The 100 short stories

The Mirror (4)

Clarke held her hands in front of her as she sat beside Bellamy's bed. Raven and Monty and Jasper had all filled in the other side of the room. She took in a deep breath, looking at their faces. They needed her, they all looked so desperate to have someone save their world from this beast. Clarke never felt this kind of pressure before. Yet the magic inside of her sung with power, it told her she was the one who could do this. She was the chosen one.

"My dad used to tell me this story. I thought he made it up. But seeing that beast, I think he was telling me how to kill it," Clarke's eyes sparkled with tears as she spoke. Just thinking about the nights her father used to tuck her in and use her name as the protagonist in his nightly story made her heart hurt. She hit a nerve as she closed her eyes, ignoring their eyes, waiting for the story she couldn't stop seeing play inside her head.

God she missed her dad. If he was here he would know what to do.

Bellamy grabbed her hand. His skin was warm, his touch more gentle than she expected it to be. He ran his thumb over the back of her palm, "so what's the story?"

She swallowed her tears and took in a deep breath, "so I'll skip the flowery details. He used to make these big epic worlds, anyways," she shook her head, "basically there was this princess, and her kingdom became overrun by these creatures. Not big and scary like our beast, just annoying and they had this venom that could paralyze their victim. So one day she grabbed a dagger. But it wasn't just any old dagger. It was one forged with magic. It's name was Darais. And it once belonged to her great grandmother, the only person to ever slay a dragon in their world."

Bellamy rolled his eyes, "okay princess," he stretched the nickname out and pulled his hand back, "but we don't have a magical sword. Which means that this story is totally useless."

Clarke's face lit up, "no you don't. But I do."

Everyone sat up, Raven gasped. Bellamy's eyes were sparkling, "what?"

"My dad gave me Darais when I turned sixteen. Stupidest gift for any other girl that age, but I loved it. He even had markings etched into the metal. I thought it was fake, a prop he found somewhere and thought I would love. Because that was our thing, these crazy stories and magic. But he told me to keep it safe, one day I'd need it."

Bellamy looked relieved for the fist time in days. He sat up and grabbed at the air, Clarke could tell he wanted to reach out and touch her. But he kept himself in check, he swallowed, his adam's apple bobbing up and down, "please tell me you brought it with you. We can't get another portal in time for you go back and get it."

Clarke's smile made the room silent, "I always carry it with me."

She pulled a silver chord from under her shirt. It looked like an ordinary piece of jewelry, until she tore it off and the metal realigned to create Damaris. The sword was as long as her forearm, it wasn't heavy either, she held it with ease. The markings ran up the hilt, a six pointed star to ward off evil.

Bellamy all but fell out of his chair, "well I'll be damned. Maybe you are our savior after all."

Clarke winked at the handsome watcher, "why do you think you've been watching me all these years? Certainly not because of my pretty face. I'm pretty badass."

She felt full of power as she stood there holding the sword. She knew she looked foolish, but for the first time she felt like she had a true purpose. She felt like there was something she needed to do, something she could finally help with. Her father might have left her, but he had left her behind something as beautiful as this place.

Raven smiled, "Bellamy always said you were the one we needed to watch over. He's got a good sense of people," she looked at the brown haired boy, "so now what should we do?"

Bellamy looked at Clarke, her blue eyes were bright as she held that swords tightly in her palm. He let out a slow breath and then held his hand out to Jasper. Both boys helped pull Bellamy out of the bed. His bones were sore, his body was fighting him. But he wasn't going to sit back and watch Clarke go after this thing herself.

When he was standing Clarke stepped forward and before he could stop himself he reached out and grabbed her waist. With all eyes on them he leaned forward and kissed her lips. Clarke gasped, surprised at the kiss, but after a moment she melted into him. Her hand came up to cup his cheek, her heart pounding a million miles a minute.

Bellamy pulled back, his brown eyes were beautiful in this light, "I've wanted to do that ever since that bastard broke your heart."

Clarke couldn't help but smile. The moment he had touched her, a spark ignited inside her chest. She could feel herself wanting him, she could feel herself waking up from whatever darkness that had surrounded her. She took in a deep breath, wanting to kiss him, wanted to pull him into her and never let him go. But she had so much more she needed to do before they could finally be together.

Clarke kissed him softly once more. When she pulled back she laced her fingers through his and smiled, "let's go kill the beast."