****Paradise Sagas:  Book 1: Warriors of Paradise****

 

Chapter 5

 

     She was thrown against the far wall.  David ripped the crystal from his pocket and he was immediately in his uniform.

     He heard Kendra transform.

     The dark thing that had hit Lexa disappeared just as quickly as it had come.

     "Come out and show yourself!"  Kendra yelled, pulling out a bow and arrow from nowhere.  She placed the arrow on the bow and aimed it at the dark.

     A laugh echoed through the cavern, "Ah, Eravia.  So nice to see you again, and you, Adam.  You both look the same."  The voice hardened at the last sentence.

     David flinched.  That voice.  Where had he heard it before?

     "Yes, Adam.  Think.  Think hard."  The voice hissed.

     "Lilith."  Kendra whispered the name as if it were poison.

     "Yes." 'Lilith' replied, "I am the demon."

     "What do you want with Lexa?"  David pulled out two small sticks, which he applied pressure to, and blades shot out of.

     "Nothing.  My work here is done."  Lilith fell silent, but he could sense her there, in the shadows.

     ~Kendra.~ David sent a silent link, ~We have to protect Lexa.~  Kendra nodded.

     "Leave this place Kendra yelled, shooting an arrow into the dark.  She heard a hiss and the darkness shifted.  As the arrow hit the wall, it burst into light, illuminating the corner.  There was nothing there.

~*~*~*~

     Lexa opened her eyes and rubbed her forehead.  She heard Kendra yell.  The bright light caught her off guard, but she was quickly enveloped by the darkness again.

     She pushed against the wall, using it to stand up.  The sword gleamed, a few yards away.

     She staggered towards it.  She stopped when she heard shifting in the shadows.

     ~Get her attention, David!~  Kendra's voice ran through her head.

     ~Kendra?~  She asked.  The girl's head-and arrow-turned towards her, ~No, Kendra.  It's me, Lexa.~  Kendra lowered her arrow.

     ~You ARE one of us.~

     ~Yes.  Distract her.  I have to get to the sword!~  Kendra and David both nodded.

~*~*~*~

     "Hey, Demon!"  Kendra yelled, launching another arrow, then she added, "STAR ARROW SCREAM!"  The arrow burst into a thousand shafts of light and produced a high-pitched noise.    

     David jumped into the air, "EARTH SWORDS SHAKE!"  He slammed the swords into the ground.  A hairline crack appeared in the floor, heading towards the darkness.  The hairline crack split wider as a burst of green energy shot forth through it.  Lilith screamed, but not in pain.

~*~*~*~

     Lexa took the diversion and leapt for the mound.  She landed (just as Lilith screamed) on her feet.  She stood strait up and without fear, reached out and slipped her hand over the handle.  The electric current pulsed into her hand.  She didn't pull away this time.  The current ran up her arm.

     She pulled the sword out and gracefully raised it above her head.  The world around her burst into light.  Then the memories came...

~*~*~*~

     There was so much to remember.  The memories pounded into her mind like a tidal wave.

     She remembered…

~*~*~*~

     Lari stepped up onto the rock.  Her warriors were tired and injured.  They couldn't fight anymore.

     "We shall rest,” she said, they all looked up at her, "until Lilith breaks free."  She moved her sword.  A piece of ground moved away.  "Let us sleep."

     The four warriors stepped into the cavern.  They all lay down on their respective mounds.  They closed their eyes and faded away.

     Lari smiled sadly, "Rest well, my friends."  Lari raised the sword above her and slammed it into her mound, before she too, rested."

~*~*~*~

     Lexa opened her eyes, lowering the sword.  She was now dressed in a flowing white skirt, with slits to her thighs.  She also wore white leggings and a top, tied at the front.  Two golden bracelets were on her left wrist.  Two silver ones were on her right.  There was a black choker with a silver crescent moon around her neck.  Lexa made an 'x' with the sword, before she brought it to her side.

     "MOONLIGHT..." Lexa raised the sword above her head, "SHADOW..." Lilith screamed again as Lexa finished the call, "CHASER!"

     She made a 'Z' movement, bringing the sword down.

     As her attack hit the wall, a dark wind shot past Lexa.  She turned in time to see it go out the hole.

     "We are not done, Lari!  This is far from over!"  Lilith's voice echoed.

     Lexa lowered her sword and took a deep breath, looking at her friends.

~*~*~*~

     She discovered that when she pressed on the crystal hard enough, she would de-transform.

     David looked at his watch, after he, too, had de-transformed.  "It's 3:15."  He said.

     "School should be getting out soon."  Lexa slid the sword into her belt loop before hoisting herself up the rope and out the hole.

     The other two followed.

     They drove back to school quietly.

     When they got there, Kevin and Daenna stood on the front steps.  Kevin didn't look very happy.

     David jumped out of the back and walked up to them.  He and Kevin had a private talk.  Kevin looked up at Lexa, surprised.  Then back at David who made a gesture with his hands.

     Daenna walked up to the jeep, but before she could say anything, Kendra spoke.

     "I told you!  She's the leader!  She has the sword."  She motioned to where the sword rested on the back seat.

     Daenna gave a huff and walked back to the guys.  Kendra smiled triumphantly.

     "So?  You ARE the one?"  Kevin said, walking over.  "And you've met our evil compadre?"

     "Lilith."  Lexa hissed the name, "The demon.  When I get my hands on her..."

     Kevin laughed slightly and patted her arm, "Calm down, fearless leader."

     Lexa smiled, "You guys want to come over?  We can have dinner at my place."

     "That'd be great!  David and I'll meet you there.  We'll take my truck.  I don't know if Daenna will come.  You're not exactly her favorite person right now."

     "Who is?"  Kendra muttered.  Lexa hit her lightly.  Kendra smiled.

     "Okay.  We'll meet you at the apartment complex.  Which is yours?"

     "26A."  Lexa turned the car on, "top floor."

     Kevin waved as they pulled away.

~*~*~*~

     They were at the apartment for a half an hour before Kevin, David and Daenna arrived.  Daenna leaned against the counter in the kitchen, the one farthest from the others.

     Lexa already had water boiling and before she could dump in noodles, David grabbed a raw one and began chewing on it.

     "Gross."  Kendra muttered as she began to dig through the fridge.  Lexa smiled subconsciously.

     "So?"  Daenna finally spoke, "Where're the sword?"

     "In a safe place."  Kendra pulled out a container of sauce and placed it on the counter, "Do you have any tomatoes?"

     "Umm... Look in the second drawer from the bottom."  Lexa shoved David away as he reached for another dry noodle.  "We hid it so it's easily accessible to me-"

     "-But safely guarded from Lilith."  Kendra began to pour stuff into a pan on the stove.

     "Kevin, get Kendra a wooden spoon out of that drawer."  Lexa slapped David's hand as he reached again, "And YOU, plates and glasses are in the cupboard, and you can set the table.  Daenna, the silverware is in the drawer behind you."

     Daenna opened her mouth to say something, but closed it again and set to work.

     It took them another 20 minutes to finish making dinner.

     On the other side of the island counter, the table was set and Lexa sat at the head.  To her left were Kevin and David; to her right were Kendra and Daenna.

     Lexa smiled to herself as Kevin threw a noodle at Daenna.  For the first time in long time, Lexa belonged somewhere.