The others were almost at the clearing through the woods. Good thing too, they were sick of the trees. Also, Karen's braided pigtails kept getting themselves caught on stray branches prodding out here and there, thus it was taking them a little bit longer than it should have. Dan and Daccir would have to lag behind her and unhook her from the trees every few minutes. Finally, Karen resorted in taking her braid out and tying her hair tightly into a bun, quickening the entire group's pace immensely.
They followed the illuminated footsteps out into the sudden clearing of the woods and were astounded by the scene: a girl decked in a traditional Chinese robe was standing in front of a raging bonfire, chanting a mantra deeply and soulfully under her breath. To the side, suspended on a pedestal stood Nakago, arms crossed and smirking. Beside him lay the figure of Zell's one and only, unconscious and sporting similar traditional robes.
Zell's face got hot. First of all, who the hell would dare to kidnap Lina from him? Second of all, who would have the right mind to change her clothes while she was unconscious!? The little bastard. Zell was going to beat his face in when he got the chance. "LINA!" Zell headed in her direction upon seeing Nakago brandish a dagger from his sleeve. "LINA! WAKE UP!"
Lina, hands numb and forehead burning, opened her eyes and saw Zell scrambling towards her from a distance. She smiled subtly because she knew he'd come, but immediately felt a jerk on her arm and she was up by force. Nakago held the knife to her neck and demanded she remain quiet as if she had a choice--her voice was completely stunned and she was unable to utter a noise.
Yui suddenly finished her incantation and pointed in Lina's direction, "Great Seiyru, protector of the great lords of the skies! With this sacrifice, I command you, come forth!"
Lina only had a split second to think. She looked in Zell's direction--he was still so far away, then felt the dagger ripping into her below her neck. She screamed, forcing the noise from her, forcing sound. Then she felt blood, didn't even see it, just felt it--felt it pouring out of her, trickling down her arm. Nakago let her hand go and she dropped to the pedestal, helpless to the numb, unable to react, to fight.
"YUI! STOP!" she heard in the distance as someone suddenly appeared to the scene and jumped onto Yui's back and forced the both of them onto the ground. The girl wouldn't let go for anything, not even if her life was on the line. "It's not supposed to be like this! You can't summon Seiyru! You just can't, it's not POSSIBLE!"
"Miaka!" Yui screamed at her, struggling to throw her off. "Get off! It's too late! The sacrifice is almost complete!" Yui wanted to believe herself. Yui wanted to summon Seiyru, to keep telling herself that Seiyru would come and fix things, would make her happy again, but Seiyru would not come anymore, Seiyru was just another lost cause. Innocent blood had been spilt for a lost cause.
The sounds finally drowned out into the night and Lina's vision began to stir and her body began to grown cold...so cold...so unbearably cold...