Chapter 6: The prince at war and grave peril

Come into my world, see through my eyes

See who I am break through the surface...

Reach for my hand, we will find a way

(See who I am by Within temptation) I pictured a mutual connection between the elves and the rescuers at this moment.

-they are fraternal twins!

Nuada

I drew a sword and dagger ready. Those rogues howled for my blood. Well I would go down fighting. I was here to see my sister. Come and meet death.

I had known brief friendship. Uriel, my brave and loyal companion in this moment. His weapon of choice was a sabre. The elven metal glinted.

The doors banged open. Serpent like creatures writhed in, fixing their quarry with forked tongues and garnet pupils. The wall shook. "Nuada stay behind me! You must live!" He set up some kind of equipment of arrows. The first bunch shot forward. I lopped off some of the heads. Screeching, those heads withdrew but more new heads snaked in. At the same time the main body wanted to come in. The front shutters broke.

My sister was very near. He fired some arrows automatically with a lever. Scored hits on the creature's body. However, it managed to spit some venom in an arc before withdrawing outside. The saliva burnt into his sofa where I had been moments before. I hurled the throwing knife into what looked like an eye. The pupil bled green fluid.

I snatched another dagger from the belt. He asked, "How many of those you've got?"

"Five." I answered.

"Damn!" We watched for the next attack, retreating to the back doors. He used the hilt of his sabre interchangeably with its edge to butt or slash any limbs that reached for him. I continued on my side as well. No one will die on my behalf again! In a flash my faeries, pixies and Wink came to mind.

"My friend. You go. You need not defend a lost prince, I am dead to them! " I shouted. Just then, a bone shattering roar shook the house and one half of the roof caved in. We feinted in time.

"Shut up! You are here now. I won't watch while I lose you again!" he snapped.

I tried to make him see sense but once again, I failed to. Uriel adamantly protected me. The monsters didn't cease, always coming in for another attempt. How many were there? Two, or five? In my long existence, fighting such beasts was foreign to me. In fact how could they appear here? Bethmora is a neutral city now…

Then, my ally was ambushed from the back by a quill. He gasped and turned pale, falling to a knee. I shoved a table just as even more quills thudded in our direction. The table served as a block.

"No!" A healing spell flared in my mind. I quickly stopped the blood, forced out the quill. Uriel pressed his shoulder breathing hard. He smiled despite the terrible situation we were in.

Now we stayed hidden out of sight by a cupboard. I frantically sought for the secret passage he was telling me about. Breaking furniture, screeching and snuffling sounds. Any button or levers?

They can smell us. Hurry your highness! Uriel cried telepathically.

Is that it? I slammed the lever. The hole crashed in, bricks breaking apart to make stairs further in. Some kind of secret passage.

Running was not my style. I wanted to face them directly. But we couldn't fight this enemy. Suddenly thorns shot up from the floors. We leapt down into the darkened passage. It was so dark that I could not see my fingers, even though my skin was white. Uriel asked if I was all right. Fluid dripping. Water?

"Prince!" he gasped in alarm. My back on fire like acid and so did my chest wound. "You've been hit! Let me heal you."

I still picked up the sounds distantly. He pushed me forward, smashing something so it fell across obstructing the path behind. At the bottom of the endless steps, I collapsed.

At this critical moment, it wasn't Nuala whose face I pictured, it was the girl's. I must see her again.

She said it was insane to come here alone. A bitter smile graced my lips. Yes, I am insane.

Uriel helped me to my feet. Whipped out a black thing and fired. It sounded like- bullets? He had a gun?

The secret passage yawned open to the surface. With difficulty I lugged the cover aside and climbed out. Daylight, blessed light. My vision was doubled. Uriel called to me to hurry and dragged me along. My feet ran on reflex but like they were not part of me. People of all types scattered. No one would help.

Something grabbed me from the back. "Let him go!" My friend yelled, shooting. I was raised into the air, feeling my body being squeezed of oxygen. Then I was slammed into a wall. I could not move. It was a mottled brown hand. I felt the fetid breath on my face.

"Hold your fire! It's too risky!"someone called out.

Nuala! It was her, she was so close. Be safe. She was in blue standing out among people wearing black uniforms. So many reinforcements? Well done sis.

And I still have a sword in my left hand. With all my strength, I twisted free. Something snapped, adding worse pain to me. I plunged the blade down onto the tentacle-hand.

Did not work. I coughed and tried to breathe.

English and elven language was shouted. My head spun. I could not move. Then the monster's grip relaxed for a while.

Russet hair, short, a female came in full view of the monster. The poison was affecting my vision…

"Over here!" It was the halfling's voice!

She cried out, "See your errors Horrormask. I bind you to this amulet! I am now your master…More fey words unmistakeably recited. How was it possible? A moment ago, mortals couldn't speak our language!

Gunfire and arrow sounds. I was flung into the air. "Nuada!" People screamed my name. My twin's telepathy arced a shiny red, crimson as blood. Nuala, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for causing you pain! I cried out. When I finally landed and she ran forward, blindness was about to consume me.

Everywhere was excruciating pain.

Laira

Before we found where the prince was…

Abe Sapien came across this amulet. It could only be used once. It looked ordinary as a small medallion. Several centuries old. "It is a creature the Horrormask. I shall teach you the words to the binding curse. They are after Nuada and his companion. The BPRD will back you up."

"I-"

"Do it sis! It's our only chance." Joe snapped.

I frowned. "Only one amulet?"

The surveillance said five had been detected.

Abe nodded gravely. Nuala moaned, crying. Wounds flared and spilled blood on her dress. He held her. "He's injured. He is in so much pain! Ah!" At one point the princess fell off the chair and clung to Abe. The fish man wordlessly helped her up.

For the sake of both human and elf, I had to do this. They all needed me.

I rubbed my eyes and said, "Teach me the words."

Abe instructed me where to position myself. It was insane too, I was to stand directly in front of it. Had to get all of the incantation right at once. Any slipup and- I didn't want to think on that.

"Laira, you are the better person for this, because Nuala senses your special abilities. We are confident you will wield the amulet much better than her."

Even if she could, her grief for Nuada would hamper her strength and focus.

My knowledge and passion for artefacts surfaced together with my good memory. Abe Sapien opened the door for me to get out. Nuala held my hand tightly.

"Help him! Help him end this pain."

I nodded.

We had to get as close as possible. Ironically the beast lumbered in front. Nuada was held aloft and crushed into the wall. NOO! Fury churned through me. How dare it hurt him! How dare it damage the fey city? Yet I also felt the pain and bewilderment, its loss of purpose. A mottled brown beast with tentacles and multiple hands. Several eyes glaring down at the people surrounding it.

The agents were shouting at it to distract, hoping it would put him down. Armored vehicles with guns trained on the monster. Humans and other fey ready with their arrows.

Before I could say the words, a spitting sound made me stop. Instinctively I stepped aside. Acid pool. Nuada! He was bleeding profusely. His left hand held a sword. Which he stabbed down on the limb holding him.

"Over here! See your errors Horrormask-" I chanted the words trying to sound confident. The fey part was more challenging. But I got it right. The monster seemed to sway and let slip the arm on the prince. Agony flared up my right hand, burning a hole. Brilliant otherworldly light burst forth. But something was wrong, the monster had not put him down.

It tossed him like a doll!

The BPRD seized the chance to open fire with all the stuff they got. The Horrormask moaned and screamed. A vortex was open now, and sucked it in. The beast wasn't going to relent so easy. Some tentacles curled and held the ground. How could he survive that? Tears blurred my eyes.

Sapien cut in the radio in my ear, "Hold your focus! Concentrate, we will save Nuada! Don't weaken your will."

My senses on overload, I glared at the thing. I willed it into the vortex. I banish you. Do not come back. The creature roared in defiance but it was losing its grip on this realm.

The amulet no longer hot, burnt itself out. Leaving a blackened sigil on my right palm. In order to bind this monster, the person who did it would make a sacrifice of a hand. I looked at my hand and cried.

Joe hugged me tight. "It's ok. It's gone."

Nuala sobbed, leaning over the elf prince. She was saying something and shaking her head. She held his right hand to her cheek.

My own hand was going to fall off. Don't let him die.

Nuada bled from the nose and a spreading pool of honey and red seeped into the ravaged ground. The left arm was at odd angle. He lay very still, gasping. His ambers were blank. Two elves and Salem lay their hands close speaking ancient tongue.

I wanted to cry too but I hadn't the energy. I just begged him not to die.

The blue guy knelt down and stroked his blond hair. "Don't die. Hang in there. We just got reunited." Nuada's lips moved. Life flared in his expression, pain but he was alive.

"Mortals," he whispered.

Joe grumbled, "Don't talk." We came closer. He glanced at each of us.

" I will die in peace.. you've been so brave. Let me see your hand, child."

Numbly I showed him. I answered, "I did this for you. I won't forgive you if you leave me. Never."

The prince laughed weakly. Soon he passed out. But Nuala stopped weeping. She smiled at me.

"Thank you. My brother's just tired."

Nuada was sent into the emergency ward. His friends offered to transfuse blood for him. Long hours. I met Hellboy and Liz Sherman. They were amazed at my talents. Me a heroine? In the Bureau.

I just memorized and kicked some shit ass. I smiled like a dazed person. Strangers congratulated me. Nuala had changed to a green dress and hugged me when I came out from the infirmary. Actually they wanted me to rest but I was too tense.

"Your hand?" Nuala seemed sorrowful when she saw the sigil.

"It's ok. The nurse put some coolant. It will take the sting out." The doctors and nurse were critical of my ability to erase that mark. I knew I wouldn't have to amputate it, for sure. My feeling of pain was still intact. I knew what she was thinking-what if I could never write with that hand again?

"Thank you. You've been generous beyond any measure."

This will scare people who laughed at me mocking my belief in myths and legends. I'm real and this is all real. The elves had come and they were few, but existed. Yeah!

I asked how the prince was. It was eight hours after our ordeal.

Uriel introduced himself. He was cute! Had no scar over his face. Salem the archer had one over his left eye. Pointed ears. " Our prince is tougher than a dragon. Still he has some broken ribs. He will sleep. We will heal him more when our energy returns."

We went to fill our stomachs. I ate my fill quickly. We were all seated together with Liz, Hellboy, Abe Sapien. Nuala was on my right. She urged me to have more. Joe was talking about how he helped subdue another monster too.

They teased me that I liked the prince! Ha, I don't think we could have more than a close friendship. Nuada was slow to trust mortals. The elves laughed merrily when I said that.

"You can eat slowly and savor every bite you know," Joe added.

"Abe don't ever risk a human's life again, k? Why didn't you tell me? I want to kick ass," Hellboy asked, smirking. He swung his huge fist about. The fishman replied that only a human could do the task.

Liz was quite concerned that they had no home. She caught my gaze and winked. "Nuala you guys can stay with us. It's much too dangerous out there. We've got excellent medical personnel here."

What if he became a cripple? Nuada was strongwilled, but I had seen the depth of his wounds. Including internal injuries. Salem and Uriel could only reduce some of the extent.

Nuala asked me if I was okay.

"Yes I am."

She added, "Don't blame yourself. You did so much and we don't even know each other." I was touched that she condescended to talk to me.

"I understand. Hey can I go visit?"

We went to the infirmary.

Nuada slept peacefully, white locks spread on the pillow like a halo. Some of his hair was bloodstained. His head was bound. Yea he must have hit it in that fall. Some bandages wound his torso up to his chest. Much blood had been cleaned away. Naked except for pants with the crimson sash.

Beside him was the seal of his kingdom, a circular badge thing. I burnt that into memory. Nuala was talking to him. "Brother, I love you. Please, find the will to come back."

I stood on his other side, noting that his left arm was surrounded in a cast. For us humans, average time to heal a broken hand would be 5 months. How could Nuada fight, unless he was right-handed? Broken or fracture?

"Oi, don't die. We'll open the fountain somehow. Your sister needs you. Mortals can bring balance to this place."

Nuala smiled. I was so focused on her face, the resemblance that they shared. Are they fraternal twins or identical? They don't look that identical so- fraternal. Male- female twins! They are two separately fertilized eggs.

When the male elf said, "Hello mortal. And Nuala."

I grinned. He grimaced trying to raise himself.

"Don't brother. Lie down." He brushed his body and looked dazed at the bandages.

"Your arm is.."

"I know. I heard them talking," Nuada whispered.

"You were in a coma. How can that be?" Nuala asked. He explained in elven. I was happy for them, now it was not my place. I will leave them.

Classic interruption from Nuada- asking baffling questions.

He asked, "What does it mean, mortals will bring balance to this place?" A hint of the old arrogance flavored in his tone.

I shrugged. "Dunno."

He frowned, but after awhile, it dissipated. "Sit down. I am sorry that you have suffered pain on my behalf. You now have a scar." Tears tracked down his cheeks, dropping on the pillow. It broke my heart. My thoughts jumbled together.

Nuala kissed him and nuzzled his cheek. "She is all right."

His voice was raw when he quieted. "Does it pain you?"

"Don't be sad. It's a souvenir. I'm a heroine here. By the way my brother also sealed a demon too. You got terrible creatures in elvenland!" I made light of it. Nuada smiled faintly.

"That's unfair of you to judge. Uriel and I were followed. Perhaps some rebels wanted my death." I stroked his soft hair. "Nuala I grow weary."

"I take my leave. Rest." She left the room.

He started to fall asleep again. I was back into comparing fraternal and identical twins. Then I gently took my hand off his face to leave.

Stay here. Please. He whispered without moving his mouth.

"Why did you drive your sis away?" I mused.

Ah, she wants to see Abraham. And we've talked so much. You never listen to me. Must all of you anger me? Nuada snapped.

Got that right, Nuada. You are insane. I projected.

As I suspect, you are telepathic. But the tone needs more respect. Tell me how you got in.

Nuada opened his eyes again, the golden pupils serene. I was going to open my mouth, but decided to use telepathic images to tell the story.

Telepathic retelling is faster as the listener, rather the receiver, can see what you mean.

"K I'll be going now. Go to sleep."

"I'm not tired."

"Close your eyes, man. You've suffered broken bones all over. I'll come again and I want to see that you're no longer in such a dire state."

"Audacity, halfling," he teased, shifting to get more comfortable.

You! When you're up, I'll whack you. I chuckled as I thought that.

* Did you like this? Nuada can't believe he's seriously hurt and denies that he needs to recuperate. So working on that line, this is the product. Thank you to all reviewers.

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