| Sect three: Encounters By Richard LeBlanc Night had fallen over the forest. Julia sat close to the fire she had made as the elder's words echoed in her head. Around her shadows methodically danced. In the sky above that was filtered by a canopy of branches and leaves - a partially covered full moon shone down. She closed her eyes for a moment - remembering every detail that had happened since she and the elder had parted ways... Earlier that day - back by the river - Julia was beside herself in disbelief. It wasn't so much what he had just said - it was how calmly the elder seemed to say it. "They seek - to finish me off? As in kill me?" she asked hesitantly. "We had hoped that - those forces believed you perished with your mother," he began. "And you were going to tell me this when?" she asked - mildly agitated. "When I knew you would be ready to hear the truth - or if the need arose. And the fact that the visions you are having - are getting stronger - means that - the time is now," he replied calmly. "So - who wants me dead?" she hesitantly asked. "The forces of the demon host - the mortals that sided with them - the nomadic survivors of Temal who blamed the fall of their city on your family - plus the ignorant who might view your gifts as witchcraft," he replied. She rolled her eyes in disbelief. "I don't believe this. What do you mean gifts?" she asked hesitantly. "All of those - of yours - and your fathers family had been blessed with powers to protect the gates - and maintain the seals and wards. The fact that you are having these visions now means that the time has come for you to replace the seals - and restore the balance to our world," he replied. "Wards? Balance? I know nothing of magic - the arts - or gifts? How exactly am I supposed to do all this by myself?" she asked. The elder looked at her briefly and then lowered his eyes. "That - I do not know - but west of here - a few days up river - is an old temple. An eccentric old witch lives there. She knows much of Temal - the gates - and other such details I am ignorant of," he began. Her eyes crossed upon hearing this. "A witch? You are sending me to see a crazy witch?" she muttered. "If there was any other way - I would tell you," he reassured. "This - this is too much," she nervously began. He walked over and placed his hand on her shoulder. Some of the anxiety in her began to fade - but not all. "Your mother thought as much when her time came - as did hers - and so forth. You must believe in yourself - if you don't all will be lost," he pointed out. She scowled at him. He smiled and stepped back. "I am not trying to put pressure on you," he added. "You are doing a bad job of it. What do you mean - all will be lost? I thought that I was the one in danger?" she asked. "When - the black knight fell - the power that that fed and sustained the demon presence was gone. Without a physical manifestation in our world - many of the demon host had been sucked back into their dark dimension - all save five," he added. "Five - oh please tell me I don't have to deal with demons," she whined. He sighed and looked out at the river. She let out a frustrated whimper. "How marvelous. Demons - how am I supposed to fight demons?" she asked in disbelief. "Again - that - I don't know," he replied. "This surprises me - how?" she sarcastically remarked. "As I stated - the witch at the ruins knows far more than I could have ever forgotten on the subject," he pointed out. "So when should I go?" she asked. He turned and looked at her. The expression on his face told her the answer. She closed her eyes and shook her head. "You can't be serious," she added. "Time is of the essence now. The only thing that is keeping the broken seals and wards in tact - is you. The older you get - the more powerful they will be - and the easier it will be to restore them - but they will not give you that luxury," he stressed. "How am I supposed to do all this by myself?" she asked quietly. "If there is one thing I can impart on you - let it be this - wherever you walk - you will never be alone," he began as he turned and began to head back towards the village. "Where are you going?" she asked. "I must return. Please heed me well when I say this - once you start your journey - do not turn back until it is done," he added - not looking over his shoulder as he walked. Julia wanted to say something - but nothing came to mind. Back in the present - Julia looked at the flames and the imaginary images that seemed to appear and vanish. A tear rolled down her cheek. She remembered what the elder had said - but she didn't listen. About maybe an hour or two into her journey something told her to go back. Unfortunately - she did. She didn't understand why the elder had said not to turn back until it was too late. Because as she approached the place that she had known as home all her life a newly familiar stench all but turned her stomach. It was a stench she well remembered from her dreams. It was the stench of smoke, fire and death. All of the buildings had been ravaged - all of the people - men - women - children - savagely cut down. She was tempted to look for survivors - some who might have escaped the onslaught - but she knew there were none. Although there was no one there pointing a finger of blame at her - she knew in her heart that all of this carnage was because of her - because she had been there - lived there. She sighed as she looked away from the fire. She knew now that the elder was trying to protect her from baring witness to such a thing. For what little good that did her now. "I don't know what to do elder. I don't know if I will be able to do it," she said to herself. A mild breeze blew through the forest. "But I will do what I can - and hope that it will be enough," she added. Just then - something horse-sized leaped over her and the fire. The fire went out. She might not have known much about animals - but she knew that whatever it was that had just passed by - was no horse. Slowly she got up and focused her eyes to the darkness. At least the moon offered some light. But - as if on cue - clouds rolled across the night sky and blocked out the moon - almost eclipsing the forest in darkness. "Whatever you are - you had better leave," she timidly warned. A low - resonating growl replied. "I - I mean it," she added. It was then that two large - inhuman eyes all but glowed in the darkness. She was about to speak again when its mouth opened - revealing fangs almost two inches long. "Oh my," she muttered timidly. To be continued... |