Umærium: A Parallel World | ✔

Chapter Twelve

Harem - Miguel

~ Asaíra~

We stood near the portal. I was frozen on the spot, too unsure to move. This must have been the greater evil the story spoke about but the young boy seemed harmless. I didn't care. This wasn't my battle.

Time seemed to slow as Jacob lunged at Irvine. But she didn't move. She stood there confidently in her armour, waiting for his attack. I was anxious as I looked between the two of them, remembering that Irvine had mentioned the instability of the portal. But then that quickly faded away. Something drastic was about to happen, and I was counting on it.

Irvine brought out one hand and her fingers laced around Jacob's neck as his feet dangled above the ground. He thrashed with his claws she was out of his grasp. She turned and threw him through the portal. He landed on the soft grass and quickly got to his feet. Red light beams gathered, and a sword formed in his hand as his claws retracted.

"You will be stopped," he spat and took predatory steps towards her. She shook her head.

"This is what happens when you give the youngest descendant of your family tree the role of playing the villain," Irvine laughed. "This portal needs to close," Irvine said and reached out for her golden sword.

"No!" I cried. I stood in front of her. Just a few more minutes... "If you do this, then all that I've done here will be for nothing."

"I don't think you realize what's at stake," Irvine replied sternly. "And I don't think your plan benefits everyone." She motioned to the two girls in the corner.

"Oh please. Their world was doomed from the start."

I placed my hands on the sword, knowing that she was stronger than me, and could forcefully remove me anytime I wanted, but I was desperate. Irvine's fiery stare bored holes into my soul. I was too distracted in her intense glare.

An abrupt dissonant sound came from the portal and before I could say anything more, an explosion from the back sent me on the floor. It was Jacob. I peered up and noticed Allison and Séres huddled together near some desks. The sound emitted from the portal grew more concentrated. It was almost time. Just a little more...

Suddenly, the library doors burst open and in poured Orion, Läera and my sister, Ramona. They looked seriously battered up.  Is that what Läera meant when she said 'they' were coming? I shook my head. Things were already set in motion.

I looked behind me and noticed Irvine trying to keep her sword in place while Jacob thrashed at her. It didn't look like he was just trying to injure her, but to kill.

"Stop him," I yelled to my friends. I almost laughed after I said that. Why would they help me? Ramona glanced at me wearily before running towards him. The others merely paused near the door. Of course, she'd help me. She was my older sister.

Within the midst of the purple glow that had formed from the shadow of the portal, there were three shadows fighting. The purple beam seemed to get bigger and I wasn't sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing. Its echo grew monstrous like a giant being was crying in agony.

This is it, I thought, still lying on the floor.

"Close the portal!" Irvine screeched as she dodged a punch from Jacob. It felt like the right thing to do, but I couldn't. I didn't want to. Irvine noticed this and stopped fighting back. Her eyes widened at the pulsating glow of the portal. "Run," she yelled to the others and shoved Jacob back. He crashed with some already destroyed furniture. 

She then ran towards me and grabbed Allison and Séres and pushed us out into the school halls. By then, I had gotten to my feet and ran out the front door. Läera and the others followed close behind. I paused at the entrance; a familiar ship from Umærium was completely destroyed and several strange vehicles parked near the curb.