Chapter 27: Escape

Chapter 27: Escape

I followed Remi up the last spiral staircase to the top of the pyramid which was actually flat. With my new sense of eye sight, the teal leaves of the trees and night sky above was fantastically beautiful. My eyes locked on three dragon almost flying dinosaur type creatures. The screeched and circled around the top of the pyramid. Their talons extended towards me as they descended and dived at us.

One came right for Remi and I realized he couldn't see it. "Duck!" I screamed.

He dropped and rolled to the side. "I think you mean dino," he said with a huff as he flattened down on the ground.

"What ever gets you out of the way." I circled around holding the sword up in front of me. "I take it I have defeat these things?"

"I think that would be a good guess."

"Any idea how I go about that?"

"Well, I don't know. Maybe trying swinging that huge sword at them?"

I looked out at the sword in front of me. It had grown to at least three times my height. I blinked in surprise. How was I even holding this thing? Shouldn't I be falling over just by the sheer weight? I felt it in my hand, but it felt as light as a feather. What was more, it almost felt as if it was as much a part of me as my arm.

One of the flying creatures dove at me with its beak. I swung the sword in both my hands at it. The blade hit it in the neck and dislodged its head in one stroke. I didn't even feel it hesitate while it cut through. The black blood of the dinosaur gushed out, covering me in slick blood. The body continued to fly forward before it crashed on the platform and tumbled down the side of the pyramid.

My mouth hung open in awe at what I had just done. That was until the stinky metallic taste of blood dripped into it. I spit to the side then focused at the other screeching creatures above. Their eyes burned red in fury, probably from their beheaded companion. Now I had done it. Maybe I should have just run away. That would have been more my style.

"Do you think maybe you can help me?" I asked Remi.

"What exactly you proposed I do? I can't even see them."

"What if you take the sword?"

Remi crawled to his feet. I held the hilt out to him as I kept an eye on the sky. I felt him try to pull the sword from me.

"You have to let go if you want me to try."

"I am."

"No, you're not."

I looked down. My hands weren't letting go. I was telling them to and my brain was thinking they were opening, but they weren't. Another of the flying creatures dived towards me. The blade went up and stabbed towards its talons.

"I'm sorry. I really am trying."

Remi rolled down into a crouch out of the way. "I think this is a battle you have to fight."

My mouth pulled down into a tight frown. This wasn't going to be pretty. I held still with the sword in front of me. The next time one of the creatures dove for me, I slashed at them. We parried back and forth a few times. I didn't feel like I was getting anywhere. They circle me. Their red eyes watched as I watched them. I started to see individual scales and outlines of glittering talons. Their bat-like wings flapped and with each stroke I could see the veins pumping in their leathery skin.

The coordinated together this time as they circled above me. They stayed so there was one on each side of me. Then they dove, one at the front and one at the back. Somehow I managed to dodge and just as they swooped past, I thrust the sword, or maybe the sword thrust itself upwards into the under belly of one.

Black blood rained down coating me in thick black liquid. I wiped my face with my shoulder, still unable to remove my hands from the sword. The body of the thing shuttered as its guts spilled out and over the side of the pyramid. It screamed in pain as it fell from the sky and tumbled from view leaving a trail of black blood in its wake.

The last leathery beast screeched as it circled me once more. It dove in, talons outstretched. Its sharp claws just grazed my shoulder as I turned then tipped my blade into the side of its leg. It veered to the side away from my jab. After it swooped around in a circle, it came at me with its beak and claws. I dodged again, or maybe the sword made me, I certainly was not coordinated enough to take the credit for it. The dinosaur landed hard on the platform. Remi still stayed crouched at the corner, unable to participate in this fight.

I leveled my sword at the creature, then ran, or maybe was pulled after the sword. The creature pecked at me, but I was flung to the side. The sword continued on with my hands still clasped around it. It plunged deep into the heart of the thing. The head of the creature lifted high in one last screech as it died on the end of my sword. Its body collapsed just as I pulled the sword free and sprang out of the way.

Remi stood and joined me as I watched the last of the life leave the pile in front of me.

"Good job."

I couldn't say anything. Other than Mila, I'd never really dealt with death before. All of it had just seemed so... easy. I realized that maybe I wasn't the one completely controlling the sword, but I was holding it. I wanted to kill those things. I wanted to survive. That was sort of a new feeling. I had never really wanted to live through anything before.

"Are you okay?" Remi asked.

"I... I don't know." One of my hands released from the sword. I looked down at it. The sword itself shrank down to its normal size. My eyes went wide as it shrank even further until it was just the side of a dagger in my hand.

"Well, that's convenient," Remi said.

I nodded. I looked around. The forest was still outlined in its beautiful tones of blues and teal greens. The noises of the jungle rose with their chirps and croaks now that the battle was finished.

"Any idea of how to get out of here?" I asked.

"I still can't teleport. Maybe the sword can do something?"

I looked down at the inky black outlined dagger in my hand. I grasped Remi with my other then held it up in front of us. "Take me home." I said to it. In my head I pictured my bedroom and all the stuff hanging out of the shelves.

To my surprise, it actually worked. The realm of eternal night melted away. My dimly lit bedroom took its place.

Remi looked around quickly. "Wow, you actually did it."

I looked down at the knife in my hand. "I actually did."

The Night Sword was just a simple black knife with a black blade. It looked similar to a hunting knife now. I held it out in front of me like I was slicing the air, hoping it would turn back into something more deadly, but nothing happened.

"Maybe it only works in that realm."

Remi squeezed my hand. I had forgotten I was still holding his. He leaned in close to my ear. "You should probably take a shower." He pulled away, taking his hand with him.

My face felt all hot, but after one look in the wall mirror I realized he wouldn't be able to tell. I was covered in black goo from head to toe.

"Yeah, that a good idea."