I press my face into Marshalls neck as we fly through the tunnels. I have no desire to stare into the dark, hoping something isn't staring back. With only the rushing of wind in my ears, we make our way back up to the surface. After long, I feel light on my eyelids. I'm blinded for a second as we exit the mountain into open air. We sore over trees until we're back at the treehouse.
Cake pops out from my pocket before we hit the grass, "Ok is anyone gonna catch me up to what happened?" She asked. For the second time in a short while , I feel intense relief when my feet hit the ground. "It was an ambush, he was waiting for us" I explained to Cake.
Cake puffs up, "How did he know to wait there?"
"Because it's been centuries and I got sloppy" answered Marshall. He looks down at his torn plaid shirt for a second before tearing it off and throwing it in the grass.
I walk up to Marshall and take his hands, "Hey, this isn't all bad, we got what we went down there for and everybody made it out ok. That's what matters" I say.
Instead of pulling away, Marshall throws his head back, looking at the clouds. "You're right. I just hate being anticipated by that bastard. There's so much at stake. I can't afford to make a mistake".
It was then I truly understood how he felt. The guilt that was probably suffocating him.
"Everything will be ok Marshall, we'll beat him" I reassure.
He continues to look up, not looking at me. I bite my lip, "Do you wanna see my shiny new sword? I tease.
He continues to look up, away from me. "I mean, I can just start swinging it around and see what happens…"
He signs then looks down at me, "I better see what you're little fingers managed to steal down there before unleashing you on Ahhh" sighs Marshall
I smirk as I take the sword from my backpack. The glass sword was back to its pearly iridescence, no red in sight. I frown, that can't be good.
Marshall takes it from my hand, examining it. "Nice pick Fi, this sword will stop any wound made by it from healing. And for a bonus the blood it absorbs can be used to track the owner of said blood."
"That makes sense", I say, thinking back to the wound I made. "But the swords white again, what does that mean?" I ask.
Marshall shrugs "Every magic weapon has its drawbacks. Probably once we got out into the sunlight, the blood vanished. Plus after long enough it would have vanished as well".
"Ok, so sunlight and a time limit, got it." I confirm. I side eye Marshall, "so what you're saying is I'm holding a vampire sword" I tease, poking him with my finger.
He swats my hand away gently, "Hey, thanks to my mom I have very little issues with sunlight"
I laugh, "yea it's been nice not having to stay up all night just to hang out with you".
Marshall sighs then looks at the sky, "sun sets not long from now" he looks at me "time to pack up anything you'll think you'll need for then next forseeable future".
"What-" I start to say before cake buts in with "What are you takin about boy?"
He starts heading towards the treehouse, "like I said, suns setting. After dark, Emrick will be free to roam Ahh as he pleases. He also knows who you are so it won't be a stretch to figure out where you live" he answers.
I get a flicker of annoyance that this old bat is enough to drive me out of my house. I sigh, better to be ahead then to get caught unaware again. I jog up to Marshall as he opens the door, "where are we going then?"
Marshall smiles, "I know just the place".