The Fate Of The Marked

Chapter Twenty-Three

I was in the woods. It was all so surreal, vivid. The night surrounded me like a blanket, shielding me from the unseen. I was in the middle of a path, heart thudding in my chest, terrified. They were coming. I took off again, taking no mind to the pain in my legs or head. The only think that mattered was getting away. A howl broke through the wind in the distance. I picked up speed but seemed to get nowhere. To my left, someone screamed. I knew that voice. I dug my heels into the ground. She screamed again.

Emma.

Without hesitation, I jumped off the path and towards the sound. Now I could smell it: burning. Something was on fire. I dodged trees and bolted through the black. She screamed again. When I made it to the clearing, I saw it. In the distance, there was a massive fire. I could feel the heat of it. A hundred meters away, Emma was on her knees, bent over a still form, sobbing. I had scarcely taken another step when something solid hit me in the back.

I fell forward and rolled. Something growled. I jumped to my feet and spun around, reaching for the knife in my pocket. There was nothing in front of me. I pulled the long blade out and poised it in front of me, ready to strike. A hand knocked it away from me as easily as breaking a twig. I felt my wrist snap, but I could only stumble back in blind pain. My vision blurred for a moment. The flames became white and fuzzy. When I snapped out of it, someone chuckled.

"You've caused me a great headache, boy." A deep voice rumbled. "You've been most persistent in surviving."

I looked up at the figure standing in front of me. He was tall, dark and imposing with strong features that seemed to be etched into his face like stone. His hair was the color of coal and his eyes were just as dark. They seemed to glow down at me, full of gloating triumph. I let my now useless right arm drop to my side and held out my other palm. The demon laughed again, a sound that sent shivers down my spine.

"Your petty magic won't do you any good." He said. "It didn't help your brother, either. You halves never learn."

He raised his hand and flicked his wrist in my direction. A burst of wind picked me up and carried me back until my back slammed into a tree. The tiny branches and bark cut into my skin. Snow melted into my jeans and thin sweater.

I stood weakly, out of breath and unable move away. The demon sauntered towards me, smirking. With ease, he wrapped one massive hand around my throat and lifted me, squeezing. I gasped and kicked out, gripping my throat.

"No point in struggling." He said impatiently. "Your soul will be burned whether you fight it or not."

White spots appeared in my vision. I could feel all the blood trapped in my head, threatening to make it pop off like a broken toy. I opened my mouth, but no air would come through. Desperation surged through me. He leaned close to my ear and whispered.

"Tua mens aeternum ardebit."

Sluggishly, with one last attempt, I lifted my left hand. He didnt seem to notice. I placed it around him, on his back, where his heart would be. I summonded the last bit of my strenght and concentrated. My vision went black, then everything was a blinding blue. I felt myself falling, my head hit something hard. Someone was screaming in agony and anger in front of me. I felt it, as clear as anuthing. My heart pounded one more time harshly in my chest, then stopped completly.

I sat bolt upright, hands going to my throat. I opened my mouth to breath, but nothing happened. I stumbled off the bed, but colapsed. I let my elbows rest on the ground while i tried to breath. I was in my room, not the woods. The only hands constricting my breathing were my own. I yanked away and sucked in a deep, desperate gush of air. I fell onto my back and kept breathing. I placed my hand over my heart and felt it racing in my chest.