Wings of Grace

Chapter 20

      Ennar was the first to break the silence. "What just happened?"

     Seeing the ear-to-ear grin splashed across Greno's face and the look of amazement on Lara's, he was very hesitant on acknowledging that maybe he was wrong. Was it possible that all these years of waiting, was for nothing? That they could have activated the lifeforce themselves?

     He was going to have to wait for his answer as, just then, Lara's body started convulsing. The shaking and trembling became uncontrollable. Greno had trouble keeping his fingers positioned on her forehead. Even reading her thoughts or interjecting with his own, was proving to be too difficult.

*******

     Just seconds before:

     The lifeforce of Jedizi had spread throughout Lara's body. She had full physical movement again and looked on in amazement as she could feel every nerve tingling from the presence of such power emanating from within her, as if she had been plugged into an electrical socket. The new creation completely revitalised all her organs, as it endeavoured to weave itself into her very being.

     Usually a shallow breather, every breath she now inhaled seemed to fill her lungs to almost maximum capacity without even trying. Her sinuses cleared instantly. Even the circulation of blood being transported through the chambers within her heart, seemed to awaken, rejuvenated; her heart beat elevated, pulse quickened as the flow, surged through her veins... radiating energy.

     'So, this is what it's like.'

     Her attention was caught by the antics of the tiger cub, a tiny ball of fur that melted Lara's heart. Her pelt was the colour of molten sunset, broken up by stripes of dark lightening and an underbelly as white as winter snow. As Jedizi opened her glorious, soul rendering, emerald eyes, she stretched out her tiny paws, one at a time, discovering the marvels of her own movement before looking up and greeting Lara with a soft growling purr.

     ' Hello to you, too.' Lara whispered.

     Her visual adoration of the cuddly creature of cuteness, was cut short as a white light flashed across Lara's vision. This was followed by harsh red and black strobing, drawing her minds' eye through vast tunnels of alternating bright light, then solid darkness, giving her the impression of motion, until she came to an abrupt halt, once more, now standing before the black and white door.

     It was open.

     The unexpected stopping, made Lara feel like she was going to be lurched forward into the semi-darkened room, but unbelievably she stayed fixed at the door's thresh-hold.

     She would have done anything to turn around and flee in the opposite direction if her body would've allowed her to. Only it felt detached; separated from her conscious mind. As if she needed a barrier to protect her state of consciousness.

     His piercing, dark brown eyes, accented with sparks of red, were all she could see at first.

     Staring straight at her, this time.

     There was no mistaking that he could actually see her.

     'Who was he?'

     His recognition was very blatant, as she saw the glint of anger change to pure hatred at his sudden realisation of who she was. No iris now, just red glowing slits remained, sending dagger-like thoughts in her direction.

     A coldness seeped through her, chilling her to the bone.

     'Surely that couldn't be directed towards me? What had I ever done to him?'