Sorceress' last breath

Sorceress

The woman stood there under the street lamp. Her eyes were a little wild and glowed a soft green. As the minutes passed by fear built up inside her. It was a cold night. She hoped enough to freeze her fear, but it wouldn't. 3 months ago her friend Antonio had warned her of betrayal and of her death. As a powerful seer she couldn't ignore him. In the end , there seemed to be nothing that she could do. The influence she had with other beings created enemies out of her own people. They feared her influence and friendships.

With a deep breath she moved out of the light of the street lamp. Aver her clouds covered the moon allowing her to blend into the shadow's of the sidewalk. This part of the city was quiet. Opposite of what the rest of New York was like. Tonight was New Year's Eve and as she passed homes she could see family and friends gathering. A bitter sweet smile graced her red lips. She started to think of her little girl. A bright smart crazy thing that filled her life with laughter and love. Her baby would be the last of her blood. She would grow up strong and take her place on the council just as her mother had. Her little girl was a spit fire. She would fight and she would hold her own.

At the end of that thought the woman turned onto the alleyway to her right. It was gross and smelled like trash. Her magic whipped out and caressed the minds of the mice and rats that scurried passed. She walked to the end up to a pitch black door. Before knocking she let her magic stretch and search for any possible followers. None. Confident she hadn't been followed, she knocked. A voice from behind the door answered, "State your purpose."

"I'm here to meet with a friend. I have a reservation."

"I speak without a mouth and hear without ears.

I have no body, but I come alive with wind.

What am I?"

As calm as she could the woman spoke the answer, "An Echo."

Slowly, the black door moved inward. She moved quickly inside and nodded to the beautiful man who closed the door behind her. With a deep breath she turned away from the Sphinx and begun to look for her friend. The place was dark and musky with the scent of perfume. There were Japanese style dining tables to the right and western ones to the left. The lights hanging above each table were lanterns that gave off a soft yellow orange light. A young waitress asked her if she needed help.

"I'm looking for Antonio."

The waitress nodded and gestured to follow her. A private room in the back, down the left hallway, was were the waitress led her. She nodded.

"Thank you."

Inside the room waited Antonio. A man about 5'9" with short dusty brown hair and kind hazel eyes. He smiled at her when she came in, "Taisiya. I'm glad to see you are alright."

"Thank you Antonio for meeting me."

"Of course. You're my friend."

Taisiya could feel tears prick her eyes. This man was her childhood friend. He had the kindest soul and would do anything to help her.

"I came to talk about your vision."

Antonio visibly tensed, "Why? We don't know what it really means or when it may happen."

"I know but, Natasha sent me a letter. In it was a riddle. The same one you spoke 3 months ago. She wrote to me warning me of danger."

"I come in the light

I come in the darkness

I feed on sorrow and pain

Many try to run from me, all in vain

Some fear me while others embrace me

Who am I"

"Death. Natasha wants me to know that they want to kill me."

"We can change the future Taisiya. Now we know those on the council will come for you. We just have to prepare. They'll probably send Enforcers."

"No, Antonio. If they are going to come after me we both know it will be a man hunt. My daughter wont have me to protect her. I need you to keep her safe. The council wont dare go for you and your family."

Antonio was a man who wore his emotions on his sleeve. Taisiya could see the pain in his eyes as she spoke. They both knew that she was too powerful for the enforcers to take her down in one go. They would have to keep coming for her and ware her down. If she brought her daughter with her they would both die. That wasn't something Taisiya would do to her little girl.

"What's your plan?"

"I'm leaving Jessica with you and Lora. Her things are packed a ready to be moved. I'm staying in a hotel tonight. I'll be out of Ney York by tomorrow afternoon."

Antonio reached out to Taisiya. She placed her hand in his. "Tai. What do I tell Jessica?"

Taisiya smiled bitterly as she squeezed Antonio's hand, "The truth. Please don't hide it from her. She's a smart girl and wont take anything but the truth."

Antonio nodded, "I promise I'll protect her. I'll tell her the truth."

"Thank you."

Taisiya gave her friend a hug and kissed him gently on the cheek. She left him in that dusty place. She knew that was the last time she would see him. The night greeted her with the light of the moon. Without a glance back the sorceress made her way to the hotel she would be staying at. Already, she felt people watching her. They tried to hide in the shadows, but a few were young. They let their magic loose and it made it easy for Taisiya to avoid them.

She was a block away, could see the hotel sign when two people stepped out in front of her. They both wore long over coats. Underneath Taisiya knew they wore the enforcer uniform. She could see the light blue caller of the jacket. Without hesitation she stepped into them. Her eyes lit up in a flash of green. Magic struck out shattering their defenses and incapacitating them. To a bystander it simply looked as if she passed them and they collapsed.

Taisiya knew she wouldn't make it to the hotel and survive for long. Her instincts told her waiting would lead to death and she refused to go down like a sitting duck. Her little girl will not hear stories of her mother not fighting back. If anything her littler girl would hear stories of how her mother fought for her life. Taisiya wasn't the kind of person to spare enemies. She would take some of them to the grave.

When she got to the hotel she made her way to her room, 106. It was located by the exit door. Risky, but in the end she knew it was worth it. Surprisingly no one tried to kill her while she grabbed her things. From here she headed to the air port. Before getting in a cab she sent a pulse of her magic outward in a sphere. Working almost like a radar it told her there were two magic bloods on top of the northwest building. Probably scouts. The sorceress smiled, releasing enough magic to teleport her to the top of the same roof. As soon as her feet touched the surface her magic struck at the scouts. Visually, it took her only minutes to find them. One a mand the other a woman. Both looked young and incredibly shocked. Taisiya guessed that they were fresh out of training, were reassured that the sorceress wouldn't harm them. They weren't wrong. These two were practically children. Taisiya wasn't heartless. She felt both trying to fight back, but it proved pointless. They were no where near the skill level the needed to be. Both were incapacitated in seconds.