Veil of Shadows

Chapter 14. Even Heroes Die

They buried Steph on the edge of the village, just outside the crumbling walls. Deciding that it might be better for their nerves, the camp was set up a ways into the forest, close to a cliff that overlooked the sea.

Ranger started the fire in under five minutes, coaxing a flame out of the dry oakwood. Grabbing some food provisions from their supplies, Blaze placed them over the fire to cook.

For a while, they sat in comforting silence, the only sound being the crackling of the flames and the sounds of the night. It was relatively peaceful. Surprisingly, hardly any mobs came around.

When the steak was done, Toxic passed it around, and everyone re-filled their health bar, even though nobody felt all that hungry after what they had witnessed.

Gradually, everyone took to their tents, and the fire died down until it was little more than glowing embers. Shadows cast by the flames danced at the edges of their vision, playing tricks on their eyes.

Soon, the fire was nothing more than charred wood.

The Hero Squad lay in their tents, asleep...except for one. Ranger couldn't fall asleep to save her life. And so she just lay there, staring at the ceiling. She wouldn't dare to try to get up...they would be a little less than happy if she woke them.

Meanwhile, a particularly odd shadow drifted around the edge of the camp, memorizing the location of tents and calculating the distance to every escape route possible.

Wraith moved in. She sensed the presence of a Nether creature hybrid in one of the tents. Quickly pinpointing the one they called Blaze, Wraith began checking the steps to her plan over and over again for any flaw.

She found no plausible flaws, and so, the plan was ready to be executed. Muting her footsteps, she moved to one of the tents on the far left. Looking inside briefly, she confirmed that her target was inside.

Taking a deep breath, Wraith went over her next move one last time. Then, she vanished. Now she stood over Blaze. The blaze hybrid sensed her presence and started awake just before she saw a hand grab her arm.

Wraith vanished again, this time taking Blaze with her.

They reappeared on the clifftop, and Blaze was sent sprawling. As soon as she stopped rolling, she reoriented herself, standing up and igniting firebolts in her palms, ready for any attack.

Wraith simply grinned. With a flick of her wrists, two daggers appeared in her hands, sharp as death itself. Blaze flung out a hand, sending a massive wall of fire out at her attacker.

Wraith walked through it as if it were nothing. Blaze stumbled back a pace in shock. A fire wall of that size should have incinerated her! Unless..."You're a Nether hybrid?" She breathed.

"Took you long enough." Wraith drawled, stalking toward her. "Wraith, wither hybrid, master assassin. And you are...Blaze, daughter of Scarlett and King Jason."

"How do you know about me?" Blaze growled, not taking her eyes off the twin daggers. "Well, when you're the daughter of the Blaze King, your name tends to get around." Wraith replied, as if it should have been obvious.

"And who sent you here?" Blaze asked, hoping to keep the wither hybrid talking long enough to form a plan. Wraith sheathed one of her daggers. "That information will not be shared. But, I came here to kill you, and that's all you need to know."

Suddenly, Blaze was dangling over the edge of the cliff. Wraith held her over the side, a hand on her throat, a dagger in her other hand. "I honestly expected more of a fight from you, princess." Wraith added.

Blaze's eyes burned, and she struggled against the wither hybrid's grip. But Wraith was strong, unbelievably strong, and slowly, Blaze's vision began to fog over.

In a last-ditch effort, Blaze lashed out with one leg, sending them both tumbling backward. Wraith unsheathed her second dagger and swiped at Blaze, who ducked under it and went for a punch.

Wraith caught the punch in one hand and said "I thought you would be able to give me a good show. I guess I thought wrong." She twisted Blaze's hand and kicked, rendering Blaze's arm numb.

Wraith released Blaze's arm, and she fell to the ground, breathing heavily. Smirking, the wither hybrid drew back her arm and said "Goodnight, princess." And she threw the dagger.

It spun end over end, and if it kept going on its trajectory, it would pierce Blaze's newfound heart. The blaze hybrid closed her eyes and waited for the sharp sting of the iron blade.

Instead, she heard a short cry of alarm and a thud.

Opening her eyes, she saw Ranger laying beside her, a dagger sunk deep in her chest. The Ender hybrid's eyes were wide as she looked at Wraith, who cursed them both and vanished.

Blaze, panicking, moved to Ranger's side and pulled the dagger out of her chest. Ranger didn't move. She didn't respond. Ranger had...leapt in the way of the dagger.

Ranger had saved her life, and was about to die.

(DARN IT RANGER! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO GO AND BE THE HERO?!)