Who Am I? (Book 1)

Chapter 31

I couldn't find the opportunity to end him. I was too tired to pierce him with one final empowered strike and he wasn't even tired. "Was that all you could do, Julie? You weren't even a challenge". I looked at him with rage burning in my eyes. I wouldn't die in vain, and I wouldn't die without leaving a lasting impression! Oh ... and the fact that I kinda would cause the world to burn if I died. Unless Julia stopped him, which I was confident she would if I failed ... although, maybe not in time. She had been quite shaken up by her brother's death. 

He continued to lash out for me and almost managed to rip my leg off when my blade connected with his femur. He hissed in pain but used my attack as an opportunity to strike for my heart. I was too tired to parry him, but in a last-ditch effort I drove my sword through his chest, lodging it deep in his black heart. "Aaaaarrghh!" He roared loudly as he buried his claws deep in my chest with the last of his strength.

Death himself began to disintegrate into flakes of shadow that disappeared with a sudden breeze. I tried to stop the bleeding but to no avail. I could only slow them and I knew I didn't have much time left. I limped out of the bloody battlegrounds and collapsed near a big tree. My body began to shut down, I was so ... tired but in a different way. I could sleep peacefully now, I had fulfilled my destiny ... but at what cost. I would never grow old, I would never change the world with Tash ... and I would die here, all alone. My wish, my only wish was to see her one last time ... but if it didn't come true ... at least she knew I loved her more than life itself. The sounds around me seemed to dull and I closed my eyes, listening to my ragged breathing. Death hadn't managed to crush my heart, but the damage was done. My breath was gurgly and I could feel blood dripping from my mouth. "Julie?!" I heard someone shout my name, it sounded so far off but it was familiar and safe. "Tash ..." I mumbled and started coughing as I opened my eyes. My sight was foggy, but I could see Tash running towards me. 

"Stay with me!" She tried to stop my bleeding, but ... she knew it was too late. My time had run out, but I didn't die in vain and I was grateful for the time I had been given. I was grateful for my time with Julia and Tash. The moments I had with Tash ... they were the memories I was fondest of, the ones I would never forget. She embraced me as she wept, having accepted that my time was up. "Will you ... smile one last time ... for me?" It came out as a mere whisper, but she heard me and gave me one of those dazzling smiles of hers. It looked so familiar, but also so ... different. Her expression ... it was a mix of grief, happiness and ... love. Love for me ... and our time together. "I'll never forget you, Julie. I'll never forget the time I spent with you". She gave me a tender kiss, and I was ready to leave this world for the next. My last wish ... had been fulfilled. As the world around me began to fade, as I was beginning a new journey, I could feel her lips on mine.