Undiscovered Origins

Undiscovered Origins - Chapter 40

A/N:

This novel is coming to a close... well there's still plenty more chapters to go.

Surely there's a point I'm annoying you... so you want to read the story and not listen to me?

psssht, I see how it is...

Anyway, very soon here (hopefully), I will be wanting BETA readers for this novel. Hopefully with your help I can get the grammatical errors fixed and get this novel good enough to try and get to publishers or agents. So if you are smart and know English, please help! <3

Chapter 40:

Jade searched her mind for the power within herself and she focused on the three gargoyles through the trees. Drake was by her side and held her hand as she drew in the power within her. Vines crawled from the ground all around her and up her body as she released her power. A sphere of green light trickled from her fingertips and onto the ground by the gargoyles. Poison oak burst from the ground and tied around the creatures like rope. Drake ran out to confront them.

She dashed out from the wilderness and to the two cowering satyrs. Both were horrified and shrieking even when she came close. She whispered soothing words to them and showed them the way out. They both seemed to settle themselves and follow her out. She brought them to the clearing where they gathered the others and dashed back into the forest.

Before she could get too far an arrow soared through the air and struck her shoulder. She cried out in agony as three humans surrounded her. Each wore heavy leather armor and swords. Her arm throbbed as she touched the shaft and flinched away from it. She felt at her sash for her scabbard and drew out her oak scimitar.

The three men didn’t waste time as they closed in on her and she defended herself gallantly. No matter how talented she’d become with her sword, she was no match for the talent of three sword masters. After only blocking four separate strikes, her scimitar was swiped from her hand. She watched in horror as the weapon fluttered through the air and turned back into an oak branch that shattered when it struck a tree.

“You’re coming with us,” one of the men spoke.

“I don’t think so,” whispered a harsh voice through the wind.

Jade turned to see Drake dashing toward them with sword in hand. She watched in amazement as he fought against two at the same time as he spat fire from his mouth to incinerate the third. Two archers came from the forest and released arrows toward the half-wyvern but he dodged them with ease.

She got to her feet with gritted teeth as she favored her shoulder. A thought entered her mind as she felt the shaft of the arrow. It was made of oak and it pulsed through her. She sprinted forward and grabbed another oak limb from the ground which she transformed in her mind to a bow. Her hand found the arrow and she shrieked as she tore it from her flesh. Drake turned his head to stare at her as he fought. She shook her head to him and notched the arrow in the thin vine of her bow before releasing it towards an archer. The arrow flew true to its mark and embedded itself in the temple of the man.

Jade cringed. She never killed a human before, and even though she knew they would have done the same to her, it did not make a difference. Killing a human was murder and something she didn’t like. She ran towards Drake who had defeated one of his opponents. Her bow transformed into a sword much like her previous one and she used it to slice the hand of the other human, causing his weapon to collapse from his hand.

Drake promptly slashed his sword at the man’s neck, decapitating him. He reached out to Jade and brought her close. As she slid into his arms she felt cold air behind her and turned her head to see an arrow passing by where she was standing only moments before. Drake slid her aside and ran at the last human, he transformed into a green wyvern and cremated the last human.

Jade shivered as she watched and felt at her arm where she grew weak. She fell to the ground as she grew dizzy and clutched at her shoulder. Blood streamed from her wound that she fought to keep tight. Drake was by her side in an instant holding her steady. He settled her against a tree as he took off into the forest.

The world spun around her as she wondered if saving the few half-breeds they could was worth it. She immediately made up her mind that it was. Even if only one life was saved it had all been worth it.

Drake returned with a handful of leaves that he stuff against her shoulder and held tight to block the bleeding. She couldn’t focus on him and it seemed as if he wavered back and forth as he helped her to her feet. With his help they were able to walk out through the forest. A shriek caused them to stop and Jade looked up to see two men closing on a woman in a stream. Drake tried to back up and head down another way, but Jade wouldn’t allow him to move her.

“You can’t leave her, you can save her. I know you can,” she whispered.

“We don’t have time,” Drake protested.

“There is always time.”

Drake hissed as he gently set her against a tree. He withdrew his sword and sprinted at the two men. Both were surprised as he struck them with speed and intensity in a whispering sword strike. He knocked one down easily and pierced him through heart before the other rushed him. Drake lost his balance and fell to the ground. The swordsman kicked Drake’s sword hand, causing him to drop his weapon and crawl back defenseless. Jade tried to get up and come to his aid, but her body was too weak. She felt better with whatever the leaves were that Drake put on her arm, the bleeding seemed to slow almost to a stop, but she still didn’t have enough strength to rise to her feet.

Jade couldn’t let Drake fall and yet there was nothing she could do. Everything around her spun in a fury and she tried to concentrate. She called out to the trees surrounding her. Whispers circled around her in the air, soothing her mind with their presence.

“Help him,” she whispered.

Vines came from the ground around Drake, blocking the strike of the other man’s sword. Tree branches swung out and knocked the man over while more grabbed Drake’s fallen sword and dropped it by his feet. Drake rolled and picked up his weapon and delivered a killing strike to the man.

He rushed over to the frightened woman and helped her to her feet. The two of them rushed back over to where Jade sat. Their motions didn’t seem to flow correctly to her, but instead came at her in flashes. Drake tried to help Jade to her feet, but it was no use. Her strength was depleted. He lifted her up and carried her like a babe.

“It’s going to be okay Jade,” he whispered.

He checked her wound as he ran, and when satisfied he scraped the leaves off of her arm. She cringed in pain as tears fell from her eyes. He gently stroked her hair and looked into her eyes.

“This may hurt a bit, but it needs to be done.”

She only nodded. He opened his mouth and emerald flame escaped to her flesh. It burned intensely but she could feel as the wound closed. She screamed as a cold sweat became her.

“We need to get to the ship; the faeries will be able to help you better than I can. Hang in there Jade, everything will be alright,” Drake soothed into her ear as he continued to sprint.