Sahara - Chapter 2

+-+-+-+ Bargaining with a soul +-+-+-+

Sahara jerked her hand back, cutting her thumb on the teeth as she did so. The mouth hadn’t moved, though she knew intuitively that it had been what spoke. “What are you?” She whispered, sucking on her bleeding digit.

I am trapped. I’m as blind to the outside world as you are. </b>

Doesn’t really answer my question… Sahara thought to herself before voicing a different thought. “Why are you here then?”

I believe the question is, why are you here? </b>

“How about, why do you care?” She snapped back without much thought.

Sharp of wit and of tongue. I could use your help human child. </b>

Sahara remembered when her school teacher had gone off on one of his famous tangents and spoken of ancient artifacts rumored to house spirits as old as the earth within them. The myth said that the souls would stop at almost nothing to get what they wanted – Freedom. The blind orphan girl stepped back from the statue at this thought. “And what exactly would you need my help for?” She asked, her voice dropping to almost a whisper.

I want what you want. To see the world. </b>

“Yeah, well why should I help you? You’re probably one of those demons my teacher talked about.” She spat at it.

I can give you sight. </b>

At this statement, Sahara froze. If the spirit or whatever it was could give her sight back, she would be normal. She would fit in with the other students. She recalled the lesson on spirits. They would kill and steal, but would never lie. “S- sight?” She whispered. “How is that possible?”

I can lend you my eye. Accept it into your own body and you and I both will be able to see through it. </b>

The young girl moved forward, reaching her hand out for the serpentine statue again. This time, she could almost feel it move under her touch. She could sense the spirit inside itching to break free.

Take the orb</b>

Hands shaking, Sahara did so. She carefully lifted it up and held it in her hand gingerly. She could only assume that it was the ‘eye’ that the spirit wanted to give her, though it felt nothing like she imagined an eye to feel like. Instead of being the consistency of the jello she sometimes had with the orphanage’s lunch, it felt much like the statuette – cold, smooth and metallic. The object in her hands pulsed and quivered and the strange voice-but-not-voice spoke again.

Repeat aloud after me. 'Brakka shay Menjordi Sharleth du Esha'</b>

Sahara felt her mouth forming the syllables, felt the magic around her just waiting to be released, though she did not give voice to them. “What does that spell do?”

Suspicious, but rightly so. </b> the voice laughed, The spell joins a part of me into you. It gives you a portion of my own soul and links us. Once inside you, I will give you sight. </b>

“Give me your word that you will give me sight immediately when you come into me.” She said firmly, not wanting to give the spirit the benefit of the doubt. The orb in her hands hummed slightly in anticipation.

I, Ezekiel Lupit Nari, give you, Sahara Doksuri, my word that I will immediately give you vision upon entering your body. </b>

“Also promise you won’t harm me, or cause me to come to harm by your actions.” She continued, not wanting there to be any backfiring. She noted with a slight note of panic that it’d known her name, though it had also known she was blind without asking. Before she could say anything, it answered.

I promise not to harm you or cause you to come to harm by my actions. </b>

Sahara could not think of anything more to add and she ran herself through the words again, before voicing aloud the fate sealing spell. "Brakka shay Menjordi Sharleth du Esha”

The air crackled as the magic released itself. Wind whirled around her, whipping her shoulder length hair into her face. The orb in her hand scorched her palm, though she could not move to drop it. She wanted to scream, as much in pain as in her terror, but she had no control of her mouth. What have I done?

And then… It was all over. Sahara stood, her hand out to hold something, though it was empty. The wind had gone, the pain had faded and she hadn’t moved from her spot. After a moment she took stock of what was different. Her head hurt, a dull throbbing in her temples like the one she got when she stayed up too late trying to figure out what prank the other orphans were going to try to pull on her next. Her limbs shook and she found herself short of breathing as though she had run a very long ways. The palm of her hand where she had held the orb felt raw and blistered. There was a deep weight in her chest as though something had curled up in there next to her heart.

At this thought, she repressed a shudder. Then she opened her eyes.