A light in the dark

Saira

The battle outside had started early in the night. I was sitting awake lazily reading when we heard the first shouts. The guard who was keeping watch over me shifted glances between me and the only door in this small room. I hoped that his need to check it out won out and he would leave me alone in here.

I needed to get out of this room. They had to be warned. It didn’t matter if they get passed the gates. Didn’t matter if they stopped all the guards. Lycus was waiting for them. He had the spell I gave him, and who knew what else.

As I sat and listened to the screams of those giving orders or those screaming in pain, I worked on my plan. I didn’t have my crystal; my magic would have to be enough. I've never used it against anyone with the intention to harm. I knew I couldn’t kill him, that I couldn’t kill anyone.

I studied the guard. He wasn’t someone that had been here before. He looked strong, though it was hard to tell with all the armor he wore. It was a wonder that he was able to sit with all of it on. He cast his eyes at me and I studied the intention in them.

He hated me clearly, probably hated that he had to be here. That was why he kept looking at the door. He didn’t think of me as a threat at all. I was weak. They had fed me but the beating I received at the hands of Massell had worn me down.

I couldn’t stay here and wait for Aurelia, as much as I wanted to. I had to fight. If the people of this city could find their strength, then so could I. The best I could do was to try and blind him. There was no way I would be able to stand against him. I would have to act fast. One blow from him and I would be finished.

All I needed was the three words that made up the incantation. I didn’t need anything else. A large wave of screams echoed into the room. This was my chance! He had stood up and looked at the door, his back was to me. A few quick steps across the room. I whispered the incantation. By the time he turned his head to look back at me, my hand was in his face.

A blinding light emitted from the center of my palm. It was so bright that it stung my eyes. The guard screamed and screamed as he dropped to the ground. He rolled and rocked with his hands over his eyes. Steady streams of blood started to pour down his cheeks and through his fingers. Maybe I had went too far...

I lunged for the door and tried to drown out the sounds of his screams that mixed in with those from outside the walls. It wasn’t locked and I was thankful that I didn’t have to waste time looking for the key. I prowled down the dark hall using the same spell to emit a softer light to guide my way.

When I got to the next-door, I stopped and listened for a moment. It didn’t sound like there was a guard on the other side. I pushed this door open and again was thankful that it wasn’t locked. This room as empty and the door was left open. Maybe there was a guard in here and they went to join the fight or to watch from a window.

I would have to go slow through the halls. If I was found then, well I didn’t want to waste time and energy thinking about how bad that could be. A quick peek into the hall and I saw nothing. The halls were dark, only a few lights were lit. Through the window I could see the flicker of the fires burning outside.

I stayed to the shadows and stopped at every corner. Where was everyone? I made it down a few halls and still didn’t see anyone. I was also lost! I had no idea where in the castle I was. This pace was like a maze! Panic started to seep into my mind and my thoughts became a jumble. I needed to stop and take a few breaths. Everything hurt and I cursed that I was so weak.

Then the walls shook. A great bellow of the Dragon Queen! Aurelia was here! Hope lifted me off the floor where I was crouched down behind a chair. I ran around a corner without looking, and ran right into Massell.

His hands wrapped around my arms hard and he threw me against the wall.

“Where do you think you are going?”

I struggled to get away from him. His hot breath was on my face and the anger in his eyes had the promise of death. How could I have ever felt any love for this monster?

“Let me go!” I yelled. He was so close that I threw my head back, hitting the wall in the process, and swung it forward. I relished in the satisfying crunch of his nose. My head was ringing but at least he let me go. I was able to get out of his reach and blurt out the incantation that filled my hands with light.

I stood before him with my feet set apart and my hands out at my sides, light rippling off them. He looked at me with a smirk. “You can't fight me, Warlock, you are weak.”

“You will never lay a hand on me again.” Acid dripped off each work and his smirk shifted to a scowl.

I was not a killer, the thought of it brought bile up my throat. But this monster. He had to die. He betrayed us, used me and beat me. The world would be safer with him dead. I would be safer. I couldn’t think of the consequences of killing him right now, what effects it may have on me. I had to stay focused.

He drew his sword and I felt naked before it. I had no weapons. Nothing to defend against the sword he held. I willed my hands to burn brighter and held them up before me in a defensive stance. He lunged first, swinging his sword down at me. I held my hands up and hoped the light would be strong enough to shield me.

The metal sang as it bounced off my light shield. My arms felt like they were going to break from the impact of it. He stumbled back and I used my only chance to make a move. I shoved my hand as hard as I could against his chest and pushed. The light in my hand exploded out and Massell flew into the wall across from us. I didn’t stop.

I ran up to him and kept hitting him, returning every blow that he had given me. His sword fell to the floor with a clatter and I kept hitting. I was blind with rage. Red was all I could see. Soon, a new red started to fill my vision, as my hands were covered in the blood of a man I had once trusted.

I stopped punching. His limp body fell to the ground and blood poured from the hole I made in his chest. The light faded from my hands as I stood over his dead body and tried to catch my breath. A loud crash from outside shook the castle again. I was on the wrong side of the castle.

I could see the fire burning beyond that gate, but I couldn’t see her. I began to run again. She called my name; I could hear it echo through the halls. I yelled back; my voice harsh. It didn’t carry through the halls like hers had.

I kept running hoping that I would find the right door. No one was in the halls so I ran full out. The sounds from outside grew louder and louder. I had to be closer. I could hear a man begging, Aurelia yelling. Then a deadly scream that turned to flame, it was the most frightening sound I had ever heard.

I ran towards the sounds of a man screaming as he burned to death. “Adara!” Aurelia yelled.

I was so close, one more door lay ahead of me. I prayed that it was the last one I would have to push through. I didn’t know how much longer my legs could hold out. “You’re weak.” Massell’s voice echoed in my ears.

I got to the door and this one was locked. I fumbled with the lock. Tears of frustration ran down my face. Finally, the click I had been waiting for and the door swung open. It was hard to see in the dark, but the little fires made from dragons' breath illuminated her.

“Aurelia!” I bellowed out in a sob. I stumbled as I tried to run to her, my body bagging me to give up. When her golden eyes landed on me, I knew I would be safe once more. She held her arms out to me and I thudded into them so hard I thought she might fall back with me on top of her.

Her arms were strong and she embraced me. We both sobbed for a moment together. She pulled back and her hands were on my face cupping my cheeks. “Saira, Thank the flames that you are okay.”

“I have so much to tell you!” I had to tell her everything. What the Queen wanted, Lycus and his curse. And Massell, I had to tell her about the life I had taken.

“Well, if this isn't the sweetest thing I have ever seen.” A man's voice distracted us from our reunion.

Standing on a balcony overlooking the court yard was Lycus. The look on his face spoke volumes. His hatred seared into Aurelia, but she stood tall against it. “I gave him a curse.” I had to tell her. She looked back at me and assessed the cuts and bruises there.

“He did this to you?”

“Someone on his behalf.” I wasn’t ready to tell her the whole truth with so many people standing around. “It will make him near impossible to kill. The book didn’t have details on how to do it, just that it was possible. Give me your sword. I think I know a way to help at least.”

The spell was all about darkness. Logically the way to fight it would be with light. I summoned all my power waiting for the sword to be placed in my hands.

“I don’t have it.”

“My Queen, I have it.” Jaxson said holding the sword out for me to take.

I chanced a look at the balcony and my worst fears were realized. Lycus was enacting the spell! I had to move fast or we would all be doomed. I held the sword with the hilt in one hand and the blade in the other. I focused my magic into the same spell and uttered the same three words as I had done twice before.

Please work. I begged the magic.