Chapter Three
The flames shot up and licked the sky behind her, as Bella slid through the trees, running back to her village. The fires lighting the ancient clearing seemed to be sending its congratulations and warm wishes. All that was left was for her to return home with the package she had clutched to her chest. Thora had told her that those who reached maturity in the Amazon tribe usually dreaded the solitary trip to the Rock. Bella didn't know what could frighten them so. The moonlight was like a gentle caress, and the dark trees old friends.
She slowed her pace to a walk and stopped to admire her reflection at her favorite pond. The black halter and bikini bottom Thora had given her were much more freeing than the dresses she used to wear. A golden belt was slung low on her hips, the sides flowing out like giant golden wings. She smiled and moved towards the trees to return home, when she felt something strike her.
She hit the ground hard, the package flying from her grasp. Gasping in shock, she pushed up, trying to stand, when something hit her again, forcing her back down. Slowly, she turned over onto her back, trying to see her assailant. All she could see was darkness. Closing her eyes, she waited for another attack. Rough hands grabbed her around her waist and hauled her to her feet. She could feel hot breath on her neck as a mocking voice sounded in her ear. "The Light." Trying her best to not panic, she went limp in his arms until the hold loosened somewhat. Seizing the opportunity, she drove her elbow into his gut and brought her fist up to backhand him in the nose, causing him to stumble back. Whirling around, crouched low in a fighting stance, she peered into the darkness, mentally daring him to come at her again.
Minutes passed, but no attack came. Bella relaxed slightly and walked over to the fallen package. Glancing up at the moon after picking it up, she winced and broke into a run again. She was late now, and Thora would probably be mad at her. But, what would her excuse be? 'I'm sorry I'm late, Mother, but this shadowy thing attacked me.' Bella shook her head and continued running, breaking through the tree line. What she saw would be an image that haunted her.forever.
Fire roared around her, a nearby hut collapsing in a pile of cinders and ashes. There was blood.everywhere. Broken bodies of her closest friends littered the ground, staining the dirt crimson. Her chest heaved, trying to draw in air, but no breath came to her. She was frozen, her eyes wide, her hands hanging limp at her sides. 'Who, who could have done this?' She took a hesitant step forward, gingerly stepping over the bodies lying in front of her. A glimpse of rose caught the corner of her eye, and she turned slowly, afraid of what she might see.
Ariel lay, sprawled on the ground, a bloody sword clutched in her hands. "Ar? Oh, by the gods!" Bella ran forward and stood over the broken body. Ariel's eyes were wide open, staring unseeing into the heavens above. A thin streak of blood ran from the corner of her mouth, her lips twisted into a horrified gasp.
Falling to her knees, maddened by grief, Bella shook Ariel's shoulders. "Ar? Come on, Ar. Please get up. You're fine, we'll fix this. Please." A thought then struck her like lightning. Thora. Her mother. God, no. Bella stood to make a mad dash for her mother's house when she felt something hit the back of her head with a resounding crack. Darkness seemed to press in at all sides as she dimly felt someone lift her away from Ariel's body. The darkness.mmm.so inviting. Bella closed her eyes and lost her last strand of consciousness.
The flames shot up and licked the sky behind her, as Bella slid through the trees, running back to her village. The fires lighting the ancient clearing seemed to be sending its congratulations and warm wishes. All that was left was for her to return home with the package she had clutched to her chest. Thora had told her that those who reached maturity in the Amazon tribe usually dreaded the solitary trip to the Rock. Bella didn't know what could frighten them so. The moonlight was like a gentle caress, and the dark trees old friends.
She slowed her pace to a walk and stopped to admire her reflection at her favorite pond. The black halter and bikini bottom Thora had given her were much more freeing than the dresses she used to wear. A golden belt was slung low on her hips, the sides flowing out like giant golden wings. She smiled and moved towards the trees to return home, when she felt something strike her.
She hit the ground hard, the package flying from her grasp. Gasping in shock, she pushed up, trying to stand, when something hit her again, forcing her back down. Slowly, she turned over onto her back, trying to see her assailant. All she could see was darkness. Closing her eyes, she waited for another attack. Rough hands grabbed her around her waist and hauled her to her feet. She could feel hot breath on her neck as a mocking voice sounded in her ear. "The Light." Trying her best to not panic, she went limp in his arms until the hold loosened somewhat. Seizing the opportunity, she drove her elbow into his gut and brought her fist up to backhand him in the nose, causing him to stumble back. Whirling around, crouched low in a fighting stance, she peered into the darkness, mentally daring him to come at her again.
Minutes passed, but no attack came. Bella relaxed slightly and walked over to the fallen package. Glancing up at the moon after picking it up, she winced and broke into a run again. She was late now, and Thora would probably be mad at her. But, what would her excuse be? 'I'm sorry I'm late, Mother, but this shadowy thing attacked me.' Bella shook her head and continued running, breaking through the tree line. What she saw would be an image that haunted her.forever.
Fire roared around her, a nearby hut collapsing in a pile of cinders and ashes. There was blood.everywhere. Broken bodies of her closest friends littered the ground, staining the dirt crimson. Her chest heaved, trying to draw in air, but no breath came to her. She was frozen, her eyes wide, her hands hanging limp at her sides. 'Who, who could have done this?' She took a hesitant step forward, gingerly stepping over the bodies lying in front of her. A glimpse of rose caught the corner of her eye, and she turned slowly, afraid of what she might see.
Ariel lay, sprawled on the ground, a bloody sword clutched in her hands. "Ar? Oh, by the gods!" Bella ran forward and stood over the broken body. Ariel's eyes were wide open, staring unseeing into the heavens above. A thin streak of blood ran from the corner of her mouth, her lips twisted into a horrified gasp.
Falling to her knees, maddened by grief, Bella shook Ariel's shoulders. "Ar? Come on, Ar. Please get up. You're fine, we'll fix this. Please." A thought then struck her like lightning. Thora. Her mother. God, no. Bella stood to make a mad dash for her mother's house when she felt something hit the back of her head with a resounding crack. Darkness seemed to press in at all sides as she dimly felt someone lift her away from Ariel's body. The darkness.mmm.so inviting. Bella closed her eyes and lost her last strand of consciousness.
