Different Worlds

First Encounter

It seemed like an eon that she just stood there staring at me. Now I knew that she didn't handle herself too well in a surprise situation. I would have to make sure that I didn't put her into another situation like this again. If there was a next time, she'd probably just keel over and die from the shock.

She finally cleared her throat and opened her mouth to speak.

"What was that?" Her voice was shaky from the surprise.

I took a deep breath to make sure that when I spoke my voice would sound steady. "I would have thought that was obvious."

"But - but I thought that ...what exactly are you trying ... to say?"

I liked to think of myself as fearless, but I had never come across a obstacle in my path that scared me as much as what I was about to do. I cleared my throat before I spoke again. But I couldn't seem to make myself come right out and say what I wanted.

"I would have thought that was obvious, too."

Sienna continued to look at me, and I realized that she was just as nervous as I was. I was such a hypocrite. I didn't want to have to be the first one to come right out and say what was on my mind, but here I was hoping that she'd do it for me when she was just as scared. When I looked at it that way, I squared my shoulders and just hoped that the words would come out right.

"I do care." I spoke quietly, but loudly enough so that she was sure to hear every word. "I care about you having to go up against Netiri. I care about what you have to face. If there's any problem here, it's that I care too much." I paused as I watched her face very carefully. "When I first found you and brought you to safety, I could sense that there was something different about you just by looking at you. You were so helpless, and all I wanted to do was to make sure that you were protected. When I began to get to know you, you began to stir feelings inside of me that I had never felt before. It was so strange. In all honesty, it scared the hell out of me." I paused to take another deep breath. "I have been in dangerous situations before. I've been in battles and I have seen more than my fair share of death. I was never scared. But this ... it scares me. It scares me because I have no control over it, and I don't know what you're feeling. I can't see into your mind to know what you're thinking, and it's unnerving." I paused again. Her face was soft and smiling, and even though this relieved me, I continued on. I hadn't got out everything that I wanted to. "Sienna, you are my reason for living now. My only reason."

She stood there, and the smile hadn't left her face. I began to feel cautiously optimistic.

"Now ... would be the time to say something."

Before I realized what was happening, she had thrown her arms around me and was kissing me back. I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe that she felt the same way as I did. I had hoped, of course, but I still couldn't believe it. She pulled back, and her eyes were alight with happiness.

"I'm really glad you told me." Her voice with thick with emotion. "I would never have had the guts to come clean to you first."

I grabbed her around her waist and pulled her closer to me. "You have no idea how nervous I was. I think I'd rather face a army of a hundred soldiers than be put into a situations like that again." I knew I was grinning - I couldn't help it. I was holding the one thing in this world that mattered, and I knew that she wanted me, too. It was a very pleasant thought.

"Congratulations," a new voice intruded, and both our heads looked up to see Jacek trotting over to us. "I didn't think you'd ever have the nerve to say something."

Sienna flushed red, but couldn't seem to stop smiling. I wanted to scowl at him, but my face wouldn't wipe the grin off in order to let me do it.

"You knew?" Sienna asked.

Jacek smiled cheekily. "Course I did. Devon likes to think of himself as a closed book, but I can still read every word."

This time I did manage to get the scowl onto my face. I was just about to say something back, when something caught my eye. Jacek noticed at the same time. A few metres away from us, a red light was beginning to glow midair. I knew what it was immediately.

"Jarvis!" Jacek roared at the top of his lungs. We began retreating back towards the castle immediately, as Jarvis came running out. Jacek's roar had woken up everybody, and everyone was coming to see what was happening.

"What is it?" Sienna asked. I didn't answer, but pushed her behind me. The red glow grew in size, until it revealed a woman standing there. The glow didn't leave her as she began to walk towards us.

"Stay where you are!" Jarvis stepped forward, his face steely.

The woman laughed. I noticed Sienna's eyes were wide as she watched the woman. For her, this was her first glimpse of the witch - Netiri. There was no doubting that she was very beautiful. Her long, straight black hair fell silkily to her waist, her blood red gown fell to her feet over a long, slim body, and her bright blue eyes looked at all of us with scorn.

"Do you really think you can defeat me?" Her voice was harsh as her eyes looked along all of us. "If you hand over the human now, perhaps I will show you mercy."

"Witch!" I yelled, unable to help myself.

"Leave now," Jarvis insisted. "Or I will be forced -"

"What are you going to do?" She sneered. "Your magic is no match for me."

"Maybe not," Jarvis spoke calmly. "But I'm still strong enough to weaken you so that you won't be able to do anything here at the moment."

Netiri gave a cruel smile. "Perhaps. You would only buy them a day - at most. But you know as well as I do that it would cost you your life. Are you really willing to do that?"

Jarvis didn't say anything. He took another step forward and began to mutter some words. My eyes grew wide as I realized that he was going to sacrifice himself just to buy us more time. He held his hands towards Netiri - who was also saying some strange, magical words - and magic shot out of Jarvis towards Netiri, just as magic came out of Netiri towards Jarvis. There was a loud crash as the opposing magic smashed into each other. Red beams were fighting against Jarvis' green beams, and Jarvis was losing. I knew that everyone wanted to do something, but there was nothing we could do. None of us - apart from Sienna and Rochelle - could do magic. Rochelle was nowhere near strong enough, and Sienna was far from ready.

Before I realized what was happening, Sienna broke away from me and ran in front of Jarvis.

"Sienna - no!" I couldn't move fast enough. Sienna had positioned herself just in front of Jarvis and muttered some words under her breath. It took a moment for me to realize that she was blocking Netiri's magic. Jarvis fell to his knees, but he was still alive.

"Sienna!" Jacek yelled, but there was nothing we could do. Netiri's eyes were furious. Jarvis had managed to weaken Netiri a bit, which is probably the only thing that saved Sienna.

"This isn't over!" Netiri snarled savagely. Then she muttered some more words and disappeared.

Sienna fell to the ground, unconscious. I ran over to her and pulled her into my arms.

"Get the healer!" I demanded worriedly. "Jacek?"

"She's only just alive," Jacek said softly.

"She's amazing," Bronson said. "She managed to block Netiri - if only shortly - but still. I thought she didn't know how to block."

"I was working on it with her yesterday," Jarvis spoke up weakly just as the healer ran up. I watched anxiously as he looked Sienna over.

"She's going to be okay, isn't she?" I couldn't stand the suspense of not knowing. I felt like it would kill me.

"She's very weak," he answered kindly. "And Netiri's very powerful. She will live, but only time will heal her."

I pulled Sienna close to me and softly kissed her on her forehead. She was alive, and that was all that mattered.