I don't own Night World.
Chapter 14
I was walking slowly through the desert, fingering the blade of my short knife.
The knife that would end my life.
I flinched and stopped for a minute next to a particularly big patch of creosote. The harsh scent hung over me.
When I'd composed myself, I started walking again, wiping away the tears and ignoring the vicious yanks on the silver chord. Instead, I closed my eyes, trying to enjoy the warm sun playing on my back.
The light suddenly dimmed.
I opened my eyes and looked west, and saw that a massive raincloud had covered the sun, moving quickly towards the lodestone. It was moving strangely, not like how clouds usually move, and the way it was churning created shapes that looked like... well, monsters.
I shook my head. Of course there weren't monsters in the clouds. That was even more stupid than monsters being under bed. Or in the walls or something. [A/N I used to be scared of monsters in the walls ;) They looked like the dragon from Mulan, only they were human size and were black. And weren't very nice!] I forced myself to walk purposefully forward.
The distance seemed shorter, somehow. After too short a time, I reached the crater.
I looked at the lodestone, in the middle, and my stomach twisted into nervous knots.
My hands were shaking as I slid down the side of the crater and walked to the lodestone, dragging my feet a bit.
The first drops of rain cascaded down from the sky. After a few seconds it was pouring down, drenching me to the skin.
Although it was still warm, I shivered. I looked behind me, scanning the horizon. The day was darkening, earlier than it should. I frowned, then took a deep breath, willing myself to do the strike, before I ran back to Morgead as fast as I could.
I turned back round and put my hands on the lodestone, feeling it throb under them. It felt razor-sharp, and was warmer than it should be, apart from the blue markings, which were ice-cold.
"Jezebel."
I gasped and whirled round, then stared uncomprehendingly at the man in front of me.
"You're meant to be dead."
It was Lohemadu. He seemed relaxed, even smiling a bit.
"Of course not, Jezebel. I managed to evade the Power." He came closer to me overlooking my flinching. "You are the one who will die, but your blood will not spill over the lodestone. You have five minutes to beat me and then gather up enough courage to strike yourself. In five minutes, all the cruellest monsters will invade the world."
I swiftly moved into a defensive position and cut my hand.
He laughed. "No good. You lost the Power when you delivered the last blow. None of the so called 'Wild Powers' have the Power any more. It has gone back to where it was before you were all born." He leant even closer, until he was only about five inches from me. "All you have is your skill in fighting. Too bad that you don't have the weapon you need. All you have is a wooden knife. They don't work on me." He smiled triumphantly. "Admit it, Jezebel. You're out of options. You will die, and you will be too weak to go to the lodestone. Everyone you care about will die. Your daughter will die."
I managed to control myself enough not to flinch and quickly scanned around him, trying to think up of a plan, whilst trying to call upon the Blue Fire.
"Yeah, well. I don't-"
I stopped talking and abruptly launched myself at him, raising my elbow to hit him in the face. He recoiled and snarled as I danced back, then threw myself to the side as he jumped forward, and kicked him in the ribs.
He was ready for it that time and tried to grab hold of my ankle, but missed. He threw himself at me again, reaching to wrench the sword out of my hand. I jumped over his head.
As I landed, he'd somehow managed to find a wooden sword and was brandishing it, aiming for my legs. I was forced to do an ungainly, stupid-looking skip and knocked the sword off-course. He didn't fight it, just let the motion carry on, absorbing it with his body.
For the first time in a long time, I doubted my ability to win a fight.
Just as that thought passed through my mind, he got past my defences and skilfully sliced across my stomach.
Everything started to black out. I could feel my life blood trickling out. I stumbled back, until I was above the lodestone. Lohemadu snarled and started to come to me as I collapsed onto my knees, but before he could do anything, there was a massive crack from the lodestone, and he seemed to meet an invisible barrier.
I knew that I was dying. I didn't feel myself falling onto my side as my blood continued to pour out. The world started bleaching out, until there was no colour left.
"Jez..." I could hear Morgead's voice, despair saturating it.
"I'm okay," I whispered to him.
Everything went gold, then darkened.
The last thing I felt was flying through the air faster than the speed of sound, and gaining speed.
To be continued...
Well, Huntress II is finally finished! (Phew!) Stay updated for Huntress III.