Hush

Chapter Twelve

Hush closed his eyes and delved into Rune's mind, immediately hitting a barrier. It was dark and had an air of violent intent. This was something Hush recognized and resented. This was what had taken over Hush himself.

Hush sent a wave of magic into Rune, which hit against the barrier. Hush could feel Rune trying to get away but forced him down again. Hush would not let this... thing, take Rune.

Hush sent another wave of magic into him, chanting a spell under his breath. Rune tried to roll them over but Hush held him down. Once he had finished chanting, he growled, "I am not losing this battle."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Rune growled back. "You have no idea what you're messing with."

It pushed back, fighting against Hush's chanting and the waves that Hush sent into him. Hush had no idea how he had broken free of this thing's grasp the first time. Something... some word...

It lashed out again and Hush counteracted its attack by grabbing hold of the conscious part that it had used to lash out.

"Smart move, genius," it hissed. "Now we're both stuck."

It grabbed onto Hush's wrists and pulled them out from under him. Hush retaliated by pulling Rune's arms under his chest, pinning him once again. Hush didn't want to hurt him, and he knew that whatever was controlling Rune knew this. He couldn't remember what it was called...

"Protecting your friend's body isn't going to help," it snarled.

At that moment Hush remembered that there were weak spots. There was always weak spots...

Hush withdrew from Rune's mind and his eyes snapped open. He just had to get to Rune's weak spot. Risks had to be taken.

Hush pushed himself up, holding Rune's arm down with one hand. It wouldn't stay that way for long, he knew. It immediately started trying to break away, shouting obscenities.

Hush started chanting again, drawing a symbol over Rune's forehead. Rune was in there. Hush wouldn't believe that this thing had destroyed Rune.

Hush yelled as Rune managed to free his hands and grabbed onto Hush's shoulders, pulling Hush over and pinning him to the floor. Hush winced, Rune's nails digging into his shoulders.

"Rune!" Hush shouted, trying to pull Rune over again, "I know you're still there!"

"He is gone!" it shouted. "Destroyed!"

Hush leaned up and clamped his teeth onto Rune's nose. It yelled, pulling back. Hush could see the darkness flickering, a dangerous, awfully familiar thing.

"No!" it screamed, falling back. Hush quickly scrambled up and pinned him down again. "What is this?" it yelled.

"A rune-wolf's weakest point... is its nose," Hush said, straining against Rune's arms again. He could see the darkness starting to slip, the pain pulling Rune back. "You don't mess with Magi," Hush snapped.

"Damn it!" it cried, its voice transitioning back into Rune's. "It will.. they will..." It cried out one last time before the darkness slipped away completely, leaving a very confused and pain-ridden Rune behind.