his hand, his hair all wet and wavy over his chest. Red exclaimed, "Get dressed, will you?" He put on the shirt and joined her in the hallway of the East wing. Almond asked her, "Do you feel it too?" Red asked him, "Feeling what?" He answered, "Intruders, Red. Someone's trespassing on us." Red nodded as she speed dialed to contact Takshak. He picked up immediately, "Honey, what's wrong?" Red was surprised at the calmness in his voice but replied, "Dad we both feel someone else is present here. It's a warrior of life probably. The aura is strong. Very strong." Takshak said softly as if trying to get her to digest what he was about to say, "Honey, a couple will be arriving. The aura you sense is a combined one. Welcome them. Make them at home. I'll arrive an hour later. Sorry for not informing you." Red bade him goodbye as she pocketed the mobile and walked down the stairs gracefully. Almond followed her prepared to build a shield anytime. Red glanced in the kitchen, nothing. She wondered why her father didn't tell her about the arriving warriors. Still she felt something was wrong. She was confused whenever she tried to differentiate between the warriors. She felt almost sure that a death warrior was also there. There was message from the gate reporter - "Hi! This is Cleo. I've come along with my friend Sherry. I guess this is the Flame mansion. We've been asked to come here by Mr. Takshak." Red was a bit tense but she answered, "Very well. Please follow the stone path; I'll be on my way to receive you. Thank you." Red opened the front door and felt a gust of strong air; a chill went through her spine. Almond was there next to her in a second with a raised eyebrow. She said in a low voice, "Better watch your back. A death warrior is around." Almond had never seen or encountered a death warrior before. He stayed close to Red with an air shield. As the two saw Sherry and Cleo approach from the other end, they hurried to reach them and inform them about the death warrior. An immediate bond developed between the four, all being life warriors. Sherry smiled as they met and shook hands, "Did I scare you in the dream and the message that followed?" Red smiled in spite of the fear clenching her heart, "Ya... a bit. Uh... be a bit careful. I sense the presence of a death warrior. They can be dangerous you know. But I guess we'll be safe as we're four in number while that person is single, if I'm right." Cleo nodded. Their faces were clearly visible under the white lamp. Sherry had curly red hair; some wisps escaped her scarf and played at the corner of her eye. Cleo on the other hand had short black hair. Almond assisted Sherry with her luggage. The four quietly walked down the stony path as Red took out the key to the front door. She unlocked the door and held it open for Sherry and Cleo. Almond stood there waiting for her. She smiled and shut the door behind her. Once again she felt a cold breeze. Her head started feeling heavy. "Heavens! I don't want to go through another sleeping spell and that too just when I got new friends", Red groaned to herself. Red closed her eyes and held the door. Her legs ached as she stood there. She wanted to know about the two new people. What happened to the aura of the death warrior? It had suddenly disappeared. Red shrugged uneasily and asked the new comers to make themselves at home. Almond held her arm when they reached the kitchen and asked her, concern written all over his face. Red said, "I'll get them mango shake. What do you want? Mango shake or grape juice?" Almond said, "I'll be fine with anything. You take care, ya?" Red nodded and walked over to the soup bowl. It had boiled. She took it of the fire and went on to prepare mango shake for them all. She was sure Takshak had put a barrier to prevent entry of death warriors. Had it gone down? Anyway, she went to the hall and sat down with the rest. The lights were dim. Sherry said, "Is anything wrong Red? You seem worried." Red replied, "No it's nothing. I wonder when dad will be home." Sherry exclaimed, "Oh! You are the Lord's daughter. Good! Good!" Red was surprised at this sudden thought. Red and Almond showed them their rooms in the south wing. Judging from their faces, both of them liked it. Red called Sherry aside. Sherry came towards her as if she could see everything clearly in spite of being blind. Red asked her, "How did you get my mobile number and how come I saw you in my dreams?" Sherry smiled, her smile reaching her dead green eyes. They looked blind when looked closely but otherwise seemed absolutely normal. She said, "You know what? I have the power to communicate through dreams. I'm a dream catcher. I think Cleo is asking for me. I'd better go." One more smile and she was gone. Red returned to her room a heavy feeling in her heart. She remembered that she had to prepare dinner. She felt like asking her father to do the dinner but he would be tired when he came back. Red tied her straight hair into a high pony. She decided to make something related to pasta. There was probably no one on the ground floor. She sensed no aura of a death warrior. The oil can was placed at a high level. Red sighed as she reached for it. Something was definitely wrong, only she couldn't understand what it was. The oil can rolled in her hand as she flicked on the gas. Her thoughts moved on as she thought about her father and alongside that the tension of a death warrior lurking around. Sherry had come from behind and said, "Hi! Do you mind if I help you?" Red glad to have company said, "not at all. I was just about to make pasta. What would you like?" Sherry stood near the sink and said thoughtfully, "I know how to make cheese pasta, want to give it a try?" Red told her she would be glad to be. As Sherry told her about the recipe Red went on following her instructions. Almond and Cleo soon joined them and they too helped them. Red did not know what was wrong with her. In between, Takshak turned up. He was worried when he came inside. He met Cleo and Sherry. Pretty soon they were all having dinner after having a bowl of baby corn soup. Sherry's recipe was really tasty. Almond and Red cleaned up the place. Takshak sat with Cleo and Sherry in the hall. Red came soon after with a large cup of ice cream. She told Takshak in a request type of way, "Dad, I need to go up to my room. Sorry folks I don't feel up to the mood here. See you all tomorrow." Red picked up her bowl of ice cream and headed upstairs. Almond came along, after he had finished doing his hair. Takshak motioned him to follow Red. He nodded, pleased to have official permission to sit with Red. He bade the others goodnight and leaped up the stairs to join Red. He had seen her go towards the end of their wing, maybe to the balcony overlooking the sea. He balanced the bowl in one hand and with the other pushed open the glass doors to the balcony. Red was sitting there on a sun-bed. The ice cream was untouched. Almond kept his bowl and neared Red. She was asleep or was she? He sat down next to her and said, "Hey, your ice cream's melting won't you like to have a taste?" Red did not answer him. She continued to sleep. Almond started getting worried and put a hand on her shoulder. Red was not asleep. She was not herself. Something was not quite right. She woke up and saw a pair of worried eyes looking at her. She clutched the stem of her ice cream and started gulping down loads of it. Almond shrugged and ate his ice cream. In between he asked her, "Red, see, if you feel anything is wrong, do tell me. After all I am a good friend of yours, aren't I?" Red nodded and said in a tired voice, "Ask dad to come treat me for possession by a death warrior after you are done with your ice cream." The bowl rolled out of her hand and shattered to pieces as she fell back senseless. Almond jumped to catch her and shouted for help as he started feeling that he was not the only one trying to get to Red. Only he was trying to save her, the stranger was trying to get her killed....
Takshak had come late in the evening the previous day. By that time Red had shown Almond the beach. He had loved the beach. He loved the way Red played with the waves. She was glad to have finally found someone who knew a lot about her that other people did not know. She showed him her various swords. The moon sword which drew energy from the moon, the sun sword which used the sun, the water sword which worked under water and her fire sword, perhaps the most powerful sword ever. Red had accidentally forged it from herself. That was two years back. Red could sense warriors and even differentiate between them as death and life warriors. Almond on the other hand could not sense warriors, let alone differentiate them. His only source of energy was his own soul. And so he had the greatest regeneration power. He could absorb anyone's life source and pour life into any living being. He had almost full control over his powers but pouring life was not his specialty. Due to his horrid past involving a lot of unwillingness, his ability to pour life had run wild. So he had to be very careful whenever he gave a part of his soul to someone else. Slowly and slowly he was losing the power to prevent excess energy from leaving his body. He made Red go underwater and come out without getting wet. He had built an air shield around her. Red's power seemed so much more with her summoning swords and her ability to adjust to the dark very fast owing to life detection. Almond's was no less. His was equally great; after all he could manipulate life, death and the air. On the beach Almond told a lot about himself to Red. She remarked after hearing his heart out, "I guess being on line via phone is not as good as chatting with the actual piece, the actual junk." He chased after her till the house for calling him a junk piece. They raced inside to find Takshak still not at home. Red was making soup when she sensed something was wrong. She felt the presence of intruders in the house. How many were there? Where was Almond? She wanted to see who it was but she also had to alert Almond. The soup was left to simmer as she tiptoed in her slippers across the kitchen to reach the hall. Nothing. Just the rustling wind. She leaped upstairs in one jump using her powers and banged Almond's door, now a bit tensed, "Al! Open the door. Hurry up!" Almond took a few seconds before he opened the door wearing a jeans and a white shirt in his hand, his hair all wet and wavy over his chest. Red exclaimed, "Get dressed, will you?" He put on the shirt and joined her in the hallway of the East wing. Almond asked her, "Do you feel it too?" Red asked him, "Feeling what?" He answered, "Intruders, Red. Someone's trespassing on us." Red nodded as she speed dialed to contact Takshak. He picked up immediately, "Honey, what's wrong?" Red was surprised at the calmness in his voice but replied, "Dad we both feel someone else is present here. It's a warrior of life probably. The aura is strong. Very strong." Takshak said softly as if trying to get her to digest what he was about to say, "Honey, a couple will be arriving. The aura you sense is a combined one. Welcome them. Make them at home. I'll arrive an hour later. Sorry for not informing you." Red bade him goodbye as she pocketed the mobile and walked down the stairs gracefully. Almond followed her prepared to build a shield anytime. Red glanced in the kitchen, nothing. She wondered why her father didn't tell her about the arriving warriors. Still she felt something was wrong. She was confused whenever she tried to differentiate between the warriors. She felt almost sure that a death warrior was also there. There was message from the gate reporter - "Hi! This is Cleo. I've come along with my friend Sherry. I guess this is the Flame mansion. We've been asked to come here by Mr. Takshak." Red was a bit tense but she answered, "Very well. Please follow the stone path; I'll be on my way to receive you. Thank you." Red opened the front door and felt a gust of strong air; a chill went through her spine. Almond was there next to her in a second with a raised eyebrow. She said in a low voice, "Better watch your back. A death warrior is around." Almond had never seen or encountered a death warrior before. He stayed close to Red with an air shield. As the two saw Sherry and Cleo approach from the other end, they hurried to reach them and inform them about the death warrior. An immediate bond developed between the four, all being life warriors. Sherry smiled as they met and shook hands, "Did I scare you in the dream and the message that followed?" Red smiled in spite of the fear clenching her heart, "Ya... a bit. Uh... be a bit careful. I sense the presence of a death warrior. They can be dangerous you know. But I guess we'll be safe as we're four in number while that person is single, if I'm right." Cleo nodded. Their faces were clearly visible under the white lamp. Sherry had curly red hair; some wisps escaped her scarf and played at the corner of her eye. Cleo on the other hand had short black hair. Almond assisted Sherry with her luggage. The four quietly walked down the stony path as Red took out the key to the front door. She unlocked the door and held it open for Sherry and Cleo. Almond stood there waiting for her. She smiled and shut the door behind her. Once again she felt a cold breeze. Her head started feeling heavy. "Heavens! I don't want to go through another sleeping spell and that too just when I got new friends", Red groaned to herself. Red closed her eyes and held the door. Her legs ached as she stood there. She wanted to know about the two new people. What happened to the aura of the death warrior? It had suddenly disappeared. Red shrugged uneasily and asked the new comers to make themselves at home. Almond held her arm when they reached the kitchen and asked her, concern written all over his face. Red said, "I'll get them mango shake. What do you want? Mango shake or grape juice?" Almond said, "I'll be fine with anything. You take care, ya?" Red nodded and walked over to the soup bowl. It had boiled. She took it of the fire and went on to prepare mango shake for them all. She was sure Takshak had put a barrier to prevent entry of death warriors. Had it gone down? Anyway, she went to the hall and sat down with the rest. The lights were dim. Sherry said, "Is anything wrong Red? You seem worried." Red replied, "No it's nothing. I wonder when dad will be home." Sherry exclaimed, "Oh! You are the Lord's daughter. Good! Good!" Red was surprised at this sudden thought. Red and Almond showed them their rooms in the south wing. Judging from their faces, both of them liked it. Red called Sherry aside. Sherry came towards her as if she could see everything clearly in spite of being blind. Red asked her, "How did you get my mobile number and how come I saw you in my dreams?" Sherry smiled, her smile reaching her dead green eyes. They looked blind when looked closely but otherwise seemed absolutely normal. She said, "You know what? I have the power to communicate through dreams. I'm a dream catcher. I think Cleo is asking for me. I'd better go." One more smile and she was gone. Red returned to her room a heavy feeling in her heart. She remembered that she had to prepare dinner. She felt like asking her father to do the dinner but he would be tired when he came back. Red tied her straight hair into a high pony. She decided to make something related to pasta. There was probably no one on the ground floor. She sensed no aura of a death warrior. The oil can was placed at a high level. Red sighed as she reached for it. Something was definitely wrong, only she couldn't understand what it was. The oil can rolled in her hand as she flicked on the gas. Her thoughts moved on as she thought about her father and alongside that the tension of a death warrior lurking around. Sherry had come from behind and said, "Hi! Do you mind if I help you?" Red glad to have company said, "not at all. I was just about to make pasta. What would you like?" Sherry stood near the sink and said thoughtfully, "I know how to make cheese pasta, want to give it a try?" Red told her she would be glad to be. As Sherry told her about the recipe Red went on following her instructions. Almond and Cleo soon joined them and they too helped them. Red did not know what was wrong with her. In between, Takshak turned up. He was worried when he came inside. He met Cleo and Sherry. Pretty soon they were all having dinner after having a bowl of baby corn soup. Sherry's recipe was really tasty. Almond and Red cleaned up the place. Takshak sat with Cleo and Sherry in the hall. Red came soon after with a large cup of ice cream. She told Takshak in a request type of way, "Dad, I need to go up to my room. Sorry folks I don't feel up to the mood here. See you all tomorrow." Red picked up her bowl of ice cream and headed upstairs. Almond came along, after he had finished doing his hair. Takshak motioned him to follow Red. He nodded, pleased to have official permission to sit with Red. He bade the others goodnight and leaped up the stairs to join Red. He had seen her go towards the end of their wing, maybe to the balcony overlooking the sea. He balanced the bowl in one hand and with the other pushed open the glass doors to the balcony. Red was sitting there on a sun-bed. The ice cream was untouched. Almond kept his bowl and neared Red. She was asleep or was she? He sat down next to her and said, "Hey, your ice cream's melting won't you like to have a taste?" Red did not answer him. She continued to sleep. Almond started getting worried and put a hand on her shoulder. Red was not asleep. She was not herself. Something was not quite right. She woke up and saw a pair of worried eyes looking at her. She clutched the stem of her ice cream and started gulping down loads of it. Almond shrugged and ate his ice cream. In between he asked her, "Red, see, if you feel anything is wrong, do tell me. After all I am a good friend of yours, aren't I?" Red nodded and said in a tired voice, "Ask dad to come treat me for possession by a death warrior after you are done with your ice cream." The bowl rolled out of her hand and shattered to pieces as she fell back senseless. Almond jumped to catch her and shouted for help as he started feeling that he was not the only one trying to get to Red. Only he was trying to save her, the stranger was trying to get her killed....
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