The Stone

Chapter Eighteen

    “W-who’s there?” Shadow said, looking past Celeste, who turned around and held up her stonehand, which was still shining. Nate was standing ominously in the cut, a dark smile on his face. “Nate what’re you doing here?” Celeste asked, automatically getting on guard as her heart begun to thump uncontrollably saying, “Get out, get out, get out....”
    “I really wanted to get you alone....” Nate said, ignoring Celeste’s question and walking forward. “But...You two wanted a make out session.” He continued dropping something onto the ground. “Run.” Celeste said. “RUN! GO! RUN!” Celeste shouted pushing Shadow causing him to stumble. “Wait, wait why?” Shadow asked. Nate smiled amusedly at Shadow before glaring at Celeste. “Why? Because this isn’t your war mortal...This is between the Specialni Lovci.” Nate said. Celeste felt as if she were plunged into a tubful of ice water. “You’re-“
    “Yeah, newest member in fact. What? Did you think I was a born teleporter? Nah, when I was younger I was a small, weak, little boy. I looked sickly. No body blinked twice at me...I lived in an apartment building. That caught on fire. Nearly died. But they found me...T-they found me and made me better. Feed me special food...And they taught me...They taught me how it should be. The ones who suffered deserved power because they’ll be able to appreciate it more. We deserve it...More than you silver-spoon babies.” Nate spat. “What’re you talking about? You’re crazy!” Shadow said. Nate stared blankly at him before laughing wildly.
    “Crazy? Yes...But I’m right...You know how many good-hearted mortals there are out there? The ones that could do with a few extra bucks? Ones that could benefit from being able to heal? You...You don’t deserve it. What did you do? Just waltz in and grab the stone? Not good enough...Heir or not.” While he said this, shadows began appearing around them. Moving and shuffling ominously. I’ve gotta get Shadow outta here. Celeste thought, her hand clutched tightly on his jacket.
    She remembered a teleportation technique that she had read about yesterday in Dimitra’s journal. She hadn’t mastered it yet, especially on living creatures but, she had to try. “...Promise it won’t hurt. We cut off the head so you won’t feel a thing, even if you could...We could use your seeing ability I guess.” Nate was saying, glancing at Shadow as if he were a bit of trash. “...And don’t try anything Willow, just because you have unlimited power doesn’t mean you’re unbeatable...Hello Allister.” Nate said smiling and turning to one of the shadows that emerged from out of the trees. He smacked Nate on the back of the head. “What’s with this monologue shit? And don’t use my name...Dumbass...” Allister scolded shaking his head before turning to Celeste with a wicked smile.
    “Hello my great...You’ll go into great, deserving hands.” He said, holding his hands out as if he were about to hug her. Celeste swallowed and placed her stonehand on Shadow’s shoulder, making sure the stone was touching his shoulder. Allister watched with amused eyes. They can’t know where he’s going. Celeste thought. Allister snapped his fingers and the shadows began moving quickly towards the center. Celeste suppressed a scream; as the shadows revealed themselves, she saw that they were the pale, long skeletal armed, gas-mask wearing creatures from so long ago. Celeste closed her eyes and thought, teleport to home. “Hey what’s-“Shadow began before being suddenly jerked downwards into the black hole that normally sucked Celeste down. 
    Everyone stared at the spot where Shadow once was for a couple minutes before Celeste darted further into the trees. “Down!” She shouted as she neared the pale creatures. She fell down the hole and appeared, stumbling slightly, on the other side of them. “Get her!” Celeste heard Allister growl.
    She didn’t look back, she just kept running and got right back up when she tripped or stumbled on loose roots and branches. She couldn’t go back to the dance hall and put all those people in danger, nor could she teleport home, or anywhere. Nate probably knew where she lived, he could corner her anywhere. They could take her anytime. But they won’t take her today. This is what she had been preparing for. All those days spent in the bookshop. Something hit her legs and Celeste toppled over, falling down a hill and landing in a stream.
    Gasping, Celeste sat up; a couple small cuts on her arms healed themselves. The creatures encircles themselves around her. Her hand-made dress was wet and ripped, her heels had broken and her hair was sticking up in places. Still lying down, Celeste gingerly took her shoes off. Nate appeared behind Celeste and jerked her upwards by her hair. “Careful, Nate, we don’t want her damaged now do we? I’m not a fan of tender meat.” Allister said as he made his way through the circle and down the hill. “Don’t worry, she doesn’t bruise.” Nate said grunting as he forced to keep a fighting Celeste upright. Allister walked over to the edge of the stream and beckoned Nate to come closer. Nate forced her to stand up and pushed her jerkily towards Allister.
    He grabbed her hand and examined the stone. Celeste tried to jerk it away but Allister held a firm grip on it. “We’ll kill you...then I’ll be taking this...You don’t deserve it. The lord had this stone...You’re no lord.” He sneered as he turned to walk away. “Y-you don’t d-deserve it either.” Celeste spat. Allister paused, then with a deafening crack, he smacked Celeste across the face.
    “Y-you’re nothing but a weak, pitiful fool! You live on jealousy!” She shouted. “You’re no lord either! You-“Celeste faltered, Allister looked at her with deep hatred with murderous eyes. Celeste could feel her heart pounding and shook slightly. “You think so?” He said softly before glancing up at Nate and nodding. Nate grabbed Celeste tightly, with her arms over her head. “You know, perhaps I would like my meat tender. What do you saw boys!” Allister called to the crowd. The creatures roared, hooted, and hollered, sounding like a bunch of apes.
    Then Allister turned to Celeste and began punching her repeatedly in the face. “You—don’t—tell—me—who’s—de—serving—to—what!” He shouted. He paused and raised his arms up, nodding his head as the crowd roared louder. Celeste let her head hang, bobbing around as the blood pouring from her nose ceased.
    Don’t give up...Don’t let them win...
    “Dinner’s gonna be good tonight!” Allister roared. Celeste spat blood at him and lifted her head. “Y-y-you are p-pitiful. Hunting s-specials b-because y-you’re jea-jealous. Jealous at y-your i-inferiority.” Celeste mumbled. Allister stopped talking and glared threateningly at Celeste. “Still talking? You don’t get it...we’re going to feast...Bloom, Hawkins, Sia, start the fire while I prepare the meat.” Allister said. Three of the creatures departed from the circle causing it to get smaller. Allister rolled up an invisible sleeve before cocking back his fist. “Shield!” Celeste whispered as his fist came flying down towards her face again. Instead of hitting her face, it an invisible barrier, each hit he took left a purple spot of color in its wake.
    Come on Celeste...You can do it...You are my heir
    “I deserve it...The W-WillowStone...I w-was orphaned as a...as as-as a child...I-imagine having to g-grow up with an-anxiety and guilt. Because you felt like you killed your parents...” She said as Allister began kicking at the invisible shield. “NEVERMIND YOU! NATE! Put her in the fire.” Allister hissed. Celeste fell limp as Nate began dragging her up the hill. Her heart beating furiously as she dug her heels into the soil. “Stop fighting you stupid bitch!” Nate said. They reached the top of the hill. A bonfire was blazing while the creatures danced around it.
    Panicked, Celeste began fighting tooth and nail, shouting, screaming, hopefully someone would hear her. How could they not? Prom was happening just over the bend. On the other side of the woods. “Down!” She shouted, but it didn’t work. Nate dragged her towards the fire. But he didn’t throw her in, he let go, throwing her on the floor. Celeste wanted to curl up into a ball. To cry and scream and hurt herself. If she could, she would give them the stone, but she can’t. It was apart of her now. She couldn’t do anything about it. But she also couldn’t sit here and let what’s about to happen, happen. That’s what victims do.
    “You’re not a victim.” Asher had told her once, when she was six and first moved to live with him. And at another time when she was twelve and was being bullied. “I’m not...” She mumbled as the creatures began to swarm her, ripping at her limbs, hair, and dress. “Down.” Celeste whispered. She, along with a couple of the creatures, appeared on the other side of the bonfire. There was a moment’s pause before the creatures ran towards her. “Fuego.” She whispered pointing the WillowStone at the fire. It roared before Celeste swept her arm. The fire moving along with the stone, burning the creatures in its way and some spots in the grass.
    Allister stared at the giant cloud of fire, his face full of fear, identical to Nate’s. “Extinguir.” Celeste whispered closing her fist and the fire disappeared. Once the smoke had cleared away Nate, Allister, and the remaining creature shared a collective shudder. Celeste was different. She was glowing a fiery red, her eyes a bright orange, almost looking like they themselves were glowing, her teeth had become sharper. Celeste stared at them all through silted pupils. Then, very slowly, she lifted up her stone hand, pointing her fingers like a gun, pointed at a creature, and whispered in a distorted voice, “Bang.” The bullet shot out of the stone, through her fingers and pierced straight into the chest of the creature, who let out a very human sounding scream before falling to their death. Celeste then began pointing to the other creatures. “Bang...Bang...Bang...Bang...Bang.”
   Then she pointed her finger-gun at Nate before smiling and saying; “Bind.” This time, instead of a bullet, ropes sneaked out from the stone and shot at Nate, instantly wrapping itself around him. Celeste clinched her fist and the rope tightened the, she turned and faced Allister, who looked back at her with amusement in his eyes. “So...You think you’re gonna kill me now? Guess what? I can’t die; I’ve been around since the beginning. Since the new turn, when we wizened up and stopped witch hunting, realizing that, we, I am the true deserver of power...” He said, stepping over a struggling Nate and walking up to Celeste. “So you’ve started glowing and grew fangs....” He said staring down at Celeste gloatingly.
    “Down.” Celeste said before teleporting a few feet away. Allister let out a hallow laugh as he turned, and stared at Nate. Slowly, the ropes began to slide off him. “Go rebuild the fire...We can still have a feast with the two of us.” He said. Nate nodded before walking shakily over to the destroyed bonfire, glancing at the burning Celeste. “Allister look out!” Nate shouted but it was too late. As soon as Allister turned around, an invisible arrow, it nearly missing his lung, punctured him. Allister let out a manic laugh as he groped for where the arrow would be. “Is that all you’ve got!” He asked. Celeste repositioned herself, aimed, and fired. The arrow whizzed out, but Allister easily dodged it and began running towards her. Nervous, the fire starting to die away into grey as she tried to shoot another arrow, but she either missed or it didn’t shoot.
    WHAM! Allister collided with her, knocking the wind out of her as they fell. He straddled Celeste, wrapping his hands around her neck. Celeste, gasping for breath, raised her hand above her head. “What’re gonna do? Throw grass at me?” Allister taunted. “Ju-Ju...Ju-geum.” Celeste whispered through deep bouts of breath.
    There was a loud clap of thunder and it looked as if the clouds began to swirl in the night sky. Allister looked up, confused. Celeste felt a smoothness of glass form into a handle in her hand. Allister turned his attention back to Celeste, his eyes growing wide as he saw what had formed in Celeste’s hand. He quickly got up and stumbled backwards. Celeste stood up and walked towards Allister, dragging the Ju-geum Sword behind her. Allister fell, but continued to crawl backwards, pleading.
    Celeste looked down at the sword; some of it was in the ground, the grass around it dead. She lifted up the sword and examined it. It was feather-light and almost as long as Celeste was. It had a black handle with Quinteria’s coat of arms on the pommel. The blade was long, sleek, and a shiny crimson red with the word “death” written in curly golden letters.
    Celeste glared back down to Allister, who was still crawling backwards. “Tree.” Celeste whispered. A tree appeared directly behind Allister, who let out a whimper as his back hit it. “Nate!” He called as Celeste approached nearer and nearer. She stopped a little ways in front of him and lowered the sword so that the very tip of the blade was mere inches from his Adams apple. “NATE! NAAATE!” Allister began to holler hysterically, lifting his chin up and leaning as far away from the sword as he could. Nate had stopped tending to the new fire and was running towards them. Celeste turned her face towards him, a sinister smile on her face before nudging the sword forward. That was all that was needed.
   In an instant, Allister stopped mid-scream. Celeste turned her attention back to him. He had turned into stone. Similar to how the WillowStone looked before Celeste have gotten in possession of it. She turned to where Nate stood and began to slowly stagger towards him. Nate’s eyes grew wide as he began to take steps back.
    “CELESTE!” She heard Ben’s voice say. Celeste quickly turned her head towards the source of the sound and saw Ben, Samantha, the whole Link family, Asher, Eros, and Shadow. Celeste pointed her sword towards where Nate stood before taking another staggering step and collapsing.