Halfblood

Chapter 11

In case you were wondering, the answer to that question is 'pretty much everything.'

I never even touched the axe. The handle bent away from my hand. Then a storm of throwing knives was flying at me.

I frantically wave my arms around, somehow putting up a shield bubble in time, and sigh in relief as the blades are deflected by the protective barrier.

Only to nearly be scared out of my wits as a multi-colored blur smashes through said barrier, nearly relieving me of my arms in the process.

"Hold on a second." Spectrum's sudden interjection causes me to blink. "Is that who I think it is?"

"If you think it is who I think it is, it probably is." As I said this, I lunged out at the intruder with the knife I 'borrowed' from Kardmis. Sadly, I had never handled such a weapon before, and her scaley arm easily deflected my intended blow.

"But why is she here?" I didn't even know that either.

"I think-" I started to speak but was mostly rudely cut off by the shapeshifting intruder.

"There is too much thinking going on here."

The voice made my heart leap into my throat. So it was who I thought it was. Pythonia herself, come here for some reason. But why?

I saw Kardmis freeze at the voice, his hands midway through crafting another attack to throw at us. He was obviously just as surprised to see Pyhtonia here as were. Never mind. Scratch surprised. I think ticked off would be a better fit for that sentence.

"Pyhtonia.... What a pleasure to see you here." When he finally spoke, it sounded forced. There was a slight hesitation before every word, as if he was searching for the right way to finish the sentence.

Pythonia, on the other hand, seemed perfectly calm and relaxed.

"A bit too calm and relaxed for my liking."

I bit my tongue, mentally telling Spectrum to shut up.

"The pleasure, I assure you, is all mine." But even as she spoke, I could see the shapeshifter's hand --or actually more claw like appendage-- twitch. But either Kardmis did not notice, or didn't think to care because instead of investigating the matter more thoroughly, he chose to speak again.

"What, if I may ask, brings you here?"

The blade was out of her sleeve and at Kardmis's throat in a second. "I'm looking for my daughter."

He appeared confused yet unfazed even as she forced him back against the rough rock wall of the cliff. "Your daughter?"

I slowly began pulling myself to the side. If I can just get out of their view before anyone notices, I'll be home free. But Pythonia's next words froze me in my tracks.

"The Halfblood." I pulled myself closer to them, straining to hear more. "You took her. Where is she?"

"Did you hear that?" I whisper, hoping neither of them can hear us.

"I did." I really do not like the smug tone thus dragon is conveying right now. "It seems to be pretty obvious, but I will admit that it does leave me wondering one small thing."

I let out as quiet of a sigh as I can. "And that is?"

"Would now be an appropriate time to say 'I told you so?'"

I quickly back further along the cliff. "If I could, I'd smash your face in right now."

"Why? For stating the obvious?"

"Let's start with the fact that you didn't actually tell me so."

"Let's finish this later. I think something important might be going on right now."

As I got closer, I could see that something important was indeed going on.

"This is your last chance." I saw the blade dig slightly into Kardmis's throat. "Tell me where she is."

Kardmis did not seem concerned at all however. In fact, he was laughing. "You think I am scared of that puny old knife? Well guess again. It can't even hurt my ki-"

I was honestly surprised by how fast Pythonia moved. One minute she was holding the blade to his throat, the next she has him pinned to the cliff with one claw like hand around his throat as the other waves the blade in front of his eyes.

His face fell as he must have seen the same thing I saw. Silver runes running the length of the wickedly curved blade. Pythonia was holding a spectral blade... one of only a few in existence.

These blades could cut flesh and spirit alike, and were the only known way in existence to kill a spirit guardian such as Kardmis.

"You have one last chance." I saw Kardmis shudder as the blade touched his throat again. "Tell me, or die!"

I could have sworn I saw the air split in that moment. "I can't tell you. Left alone, she will bring ba-"

Pythonia didn't even let him finish his sentence. One swift motion of her hand, and Kardmis was silenced forever.

And as I saw the bloody blade in her hand, I knew one thing... we had to find her daughter before she did.