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Tornado sat up in bed staring out the open window as his thoughts wandered through the past events that seemed to plague his restless mind. Moonlight spread through the room with a gentle glow. Tornado turned to the curtain that separated his part of the room from Aero’s.

“She acts oblivious to it all but it’s probably bothering her, too.” Tornado thought to himself as the moonlight came out from behind a cloud and depicted her sleeping silhouette against the curtain. “Are we really drawn by fate?” He sighed as his mind wandered to the next subject. The memory of his encounter in the woods ran through his mind. “What did he do to me?” He wondered closing his eyes to remember in more detail. From the darkness a pair of gleaming yellow eyes flashed making Tornado jump back.

“Where? Where am I?” Tornado found himself standing on firm ground. The sky above blended into the distance with a bright light.

“This is your mind.” A growling voice informed him.

“My . . . mind?” Tornado examined the place more closely. All around him islands of land floated in mid air. A tall ancient tower stood before him. The iron doors were chained and locked. Streams of water flowed endlessly from the islands. Below a sea of darkness swirled occasionally licking at the tips of the islands. He turned away looking back at the soft grass of the island.

“Do you fear the darkness?” The voice asked.

“That’s not it.” Tornado shouted angrily. Before him stood a beast with yellow eyes. A wolfish face rose high above Tornado adorned with a pair of sharp horns that rested beside his ears. Bat-like wings rose from his furred back. “What are you?”

“You really don’t know anything!” The voice echoed as the beast cocked his head with a wolfish grin.

“Then . . . that night?”

“Yes. I am the test.”

“What is this test? Why must I be tested?”

“You’re weak. You have little courage and inadequate fighting skills. As your test we will fight. Your mind will serve as my prison. The only way to get me to leave is by defeating me in battle. Just tell me when you want to fight and I will transport us to the grounds. But I must warn you. Every time I win I gain more control of your body.” A hollow throaty laugh came from the beast. “Do you feel ready?” Tornado clenched his fists trying to stay calm. “You’re trembling.” The beast’s eyes narrowed. “What a weakling. Even in your mind you show fear. This is your domain and yet the very threat of danger makes you tremble. And you thought you could protect that girl. What a fool! At this rate you won’t even be able to protect yourself. What are you living for? What is your meaning? You’re just a useless little brat.” Tornado slammed his fists against his ears trying to block out the beast’s words. “You can’t hide from your own thoughts, boy. I’m a part of your mind now. There’s no escape.”

Tornado fell to the ground shaking. “I’m too weak.” He breathed through his clenched teeth. “There’s nothing I can do.”

“Tornado.”

He grabbed the hand at his shoulder.

Aero gasped startled. “Are you okay?”

Tornado felt himself quivering. “Aero.”

“You’re shivering. It got really cold last night you should have slept under your covers.” Aero told him concerned, “you don’t look well. Your eyes are all red and you’re really pale. Are you feeling okay?”

“The room is spinning.”

“You better lay down. I’ll get you something to drink.”

He sat back and watched as she left.

“There’s one more thing I forgot to tell you.” The beast’s voice echoed in his head as the room began to fade to darkness. “If you become too weak and loose consciousness . . .”

Aero carried a pitcher of water trying her best not to spill as she hurried back to the room. As she turned the corner a figure caught her eye. “Tornado?” She asked confused. “You’re not well. Why are you out here?”

He took a step towards her looking to the ground. The metal blades of his kamas shone in the sunlight. “Torn-Tornado?” She asked shocked stepping away as he walked towards her. He staggered stepping awkwardly with his feet. He looked as though he were being held up with strings like a marionette. His movements began to ease as he approached raising his head.

The pitcher landed with a metallic clang as the water rushed over the ground. A red mist glazed Tornado’s eyes while he stared at Aero. She froze with fear as she felt the cold metal of the kama brush her throat. Pain spread across Tornado’s face as he forced himself to speak. “R-run aw-away!”

His arms fell limp as collapsed into Aero’s arms. She caught him lowering him to lie on the ground. Her shock vanished as she cried out. “Tornado! Tornado wake up. Help! Someone!”

Tornado’s condition slowly improved as the day went on. Aero stayed by his side and wiped his brow with a cool damp cloth. Tornado opened his eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. Aero leaned over him with worried eyes.

“No!” Tornado tried to move away, “you have to run!”

“Lay down you’re not well!” Aero reassured him, “I’m not running.”

Tornado lay back gathering his thoughts. “I nearly killed you. Why didn’t you run?”

“I just couldn’t.” Aero explained, “It’s like my feet wouldn’t move.”

“Next time run.” Tornado begged grabbing her hand. “Promise me you’ll run.”

“Next time?”

“Promise!” Tornado pleaded forcing himself up.

“I promise.” Aero answered worriedly.

Tornado nodded falling back against the bed asleep. There was a soft knock on the door.

“Come in.” Aero called softly from where she sat by Tornado’s side. “Oh. Hello Prince Rook.”

“How is he?”

“He was awake a minute ago but he’s still feverish.”

“Was he able to explain what happened this morning?”

“No. He just made me promise that next time I’d run.”

“So he expects it to happen again.” Rook sighed taking a seat on the window ledge. "Has he ever mentioned something like this before? Or has he ever not been himself?”

“No. For as long as I can remember nothing like this has happened. He’s never mentioned anything like this.”

Rook thought for another moment. “Did anything unusual happen during your trip here? Did you run into any, well, different people?”

“No. We didn’t run into anyone. He was fine until just today.”

“I guess we’ll just have to ask him himself when he wakes up.” He stood to leave, “I’ll go tell Flora the good news. I’ll have lunch brought to your room so you can stay with him.”

“Thank you, Prince Rook.” Aero curtsied, “thank you for all that you’re doing for us.”

“It’s nothing.”



I know this is a very short chapter so the next post may become an "11 part two" or just a short 12 for now. We'll see. ~Aero Luna