Doubar grabbed her shoulders and demanded, "What did you do to him?"
"What did I do?" Rumina hissed. "He came to me and asked for my help and when I tried to help him, he left me bound on the floor. It took me days to get undone and I lived on pineapple and do you know how hard it is to not wet yourself when you're living on pineapple and bound on the floor for four days!" Her voice grew progressively louder through her story and by the end she was screaming to make them listen and believe.
Bryn stepped forward to try to quiet her as her scene had drawn other attention. "I know you had nothing to do with this," she said. "Something happened. He told me he needed your help." Rumina nodded, forcing back her anger. "Do you know what happened to him?" Rumina nodded again. "There's evil in him." She nodded again, almost imperceptibly. "Do you know how to help him?" Maybe this time they would believe her when she said she want to harm Sinbad. She nodded. "How?" Bryn urged.
Rumina looked at Doubar, Firouz and Rongar and then back at the woman asking the barrage of questions. "Rumina, this is Bryn," Firouz said. "She's part of the crew now. Talk to her as freely as you would to us. I take that back. We don't need your insults right now so just tell us what you know."
"There is evil in him," Rumina said, repeating Bryn's words of only a moment ago. "An ancient evil but it's more than that. The evil came from two brothers who wanted to kill each other. Their parents trapped their power in crystals until they called a truce. One brother died before the power was released and it was supposed to be trapped forever. Somehow, it found its way to Sinbad... and the brother followed. Sinbad is possessed."
"Possessed?" Firouz queried. "Like by a demon?"
"It doesn't take a demon," Bryn answered. "The brother wants his power back. He'll go into any body that possesses it whether he's welcome there or not. He'll restrain the one who owns the body."
"What do you mean?" Doubar beseeched. "How can this demon, spirit, whatever it is restrain Sinbad?"
"It will find a way to threaten him and force him to retreat into himself," Bryn said. "It will gain dominance of his body and every time it does, it will gain strength. Eventually, Sinbad will be imprisoned in his own body. Rumina, can you stop this from happening?"
"I want to try," Rumina said softly. "But I'll need help. I don't even have enough power to force the spirit to leave him. But I do have..." Rumina opened her pouch and drew out the bloodstone and the obsidian crystals, which she had hung on black cords. She also took out a book. "I've never done this before..." Her voice was weak and cracked with emotion.
Bryn took the bloodstone and examined it, but Doubar was suddenly suspicious. "Why does it matter to you what happens to him? I thought you'd just as soon as have him dead. What do you want in return?" Rumina looked hurt by this accusation.
"I want the light in his eyes, Doubar," she said sadly. "He killed my father and I still fell in love with him. It takes one helluva man to instill that kind of affection. I want him to be as kind and gentle and beautiful as he was the first time I laid eyes on him." Doubar listened to this in shock. He had always assumed Rumina couldn't see beyond Sinbad's good looks but maybe she really had fallen hard. "He came to my door terror-stricken, weak and fearful. I don't want to ever see that in his eyes again. He's better than that."
Doubar nearly cried hearing those words again, but he nodded. "I just wanted to know that you were doing this for the right reasons."
"Nothing in my life has ever been more right than him," Rumina said, taking one crystal and hanging it around her neck.
Bryn heard this and wondered what Rumina had with the handsome Captain. She decided it didn't matter. It was so easy to love Sinbad that it made no sense to try to figure out why everyone who knew him would lay down their life for him. If only it were that easy this time. They had to figure out how to tear this evil from his body before he was lost to them forever.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sinbad had stripped off the robe and now lounged in a steaming bath. The battle had its price and tension knotted every muscle in his body. Both spirits vied for the moment's peace that the relaxing bath offered but the ancient spirit won. Sinbad had come to know the evil one as Kael. He couldn't remember having heard that name but he knew enough to call him that.
"Kael, may I please come out?" he pleaded. "It's so dark. I only want one moment in the light."
"One moment," he heard Kael's voice say. The blackness grew hazy and it lifted. Sinbad felt the water on his aching body and smiled a bit. He cupped his hands and splashed water on his face. He ran his wet hands through his hair, enjoying simply feeling the air drying the tiny droplets of water on his shoulders. He remembered the last time he had actually felt this body around him. He replayed the scene in the dungeon and as he did he silently prayed that he would never see his friends again. As that thought passed through his mind, the sensations faded and blackness overtook him. He didn't fight it; he had no reason to. His friends were safe and that was all that mattered. "Forget them," Kael's voice commanded. In his silent, dark world, Sinbad refused. Kael could only hurt him when Sinbad could feel his body around him. As long as Sinbad remained in darkness and silence, he could surround himself with thoughts of his friends and believe that he was safe with them again.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Firouz lit the white candles around the small room while the others discussed how they could lure Sinbad to the hotel. "Let us handle that," Rumina had said, indicating her and Bryn.
Bryn nodded and said, "Once we lure him here, he'll know what we have planned. You three are going to have to keep him here." Bryn indicated Doubar, Rongar, and Firouz. "Keep your daggers at him and don't be afraid to use them." Doubar drew his dagger and stared at the gleaming blade, shaking his head. "Doubar, we're going to lose him anyway if this doesn't work."
Tears glazed the big man's eyes. "I know. It's just... well, if it doesn't work, couldn't we try... something else?" His voice cracked and Rongar placed one hand on his shoulder in a gesture of comfort. Rongar gave a pleading look to Firouz. He made a few signs and Firouz nodded.
"Doubar, if it comes to that," Firouz began haltingly, "We'll finish it. You don't have to do this." Doubar nodded and Firouz regretted what he had just agreed to. How could he take a human life, especially one so dear to him?
"We're off," Bryn said. She and Rumina wore full cloaks that completely hid them when they pulled up the hoods. "Be ready. We'll hurry." They both swept out the door silently. The three men looked at the room and sighed collectively. The room suited the serious nature of the task at hand. White candles stood vigil in the tiny windows and glittered eerily on tables around the room. They were the only light allowed as the velvet night darkened. Dermott perched in a window, surrounded by candles, and squawked loudly before flying out of the room and into the black abyss of the night.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
That night, Sinbad slept in Nyxa's arms. Moonlight danced joyously on his bronzed chest and hung streaks of silver in his gold and bronze hair. He looked like Adonis himself come to life to make every woman alive swoon before him. Bryn and Rumina crept into the bedchamber through the balcony window and caught their mutual breath at the sight of him. Rumina remembered their infamous past, the way she fawned over him and would have given her last breath to have him for hers. Now as she walked towards him, she felt a chill of fear.
Bryn had her own memories. She recalled the first time she had ever seen him. She had assumed he was dead as she ran along the shore but as she got closer, she saw him breathe. She remembered standing over him and the way he had looked up at her. Sunlight wove through golden-bronze silk and gleamed against smooth tanned skin. High cheekbones, strong jaw, soft full lips, straight nose, and those eyes. Even for her fear, she had felt dizzy when those sea-blue eyes took aim at hers. Now the trembling of her hands as she pulled off the cloak was not exhilaration or delight but genuine fear. Rumina took off her cloak as well and the two nodded at each other.
They both wore the tiniest harem outfits they could wear and still be able to fight him if it came to that. Rumina wore emerald green with gold accents and Bryn wore red with black trimming. Rumina went to Nyxa and placed one hand over her dark head, placing her in a deep sleep. Bryn checked her cleavage and then knelt beside Sinbad and softly whispered in his ear, "Oh, Sinbad. Wake up, lover." He started at this and his eyes snapped open. Bryn nearly cringed when she saw the dark shadow behind his usually clear eyes. Rumina came up behind Bryn as she said, "You have no idea the things we want to do to your gorgeous body." She tugged at the tiny hairs on his chest as she said this and Sinbad's eyes widened.
Rumina leaned over, putting her ample cleavage in his line of sight. "You have no idea," she echoed. Neither woman could bring herself to lie outright to him so they settled for vague hints instead. It worked though as he sat up and eyed them both mischievously. He threw a glance at Nyxa but once he found her asleep, he had no further qualms and he slowly threw back the bedclothes and stood.
The two women fought contradicting feelings of fear and desire as they looked from his manly chest to his tight black suede pants. He ran his hands through his hair, attempting to smooth it into place but it remained seductively tousled. "We can't do this here," Sinbad said, nodding towards Nyxa. Both women almost sighed aloud that he had actually suggested leaving.
"No," Bryn said, picking up his boots and handing them to him. "But we have a room not far from here. We can go there." Sinbad sat and tugged on his boots. He showed obvious interest in this idea.
"We can have lots of fun there," Rumina said, handing him a shirt. He smiled devilishly as he put on the shirt. They led him to the open window but before they slipped through, he suddenly grabbed Bryn's arm with one hand and the other came up to his head. He moaned and Bryn felt him sway slightly. She gave Rumina a wide-eyed look of horror. Rumina just shook her head and shrugged. A moment later, Sinbad steeled himself and sighed a heavy, angry sigh.
"Terribly sorry," he said, in a strange monotone voice. "Let's continue, shall we?" Bryn and Rumina both forced back tears as they realized what had just happened. Sinbad, their Sinbad, had tried to force back the evil and failed. Either the evil was now too strong, or Sinbad was now too weak. Either way, the battle had gone on too long.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The three men had stood in silence since Bryn and Rumina had left almost an hour ago. Rongar stared out the window at the fat crescent moon. Firouz watched the shadows of a single flame dancing on the wall and Doubar paced the length of the room. They all wore Rumina's black crystals around their necks. They didn't fully understand the purpose but they understood the look in the two sorceresses' eyes as they had demanded that the men wear the tiny crystals.
They all started when they heard footsteps outside the door. They held their daggers and exchanged nervous glances before standing with their backs to the wall near the door. Rumina entered, followed by Bryn who had Sinbad's lips locked on her neck and appeared none too happy about it. In fact, she looked as if she might be sick at any moment. Sinbad, on the other hand, was so distracted he didn't even notice the extra people in the room as his hands tangled in Bryn's hair. He did notice when she forcibly removed his lips from her neck and backed away from him.
He looked up and his eyes darted from Bryn's fearful face, to Rumina's and finally to the where the three men approached. For a moment the shadows clouding his beautiful eyes faded and he looked almost fearful but a moment later the darkness returned and white-hot lightning shot from his eyes at the three men. They all flew backwards but a moment later Bryn and Rumina had him distracted.
Emerald magic touched golden magic and they both slammed into Sinbad's chest full-force. "Grab him," Rumina cried, her hand raised as she held the stream of magic steady. Bryn glared at her Captain with eyes that glowed gold. Sinbad cried out in pain as he raised his hands and sent two streams of black energy flying at the two sorceresses. They slammed into the back wall just as the three men managed to grab him.
Doubar grabbed one of his arms, twisting it behind him as he pressed his dagger against Sinbad's side. Rongar grabbed his other arm the same way and held a dagger to the Captain's throat and Firouz came up behind and pressed his dagger to Sinbad's back. "So much as breathe wrong, and one of us will kill you," Doubar hissed, staring into cold dark eyes in a face that looked so much like his brother's. The two sorceresses caught their breath and got their feet.
Even before they had regained their feet, their voices rose in a single tone. Though they had never before spoken the words, the ancient chant flowed from their lips as a favorite poem known by heart. With the first words, Sinbad's breath caught in his chest. The ancient spirit recognized the words. "No," he wailed, as Bryn and Rumina continued onto the next line of the chant. Sinbad writhed and struggled against Doubar, Firouz, and Rongar. Then things began happening all at once.
Suddenly, the magic became palpable. Bryn's eyes glowed golden and Rumina's, green as a red glow began to emanate from Sinbad. His eyes flashed black with shadows as a cry of anguish was ripped from his throat. The cry carried for seconds, minutes, nearly drowning out the haunting cadence of the ancient spell. The pain-filled scream ended when Sinbad's body collasped in his friends' arms and the red glow separated itself from him. The two sorcereses exchanged wide-eyed glances but they persisted. Rumina lifted the bloodstone high over her head as the red ether took shape. A struggling, writhing boy of maybe fourteen was visible for an instant before the bloodstone consumed it.
Somehow, a wind blew out all but one of the candles. A single flame danced between Rumin and Bryn, protected by their joint magic. Sinbad jerked into consciousness, amazed that he had finally broken through the darkness. He saw Firouz and Rongar staring at him in horror. Beyond them, Bryn and Rumina stood at ready as though anticipating... something. He realized he felt so weak he could hardly stand and Doubar now supported his full weight. As his eyes roamed over his friends again and his heart lightened, he noticed the silence -- Kael's taunted and threates had stopped. "Is it over?" he asked, surprised at how strange his own voice sounded to him now. The others nodded... all but Bryn.
She shook her dark locks fiercely. "No," she hissed as swiped the darkened bloodstone from Rumina's hand and slid towards an open window. An intense golden light filled her eyes as she hurled the stone into the darkness of night... and beyond. The glow faded. "Now, it's over," she whispered and Sinbad lost consciousness again.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Considering the trauma he experienced, it only stands to reason he would suffer some physical manifestations," Firouz reasoned.
"But he's been asleep for most of three days," Doubar argued, concern carrying his voice.
"Doubar, it's a restful, natural sleep. Every time we wake him to eat, he falls asleep again a moment later. It must be what his body needs," Firouz explained.
"He's been battling for his life for the past six months," Bryn chimed in from her post at Sinbad's bedside. "He's drained in every way a person can be and still live to tell about it. He needs rest." Firouz gave Doubar an I-told-you-so look until Doubar finally shrugged his submission.
"At least he appears at peace," a woman's voice said. Rumina turned, taking her eyes from his face for the first time in hours. She had steadfastly refused to leave until she was certain Kael and the danger he presented had ended. "Just in case," she had insisted. After all her help, the crew wasn't inclined to resist her too much. "That being," Rumina continued, "I guess I should leave." She brushed a kiss against Sinbad's forehead and glided out the door and into the hotel corridor. Doubar followed.
"You don't have to go," he said.
"Yes, I do," Rumina answered without turning.
"At least tell me what I can do to repay you for helping us to save Sinbad from... Heaven only knows what," Doubar offered. Rumina turned slowly and when she did, Doubar saw a sad smile on her usually cold face.
"Being near him was enough," she said softly. "You see, Doubar, for all that he has done to me and tried to destroy about me, I can't help but love him. My father's killer, and I love him." A single tear fell from her coal-rimmed eyes. "I know he's himself now and I know he's safe. That's all I need. Now, I have to go." With that, Rumina vanished in a rose-scented mist.
Doubar returned to find Sinbad stirring. Rongar, Firouz, and Bryn stood around him as he blinked his eyes into focus. He looked around the hotel room, not knowing where he was but knowing only that it was not aboard his ship. "When are we leaving?" he asked, his voice rough from disuse.
"As soon as you're ready, Captain," Bryn answered.
Sinbad stretched and slowly sat upright. He remembered moments of the past months and cringed inwardly for the terror King Sinbad had brought to the citizens of Ormara. He wanted to leave this place more than he could ever remember wanting to leave anywhere. "I'm ready now," he said in a soft husky whisper. Bryn nodded and handed him his boots and vest. They all left to gather their few belongings and prepare to set sail.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Sinbad," Bryn said, her voice strangely quiet and shy. "Um, what do you remember of the past few months?" She obviously had a particular date and time in mind but was too embarassed to ask directly.
"Well," Sinbad said pensively, "I remember going to find Rumina and letting her teach me about black magic. I remember a woman... and she was afraid of me. I remember pain and darkness when I tried to save you and the others. I remember..." Sinbad let his voice trail off. A very contented smile brightened his eyes. Bryn blushed six shades of red. "I remember Rumina in a very tiny green outfit that made her look positively stunning and I remember that she didn't compare to the way you looked in that red outfit that made your eyes sparkle and brought out the highlights in your hair."
"And do you remember that we both embarassed ourselves to no end by seducing you into following us to a hotel room?" Bryn queried.
"No," Sinbad replied, his smile turning gentle. "I remember that you saved me." Bryn's cheeks reddened farther as Sinbad moved very close and lowered his mouth to hers. Her eyes had scarcely closed when a sharp gasp made them both jump back.
"Sorry, Sinbad," a blushing Firouz stammered. "I spotted a storm off in the distance and I figured you'd want to know about it right away." He looked from Bryn's red face to Sinbad's, which was just as red. "Um, I am really sorry. Go back to... you know," Firouz spluttered before darting off.
"He has lousy timing," Sinbad said apologetically, "But I probably should go see what's up." Bryn only nodded at his retreating back.
"I already know there's a storm ahead," Bryn whispered to herself. "I just hope it isn't too far in coming," she finished with a wicked grin directed at her handsome captain.
THE END.