A Choice

Chapter Nineteen

"Run now!" I called to my friends behind him. Fiona had finally joined them and had made a huge magical shield around the group.
"I'm not leaving you!" cried Fiona, "I can't lose you again!"
"Go, save yourselves, I'll be fine!" I called back, not wanting them to risk their lives for me, "Go too Papa, this isn't your battle." When Wallace protested, I carried him with my magic behind the shield, something somehow became more natural. Before I could do the same for Barric, Vladmire struck the bridge around my feet. I started to fall but felt a strong hand around mine. Looking up I saw that Barric held my hand, helping me up. We stood next to each other, ready to fight. I blasted Vladmire with my magic, but missed. I saw the sword was hanging almost off the bridge, its handle caught in a crack. I then realized something. Vladmire must be scared of it because it was the only thing that could kill him. That's why he sent me to get it and why I had to kill Barric. He was merely a spirit, a ghost, and this blade was the only thing that could destroy him for good. I went for the sword. A lightening bolt hit right in front of me and sent me flying back. Barric caught me from falling hard on my back and pulled me to my feet.
"Go get the sword," he said panting, "I'll distract him." Before I could tell him we needed a better plan he walked the opposite way of the sword with my knife I didn't even realize he took. He then ran around the rest of the bridge, careful not to come near where I was. I snuck the other way Barric was, quiet not to make a sound. I went slowly, hiding behind chunks of the bridge that stood up. I was finally almost there. The sword had no places to hide nearby. I had to go quickly or I could be caught. I was so focused on getting that sword that I didn't realize what Vladmire and Barric were doing.
I counted myself down and on three I rushed forward to the sword. I was at the sword and grabbed ahold of the handle, victorious. I looked around for Barric, to show him that I got the sword. I saw that Vladmire was looking at me with shock. He had stopped chasing Barric around. I looked around some more until I heard a moan coming from under me. I looked down to my feet and saw Barric. He was barely breathing and had a big wound in his stomach. I crouched down and squeezed his hand.
"Barric, what happened?" I asked, I didn't know how I could muster out the words through my tears.
"Oh just a little wound," he said laughing, "He realized you were going after the sword and shot at you when you went to get it. I blocked the shot and well, this happened." He tried to get up, but winced in the effort and decided to stay lying down.
"Barric, you shouldn't have. I can't lose you." I said crying even harder.
"I couldn't lose you," he said smiling at me, "I'll see you and every day I won't, I'll still love you." With that he looked up at the night sky and closed his eyes. His hand slipped out of mine and I heard his last breath. With red eyes, I looked back up at Vladmire. He seemed proud of himself of what he did.
"You did this, you monster," I said walking forward with the sword, this made him scared, "How could you?"
"Evangeline, my dear, it was to protect you, you are meant for more and I know it, that's why I killed your family, so they wouldn't distract you," he said nervously.
"No, you killed my family so you could have my powers, well you can't Vladmire and you never will." The anger inside of me exploded and I charged towards him. The sword pierced him and he evaporated with a puff of black smoke. Everything went silent. Everyone was still looking at me. I dropped the sword. Everything had happened too fast. I ran back to Barric, my friends followed me. Kneeling at his side, I put my head on his chest where the wound wasn't and cried. I cried for the future we never had. I cried that I went along with Vladmire's crazy plan. I cried that I was stupid enough to think I could never love again. I cried for everyone who had to go through this. I cried for everything.
When I was finally out of tears I looked up. My friends were all surrounding me. Papa came to kneel beside me and wiped my tears away. He smiled at me and squeezed my hand. Then Nia came over to me. She was a human now and still wasn't up to how she was when I first met her, but was doing much better.
"He can be saved," she said quickly.
"No, he's dead," I said. Saying them made it feel more real in a way.
Reaching into the bag she pulled out a bottle with a red liquid in it. The bottle had a skull on it. She handed the bottle to me and explained what it was.
"My tribe is very skilled at making medicines, recently they made this which can bring back the dead, only if you truly love the person. This is the only bottle of it and Mama wanted you to use it," Nia said smiling at me. I handed the bottle back.
"I can't take this, someone else should use it," I said smiling at her.
"No our king needs it, to rule over us fairly." She took the bottle and opened it, "Pour this in his mouth," she instructed me.
I opened his mouth and poured the red liquid into Barric's mouth. After a while of waiting, Barric still didn't move. The little bit of hope that rose inside of me broke away and I started to cry again. I did truly love him. I should have known you couldn't bring back the dead, it was stupid of me to even think that could happen.
"Don't cry for me," said a voice, I turned around and saw that Barric sat up, his wound completely healed. I ran over and hugged him. I hugged him as hard as I could, for I would never let go, not ever again.