Post by Sarin on Apr 11, 2010 11:39:43 GMT -5
(This is a short story I wrote in July of 2009 for a new character. It was written fairly quickly so it's not really polished, but it broke me out of writer's block so I'm happy with it. =P Comments and critique are appreciated!)
A Welcome Curse
She couldn’t help the rush of wonder she felt when she raised her eyes to the building. The Library of the Ages: the most expansive collection of works in the empire, if not in the world. It contained within it books of all sorts, from children’s stories to religious scripts to books charged with magical energies – these last ones, of course, held behind several powerful barriers to prevent any ‘accidents’. And though she had come here every day for many, many years, still she felt that rush when her eyes swept over the looming columns and arching roof; the marble designs and guardian statues, fire in their stone eyes. Perhaps it was the magic that leaked and soaked the entire building with a sense of energy; perhaps it was simply the grandeur of the structure. Perhaps it was that connection she felt with the library, as if it were a part of her. She was its keeper and librarian, knowing the place of every last book, and able to quote from many of them. She had spent many hours in the magic section, her eyes pouring across books of secrets that were open only to her and a few other fortunate (or influential) souls. She had given her time and her care to the library, and as she walked up the stairs to the main entrance, she could almost feel the library whispering thanks to her. Probably it was just the familiar tingle of the magical energies, but who could say for sure? It was an enchanted place.
She turned her key and pushed open the door, smiling at the gust of wind that snuck greedily by her into the hallowed structure. She loved these first moments, when it was just her, the wind, and the books – soon the people would come, and the library would be full of life, but empty of this mystical silence. She glanced around once, taking in every detail in a single glance. Nothing had changed since the previous night – she knew the library well enough to notice the slightest changes – so all was well. Few ever tried to break into the library, for security was so tight, and even fewer had ever succeeded. There had not been a successful robbery during her time working at the Library, at least. Her first duty completed, she moved swiftly to her desk in that shadowed corner near the door and began to indulge herself in the treasures of the library, focusing her attention on a book she had started to read the other day.
Her job gave her plenty of time to read: no books could be checked out of the Library of Ages, though all but the magical books could be freely read by anyone, be they noble or tourist or beggar. Therefore she was able to continue her reading even once the public came in, though she watched them occasionally over the top of her book. The alarms would tell her if anything wrong was occurring. The only time she was called to assist, besides by call of the alarms, was if someone wished to look at one of the magical books. Then she would check to make sure they were authorized, and if so watch them as they read – inside the barriers, of course. If anything were to go wrong, it would all be contained. The Library was not responsible for the well-being of anyone who wished to read its magical resources; they were more concerned about keeping those same resources in the safety of the Library.
She noticed movement out of the corner of her eyes and shifted her focus away from her book. The usual tourists milled around in the background, pointing and turning pages, smiling and crying with these powerful books. A young man was walking towards her desk, and she lowered her book and placed a smile on her face for him, scanning him quickly. She didn’t recognize him as anyone qualified to check out magic books, but of course she hadn’t met many of the people on the list. Besides, from his pleasant smile and leisurely pace, he seemed different from the usual set: they were normally harsh and abrupt, in a rush to see their book and leave, to continue with their busy lives. Her scrutiny softened as he leaned up against the desk: there was just something relaxing about him, as if his casual manner were so gentle that it spread to his surroundings. “How may I help you?”
“James Wilding,” he replied, flashing a smile. “Well, how about we start with an easy question. To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?”
“Jalin Rills.” Her smile was more genuine now. He was certainly different: none of the usual crowd coming for the magic books ever bothered to ask her name!
“Wonderful! Well, Ms. Rills, would you perhaps give me the pleasure of your guidance? I have never before been to the Library and may not get a chance to return for a long time, so I am deathly afraid of missing something.” She found it hard to resist giggling; his manner was just so carefree and jolly that she could not possibly imagine him being afraid of anything. There was another feeling lurking as well, that small, nagging feeling of sorrow. There was just something about this man… she had met him only a minute or less ago, and yet she already wished he could stay and come back every day, speak in that wonderful, polite manner of his, lend that feeling of relaxation to the building. It was as if he brought his own special magic into the enchanted place.
“Certainly, I’d be glad to,” she said, and she felt as if those words were somehow the truest, most pure words she had ever spoken. She found herself lost in his smile, her mind spinning madly. She nearly forgot what she was supposed to be doing, and rose abruptly from her desk, wishing she could stop the blush that she could feel heating her face. If he noticed, he said nothing, and she instantly relaxed. There was no reason to be nervous… no, it was impossible to be nervous. “Right this way, please,” she said with that sudden exhalation as she remembered that breathing was an essential part of life, and with that they were off, Jalin automatically following those familiar steps. She showed him each section of books and spoke also of the history of the library; of the disasters and successes and of the mechanisms set in place to ensure that no further disasters would occur. The words came easily to her, for her heart rested with the Library, so when she spoke of it she spoke of herself, as well. He listened eagerly, and politely, only interjecting occasionally with a question.
“May I inquire into the nature of that strange rune?” He pointed up towards the roof, and her eyes followed him to a large black marble stone with a rune carved deeply in it. “One of the protection sigils, perhaps?” She did not respond. A sickly feeling was filling her, memories rushing through her mind so quickly that she could only catch lightning glimpses, of pain and screams and darkness and fury. She felt as if she were going to faint. “Ms. Rills? Jalin?”
Her name called her back. “Oh, yes, sorry… a protection sigil, yes. The most potent. It’s only triggered by tampering with the magical books.” She forced her gaze away from that stone, back to him. Her face was pale and she knew it, her eyes shadowed, but try as she might she could not stop trembling. She could feel his calming presence, but it could not overcome her wild emotions. She focused on his eyes, trying to forget, trying to return.
“Perhaps you should sit.” His voice was hushed, but it sounded harsh against her ears. No, she was just shaken, she could not hear right. His eyes watched her with keen focus, but she saw a spark of… excitement? No, her vision was still reeling, she could not see. Though she looked at his eyes, her eyes looked into darkness.
“Yes… I’m sorry, Mr. Wilding. Just give me a minute and I will finish guiding you.” He had started walking and she walked at his side, heading towards her desk.
“That will not be necessary, Ms. Rills.” She hoped the flash of disappointment didn’t show on her face, she had liked it when he called her Jalin. “You have been of tremendous assistance to me. I shan’t take any more of your time.” He dipped his head slightly in salute and gently pointed her towards her desk, as he continued towards the door. “Good day, Ms. Rills.”
“Goodbye, James.” He had already passed through the doors as she sat, and her voice was nothing more than a whisper full of emptiness and fear. Suddenly the Library felt like a cold and empty place; the people moving around just shadows of a forgotten time. It was as if her mind had shut down. She could hear nothing but her heartbeat, magnified a thousand times; a bell ringing out some misfortune. Why?
She returned to her book, but her eyes took in nothing of the words they scanned. She read the same page over and over until finally the Library was empty again; then she locked the doors and shakily made her way home. She had never felt this way before. She had already known, of course she had known! How could she not? But standing there with him, suddenly it hit her as it never had before. Suddenly she could see only that single line she followed, everything else lost to darkness. She crawled into her bed, feeling too sick to eat. Time would push her disturbed thoughts away into memory.
*******
He could feel the eyes of the statues upon him, warning away this midnight intruder. They did not disturb him. They were powerless and could do nothing – the real obstacle would come later. At his touch the locks on the doors popped open, and then he was inside. He grinned. No, there would be no obstacles. How easy it was! But then, he wasn’t here as a common thief, to steal works of which they could understand nothing more than the price tag. He was only the harbinger of a much grander undertaking.
He moved easily among the shelves. How kind she had been to show him around! He would have to thank her once more; it had made his job that much easier. He glanced upwards as he passed beneath the sigil stone, his gaze thoughtful. The King was foolish if he truly thought that one rune could stop him. No, the rune was sound… it was by depending on a human that the King ensured his own failure. “We just have too many weaknesses.” He enjoyed the way his voice echoed in the empty halls.
He stopped before the barriers. Things of show and light, no real substance. Weak. A grimness entered his smile as he spoke his spell. A shimmering, then the barriers were gone as if they had never truly been there. He glanced behind him – yes, the sigil stone had started to emit a dark glow. It would not be long now.
*******
The rush of magic woke Jalin from her sleep, and she rose quickly from her bed. She didn’t have much time. She hurried to get dressed and dashed up the stairs to the roof of her house, stumbling several times. The pains had started, and she had to struggle not to flinch or fall. She braced herself, knowing well what was about to happen.
It was good that the pains were so strong, for they prevented her from screaming out. She felt like she was being ripped apart and shut her eyes tight, waiting for release, for the end. She felt the magic rush through her once more, and then stifled her gasp of agony as a pair of black wings ripped suddenly wide. Then it was over. Palest red eyes stared out across the once again silent night, sweeping the horizon. They focused and suddenly all was black except for one small speck of light in the distance – her prey. She leapt into the sky, dark wings carrying her swiftly towards the library. The world had returned around her, but that spot still remained burned in her vision. They would not escape.
*******
The spell he had cast to sense the magic of the barriers and traps allowed him to also sense her presence. She was approaching quickly, carried gracefully on those ebony wings. Soon, soon it would be time – time to break that perfect seal, destroy the guardian who for many years had kept the darkest magics of the empire safe behind these enchanted walls. He grinned wildly, uncontrollably. Admittedly he was nervous beyond belief, for he knew better than almost anyone else the creature he would be facing. But he also knew that no matter how much magic they might possess her with, no matter what spells they used to strengthen her, at her core she was still human. Still weak, weak of body and weak of will.
The doors of the library swung open before she reached them, recognizing her as part of the building. Her outstretched wings brought her to a sudden halt, and hungry eyes gazed at her foe. A strange one: he had not yet tried to run or hide, nor did he carry any weapons that she could see. Of course, there was the glow of magic around him, and that could not be ignored. A memory flickered in the deeper, human parts of her mind – earlier that day, yes! It had been the magic that had given her that feeling, the spell subduing her alertness and dulling her senses. But if he thought such petty enchantments would help him now, he was direly mistaken.
He had taken nothing, and this was perhaps the greatest surprise. The barriers were broken and all other guardians disabled, and he had had a fair amount of time while she tore her way across the sky… but still he had not taken anything, nor had he fled when the sigil had been activated. A sense of unease pricked her mind, and she ignored it. He was an intruder, and thus he must die. There were no other thoughts needed. The angel sprang suddenly towards him, magic crackling violently in her palm, pure power aching to be released.
His grin widened into a lopsided, insane smile as she approached. It was as if there was a split within him: on one hand, he felt that irresistible terror that her presence caused, overwhelming and overpowering – but on the other, everything had been so carefully planned out and the plan was so strong in his mind, so deviously simple, that within that panicked state he was entirely calm. He raised a hand; his dry tongue croaked out a few words, and the spell leapt from his lips. Strands of magic struck the runestone, and with a flash the light sparked and died.
There was a shocked silence in the halls. Now it was Jalin’s turn to stare at this man with terror – now, her wings and magic gone, she was just a human and he, to her, seemed to be a demon of some sort, to have the power to disable the sigil. Sudden laughter burst forth from his mouth, rushes of hysterics causing him to double over. He truly seemed to have lost his mind.
“Ahh, thank the heavens for the weakness of man!” he shouted in wild joy. “And for the mildness of woman! Dear lady, can you kill when you are yourself?” His eyes glinted. “Or do you fall to bed each night dreading the bloody visions to follow? The guardian is fallen, slain by the blade of humanity!” He broke into laughter once more, mad, uncontrollable laughter.
Her world spun around her. The darkness of the midnight library seemed to swirl around her, and everything in her vision was reduced to just a shape, a looming shadow. No longer boosted by the magic energies, her body felt heavy; even her breathing had somehow become more labored. But below the surface, she could feel it. It was there, if she would call to it. The spiraling world came to a sudden halt, and everything was cut in sharp perspective. He was there, just in front of her.
His eyes met hers, and the laughter ceased. A look of dismay fell across his face, a begging, hopeless look. In her eyes, he saw that he had miscalculated one thing: the will of humans was never weak. The will of humans was stronger than all the magic in the world, and forever would be.
She closed her eyes and focused her thoughts, recalling the feeling of the magic as she searched for those last remaining whispers of power. They flowed easily to her at her call, and the silence was broken once more by the crackling sound of power. She was kneeling as if praying, her mouth moving in silent words. Now there was nothing left but to let go, to release those powers which so longed to be free. Her hands open, and the magic ripped away from her.
His scream was stifled by the roar of the spirits, eager to claim the mortal – then she was alone again, alone in that dark expanse. She stumbled to her feet, every muscle aching, her eyes struggling to remain open. Slowly, slowly, she walked through that death-like city, the only soul awake in these secret hours of darkness. There would be time enough in tomorrow’s day to repair the broken and mourn the dead, but for the remaining hours of the night, her world was still.
The daylight, she knew, would clear the blood from her hands. The daylight would restore innocence and love. She would be born again with the sun.
A Welcome Curse
She couldn’t help the rush of wonder she felt when she raised her eyes to the building. The Library of the Ages: the most expansive collection of works in the empire, if not in the world. It contained within it books of all sorts, from children’s stories to religious scripts to books charged with magical energies – these last ones, of course, held behind several powerful barriers to prevent any ‘accidents’. And though she had come here every day for many, many years, still she felt that rush when her eyes swept over the looming columns and arching roof; the marble designs and guardian statues, fire in their stone eyes. Perhaps it was the magic that leaked and soaked the entire building with a sense of energy; perhaps it was simply the grandeur of the structure. Perhaps it was that connection she felt with the library, as if it were a part of her. She was its keeper and librarian, knowing the place of every last book, and able to quote from many of them. She had spent many hours in the magic section, her eyes pouring across books of secrets that were open only to her and a few other fortunate (or influential) souls. She had given her time and her care to the library, and as she walked up the stairs to the main entrance, she could almost feel the library whispering thanks to her. Probably it was just the familiar tingle of the magical energies, but who could say for sure? It was an enchanted place.
She turned her key and pushed open the door, smiling at the gust of wind that snuck greedily by her into the hallowed structure. She loved these first moments, when it was just her, the wind, and the books – soon the people would come, and the library would be full of life, but empty of this mystical silence. She glanced around once, taking in every detail in a single glance. Nothing had changed since the previous night – she knew the library well enough to notice the slightest changes – so all was well. Few ever tried to break into the library, for security was so tight, and even fewer had ever succeeded. There had not been a successful robbery during her time working at the Library, at least. Her first duty completed, she moved swiftly to her desk in that shadowed corner near the door and began to indulge herself in the treasures of the library, focusing her attention on a book she had started to read the other day.
Her job gave her plenty of time to read: no books could be checked out of the Library of Ages, though all but the magical books could be freely read by anyone, be they noble or tourist or beggar. Therefore she was able to continue her reading even once the public came in, though she watched them occasionally over the top of her book. The alarms would tell her if anything wrong was occurring. The only time she was called to assist, besides by call of the alarms, was if someone wished to look at one of the magical books. Then she would check to make sure they were authorized, and if so watch them as they read – inside the barriers, of course. If anything were to go wrong, it would all be contained. The Library was not responsible for the well-being of anyone who wished to read its magical resources; they were more concerned about keeping those same resources in the safety of the Library.
She noticed movement out of the corner of her eyes and shifted her focus away from her book. The usual tourists milled around in the background, pointing and turning pages, smiling and crying with these powerful books. A young man was walking towards her desk, and she lowered her book and placed a smile on her face for him, scanning him quickly. She didn’t recognize him as anyone qualified to check out magic books, but of course she hadn’t met many of the people on the list. Besides, from his pleasant smile and leisurely pace, he seemed different from the usual set: they were normally harsh and abrupt, in a rush to see their book and leave, to continue with their busy lives. Her scrutiny softened as he leaned up against the desk: there was just something relaxing about him, as if his casual manner were so gentle that it spread to his surroundings. “How may I help you?”
“James Wilding,” he replied, flashing a smile. “Well, how about we start with an easy question. To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?”
“Jalin Rills.” Her smile was more genuine now. He was certainly different: none of the usual crowd coming for the magic books ever bothered to ask her name!
“Wonderful! Well, Ms. Rills, would you perhaps give me the pleasure of your guidance? I have never before been to the Library and may not get a chance to return for a long time, so I am deathly afraid of missing something.” She found it hard to resist giggling; his manner was just so carefree and jolly that she could not possibly imagine him being afraid of anything. There was another feeling lurking as well, that small, nagging feeling of sorrow. There was just something about this man… she had met him only a minute or less ago, and yet she already wished he could stay and come back every day, speak in that wonderful, polite manner of his, lend that feeling of relaxation to the building. It was as if he brought his own special magic into the enchanted place.
“Certainly, I’d be glad to,” she said, and she felt as if those words were somehow the truest, most pure words she had ever spoken. She found herself lost in his smile, her mind spinning madly. She nearly forgot what she was supposed to be doing, and rose abruptly from her desk, wishing she could stop the blush that she could feel heating her face. If he noticed, he said nothing, and she instantly relaxed. There was no reason to be nervous… no, it was impossible to be nervous. “Right this way, please,” she said with that sudden exhalation as she remembered that breathing was an essential part of life, and with that they were off, Jalin automatically following those familiar steps. She showed him each section of books and spoke also of the history of the library; of the disasters and successes and of the mechanisms set in place to ensure that no further disasters would occur. The words came easily to her, for her heart rested with the Library, so when she spoke of it she spoke of herself, as well. He listened eagerly, and politely, only interjecting occasionally with a question.
“May I inquire into the nature of that strange rune?” He pointed up towards the roof, and her eyes followed him to a large black marble stone with a rune carved deeply in it. “One of the protection sigils, perhaps?” She did not respond. A sickly feeling was filling her, memories rushing through her mind so quickly that she could only catch lightning glimpses, of pain and screams and darkness and fury. She felt as if she were going to faint. “Ms. Rills? Jalin?”
Her name called her back. “Oh, yes, sorry… a protection sigil, yes. The most potent. It’s only triggered by tampering with the magical books.” She forced her gaze away from that stone, back to him. Her face was pale and she knew it, her eyes shadowed, but try as she might she could not stop trembling. She could feel his calming presence, but it could not overcome her wild emotions. She focused on his eyes, trying to forget, trying to return.
“Perhaps you should sit.” His voice was hushed, but it sounded harsh against her ears. No, she was just shaken, she could not hear right. His eyes watched her with keen focus, but she saw a spark of… excitement? No, her vision was still reeling, she could not see. Though she looked at his eyes, her eyes looked into darkness.
“Yes… I’m sorry, Mr. Wilding. Just give me a minute and I will finish guiding you.” He had started walking and she walked at his side, heading towards her desk.
“That will not be necessary, Ms. Rills.” She hoped the flash of disappointment didn’t show on her face, she had liked it when he called her Jalin. “You have been of tremendous assistance to me. I shan’t take any more of your time.” He dipped his head slightly in salute and gently pointed her towards her desk, as he continued towards the door. “Good day, Ms. Rills.”
“Goodbye, James.” He had already passed through the doors as she sat, and her voice was nothing more than a whisper full of emptiness and fear. Suddenly the Library felt like a cold and empty place; the people moving around just shadows of a forgotten time. It was as if her mind had shut down. She could hear nothing but her heartbeat, magnified a thousand times; a bell ringing out some misfortune. Why?
She returned to her book, but her eyes took in nothing of the words they scanned. She read the same page over and over until finally the Library was empty again; then she locked the doors and shakily made her way home. She had never felt this way before. She had already known, of course she had known! How could she not? But standing there with him, suddenly it hit her as it never had before. Suddenly she could see only that single line she followed, everything else lost to darkness. She crawled into her bed, feeling too sick to eat. Time would push her disturbed thoughts away into memory.
*******
He could feel the eyes of the statues upon him, warning away this midnight intruder. They did not disturb him. They were powerless and could do nothing – the real obstacle would come later. At his touch the locks on the doors popped open, and then he was inside. He grinned. No, there would be no obstacles. How easy it was! But then, he wasn’t here as a common thief, to steal works of which they could understand nothing more than the price tag. He was only the harbinger of a much grander undertaking.
He moved easily among the shelves. How kind she had been to show him around! He would have to thank her once more; it had made his job that much easier. He glanced upwards as he passed beneath the sigil stone, his gaze thoughtful. The King was foolish if he truly thought that one rune could stop him. No, the rune was sound… it was by depending on a human that the King ensured his own failure. “We just have too many weaknesses.” He enjoyed the way his voice echoed in the empty halls.
He stopped before the barriers. Things of show and light, no real substance. Weak. A grimness entered his smile as he spoke his spell. A shimmering, then the barriers were gone as if they had never truly been there. He glanced behind him – yes, the sigil stone had started to emit a dark glow. It would not be long now.
*******
The rush of magic woke Jalin from her sleep, and she rose quickly from her bed. She didn’t have much time. She hurried to get dressed and dashed up the stairs to the roof of her house, stumbling several times. The pains had started, and she had to struggle not to flinch or fall. She braced herself, knowing well what was about to happen.
It was good that the pains were so strong, for they prevented her from screaming out. She felt like she was being ripped apart and shut her eyes tight, waiting for release, for the end. She felt the magic rush through her once more, and then stifled her gasp of agony as a pair of black wings ripped suddenly wide. Then it was over. Palest red eyes stared out across the once again silent night, sweeping the horizon. They focused and suddenly all was black except for one small speck of light in the distance – her prey. She leapt into the sky, dark wings carrying her swiftly towards the library. The world had returned around her, but that spot still remained burned in her vision. They would not escape.
*******
The spell he had cast to sense the magic of the barriers and traps allowed him to also sense her presence. She was approaching quickly, carried gracefully on those ebony wings. Soon, soon it would be time – time to break that perfect seal, destroy the guardian who for many years had kept the darkest magics of the empire safe behind these enchanted walls. He grinned wildly, uncontrollably. Admittedly he was nervous beyond belief, for he knew better than almost anyone else the creature he would be facing. But he also knew that no matter how much magic they might possess her with, no matter what spells they used to strengthen her, at her core she was still human. Still weak, weak of body and weak of will.
The doors of the library swung open before she reached them, recognizing her as part of the building. Her outstretched wings brought her to a sudden halt, and hungry eyes gazed at her foe. A strange one: he had not yet tried to run or hide, nor did he carry any weapons that she could see. Of course, there was the glow of magic around him, and that could not be ignored. A memory flickered in the deeper, human parts of her mind – earlier that day, yes! It had been the magic that had given her that feeling, the spell subduing her alertness and dulling her senses. But if he thought such petty enchantments would help him now, he was direly mistaken.
He had taken nothing, and this was perhaps the greatest surprise. The barriers were broken and all other guardians disabled, and he had had a fair amount of time while she tore her way across the sky… but still he had not taken anything, nor had he fled when the sigil had been activated. A sense of unease pricked her mind, and she ignored it. He was an intruder, and thus he must die. There were no other thoughts needed. The angel sprang suddenly towards him, magic crackling violently in her palm, pure power aching to be released.
His grin widened into a lopsided, insane smile as she approached. It was as if there was a split within him: on one hand, he felt that irresistible terror that her presence caused, overwhelming and overpowering – but on the other, everything had been so carefully planned out and the plan was so strong in his mind, so deviously simple, that within that panicked state he was entirely calm. He raised a hand; his dry tongue croaked out a few words, and the spell leapt from his lips. Strands of magic struck the runestone, and with a flash the light sparked and died.
There was a shocked silence in the halls. Now it was Jalin’s turn to stare at this man with terror – now, her wings and magic gone, she was just a human and he, to her, seemed to be a demon of some sort, to have the power to disable the sigil. Sudden laughter burst forth from his mouth, rushes of hysterics causing him to double over. He truly seemed to have lost his mind.
“Ahh, thank the heavens for the weakness of man!” he shouted in wild joy. “And for the mildness of woman! Dear lady, can you kill when you are yourself?” His eyes glinted. “Or do you fall to bed each night dreading the bloody visions to follow? The guardian is fallen, slain by the blade of humanity!” He broke into laughter once more, mad, uncontrollable laughter.
Her world spun around her. The darkness of the midnight library seemed to swirl around her, and everything in her vision was reduced to just a shape, a looming shadow. No longer boosted by the magic energies, her body felt heavy; even her breathing had somehow become more labored. But below the surface, she could feel it. It was there, if she would call to it. The spiraling world came to a sudden halt, and everything was cut in sharp perspective. He was there, just in front of her.
His eyes met hers, and the laughter ceased. A look of dismay fell across his face, a begging, hopeless look. In her eyes, he saw that he had miscalculated one thing: the will of humans was never weak. The will of humans was stronger than all the magic in the world, and forever would be.
She closed her eyes and focused her thoughts, recalling the feeling of the magic as she searched for those last remaining whispers of power. They flowed easily to her at her call, and the silence was broken once more by the crackling sound of power. She was kneeling as if praying, her mouth moving in silent words. Now there was nothing left but to let go, to release those powers which so longed to be free. Her hands open, and the magic ripped away from her.
His scream was stifled by the roar of the spirits, eager to claim the mortal – then she was alone again, alone in that dark expanse. She stumbled to her feet, every muscle aching, her eyes struggling to remain open. Slowly, slowly, she walked through that death-like city, the only soul awake in these secret hours of darkness. There would be time enough in tomorrow’s day to repair the broken and mourn the dead, but for the remaining hours of the night, her world was still.
The daylight, she knew, would clear the blood from her hands. The daylight would restore innocence and love. She would be born again with the sun.
; We'll see how that works out. But this is so cool. It may be because I'm really nice, but I have nothing negative whatsoever to say about this. xDD