"Only a fool will speak aloud his mind."

-John Berryman, "The Moon and the Night and the Men"

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Soundtrack of the chapter: The Summoning by Two Steps From Hell

Media: Circinus

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Chapter Five: A Close Call

Elijah Sanguinis was getting so frustrated, Cady could sense it radiating off him.

"All you have to do is to sit still! It isn't that hard!"

"But there is a bee hovering around," Jo protested. "It might sting me!"

"Nala damn that bee, just relax!"

Cady had never heard Eli curse. He always looked so composed during their lessons, even when they set a tree on fire the last time Elijah tried to teach them to communicate with tree spirits. But this time, Jo had pushed too far.

"I'm trying!" Jo said. "Can't you see?"

Eli threw up his hands in exasperation. "Nala help us all."

They were all sitting lotus-style on a railing-free stone platform built above the Hall lake. Elijah had quoted 'the water will make you feel peaceful', but the palisade of flowers had attracted quite a number of bees. Elijah seemed to be regretting his preference for the gazebo.

He raked a hand through his hair. "Cady, switch places with Jo. You aren't afraid of bees, I hope?" There was a pleading tone in his voice, hoping that Cady wouldn't cause trouble as well.

Cady shook her head and got up. Jo hurried over, thankful to be far away from the edge of the gazebo where the bees were the thickest.

"Back to meditation." Eli looked relieved. "Meditation is the most important part of being an Oracle. We are the only Starlets who can communicate directly with the Stars. And to do that, you need to enter a calm and meditative state. If you're alarmed or flustered, you'll never reach the meditative state."

Eli shot a smothering glare at Jo who immediately stared at her knees.

"Take a deep breath, everyone. Hold it for five seconds before releasing it slowly."

Cady closed her eyes and followed Eli's instructions. She wasn't sure whether she could enter the meditative trance, for she was no Oracle. But Cady could always pretend, hopefully with conviction.

"Repeat the process. Very good, Ellie, keep it up. Now, imagine yourself in a dark corridor."

Cady did accordingly. It was really easy to visualize, she had been practising for weeks with Firaun to control her Walker abilities.

"Allow your mind to wander, do not restrain it. Let it flow."

Eli's voice was hypnotic and soft, cascading like a gentle river. Cady sank into the darker recesses of her mind. The familiar shadows were welcoming. Her consciousness solidified and dropped into a wide corridor. Somehow, guided by instinct, her hand grabbed a nearby torch which blazed to life, blinding Cady for a moment.

When she recovered, she walked down the corridor in a steady pace, her footsteps echoing against the hard, stone floor.

"You will see three doors before you." Eli's placid voice came to her. "These doors represent your deepest consciousness-the past, the present, and the future."

With her torch shining like a beacon of light, it illuminated the clearing. Three golden doors were carved into the semi-circular walls. The first door was round: where a fat, ruby-inlaid knocker sat in its middle. The second door was a wonder: labyrinthine striations ran across the entire shimmering surface. The third and last door to the right was just a slab of gold: so smooth, it could be a mirror.

"Pick a door. Enter it. Do not be afraid. Once inside, you should be able to communicate with any Star within the room."

Cady spun around, her eyes running over the three doors. Past, present, and future. She wondered which one should she choose.

Past. A little voice whispered in her head. It wasn't Zoroth. Zoroth wasn't granted access to her consciousness.

Don't you want to know who you really are?

Cady approached the round door and tightened her grip on the knocker.

Yes, I do.

She brought the knocker down.

A deep mourn flowed from the door as it swung inward. Swirling white mist poured out, fanning around her legs. Taking in a deep breath, she hitched up her robes and ventured inside.

The moment she entered the room, the door slammed behind her.

Panicking, she threw herself at the door, pounding it with her fists.

"It's useless. It will not open until I say so."

Cady turned her face toward the sound. A haughty man stood on a round glass platform into the middle of the circular room. His hair, so fair it was a platinum blonde, reached the ground and curled around his bare ankles. The man's skin was porcelain blue, and his eyes burning silver--the eyes of the Stars.

The floor he stood on was icy glass. Frost spread out like fingers across the ground, the walls, the ceiling, until it eventually converged into a massive chandelier above the Star's head.

Her eyes narrowed at the Star and fought to keep her voice straight. "Who are you?"

The Star frowned. "I am Circinus, the Compass Star. I am the Star of the Past, direction, and guidance. Funny you should ask, little Walker."

"How do you know I am a Walker?" Cady stood up, getting braver by every passing minute.

Circinus threw back his head and laughed; a cold, chilling laugh that shook the ceiling, shattering the frost above.

"I know everything that has happened, dear child. History does not escape me, and neither will it escape you."

Cady thumbed the soft fabric of her robes. "You say you know everything. Then you should be able to answer my questions. Tell me, who am I?"

The Star only shook his head in silent laughter. He started walking toward Cady, who now stood rigid, staring into his molten silver eyes with a steely determination.

"Tell you?" he mused. "That would make it far too easy for you. You came to the Hall of Games seeking for answers but you found more riddles. Now, you've thrown yourself into the Hall of Spirits. If I simple narrate your past, wouldn't it be a complete waste of your energy?"

Cady flushed. She did not brave through so much only to be mocked by this Star who looked like a dreadful cosplay failure. "I don't care! I want the answers! My father has lied to me for so many years. My brother was taken from me. I don't even know who I am anymore!"

Circinus' gaze softened. "Child, I cannot trifle with Starlet affairs. By telling you who you are, I am violating the Celestial Law. But I can tell you this, your every action affects your future. Every single person that comes into your life affects your future."

The Star drifted toward Cady, a movement so sudden Cady froze on the spot. They were so close, their faces were only inches apart.

"But I can tell you this, the truth, lies here." He placed a cold hand over Cady's heart. The cold penetrated her robes, seeping into her heart, like molten fire dripping from hell.

Cady couldn't turn her gaze away from the glowing Star. White mist curled from his hair, and frost crackled across his skin. His eyes were drills, tearing apart her deepest secrets as they explored her.

"Can you keep a secret?" Circinus asked. "I can tell you a secret. "

"Yes," Cady whispered. "Yes, I can."

A sinister grin tugged at the corners of Circinus mouth. He placed his mouth over Cady's ear and exhaled.

A loud shriek jerked her away from the Star. Suddenly, she was falling. Fiery pain washed over Cady. It burned her like flames from a pyre, tearing her skin from her bones before she was plunged into frigid waters. Circinus towered above her, unmoving and silent. She screamed, but the fire entered her lungs, ripping her from precious air.

A flurry of voices hovered around her, like birds dispersing into the skies. Shadows danced before her, their silky tendrils caressed her, trying to catch her. Yet she slipped through them and tumbled into the darkness below.

Come on Cady, don't you dare die!

Cady! Stay with us!

The fire in her lungs was scorching. Air, she must breathe. She struggled against her need for oxygen, but her body was betraying her. It fought back, twice as fierce. She finally gave into instinct and the flames consumed her.

The last thing that registered in her mind was a pair of hands reaching for her before everything blacked out.

*****

Cady woke up, choking and spluttering.

Hazy lights danced before her eyes. She squinted, trying to get her bearings. Her lungs were still burning, but not as intense as before. Her head was pounding so hard, it was at the verge of exploding.

"Cady! Stars bless! You're finally awake!"

Cady tried to get up, but her legs refused to respond. Instead, a coughing fit took over.

"What happened?" she wheezed.

Eli squatted before her, his face pale and worried.

"A bee stung Jo. In her panic, she started running about and knocked you into the lake. You almost drowned!"

Cady hugged herself, shivering violently. She clamped her teeth together, trying to stop them from chattering.

Eli placed a hand on her shoulder. "Take off that wet robe, Cady. Jo has went to get you a new one."

Cady's eyes widened. If she took off her robes, her Walker tattoo would be exposed, for all she wore under the robe was a tee whose sleeves weren't long enough to cover her tattoo.

Her fingers tightened around her sodden robes. "No, I...I'm fine," she chattered. "I'll go to the dorm and change."

Thomas latched his fingers on Cady's shoulders, his fingers so firm they dug into her.

"No. You already have a fever. If you remain damp, your fever will worsen."

Gritting her teeth, Cady pushed Thomas away, harder than she meant too. Thomas backed off, hurt registering in his eyes.

Fighting off nausea, Cady staggered to her feet. "See? I...I can walk. I'll just go back...and change."

"Cady..." Eli began, but was silenced by Cady who raised a hand.

"Cady, you really don't have to do this." Zoroth said. "You're sick."

"They will see my tattoo if they help me."

Cady's vision was starting to swim before her, and a gong was going off in her head, each strike was like an arrow through her mind. She dragged herself to the dorm and stripped as fast as she could before wrapping herself up in a woolen robe.

"Cady." Zoroth's tone was pleading. Cady smiled.

"I'm sorry Zoroth. I had to. To protect our secret, to save us."

"Cady," Zoroth said, again. "You don't have to do this."

"Shhh," Cady said. "I am so tired. Let me sleep."

"Let me sing you to sleep then."

Zoroth started humming a gentle tune, a tune that sang of the wilds where Decanates wander free. The sweet melody dripped down like dew, soothing Cady's erratic heartbeat. She closed her eyes and slept.

*****

A/N

It seems that Cady's illness has taken a radical turn. Why is Circinus being so mean and mysterious to Cady? And if Cady can't take Oracle medicine to heal, she might die. Let me hear from you! :D

Remember to vote and drop me your thoughts! <3

Butterfingers,

Stef