Amalthea ran; escaping from those horrified blue eyes. She ran until she lost her breath and, exhausted, she stumbled on the root of a tree and fell to the ground. However, she didn't rise, instead, she rolled on her back and remained like that, her gaze fixed on the sky. A single tear slid down her temple, but that was all. She wanted to scream and cry out loud, but she could not. She had too much bottled up within her; beginning with Sheri's death twenty years ago and Mael's rejection being the final blow. She felt miserable, completely betrayed and alone... but she didn't and couldn't blame him. Surely Sheri would be just as horrified as he had been and, maybe even Nell... She sighed and closed her eyes... but if only he had given her a chance... No. Who was she kidding? The truth was that she was a... murderer. It didn't matter if she killed only the ones she considered evil... and the ones that threatened her life. No. Being a killer was the price of being an Immortal... that, and loneliness.
She opened her eyes and a resigned smile appeared on her face. Soon everything would come to an end. She would fight and kill just one more time. Bethan must be stopped. She owed that to Sheri, Nell, Leila and all the inhabitants of Shareb... and then, she would throw her sword away... and wait for another Immortal... and finally join her beloved sister.
Knowing exactly what to do now -return to the village to see how they were doing and search for Bethan- Amalthea rose and, distractedly resting her hand on the hilt of her sword, she hurried to Shareb.
When she arrived there, she was relieved to see that place was deserted. Leila had listened to her warning after all. Perfect, now all that she had to do was wait; surely Bethan would not resist attacking a pacific, defenseless village...
Unexpectedly, her stomach roared and only then she realized she had not eaten anything since the morning. Shrugging, she went to Nell's house and took a little bit of dry meat and bread. Of course she promised herself she would talk later with Kala. She was about to go out, when a doll laying on the floor caught her attention. Unbidden, a tender smile lit up her sad face. She picked it up and left it on the table. Suddenly, she heard footsteps; someone was approaching the house. Quickly, she hid behind the door, the sword held firmly in her hand. The stranger entered, Amalthea jumped forward out from her hideout... and froze.
"Nell!" she exclaimed, putting her weapon away. "What are you doing here?"
As an answer, the child grabbed her doll and held it tightly against her chest. "I forgot Sihobann," Nell said innocently.
Amalthea rolled her eyes and gently placed her hand on the child's shoulder. "Where are your mother and Leila?"
"My mother and all of them are in the northern caves," she answered and then cocked her head. "Why didn't you and Lord Ma'el come with us?" she asked, worried. "And where is he?"
Amalthea slightly stiffened. "I went to explore..." the redhead said and after a little hesitation, she continued. "I... don't know where he is. Maybe he returned to his camp, she said. "Hey, don't worry," she quickly added, at Nell's expression. "He is fine," she insisted, as if trying to convince herself. Then she took Nell's hand. "Come on, little one, we must get out of here and take you to a safe place."
"I want to stay with you!" the child protested.
Amalthea shook her head and gave her a deadly serious look. "This is serious, Nell. Do you really want to help me?"
Nell nodded enthusiastically. "Yes!"
"Good," Amalthea said solemnly. "All I want you to do is to be safe. Understood?"
"But--"
"Understood?" Amalthea repeated in a slightly warning tone.
"All right," the girl agreed with a sigh.
Relived, Amalthea hugged her and guided her out of the house. "Where will we go?" Nell asked.
"I will take you to--" Amalthea suddenly stopped and stiffened, a familiar hum reaching to her. "Go inside, now!" she ordered.
"But--"
"I said now!" the redhead interrupted her dryly and at the shocked and scared look Nell gave her, Amalthea forced herself to smile. "Please, little one."
Nell smiled back, nodded and entered. "Stay there until I tell you otherwise," Amalthea encouraged her, walking away from the house, toward the center of the village
Seconds later, she heard and then saw the masked riders approaching. There were ten of them and they were just as hideous as she remembered. Shaking herself and controlling her fear, she took out her sword and waited for them.
When they were close enough, one of them -the man with the ugliest mask of all and a black tunic, obviously Bethan- raised his hand and the others stopped. He continued marching, deliberately slow, toward Amalthea. He stopped the horse only a few steps away from her and looked down at her. He took off his mask to reveal a serious face with a square-shaped jaw an aquiline nose... and evil eyes, the same steel eyes she had seen twenty years ago.
"So, you did survive all those years," he hissed as a cold smile appeared on his face. "Now it will be fun... taking your head," he added darkly.
"Not if I take yours first," she said dryly.
He chuckled and shook his head. "Now, why the hurry?" he asked mockingly and then turned to his men. "Is this the woman who defeated you, Darren?" he asked, with an annoyed voice.
The singled rider dismounted and walked toward Amalthea and Bethan.
"Ah, that must be your pet," she noted in a bored tone. Inwardly, she was nervous... to say at least.
At her words, the man called Darren yelled in disgust and, taking his sword, he attacked her. Amalthea went a couple of steps back, raised her weapon... but the blow never came.
"Stop!" Bethan ordered.
Darren froze and looked up at him. "NO!" he growled. "She must pay!"
"Are you questioning my order?" Bethan asked icily, dismounting from his horse.
"Of... course... not," Darren said seriously, hiding the fear inspired by his leader behind his mask. He lowered his sword.
Bethan nodded and, at another sign to his men, two of them dismounted and came forward, rudely dragging a hooded man with them. At another sign, one of them pulled the prisoner's hood back.
Amalthea froze and went white. She opened her eyes wide. "Ma'el!" she exclaimed, alarmed, holding her sword so tightly that her hand began to ache. "Let him go!" she ordered and was about to go to him, but Bethan's sword convinced her to remain in her place. She bit her lower lip for not to scream and cursed herself. She should have never left him alone by the river... no mattering the circumstances. "Are you all right?" she asked, ignoring Bethan's amused stare.
"I am unharmed," Ma'el answered softly, looking apologetically at her.
The redheaded Immortal slightly loosened the grip on her hilt and blinked, relieved. She locked eyes with Bethan. "Let him go," she repeated. "He is of no use to you."
"That is not true!" Darren exclaimed angrily. "He commands magic. I saw him!"
"Yes, yes. I know the story," Bethan said tiredly and looked at him in a cold, mocking way. "I know that he... prevented you from killing her." He paused for a moment, gave a quick dark stare to Amalthea and then continued in the same tone. "But now, you can have your revenge. No... demon will interfere. Kill her!" the Immortal leader ordered.
To Ma'el's horror, the man growled and, brandishing his sword, he charged toward Amalthea... but the Taelon should had not worried. Just as she had done before in the river, she easily blocked the attack. Darren snorted and struck again... and, again, she stopped him. After a moment, it was clear to the spectators that the woman would win. In a last desperate -but futile- attempt, Darren gathered all his strength... and ran to her. Amalthea quickly stepped out of his way and, turning, she hit his head hard with the hilt of her sword. He fell unconscious to the ground.
The riders began to move agitatedly, but Bethan stopped them. He met her eyes. "Good. Now finish him."
Amalthea stared at him in disbelief. "But... he is your friend."
He gave the redhead a genuinly surprised look and then... began to laugh. "I thought you had already guess it by now, after twenty years," he said, once serious. "There is not room for friendship or love for us. I became an Immortal sixty-seven years ago, when I was twenty-three and, like you, I thought I could have a pacific life, friends and, perhaps, a mate. But soon I discovered my mistake. When they learned that I couldn't die and that I have to kill, they feared me and banished me from their lives. Their friendship and love just... vanished" he said bitterly and paused for a moment to see her reaction. He was rewarded by a quick glance she gave to the prisoner.
In spite of herself, Bethan's words touched her deeply and she couldn't help but to look at Ma'el. Also disturbed by the evil man's words, the Taelon held his friend's sad gaze, but unable to resist her hopeless stare, he lowered his eyes.
Satisfied by the woman's and the prisoner's reaction, Bethan continued. "However in the end, they made me a favor. They taught me that I didn't need them. They are just poor humans, condemned to die, and I am an Immortal, destined to live forever..."
"We can't be alone forever," Amalthea interrupted him. "You are insane!"
He shook his head and chuckled again. "No, you are wrong and you know it. We just can't live with them, have their friendship or their love... Because you see, my dear, we are Killers," he finished and, without another word, he went to the fallen Immortal and with a quick movement of his sword... he cut off Darren's head. "See?" he asked a pale-looking Amalthea. Then, he stiffened and screamed ecstatic as a blue lightning wrapped his body, giving him all Darren's power.
Ma'el watched in morbid fascination the spectacle and only then he realized the amazing being that was Amalthea... an Immortal... and then, in a frightening insight, he also realized he might well have lost her... forever. Unable to keep his concentration, he lost his façade.
Once the quickening was over, Bethan shook his head and stretched his arms, just as if he were waking up from a nap. He stared at Amalthea with a satisfied smirk and was about to say something, when annoying whispers on his back caught his attention. Angry by the lack of respect of his men, he turned... and saw the source of their distress. His smirk became a wide grin filled with greed. "So you have magic after all," he said to the now sparkling prisoner.
Ma'el recovered his disguise and gave his best icy stare. "You are wrong in your assumption," he said in a cold, disgusted voice.
"I will judge that... after I finish with your friend, of course," Bethan said darkly, indicating Amalthea. "Ah, and do not dare to interfere, or I will send my complete army to the northern caves. I know the inhabitants of this village are hiding there," he added, not bothering to hide the satisfaction that slaughter would cause him.
"He will not interfere," Amalthea quickly stated, looking pleadingly at Ma'el.
The Taelon bowed his head. "I will not... interfere."
"Good," Bethan said and turned to Amalthea. "Are you ready, my dear?"
"For twenty years," She answered in a deadly voice.
Silently, Bethan went to her, his hands holding his sword, his eyes fixed upon her weapon and her eyes. Rudely, under the setting sunset, their blades collided. Unlike Darren, Bethan was far more skilled than Amalthea. With expert and violent movements, he made her go backwards, until she had her back against a tree and her sword before he, blocking his strike.
"Just delaying the inevitable," he hissed. With an evil laughter, he withdrew his weapon and brandished it rudely to her neck...
"NO!" Ma'el yelled, blushing blue and taking both hands to his chest. Seeing the prisoner's reaction, his captors made an attempt to hold him, but, at the icy, warning stare the Taelon gave them, they cleared their throats and remained in their places. Satisfied, the alien returned his attention to his friend.
To Ma'el's relief, Amalthea didn't lose it. She ducked, avoiding Bethan's blow, and walked a few steps away from him. Gasping for air, she removed strands of hair away from her face and, raising her blade, she attacked him.
The evil Immortal cursed as he managed to free his weapon from the tree –where it had dug, instead of Amalthea's neck- and avoided her blow. "I see you have practiced all these years," he muttered, waving his blade.
"Just for you," she replied, answering the attack with one of her own.
Bethan knew better, though. In spite of her skills, she would not last long. He could already see signs of exhaustion in her: the sweat covering her face and her agitated breathing. Slowly, a nasty smirk spread on his face as an idea occurred to him. Brutally and mercilessly, he began to strike her, not giving her a single second to rest... or think.
Amalthea stopped all his blows, but each time it was more difficult... and each time her sword was heavier...
Ma'el lost his disguise for a second and balled his hands into fists with barely contained anger and despair. Amalthea was dangerously close to her limits... and to the Void... and he just could not interfere to help her. His eyes sparkled brighter...
...And the masked men did not dare to bother him.
Bethan yelled, excited... and suddenly stopped. Amalthea blinked, puzzled, but the moment didn't last long. He growled and forced her to go backwards, where Darren's body was. Then, he stopped again, his eyes blazing with fury and anticipation, his sword raised...
"THIS ENDS NOW!" he shouted and, with all his strength, he directed a savage blow to her.
"NO!" Amalthea screamed and, gathering her last remaining energy, she managed to stop his strike, but the clash was so violent, that her sword broke in two, the blade and the hilt fell to the ground. She stared at her broken weapon in shock and then raised her gaze to Bethan. He was smiling, his eyes shinning with satisfaction and triumph.
"Just delaying the inevitable," he repeated in a mocking voice. Without a word, he hit her jaw with the hilt of his sword.
Losing her balance by the powerful blow, she dizzily went a couple of steps back... and stumbled with Darren's lifeless body. She fell on her back... hard. Exhausted and frustrated, she looked up at her enemy and saw her death in his eyes. Desperate, she tried to rise, but she simply could not move. Gasping for air, she remained lying on her back... everything was over. As if she were just a mere spectator, she saw with morbid calm how he licked his lips, raised his sword for a last time and...
Ma'el lost his façade. Sparkling furiously and unable to stop himself, he yelled. "NO AL'THELAN!"
Suddenly another fearful scream joined his. "AMALTHY!"
Startled, he saw Nell leaving a house and running toward Amalthea. With inhuman speed, he reached the child and held her. "NO AMALTHY!" Nell shouted again, struggling in Ma'el's arms, completely unaware of his appearance.
As if the screams had been uttered from far away, they reached to Amalthea like mere whispers... soon she would be with her beloved sister. Soon she...
(AMALTHY!)
(AL'THELAN)
This time she heard the screams inside her head and she recognized the voices. Her dear Nell and Ma'el... and to her disbelief, a third voice joined them. (AMALTHEA!)
Startled, she realized... it was Sheri!
Her heart began to beat crazily and slowly courage and anger began to rise within her. She just could not lose... She would not lose!
Biting her lip and ignoring the pain, she rolled on her side, just in time to avoid Bethan's blade, the cold steel tickling her neck.
"I see you want to continue... playing," he said with a humorless grin, taking his time in raising his weapon.
Amalthea ignored him and, taking a deep breath, she tried to stand. In doing so, she leaned her hand and leg over a cold surface... and a smile appeared on her face when she saw what it was... Darren's sword! Quickly, she grabbed the hilt and with strength lent by anger and despair, she finally rose again. She stared darkly at Bethan. "Yes. I want to continue playing... and I am planning to win."
He chuckled and encircled her, just like a vicious hunter...
Once they saw Amalthea was on her feet again, Nell stopped struggling and Ma'el relaxed and recovered his human appearance, but he did not release the child. Nell embraced him and looked up at him. "Will Amalthy be all right?" she asked in a whisper, close to tears.
Ma'el kindly rubbed her head, just as he had seen Amalthea doing it so many times. "I do not know, little one. I do not know."
They kept watching their friend with worried expressions on their faces.
As Bethan walked around her, she never took her gaze away from his hands. A second later, she realized she had been holding her breath. She lightly relaxed and let the air she had been holding out. She raised her weapon in a threatening way.
He blinked in fake surprise and laughed a hideous, mad laughter. Then, he abruptly turned serious. "Stupid," he hissed and ran toward her.
This time, Amalthea did not go backwards... instead, she went directly to him. She had a last desperate plan and she knew she had just one chance to make it...
"DIE!" he yelled, rudely striking... nothing.
In the last moment, Amalthea had ducked and then, turning quickly on her feet -while Bethan was wondering where she had gone- she jumped toward him and violently waved her sword. Then... she froze. The blade fell from her now limp hand.
Bethan's sword fell too... and so did his head... and so did the rest of him.
She heard the strange noise his body made against the ground, but she didn't look at him. Instead, she turned and stare at Nell and Ma'el. Unable to hold their gazes, she closed her eyes. Unbidden, the image of Sheri came to her mind. "It is over, Sheri," she whispered. "It is over," she repeated, this time in a louder voice.
...And then, it came...
A painful cry escaped from her lips as the burning lightning, emanating from Bethan's headless body, engulfed her. Shaking uncontrollably, she inherited all the power of the defeated Immortal, bright strings of energy penetrating her body. Seconds later, with an incredible flash, it ended. Still trembling, she fell to her knees, her hands leaned on the ground, her head bowed and her mouth gasping for air.
Yes, everything was over now...
Unexpectedly, a pair of short arms encircled her neck and a child's voice called her name. Slowly, Amalthea raised her head and saw the troubled expression on Nell's face. For a second, she thought the girl would be afraid of her, but Nell just buried her face on the Immortal's neck.
"I'm sorry I left the house, Amalthy," she said between sobs, "but he was about to--"
Her voice broke.
"Hey, it is... all right," the redhead whispered, unable to speak louder, but deeply touched by Nell's reaction.
The child pulled herself back and dried her eyes. She grinned. "You have magic," she said in awe. "I'm so happy you are fine."
"I too am happy," Ma'el suddenly said softly. He had been watching them intently, not quiet sure whether he should interrupt them.
Amalthea looked up at him, but did not say a word. She returned her attention to a now quivering Nell. "It's cold and late, little one. Why don't you go to your house?" she suggested in a steadier voice. "Tomorrow we can talk about the 'magic thing'," she added in order to convince her, even though she knew she would not be able to do it. She already had made her decision.
Nell was about to protest, but Ma'el gently lay a hand on the girl's shoulder. "I will accompany you, he offered kindly. To his relief, as he desperately needed to talk with Amalthea alone, Nell nodded and went with him.
Amalthea followed them with her gaze and, as she looked around, she realized all the riders were gone. A disgusted grin appeared on her face. Surely those cowards had run away when Bethan died. Shaking her head to vanish those monsters out of her mind, she tried to rise, but, as exhausted and injured as she was, she fell again. She sighed, frustrated. She knew this was the perfect moment to go, Nell was not there to stop her and Ma'el... well... she just didn't want to see his horrified gaze again. Yes, she should leave now...
Suddenly, a warm robe was laid on her back and gentle hands held her by her shoulders, carefully forcing her to lean back on something... or someone.
"What--" she began to protest, but stopped as the pair of arms finally encircled her... and so, she found herself being cradled in Ma'el's embrace. It was so unexpected and she felt so comfortable... but, unbidden, his disgusted gaze and Bethan's cruel words came to her mind. It was too much. She finally lost her resistance and something broke inside of her. She just could not hold her feelings any longer. Silent tears fell from her eyes.
Feeling her deep pain through their contact and, as her tears spilled over his hands, Ma'el held her tightly and tenderly rocked her back and forth, patiently waiting for her to calm down.
After a while, she did so.
"You are hurt," he stated softly, behind her, kindly pushing her long, disheveled braid to the side.
"Yes... I am," she whispered sadly, drying her eyes.
He blushed blue in shame and guilt. Slowly, he held one of her hands and interlaced his fingers with hers.
"What are you... doing? No!" she exclaimed, alarmed, unsuccessfully trying to set her hand free. "I don't... want to feel... your hate again. Your disgust... Please," she begged, close to tears and unconsciousness.
Ma'el dropped his façade and bowed his head until his chin rested on her shoulder, but he did not release her. "It was my selfishness and arrogance what you felt..." He paused for a moment to search for the right words and then continued in his soothing voice. "
It was my... irrational fear that did not allow me to look below the surface."
"You... did... not give me a... chance," she interrupted him in a barely audible voice.
He sparkled brighter and nodded. "I know... I am ashamed and deeply repented, but you must understand. We are from such different kinds, you and I. I was... just... overwhelmed by... your violence. Now, all I ask from you is another opportunity. Please, share your mind with me again," he said softly.
She opened her eyes wide and managed to turn to look at him. "I... don't... know," she replied with hesitation, her green eyes piercing into his very soul.
He tilted his head. "I promise this time I will not hurt you. Please, do not be afraid, Amalthea," he encouraged her.
"I am not... afraid!" she stated with mild annoyance. Then, tired by the effort, she leaned back on Ma'el's chest again and sighed. "All right, do as you... wish," she said in a now sleepy voice.
"Thank you... Al'thelan," he whispered, relieved beyond belief. "Remember, I will not hurt you," he added, stroking her head with his free hand.
She closed her eyes and a small grin appeared on her face.
(I will not hurt you) he softly repeated, this time in her mind, as the sharing began...
******
Inside her house and sleeping on her bed, Nell dreamed how a star descended from the sky... and tenderly rocked her friend... Amalthy...
******
The village was beautifully decorated with white flowers all around...
She stood in the center of a village. For a second, she thought it was Shareb, but soon realized it was her home village.
"Yes," a sweet voice agreed behind her.
Startled, she turned and opened her eyes wide. "Sheri!"
Sheri smiled tenderly and held her older sister's hands. "It is over, Amalthea," she said softly. "Now is your turn to live. True, there will be other Immortals and you will have to face several other problems, but you must live, sister," she added, embracing her. "You have to be strong. Live for me... live for us," she repeated... as the dream began to fade and the dreamer began to wake up...
Amalthea slowly opened her eyes and, stifling a yawn, she stretched her arms. She blinked in surprise and it took he a second to realize she was inside a house, lying on a bed... and it took her another second to guess who had brought her there. Unbidden, a dreamy smiled played on her face as she thought of Ma'el. Even though she didn't remember what had happened last night -as she had fallen asleep- she could still hear his soothing voice echoing in her head.
She gave a content sigh and took a hand to her chin in a thoughtful way.
Sheri's voice was also in her head... and in her heart. "Do you want me to live, little one?" she whispered. She tilted her head. Perhaps it was not a bad idea. Now that Bethan was finally gone, she was... free. She blinked and her grin widened. Yes, she was free from the anger and hate, free from those horrible nightmares that hunted her dreams for the last twenty years. "Yes, little one, I will live... for both of us," Amalthea said softly.
She rose from the bed and opened the wooden window. To her surprise, the sun was setting... she had slept the whole day!
As she looked around, she realized all the people had returned.
She shook her head. Where was Ma'el? She shrugged and assumed he had returned to his camp.
She returned her attention to the people and, as she saw them so busy in cleaning and ordering the village, guilt began to rise within her. It had been her fault; the quickening had damaged the houses more than Bethan's men did and--
Suddenly it hit her. She went white and stiffened. What if Leila and the others knew her secret now? What if Nell innocently told them about the lightning and her... 'magic'? What if--
"Amalthy!" a sweet child's voice exclaimed behind her, interrupting her dark thoughts.
Startled, Amalthea turned, to see a smiling Nell, Leila and Kala standing there.
"Finally you are awake!" Nell added, going to her and embracing her, completely unaware of her friend's upset expression.
Amalthea forced herself to return the hug, but she didn't say a word nor did she look at the old woman in the eye.
"I am glad to see you are completely recovered, child," Leila said kindly. "Nell told us how you... defeated the masked rider's leader..." she stopped for a moment and gave her a strangely proud glance. "I always knew you were special. Thank you for saving us," Leila finished, joining Nell's embrace.
"I...," Amalthea started to say, but was interrupted by Kala's hug.
"Thank you for saving my child," Kala whispered.
Amalthea blinked in surprise and all her fears and apprehensions vanished. She smiled. "I just could not see any of you getting hurt," she said, deeply touched.
After a moment, the two women released her and exchanged knowing glances. "Lord Ma'el left you a message," Leila said with a grin.
"A message?" Amalthea asked, slightly blushing.
"Yes," Nell answered. "He stayed here the whole night and left early in the morning. When he returned, he brought all the people that had been hiding in the northern caves. He stayed for a while and then, just before leaving, he left a message for you."
"He said he would be waiting for you in his camp, by the end of the day," Leila informed her seriously, but with a twinkle in her eyes.
Amalthea opened her eyes wide and gasped. "Then I must leave immediately. I am already late! Thank you Leila, Kala. Good bye, little one," she said and hurried to the door.
"Wait!" Kala exclaimed, reaching her arm. "You can't go like that."
"But I..." Amalthea began to protest, but Nell and Leila held her free arm.
"Kala is right, child. Look at your clothes," Leila said gently.
Puzzled, the Immortal lowered her eyes to her robe and only then she realized she was wearing almost rags!
She raised her eyes again, only to see her three friends were exchanging mischievous glances.
"I can lend you a dress," Kala offered.
"A dress!" Amalthea exclaimed. "But..."
"And I can comb your hair," Nell added excited, carefully holding her long braid.
"And I have a pair of sandals," Leila said. "We have many things to do and very little time," she added with a wink.
Amalthea rolled her eyes and flushed, but inside, she was... happy.
******