Kadin and the Jinni

[October Knight]

The cold mist enveloped, circling around their feet like thousands of tiny gaseous snakes and swirling up their bodies. It distorted Kadin's vision to the point where he could see no further than several feet in front of him. Beyond the parted wall was thick with this mist, while outside in the rotted forest was clear.

"I fear we have little choice, if we are to eventually find a way off this island we must go where the inhabitants are." Kadin took the Jinni hand and led the way into the mist. After several feet a loud grinding noise was heard followed by a thundering boom, a sound Kadin knew was the wall closing behind them.

Inside the 'city' as Kadin thought of it as, were stone dwellings that were hardly visible, but nonetheless present. Some were small others tall, seeming to reach up to the sky. In to the unknown they walked until Kadin noticed something, something that nearly made him scream out in terror. Eyes. Eyes outlined with the thick mist, the owners of which were not visible. All they could see were the eyes. They shone yellow and were all around them. How had he not noticed before? He stopped

"We're not alone" Was all he managed to get out before a voice spoke. It was a rough tongue, broken desert language, defiantly not the primary of this being.


"This is not a place for humans, and yet you stand. Which of you was born of magic blood?"

 

[Ochalla]

It was a mistake, as soon as she hears the boom behind them she feared that much. It felt as though it was the closing of a tomb. Still there was nothing to do but continue walking. The jinni wished the fog was not so thick, for the shape of the buildings seemed foreign, but it could have just been the distortion of the land held moisture. Looking up into the sky Maahealani could not even find the direction of the sun, though it was clearly day. It was distressing to say the least.

Only when Kadin spoke did she see what was around them and she tensed up. Her mind raced trying to think what it could be that had encircled them, and as her mind settled on an uncomfortable conclusion something spoke to them both, and she realized she was only partly correct.

'Not for humans?'

"I would be the one you are refering to," she said softly, partly out of polite respect, but mostly because the way this bizzare place put her on edge. "We have no interet in trespassing where we don't belong, but we have currently lost our way." It could have been the intensity of the eyes surrounding them, or it could have been something in the air, but the jinni knew she said something she shouldn't have and tightened her grip upon Kadin's hand before what happened next.

 

[October Knight]

Kadin flinched, then relaxed, at least as much as he could manage despite being accosted by phantom figures in a heavy mist. This place smelled stale, old and musty, which was odd considering they were only moments ago out in the open air. It made Kadin think of the abandoned mines he used to play in as a child in the desert.

The voice spoke again, this time with a booming definition that seemed to vibrated and reverberate in the air.

"What hangs around your neck? Is it fate that leads to death? Guided by the desert jinn, your future holds no hope within! Why must you risk your existence for this mortal?" The being asked the Jinni, his tone held no question.

There was a sucking sound as the fog lifted and for the first time in Kadin's life he felt literally petrified.

The beings were not of this world, that much was certain, as elongated necks gave way to androgynous, naked bodies. Kadin noticed upon their chests runes were tattooed, although tattoo was not a proper word, engraved would have been more fitting.

"We are the guardians of the gate. The bridge to this world and the land of dead kings that lies beneath your feet!"

A sudden booming crack was felt as much as it was heard before the earth split open, sending shattering rock in every direction. Kadin hardly noticed as a sliver stuck him shoulder and crimson dripped down his arm. The earth opened up before them as the guardians moved like clock work to either side of the split. Kadin tightened his own grip on the Jinni's hand as a 20ft wide stone staircase appeared at ground level and went down, down further than any human eye could see.

The same guardian that had initially addressed them continued to speak.

"Your Jinni must serve as your guide, mortal. With out her you would have already been sent to exile for setting foot here. I can tell you only this." He focused on The Jinni now, turning from Kadin.

"I give you this option now, Jinni. Leave this mortal, take his treasure, and ensure your safety. He is already doomed and following his path will mark you as well."


The stairs laid before them, if it wasn't already clear it was their only way out of this place. The guardians stood on either side and a choice for the Jinni hung in the air like a noose tied for Kadins neck.

 

[Ochalla]

Terror followed by terror. That is what this day, even if it started the night before, was brining. Maahealani was no more able to deal with the things she had seen and experienced before they were thrown into the next unexpected, fear inducing, moment. Her mouth was clinched shut, less she be gapping, first at the guardians and their alien visage, and then the great staircase that was forming before their feet.

She was tense, how could she not be? Still though she needed to be able to think clearly and have the fog of doubt and fear be lifted from her mind the same way the gloom had done so around them. She had to answer a question, one which she had been avoiding thinking of. After all it was the charmstone, not Kadin, that held her captive and surely she was clever enough to be able to take it and be done with all this foolishness.

The jinni sighed and let go of Kadin's hand, stepping in front of him and with both hand pulled the chain the charmstone was on so it laid atop his shirt. All the while she looked not at the so called treasure but into Kadin's eyes. "I am sorry," she told him softly as she put one hand on his chest, over the charmstone. "I may not be a very good guide, but I do not believe in preset doom unless we give up."

There was a moment where an impish grin formed on her face. It was only a fraction of time and it was only for him. She then turned and with determination written all over her body she grasped Kadin's hand and walked to the stairs, not bothering to look at the guardians. Foolish, prideful, arrogant. She cared not what they thought of her or what she did and she would see Kadin to the end of his quest not to his grave.

The first footfall on the step rang like a bell and despite her words she wondered if she did just seal her fate completely.