First off if you haven't heard 'God's Gonna Cut You Down' by Johnny Cash go listen to it now. It's (like everything by Johnny Cash) is amazing.
Second, thanks to all of you who have stuck with me so long! It really means a lot :)
I'm not sure how many chapters are left to this story, but we're close to the end...
Hope you're all having an fantastic week!
I always love reviews
Enjoy :D
~God's Gonna Cut You Down~
What the?
The blue shield dissipates from the air, shimmering out of existence. Everyone stands frozen including Clara. She has no idea what just happened. Hot energy surges through her veins making her body hum to life. As if every atom is on fire. The bruises on Clara's neck and arms fade, the small cuts covering her skin seal. Her mind is finally clear.
It's magic. She used magic. But that's impossible. She isn't from Shades. She can't have powers. This is not possible. It just isn't.
Clara's mind reels in the space of a heartbeat, maybe two.
"How did you?" Lavender breathes, her rage momentarily stilled by shock. Uncomprehending confusion smoothes over her features. "You are not her-?"
"Seize her! Guards!" John shouts from his position on the floor, struggling against his restraints.
The spell holding everyone in place shatters at his sudden cry. The men who were restraining John rush forward at Lavender, hands outstretched. They don't make it three feet. Lavender flings her arms out to the sides blasting them backwards with an unseen force. The guards smash into opposite walls. Dark hair flares out around Lavender's pale features as if she is underwater. Her dress floats at her ankles.
What propels her to act Clara doesn't know, she has no idea what she's doing. But she has to do something. Drawing on the warm energy that is running under her skin feels as natural as breathing.
Inhale. Pull it to her center.
Exhale. Twist her fingers and release.
The force of a hurricane spreads from Clara's fingertips racing towards Lavender. The girl deflects, dancing around her attack. Her eyes are wide and wild.
"I should have killed you!" Lavender spits as they begin to circle each other.
They step in time, eyes locked. Adrenaline pounds the blood in her ears. The onlookers press back widening the space around the two women. Clara isn't sure if they are unwilling to help her or if Lavender is preventing them from moving forward somehow. Either way they are useless to her. Their fear is palpable.
"Probably." Clara curls her upper lip.
They strike at the same time. Blue energy against black. Their spells connect in midair setting off a blast which shatters the windows lining the hall. The sound is deafening and the recoiling force nearly brings Clara to her knees. Stained glass implodes like a million lethal gems into the crowd. Deep violet, dusted rose, and palest yellow make red as they slice through exposed skin and fabric.
Her split-second distraction is too long. Lavender whips her arm out searing Clara's cheek with black flame. White-hot pain unbalances her spinning Clara sideways. Scrambling for footing she pulls for every scrap of power in her body, dragging it to the surface.
She needs to get up or she is going to die.
Nerves taunt as piano wire Clara turns back to the mad woman only in time to see Lavender hurl the silver dagger hidden up her sleeve. The knife cuts through the air directly towards her. Already knowing it is too late, Clara releases every bit of the searing energy she has left at Lavender. It roars like wild fire across the empty space between them.
A grayish blur slams into Clara knocking her out of the blade's path at the last moment. She crashes unto the cold, marble floor hard, head cracking against the tile. Gasping painfully for breath she watches the blue surge, tinged with flecks of golden light, pierce Lavender's breast. It sinks into her treacherous heart.
The girl totters on her feet, locking eyes with Clara in surprise. She blinks once slowly before crumpling to the floor. She doesn't move again, her body strangely peaceful looking. Clara can't stop staring.
"Clara."
A strained gasp rips her violently back to the present. John is on his knees beside her, hands still bound and chained. The small silver knife is stuck deep in his chest, red blooming around it. Blood bubbles at the corner of his mouth as he struggles to breathe.
Clara's brain refuses to process what she is seeing. John pushed her out of the way. He pushed her out of the way of the knife. Oh god.
"No." She doesn't even recognize her own wreaked voice as she scrambles to reach him. "No. No. No."
John collapses into her arms his strength failing quickly. Pillowing his head in her lap, Clara cradles his face. Her vision is blurred with hot tears. This isn't real. Please let this not be happening. Please.
"Someone help me!" Clara screams but no one moves. There is nothing they can do and everyone knows it.
Pressing her hand against the wound she desperately tries to staunch the blood flow. The thick liquid runs in rivulets over her shaking fingers and onto the floor. It won't stop and the man she loves is fading away in her arms. And she can't stop it.
Coughing a spray of the blood filling his lungs, John fights to speak. "You w-will be okay no-w."
"Don't talk like that." Clara sobs bending over his body. "Don't you dare leave me."
He smiles and his teeth are red. Arms restrained by the manacles, his fingers clutch at her as if it will keep him there. "I l-love you."
Clara presses her mouth to his begging him to stay with her. She can't lose him. Her soul is breaking. John kisses her back with the last of his strength straining to obey her pleas. She whispers that she loves him too. She tells him that it will be okay. That they will grow old together. That they will be happy. That she will never stop loving him.
John keeps his eyes on her while she speaks. She doesn't know if he can hear her anymore but she doesn't stop talking until they lose focus. His eyes grow vacant and his body goes slack in her arms.
Clara cries out in anguish as John slips away from her.
Her grief echoes off the walls of the silent room.
Don't kill me! O_o