Disclaimer: I don't own Cirque Du Freak! :(
"The vampires are coming!" A little girl ran down the path, waving a toy behind her. "The vampires are coming!" Her bright face glanced over mine and she stopped in front of me and gave a short bow. "They come to meet you Prince Shan." She ran off again, keen on spreading the word.
My stomach jumped with nerves. Mika Ver Leth, Vancha March, Arrow and I were the Princes now. Unless a new one had been appointed since Paris's death, that wouldn't have changed. I stared at the dirt, and my bare feet. The weather was warming slowly but surely. Our breaths no longer hovered in the air most days and I had fallen back to light trousers and T-shirts with relief. Imoo and I were closer then ever, exploring the limitations of our bond. Even in the midst of sparring with Evanna, part of me was always with the little monster, aware of his basic surroundings and emotions. I had told him everything about my life, from being blooded by Mr. Crepsley, my apprenticeship with him. I had mentioned my mentors' death briefly, but the story brought a flood of unwanted grief. After that the story came easier, until I had to tell him about Shancus. Currently Imoo sat at my feet, batting a scrap of cloth between his paws. Outwardly he hadn't seemed to care about the girls announcement, but through the bond I could sense his curiosity. I'd been teaching him about vampire customs the past few days and he enjoyed it.
"Forgive me," Evra said offhandedly. "But you don't look like a Prince." His eyes shone with amusement and I looked down at my dirt stained self and snorted.
"That would be a hard thing to accomplish after being thrown around by a witch for three hours," I said.
'Indeed. You spent a lot more time in the dirt then she did,' Imoo said slyly.
'Shut up,' I said, not putting any force behind the words.
Imoo flicked his tail and sauntered off towards Truska, presumably to beg for the tidbits of bacon we hadn't finished that morning.
"What do you suggest?" I asked Evra, who didn't look bothered at the length of time it had taken me to respond. He was used to gaps in the conversation, knowing Imoo had interjected with a thought of his own.
Evra pondered the question and then grinned. "Who did you usually see for a clothing crisis before?"
I laughed and followed Imoo, putting a hand on Truska's arm. "Truska can you help me?" I asked. "I need some clean clothing with decent style."
Truska looked up from the plate she was washing and rubbed her soapy hands under the water. "Of course," she said. She waved me ahead of her. Imoo followed slightly behind, cleaning his whiskers of bacon grease. Truska threw open her trailer door and pushed me inside. Racks of clothing, ranging from leather armor to the frilliest of dresses lay inside. A full length mirror was propped precariously between two racks, with several boxes propping it up. At a word from Truska I un-wrapped the weapons from my waist and lay them on the floor, nudging them slightly under the clothing so they wouldn't get stepped on. Truska rummaged through the racks, humming to herself and I hid a smile. Then a shirt and pants smacked me in the face and a pair of boots landed on the floor next to me.
"Put those on," Truska ordered. "Don't look in the mirror." She turned around to give me privacy.
I slipped out of my muddy clothing and into the new shirt and pants. The shirt was tight, but not overly so. Made of black cotton it felt much better then the one I'd been wearing before. The jeans went on next and last the boots. I noted a small, hidden place in the heel of the boot for a tiny knife and smiled. Truska looked me over and pursed her lips. Imoo was doing the same, from where he sat on the pile of boxes.
"Darren, I know little of politics," Truska said seriously. "But I see that you wear the dragon sword and the watch." She pointed at it. The necklace had fallen out of my shirt and lay overtop of the black cloth, shining faintly. "It may make vampires nervous that you wear two signs of your family and none of the vampires?" She said it more like a question.
I could see where she was coming from. I had been first and foremost a vampire, and if I seemed to have shifted complete loyalty to Mr. Tiny and Evanna, that would raise questions. I had no wish to undergo an interrogation.
"I may have the perfect thing," Truska mused. Her eyes took on a closed off look. "Shut your eyes Darren."
I did so after tucking the watch well out of sight. I heard Truska opening one of the boxes and Imoo thumping to the floor with a offended hiss. A light breeze blew past my face and then something settled on my shoulders. Truska steered me a few steps and then strapped my weapons and leather armor on and took the watch back out of my shirt.
"Open your eyes," she said, a note of pride in her voice.
I did and a wave of grief, shock and disbelief filled me. I touched the red cloth reverently and blinked back tears. It was Mr. Crepsley's cape. Stained, torn at the bottom and filthy it was a sight to be seen but it was his. With the watch hanging over my heart and the dragon sword at my belt I looked firmly seated in both the vampires and my fathers loyalty. I hugged the cape closer around me and bent my head. "How?" I asked softly. "He burned."
"He had two of them right before he died. He gave one to me and I kept it after he died. He meant to give it to you when you ended the apprenticeship with him," Truska said. She smiled sadly. "I think he would have agreed you surpassed all expectations."
I felt taller with the cloak on, as if Mr. Crepsley was still here, standing in the trailer, staring at me with pride. I wiped away a tear and turned toward Imoo, bowing at him.
'Does this suffice,' I asked.
Imoo was staring at me, his eyes round. 'Yes," was all he said.
I turned back toward the mirror and lifted my chin. I couldn't stop running a hand over the cloak. Some stains I even recognized, and with a wry twist of my lips I pointed one out to Evra. "That's where I dropped a candle on his cloak! He cursed me for days after that," I said laughing. "And that tear was where Vancha hung it up and was using the cloak as a target for shurikens!" And then I was off, half amused half miserable when I showed Evra and Truska spot after spot, relating stories and memories I had come close to forgetting. By the time I stopped and regained control of my emotions it was time to face the Princes.
I strode down camp, red cloak flapping behind me. Heads turned as I passed; mostly older members who knew that distinctive red. I had unsheathed the dragon sword and carried it low, flames running gently over its blade. The watch was back under my shirt. Evra and Truska had agreed that keeping it safe was more important then flaunting it. Hans Hands joined the procession, falling in behind Evra and I. Even the Little People looked up when I passed their camp, three of them watching until I walked by entirely. Imoo walked at my heels, the red cloak occasionally floating over his body, and obscuring him from view. The Princes were just entering camp, travel worn, but still powerful looking. Mika and Arrow walked side by side, gazing around camp with interest. When they saw me I could see them immediately sizing me up. I could tell they were surprised by the sword and cloak.
"Hello," I said easily when I got into speaking distance.
Mika looked me up and down and then frowned. "You are dead," he said. He was wearing a flamboyant outfit consisting of black and gold cloth, and an outlandish curved sword was belted at his waist.
I sheathed the dragon sword and smiled. "Perhaps I was. But now I am not."
Arrow grunted and squinted at me doubtfully. "Can you still fight?"
"Yes I can," I said assuredly. "If you doubt that claim you are welcome to fight me. I have been sparring regularly with Lady Evanna and she has taught me well with two swords."
"That won't be necessary," Arrow said. He looked respectful at the mention of Evanna. "Are the rumors of your parentage true?" This time, suspicion was in his tone.
"They are true," I said simply. Then I said: "Unfortunately, you have come at a bad time. We are moving camp today." I spread my hands. "If you wish to travel along with us you can. We will be stopping at an old house at the end of the day with plenty of extra room." Imoo jumped onto my shoulder and I could tell it took all of the two Prince's control to not lash out.
Mika and Arrow exchanged glances and then nodded. "We will accompany you." They fell into step behind me as the trailers began to move, pulling out through the trees and onto the tiny dirt road.
Soon we would hit the highway and I would have to get on a trailer, but until then I felt like walking. The Little People were slightly behind us, along with Hans Hands. The heart shaped watch felt like a boulder hanging around my chest. If the wrong person found out about it, shadows would converge on the campsite to claim it. Even though I had gotten stronger, much stronger with Evannas help I didn't know if I could out against them all. She had taught me things about the dragon sword; how it acts on force of will and can do amazing feats. The stronger the owner, the stronger the weapon becomes. The dragon on my back had changed too: Its blue feathers now rippled, changing shades every time it moved. Its teeth had grown longer and sometimes, when I examined it in the mirror a puff of smoke came from its nostrils. Only three days since Mr. Tiny left, and I could now touch the dragon and feel its claws hook around my finger and feel the teeth gently nibble my finger. The protectiveness of it had also increased. I'd long since forgone any thought of showing Evra or Debbie the dragon and the mere thought of Mr. Tiny or Evanna discovering it made a chill run up my spine.
"It's nice to be moving again," Evra commented, dodging Imoo who was pouncing at the edge of Mr. Crepsley's cloak. He fell into step beside me, pushing ahead of Arrow who growled. "But it gets more dangerous from here. Since we are moving into a new town the shadow population will increase tenfold. And on the road hired thugs from the Lord of the Shadows might harass us."
I stretched and pulled the cloak out of Imoo's reach, picking the monster up and depositing him on my shoulder. "What comes we will take. I am more worried about how we will set up the wards at our new location without Mr. Tiny."
"Evanna said that you know what would be the key to that, but she didn't say how," Evra said. He reached out and patted Imoo on the head, getting a slap in the face with a paw in retort.
"Of course she wouldn't say," I said. 'The watch shouldn't work without Mr. Tiny', I thought worriedly. 'So how does that help us with protecting the camp?'
The trees thinned and we pulled out onto the main road. I got in our trailer with Evra and the Princes and slowly we picked up speed. I opened the window and leaned out, enjoying the cool breeze. Evra opened the window next to mine and we sat on Mr. Tiny and Evannas bed, sticking our heads dangerously far out. Behind and ahead of us, the trailers stretched into the distance. Other people had their heads far out the windows and we waved to each other, the excitement (and danger) of moving infecting one after another.
"Wait!"
I jumped and nearly hit my head on the window top.
"WAIT!"
I squinted and there, running toward the back of the trailer line was a man waving a piece of paper. He was trying to catch the edge of the trailer, and several hands reached out to him. But it was clear by the trailers speed that they wouldn't be able to pick him up in time. I watched in disbelief as the man lunged and grasped a hand, barely pulling himself onboard. His leather bag swung dangerously, close to falling from his shoulder but that too was pulled safely inside. I pulled back inside the trailer with Evra, who looked delighted.
"New recruit?" Arrow asked.
"I guess so," Evra said. "That paper looked like an invitation to join us. Evanna sends them out occasionally. Most of the time we get idiots who don't last a week. But at least the guy can run." He chuckled. "You wouldn't believe the ones we get sometimes; acting like they have bested a hundred shadows with their bare hands. In reality they wet themselves when they see a good sized one."
I stared at the trailer where the man had been pulled in, but the windows were shut now. People came and went from the Cirque regularly, and new arrivals were always an event. I stuck my head back out the window and watched as we pulled onto the highway, the trailers becoming more scattered in the process. Other cars drove by their owners sometimes honking and waving out their windows. We waved back, knowing they knew exactly who we were. A couple kids pointed disposable cameras at us and clicked frantically. The back of their car was filled with suitcases.
"They all want to be us," Evra murmured. "They think it is a glory filled life." He shook his head, eyes clouding.
I pulled back inside and slammed the window down. "There is no glory in killing."
"Someday the battle will be taken to their cities. We will fight and die in their streets, and then they will truly see who we are," Evra said. "Men, women and children forced to become warriors. Do you truly think they will think so highly of us after watching that? They are not merciful and neither are we."
Mika and Arrow looked slightly incredulous and Mika spoke first. Each word he uttered lit a fury of rage in my heart. "From what I have seen the Cirque Du Freak is not the most powerful fighting force. You have children running through camp like hooligans. Your armor and weapons are poorly made and you rely on a magician for protection!"
I stood up and grasped Mika's shirt collar, slamming him against the wall with such force he winced. "Those children are war orphans! Their parents fought and died so you vampires could receive your precious information. It is not you on the front lines. You know nothing!"
"We have fought-" Mika wheezed.
I grabbed his throat, nails digging into the soft flesh. "Where were you when the Lord of the Shadows came to the camp? We lost thirty that day! Why are we the only ones traveling from city to city to help people? You rest in Vampire Mountain like cowards, sending out pathetic "patrols" and call it fighting! Even the vampaneze have done more!" I released Mika before he suffocated and the Prince slid to the floor.
"You don't know anything about what the vampires are doing!" Arrow spat.
"I KNOW ENOUGH!" I roared. I unsheathed the dragon sword and flames ran along its hilt. I pressed Arrow to the wall by his throat with it and pierced Mika with a glare. "I am the son of Desmond Tiny and Angela Shan. Vampire, human and magical blood runs in my veins. I am as mixed up as one can get. And right now I am most proud of the magical blood!" I snarled. "The Lord of the Shadows is here. He is killing, ruining families and taking cities for his own. And what do the vampires do? THEY HIDE IN THE MOUNTAIN AND TAKE NOTES!" Mika had the grace to look ashamed. His eyes lowered and I turned my fury onto Arrow who met it unflinchingly. "Fight like the vampires you are and nothing can stand in your way," I hissed. "You have Desmond Tiny, Lady Evanna and the entire might of the Cirque Du Freak and vampaneze at your back! Not even the Lord of the Shadows can stand against us if we unite as one." I leaned in close to Arrow and whispered in his ear. "Find that dark part of you, the one that longs to come out and play. The part that wants blood for all the pain he has caused." I spoke louder. "I know you are afraid. I am afraid too. Examine that fear, turn it upside down and know it inside and out. But don't let it stop you." I met Arrows gaze once again and this time he looked back with fire in his eyes.
"The Vampaneze Lord was a monster. The Lord of the Shadows is another. We put down one and we can kill the other," I said firmly, the wild anger dying out. I reached out and pulled Mika to his feet and sheathed the sword. "The shadows represent our fears, our darkest secrets and thing we shove far in the back of our minds."
Evra threw open the windows again. "No more running," he agreed.
I looked around at the others. Mika and Arrow squared their shoulders. "No more running," they agreed and I knew they meant it. I sank onto a chair, opened the bottle of blood, and drank it in three swallows. But before I could set the bottle down four distinct sounds echoed and four thuds hit the back of the trailer. Gunshots. I leapt up and scrambled to the window. Four black cars were pulling up alongside the trailers, firing into their sides. The men inside wore black suits and sunglasses. I growled and turned to Arrow and Mika. "Time to prove that newfound bravery," I said dryly. I looked up at the window in the top of the trailer and grunted. "Duck!" I leapt up and punched through the window, showering glass onto the carpet below. Imoo leapt up after me and I crouched on top of the trailer, quickly lying down so the men in the car couldn't see me. I unsheathed the dragon sword and regretted leaving the gun behind. It was a lot more then four cars. More and more were pulling up alongside trailer after trailer, pushing other travelers into the railings with a screech of metal. I looked down the ragged line of trailers, assessing which one I knew Evanna, Harkat and the new recruit to be in and nodded to myself. I crawled over and peered down into the trailer, shouting at the three still there. "Distract the car next to us! I'm going to round up the others!" They nodded.
I crawled back to the edge of the trailer and waited until a wild shout came from below. The car slowed and began firing again, totally focused on the people inside. I got into a crouched position, wobbling with my booted toes over the edge of the trailer. Imoo looked at me and then I picked him up, tucked him into my shirt and jumped, using all the power in my legs to launch us forward. I barely hit the edge of the next trailer and slid down the metal, scrabbling for a handhold. I grabbed onto the lip of the trailer and hung there, the highway rushing by feet below my boots. I let out a wild yell and hauled myself over the edge, shimmying over the skylight in this trailer. The people inside were too busy to notice me and I jumped to the third trailer, landing more firmly this time because the trailers were much closer together. Only two more before I was at Evannas trailer. But the men inside the cars had caught onto what I was doing and now they were skidding toward me, guns pointed ahead. Two shots whistled overhead and it was like a switch had been flipped. Bullet after bullet went overhead, but I was pressed too tightly against the metal roof for them to get a hit. Imoo and I crawled as close to the edge as we dared and peered over. One of the black cars was driving right next to us. The men inside only had two firing; one was driving and the second was looking at some sort of map. I sucked in a deep breath and rolled off the trailer roof.
I landed on the car with a loud crunch and whipped the gun out of the first mans hand. He wobbled dangerously and fell completely out of the window, hitting the guard rail with a crunch of bone. The second man was slightly harder but I whipped out a hand and bent his wrist back, snapping it and the gun clattered to the road, vanishing under the tires of another car squealing up behind. I snatched him up and pulled him around so he was a shield at my back. He had fainted from the pain. Bullets hit the car around us, shattering the back window and thumping into the trunk. The car swerved and I was nearly pitched off. Imoo yowled and leapt out of my shirt, flying toward the car behind us. I didn't have time to look back and jumped again, colliding with the half open window of the next trailer. I dropped the shield and he bounced away, nearly getting run over by his comrades. Nobody except boxes was inside this trailer and I climbed up the window nimbly, dropping onto the roof to rest. The car that had been behind suddenly stopped firing. I looked around and saw a tire bouncing down the highway, quickly followed by a door and then the trunk. I gaped as Imoo systematically ripped apart the car. The doors were next, then the last few tires. The steering wheel was ripped off and then Imoo clawed up the side of the trailer back to me, leaving behind a gently smoking car and two severely scratched men. I laughed when Imoo puffed out his chest and groomed his ears. The trailer ahead was Evannas but it was much further away then the others had been and three cars surrounded it. The trailer driver seemed to have taken on a evasive tactic and was weaving around the highway, trying to knock away its followers.
I exchanged a look with Imoo and in complete agreement we leapt off the trailer and began to run flat out toward the cars. Imoo took the lead and he headed toward the car closest to the front of the trailer. I sprinted, the asphalt blurring under my feet. As I ran I half jumped, half tripped until I managed to rip off the boots and discard them. I could run faster in bare feet. The trailer was quickly coming up onto the bridge. I had an idea, but I had to get there first. I let out a scream and surged forward, leaping up onto the guard rail and running on top of it. Imoo had begun to wreck havoc. Already two doors had been wrenched off, but Imoo was having a much harder time then before. Then men had wised up and were firing at him, completely ignoring the fact that they were putting holes in their own vehicle. I was level with the first car, which was too busy firing at the trailer to notice me. I saw figures inside the trailer through the tinted windows, but I didn't think they saw me. Two of them looked injured and the third was wrapping a cloth around ones arm. I was level with the front of the trailer now. I had never run so fast in my life. My muscles burned and each breath came fast and short. I passed the trailer and the men noticed me. They fired, but because of the dangerously weaving trailer their shots went wild as their own cars dodged. I landed on the bridge about a hundred feet away from the group and unsheathed the dragon sword.
I waved it in the air, a risky move. But I had to get the trailer occupants attention. The driver saw me first and he yelled something back. Then Evanna appeared in the passenger seat, with the recruit and Evra squeezing in behind. The men pulled ahead of the trailer and fired. I ducked and weaved, but the bullets were becoming closer to their mark every second. Everyone withdrew back into the trailer except the driver. But now it seemed my plan wouldn't work. The cars were pulling ahead, intending to cut the trailer off. I ran forward, howling in anger and as the group came within thirty feet, I leapt. I jumped over the car which Imoo had already ripped apart and slammed into the car next to the trailer windows. The dragon sword sank into the windshield, impaling the driver. I pulled the weapon free and jumped up onto the trailer right before the car swerved and went through the railing. Now Evra was climbing out of the trailer skylight to join me, spinning two guns in his hand. A bloody bandage was wrapped around his left arm, but he looked furious.
"There are at least twenty cars," I panted. "Imoo and I each got two, but there are still about 16 left."
Evra looked grave. "I know why they are here in such mass," he gasped back. "They want the watch."
My hand darted to my chest and I paled. "They don't know who has it?"
"Not yet," was the ominous reply.
"Lets get to work then," I said darkly. "If I can get ahead of them, I can take at least a few out. But if any of the trailers are in the way too…" I didn't finish. The message was clear. If any friendly people were in the firing line, they would be destroyed.
Evra and I looked over the edge of the trailer, each of us taking a side. There was still one car on each side. We exchanged looks and then rolled off. I landed on the back of the car, smashing my hands through the back window and grabbing the shirts of the two men sitting their. They only had time to scream before I yanked them out and sent them flying down the road. I crawled inside, ducking the barrel of a gun and sank my teeth into the last gunmen's shoulder, making him shout. I reached for the door handle and clicked it open, sending the man flying into the trailer. The driver and I looked at each other and I flashed bloody teeth at him in a feral grin. He paled and threw open the drivers door, jumping out. I climbed into the drivers seat and pulled up alongside the trailer driver. The new recruit was sitting in the passenger's seat. They stared at me in surprise and I mock saluted them. Through the other window I could see Evra had successfully gained control of his car.
I yelled at Evanna who had just pushed herself back into the drivers' area. "WE NEED TO GET THE OTHER TRAILERS OUT OF THE WAY!"
She shook her head. "They won't leave until they know who has it!"
I hesitated. "Then I guess we should tell them! If we can get ahead of them all, we can out run them. They will leave the others to chase me!"
Evanna looked as if she thought that plan was idiotic and I wholeheartedly agreed. Then she nodded. I slammed on the brakes and jumped back for the trailer. Then I stood up, and looked at the other trailers which were still under attack. When the men saw me they fired a few shots but I quickly took the chain off and waved the watch in the air.
"YOU WANT THIS?" I screamed. "THEN COME GET IT YOU BASTARDS!" The results were perfect. The cars peeled off from their targets and headed right toward us. I waited until they began to fire before jumping on top of Evra's car. I leaned down and slid into the window. "Get as far ahead of them," I whispered tiredly. "Find another bridge if possible."
"I thought we were going to out run them together?" Evra asked confused.
I shook my head. "We can drive faster then that trailer. And if they catch up to Evanna and the others they will kill them. There is enough fire power to take down anything in those cars. They want what I have and I doubt they'll stop for sightseeing along the way."
Evra nodded shortly and pressed the gas petal to the floor. We peeled ahead of the trailer in a screech of rubber. Only fifty feet away from the trailer the other cars came skidding around it like a stampeding herd. About a mile ahead we could see a bridge, its span much, much bigger then the one we had just gone over. I fingered the hilt of the sword. "Get onto the bridge. Don't stop until we are about three quarters of the way up it." I looked back. "And we will need a bit of distance."
"Take these," Evra ordered and handed me the guns. He looked forward and if possible the car went even faster.
I leaned out the windows and instead of aiming for the gunmen, I went for the tires. 'Imoo now!' I yelled mentally.
In a blur of black Imoo leapt forward and darted under the lead car. Metal flew and tires bounced past us. I fired once, twice and the car slowed to a crawl, Imoo darting in and out of its windows like a demon. He emerged seconds later, clutching the gas pedal in his mouth. I lost sight of him as more cars drove forward and fired again. The bridge was only five hundred feet away, but it felt like miles. The cars had gradually fallen behind but we would be lucky to have seconds when we stopped. The cars had stopped firing and I guessed they were worried about us crashing and destroying the watch. We hit the bridge and Evra grunted.
"I hope you have something good up your sleeve!" He said.
'Me too,' I way up the bridge I unsheathed the dragon sword. Evra unlocked the doors and with a screech he slid to a stop with a half tail spin and we launched out. "The cars have to be on the bridge!" I screamed. The sun was disappearing behind a thick bank of black clouds and lightning flashed in the distance. Far below the bridge a river wound its way through the valley, darkening as the storm grew nearer. I could see the trailer in the distance, driving much too slow to get here before the cars did. I held the dragon sword as the first car crossed onto the bridge. Then more and more. Their headlights switched on, illuminating the bridge in bright light. I was nearly blind and my eyes watered but I raised the dragon sword above my head and waited.
One.
Two.
Three.
I screamed and brought the weapon down. The blade sank into the cement and the fire was quenched. There was a rumbling sound and then cracks appeared around the blade, splitting along the length of the bridge, racing toward the cars. They grew wider and the bridge shook. I held onto the hilt, driving it deeper and deeper. With each inch more cracks spanned across it, until the entire bridge was a mess of tiny cracks growing wider and deeper all the time. The cars kept coming and I with a horrible jolt I knew the sword wouldn't do its work before we were killed. Evra and I stood helplessly, watching the cars race toward us. The men inside wore triumphant faces and I nearly sank to the ground. Then instead of defeat, I became livid. It was a deep set fury, stronger then anything I had ever felt before. These pathetic men were going to shoot us. They would kill the rest of the Cirque Du Freak. They were going to take my body to the Lord of the Shadows when they couldn't get the watch off. And they would laugh.
"NO" I howled. I felt a pressure at the back of my skull and reached back with a fist. My eyes burned and I let go. The pressure vanished and my fist flew forward in a punch. A concussive force flew from my hand. The front row of cars crumpled like wet paper. They flipped over and over, taking out the cars behind it. I sagged to the ground, every scrap of energy leaking from my body. The bridge groaned and trembled and the middle began to bow in. Evra pulled the dragon sword out of the crumbling ground and began to drag me away. The bridge began to give way, its supports cracking and snapping in two. We cleared the edge of it and fell onto solid ground just as it collapsed entirely. With a grinding noise that nearly deafened me the bridge split in two, swallowing the cars in jagged cement jaws. Metal, cement and black cars fell toward the river. The noise went on and on until I clamped my hands over my ears. When it was all over I looked over the edge. There was nothing left spanning the gorge, except the very ends of the bridge, one of which Evra, Imoo and I sat on.
The trailer pulled up to the edge and figures spilled out. Evra pulled me upright and I waved the newly lit dragon sword in the air. We were alive. Barely. The swords power had saved us at the last second.
Evra laughed. "We did it!"
It hit me like a rush of cold water. I hadn't been touching the sword when the cars were hit. "Crap," I said aloud.
A.N. R&R please!