The Baron and his Lady

Twenty-nine: Doom

The beyond
Lucian's pov

The storm was brewing immensely above me. Dark and heavy clouds gathered here by the portal. I was right when I thought I felt a brush of magic awhile ago. But nothing seemed to be happening on the portal itself.

I touched the hardened wall and nothing was different. Only the raging thunder and lightning gave way to something dangerous. Whatever could be happening outside?

I looked up and felt the first drop of rain. It was cold and wet. I couldn't help but gasp, it has been so long since I had experienced rain. Way too long.

Besides the storm there seemed to be nothing out of place. Perhaps this is temporary after all. I worried way too much. It's time to get back to Krista.

At the thought of her name I heard someone call to me. I turned my head and tried to listen. The rain poured heavily now and the thunder was louder than before.

"...cian! Lucian!"

Krista!

It has to be her.

But where?

I looked around, raising my hand to cover my eyes from the water. The sunny weather was masked away and the surroundings was dark. Damn. I can't see clearly.

"Lucian..." it was louder this time.

"Krista!"

"Lucian!"

I began taking a step forward, "Krista, where are you?"

"Lucian? I'm here! Follow my voice.."

I tried. But every step I make was a struggle, the soil had turned into mud. My boots kept slipping and I fell several times.

"Lucian? Are you alright?"

I wiped the dirt away from face and yelled back, "I'm fine. Stay where you are. I'll get to you."

"Be careful!" She answered.

I tried standing up again and managed to keep my footing. Another roll of thunder blasted through the skies. A thunder answered in a distance, giving me a short time of brightness to make out the surroundings. Krista was standing about twenty paces from where I was. I waved to her and saw her hand waved back. I was soaked to the core and I'm starting to feel cold. Will I get sick? I hoped not.

I took another unsteady step when the air suddenly thickened. It didn't blew unlike a passing gust of wind but it felt like it was sucking the place. I braced my arms against my face because several branches began flying around.

"Lucian, look out!"

A huge object was on my way. It was too late. It hit me, I realized it was a large branch and I was lying on my back.

"Lucian? Oh my god, I'm coming.."

I heard her footsteps but she slipped halfway and fell into her knees. She cried out, it was painful, I could tell. I pushed myself up to a sitting position.

"Stay there Krista! Don't move a limb!"

"But you're hurt!"

"No, I'm fine.." but damn, my back felt like a horse had run me down, "I'm coming to you. Stay where you are."

I didn't know if she responded because another gust of wind hit us. The direction was unmistakable, it was hitting me from the frontside and was going behind me. Like a current. I gambled and glanced back.

"Krista, run... now!"

Her eyes were staring at the portal as well. She saw what was happening. Her legs immediately came up and started running towards me.