CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
In the realm of shadows, two determined beings strode along a single path lit by an unseen source. So not to loose him in the unpredictability of the Void, Raven had insisted they hold hands. Numara had agreed, so Raven stood to his left, clinging to his arm. His dominant right hand was free to grasp the sword strapped to his back.
Raven hoped he could count on her to get him back, but first, they had a job to do. She had to help him find Rancor, wherever the twisted beast hid. She gazed ahead to the quiet darkness. Her tongue felt dry and thick in her mouth. She felt his eyes on her but said nothing. She tried not to tremble beneath his gaze.
They had walked for at least an hour before Raven became disconcerted by the deathly silence. "Does this walkway never end?" she muttered.
"I do not know."
"Some might say we have great courage."
Numara smirked. "Sometimes courage borders on stupidity."
She arched an eyebrow. "Stupidity can be overcome."
"Perhaps."
"I am not afraid," she murmured, and pressed onward.
"At this point, fear has nothing to do with it." For a moment, he stopped. Slowly, he turned his eyes to her, watching her with a tiny smile. "Thank you for trusting in me, Raven. I appreciate that you would come all this way for me."
"Don't flatter yourself. I do this because I must. I came here for my friends and for the people of this Earth."
"Then what was the kiss for?"
She smiled. "That was for me."
A sudden chill in the form of a swirling breeze arose from the depths of the Void. The icy cold instantly touched their cheeks. Their breath became visible as white mist poured from their lips with each breath. The Dreamwalker was nearby. His mighty laughter echoed through the darkness like thunder.
Numara grit his teeth, fire in his eyes. "Rancor…"
Raven clutched his arm, steadying him. "Keep your head. We must defeat him."
The Nasserian glared at her. "We will." He reached behind his back. The song of steel being drawn rang into the darkness as Silverwing came free of its sheath. "That is a vow I intend to keep." He let go of her hand, taking the hilt in both hands, and peered into the darkness before them. Raven knew he could not see much in this gloomy place. "You will survive, I promise."
The dark laughter continued to rumble about them. Raven trembled briefly, but caught herself in her determination and clenched her fists. "Damn him."
Numara glared. "I wish he would just get on with it."
"We must remain patient," Raven whispered.
"That is one thing I always had, until I met Rancor." He gripped the sword tighter and shot a look to the girl at his side. "We will win this day. I have come too far to fall to the likes of that bastard."
In the path before them, a figure finally appeared. Rancor's black skin blended into the darkness of the Void. Numara sneered and lifted his sword. "Try me, Numara. You do not have a neural inhibitor now. I could seize your conscience with ease, if I so pleased." He took a few steps forward, grinning devilishly. "Come. I could show you the world, Numara."
Raven whispered into Numara's ear. "I will stay beside you."
He narrowed his eyes. "We do this together."
She nodded.
All around them, the shadows seemed to solidify and close in. Soon, they stood within a tunnel, darkened walls so close together that Raven could put the palms of each of her hands firmly against it when she stretched her arms outward. She narrowed his eyes. It would be tough for them to fight here. Rancor had a definite advantage.
Numara fumed. "Bastard.".
"What? You think I would make it so easy for you?"
"When this is over, one of us will be dead."
Rancor smirked. "Pity. And I rather liked you."
Raven took his arm. "Be careful, Numara. He's no fool."
"Trust me," Numara whispered. He lifted his shoulders and took a defiant step forward. "You are going to die, Rancor."
The Dreamwalker grinned. "Oh, really? Interesting fairy tale you have conceived."
"I have many tales that will delight my newfound friends. I've come to add another to my journal. Your death."
"You may be a fool, but you do have spirit." Rancor chuckled. "I wonder…what would your father say, now that he belongs to me."
Raven clasped a hand over Numara's shoulder, sensing the hatred radiating from within. He took a step forward, slipping from her hold. "He would thank me and hug me as he watches you die." The Nasserian began to sweep Silverwing back and forth, with great grace, through the dark air. The blade gleamed despite the lack of light. By some miracle, the blade avoided the walls of the narrow tunnel. "He would gladly take up the sword of my people and sacrifice himself to honor me for the Dreamwalker's death." Numara continued forward. The blade began to glow. "He would cut the blackened shell you call a heart from your chest and feed from its charred flesh. He would betray you, because he has something you do not."
Rancor's eyes were wide with surprise. He took a step back, almost trembling. It was as though he had not anticipated Numara's reaction.
"You're mad," the Dreamwalker whispered.
"Quite the contrary, Rancor," Numara sneered, lifting the blade over his head. "I am very happy."
Rancor thrust his hand out in defense, hitting him with a burst of invisible energy. Numara tumbled backward and crashed into Raven. She looked up, eyes wide, as the Dreamwalker stumbled back in shock as his tunnel discipated and returned to the cavernous, empty Void. He peered at her, as though searching for the words to express his utter fear, but he could not find them. This was nothing like he had expected. It brought a smile to Raven's lips.
Numara lay still for only a second before he kicked back and leapt up onto his feet. He grinned and walked toward Rancor. He stretched out for his sword. Raven grinned, understanding, and lifted the blade up with her power and placing it with ease into the Nasserian's hand. "You think that will stop me?" His eyes began to shimmer with eager fury.
By the way Numara moved, Raven knew that Rancor stood no chance. He was about to die, and there would be no escape. She narrowed her eyes, waiting.
Rancor drew a deep breath and made a split second decision. He thrust a hand out and unleashed his power on Raven.
Pain tore through her chest and sent sprawled along the path.
Numara screamed in fury and leapt for the Dreamwalker. He swung his sword. Rancor lifted a hand, sensing his hatred. He sent the same energy coursing through the Nasserian's body.
Raven could see that the power did not stop her friend. He swept the sword down and through Rancor's right arm, severing it at the elbow. But Rancor did not scream. Instead, he grabbed Numara's throat with his left hand, squeezing. The laughter returned to the Dreamwalker.
"Die!" And then Rancor unleashed his full strength on Numara's suspended body. Red surged through them both.
"Numara!" Raven screamed.
And then she saw cold steel jutting out of the Dreamwalker's chest. Rancor's eyes widened, and his energy faded even as Numara vaporized in his clutches. Raven gasped. "No!"
Rancor slid to his knees and collapsed.
Standing behind the corpse was a dwarf about her height, skin as red as the Flash's uniform. He gazed somberly at her and tipped his little baggy, gray cap to her. Raven watched in shock as the dwarf slipped away and disappeared into the darkness of the Void.
Slowly, she sunk to her knees, sobbing her heart out.
All around her, the darkness of the Void evaporated…
Raven opened her tearstained eyes and gazed somberly to Numara. She felt her friends all around her, and watching the Nasserian lay there, motionless, broke her heart. The others waited in silence for her report. She let Numara's hands slip from her own and fall limp to the ground. She quietly rose to her feet.
She moved so she could gather him up in her arms and took to the sky, floating toward the jet. The break in the Void was gone, as she had anticipated. Quiet eyes gazed after her as she slid silently up the ramp and into the belly of the jet.
Raven's heart was lost to her this evening.
She wasn't sure she really wanted to regain it.