Forgotten Legacies Collection

Chapter 5

Just under a month had passed since Acha had returned to the cabin with Zo. The first few days had been difficult. Despite the accomplishments in her past she found herself lacking the confidence she had displayed so easily back then. It had taken time for her to come to terms with the different dialect and customs. But by utilising the experience of the young lady, whose life-force she had replaced, she was able to adapt relatively quickly.

It was different in so many ways to her own time, but now she was more accustomed to it she felt at home in her new surroundings, and her friendship with Zo and Daniel had blossomed. Their socialisation had become a regular routine. She truly felt as if she belonged exactly where she was. It was almost as if this time and these people were always meant to be her home and family.

Elly was adept in many things, and it was clear her skills were far superior to those of the young man who followed her. He was certainly an amateur. He made far too much noise for someone familiar with this kind of work. She couldn"t help but be insulted that Blackwood thought so little of her to send a spy of this calibre to follow her. Clearly, he had let his guard down and forgotten she wasn"t really his daughter. It was a façade they had maintained for longer than she cared for, but it still served a purpose.

So far, despite the critical flaws in his tracking and concealment, she had played along. She let him believe she was clueless, that she didn"t hear the cracking of twigs beneath his feet, or his laboured breathing when she decided to quicken the pace. In honesty, she was having fun toying with him. It helped to pass the time on what was otherwise a very long journey by foot. After all, she couldn"t risk introducing her pursuer to the convenience of Collateral. She wondered how long he could continue at their current pace, after all, she didn"t need to rest, and only did so when it seemed he could push himself no further.

sheShe made herself comfortable near the fire she had built. This would be the final camp before her reunion with Marise. This resting area was found just off the main path taken by those on pilgrimages to the shrine or temple on this island. Its use saw it had benefited from many modifications left in place by the countless travellers who had passed this way. Large smoothed logs had been placed around the fire pit which had been carefully outlined by pale grey stones. Above it, firmly planted in the ground, stood a timeworn metal stand and spit.

It was a place that provided shelter and convenience to any who passed its way; a place travellers or traders would sometimes meet to conduct business or exchange stories. Many such locations were clearly marked on the maps some, however, you could only find if you knew exactly where to look.

Her uninvited companion had done well to keep moving for fifteen hours. Although his difficulties in doing so meant she was even more aware of his gasping breaths and staggering movements, as he tried desperately not to lose sight of her. Whatever his reason for following her, it was clearly an important one. Most people, even Blackwood"s elite, would have long given up regardless of the fee they were being paid. No one would continue to endure this level of punishment without good reason.

She smiled to herself as she rotated a small bird on the metal spit as it cooked above the fire. She could almost feel his hunger as his nostrils flared at the inviting aroma. She had teased him with the delicious scents of her fresh kills for days now. It had been two weeks since they had begun their journey and, while it had been amusing to play the fool, it was time to address the stalker. She could only walk this small island so many times, and she was eager to reach her destination.

“You must be hungry. Your supplies were depleted some time ago. Come and join me, there is more than enough.” She smiled as she spoke to add a friendly tone to her voice. There was a long silence as she waited for his reply. She wasn"t really surprised when none came, but tonight he would reveal himself. She had waited this long, worn him down, led him in circles, all in hope he would tire or lose interest. But the fact he remained close, and pushed himself beyond his limits, meant there was more to this than a simple game.

wouldTonight was her last chance to discover his motives. If he refused to show himself, she would have to kill him. It would be a last resort, doing so would create a trail, not to mention problems should the corpse be discovered. She could not risk leading him to Marise without having discovered his true intentions.

The call of a night owl was her only reply; there was part of her that suspected this cry had been made by him in an attempt to fill the unforgiving silence. She remained quiet until the bird was cooked. The delicious aroma filled the air, tempting the senses. It was a shame she didn"t really enjoy food. To her it almost all tasted the same, but it served a purpose nonetheless.

“I know you have been following me,” she continued at last. “I may be his daughter but do not place my intellect on par with that imbecile. You may as well reveal yourself, there is little need for further pretence.” There was still no response. “I see you require proof, very well. You are a male with fair hair, and you are standing about thirty feet away to my left between a tree and the small bush with the red berries. Yes those,” she added knowing he would have looked. “Originally you were carrying a wrap made from leaves containing your supplies, but it has long since been depleted and now you travel empty-handed.” She had been granted many opportunities to catch a glimpse of him while he stalked her. The most obvious time had been on the boat across from Albeth. He had tried a little too hard to blend in. A quiet rustle came from the nearby bushes as a shadowy figure emerged slowly, his hands raised slightly as if to show he was unarmed.

that“I didn"t think y" knew.” His blond spiky hair was now less neat than at journey"s start. It was filled with the leaves and debris of the forest from all the times he had taken cover in the shrubbery to avoid detection. He moved sheepishly to sit on a log conveniently placed on the opposite side of the fire to that which Elly sat. She passed him part of the bird and watched as he ate hungrily.

“You thought what I wanted you to.” He was on his second helping when he stopped in mid-chew. His mouth turned dry. Something was wrong and he had only just realised what.

“Aren"t y" eatin"?” His stomach sank as the sick feeling spread from his stomach to encapsulate his whole body. She had not so much as touched the food she had prepared.

“How observant.” She gave a short, quick smile. Eiji wasn"t sure if it was a trick of the firelight but there seemed something sinister about it. His fears were soon confirmed when she spoke again. “It would be foolish to ingest my own poison, would it not?”

“Wha—” was all he managed to utter before being interrupted.

“Quite a nasty one it is too.” She leaned forwards, ensuring he heard her every word. “You see, I need to know why you are following me. I did not think you would volunteer the information so I thought it would be best to skip the pleasantries. You now have two choices. We can wait approximately ten minutes while it seeps into your blood killing you slowly and painfully, by which point delirium will have loosened your tongue.” She lingered on her words, her voice strangely soothing despite the serious implications she spoke. Eiji knew for certain he was not mistaking the fire"s tricks this time as a sinister smile tickled the edge of her lips as he sat rigid, transfixed by her steely gaze. “Or you can tell me now and I may have an antidote.”

This was a lot easier than she had anticipated. He was so young, unwise in the ways of the world. His eyes shone with terror, and power. Yes, there was power there, the likes of which she had seen in but one of his kind before. Although in her many years she had never seen one so young with such potential. It would be a shame to kill him. She had the feeling that, in time, he could accomplish great things.

“I didn"t wanna.” His voice broke, interrupting the tense silence. It had not taken as long as she had expected. “He made me, said he"d kill my master.” He pulled his travelling cape around himself tighter, shivering despite being so close to the fire.

“Who made you?”

“Y" father, Lord Blackwood.” Elly had known as much, but she had wanted to ensure she could trust his words. Those loyal to Blackwood always attempted to conceal this simple truth. Having obtained her answer, she now leaned forwards to take a piece of the cooked bird.

“Your master? You are an Elementalist are you not?” He nodded, as she spoke; fear swelled within him as he wondered how she knew so much about him. “I assume your master set you free to learn from the elements?” Again, she was answered with a fervent nod. “Did he never tell you what becomes of a master once he has taught the student all he can?” The same affirmation followed her question. “And he released you from your training?” She tried to prompt him to reach the same conclusion she had some time ago, but wondered why she bothered. It seemed impossible that this boy knew the answers but didn"t understand the implications. Perhaps she was mistaken about his potential after all.

And“Yes.” His voice was etched with uncertainty. “But it"s not what y" thinkin". I"ve still much t"learn.”

“If he released you then, obviously, he did not believe so. Elementalists pass on their power to the next generation. As he trained you, and you mastered a skill, you took the ability to perform that action from him. There can only ever be one master of any elemental skill at any time. It is how these forces work. Once you have learnt all his skills and teachings, his body returns to the elements which gave him life.” Elly watched the painful realisation spread across his face. He had finally pieced together the truth, although she had needed to explain it to him. She saw the pain in his eyes as he understood; his master was already dead.

had“He was usin" me!” he snapped in a tone which reminded her once more of how young he was. The rage across his face at being exploited was replaced quickly by panic as his stomach cramped, forcing him to remember the reason behind this conversation. “The antidote.” He looked to her desperately. He had given her what she wanted, surely she would spare him. Something about the way she smiled at him made him question the trust he had placed in her words.

“What antidote?”

“But y" said…” he stopped in mid-sentence, his stomach cramps vanishing as he realised that, since speaking the name of the one who had tricked him, she had been helping herself to part of the "poisoned" bird. She raised an eyebrow as understanding washed over his expression. She had wondered how long it would take before he noticed.

“I lied. You have followed me since I left, where could I have obtained poison?” All at once he felt rather foolish. He had followed her and since the first day she had carried nothing but a sword, which she never unsheathed, and the weapon she had used to hunt her food.

had“I notice y" carry a sword,” he said in an attempt to divert the attention from his stupidity. He was thankful for the firelight, it disguised his reddened face. “It doesn"t suit y".”

“Oh, I am a master of swordplay. However, you are correct, this one is not mine. I am returning it to a friend.” She turned the sheathed sword over in her hand effortlessly as she examined it. This time last year it had seemed far heavier, as had the burden she carried. “So tell me, who did my father tell you we were looking for?” Elly wondered how much this boy knew. "Boy", she thought to herself. He was probably around the same age as she appeared, but he was still so young in many ways.

"Boy"“He didn"t, he said I"d know when y" found her,” he volunteered, despite feeling cheated by her previous ambush.

“I see, well, I may as well tell you since you are part of this now.”

“Whaddya mean?” Elly shook her head slightly. He really had no idea of the consequences behind his actions. She realised she would once more have to explain things to him.

“Well, if you return to Blackwood, he will surely slay you for failing. You have no reason to assist him following his deception and you know too much. You are now worth more to him dead, than alive.” She heard him gasp as if this thought hadn"t occurred to him. “Of course, I will offer you protection, if you help me.”

if“Help y" with what?”

“Well you see, this sword belongs to Mari. A renowned assassin who left his command some time ago.” With this one sentence she had sealed his fate. He could not live knowing what he did, not unless he chose to help her.

“Mari, Mari,” he mulled over the name. When his eyes widened, she knew he had arrived at the correct conclusion. “Y" don"t mean Marise Shi?”

“The one and only,” she confirmed, unable to hide the pleasure in her voice. “Now before you get all flustered, you will listen.” He drew a slow breath and nodded.

will“I"ve little choice. If I go back, I get killed. If I try t"escape, I get killed, and I assume y"d kill me if y" don"t like my answer.” His voice was filled with the distinct question, "How do I get myself into these situations?" “Anyway, I heard she was defeated,” he continued. He was torn; he had often wondered what she was like, ever since his master"s paths had crossed with hers. The notion both terrified and enthralled him. He wiped his damp palms down his trouser legs. “Why"d y" wanna return it t"her? She"s lethal.”

“That is an understatement.” She smiled proudly, an action which obviously alarmed him as she met his gaze. “However, when she left, she was different. She was no longer a killer.”

“Now that I don"t believe. A leopard can"t change its spots. Y" expect me t"believe she woke up one day and thought, "Hey I"ve had enough of killin" now I"ll go do somethin" else"?”

“I do not expect you to believe anything. To be honest I do not know what to expect myself.” Elly wondered if she was perhaps being too nice to him. Normally she would resolve inconveniences such as this and be on her way, but something told her this boy could prove useful. She wasn"t sure what it was about him, but she had travelled with enough people throughout the years to know when someone was worth keeping on side, even if only for a short time. It was an instinct she knew to trust. “The truth is, following the rumours regarding Night"s movements, my father is attempting to reclaim her before Night seizes the opportunity to take her himself. I, however, wish to protect her.”

“By takin" her back?” His voice was outraged as he questioned how she could claim to be protecting someone by returning them to the one who created her, the one who put a child on the path to becoming a bloodthirsty assassin. His master once had the misfortune of crossing paths with her and, although there was little spoken, he had learnt much of her origins. It was knowledge he had passed on to him. Besides, if it really was Marise Shi she spoke of, it was doubtful she needed protection.

“No. I have no alliance with my father. Before you leap to conclusions, meet her. I am certain you will find staying with us is worth your life.” She realised how difficult it actually was being nice to people. There was a big difference between this and the familiar mask of indifference she had adopted as Blackwood"s daughter. However, for some reason, she wanted to encourage this person to travel with her for a while, and to do that she had to be nice. She gave a silent sigh, trying to keep her body language friendly. Being nice was hard work and she was out of practice.

“Some choice.” He rested his head on his hands. With a despairing sigh he leaned closer to the fire and wondered where it had all gone wrong. He was meant to leave, learn more about the elements, and return home. Now he had discovered his master was dead, and whatever he did would ultimately result in his own demise.

“I think I am being more than understanding,” Elly scolded. “I did not ask for your help remember? As I have said, I will offer you my protection for as long as you choose to travel beside me.”

“Very well,” he sighed. “Let"s see what our legendary murderer has become. Then I shall make my choice.” "Death… or death," he thought to himself sceptically.

"Death… or death,"“Say Zo, whatcha reading?” Daniel stood in her doorway. He smiled as she looked up from the book held within her hands, a frown still gripped her gentle features. She had been lost in the pages. She couldn"t even imagine how long she had sat staring at the tome before her.

“Just something Elder Robert gave me a while ago. I"ve been promising myself I"d get around to reading it, but…”

“But?”

“Well, he said I should protect it, but…” Daniel roused with curiosity approached her. As he peered over her shoulder, he too frowned, feeling like he was missing something.

“It"s blank?” He looked from the book to Zo, and back again, before taking it in his hands and flicking through the pages. He chuckled slightly, remembering how it had come to be in her possession. It was that same day she had revealed her most guarded secret to him or, more precisely, shown him exactly what she was capable of.

“Not quite.” She plucked it from his grasp. “I can make out the odd trace mark. Maybe it"s an old notepad or something.” She grinned, given its source she was uncertain why she had expected anything else.

“Oh you know Elder Robert, there"s always a magnificent history behind everything. Even the firewood he cut yesterday originally belonged to some ancient tree who offered him a piece for fending off the wood-eating Snargles of Shale Steppes.” They both chuckled. It was true, everything his hand touched had a mystical story behind it, and one of the many things Zo found so charming about him. It was exactly because of his stories and tales that Zo loved nothing more than to sit in his company once a week and listen to him speak of all manner of things, both believable and those which more than stretched the boundary of the possible.

“Still you never know, one day he may be telling the truth.” She closed the book, wrapping it in the ivory cloth she had used to practice embroidery on, before placing it inside the small tear in the lining of her satchel. Daniel shook his head at her.

“Tch, you really should stop putting things down there. One day you"ll lose something.” Daniel waved his finger in the pretence of scolding her.

“But no one would look there,” she protested as she tightened the loose stitches she had slid it through. She examined it carefully and, once satisfied the gap was no longer identifiable, tied the long thread in a bow and tucked it from sight.

“Why would anyone want that old thing?” he asked, knowing that since she went to so much effort to hide it, clearly it held some importance for her. “Anyway, isn"t it time you were off?”

“I want it,” she protested firmly, clutching the satchel to her chest as he asked his second question. “It is the first gift I"ve ever received.” She paused as she looked outside to the position of the sun. “You"re right though.” She wasn"t sure where the time had gone. It was already far later than she had expected. “I"ll be back soon. I"ll give your regards to Mr Miller.”

Mr Miller was the local greengrocer who, very kindly, picked and packed her order every week for collection. Daniel would have gladly collected it for her since he visited her daily, whenever he was not at college. However, Mr Miller was an elderly gentleman, and one Zo was very fond of. She always looked forward to seeing him on the day of Ares.

When she arrived to collect her provisions, she would always find she had arrived just as the "pot had boiled", ready for a drink. She would spend a good hour or more with him and his wife as they drank tea and updated her with the events of the town. It was a small town, as such everyone knew everyone"s business; not that too much happened. The gossip was normally along the lines of who said what about whom, and plans to rebuild the river barricades. A long time ago someone had drowned there. It was a topic often avoided and she respected their need to leave some things in the past where they belonged.

More recently, the conversation had turned to her and Daniel. It seemed Mr Miller had decided they would make a great coupling, and was even trying to push them together. Tentative plans for their wedding were already under discussion, despite their objections. Mr Miller couldn"t seem to understand that they could just be really good friends. They had tried to explain to him, but he merely went off on a tangent about where they could hold the ceremony. They had been tempted to tell them she was already promised to someone, just to stop all the fuss, but neither of them cared to lie. So they allowed him to imagine the exquisite settings and the different flowers. Everything he suggested did sound beautiful. As he described his ideas his wife would sit smiling. She knew by now no such event would happen, but she loved to hear him describe the details which held so close to that of their own wedding so many years ago.

Zo waved to Daniel as she flung her satchel over her shoulder before she left in the direction of town.

“Look after Acha for me,” she called back. She hadn"t been in the cabin when Zo had left, but she was due back at any minute.

Once Acha had fully recovered from her injuries, Zo had asked her if she would consider staying with her more permanently. It seemed she had no home or family. It only seemed fitting she should offer hers to another person who seemed lost and alien to these lands. She had been quite uncomfortable with the idea at first, but when Zo had explained that, with tending the herb garden and helping Angela about the town, she could use some help to keep things in order, she had happily agreed.

Zo and Daniel usually crossed paths near the town as she went to collect her supplies, or deliver the fresh trimmings of herbs to his mother. This was now part of their routine. Before Acha had joined them she and Daniel would walk back to her home together, and spend the evening chatting about nothing and everything. Now Daniel would arrive earlier than before to spend some time questioning Acha about the past. At first Zo worried that Acha would feel like she was being interrogated, but she soon became accustomed to his passion for knowledge.

“Sure,” Daniel called out to no one in particular, since Zo had long vanished from view. He enjoyed the day of Ares. It was the first full day of his time away from Albeth, when he returned home from his three days of study. This was a day he put aside to listen to Acha"s tales and for the three of them to share stories and ideas into the early hours of the morning. He had arrived a little earlier than normal today. Acha was still out gathering firewood for the bath and the small wood-burning stove, which Zo would use later to cook for them. He normally started out at the same time, but would encounter Zo on her way into the town and, of course, they would have a brief conversation on the roadside. Today she had been so engrossed in that book, she was running late. He had to wonder exactly how long she would have sat there, staring at the blank pages, if he hadn"t arrived when he did.

As they waited for Zo to return, Acha continued to tell Daniel about her life before the talisman. She told him how—unlike most women at that time—she had been allowed to work the fields and attend to her family"s affairs. Whilst other women were sent away to the castle to become ladies in waiting, maids, cooks, and other roles which were deemed more suitable, she remained home labouring in the fields, or taking the long journeys to deliver the produce and taxes. There were times, especially when seeking passage from her home to Albeth, she had needed to disguise herself. Women were thought to bring ill fortune to seafaring vessels, but living on Crowley had meant, in order to pay their monthly tribute to the King, and trade their excess produce for things they needed, passage across the water was required.

When Zo returned, they would normally be at least halfway through their first bottle of wine. They would exchange words of greetings before she listened with interest to whatever the topic of conversation had turned to, whilst preparing a meal for them to share.

Zo asked more questions than anything else, after all, having only vague memories of her past she felt she had little offer. But that"s not all they would talk about. They would talk about science, folklore, the stories behind the stars, legends, anything and everything was discussed at that table. Except for things best left buried in the past, such as what occurred with Acha"s father, and that Daniel was not the only child they had assumed him to be. There were secrets which none of them would utter. Secrets for one reason or another that would stay buried, despite the strength of their friendship.

Today"s particular conversation had started on the topic of shamanism; in particular, the strange amulet which Acha had been found with. Daniel noticed she now wore this charm around her neck on three woven pieces of leather, identical to those used by Zo to tie her hair back. They had been intertwined to form a strong loop to fit over her head like a chain, and wrapped artistically until they split to hold the talisman securely. The twists then continued a little further until it was fastened, leaving a few tassels. There was no doubt in Daniel"s mind this particular necklace had been made by Zo.

Acha explained it was the talisman itself that secured her life-force within a given host and, if not for it, she could not imagine what would have become of her. She referred to her sealing as a curse from a practitioner of the arcane. It was true enough, and far easier than explaining the situation. How she explained it, she had simply been at the wrong place at the wrong time. She went on to inform them that if something were to happen and she were to lose it, she would be sealed within it once more until it came in contact with another living creature, or something near her died to create an opening for her life-force to occupy. Even if something nearby did die, she could only keep its body if she retrieved the charm in time to bind her to it.

The open door creaked in the wind as a shadow from outside was cast across the small table. The figure seemed to linger in the doorway for a moment. Seeing the hesitation, Daniel turned to greet Zo, wondering if perhaps she needed a hand with her supplies.

“That was—” But his eyes failed to rest upon Zo as he expected. The opening was filled by an enormous figure, taller and wider than anyone Daniel had seen before. He was so large that only small fractions of light could penetrate past the gigantic frame. Ducking, he invited himself over the threshold as his eyes assessed them both in turn. From head to toe, this giant was covered in body armour, only his scowling face was absent from any form of protection which allowed his matted beard to fall upon his breastplate. He raised his thick arm to point at Acha.

“I"ve come for her,” he boomed. For a moment it seemed as if the walls shook under the force of his voice. It took a few seconds for them to accept he was actually standing there. He was more like a figure from a story than an actual living being.

As the figure"s presence and words registered, Acha"s eyes widened in pure terror. She stood slowly from her place at the table, her eyes transfixed on the stranger. She backed away, her feet tangling in the chair"s legs as her movement forced it aside. Daniel moved to form a barrier between them. The questions of who he was and why he wanted Acha were secondary to his desire to protect her. Daniel"s hands wrapped around one of the thick wooden posts Zo had fashioned in order to fence the garden. He held it as if it were a staff which, to Daniel, was not much of a comfort. Despite the fact he held a vast amount of knowledge in regards to the theory behind fighting and techniques, he had never successfully put any to practice, and there had been a lot of practice.

lot“Acha, run!” Daniel glanced towards her through the corner of his eyes. His trembling hands grew moist, but all that mattered was making sure she reached safety. Before she could even move, the giant"s arm grabbed him by his throat to fling him through the open door. Acha winced at the sound of his body as it hit the ground. His motionless figure lay sprawled across the damp grass, the wooden post still gripped tightly in one of his hands. She looked desperately for an escape, but her only exit had been blocked.

“Excuse me.” Elly stepped out from the trees to address the person who had just run past them in the direction of the town. The figure stopped as she heard her call. “I see you are in a hurry, but I wondered—” Elly"s voice seemed to fail as the young lady turned towards them. Shock registered on her face as she met the girl"s familiar blue eyes.

Unable to believe what she saw, Elly found herself speechless. The thought that Marise would have completely reverted back to her original persona hadn"t even been a consideration. She had expected at least some traces of the assassin to remain, be it her fiery red hair, or sea-green eyes.

To look at the figure now it was as if all those years had never transpired. It seemed they had been very proficient with the seal, perhaps too proficient. Zo smiled at her politely, showing no sign of recognition as she waited for her to continue.

“Are you all right?” she asked as the colour seemed to drain from Elly"s face. She seemed to utter something, but neither Zo nor Eiji, could determine what. They looked to her curiously as they tried to make out the inaudible word and waited for her to speak again. It didn"t seem like she could.

“We"re lookin" for town. Y"ll hafta forgive my friend, she"s not been feelin" t"well.” Eiji stepped in to avoid the long uncomfortable silence from extending further. He frowned at Elly as he did so. She didn"t seem like the kind of person who would falter like that.

“Anything serious? I know a good physician.”

“She"ll be fine,” he stated rather dismissively.

Elly had already begun to regain some of her composure. The impact of seeing her like this had been overwhelming. It had never been the intention to destroy the assassin, for her to be so completely removed there had to have been some mistake. From her understanding, Marise should have already resurfaced. The concoction had been made to specification, yet it appeared something had gone wrong. There was not even a hidden shadow of the woman Elly knew.

“Okay, well I"m heading into town now if you want to—” Zo choked on her words as she gasped painfully. Her hands gripping her stomach as her vision snapped back towards her home. Before Eiji could ask if she was all right, she whispered a name. “Acha.” Zo had been aware of the decaying magical trace joining them since she had woken her. It had almost faded completely, but there were times when her friend"s powerful emotions were still relayed by the sensation of physical discomfort. Something was wrong. This pain was too powerful of a reaction to be stirred by conversation alone. “Town is that way.” She gestured. “Please excuse me,” she called back, her legs propelling her in the direction of home.

“What was that all about, do y" think we should follow her? Somethin" seemed wrong,” he observed as Elly"s vision stayed fixed to the spot where the figure had stood just moments ago.

“Mari,” she uttered again this time a little louder than before. She couldn"t believe it. She had stood face to face with her and had been unable to speak a single word. She couldn"t explain why, but seeing her like that had rendered her incapable of action. So many thoughts had raced through her mind. One of which was questioning if it would be possible to recreate what she had lost.

“Y" mean that was Marise Shi?” Surprise edged his voice. His vision moved towards the tree line, his mouth agape. “I expected her t"be…” He paused, as he thought over his next word very carefully. “Taller, t"say the least.” He watched curiously as the slender figure disappeared from sight.

“Not anymore. I made her forget. I cannot believe how much she has—”

“Shouldn"t we go after her? Somethin" didn"t seem right.” Eiji turned his focus to Elly, who stood motionless. “Hey.” he prompted, finally gaining a response in the form of a slow nod. Elly blinked, shaking her head slightly as if to dispel her surprise. There was too much to do. The next time they met she knew she would have to tell her everything, and take her away from this island. It was the only way to ensure they could finish what they had started together all those years ago.

Driven by Acha"s fear, Zo reached home in record time. Her vision drawn instantly to Daniel"s motionless body sprawled upon the grass a fair distance from the house. The world seemed to descend into an uneasy silence as she approached him. Her senses communicated with her on levels she had never imagined possible; even so, the bombardment of such overwhelming information made it difficult to process anything accurately. She pushed her feelings aside, relying on her eyes to give her all the information needed.

“Daniel?” Her voice faltered as she crouched over him. She checked him quickly for injuries before glancing towards her home, even her touch did not rouse him. The eerie silence was replaced with the sound of a terrified scream, and once more Zo felt the discomfort.

Visible through the open door, Acha stood backed into a corner, her chest heaving in panicked breaths. The table which, until then, Acha had used as a barrier between them, shattered as he flung it effortlessly aside, its wooden legs splintering under the power of his throw. Without a second thought Zo charged into the house, grabbed a bottle from the sideboard, and flung it towards Acha"s attacker.

“Get away from her!” Zo yelled, the splintering of glass causing the figure to turn his attention to her. Her hands balled into tight fists as a seething anger began to burn deep within her. “Now,” she growled.

“What are you going to do little girl?” his voice boomed mockingly. With his attention distracted, Acha"s legs began to respond. She trod carefully, quietly, as Zo tried to keep his attention from her escape. “She couldn"t stop me, what hope"s a child like you got?” Zo felt her posture slacken slightly as Acha stepped through the opening into the bathroom. She knew from there she could climb through the window to safety.

The giant growled, not oblivious to her attempt to flee, and lunged forward. In what seemed like only a few steps he had covered the length of the room, grabbing Zo before she had a chance to react. He lifted her into the air. His giant hand clasped around her neck as she coughed and struggled to break his grip. She kicked frantically, yet was unable to make contact through the thick armour. He gave a snort, launching her struggling body backwards through the window. Light glinted across the splinters of glass, giving the illusion of rain as it fell.

Zo coughed and groaned, forcing herself to move only to find herself a matter of feet from where Daniel lay. Pain exploded through her. For a moment something else seemed to take control. It scolded her for lying in pain, scolded her for being so weak. As she lay there, the feeling of helplessness changed to anger. An anger which would not permit her to surrender. She began to move, despite the protests of her entire body. The pain now fuelling the raw seething energy she felt rise within her.

Her hand touched Daniel"s lightly in order to release the pole still clutched within his helpless grasp. With its support, slowly, she managed to pull herself to stand. Her voice had already found the ancient words of magic as she summoned her fire. She altered it, merging it with another force to forge a spell crafted from fire and wind, a devastating cyclone which caused the air to whip around her in order to take the fiery form she desired before being unleashed.

The impact with the creature, although accurate, seemed to cause it nothing more than a minor annoyance. The adept spell was barely noticed, yet at least it had managed to distract its attention briefly from the place where Acha now hid. The powerful energy, that had helped her to stand, seemed to fade as the creature once more turned to face her. The inner promise of strength was stolen as her courage faltered under the gnarled gaze.

He struck her viciously. The force of his backhand thrust her spinning into the air as his armoured foot connected painfully as she bounced on the ground. Pain radiated through her side under the weight of his kick as she failed to evade his further advance. The ground slipped beneath her feet as she tried desperately to scrabble away. The gentle rain, which hours earlier had seemed so soothing, had now turned even the terrain into an enemy as it hindered her attempts to escape. She had barely fought her way breathlessly to her feet when she felt the figure snatch her back by her hair. He lifted her to face him, unleashing a powerful punch to her stomach, knocking the air from her lungs as she felt herself flying backwards once more.

Joining the painful noise of her body"s impact came another sound just to her right. It went almost unheard as the pain coursed through her. The figure still advanced with the intention of finishing what it had started. Her panicked gaze desperately sought an escape as she tried to force her objecting body to move. She caught sight of the long object which had struck the ground. It seemed like a gift from the Gods. Almost as if they had granted her this weapon to defend those she loved. Once more she forced her way unsteadily to her feet, somehow seizing the sword in the process and attaching it with such speed it was almost as if she had executed this motion a thousand times before. Her fingers, as if by memory, had performed the action of arming herself in but a few seconds.

She released the catch with her thumb. The sword was light, far lighter than she had expected. Looking down she saw the reason. She had barely drawn it an inch from the sheath and could clearly see the weapon itself lacked a blade. Securing the hilt once more she noticed the perceived weight had come from the scabbard. It was forged from an unfamiliar black metal, although apparently useless as a blade perhaps in its current form it could prove useful. She was unsure what had come first, the thought about using it sheathed as a weapon, or her instinctively unfastening it from the belt. Glancing around she tried to locate the source of her aid. Perhaps this person would also assist her in facing this being. But as her blurred vision panned around the area, nothing was visible, except for the advancing colossus.

Frustration, anger, and fear rose within her. She could not lose. There was too much at stake. Acha depended on her. Somehow, she had to defeat her opponent. It was the only way to ensure their safety. But she knew nothing of combat, and her magic was ineffective, his seemingly impenetrable armour somehow shielded him from all her magical attacks.

The giant was upon her now, striking out once more with his heavy punch. She turned as quickly as her pained body would allow in an attempt to flee. Her right foot slipped in the mud, dropping her to her left knee just seconds before the creature"s strike made contact. A splintering c***k resonated above her as its armoured hand struck the tree. Without thinking, Zo thrust the sword upwards, catching the figure by surprise as the scabbard grazed his face. Realising what she had done she rolled to all fours, crawling away quickly, trying desperately to summon the strength to stand.

His foot swung forwards. She rolled to the side, barely dodging his deadly blow, and bringing her sword out as she rolled to strike his knee. The creature let out a frustrated howl. His eyes showing the annoyance caused by facing the pest before him. He lunged, striking her squarely once again. Darkness swarmed her vision as she felt him drag her to her feet by her throat. A sickening, splintering c***k filled the air as he thrust forwards slamming her into the same tree he had struck just moments before. The darkness closed in around her as she felt herself sliding towards the ground.

Acha saw Zo"s limp body sliding down the tree, leaving a red trail of blood upon its bark. Even from this distance, she had heard the deathly sound the impact had made. Tears streaked her face as she pushed herself backwards frantically. The hulking creature, having finished with Zo, now turned its attention once more to her. The giant"s steps seemed to shake the ground as she tried to shuffle backwards to find cover somewhere, anywhere. She glanced across to Zo, hopelessly, as the creature advanced. Her friend sat deathly still against the trunk of the tree. Seeing Zo"s lifeless body, she realised escape from such a creature was futile. There was nowhere she could hide. She felt her back press firmly against the side of the cabin, seeing the bath"s furnace in her peripheral vision. She was certain it was big enough to hide her, but there was little point. The creature advanced on her at speed, it would follow her every move.

Acha screamed as the giant hand extended towards her, her capture inevitable. His fingers were almost upon her when his movement stopped abruptly. Parts of the armour covering his side exploded into fragments as something thrust through his ribcage. Acha heard the creature"s breath alter from its injury. But this being had clearly been a veteran of battle, such a wound would do little to slow its pace. It stood upright as the sword was pulled from its body. Seeing her chance, Acha frantically made her escape towards Daniel who had struggled to his feet.

Daniel could scarcely believe what he had seen. He had just moments ago awoken, only to see Zo striking their attacker. She had moved with impossible ease to land the critical blow through the creature"s chest plate. He knew, without a doubt, the sword in her possession was magical. The blade seemed to be formed of light itself. Half shone with a light so white it seemed almost blue, whereas the other half, in a complete contrast, radiated an intense black tinted with a faint blood red aura.

Even from his position, Daniel could see the sticky patch of blood which covered the back of Zo"s head. It was a miracle she was standing, let alone finding the coordination to move as she did now. He had never seen anything quite like it.

As the giant looked upon his attacker, his eyes held recognition. He had seen through her appearance to her essence, an essence which now held the fighting spirit of a warrior. His heavy cestus struck out in a fearsome attack, his wound doing little to slow his pace despite his laboured breathing. This time Zo moved as she saw the strike. Her footing slid gracefully to dodge with such minimal movement it allowed her sword to exploit the opening, slicing through his armour until once more she inflicted a damaging strike.

Watching the battle, the fight almost seemed surreal. Every movement she made was so precise, so perfect, it seemed to create clean openings for her to exploit. The creature lunged forwards, a foolish move which allowed her to once more duck his strike. She sidestepped behind him, bringing her sword up to slice his hamstring, forcing him to his knees before her. She stepped again following through in an almost fluid movement, striking his face with her hilt before launching an attack so powerful that, when it struck the mighty creature"s collarbone, it forced him to the ground.

She stood over him, the clear victor of the battle. Her sword was held poised at the giant"s neck, tempting her to deliver the final blow. Her vision fixed on the throbbing arteries as whispers told her to kill him was the only way to keep her friends safe. It told her she had to do it, that there was no other choice. This instinctive part of her seemed to force her hand down towards his throat, telling her how wonderful it would feel. How it would satisfy and calm the anger which burned within her. She was unsure how long she had stood above the figure. Her head throbbed with pain, a reminder she would soon surrender to the darkness which began to return to her vision. She knew that whatever needed to be done to ensure the safety of her friends needed doing, and soon.

The blade vanished into a fine mist as she somehow managed to force it back into its scabbard taking control of her anger, of her desire to kill the one who had threatened them.

“From this battle teach him shame, and send him back whence he came.” As she finally spoke, her tone was little more than a whisper. She leaned upon the scabbard to support herself. Her head throbbed and her mind clouded as things began to lose focus. Everything she knew about medicine, about the injury creating the sticky warm patch running down her neck, told her she should not be conscious. Through the cloud of darkness, she heard the giant let out an agonised howl just seconds before he dissipated.

Her knees gave way. She leaned forwards on her trembling arms as they gave their best effort to stop her falling further. Her numb hands still gripped the sheathed sword, fearing to release it in case further danger approached. Her senses warned her not to surrender to the darkness. There was still something here, a power that didn"t belong. Her mind warned her it could be an accomplice of their attacker, and if she collapsed now her friends would still be in danger.

Noises and voices became incoherent as her consciousness began to fade. She was vaguely aware of a commotion happening around her. Things grew darker, her senses dulled. They weren"t safe, she reminded herself. She couldn"t afford to give in, not yet.

“By the Gods, Zo, where did you learn to fight?” It was Daniel. His voice seemed to echo inside her mind as he rushed forward, but something stopped him from reaching her. She struggled to turn, to look at what had frozen him. But the more she moved, the more darkness threatened to envelop her.

She felt the change in the air and knew Daniel had seen whatever threat remained. She could see nothing beyond his fuzzy image. Zo attempted to speak as she felt his anxiety rise. Her senses had been right, that figure was not alone. The tension in her body, the desire to see them safe, was the only thing which prevented her from losing consciousness. Even if she only gave them enough time to run, she had to ensure they were okay. Part of her questioned if she was up to the task, but another part told her to welcome the challenge.

“Where"s… Acha?” Her voice seemed almost alien as she spoke. It was so quiet for a moment she feared her question had gone unheard. Someone approached; she could hear their footsteps. There were two of them, and their footfalls were remarkably lighter than the last one who had engaged them. Her trembling grasp tightened on the sheathed sword as she failed to push herself up.

“She is right here. She is safe, you all are.” A foggy blue haze passed before her vision. Even through the confusion, she recognised her. It would be difficult for anyone not to. Their paths had crossed in the forest, yet she felt a deeper familiarity towards this figure.

“Oh, Lee, your sword.” Zo looked towards the scabbard held between her hands. She would have offered it back to her had she possessed the strength to lift it.

“It is, and always will be, yours.” Elly smiled, hearing Zo speak the name only one person had ever called her. She crouched, quickly assessing Zo"s injuries.

“But it looks so—”

“No, Mari, you misunderstand. It is yours,” she whispered, leaning towards her to ensure the words were shared only between the two of them.

is“I think, you"ve mistaken me, for someone else, my name"s Zoella.” Speaking hurt, and she was unsure the words had been spoken aloud as intended, or simply thought.

“And yet you know my name.” Zo opened her mouth as if to answer, but her speech was cut short by the overwhelming dizziness which encompassed her. The realisation that they were out of danger brought tremendous relief from the nightmare. She knew they were safe, but she wasn"t sure how. The remaining energy drained from her body. She could no longer fight, and she no longer needed to. She surrendered to the darkness which beckoned, feeling someone"s arms break her fall as they caught her.

Voices swirled around the darkness of Zo"s sleep. They chanted and whispered from every direction as they called to her.

"Yesss," whispered one.

Yesss,"She"s the one," another voice echoed. She turned through the darkness as if to face the voice. It was then she noticed the eyes. The darkness was littered with them, and they all seemed to watch her, never blinking as they stared. Their black pupils glared at her as they followed her every movement through the darkness. She could not distinguish the form of those who watched. There were only two shades of colour visible, the blackness of the area which matched the creatures" pupils, and the almost glowing whites of their eyes that warned her of their presence.

She"s the one,"We will have fun with this one," another voice from her side whispered, then another behind her. Each time she turned to face the noise, turning in circles as they spoke.

We will have fun with this one,"She shall play."

She shall play.“Who are you?” The whispers stopped suddenly, almost as if they hadn"t expected her to hear them. “What do you want?” Her hand fell to her side as if hoping to find a weapon. She knew this was nothing more than a dream, yet something seemed strangely real about the place she now found herself. She couldn"t place the feeling, but this was no ordinary slumber.

"Do you want to know the truth?" the shadow eyes questioned. There was something almost serpentine in the way they spoke. Their tone never rose above a whisper, yet in the empty silence of the darkness even one voice sounded so loud.

Do you want to know the truth?"We could show you," another voice whispered tauntingly behind her.

We could show you,“What truth?” Frustration rang in her voice, annoyance at her invisible visitors. “What can you show me?”

"Yourself." A voice from the left startled her. They had changed the speaking order now as if deliberately trying to unsettle her.

Yourself."Will you play?"

Will you play?"You do want to know, don"t you?"

You do want to know, don"t you?"We can feel it."

We can feel it."That is why we came."

That is why we came."We only answered your pleas."

We only answered your pleas."Don"t you want to know?" The voices chanted.

Don"t you want to know?“Yes, tell me,” she pleaded at the swirling voices, still turning in an attempt to see the true form of those who watched her from the shadows.

"We cannot."

We cannot."He would not like it."

He would not like it."But if you would play."

But if you would play."If you would play, we could show you."

If you would play, we could show you.“How, how can you show me?” The voices whispered inaudibly for a moment before they answered.

"In a game."

In a game."An adventure."

An adventure."A quest."

A quest."All truths will be revealed."

All truths will be revealed."Will you play?"

Will you play?“Is it dangerous?” The voices laughed in unison. It wasn"t until this point she was really sure it was more than one voice addressing her. The laughter was almost deafening. In this moment she remembered the vaguest of notions. There was a reason she couldn"t refuse this invitation. There was more at stake than just her memories. She had to play their game, and play to win, otherwise the cost would be far too great.

had"You fight well."

You fight well."Wonder why?"

Wonder why?"Will you play?"

Will you play?“All right, I"ll play your game. What must I do?” she asked, weakly. A sickness rose in her stomach as she accepted their challenge. There was so much she wanted to know, answers she had never been offered until now. She had to know the truth. The truth behind the darkness, the secrets hidden in her past. She couldn"t bear not knowing any longer, only able to guess why she was never sought or why she woke up screaming in the night. The answer made her question her decision, but she knew there was never really a choice to begin with.

"Survive."

Survive.As she woke, the words had already started to disperse and the memories of the dream began to fade quickly. Her head pounded, her breath was sharp as a sickening feeling rose within her. Glancing around the room, which she normally shared with Acha, brought some relief. She was home. She was safe.

“So you are The Chosen?” The unfamiliar voice startled her into sitting upright. Pain splintered through her side and stomach as her vision swam with the throbbing in her head. “You are our saviour?” His tone was etched with amusement. Finally, her vision found him standing with his back towards her. He turned to face her and for a moment she could only stare, but he too seemed surprised as he gazed upon her. It was almost as if she was not whom he had expected to see.

He was the most beautiful person she had ever seen. His autumn red hair was tied back into a long ponytail, which finished near the centre of his back. He stood around six foot four, and seemed to have perfectly positioned himself so his slender muscular build would be silhouetted by the light which flooded through the window. He wore an opaque white shirt and tight leather trousers, which only served to enhance his frame. But it was none of this which prevented her words escaping. She was captivated by his intense, brown eyes. They were a shade so rich and deep that they consumed her completely.

When he spoke again, his voice was filled with elemental rhythm. “So you think you can be our saviour?” He had lost the underlying tone of sarcasm. Pain returned her to her sense as his words released her from his t****l.

“Saviour?” Her voice shook slightly, wondering how a stranger had been able to approach her unnoticed, and if she had cause to fear him as she had the giant who came before. She unconsciously touched the back of her head—debating if he was but a delusion—and gasped at the splintering pain caused by her hand as it touched the blood-soaked dressing.

“You agreed to their game did you not?”

“Game?” A vague memory of a slipping dream fought to the surface of her mind, yet in that same second it had vanished.

“So, they are playing with mortals again,” he stated to no one in particular.

“With mortals, who are you?”

“You may call me Seiken.” He paused almost as if he expected some form of recognition. When he received none, he continued. “They think you shall fail their challenges.” He glanced over his shoulder towards the window, his shoulders slumped slightly. “There is little time left. It is a game. There are rules they must follow, although they will twist them to their needs. They do not know I am here, that I have come to warn you.” Once more he looked outside as he spoke quickly.

“Warn me?” She examined him intensely. She seemed to recognise this stranger, he seemed so familiar to her yet, like many things from her past, she could not place him.

“We shall help all we can.” Again, he glanced through her window.

“What do you mean your saviour?” Everything was gradually starting to become clear. The words he spoke seemed more coherent as she unconsciously began to heal her wounds. Had she looked, she would have seen the small threads from the world outside attached to her, giving her their energy, just as they had to a lesser extent whilst she had been sleeping. The figure looked outside once more, but she didn"t dare to follow his gaze in fear he would vanish.

“Their game. It is a quest. You have been selected to attempt to release our kind. With our imprisonment, the barrier between our worlds is thinning. You are our last chance, after you there will be no more time. Consider yourself chosen.” This time she followed his gaze through the window. She wasn"t sure what she expected to see, a dark ominous cloud which meant evil was afoot, or a barrier which now shimmered in the light where there was none before. It seemed this person could see something she could not. The door swung open, startling her.

“Zo, thank the Gods you"re awake. Who were you talking to?” Daniel glanced around the room as she did the same. She looked to the place where the stranger had stood, only to find it empty.

“Nobody?” she asserted, whilst questioning her answer. “I had the strangest—”

“You are awake.” The blue-haired lady from before rushed to her side. She moved to examine Zo"s condition, her eyes scanned the room briefly before focusing on the injuries. They had healed quite nicely, although she hadn"t expected any differently. This persona had always been skilled in healing. “Despite the blood loss, it was not as severe as it seemed, just a superficial wound.”

“Do I know you?” Zo looked at the stranger questioningly as she spoke. She had expected to be questioned about the speed of healing, and had readied all manner of reasonings for her quickened recovery, but instead this person had protected her secret.

“A lifetime ago, yes.” Zo heard a faint knock at the door and noticed the blond-haired person, who had accompanied her before, standing near the doorway in the now crowded room. “I am Elly, and this is Eiji.” He nodded politely at his introduction and shuffled further inside.

“You didn"t have anything to do with…” Elly followed Zo"s gaze outside to the former battleground.

“Him, no. I think Night is also aware that you are here.”

“He was after Acha,” Zo protested, not really understanding all that Elly had said.

“No.” Elly moved closer to kneel on the mat Zo used as a bed to make room for Acha who, as if on cue, had entered the room. “It was a simple case of mistaken identity. He was sent for the woman who lived here. Acha lives here. He saw her first, but you were his intended target,” she explained.

“Elly, I think I remember…” Zo felt the same feeling of familiarity towards her that she had when she first met Daniel. It was as if she"d seen her somewhere before. Unlike with Daniel, she managed to grasp something from the darkness. “Did we used to live in the same area?”

“Something like that.” She gave a strange smile, its meaning not quite discernible.

“You said Night?” Zo suddenly realised. There were too many people, all of whom seemed to be talking simultaneously. She could hear so many distant voices, mingled with those present in the room, it made her head swim. The whispers suddenly fell silent. Suppressing a shudder, she spoke again. “Who, and why would he be after us?” Elly stared at her with disbelief before bringing herself to answer.

“Not us, just you. Do you really not recall?” Her voice radiated with the same shock registered on her face. As she looked around it seemed as if she was the only person who was unfamiliar with this name. “You know, Night,” she stated as if believing saying the name again would rekindle her memory. It didn"t. “No?” She gave a frustrated sigh as she questioned if perhaps she had overdone the potion, just a little. “Well, do you at least remember the Grimoire?” Elly shook her head, she already knew the answer.

As she looked around the room she was met with blank stares. Despite the fact it had happened around two and a half decades ago, no one spoke of the events leading to the creation of the seven Grimoire, almost as if fearing what acknowledgement of such a thing would do.

Elly sighed again. This was meant to have been so easy. The time had come to put phase two of the plan into operation. Was it too much to ask for a little cooperation? “Very well. The Grimoire were used to seal away Night, capturing his spirit and his power within seven tomes.” Elly paused as she heard a slight guilt within her voice, a tone she quickly corrected. “This was probably before you were born, and since no one speaks of it…” she shook her head in frustration. To her it seemed hardly any time had passed since this had occurred. “Somebody managed to obtain them and released the power within to return it to Night. His power has been growing since. I was sent to find you before he did. It appears I was too late. You must come with me. It is too dangerous for you to stay here any longer.”

“Sent by who?” Daniel"s eyes narrowed with suspicion. He gripped Zo"s hand tightly as he watched Elly carefully from the opposite side of the bed. He had asked the question in Zo"s stead to allow her time to make sense of exactly what was being said. It was bound to take time for her to get her thoughts in some semblance of order, especially this. All this time she had lived without so much as a whisper from her past, and now she faced this. It was only natural she found it all a little overwhelming.

“By her lord, Lord Blackwood. He wanted me to return her before he finds her. He does not want to lose her.” Zo felt herself blush as she envisioned herself in the service of a lord. Doubt began to creep through her mind. If this were true, it failed to explain why there had been no missing person"s notice.

he“I don"t want to go. I"m staying here,” she stated quietly, yet firmly. Her being in service to a lord was ridiculous. She would never consent to servitude, to becoming a trophy of power and being displayed before other nobles at whim. Nor, if this were the case, would she have been permitted to simply vanish for so long. There was something amiss about the entire situation. Something was being kept from her.

“I am not taking you back,” Elly admitted earnestly. “But you cannot stay here either. Especially since he knows your whereabouts. It is no longer safe.”

“But this is my home,” she protested. It had taken her mere weeks to feel like a part of the community. Regardless of her past, Crowley was her home, a place she felt safe, and it was a feeling she was reluctant to surrender for anyone.

“So you"re asking her to just up and leave everything, her life, her home, the people she loves?” Daniel"s voice was more outraged than Zo"s. He could hardly believe a stranger could just walk in here and threaten to take her away.

“She is in danger. If she stays, he will tear the village apart, killing everyone, if that is what it takes to find her.”

“All that effort for a witch?” Daniel forgot himself in a moment of disbelief. He covered his mouth as he looked to Zo apologetically. She shrugged, knowing it would have been apparent to everyone here exactly what she was. Besides, she had the strangest feeling these people already knew at least that much about her, and from their expressions it was clear they knew a lot more.

“You"re a witch?” Acha"s voice trembled as she looked upon her friend with terror. Zo hadn"t realised she hadn"t known, but for some reason, her heritage had never come up in conversation. Perhaps because she and Daniel had been careful for so long, that it had become second nature. Although she couldn"t remember hiding it from her, as she thought back, she realised Acha had never been around on the occasions she and Daniel had discussed it. “A good one, right?” Her voice held underlying tones of panic, she couldn"t help it. Witches were known to be evil, which was why those in her own time had feared them. Magic was not something to be crossed lightly. Zo opened her mouth to answer but was interrupted abruptly.

“It"s not the witch he"s after,” Eiji revealed, but further explanations were cut short by the weight of Elly"s stare. It was a warning he didn"t need twice, it reminded him not to forget himself. He looked down to his feet, sheepishly.

“I don"t want to leave,” she repeated. The noise of the room swam through her head as it became louder. Everyone seemed to have something to say on the matter, so much so that it all became a jumble until one very clear sentence pierced through the rabble.

“Stay and you are signing the death certificate of this town and everyone within. You are selfishly endangering all the people you claim to love,” Elly declared. The room fell silent.

“Why, why go to all that?” She shook her head. Tears spilt down her cheeks, coming of their own accord, regardless of how hard she had tried to stop them.

Everything had happened so quickly. Her day had started out as normal. It was scarcely halfway through and already these strangers had torn her life to shreds with all the delicacy of a hurricane.

“Because you are unstoppable. That is why they both want you. You could tip the balance—” Before Elly had a chance to finish, Daniel interrupted.

“Zo, this town can take anything thrown at it. How do you know you can trust her? It could be a trick.” Daniel wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close to him.

“Do not be a fool. Next time it will be more than one weak hunter. He will send an army. Nothing would survive. Can you really live with that? Could you live with the knowledge that everyone you have ever spoken to, or cared for, had to die because you were too selfish to leave, too selfish to put their needs first? You have no choice. He has decided it is time, therefore, we must move you. Unless, that is, you want to be digging the graves of everyone here before you are taken away by force. At least this way you can keep everyone safe. If your actions can protect them surely there is no choice.”

youHemustisDespite his previous misgivings, Daniel now had no doubt in his mind that this stranger not only knew Zo, but knew her personally. Only someone with an intimate knowledge of her could have worded their argument in such a way that refusal was not an option. This person knew her well, or at the very least, how to manipulate her.

“I have no choice,” she repeated emptily as she thought it over. “You"re right.” Her voice seemed alien to her ears. She knew she couldn"t stay here, not if it meant it would bring danger to those she cared for, those who had welcomed her into their homes.

“Zo you can"t leave. The people here need you.” Daniel"s voice was filled with desperation. He didn"t want to lose her. She was his best friend. Without her, he would never have been able to trust again. He already knew he was fighting on the losing side. Elly"s last argument had made the case. One way or another she would leave. He doubted there was a single thing he could say to stop her. Worse still, he questioned how much of what Elly had said was the truth. Her timing had been just a little too perfect. Perhaps everything that had occurred was merely a ruse, a way to ensure she left peacefully to fulfil whatever their own agenda was.

“No, they don"t need me.” Zo forced a smile but Daniel could not manage one in return. “But where do we go from here?” Zo asked. If the situation truly was as desperate as Elly implied, she was glad to have lived in peace for so long, but surely there would be people anywhere she travelled, and her presence would surely be placing their lives at risk too.

“I know of a place you will be safe,” Elly counselled, recognising all too well her despair and doubts.

“You"re not taking her back to Lord what"s-his-name?” Daniel snapped.

“I have no intention of taking her back to Lord Blackwood, ever.”

“I"ll pack tonight.” Zo"s voice sounded distant, almost hollow, as she agreed to this stranger"s demands. It had happened so quickly. She was leaving, and somehow she knew she would not have a chance to say goodbye.

“We will leave tonight, under the cloak of darkness. He may be already watching now he knows for certain you are here,” Elly stated, glancing outside as if to enforce her point. Despite this convincing action, she knew for a fact that no more assailants would follow. No one else would come here in pursuit of her; at least not for the moment, not for as long as Zo did exactly what she said.

He