Ven: Part 2

Ch. 21 As they should be

*0*

I can feel where they've congregated, huddled together trying to defend themselves.

My chin no longer hurts having been healed completely. The shock of it hangs heavy on me.

He hit me.

He should not have been able to do that.

I teleport myself to be directly in their midst.

"Hello, boys, girls, and anything in between." I say.

They all turn and react one of three ways.

1) They freeze in fear (urination optional).

2) They turn tail and run, scampering outward in an uncoordinated panic.

3) They ready themselves to fight.

Several of them throw punches, or kicks, or slice with swords, any manner of attack they're ready for.

They all stop short, bodies sagging as the drive to hit me fades away.

I laugh at another wave of attacks yield the same result.

A tall man stands back and watches, his eyes fixed on everything happening.

They keep up the useless onslaught until they're red in the face and panting. Everyone who ran has come back, everyone that froze has turned to watch.

"Now," I say, sweeping my hands over the crowd, drawing up all the menace I can muster. "You all die."

You could hear a pin drop if it weren't for the cracking of thunder.

The tall man and a young woman advance toward me.

"Volunteers!" I advance in kind.

The tall man coats his fist in a barrier and punches.

His fist slows down and his body sags before his fist connects.

I aim my knee at his chest. A barrier pops up and my knee bounces off it.

The young woman stabs her hand up through the air. Ice pushes through the cobbled street and stabs towards my heart.

It stops in mid air.

Everything as it should be.

I put my attention on the tall man before me, his hand is on his chest.

"You can feel through those, can you?" I lean down, my face right next to his. "Seems a bit useless for a barrier."

There's an odd shimmer around his head, the air just barely purple.

His bare fist connects with my mask right where my chin is.

Reflexively a warmth builds in my throat.

"Stop!" My voice booms out across the immediate street.

Everyone freezes.

I clear my throat.

"Now, let's do this right." I open my coat to reveal the sword hidden beneath.

I wrap my hand around the ornate hilt.

It hums in response, coming alive.

"It's time to die." I raise it and swing down, aiming to slice the tall man in half.