Creatrix

Chapter 7 - Divine Presence

Anika sat with her triumph. Her heart was pounding; she was breathless, glistening from the fight. A trickle of sweat stroked her face and settled in the corner of her mouth. Her bloody hand pushed her wet hair aside and left a crimson stain across her cheek. She tasted the salty sweetness, the end of the battle. 

Surrendering to the blissful awareness of her own power, she felt an energy, that was her own, expanded beyond her - beyond anywhere she had ever been - beyond Geo and Aowyn, reaching past her existence to the very edge of everything. Right now, delicate and beautiful, she touched a divinity that belonged only to her. Her skin turned golden, a silver light whirled out over her back like wings. They out-shone the firelight and brightened the dim cavern.

Anika knew this was her time, solely for her. To feel the strength and power that was lost to her in the real world, to know that she had this force within her, to know she could never be afraid of anything again. Awesome, gorgeous, breathtaking, and powerful, she indulged in these feelings. 

Tyr stood gazing on the exquisite beauty. Time held him back and he remained motionless; too awed to approach. He watched her unfold. Caught in her magnificence, and faced with a reflection of his own powerful grace, he breathed.

‘Oh, My Divine Presence.’  Words not thought, whispered from his lips whilst his heart longed for the beauty before him. 

Anika snapped herself back behind her armour. She sprang to her feet, startled by the whisper, and shot a look at her sword. It still penetrated the hard demon body, so she reached for her dagger.

‘Who’s there?’ she demanded. 

He stepped forward and softly approached, stopping just by Solviann’s greasy corpse, and a safe distance from the angry beauty. He looked strong. His armour was well made from the finest mithril, and the tempered steel of his sword caught in the firelight, displaying outstanding rune carvings. He was wealthy, and - unless he had stolen the sword, he was also a friend of the dwarves. He stood proud and self-assured, but somewhere behind his elegant poise, he was ruffled. There was a twinkle in his eyes that made him seem mischievous, he grinned curiously, intense eyes full of awe and respect. His sculptured face smiled. 

‘You’re amazing, and you’re beautiful. I’ve never seen such power. Divine presence, you’ve captured my heart.’  He spoke softly. He was grinning; determined to have some fun. ‘You should be careful shining like that when people are around; it could be dangerous.’ He said, and he winked at her.

Anika maintained her defensive stance; stepped toward him, not sure whether to laugh or take offence, and thrust forward her dagger. 

‘One more saccharin sweet word from you,’ she spat, ‘and I will make it so you can’t say anything at all.’  Tyr stepped back, opened his arms and heart. 

‘Okay, sweet little demon slayer,’ he teased. Her tummy turned. She was determined not to falter and raised the dagger once more. 

‘Really... stop it,’ she demanded, and her burnished eyes flashed at him; she was trying not to smile. He stepped forward and held out his hands. 

‘All right...Ok, I just came here to kill the demon, that’s all, and then I saw you, I watched you change and - you looked amazing, you're beautiful.’  He said.

‘Well you shouldn’t have been watching! It was not for you to see!’  

‘Ah, but I did see,’ he said, ‘and now there’s no hiding.’ 

Anika didn’t think she liked him much anymore. She flashed a sideways glance at the still warm corpse and longed to be the other side of it so she could retrieve her precious sword; it was still angled into the demon’s chest and from this side she couldn't pull it out in one. She looked outright at the handsome fighter and began to determine her escape.