CHAPTER XV – Countdown… (9…)

Aria shouted at Jiant to grab her hand and ran forward, towards him. Jiant was at the edge of a portal… it didn't look like one at the gate, something different about it was the encircling darkness at the circumference, and the sight of the other side in between. There was no ground she could spot at the other side.

Aria knew Jiant would fall as he kept losing balance and as she felt every moment with thoughts running wild in her mind.

Aria stepped right into a portal which formed ahead of her just then. She wanted to leave and save Jiant but she just stumbled and fell to the ground ahead of her. Dust hit her face, making her cough.

Aria sat up and looked around and could see a broken tower at a distance. From above someone was falling, it was Jiant, she knew it.

"NO…!" she screamed hoping some force would stop the happening.

The below of the tower was covered, unlike the top, and she couldn't see or hear anything. She just sat there in horror and helplessly as the portal behind her closed.

After a while, Aria heard some distant scream and got alert. Before she could think who it could be, there was a 'swoosh' sound around her, something was preying on her. She got alert completely. Wiping her tears, she looked around.

"Who… who's there?" Aria asked, still looking around.

"Oh my darling…" a lady's voice came from behind Aria.

Aria jolted back impatiently, but there was nothing.

"What in the world are you?" Aria asked, stuttering lightly.

"Why about me… you are one to talk of. You have some tremendous unique aura in you," the voice echoed around Aria. "Give it to me," the voice whispered right by Aria's ears.

Aria jolted again to look back and found nothing yet again.

"You don't scare me," Aria said clutching her fists.

"As much as we are labelled as ghosts and are famously said to be scaring people. That is not my intention darling," the voice said.

"Then stop stalling. Show yourself!" Aria said and got up, with her fists still raised.

"I'm Achlys… and you are?" the voice came from behind Aria.

Aria turned back and found an illusionary figure ahead of her. She looked beautiful. At the first sight anyone would know that she was just an illusion, as she was too good to be real. But as the term goes… she was mesmerizing too, which made it pretty real.

"I'm Aria. Are you… a ghost?" Aria asked, unwillingly.

"Let's not push that point," Achlys said.

"Where am I?" Aria asked.

"The place you would never want to be. This is the Altar of Rahambose. Ruled by Rahambose and filled with ghosts at every corner. Two opposite forces with no heart for outsiders like you. Where are you from?" Achlys asked.

"Earth…" Aria said, she didn't move and kept focus on Achlys' position.

"Hmm… and alive? Well, however lucky you are. You are in the wrong place," Achlys said, being surprised for a split second, but wearing her blank face.

"I came through a portal. I didn't know what to do. And the portal's now closed," Aria said.

"Well, I can help you," Achlys said.

"Didn't you just say that you are a ghost and you don't like outsiders? You wouldn't want to oppose your kind or something," Aria said coughing lightly, but focused ahead.

"Your aura tempts me to, darling… and besides, I'm the queen. No one would dare oppose me," Achlys said.

"And why would you help me? Just because of my aura? You sure are expecting something from me," Aria said.

"Yes… you are a smart one as expected. I have something on my mind which you can help me with. Then I can have my castle back from that fool. I can't do that by myself," Achlys said.

"You think I can fight? Then you are wrong," Aria said, with tears running down from her cheeks, as she wiped them.

"Oh I can't just send you off alone. That would be ridiculous. You shouldn't expect so low of me," Achlys said.

"Then what else do you want?" Aria asked.

Achlys disappeared and Aria gasped in fear. Achlys appeared right in front of Aria.

"You…" Achlys' voice screeched and echoed inside Aria's mind.