Osana sat at the edge of a fountain, kicking her bare feet in the still water. The day before all the fountains were beautiful and filled with gushing streams. Today they seemed tired, only able to give half the energy they had from the day before. She kept thinking about Rebekah and her conversation with the pawn shop owner. Lani mentioned the word ferryman before. But it was always associated with a person travelling on a boat. But the way the mortals whispered his name, told her it was something more to the word. For some reason Rebekah wanted out. Out of what or why she didn’t know. But the mystery intrigued her.

She didn’t like secrets. It was almost on par to her hating lies. Both led to trouble. If her mission was to help a mortal, then the best way was to help Rebekah stay out of trouble. The only problem, she didn’t know where Rebekah was. After the pawn shop, Osana lost her in the crowds and the girl seemed to have vanished during the celebrations. She hoped she would see her again near the temple, but she was there all morning and no one who looked like her appeared. The market center proved a bit better. Although she didn’t see Rebekah, she saw enough people in a similar uniform.

They were busy like honeybees, darting from one place to another. Some traveled in pairs but mostly they were alone. They all seemed to have different purposes in the market. She watched them shop and fill baskets full of items. Others acted like messengers, and she watched parchment notes pass between hands. But no Rebekah. Where was her worker bee?

Patience was never her strong suit. Her feet swished the water around, but her legs begged to move. She was wasting her time waiting around for someone who might never arrive. Climbing from the basin, she determined to find her mortal herself. And the first step was to follow Rebekah’s peers around until they brought her to their hive. She meandered through the streets, admiring the trees and cacti who were in flower. Until a young man caught her attention. He was standing on the corner holding a piece of paper, trying to shove it in every passerby’s face. His frantic calls drew her in. He was tall with wide shoulders and a thin but trimmed beard. His clothes where old and mended in several places.

“My brother, please have you seen him?” A woman paused, and Osana peeked at the crude drawing in his hand. It looked like an adolescent boy, with ears that poked from his head and a small button nose. “Please, have you seen him. He didn’t return home one night. Our mother is sick with worry.”

“I’m sorry, I haven’t seen him. What is his name?”

“Daud, he is this high,” he held his hand to his waist. “He has a scar on his arms from when an eagle chased him.

“I’m sorry, I hope you find him soon. I will keep my eyes open.”

“Thank you, thank you.”

He looked at Osana with pleading eyes, showing her the drawing again. He was apologetic at its crudeness. She felt the grief radiating from him. So young to feel that level of loss. She wished she could wipe it away, but even that magic was beyond her. She never considered the idea of losing Lani, it seemed impossible to imagine. But her heart ached, knowing if she ever did, she would be on every street corner shouting her name too. She offered a kind word before sending a prayer to Papa, hoping someone was watching out for the boy.

After the interaction she was careful to conceal herself, just as Lani taught her. She only used the magic to sneak up on the deer in Papa’s Garden, but it proved to have better purposes in the mortal realm. She tugged her light wrap around her shoulders and did her best to avoid bumping into shoppers. A pair of worker bees caught her attention. A boy and girl, browsing the stalls. She watched from a distance until they reached a brick shelter with steps leading underground.

She followed, listening to them chatter, until they enter a winding tunnel. Torches lit their path, the cobwebs in the corners caught the flickering light. It was cooler underground. The flagstones under her feet had a light sprinkling of sand. She didn’t know how long they walked; the tunnel snaked for what felt like hours. As they turned a corner a voice barked.

“Who’s there?”

“Helot Bastian” the boy called out. “And Helot Leona. We are returning from the market.”

They approached two men in scarlet robes. A black face covering concealed their mouths and nose. The gold lining in their sleeves shimmered in the torch light. They were tall imposing gatekeepers with their heavy staffs poised at their side. Behind them was a metal cage door leading to a brightly lit stairwell. Osana stepped backwards, hoping to keep her distance. Her mouth went dry, at the magic surrounding them. Unlike the mortals she followed, these two were Mages.

Their aura was strong and imposing. But the contempt in their eyes made her heart race. It only happened once before. When Alma introduced them to the Drakur guarding the entrance to the underworld. The willowy wraiths never snarled at them, but she sensed their viciousness. And the red Mages before her, standing over the small mortals, gave the same sense of dread. The girl felt it too, she refused to make eye contact as the heavy gate groaned open. The boy nodded in gratitude as they passed. Osana shuffled passed, hoping the Mages didn't have the same second sight as the Drakur.

Stolen story; please report.

She continued up the stone steps unnoticed. It was narrow and dusty, forcing the group into a single file. The spirited energy they had in the market, that bubbled with every step, was gone. It faded with each step as they prepared themselves for what awaited them at the top of the stairs. They didn’t need to speak, Osana felt it. It clung to her, the feeling of crawling through mud until the body was too exhausted to move. They’re smiles vanished and they took on a dull distant demeanour. As they stepped into a busy atrium, they glanced at one another with a brief sadness in their eyes.

“Goodbye Helot Bastian.”

“Goodbye Helot Leona.”

They left in opposite directions, and never looked back. Osana never felt lonely, there was always something or someone to talk to. But watching the loneliness grow between them as they part ways, hurt her. Wherever they were, the building she was standing in, was the last place either of them wanted to be. But she didn’t understand. Glancing around, she found it difficult to imagine the sense of dread in such a beautiful space.

The airy space was bustling with life. People scurried over marble before disappearing behind corridors lining the atrium. Midnight coloured glass decorated the vaulted ceilings. When the light from the tall windows kissed the glass, it transformed the ceiling into the night sky. With thousands of stars. From the white columns to the white and black marble floors; everything was pristine. It was the only place she had been that didn’t have sand at her feet.

It felt luxurious, like stepping into another world. One of which the people in it wore fine robes. They weren’t the type to be lugging crates or carts full of animals. They carried themselves taller, looked straight ahead and never down. She felt out of place, even more of an outsider than she already did. She noticed an older lady behind a curved desk near the entrance. She and two others wore purple tunics with an embroidered badge on their chest. She greeted the visitors who entered through tall wooden doors with a welcoming smile. The two others, a young woman and man, busied themselves with writing in ledgers.

“Welcome to the Council Citadel. How can I help you today?” The woman greeted the next visitor.

Is that what this is?

A man with glasses carrying a pile of scrolls, almost bumped into her forcing her to take cover near a pillar. More and more people were exiting through the side doors and their chatter was making it hard to think. The Council. She probed her memory to the boring lesson Kelani was trying to teach her before they arrived. The Council was the group of Mages that created laws and policies.

Did the brown robe mortals work for the Council?

A smile broke on her face, she did it. Even if everyone thought she was clumsy and a poor listener, she did it. I found where the Mortal worker bees go! She was going to prove once and for all she was as capable as Lani. She might do things different, but she was certain she was on the right path. All she had to do was find Rebekah. She headed to a set of stairs, but after a few steps her feet ached and refused another step.

How do mortals walk everywhere?

The thought of the steps sprawled in front of her made her legs protest. The size of the building, and the full weight of her task set in. Between the possibility of countless rooms, and her lonely target, the task was impossible. It could take days, years, even lifetimes to find her among the rooms and people. Why is everything so hard here? She didn't want to spend that long, she had places to see, foods to eat, and things to do. The faster she helped Rebekah the sooner the fun could begin. I'm done doing it the mortal way. Lani warned her about using her magic around mortals, but was it that bad? She doubted anyone really enjoyed climbing stairs anyway.

The magic coursing through her began to fizzle, like bubbles tickling her muscles. She felt light, weightless, and the energy pulsed inside her. When it felt like it was going to burst, she thought of a spot on the top of the stairs. She shut her eyes, and pop. From the mortal plain, to the outer, then back in a flash. When she opened her eyes, she was at the top of the steps staring down a curving corridor.

The hallway curled around until the end disappeared. The arched windows had no glass allowing the breeze to drift through the hallway. The wooden shutters had intricated floral metal work on their hinges. But there was no Rebekah. She teleported inside an office. Three men sat in uncomfortable chairs as a fourth behind a wide desked spoke. She didn’t stick around to hear the conversation, everyone’s face shared the same bored expression. If Rebekah wasn’t there, she had no reason to stay. The next few rooms and hallways were a repeat of the first.

That was until she heard the screaming as her feet teleported into a different hallway. Her heart thumped against her ribs as the wallow of pain echoed through the quiet floor. It rolled over her skin like lightning. Bristles of fear and pain shocked her body. She didn't want to, but something spurred her towards it. In a blink she entered the office. A young man, a Helot, screamed as he leaned against the wall. It was like he was sitting on an invisible chair. In his hands a large hourglass counted the seconds. Sweat poured over his skin, his arms and his legs trembled. When he screamed again a Mage, in rich jade robes, flipped the timepiece, starting the punishment over again. He wore a cruel smirk as the Helot struggled to hold the timepiece steady.

“You embarrassed me, Helot.” His voice even and cold. “Never embarrass me in front of the Council Members.”

“No sir, it won’t happen again.”

Tears threatened her eyes, she blinked, and her body was on a different floor. The screams were gone. But she knew it wasn’t over. Not for the Helot. Her knees trembled; a wave of panic washed over her as she lost control of her body. The cool stone wall caressed her hand, and she navigated her weak form to the floor. With her knees to her chest, she steadied her breathing.

Kelani taught her that Mages had the responsibility to protect and guide the Innocent. At the time, it made sense to her, those with magical abilities should keep those who don’t safe. She pictured Mages helping build homes, protecting them from predators, or helping them grow crops. But the Helot’s scream wormed inside her mind. That wasn’t helping. It wasn’t protecting.

That was…harm. But Kelani told me… Did she lie?