Princess of Swords (The Sword of Light)

Chapter 2: The Cavern (The Past)

Chapter 2: The Cavern (The Past)

Death crouched in the room, dragging its sharp claws along the walls and lowered its head to the side – teeth glimmering as it saw Lana. But its smile quickly faded when it saw the wolf and it vanished.

Lana gasped for air and as she did she slipped and fell. She crashed down the rest of the stairs and hit The Stone in one smooth movement. Lana winced in pain as she got up from the ground. She felt more scared than ever as she stood infront of The Stone; its immensity growing out of the floor and reaching up with one arm to the ceiling. It was covered in dark scorch marks, magic or ancient writings.

The wolf stood beside her, growled and turned to look up towards the stairs.

Her hands shook as she raised the sword above The Stone.

She could feel the power of the Gods all around her as they waited in suspense to see what would happen. The Gods of darkness violently screaming in her head while the Gods of light cried with joy – a battle of emotions rampaging through her mind.

Lana could hear the witches coming behind her, their magic crackling in the air as it bounced off the walls. Her hands quaked and her head suddenly became light. She began to bring the sword down, just as something flew at her - the sword slid out of her grip and she to flew back into a wall.

Lana opened her eyes to see and figure standing next to the stone.

The wolf growled and bared its teeth only to be pushed against another wall of the room by an invisible force; lying in a large furry pile on the ground. Lana looked at the wolf with bruised eyes and turned as a familiar voice talked to her.

   “Lana” 

The figure stood smiling and running a thin finger over the stone - poised, watching Lana with intense blue eyes. The figure’s black hair blended in with the dark room while her pale white skin shone through the darkness like a beacon. She looked ghostly as a wicked smile spread across her face.

 Lana lifted herself from the ground and rubbed the blood that was smeared over her face from the gash. Her heart hammered in her chest ready to explode from the overpowering emotions inside of her; revenge, hate, love, sadness. Her hands shook as she regained her breath back. She had to steady herself and not let emotions intervene with her destiny – with her duty.

“Medulla” Lana whispered.  The icy tone of her voice clung to the words, but inside she could feel her heart breaking.

Her twin.

Medulla shifted her weight from one foot to the other and leaned against a wall. She looked at her hands as if unaware Lana had spoken anything at all. No emotions quaked in her face, nothing stirred or flickered. Then her eyes moved from her hands to Lana and her lips rose into a small smile that had no kindness in it.  “No need to be so harsh, sister” Medulla's voice begun quiet but became more intense as she spoke the word ‘sister’. It was like a knife to the heart. 

 Lana swallowed and gripped her dry throat, sore from the stale air that hung in the room. Death had reappeared and flaunted its teeth at her and stood near to Medulla.

“You betrayed us” Lana whispered unable to look away from her sister.

Medulla moved closer until her face was an arms length from Lana’s - she leaned in and whispered “You can’t betray someone you were never loyal to” then she smiled as she saw horror flood across Lana’s face.

 “You’re lying, you loved us all once. But I now see how much you have changed – you are filled with hatred and darkness.”

  “Don’t talk as if you know me Lana. We may be twins but we are far from being the same.”