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Ch.22: The Siren of Sunset Town |
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Sunrise came with the promise of new hope. I packed up, making sure to leave no trace that I had been in the meadow, and walked towards the gates of Sunset Town. 'No one has seen me here, nor I anyone there,' I considered as I surveyed the tall gates, 'so it should be safe to walk as myself here.'
The sun peeked over the mountains and the gates were opened. I stepped inside and was struck by the smell of salt-water. Sunset Town was a place not unlike my home near Port de Gambino; it was greatly active in trade and tourism and contained a wide port that was connected to the sea. Guide books said that an open air market was held every day at the docks, with different things for sale each day.
I hastened toward the marketplace at the other end of town. Fishing boats, clipper ships, tugboats, sailboats, even saltwater kayaks were tied up at the docks that I passed on the way. 'This place appeals to many different clientel,' I thought. 'Maybe I'll come back here when I'm not on any errands and go sailing.'
I heard music coming from my left. I looked down the pier and saw the marketplace stretched out before me. Multi-colored caravans stood above the pier like hot-air balloons, anchored to the ground by tent posts. People went in and out of them periodically, some coming with bundles under their arms. Smells of exotic dellicacies mixed in with the sea air and the result was an avalanche of savory and sweet perfumes. (The smell was so strong I almost keeled over.)
I wandered among the colorful flags and people, searching for a jewelry stall. I found many stalls that specialized in jewelry made of amythyst, emerald, silver, lapis, and quartz, but none made of gold.
A blood-red tent, the color of the Spartan Cloak, caught my attention. I peeked inside and saw all manner of golden baubles hanging from the canvas. There, hanging on a hook display in back of the vendor's table, was the cloak I had spent a week searching for. "I can see you are only interested in the acceptionally rare," said the miniature merchant from where he sat.
"How much is it?" I asked, shaking a drawstring purse in order to entice him.
"The question is not 'How much it is?'. The question is 'Do you know the story behind it?'"
"What story?"
"The old operahouse/theatre in this town. The locals say it's haunted. I said it was just an old-wives' tale, that is, until I saw the ghost for myself."
"What ghost?"
"Many years ago, a young boy went into that operahouse and never came out. What happened to him no one knows. People say he fell through an old trapdoor and died, but I say that he lives there still, shunning all the influence of light, revelling in the darkness that so many fear."
"Did a man with long blonde hair go in after him?" (I was starting to get curious. The cavern I had seen with Mat so long ago in Jareth's mirror looked just like the one Erik had once inhabited.)
"Yes. He met with me afterwards and gave me the cloak you see behind me. He said that should the boy ever realize his full powers, I should give it back to him. How did you know about him?"
"I'm his items supplier. I bring him items he doesn't have the time to..." ( mad Ugh! Jareth had used me!)
"100,000 gold, and not a piece more."
"Fine." rolleyes I handed over the money and walked out of the tent with the cloak under my arm. As I turned to go though, I heard the rustle of clothes behind me. I turned but the old peddler was not there. A note fell out of my bundle; it read Remember your friends.
As the sun climbed higher into the sky, I set my sights homeward. Jareth was in for a major beating when I got back. evil Not only had the peddler given me the information he had withheld; he had also used me as his errand girl, in a bad way.
The music was supposed to get softer as I went away from the baazar. Instead, a song rose above the otherwise silent town and tickled my ears.
...In this world so full of fear,
Full of rage and lies,
I can see the truth so clear
In your eyes. So, dry your eyes.
I knew that song. It was my favorite, "If I Never Knew You". I hadn't heard it since I had heard Mat humming a bit of it to Sarah that day in Jareth's study. The compelling female voice beckoned me closer to its source as it continued:
And I'm so greatful to you.
I'd have lived my whole life through
Lost forever.
If I never knew you.
I turned a corner into a private section of the port and ducked behind some boxes. There, sitting on the edge of the dock, was a small white-haired girl. She was watching the ships sailing as she sang, shy and quiet and yet bold and strong.
If I never knew you,
I'd be safe but half as real.
Never knowing that I could feel-
A love so strong and true, I sang.
She turned her head, mild fear flashing on her face. She turned her head as I walked out from behind the boxes. "Don't be afraid. I was just noticing that you had a beautiful voice," I said. "It's good to see you, whoever you are."
"Fancy meeting you here," she said. "Mat and I split up to look for his girlfriend, and instead I find you, Anastasia. I certainly hope he'll be as happy to see you as I am. We've got a weapon that will bring Lelouch to his knees. What are you doing here anyway?"
"Being Jareth's errand girl. I just purchased something for him in the marketplace that he would have gotten for free. From what the merchant said, this particular Spartan Cloak sounded important. What secret weapon?"
"Let me explain." Shee introduced herself as Mat's friend, Aoi. They had recently put a dent in Taiga, an enemy of Mat's, plans to take over the sky by destroying his fleet of airships. As they had plummeted from the sky, just before Mat had splayed the air around them so they landed softly on the ground (Apparently he had wind powers now.), Aoi had sung her favorite song. Mat had been hypnotized by its beauty and had felt compelled to do all she asked.
Later, he had found out that Aoi was half Siren from her mother's side. (Sirens are a race of mermaids that lured sailors to their deaths with their beautiful voices.) She had never known her mother and had only just found out that she could use her voice to control other people, as well some other strange powers. She could breathe underwater and swim really fast, just like me. 'Could Aoi be the mermaid princess?' I wondered. 'She certainly seems like she needs protecting, but she doesn't stir any memories inside of me.'
Just then a triumphant crow came from the Place De L'Opera I had passed through on my way to the docks. "You can tell me more about your travels later, Aoi," I said. "Right now you need to get me to the operahouse square as quickly as possible. I think Mat's in trouble."
P.S. The place where Lelouch lives is actually back where I started, but fae magic has a funny way of manipulating where you actually exit when you leave his lair. This time, it just so happens to be in Sunset Town. Starting with the chapter after the next though, Lelouch will be situated in the operahouse/theatre in Port de Gambino, my home.
 srs diva 2011 xxl · Sun Mar 29, 2009 @ 06:52pm · 3 Comments |
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