12-06-2018, 03:28 AM
Valeriya’s words echoed throughout the room, at least from what Rowan could hear. A complex, albeit short, mythology sprung from her lips in a fervent tone. Rowan was incredibly intimate with that tone. This was a woman that held deep beliefs, and if she spoke so, that had meant she had ample evidence if only through her own life-path, that proved those convictions.
Yes.
A kindred soul.
Finally.
Rowan had found a deep connection with this other woman, and they had only known each other for a total of twenty minutes. If that. Really, they should be taking this conversation down to the Ladies Parlor, if only to make the moment all the more intimate, but then there was the talk of this Great One. Just earlier, Rowan had been asking her previous guests if Gods of Legend had ever existed... And here Valeriya brought one to her. He wasn't any God that Rowan had heard of, true, and he was a man, but she would listen. Sacred Mysteries were not only a lifestyle for her, they were also a hobby. The revelation of Magick to the greater public had begun to lift the Viel on many esoteric secrets, why shouldn't this be another to add to that vast library? There were many paths to The One, the Creator, the God and Goddess. Rowan would know them all, if she could.
Rowan could not help but be swept up in the tide. Valeriya’s eyes were piercing beacons in the night, her words a siren song cooing at Rowan’s core. A true daughter of Russia seducing the innocent Yankee girl to seek the hidden knowledge of this domain. Not a Channeler, no, but there was that connection. Sister of the Eye, she called it? Did Valeriya feel the same, subtle bond? There was no mistaking it now. There was a familiarity there… In Valeriya’s eyes…
The world shook.
Vale and Rasputin-reincarnated slowly melted into shadow, the whole room melted into shadow. Two pinpricks of light stood where Valeriya’s eyes should have been. Rowan remained still as a statue, unable to even breath in that moment.
The twin points shot up overhead and each erupted into flames, one black, and one white. Rays of light and darkness spilled from the twin flames in rays, burning and powerful. The energies swept over the blackness, and where they inevitably touched, blood formed, appearing out of nothingness.
A vast, lush landscape quickly formed before Rowan. Valleys and hills, rivers and lakes, flowers and trees, flora and fauna, all of this laid before her, seemingly sculpted from countless gallons of blood.
The world shook again.
Blood splattered and swayed off of the landscape, dancing off into the horizon on an unseen wind, being swallowed by the twin flames. Everything was right, then. Deep greens, glittering blues, and so many other vibrant colors filled Rowan’s vision. The colors of life. It all felt so serene, so perfect.
The twin flames sprung into motion, chasing each other in a perfect circle. Faster and faster the flames went, attempting with all their might to catch the other. The white and the black became a blur to her as they swirled about.
A loud bang.
The flames met each other within an explosion of sparks, the little lights pouring forth and dancing on the air, descending upon the fertile land. A red sun rose from the horizon, intensifying the glittering dust. Goosebumps rose across Rowan’s entire body.
On the horizon, two figures came into view, making their way through the valleys and rivers.
Two female silhouettes accompanied by an ox, a lamb, a raven, and a badger. One of the women seemed to be holding a cauldron or a pot, and the other held a crown reverently.
The figures drew closer, and with every step they took, the world shook again.
It shook and shook and shook until…
“I am Armande of the Klysty,” Valeriya’s gentleman spoke.
Rowan looked at the man, with wide eyes and mouth slightly askew. The slight hissing of a snake sounded from the back of her skull as she gazed into his eyes. Rowan didn’t notice it. Her mind was focused solely on what had just happened. A vision. Free of the cards and dreams and Loa. A full-blown vision.
She shook herself and looked back to Valeriya, almost entirely ignorant of Mikhail. This woman had touched her… And that vision… She did not know what it had meant in the slightest, but surely that was an auspicious sign. It was the first time she had experienced anything like it. Surely… That meant this meeting was destined? She did not know what she thought of placing such faith or worship in a mortal man, which Valeriya clearly did, but there was something there… Clearly, that vision occurred to nudge her along. It was to give her the courage to step forward on an unknown path. Was it the future it was showing her? One in which she had taken Valeriya’s offer? If it was, it made little sense… But aside from the blood, it wasn’t a scary sight… And didn’t life come from blood? Perhaps it was symbolic of something else…
Aiden was out there. He didn’t want to be found, not even by his twin sister… The thought came back to her and panged at her heart. Rowan shook her head, almost to herself, she sought him but he evaded nonetheless. Perhaps she was on the wrong path. Let Aiden do what he needed to. She would keep an ear out and an eye, if she could find him she would, but maybe that’s not where she needed to devote her energies…
She looked with pleading eyes at Valeriya and, for the first time in a long time, spoke simply.
“Help me, Valeriya.”
Yes.
A kindred soul.
Finally.
Rowan had found a deep connection with this other woman, and they had only known each other for a total of twenty minutes. If that. Really, they should be taking this conversation down to the Ladies Parlor, if only to make the moment all the more intimate, but then there was the talk of this Great One. Just earlier, Rowan had been asking her previous guests if Gods of Legend had ever existed... And here Valeriya brought one to her. He wasn't any God that Rowan had heard of, true, and he was a man, but she would listen. Sacred Mysteries were not only a lifestyle for her, they were also a hobby. The revelation of Magick to the greater public had begun to lift the Viel on many esoteric secrets, why shouldn't this be another to add to that vast library? There were many paths to The One, the Creator, the God and Goddess. Rowan would know them all, if she could.
Rowan could not help but be swept up in the tide. Valeriya’s eyes were piercing beacons in the night, her words a siren song cooing at Rowan’s core. A true daughter of Russia seducing the innocent Yankee girl to seek the hidden knowledge of this domain. Not a Channeler, no, but there was that connection. Sister of the Eye, she called it? Did Valeriya feel the same, subtle bond? There was no mistaking it now. There was a familiarity there… In Valeriya’s eyes…
The world shook.
Vale and Rasputin-reincarnated slowly melted into shadow, the whole room melted into shadow. Two pinpricks of light stood where Valeriya’s eyes should have been. Rowan remained still as a statue, unable to even breath in that moment.
The twin points shot up overhead and each erupted into flames, one black, and one white. Rays of light and darkness spilled from the twin flames in rays, burning and powerful. The energies swept over the blackness, and where they inevitably touched, blood formed, appearing out of nothingness.
A vast, lush landscape quickly formed before Rowan. Valleys and hills, rivers and lakes, flowers and trees, flora and fauna, all of this laid before her, seemingly sculpted from countless gallons of blood.
The world shook again.
Blood splattered and swayed off of the landscape, dancing off into the horizon on an unseen wind, being swallowed by the twin flames. Everything was right, then. Deep greens, glittering blues, and so many other vibrant colors filled Rowan’s vision. The colors of life. It all felt so serene, so perfect.
The twin flames sprung into motion, chasing each other in a perfect circle. Faster and faster the flames went, attempting with all their might to catch the other. The white and the black became a blur to her as they swirled about.
A loud bang.
The flames met each other within an explosion of sparks, the little lights pouring forth and dancing on the air, descending upon the fertile land. A red sun rose from the horizon, intensifying the glittering dust. Goosebumps rose across Rowan’s entire body.
On the horizon, two figures came into view, making their way through the valleys and rivers.
Two female silhouettes accompanied by an ox, a lamb, a raven, and a badger. One of the women seemed to be holding a cauldron or a pot, and the other held a crown reverently.
The figures drew closer, and with every step they took, the world shook again.
It shook and shook and shook until…
“I am Armande of the Klysty,” Valeriya’s gentleman spoke.
Rowan looked at the man, with wide eyes and mouth slightly askew. The slight hissing of a snake sounded from the back of her skull as she gazed into his eyes. Rowan didn’t notice it. Her mind was focused solely on what had just happened. A vision. Free of the cards and dreams and Loa. A full-blown vision.
She shook herself and looked back to Valeriya, almost entirely ignorant of Mikhail. This woman had touched her… And that vision… She did not know what it had meant in the slightest, but surely that was an auspicious sign. It was the first time she had experienced anything like it. Surely… That meant this meeting was destined? She did not know what she thought of placing such faith or worship in a mortal man, which Valeriya clearly did, but there was something there… Clearly, that vision occurred to nudge her along. It was to give her the courage to step forward on an unknown path. Was it the future it was showing her? One in which she had taken Valeriya’s offer? If it was, it made little sense… But aside from the blood, it wasn’t a scary sight… And didn’t life come from blood? Perhaps it was symbolic of something else…
Aiden was out there. He didn’t want to be found, not even by his twin sister… The thought came back to her and panged at her heart. Rowan shook her head, almost to herself, she sought him but he evaded nonetheless. Perhaps she was on the wrong path. Let Aiden do what he needed to. She would keep an ear out and an eye, if she could find him she would, but maybe that’s not where she needed to devote her energies…
She looked with pleading eyes at Valeriya and, for the first time in a long time, spoke simply.
“Help me, Valeriya.”