Lightless Path

Chapter 11: His Goddess

           

Author's note: Thank you all for sticking it through this far! Just a reminder this is still a first draft, and more updates are to come! I've just been so busy with school and family, but here's the next part!

Mae slowed her breathing when she heard footsteps outside the small closet door. She placed her ear against the wood, straining to hear Nystaryl, but a wave of nausea washed over her when a heavy presence stopped outside the door.

An involuntary scream escaped Mae's lips when a fist punched the door. She threw her weight against the door, hoping it'd stun Nystaryl as it flew open. Nails scratched the floor behind her only spurring Mae to run faster. She rattled a few locked doors, hearing Nystaryl nearly upon her she bolted for the next door. Figuring it was locked just the same, she mentally prepared to break it open. Her magic, she was beginning to learn reacted to her will for the most part. With as much magic as she'd used to escape Nystaryl, she'd probably exacerbated her magic poisoning. The only thing keeping her going was adrenaline.

She pictured a gleaming white shield forming over her skin, a metallic ring sounded, and she slammed her shoulder into the thick wood door. It flew open easier than she'd expected, causing her to lose her footing and she hit the floor with a grunt.

Mae scrambled to her feet and slammed the door shut, but Nystaryl rammed into it full force. The breath was forced from her chest and a mirror cracked when her head slammed back into it. An impossibly strong grip wrenched her away from the wall, threw her across the room and she cracked into a wood table.

"Nya!" Mae tasted blood in her mouth, "Stop." Her eyes stung with unshed tears. Nystaryl had a long black streak running up the side of her neck and cheek, flesh open to the world, liquid oozed out. Alathan please don't make me do this. I can't. Her back and neck screamed in pain as she frantically rushed to crawl past the table when Nystaryl jumped on her. The feeling of air under her head barely registered before stars crackled across Mae's vision. Her lungs screamed on fire and Nystaryl flickered in and out of sight. Mae focused the pinprick of sight on Nystaryl, lips moving in her struggle to kick Nystaryl away. Eager yellow eyes hovered inches from her own.

Liam lounged against a tree, hands in buckskin pants decorated with red stripes. His lips moved but no words came out, "What?" Chains resisted Mae's efforts to move closer. Her throat closed up, Daniel filled her sight. Something wet dripped onto her collar, Mae glanced down and saw a clump of black. She'd been cured, this wasn't real. Alathan, Mae closed her eyes and shook in place, Alathan don't let me turn. Please. "Help me," she mouthed to Daniel. Daniel brought a hand up and stroked her cheek, his mouth twisted in anguish as a sheen begun to glisten in his eyes. A heavy thrum replaced all sound. "I'm not dead, look at me." Mae willed Daniel to look back at her, Alathan make him see I'm alive. "I'm here. It's me. I'm not dead." She screamed at him without a voice—a sharp pain exploded in her chest.

Darkness had nearly filled her vision, No! Mae grabbed Nystaryl's forearms, willing what energy she had left into her palms. Nystaryl's knee pressed painfully into her gut nearly breaking her concentration. Mae pictured the energy forming into a hot ball of fire, roaring into flames in Nystaryl's place. Forgive me. Mae felt the energy burst from her palms, her ears popped, and she gasped for breath amidst the intense heat. She rolled away from the fire, coughs escaped her lips and she dragged herself towards the doorway. Nystaryl was screaming and setting furniture on fire writhing in pain. The wood floor was cold against Mae's skin, Thank you Alathan. Cool air from the hallway slid over her form, filling her starving lungs.

Out in the hallway, Mae rolled onto her back and studied the paneled ceiling. I'm so sorry Nya. Her eyes ached from the dryness, looking back at Nystaryl, Mae sat upright instantly. Nystaryl was gone.  Pulling herself to her aching feet, Mae studied scorched marks on the floors and furniture. This was real. Soot came off on her fingers, this wasn't her. Mae spotted a mirror and moved to it, Maybe I can summon Kris if I focus enough. She placed her palms on either side of the mirror, focusing on connecting to Kris. Her mind felt like a weight had been placed on it, pressing her down, Stop. Mae breathed carefully as pain exploded behind her eyes, picturing Kris staring back at her in the mirror. Come on Kris, please, she held down the bile threatening to come up.