Nightmares 5th part

Ratings PG-13

In the forest:

 Darrien held Spark by the hair, preparing himself to sink the dagger in her chest.

 “Stop!” said the voice.

 The Archangel obeyed. “What? You do not want her blood any more?” he said annoyed.

 “Her blood, but not her life.” Was the answer. “She will not die…yet.”

 Spark attempted to run, to try and escape, but it was useless. Darrien jumped in her persecution. To catch and strike her down into submission was a matter of seconds.

 Stunned, she felt him drag her again to the top of the hill. Once there, he extended her left arm and used his dagger to make a long cut on it. Avoiding the main blood vessels he allowed her blood to fall in the ground, where it sizzled. Moments later a deep murmur told him it was enough and he discarded the aztec girl to a side.

 Spark laid on the ground, dizzy and weak, and she was able to see Darrien kneel.

 He observed in dire fascination how the blood soaked soil simmered. She heard him say something she could not understand, but it did sound like a call or a summon. 

 ::A summon. What is he summoning?:: something she was sure of. It could not be good, neither for her nor for.. ::Zhyan!:: She thought. ::I have to warn him! and the others!:: 

One more time she stood and fled toward the forest. The ground felt as if it moved under her feet. She swayed away as fast as she could, expecting to feel Darrien`s hand on her at any moment, but it did not happen. She dared to look back just once and she saw Darrien still on his knees.

 ::Praised be Quetzalcoatl`s feathers! Whatever he is calling has him focused there and it is giving me time!!::  She told herself to stop looking back and enter the forest.

 Darrien did notice her escape but he was busy. He had to chant the spell now if he wanted it to work right.

 Slowly the sizzling ground attracted the mist which condensed into an oval shape. It soon shaped itself in a human frame. Darrien smiled exhausted but very satisfied at the final form it took.  Spark rose from the ground and smiled back at him.

 “The girl ran away.” He said.

 The newly born Spark signaled in the general direction where the aztec priestess had gone. Immediately a dozen of small, sturdy creatures yelled and ran after her.

 Darrien´s smile got wider and he approached the human girl in front of him.

 He draped her waist, pulling her close and kissed her deeply, moaning when the girl responded to his kiss.

  “Seems like I will have some fun after all.” He whispered and kissed her, focusing in a teleport and they disappeared.

  ***

  "What are you talking about?" Zhyan asked.

  "I... am not a creature of flesh and I needed..."she trembled and panted weakly. "... I needed some one to help me pass to this plane... I never wanted to hurt you."

  Her body suffered another spasm, a stronger one and her skin was even paler. Zhyan looked up and saw the mist, almost faded, still floating above them.

  "Did Darrien summon you?" The girl shook her head. He did not think about her as Spark any more.

  Her voice was weaker now and Zhyan had to lean forward to better listen.

  "He... casted the spell by my request, but he lied to me. He wanted me to kill you but her memories, her love for you are within me. I could not harm you. " Her voice was fading and also was her body. "I wanted to be with you but I will not be. Go to the forest, at the east. She did not see me, I believe, but you have until sunrise before the portal closes." Zhyan could see his own arms around her. She was transforming into a light mist.

  Before she vanished completely, she rose and touched his lips with hers ::I will miss the flesh... :: The cold mist surrounded him, caressing him. ::so little time... go now... go!::

  Granting himself only the time to get his weapons, Zhyan was soon airborne. From the heights it should be easier to find the clearing where Darrien had opened the doorway. Frantically, Zhyan observed the woods under him, displayed as a lush carpet. Several clearings were available but none of them tingled at him as an interdimensional threshold. He was running out of time as the sun would rise soon and close the portal!! If Spark was still at the other side she would be trapped. He had to find her!!

  Zhyan cursed his enemy once again. He deserved all the pain he shall face. Zhyan smiled remembering how, at the basement, he had searched for the archangel of darkness just to find the remaining of the mist clinging to him. Darrien had shivered and vanished from sight, presumably taken to the mist’s realm.

 Zhyan suddenly swooped low to get a better view. There it was! The door! Before risking a full land he hovered around making sure it was as safe as possible. His eyes examined every suspicious stump and hole in the ground. Looking up to the stars one last time, he landed. As soon as he laid a foot on the hilltop, the surroundings changed.  The light was more brilliant, the flowers had brighter colors and the air was sweeter. 

  He turned around when he heard movement within the forest and his eyes searched until he saw little creatures scurrying away from him. He grimaced. He would prefer to remain unnoticed but he did not have time for secrecy.

  He bit his lower lip when the light glow allowed him to see the magical residuum where the doppelganger had been summoned and it let him find the signals where Spark had struggled with Darrien. His hands trembled at the sight of the charred ground where Spark’s blood had given life to her double goer. Near that place, he found her trace, also discovering small steps running over the marks of his beloved and he frowned. As he readied his whip, he went deeper into the forest.

  Even with the dim light guiding him it was difficult to follow the trace. It seemed that the trees tried to hinder him. The thick trunks were covered in moss and they shook when he got near them. Twisted roots rose from the soil trying to trap him, messing the trail. But Zhyan would not stop in his search. He shuddered at the thought of the soon to expire time while he knelt to closely examine the remainder of trace. He clenched his hands in anger as it was destroyed. His fists began to glow, harnessing enough power to scorch those trees into millions of smithereens, when dozens of small trolls armed to the teeth, attacked.

  Cries of war filled the air when they fell upon him, brandishing their weapons. Their number was large enough to make him set knees on the ground, falling. Before he could blast the creatures away, a few of their blades reached his skin. The Archangel of Destruction ushered the spell initially prepared to burn the trees and used it against these new attackers.

 The glow of the attack blinded those trolls who were not close enough to receive a direct hit. The ones who still could, kept on fighting against Zhyan’s weapon and magic. Should he be in complete use of his powers, the attack would have end in a couple of minutes. But he was still affected by the toxins and could not get rid of the enemy soon enough. Some blades made it thru his defense and reached his unprotected skin. He kept using his dagger when he could, but it was mostly his magic energy that did the job. By the time the trolls were exterminated, the archangel was short of breath. He stood up and looked around the place. Several troll bodies laid scattered on the ground and the surroundings had also suffered with the attack. Enormous trees were charred to cinders while farther ones were turned into dark stumps.

Zhyan cursed when he saw that the trail was now absolutely lost. His wings flapped several times and he grunted, desperate. His hands were clenched tight. His eyes glanced around one more time and he sighed, trying to stay calm in order to think what to do next… How could he find her in time now? He continued to breathe deeply, enhancing his calm.

  ***

At the forest, Spark had tried to run faster while she held her wounded arm close to her chest. It stung badly and the swollen tissue had not completely ceased bleeding despite her attempts to prevent it. The rough ground, the lack of light, her own weakness, caused her to keep falling. She felt dizzy and feverish and each fall increased the pain in her arm. Her tunic was dirty and shredded in several parts, torn by branches. Her feet and legs were bleeding from scratches and cuts caused by thorns and rocks.

  She was so weak. She had been running and hiding for hours now, and she could not stand it much longer  ::Zhyan!!... somebody help me!::  but it was useless, useless! She could never fool them here... ::their voices! They are coming!:: her feet slid on a rock and she fell to her knees.

  ::I have to get out of here! I need to find a way out!::  and that idea made her stand up and continue. The screeches behind her were louder and she shuddered ::no... oh please...:: Her pursuers were getting closer. She could hear their yells announcing their discovery and –she thought- due to the joy of the hunt. ::They found me!:: she did not dare to look back and kept moving forward. She did not really expect to find an exit, she just wanted to stay out of their reach.

  Suddenly, the bushes came to life sending dozens of lights against her. The creatures that erupted from the bushes attacked her by grabbing her hair and flying in front of her eyes making Spark stumble and fall again. Her head hit a sharp stone and absolute darkness engulfed her.

  * * *

:: ::Zhyan!!::  “huh?” ... somebody help me!:: “Spark?“ the archangel tilt his head, frowning. He barely dared to think this technique could produce such result, as it was not the purpose of it. 

Zhyan kept focused and listened. ::their voices! They are coming!:: it was her! With swirled emotions he tried to use a spell to get her approximate location as the anxiety in her thoughts had startled him. He took quick references of his own location before outstretch his wings and teleport.

  He materialized on the top of a hill among thorny bushes and tall dark trees. From those steeper heights he glanced first at the stars knowing that the time was running out. He looked around but he could not see Spark anywhere. Biting his lower lip he continued searching until he saw her. Her clear tunic made her quite visible as she ran toward his position, stumbling from time to time. The archangel was so happy to have found her that did not notice the trolls after her, but when he did, his eyes glowed and he opened a portal to intercept the gray creatures which immediately attacked him. 

  A very angry deikindrian took care of them with ease and speed. When the fray finished, Zhyan stood among the bodies, his keen senses searching more enemies with whom he could quench his thirst of vengeance. He looked around for Spark and was going to call her so she would wait for him, when he saw her surrounded by little shiny spots before she fell and did not move anymore.

  With his heart heavily pounding in his chest, Zhyan jumped the little distance that separated him from Spark and those yards were like miles to him. Once at her side he grimaced at the sight: the bright little creatures were pulling out her dark hair and pinching her eyes. He summoned a gust of wind to push the imps away and knelt at Spark’s side. With great delicacy he grabbed her by the shoulders and, gasping at the coldness of her skin turned her.

  Her head fell lifeless to a side when his trembling fingers touched her forehead probing the bleeding wound a rock caused.  Spark stirred and winced at his contact, making weak attempts to reject him. She soon ceased to move, completely exhausted and Zhyan lifted her up with care while prepared himself to leave the place.

  His original plan had been to use the portal Darrien had made and thus save his energy, but they didn’t have time. Though he would have liked to mend her wounds first, they would be attacked again as the imps were regrouping. The archangel had considered a direct teleport, but he opted to open his own doorway instead. It needed less power and concentration. Making sure there were no more imps near them, he headed to the door. Though the imps flew against them, it was too late for their attack. The doorway closed between both places.

  Zhyan with Spark in arms, found himself in another forest and observing Cats Lair visible afar. He knew then, that his initial fear was unfounded. He did calculate the arrival point accurately enough to arrive to Third Earth, but the haste did not allow for a more pinpointed location. He looked around to find out exactly where they were and noticed a clean rivulet near. Zhyan headed into that direction kneeling at the river bend when he reached it. It was time to tend Spark’s wounds.

  The sunrise light allowed him to notice her paleness. With extreme tenderness he shifted her position within his arms, holding her weight with his leg while he touched her head with his right hand. He caressed her cold face, and patted her slightly in the cheek with no response. Then he saw her left arm. He used his free hand to caress its inner part, which was swollen, red and had a very nasty slash running from her wrist to almost her elbow. The cut avoided any main blood vessel, but it surely must have bled a lot. She also had several deep scratches and bruises on her feet and legs but those were nothing compared to the arm and head wounds.

  Zhyan closed his eyes to power up, but mainly cause he did not want to see her injures any more. His hands began to glow and slowly healed the wounds. Spark’s skin color returned after she breathed long and deeply. Zhyan was shaken. He had used his energy to the limit and the healing spell was painful enough on normal conditions. His body trembled and he was grateful when a sunbeam warmed them both.

  The archangel used the clean water from the stream to clean her face, doing another fruitless attempt to wake her. He was exhausted, in no shape to walk, fly or use any magic at all, so after he made sure that Spark was fine, he allowed her body to lay on the ground and he embraced her against his chest, listening her breathing, laying at her side while he waited.

  They remained so for at least an hour, until Spark moved and moaned slightly. Zhyan was immediately alert and prodded her gently, smiling widely when she opened her eyes.

  Spark frowned under the sunlight and her eyelids fluttered several times, trying to focus her sight. She lifted her left hand and touched her forehead, the fall being the first memory that came to her mind. Zhyan observed her quietly. Still blinking and frowning, Spark’s mind traveled back and remembered, jerking suddenly her body to a side thus escaping from his embrace. Still weak, dizzy and panting, she was on her knees looking at him with fierce eyes... that was all she could do for the moment.

  “Spark!!” he called her softly “it is me!” he was also on his knees from the moment she escaped him and had his right arm extended toward her.

  Breathing heavily, Spark observed him. He did not move a muscle while she scrutinized him. Spark’s lips trembled and her eyes were flooded with tears as she recognized him taking the hand he offered.

  Zhyan pulled her to him and both hugged each other for a moment before she pulled herself away and started talking to him. Spark tried to explain him what had happened to her, and stumbled with idiomatic expressions. He understood enough of her native language to know what she wanted to say and smiling, Zhyan placed his right index on her lips, silencing her.

  “Hush…” he said softly “every thing is fine now”.

  She looked at him with bright eyes and smiled. He knew.

  His thumb slowly outlined her luscious lips and moving forward to kiss her, he shivered when she answered his kiss with the warmth he needed and longed.

  Zhyan invoked another portal to take them into her room at the Fortress, where they rested on her bed holding each other, not saying a word... they just revelled in each other’s company.    

 Nightmares 4                Nightmares, part 6