"Will silent be; and not a soul to tell

Why thou art desolate, can e'er return."

~John Keats, "Ode on a Grecian Urn"

*****

Soundtrack of the chapter: Zephyrus by Jo Blankenburg

Media: My newest design for the entire Celestial Chronicles box set.

*****

Chapter Two: The Hall of Spirits

"Here, have my jacket." Thomas offered Cady who was scrunched up against the sides of the uncomfortable carriage, shivering like a leaf from the cold night air.

"It's f-f-fine Thomas. You look cold too," Cady chattered, much to her annoyance.

"I insist."

Ignoring Cady's protests, he wrapped his large, woolen jacket around her and held her down every time she tried to wriggle out.

Cady finally gave in and snuggled deeper into Thomas' jacket. It was drizzling outside. With the soft patter of the rain acting as a soothing lullaby, she began to nod off.

The other Oracles were whispering in the front row. One was rubbing his hands together from the chill. Cady leaned to the side and her head found something warm and sturdy—Thomas' shoulder.

"Thomas," said Cady.

Thomas shifted.

"Wake me up when we reach the Hall of Spirits."

He smiled. "Definitely, now sleep."

Cady obeyed. And her mind drifted off to Josh.

******

Cady woke up to someone prodding her on the shoulder.

"Hey, sleeping beauty. We're here."

She jerked up, banging her head on the carriage roof. Her heart felt like a lump of lead—cold and heavy with dread.

This is it. This is the Hall of Spirits.

Zoroth sensed her unease and tried to placate her.

"Do not worry, little one. If we keep up our disguise, they will never suspect anything."

Zoroth's words did little to sooth her anxiety. Clambering out of the carriage in a most unlady-like manner, she almost landed in mud puddle if not for Thomas who caught her arm.

"Easy there, the Hall of Spirits isn't going to run."

I really wish it would. Cady thought. Then I wouldn't need to be here.

"Ugh, it's freezing." Another girl emerged from the carriage, her arms wrapped tight across her chest. "Raphine Sanguinis better prepare some hot soup for us."

Thomas rolled his eyes. "Can you stop thinking about food, Jo?"

The girl—Jo—shrugged. Her dark plaits came loose and fell around her toned shoulders. Cady liked her at once; she had slanted eyes that showed her proud heritage with a friendly grin plastered upon her face. Somehow, she reminded Cady of her ex-roommate—Lydia.

A set of silver portcullis towered before the group. Two blazing torches flanked the massive structure, casting a brilliant sheen of light around them.

"Do you think they're ever going to let us in?" Jo complained. "I'm turning into a popsicle."

Thomas opened his mouth to speak, but at that exact moment, the heavy grating slid up, revealing a shadow walking towards them from afar.

Hobbled, more like. Cady squinted, trying to get a clearer view of the silhouette. The figure was leaning heavily on a long staff, his robes flapping in the wind. After a while, he drew up under the torches, revealing himself to them.

It was a young man, as thin as a reed and as delicate as a flower. His golden hair shone like the sun under the torches which fell in messy strands over his tired face. His dark, runes embossed robe fluttered like flags caught in a strong breeze. Resting on his head was an elegant silver circlet. In his hands clutched a white staff etched with patterns that wound like a labyrinth until it reached the gleaming blue gem at the top.

"Merry Meet, fellow Oracles." The young man smiled. His beautiful green eyes twinkled as he swept across them. "I am Elijah Sanguinis, High-Priest-in-training of the Hall of Spirits. Under the orders of the High Priest, I'm here to welcome you to your new home."

Someone in the group heaved a sigh of relief.

"I thought you guys were going to let us freeze to death!"

Elijah smiled again. "If we do that, we'll have to clean up corpses when daylight comes. Now, hurry, the High Priest does not like to be kept waiting."

He turned, swinging his staff first before he took another difficult step. Cady watched Elijah with an earnest interest. He looked so young, too young to depend on a staff. She wondered what happened to him.

"You say your name is Elijah Sanguinis, are you a relative to Raphine Sanguinis?" Jo piped up, striding beside Elijah.

"I'm his grandson," he replied without a pause. "I'm son of Toulouse and Emery Sanguinis, a child of Oracle and Warrior."

"Whoa, that sounds super cool!" said another Starlet. Everyone seemed to have built up an immense interest in the High-Priest-in-training, for they flocked around him like birds to bread.

"Not really, he's a pretty grumpy old man," Elijah said, earning more howls of laughter from the Starlets.

"We've heard so much about the High Priest," Jo said. "Especially from the Great War. I can't believe we're actually here!"

At her words, Elijah's face turned grave. He swung around, his staff stopping dead.

"Do not mention anything regarding the Great War to His Honor. He had suffered so much, lost even more at the Great War. To speak lightly of the massacre will draw on his wrath."

For a moment, his burning green eyes landed on Cady's. She didn't break the contact and stared back. Elijah tilted his head to the side, his intelligent eyes searching. He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but changed his mind at the last moment and turned away.

He led them down another gravel pathway that bled into grassy lands. Moonflowers littered the vicinity, shimmering like pearls. Gnarled trees saluted them as they passed, their shadows like dark paint on wide canvas.

In the middle of the land sprung a magnificent white castle. Five enormous towers pierced the skies, reaching for the stars. The stained glass windows shone even from afar. A golden flag danced to the night breeze at the very top of the highest turret where it seemed to clasp the moon.

The Hall of Games was built for battle, but this beautiful structure sang praises of the Stars, a heaven on earth—The Hall of Spirits.

"It is beautiful, I give the Oracles that," Zoroth whispered, somewhat grudgingly. "But nothing can beat the sereneness of the Hall of Shadows." He added, almost as an afterthought.
Cady couldn't agree more. The Hall of Spirits was breathtaking, even more so than the Hall of Games. But she knew the dangers that lurk underneath the glamorous mask of the Hall of Spirits, dangers that would render her dead if her secret was exposed.

"Welcome Oracles, to the Hall of Spirits."

Elijah Sanguinis touched the great entrance doors with the tip of his staff. With a loud moan, the doors swung open. He clapped his hands twice, bringing the Celeslights lining the corridors to life. Cady threw a glance around.

Unlike the Hall of Games where tapestries and shields fought for space on the walls, the Hall of Spirits was rather spartan. Occasionally, they would come upon a marble statue of the Great Celestial Spirits but other than that, it was devoid of ornaments.

Elijah led them toward a corridor where it branched out into two staircases.

"This is your dormitory, boys on the left and girls on the right. Rest, refresh yourselves, you have a long day ahead of you tomorrow," Elijah said. "You'll find everything you need by your dormitories and your possessions already taken upstairs by the Feorhs. A Feorh will show you the way to the kitchens and to front hall. The High Priest wishes to speak to you all."

They nodded and dispersed. Cady, however, remained behind. She just couldn't help staring at the young High-Priest-in-training. There was something about him that called out to her, something she couldn't quite put a finger on. He reminded her of someone, someone she had seen before. She frowned, trying to connect his face with the faded images in her mind.

Sanguinis. He must be related to the children from her dreams. The death of Capella and her children were still vivid in Cady's mind, but she couldn't recall the presence of another young boy. Her eyes fell to his staff. Elijah must have survived the Great War, but suffered a horrible consequence.

Elijah Sanguinis' mouth curved upward in a small smile.

"Do I seem very interesting to you, Oracle?"

Very. Cady wanted to say. She couldn't understand why she felt so attached to this young man. Somehow, she just needed to know more about Elijah Sanguinis. Instead of replying, she remained silent.

"It seems we have a very curious Starlet this year." Elijah's eyes twinkled. "Go now, you need your sleep and I have business to attend to."

He gave Cady a pat on the shoulder before limping off, his footsteps sonorous in the stone hallway.

Cady reached for the staircase, but turned around at the last moment to see Elijah Sanguinis vanish into the darkness.

Elijah Sanguinis, who are you?

*****

A/N

It seems that Cady has met the most mysterious Elijah Sanguinis! Who do you think he is and why is he limping? Let me hear from you! :D

ps: Elijah is actually pronounced as E-lee-yah.

Hershey Kisses,

Stef