Wow, I can't believe how quickly I got this written. I want to thank those who reviewed last chapter: princess moon shadow, Shinebright-Starlight, GinaStar, and Enigmaforum. Thank you all so much. I really appreciate it! Now, enough with that. On with the newest chapter.
Chapter Eleven
Briana listened as the woman told her everything that she could about Briana's past. Everything she said seemed to fly right over Briana's head. She could barely register what was happening let alone take in everything the woman was telling her.
"And now, it's my time to pass along the powers of the High Priestess to you. But we must do it fast, I can feel the Darkness approaching." The sorceress said, finishing her tale. "Here, take my hands, there isn't much time left."
She held out two slim, pale hands. Briana stared down at those hands, perfectly formed and made for gentle labor, before slowly placing her own within the woman's cool grip. The woman's eyes drifted close, as if in a trance, and her lips moved to form words very much like she had spoken in Briana's dream. The language was unfamiliar and mysterious, but strangely alluring. Briana felt her fingers tingling with a strange power, the feeling slowly rising up her arms and throughout her body.
The sorceress' chanting increased in pitch and severity; frightening Briana. She glanced around, almost expecting villagers to come dancing out to join the chant for the virginal sacrifice. A strangled laugh pulled at Briana's throat at her preposterous thought. Virginal sacrifice; the thought was too funny not to laugh at. But Briana's laugh was caught in her throat as blinding pain swept over her body. The pain was so intense that Briana could barely hold back the scream that tore at her throat. Her body felt as if it were on fire, being attacked by a million sharp needles that pierced her skin over and over again. Her vision clouded, a dark veil falling over her eyes.
Then, just as quickly as the pain had started, it faded away. Briana stood, panting for air and shivering with an unearthly chill. The woman stood before her, her skin even more pallid than it had been before. Her pulse beat rapidly within her neck, making the pale skin shake. The quiet strength that Briana had seen within her was now gone, and the woman was left looking feeble and old beyond her years.
"Are…are you okay?" Briana asked, forgetting the worry for herself in her fear for the sorceress.
"Yes," the woman nodded feebly as she leaned against the outside wall of the closest building. "Now you must go, the darkness of the Underworld is near. They have felt the spell and know where to find you. You must go. I have enough magic left to hold them off until you are safely away." She pushed herself away from the wall and stood on shaky legs. "Now go!" She ordered.
Briana did not wait to see what would happen to the woman. She had sensed the urgency in her voice and took off, knowing that she would never again see the sorceress.
Briana ran until her feet ached and her breath came in harried gasps. But still she continued to run, not knowing how much distance she needed to put between herself and the sorceress. She prayed that the woman would be safe, but deep down; Briana knew that no one would ever again see the sorceress. This was the end of the High Priestess that had, for so many years, protected her world.
After many blocks had passed, Briana finally slowed before coming to a complete stop. Bending over, she fought to catch her breath before continuing on.
A sound to her left caught Briana's attention. Curious, she walked towards the sound, careful to keep hidden lest the sound should have come from a dangerous creature. Rounding the corner, Briana stopped. Before her stood the Power Rangers and a hideous monster that was quickly defeating the Rangers. Briana watched the fight with wide eyes. She needed to do something; she needed to help the Rangers. After all, hadn't they saved her from Koragg? Didn't she owe them the same kindness?
Please be right about this, Briana prayed to the sorceress as she slowly stepped out into the plaza where the Rangers fought.
Closing her eyes, Briana focused on the fire that the sorceress had placed within her. She didn't know how to do this, she didn't know if it would even work. Inside her mind, Briana pictured what she wanted to happen; she saw the lightening hitting the monster. But nothing was happening.
"Please," she whispered, "please, please, please work."
As if her pleading had some how conjured the power, Briana felt the fire filling her. It seeped from her fingers and into the sky, darkening the world except for one single bolt of lightening the brightened the world for a brief moment.
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Xander stared in wonder; along with the rest of the Rangers, as Briana slowly walked towards them. A fierce wind kicked up, blowing her hair about her face. There was a look in her eyes of intense concentration and pleasure. Her face was flushed with the effort of controlling the powers that resided within her; her lips were pursed and her brow furrowed with concentration.
The wind that blew through the plaza took on a hollowing speed, whipping about the earth with the ferocity of a tornado. The sky crackled with lightening and the earth shook with such intensity that it was all Xander could do to remain on his feet. His companions, too, had difficulty remaining upright. The Rangers stumbled, trying to keep to their feet as the ground shook. But Briana remained steadfast, her feet firmly planted on the trembling earth.
Not mere feet from them, the monster shrieked as the earth split open beneath him, a large crevice forming just under his deformed feet. With a screech of fear and pain, the monster plummeted through the crevice, which quickly closed, trapping the monster within its earthen prison. Then, just as suddenly as the storm had appeared, the earth turned to calm and the land stilled.
Xander rushed to Briana as she fell to her knees, her face now pale and her body trembling.
"You okay, love?" He asked, catching her in his arms before she could fall over. With a weak smile, Briana nodded.
"That was an awesome show of power!" Chip exclaimed. The other four Rangers joined the pair as Xander helped Briana to her feet.
"Are you sure you're okay, Briana?" Madison, ever the motherly type, asked as Briana stumbled. Nick quickly caught her other arm and helped Xander to steady the weakened girl.
"I'm fine." Briana replied, her voice barely more than a harsh whisper. "I just…need to lie down."
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A headache like none she'd ever had before greeted Briana as she slowly woke from the deep sleep that she had fallen in to. Every muscle within her body ached and she felt as if her heart would explode it was beating so fast.
Briana groaned and placed a hand to her forehead as she slowly sat up. Once again, as she looked at her surroundings, she found herself in the same room that she had woken in only that morning. Briana shook her head slowly. Had it really been only twelve hours before that she had woken there? So much time seemed to have passed. Surely it had to of been more than a day?
Her head ached with all the thoughts that ran through and Briana stumbled as she forced herself to her feet.
"Careful there, love." A warm hand wrapped itself around her wrist and a strong arm wound itself about her waist. Briana raised her eyes to Xander's; his face mere inches from her own. Briana stared into his hazel eyes, so lost within their warm depths that she completely forgot to whom those eyes belonged. She felt his breath; warm upon her own mouth.
"Briana?" The questioning tone brought her back to earth and Briana pushed Xander away with the small bit of force that she could muster.
"I can stand on my own, Xander." She snapped, her cheeks flushing as she recalled the thoughts that had run through her mind as she'd stared into his eyes. The urge to kiss him- to feel those soft lips against her own- had been so strong that it frightened Briana. She did not want to feel anything for Xander, least of all anything romantic.
A lazy smirk pulled at Xander's lips, catching Briana's attention. She stared at those lips, which only seconds ago she had thought of kissing, and inwardly chastised herself.
"Oh good, you're up." Madison's voice floated into the room from where she stood in the doorway. "You scared us there for a second." She stepped into the room, her footsteps silent upon the dirt floor. "C'mon, Udonna wants to talk to you."
Briana followed Madison out of the room silently, fighting the urge to look back at Xander. However, her resolve faltered as she reached the door. She glanced over her shoulder only to see Xander standing there, the same smirk on his face as he watched Briana. Catching her eye, he winked. With a low growl, Briana turned as quickly as she could and continued to follow Madison.
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Well, what did y'all think? Please review!
