The Scrolls of Talamyria - Book 1 Chapter 3: Lux

“What is your name then little one,” said the woman kindly, kneeling to help Arya stand,

“Arya,” said Arya shakily,

“Well Arya my name is Carina,” said the woman, “And what would a young one like yourself be doing out here all alone,”

“Er…,” said Arya unsure of what to say

She looks up as another woman this time with chocolate brown hair, blue eyes and olive skin came over, “Carina what is going on, and who is this,” she asked

“Arya, meet Clarissa, Clarissa this is Arya,” introduced Carina

“Hello,” said Arya,

“Hello Arya, it’s bit late for you to be out isn’t it,”

“Uh long story,” said Arya

“We should probably return to Castle Lux,” commented Carina gesturing to Arya,

Arya felt her blood run cold, “Castle Lux,” she stammered “You are immortals,”

Carina and Clarissa both looked at her in surprise,

“Well of course we are,” said Carina smiling gently

“You, you are dangerous,” said Arya stumbling back

The two women once again exchanged a look, this time a confused look.

“My dear,” said Clarissa kneeling, “You are an immortal,”

Arya felt the world suddenly freeze, “What, what are you talking about,” she asked

“Absolutely without a doubt, the power coming off you is immense,” said Carina

“I’m an immortal,” said Arya slowly,

“A mortal-born I’m guessing,” said Clarissa,

“What is a mortal-born,” asked Arya

“A mortal-born is an immortal born to two mortal parents,” explained Carina, “I’m guessing that both your parents are mortals,”

At that moment Arya looked sadly at the floor, “I don’t know” she murmured, “I don’t know anything about my parents, I grew up in an orphanage,”

Carina and Clarissa both softened,

“So what is a little immortal doing on Dartmoor, at 2am,” said Clarissa checking her watch,

“Er kind of running away,” admitted Arya

“From the orphanage,” asked Carina, raising an eyebrow

“Yes, well sort of,” replied Arya

“Oh…” began Clarissa but stopped and turned and Arya followed her gaze towards the treeline, watching two men emerge

“Ah ladies, we had begun to wonder if you had got lost,” said the first man, a tall black man with dreadlocks

“Ah we did get somewhat sidetracked Jonas,” laughed Carina

“And who is this,” asked the second man, maybe an inch shorter than Jonas, and with olive skin, brown eyes and brown hair.

“This Arya, Alfonso,” explained Clarissa

“Arya, this is Alfonso and Jonas,” said Carina pointing to each man.

“Er hi,” said Arya uncertainly

“Hi,” said Jonas jovially, “So er what is up with the gathering,”

Before Arya could answer, she heard the voices of the two police officers, she turned with a gasp,

Carina took one look at her and then turned to the two men, “I’m sure you two can handle this,”

Alfonso smiled, “Why of course my dear, it has been a while since we had a chance to play with the immortals,”

Arya shuddered slightly, there was something about Alfonso’s smile that told her that it wasn’t intending to play with the police officers at all, but before she could question any further, she was picked up by Carina.

“Come, this is not something for a young one to witness” said Carina, she then turned still holding Arya and began walking away from the embankment followed by Clarissa, Arya watched over Carina’s shoulder as Alfonso and Jonah moved towards the direction of the police officers.

“What are they going to do,” queried Arya,

“Oh, don’t worry,” said Carina, “They are just going to make sure the mortals understand their place,”

“Oh,” said Arya, unsure what else to say.

For a few minutes there was silence as Carina carrying Arya and Clarissa walking beside them.

“So if you guys are immortal…” began Arya slowly

“Yes,” said Clarissa smiling encouragingly

“Well does that mean you can really live forever,” asked Arya unsure if that was a rude thing to ask

“Yes we can,” said Carina,

“Oh, so how old are you two then,” asked Arya

Both women laughed

“I’m 142 years old, I was born in 1860,” said Carina, Arya gaped at her,

“And I’m a little older at 192 years old,” said Clarissa,

“But how you don’t look old,” said Arya is disbelief,

“Because we are immortals,” said Carina simply

“So how do you know I am immortal,” asked Arya still not quite believing it,

“Oh immortals can identify other immortals, it sort of a light that immortals have around, you’ll be able see it once you get a bit older,” explained Clarissa

“Yes and there is no mistake,” said Carina, “You have that light, there is a considerable amount of power rolling off you,”

“I see,” said Arya before falling silent for a few moments, “Can you really use magic and control the elements and all of that stuff too,”

“Oh yes,” said Clarissa smiling “We can all control a single element, my element is water,”

“And mine is air,” explained Carina, “And we can all use magic and yes we can shapeshift into unicorns,”

“Really, I wonder what my element is,” said Arya, her head spinning with all of the new information

“You’ll find out soon enough,” chuckled Carina.

As they walked to the top of a hill Arya gasped as a massive castle came into view. Although castle wasn’t really the right word, it was a massive fortress made of some strange black and purple stones, surrounded by an intimidating wall of sheer rock that sprung out of the ground.

“What is this place,” said Arya in disbelief

“This is Castle Lux” said Carina

“I thought this place was just a myth to keep us off the moors,” murmured Arya

“Oh no it is quite real,” said Clarissa, “But fear not, for a little immortal like yourself it is a sanctuary,”

They approached a set of gates, so black they seemed to absorb the moonlight, in the middle of the gates there was a symbol of an eye in the middle of a sun.

Standing sentinel at the gates were two guards dressed in a black and purple uniform.

“Satal, ci teana ani,” barked one of the guards in a language that Arya didn’t understand, but sounded vaguely familiar

Carina responded in the same language “A fara, li arall liag fara,”

The guard squinted at them and then looked at Arya before finally nodding and standing aside.

“What was that about,” asked Arya, “And what language was that,”

“Oh the guards just wanted to make sure we are friendly,” said Carina smiling, “And the language well that was Talamyrian,”

“Talamyrian, as in the language from Talamyria,” asked Arya sceptically, “But isn’t Talamyria just a myth,”

Clarissa and Carina looked at each other and then at Arya,

“What on earth are mortals teaching,” said Carina shaking her head, “No my dear Talamyria was once very real,”

“Was,” questioned Arya,

A sad looked passed over both of the women’s’ faces,

“It was destroyed a long time ago,” said Clarissa sadly “And it is very much missed,” 

“What happened,” asked Arya,

“There was a war, and we lost that war,” explained Carina, Arya got the distinct impression this was a painful topic and so changed the subject,

“So who lives here,” asked Arya

“We are the Lux Clan,” explained Clarissa, “We are led by Lord Vladimir and Lady Celina Lux”

“We are sort of like an extended family of immortals,” said Carina,

“I see,” said Arya,

They continued in silence up the stone pathway and reached the castle 2 huge oak doors, with surprising strength Clarissa pushed the door the open and they walked inside.

Carina finally put Arya down in an enormous and opulent hallway, marble floors, crystal chandeliers, gold and silver furniture was everywhere, a roaring fire blazed in a gold and ruby fireplace, after the cold of the outside world, it felt like stepping into a warm bath.

A man dressed in a butler’s uniform came over and bowed to them all,

“May I take your coats, My Lady,” he said to Carina

“Thank you Drake,” said Carina imperiously and both she and Clarissa handed him their coats

As Drake took their coats, Arya noticed that his head remained bowed, a flicker of something like fear crossing his face as the women moved past. Arya felt something like unease stir in her stomach

“Are Lord and Lady Lux still awake,” asked Clarissa imperiously

“Yes My Lady, they are in the library,” replied Drake

“Good,” said Carina, before turning to Arya, “Come my dear,”

Arya followed Carina and Clarissa up the sweeping oak staircase, the plush red carpet was unbelievably soft against her bare feet, then something occurred to her.

Turning to Carina, Arya asked, “Is Drake, a er mortal,”

Carina smiled and nodded, “Why yes he is,”

“And he is a servant here,” asked Arya uncertainly

“A slave,” said Clarissa with a surprising tone of indifference,

“A slave,” asked Arya uncomfortably, “I didn’t know immortals kept slaves,”

“Oh we didn’t until they enslaved us,” said Carina,

“Oh, I learnt about Project Eternity in school,” said Arya

Anger flashed across the faces of both women,

“Project Eternity,” spat Clarissa, “Mortals thought they could  enslave the gods, and oh how they tried,”

“But you were freed,” said Arya,

“Only after 150 years of suffering for our people,” said Carina coldly, “It seems only just that mortals should feel the agony and suffering they inflicted upon us”

Arya frowned, she’d only ever learnt about Project Eternity from her mortal primary school, they’d taught her that immortals had been struggling and suffering in the wild before mortals had brought them into captivity and looked after them and that immortals were being ungrateful by rebelling, but clearly that was not the case.

However further questions were stalled when they arrived at a new set of oak doors, framed in gold and ivory, Clarissa pushed the doors and they opened easily, and they entered the largest library Arya had ever seen in her life. Mahogany shelves 3 stories high lined the wall, there was a thick scarlet carpet on the floor, another roaring fireplace against a wall and scattered around the room were tables and plush looking chairs.

Carina and Clarissa led Arya over to two people sat in throne-like chairs next to the fireplace. They were easily two of the most beautiful people Arya had ever seen. The man had clear blue eyes and raven black hair, and the woman had strawberry blonde hair and green eyes.

The man stood with a grace so fluid he seemed to be made of water,

“Ah Carina and Clarissa,” he began, “Liat, alat a fuairte,”

“Lord Vladimir, this is Arya,” said Carina in English, much to Arya’s relief,

“Hello Arya,” said Lord Vladimir smiling at her, and whilst his smile was warm, Arya sensed this man had the potential to be very dangerous,

“Hello, My Lord,” said Arya uncertainly,

“Where on earth did you find her,” asked the lady next to him,

“Out on the moor, Lady Celina,” said Clarissa,

“The moor at this time,” said Lady Celina her eyebrows raising, “Not the usual place for a young immortal,”

“Indeed,” said Lord Vladimir, “Tell me little one, what brings you here,”

Arya looked down at the carpet and shifted uncomfortably, “I kind of set fire to my school,” she muttered,

The adult immortals looked at her in surprise,

“Really, so a little firebender then,” said Clarissa

“Fire…oh year that kinda of makes sense,” said Arya,

“Mortal-born,” queried Celina gently exchanging a look with Vladimir

“We don’t know,” said Clarissa with a slight smile “Dellia,”

Celina features visibly softened, “Well at least you will have a home here,” she said kindly looking at Arya

“Really I can stay,” asked Arya hopefully,

“Of course you can stay,” said Celina smiling, and with that she picked up a bell and rung it. Instantly Drake came into the room and bowed,

“My Lady,” he said, and Arya could hear the slightest tremor of fear in his voice,

“Prepare a room for Arya in the children’s tower,” commanded Celina, “And have Mrs Prew organise a temporary wardrobe for Arya,”

“At once My Lady,”

“Yes My Lady,” said Drew bowing and retreating from the room  

“Wardrobe,” queried Arya a small bubble of excitement rising with in her,

“A temporary one, we will have to go shopping in the Celestial Cities and get you some proper clothes,”

“Oh wow new things,” said Arya unable to quite believe it, in her excitement she missed the look that Vladimir and Celina exchanged.

“Come my dear,” said Celina standing and in one fluid motion scooped Arya up, “How about we choose some books from the library for your room,”

“Books, you mean I can have books,” said Arya feeling like all her Christmases had come at once

“Yes, now what is your favorite book,” asked Celina,

Arya paused for a moment before saying, “Alice in Wonderland,”

Celina smiled “Hm,” she said walking over to a set of shelves “How about this one,” she said putting Arya down and then pulling a book from the shelves and handing it to Arya,

Arya took it and read the title “The Unicorn, the Dragon and the Phoenix,”

“It was a firm favourite of mine when I was your age,” said Celina, she then went along the shelves and picked out a couple more books, “Come on darling let’s get you to bed, it is way past your bedtime,”

Arya looked up having already opened the book, “Of course”

Celina laughed, “Come along, you can read that tomorrow,”

Arya then followed Celina from the library, they walked through the corridors to a door.

“This is the children’s tower,” explained Celina, “Your room is here,”

“Children,” asked Arya, “There are other kids here,”

“Oh yes,” said Celina, “You can be a sister to our children Dimitri, Alexei,  Ivan, Alexandra and Ingrid”

“Sister,” said Arya a warm feeling spreading with in her,

“Yes, why you are only a year young than Alexandra and Ingrid,” explained Celina, “So you should all be good friends,”

Arya found the whole concept of having a real family quite overwhelming, she’d often prayed for a family when she had been at the orphanage and it seemed now her prayers had been answered.

Celina led her up the spiral staircase, stopping on the 3rd floor and pushing open a door to reveal a luxurious bedroom,

“So this will be your room,” said Celina

Arya’s eyes went wide as she took in the large circular room, there was a stone floor beneath her bare feet, but there were several purple and black rugs scattered around the room. A large 4-poster bed, covered in ivory and cream bedding was against the far wall, opposite the bed was another roaring fire place giving the whole room a very cozy feel.

“This is mine,” asked Arya

“Yes my darling it is yours,” said Celina smiling “For as long as you call Castle Lux home,”

Celina then went over to another and pushed it open, “Ah good your bath is ready,”

For the first time Arya became acutely aware of how dirty she was, and blushed deeply, however Celina didn’t seem even remotely bothered, removing the book and Arya’s now tattered backpack and pushing her into the bathroom.

“Go on my darling,” she said kindly, “I shall find you a nightgown,”

“Okay,” said Arya uncertainly and padded into bathroom, and was once again overawed by the luxury; marble, gold and ivory decorated the room from wall to ceiling. In the centre stood a massive ivory bath with gold taps, on the side were also sorts of soaps and lotions from brands that Arya had only ever heard about and never seen.

After an hour of splashing around happily in the bath, Arya emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a towel feeling much happier and cleaner, Celina was no longer in the room, but there was a nightgown and robe placed on the bed. Arya walked over and slipped on the gown marvelling at its softness, she then climbed into the massive bed, it was a far cry from her bed at the orphanage, the mattress was soft rather than lump and the sheets cool and crisp rather than rough and scratchy. Arya looked out of the window, to see the moor stretching into the distance, the rain now falling heavily and persistently, it’s tapping a gentle lullaby encouraging her to sleep, as Arya answered it’s call she wondered what tomorrow would bring.