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Across the Worlds
Chapter 10: The darkest chamber
. . . . . . . . . .
"HELP ME!" Inara banged her fists against the iron door, "HELP ME!"
With a desperate cry, she flung herself against the hard metal. But all she got for her troubles was a bruised arm.
"Ow. Ow. Ow," she hissed rubbing at the spot gingerly.
Frustrated, she kicked out but her foot merely bounced off. Inara took a deep steadying breath and turned around, leaning her back against the cool metal.
"Okay, okay," she muttered, "Inara. Think! Okay, you're stuck helplessly in here while Hu's gone all Prince of Darkness on you. God knows what he's doing to the Temple now."
She closed her eyes.
"I need to get out of here," she stood up, "Okay. Easier said than done. How do I…"
Inara stared at the door, hands on hips, a disgruntled look on her face as she realised how thick the metal actually was.
"Wow, what I wouldn't give for a buzz saw right about now," Inara muttered, "Or a James Bond gadget."
Inara bit her lip as she contemplated her next move but she couldn't see a way out of this. Letting out a frustrated cry, she threw her arms up into the arm.
"Great! Just great," she practically shouted, "There's a great big honking Darkness out there, I meant to be one of the ones who have to defeat it and I stuck in this stupid Cham…"
Her light brown eyes widened as she realised where she actually was.
The Chamber.
Her jaws dropped as she remembered everything Jiang and Hu had told her about this place. It was a room of darkness and nightmares where your worst fears came alive and…
Inara quickly shut her eyes, her breathing harsh and shallow. Suddenly the darkness around her seemed alive and throbbing with malice. Invisible eyes watched her, spying on her as they schemed silently, plotting her dea…
"Do not freak out," she told herself in a frantic whisper, "Do not freak out."
The room seemed to grow colder as she fought to control her breathing, her breaths coming up in short sharp puffs of mist. She wrapped her arms around her skinny body and looked out in the oppressive darkness.
"Hello…" her voice was trembling, "Hello?"
Dark thoughts hovered at the fringes of her mind as everything around her seemed to pulse with malicious life. Every sound and movement was suddenly metamorphosed into deadly dangers as Inara desperately tried to hold her nerve. Slowly she sank to the ground, clutching at her knees.
"It's all in your head," she tried to comfort herself but her voice was thin and disbelieving, "It's all in your head…"
"Oh really?"
Inara looked up and choked back a scream. A tall lanky man with the same reddish-brown hair as her own leered down at her.
"Hello Nara," the man said jovially.
Inara shook her head wildly, trying to avoid his gaze.
"No. No. No. No. It isn't real. It isn't real," she stared down at the ground, "You're not real!"
"Oh?"
The man touched her arm and Inara flinched.
"Aren't you going to say hello to your daddy?"
Inara suddenly let out a piercing scream.
. . . . . . . . . .
Susan stabbed the Yin in the shoulder with her arrow but the monster just swatted her aside. The queen stumbled backwards almost tripping over her own feet as the demon leapt forwards, hissing furiously.
"BACK OFF!"
A flash of yellow and black slammed into the Yin knocking it down. Zaru bit deep into the Yin but instantly recoiled as the dark spirit's acid blood burned into his mouth. The leopard fell away, hissing in pain as the Yin tried to rise but Zaru was quicker.
The talking feline snatched up a fallen dagger in his mouth and bounded forwards, jerking his head to the side as he flashed past the Yin, slicing deep into its throat. The demon fell backwards, gurgling on its own blood, its body flailing wildly. Finally it stilled.
"Thanks," Susan gasped climbing to her feet.
She spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Are you alright?" Zaru asked worriedly, "Are you…"
"I'm fine!" Susan yelled, "WATCH OUT!"
She fired an arrow but the Yin was quicker twisting away as the arrow zipped past. It leapt straight over Zaru's head, its claws reaching for Susan but the archer was quicker, smacking her bow across its face.
"ZARU!" Susan boomed as she grappled with the Yin, desperately trying to avoid its claws.
Zaru pounced on the Yin's back, hissing and spitting as the Yin fell away trying to throw the cat off. Susan narrowed her eyes and instantly fired three arrows into the demon's belly.
The howling monster went down, Zaru elegantly riding on its back as it crashed to the ground. Susan turned and surveyed the battlefield, her blue eyes darting from place to place trying to spot Jason.
The main wave of Yin had been broken early in the clash, Da Long's fighters having successfully separated the ravaging horde. The warriors were now locked into one-to-one combat with the Yin, the clang of weapons and screams permeating the air.
"This isn't right," Zaru repeated.
Susan glanced down at the leopard.
"There isn't nearly enough of them," Zaru muttered, "It doesn't fit what the villagers were saying."
Susan nodded grimly.
"I know," the queen frowned, "But what does it mean?"
She had no time to ponder that question as one of the warriors fell silently, the Yin who had defeated him howling in triumph. As one, Susan and Zaru surged forwards with twin cries but Jason gone there first, finishing the injured Yin with a thrust of his dagger.
"The small numbers. You've noticed it too?" he asked casually flicking the blood off his knife.
Susan and Zaru both nodded.
"Think it has something to do with the Darkness?" Jason continued.
"What else?" Zaru asked disgruntled, "But I just wish…"
But Susan cut him off with a startled gasp. Even with the battle raging around her, even amongst the bellows and cries, Susan could see something very clearly inside her head.
Da Long had privately shown her a map of Jin ShiZi before they had left the Temple but it wasn't any old map, there were pinpoints of red colour on it to show where the warriors of the Temple were stationed throughout the Republic.
Before she hadn't really realised it but now it seemed so obvious to her.
The coastline of the Republic had been almost obscured by the sheer amount of red dotting it. Most of the Temple's warriors had been sent afar, chasing after reports of an explosion in Yin attacks in the outer reaches of the land. Da Long himself had pointed out how many of his warriors had been sent away and how low his reserves were.
And now…
"This is a distraction!" Susan screamed over the roar of the battle, "They're luring us away from the Temple! This was never meant to be a successful attack! It's a smokescreen!"
She turned to the others, her movements and voice frenzied.
"They're attacking the Temple!" she shouted.
"But Da Long said the Temple was protected by the Holy Spirits!" Jason pointed out.
They had to spring apart for sparring pair of combatants.
"Aslan Himself was taken!" Susan screamed, "You think the Darkness can't break a little protection?"
The three of them stared at each, horror dawning on their faces.
"DA LONG!" Susan whirled around, "DA LONG!"
They scythed through the crowd, knocking everyone out of their way. Zaru let out a fierce roar drawing almost everyone's attention.
"DA LONG!" Susan bellowed.
There was a replying shout. They instantly charged towards the source. Zaru and Jason bounded forwards taking out the Yin that was harrying the leader. Susan knocked a Yin out of the way with her bow.
"Da Long," she gritted out, "We need to get out of here and fast!"
"WHAT?" Da Long spat.
Both of them was momentarily distracted as the Yin launched a second attack but a quick sword thrust and arrow earned them reprieve.
"The Temple!" Susan yelled at him, eyes flashing, "The Temple's under attack!"
. . . . . . . . . .
Feng, scroll keeper of the Temple library, was scared out of his mind.
"Seal the doors!" one of the elders bellowed amongst the chaos, "SEAL THEM!"
The handful of warriors around began heaving benches and tables, moving them up against the doors barricading themselves in.
"How is this possible?" another of the elders was asking everyone, ashen-faced, "HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?!"
It was pandemonium, the elders demanding answers and giving out instructions, some completely useless, as the warriors and novices rushed from place to place trying to defend all the exits and entrances.
"Master!" a young warrior raced up to them, his robes ripped and bloodied, "The Yin have invaded the living quarters!"
"Causalities?" a portly elder demanded in a clipped voice.
The warrior looked at him with haunted eyes and the elder swore.
"Where is Chu Xing?" he demanded.
No one had an answer for him. Feng bit his lip and put up a trembling hand.
"I'll look for him," he said, his voice shaking.
The elder looked at him and nodded, aware that Feng and Chu Xing were both friends.
"Go. Be careful."
Feng nodded. The man slipped out of one of the doors and it was instantly slammed shut behind him, not doubt being barricaded from the inside.
The thirty-something year old man turned and was struck by the eerie silence in the corridor. It unnerved him but before he lost it completely, he forced himself to move forwards the thought of saving his friend the only thing driving him on.
Somewhere in the distance he heard terrified screams, it was quickly drowned out by a ferocious roar… then utter unending silence.
Feng shuddered, chilled to his very soul.
"Holy Spirits please protect me… even though you failed to protect my home and possibly my friend," he babbled on.
He stopped and winced.
"Not that I'm accusing you or anything or…" Feng stopped, "Yes, keep talking so you attract the Yin."
Feng forced his nervous chatter down and edged his around the corner, his senses on high alert. He dashed up a flight of stairs and found himself outside Chu Xing's door.
"Oh thank the Spirits," Feng breathed.
He pushed the door open.
"Chu Xing, are you…"
The first thing he saw was the blood on the walls then the body. It took him a few long seconds for him to fully absorb what he was seeing before he was promptly and violently sick.
. . . . . . . . . .
Hu laughed hysterically.
"ATTACK!" he cheered on as his Yin surged forwards.
The pitiful line of warriors folded under the sheer weight of the attack as Hu waded into the fight, sword in hand.
"HU!"
It was one of his fellow warriors, a boy he had known since his very first day in the Temple.
"What are you doing?" the boy screamed at him, "HU!"
Hu rolled his eyes and ran him through without a thought. Planting his foot against the boy's limp body, he slowly worked his sword free as the other warriors let out cries of horror and shock.
"TRAITOR!"
Three young warriors leapt at him as Hu laughed, twirling his sword expertly in his hands.
"Back off," he hissed as the Yin he commanded surged forwards, "They're mine."
The Yin fell back forming a loose ring around the four combatants. Hu smiled arrogantly and raised his sword, daring them to make the first move.
"CLANG!"
The first warrior surged forwards but Hu was quick, his weapon sweeping down and knocking the other sword away. The other two leapt to attack and the next few moments were a flurry of clangs and flashing blades.
Hu was a magnificent fighter, moving and parrying with infinite grace. He seemed to have six arms, his sword always in the right place to deflect the latest round of attacks. But any seasoned fighter could see he was on the defence merely deflecting the blows.
He was toying with them.
There was a cry of victory as one of the fighters managed to land a lucky blow scoring a bleeding cut across his cheek.
Hu narrowed his eyes and wiped the blood away.
"You are going to die," he vowed, "Right… NOW!"
He exploded forwards and the warriors were swept aside. The Yin and warriors in the courtyard stopped and looked as Hu finished the fight with a brutal display of strength and inhumanity.
One of the warriors screamed staggering backwards, clutching his bleeding stump of an arm. Hu slashed forwards and one of the warrior's fell, dead before he even knew what struck him.
The third raised his sword trying to defend himself but Hu hacked at him, cleaving the blade in two before punching the boy straight in the face. The warrior fell to the ground and Hu stomped on his throat, breaking his neck before he finished off the injured warrior with a sword to the belly.
Hu stood, blood-splattered and grinning, heaving with exertion. He looked deep into the other warriors' stunned eyes. Contemptuously he kicked the bodies out of the way as he stepped forwards.
"Well, now…" he cracked his neck, "That was…"
Hu suddenly shuddered violently and the sword dropped from his twitching hands.
"GET OUT!" a piercing scream ripped itself free from his throat, "GET OUT!"
It was different voice to the guttural one the possessed boy was using, higher in pitch and softer.
"GET OUT!"
Hu shuddered again and he fell silent. The whole courtyard watched him, not one daring to speak. Finally he opened his eyes but they were now completely black, no white in them at all.
"Oh shut up, little boy," 'Hu' cackled, "This is what you wanted wasn't it? You wanted my help to tear this place down! Well congratulations! Now you've got it!"
Hu turned to his silent Yin.
"What the hell are you waiting for?!" Hu demanded, "KILL THEM!"
. . . . . . . . . .
"Get away from me!" Inara screamed.
She scrambled to the side getting away from her father but Paxton Nixon merely laughed and reached out again.
"How is my darling little daughter?" he asked, an edge to his voice.
"GET THE HELL AWAY FROM ME!" Inara bellowed.
"Awww… don't you love me?" Paxton smirked.
Inara glared at him.
"LOVE YOU?" she hissed, "You stupid son of a… I'm sorry are we playing house here? Is that what you want? I'd love to play the daddy but you know… I never had a real good role model for that."
Inara climbed to her feet, her hands clenched.
"Getting drunk, falling on my ass and blaming my daughter for the fact that I am a big fat loser who can't hold onto a job is more what I'm into!" Inara growled.
"SMACK!"
Inara was almost knocked off balance as Paxton slapped her across the cheek with casual violence.
"And don't forget about the beatings," he winked at her, "Those were our best times together!"
Inara clutched at her cheek as tears rolled down her face. Her whole body was quaking as she tried to back away from her father but fear paralysed her limbs.
"And remember when your mummy and big sis completely ignored you? Or the time you told your teacher and I made her believe you were just a silly, silly girl with a big imagination?" Paxton chuckled, "Good times."
"This isn't real," Inara whispered desperately to herself, "This is the Chamber…"
Paxton slapped her again and Inara spun to the ground, crying out in pain.
"Stupid girl," Paxton hissed, "You never learn."
Inara looked up at him, wild with fear, her eyes darting, looking desperately for an escape route but there was only darkness and him.
"Even when you told the cops and I had to run, you could never get rid of me. I am always going to be here, sweetie. I am always going to be in your head. You know that little voice in there telling you you're not good enough for anything? That you'll never amount to anything? That's me," Paxton gave her a smug look, "I'll always be a part of you."
"F…" Inara began, still on the ground glaring up at him.
Paxton kicked her in the side, bruising her.
"Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?" Paxton growled.
He clicked his fingers as he smiled, a dark frightening look.
"Oh that's right. Your mother doesn't even like you. No one does."
Inara sat on the ground, her legs curled up to her chest as she tried to ignore him even as tears rolled down her face. She was shaking her head trying to deny what he was saying but the words were like some insidious poison, seeping into her mind.
They broke open the worst nightmares and memories of her life, things she had tried so hard to forget.
Her childhood was a blur of breaking bottles, angry shouts, accusations and curses, the smell of alcohol and vomit and…
She flinched.
The look on his face before he hit her, the strange light in his eyes before he raised his fists. It was burned into her memory, sending her fight and flight response into a frenzy, every nerve in her body telling her to run for her life.
But she couldn't move as the memories came in a giant crushing wave sending her almost into catatonia.
"Having fun there sweetie?" Paxton asked cheerfully.
Inara looked up at him, her eyes spilling with tears but there was a spark of fire in them, a small sign of defiance.
"You can't break me," she said in a small ghostly voice, "You can't…"
Paxton stroked his chin staring at her intently.
"You don't sound too sure there honey," he mocked, "Maybe once more with feeling?"
Inara merely glared at him.
"Fine," Paxton raised his hands, "A little change of scenery perhaps."
Inara opened her mouth to scream something at him but Paxton clapped once and everything around them instantly changed.
AAAAAA
They rode through the night, thundering hooves raining down on soft earth.
Susan was crouched low on her horse's back, trying to mould into the equine. The wind was whipping through her hair as the horse galloped as fast as it could, its legs a blur of motion.
Even though they were going as fast as they could Susan chafed at the defy. Every second lost meant more people would die.
She could see it in her mind's eye now, the Yin sweeping into the Temple tearing everything and everyone apart… the carnage, the gore, the…
She wrenched her thoughts away from that particular and tried to lose herself in the motion of the ride, just letting the wind sweep the thoughts out of her…
Elias.
Inara.
A horrible image unfurled in her head of both of them, dead, their blood…
Susan bit down hard on her teeth and forced herself away from that train of thought. But silently she mouthed a quick prayer to Aslan, to the Holy Spirits.
They had to be alright.
They just had to.
. . . . . . . . . .
It was her childhood home, a small dingy apartment with flickering fluorescent light and dirty walls. And as always the smell of cigarettes and alcohol hung thick in the air.
Inara looked around madly trying to figure out what was going on.
"It's all your fault!" a harpy's voice screeched at her.
Inara did a half-turn and instantly blanched. She tried to back-pedal but stumbled over a discarded bottle, falling with a painful smack onto her back. But her eyes were still fixed on the dishevelled woman towering before her, dark memories spilling into her head.
"Mum," she said in a single flat emotionless word.
"YOU!" Dorothy Nixon flung an empty bottle at her.
Inara flinched as the bottle sailed just past her head, shattering on the ground and spraying her with shards of glistening glass.
"HE LEFT BECAUSE OF YOU!" Dorothy howled, her voice and face barely human, "YOU DROVE HIM AWAY!"
Inara tried to push herself up but she cried out as the broken glass cut deep into her hands. Her arms gave way and she fell back down.
"You stupid little tramp!" her mum snarled, "How dare you spew your filthy lies to the police?!"
Inara tried to get up again grunting in pain but Dorothy lunged forwards, bottle in hand. Blood and alcohol splattered the tiles as she smashed the bottle against Inara's face, the glass falling to bits in her hands.
The girl cried out, spitting out teeth and blood as the force of the blow knocked her back down. Her fingers scrabbled at the tiles as she fought to breathe.
"I only told the truth," Inara spat out, repeating the words she had said so long ago, "He did…"
"SHUT UP!"
What happened next was a blur of memory and illusions blended together. Dorothy kicked and punched and spat on her, screaming with feral rage. Inara tried to fight back but the woman was way too strong, overpowering her meagre defences and beating her into submission.
Dorothy slowly backed away, wiping blood from her knuckles as Inara stayed on the floor, curled up into a foetal position.
"You can't break me," Inara hissed through her pain, her eyes clenched shut, "You can't…"
"Oh please, why the trying sis?" a high pitched voice demanded, "Everyone knows how much a burden you are."
Inara looked up and a willowy girl with a beautiful perfect face glared down at her. Inara shook her head and tried to look away but the girl knelt down and grabbed her face with sharply nailed hands.
"Hiya, little sis," Chelsea sneered, "What's up?"
"Your number of boyfriends?" Inara managed to chew out.
Chelsea laughed and dug a nail into her cheek instantly silencing her. Inara clung to the floor as best as she could trying to find something solid to hang onto as her whole family appeared around her, unpleasant smiles on their faces.
"See? No one likes you," Paxton smirked from somewhere behind her.
"Useless! Useless! I wished I had the brains to kill you when you were still a baby," Dorothy snarled.
Chelsea sighed, tossing her long auburn tresses behind her head.
"Chillax," she told her parents, "I'll handle this."
She turned back to Inara, a gleeful smile on her face.
"You know," Chelsea said casually, "You really did ruin our lives. I mean before you chased daddy away we had a good life. A nice steady income, a comfortable house, decent schools but then… well, you told the cops and we all knew how that turned out."
Chelsea glared at Inara but composed herself quickly. The girl stared up at her, defenceless, her eyes bleary with tears.
"The world would've been so much better if you were never born," Chelsea gently placed two fingers on Inara's temples, "Here. I'll show you."
White light flooded Inara's vision and she saw glimpses of her own world. Her family happy and smiling, the picture perfect family.
Paxton… a devoted husband and loving father…
Dorothy… a church volunteer with a bright smile for everyone…
And Chelsea… beautiful, gifted Chelsea…
Her body bucked and writhed as more and more visions pounded into her head. They whipped through the years, the Nixon family becoming closer and closer, their happiness and wealthy growing with each day until…
Aslan.
Chelsea was chosen and met the others in the Wood between the Worlds. Beautiful, gracious Chelsea who made even Queen Susan the Gentle pale in comparison, commanding respected and admiration in every world she went into.
Talented and athletic, Chelsea mastered the art of fighting in a few short weeks and in every world, she knew instinctively what to do, outsmarting the Darkness in each one…
Shift… the Yin… nameless, faceless horrors… they all fell to Chelsea's blade and wit.
Then a dark immense chamber, Chelsea fighting through an vast horde of monsters by herself, her sword flashing and dealing death with each swing. With a triumphant cry, she hacked the chains from Aslan's paws and freed Him, her face ablaze with triumph.
The Great Lion Himself bowed to the girl, awed by her gift and grace. With Aslan by her side, Chelsea swept the Great Darkness from Narnia and…
Pictures and false memories continued to slam into Inara's head as Chelsea revelled in her success and was crowned the new Queen of Narnia. She ruled with dignity and finesse, loved by her people and ushering in a new Golden Age.
And all throughout the Worlds, everyone sung her praise.
Inara let out a violent gasp as Chelsea yanked her hands away.
"Now do you see?" Chelsea asked softly, "How much of a screw-up you are? Not only are you a useless waste of resources, if it wasn't for you… I would've been chosen. And so many people would've been saved. The world… the worlds would've been so much better off."
"You're lying," Inara croaked, trying to believe in her own words, "You're ly…"
Chelsea smiled smugly and stood, her mother and father instantly wrapped their arms around her. All three of them smiled at her.
"Really? You know it in your heart. You're not talented or gifted. You're nothing. Why would Aslan choose someone like you?"
"A mistake!" Dorothy chorused, "Everything about you… a mistake!"
Inara was crying, her tears hot and messy. She pounded at the floor, shaking her head trying to dislodge their voices but it was inside of her, calling up every insecurity and silent fear, breaking her, tearing her apart…
"Please! Please! Stop!" Inara begged "STOP IT!"
She clap bleeding hands around her ears trying to block them out but their voices boomed inside her very skull.
"Remember school? You failed in everything!"
"How about all those sports you tried? You failed again!"
"You failed as a daughter!"
"As a sister!"
"You failed at everything you do!"
"And how long do you think before your precious companions realise? How long do you think it'll be before they realise you're just a big fat useless burden and cut you loose? You know it's coming Inara. You know it inside your heart. They're going to wake up one day, look at you and wonder why the hell they ever bothered having you around!" all three of their voices cried, "You're nothing to them! Nothing to no one!"
"STOP!"
And everything was darkness and silence. Inara was still curled up on the ground, sobbing helplessly, trying to hold it all in, she wept and screamed trying to find strength but she flailed, lost and bewildered.
A gentle hand on her hair brought her back to reality. Inara looked up and her father was on his haunches next to her, concern and compassion all over his face.
"I'm sorry sweetheart," Paxton said, his own eyes gleaming with tears, "We're not trying to hurt you. We're just trying to make you see the truth."
He rocked back on his heels.
"Now," he held out one hand towards her.
A rough stone dagger lay in his palms.
"You know what you have to do."
Inara stared at the blade for the longest time.
. . . . . . . . . .
The door to the library exploded inwards and the Yin immediately poured into the room, baying for blood. The warriors, elders, novices and scroll keepers barricaded within immediately reacted, a volley of arrows and spears driving the demons back.
Several of the smaller and more agile Yin sprung forwards, bouncing off shelves and walls before throwing themselves down onto the Temple monks.
The warriors fought back and skirmishes broke out all over the library, swords and talons clashing together.
The casualties mounted on both sides, one warrior stabbed a Yin through the heart only to be crashed tackled by two others. He hit the ground, screaming, arms flailing as the monsters made short work of him.
"MOVE!"
The novices and scroll keepers sent a high shelf of books and scrolls tumbling down as the warriors dived out of the way. The Yin screeched as the heavy bookshelf crashed down on them, crushing them beneath its weight.
It was a small victory but the battle raged insanely on.
But it was about to get worse.
Hu stepped into the library, his completely black eyes sweeping the chaotic scene before him.
"HERD THEM!" he barked, "Herd them away from the door!"
The Yin howled and increased their efforts snapping and slashing, driving the humans back as Hu hefted his sword and casually strolled into the battle.
"HU!" a scroll keeper cried practically weeping with relief, "THANK THE SP…"
A stab to the throat silenced the man as Hu kicked the body away. Cackling with glee, the possessed warrior fell on his former friends and comrades dealing death with each blow.
And somewhere deep inside his head, the real Hu, a terrified and trapped boy wept and prayed for release.
. . . . . . . . . .
"CHARGE!" Da Long bellowed.
The horses put on an extra spurt of speed and they rammed straight into the giant mob of Yin blocking their way. The dark spirits went flying as the massive equines lashed out using hoofs and their bulk to plough through the masses, their riders attacking with their weapons.
But soon the sheer bulk of numbers began to slow the horses down as the Yin howled and swarmed onto the humans.
Da Long swung his horse around trying to make a clearing as he chopped down with his sword.
"FORM A RING!" Da Long cried, "FORM A RING!"
The other riders tried to comply but the Yin were everywhere, their fangs and talons ripping into the horses who began panicking and bucking their riders off. But to fall in this battle meant death as the Yin fell on you, trampling and tearing.
Jason let out a roar and shoved his hands forwards and the Yin around him were blasted away.
"What was that?" Zaru gasped from his position on Susan's saddle, trying to keep his balance.
"He has powers," Susan shouted, firing into the horde with her arrows, "We don't have time for this!"
The three companions were being forced closer and closer together as the Yin began to box them in.
Da Long seemed to realise the same thing as more and more of his warriors began to fall.
"RETREAT!" he screamed, "GO!"
He kicked his horse and the large charger lowered its head and rammed through the crowd, the Yin hot in pursuit.
Susan and Jason wheeled their horses around and followed, killing anything that tried to stop them as the few warriors left tried to do the same.
"We can't get to the Temple!" Susan yelled over the wind rushing around them.
She placed her horse right besides his as they continued to ride for their lives. Da Long fixed her with a burning look.
"There's another way," he shouted back, "A back entrance. But it's slower!"
"We don't really have a choice!" Susan cried, "The Temple!"
"I KNOW!" Da Long screamed at her, "COME!"
The warrior leader cut to his left and began galloping off across the plain as the warriors followed. The Yin gave chase for a short distance before giving up, they fell back into their previous positions stopping anyone from reaching the Temple in time.
. . . . . . . . . .
Inara stared at the blade before reaching out and taking it with shaking hands.
"Yes," Paxton murmured softly, "It's the only way. Save yourself the pain and heartbreak… just end it now. You know it's the right thing to do."
Inara slowly sat up, aiming the blade at her.
"The others will reject you," Paxton whispered, "They will hurt you and you will be all alone with nothing and no one. Why do that to yourself? Why go through all that? Just end it now. It'll be better for everyone."
Inara raised her arm ready to land the killing blow.
"Yes," she murmured, "It's for the best."
A lifetime of hurt and pain welled up inside of her, breaking her spirit and eroding her strength. She wasn't strong enough for this. If she stayed with the others, she'll only let them down… she'll get them hurt or killed or…
She blinked slowly.
Even if she didn't they'll eventually see how utterly useless she was. Then what? Will they abandon her? Leave her to fester in a strange world far from home?
It was for the best.
Inara took a deep breath.
She swung the knife down, angling at her belly. Paxton's smile grew and he nodded in approval.
But suddenly, a small voice whispered inside her head, reminding her of a vow she had made not so long ago.
'Is this how you want to be remembered?'
"NO!" Inara jerked her hand away and violently, acting almost out of instinct, she slashed at her father.
Paxton fell backwards clutching at his bleeding face. Inara tossed the dagger aside, ashen-faced and weeping but alive, still alive.
"I can't believe I listened to you!" she screamed, completely losing control, "YOU! What the hell do you know about being useful? What the hell do you know about being wanted or needed? You are stupid useless layabout drunk who beats up on little girls to feel good about himself!"
She climbed slowly to her feet, her eyes blazing.
"I'm a waste of space?!" she spat, "WELL GO TO HELL!"
Chelsea and Dorothy appeared before her but Inara contemptuously turned away from them.
"YOU CAN ALL GO TO HELL BECAUSE I AM SO MUCH BETTER THAN ALL OF YOU!" she screamed, "I WAS CHOSEN FOR SOMETHING! AND I AM NOT GOING TO LET A BUNCH OF BOOZING LOSERS TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ME!"
Her voice echoed through the darkness as Inara wilted, completely bereft of strength. She fell to her knees before crashing face-first to the ground.
She smiled wearily against the rough stone.
"I win," she whispered, "I win."
And a disembodied voice that seem to come from everywhere and nowhere all at once answered her.
"You have passed the test," it told her coolly, "You have been judged worthy."
Inara looked up trying to see who was talking to her.
"For what?"
"For what you were meant to be," the Chamber (for what else could the voice be?), "I was put here by the Holy Spirits, that which you call Aslan for just this very purpose. Thank you, Inara Nixon, you have helped fulfilled my life's purpose."
"What?" Inara asked, dazed.
But the voice continued ignoring her confusion.
"Here is your reward… the gift of the body."
And a golden light suffused her slightly form and Inara Nixon knew power as she had never known it before.
. . . . . . . . . .
REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!
Okay, onto some of the questions/concerns you guys have mentioned. I know a lot of you are going "OMG! INARA'S GET SUPER POWERS SHE'S GOING TO GO MARY SUE AND SAVE THE WORLD AND TAKE OVER THE WHOLE FIC!"
Rest assured, Inara is not going to do anything like that. See, this was why I was so worried about Inara coming across as a Mary Sue because this chapter was a planned a long, long time ago and Inara was always meant to go into the Chamber and get powers to help her in the fight to come. But it was never part of the plan and will never be part of the plan for her to become a hardcore undefeatable fighter in the blink of an eye.
Again, you just have to trust me because the next chapter will deal with the consequences of the power and how Inara will grow as a character because of it, she will never, ever become Undefeatable!Invicinble!Sue
Onto the Chamber itself, I really hope this didn't come across as an Emo-fest. This was again about Inara growing as a character, you saw what kind of life she came from and how she's moved past it and become a much stronger person. This is the whole point of the Chamber. And Inara was the logical character to face it, Zaru and Elias are out because they don't have big traumas in their past. Jason's past will be revealed much later on and I think we've already addressed Susan's issues about her loss of faith and fear for her family. So Inara had to be one.
I have one reviewer talk about the captured Pevensie, Aslan and Caspian. Just to make something clear, they're not all palced in the SAME dimension, they are scattered through several DIFFERENT Dimensions. So I'll leave you with that to munch on!