Safehaven

Chapter 28

The man sank to the ground, a look of shock on his face. The sword protruded from between his shoulder blades, and blood had started to pool on the stone floor. Morian let out a howl of accomplishment as Badon fell to the ground. Nathen just stood, paralyzed with grief. His face was blank and pale. Morian wrenched his sword free of Badon's chest and sheathed his blood stained blade and turned to the sea of students and demons before him. The fighting instantly stopped, and hundreds of eyes turned to the gruesome scene. "The same thing will happen to any of you who try to stand up to me. Understand?!" Morian's voice boomed across the silent crown. The demons and monsters whooped and hollered with agreement. The kids shook with fear. On the ground among them, fallen demons mingled with their own dead and injured. I heard some sob. I saw Nathen fall beside his friend and place and hand on the man's chest. It shuddered weakly, and red liquid covered the floor around them. As I watched, Badon drew his last breath, and disintegrated into gold powder. The dust swirled around on the ground for a few seconds, before collecting in a small ball. The ball exploded with a warm breeze. Angel the fenrir let out a mourning howl, and burst into a cloud of gold dust. Badon was dead. Morian smiled and raised his arms above his head in triumph. "It is done!" He cried. "Your leader is dead. Surrender!" Students began to kneel before the demented spirit. His followers also lowered themselves, though they smiled and laughed. Soon, I was the only one standing, and the room was silent. Even the battle between the black dragon and our soul mates had relinquished. The evil beast lay on the ground, chest heaving. But Gwindol and the others were burned, scared, and bleeding. They waited their next command, though they were stooped with exhaustion. I doubted any one of them could even summon an ounce of magic. We truly had lost the battle. I turned back to Morian. He had a knowing smirk on his face. "Are you too going to admit defeat?" He taunted. "The last heir of Galloren. The hero of legend. She will bow to me!" The man chuckled and half bowed, clearly mocking me. "Maybe you aren't really the Prophetic One, girl. You're not strong enough." That set me on edge. It rekindled the burning ember in me into a raging fire. I didn't know how I was going to do it, I knew that I was going to take this man down. As if knowing my mind, Gwindol limped over to me and sat by my right side. His eyes burned with hatred. "Prove it." I spat through gritted teeth. I raised my palm, and flames burst to life. They grew and grew until I had a pillar of flame in my hand. Then, very slowly, the flames twisted and formed into a vague shape. The shape of a rearing dragon, the same one I had writhing the stone on my necklace. It was a symbol of hope, the only thing stronger than fear. One by one, students began to rise from the floor along with their animals. They all glared at Morian. My friends came to my side with their soul mates. And side by side, we stood firm. I looked at the kids in front of me, the army I had just called to action. Yes, Badon was dead. But that didn't mean we were any weaker. "You think I'm not strong?" I stared at the fiery dragon in my palm. "Have some of this." I flung my arm forward, and the flaming shape charged towards Morian, fangs drawn. The evil being swatted the flames away, but it must have taken much of his energy. Now, Morian's robes were in tatters and chared. His pale face was black with ash, and blood ran from his nose. He growled, but then seemed to realize his position. His dragon was down, he was weakened, and most of his minions were dead. He was on the loosing side. With one last look of resentment towards me, Morian raised his arm towards his dragon, and it raised its head and lumbered over to him, limping with pain and misery. The man swung his leg over the beast, and they disappeared with a puff of smoke. The demons, also, vanished. The only thing left was the dead and dying. Yes, we had won this battle, but at a great cost. Many of our friends were wounded, and Badon was dead. What could we do now?