Her Danse Macbre

Chapter 8

Exiting the bathroom instead of meeting the hordes of controlled students their bodies were laying strewn on the floor. It was a horrible sight to behold. They were alive, but passed out on the cold hall floor. The two girls had no choice but to step through the pile carefully and return to the gym where the battle was brewing. Curtis and Aldraven were on the ground among being guarded by the two wild beasts. Curtis was cut up badly, but still had his arm. His father was next to him, his face scratched badly and bloody. Jemma was on her side breathing softly, her daggers thrown away from her. In the center of the gym Fionn who only had one arm was holding a short sword, fighting Esus in dueling combat. Fionn fell back being swiped at.

“Fionn!” Heather cried and started forward. A cold dagger slid against her neck causing her breath to come short. The hand that was holding the weapon…belonged to none other than Maryanne.

“You were always so gullible. In this life, and the one before. This time I am the one with the power and you’re the fool” the curly haired girl she once saw as a best friend. “Why? Why?” Heather found herself crying out, her eyes fixed on Esus who was grinning confidently.

“Why? Are you really that stupid?” she cried pulling Heather closer. “Don’t you recognize me? I always wondered what was on your mind as we stared at the sea…You really don’t remember your childhood friend. It’s Marco.” She whispered. “You have always had everything well I was left with nothing! The talent, the accolades, even the protection of the faes. I remember that day you died. You died a hero with that Eye. I admired you! But then after you were buried I was left. I poured over tomes and books for five years. Then I went out to the forest gripped by a madness of sorts.”

“Madness doesn’t do it justice-“ Heather growled

“Quiet!” Maryanne held the blade against her neck, she could feel droplets of blood starting to ooze to the surface.

“I found that Esus wasn’t dead so I went out to finish him off. I wanted to avenge your death. I went to the place where he was buried. I will tell you that when I got there Esus spoke to me. He told me that you were not dead. That I could be even better then you. Then I made a pact with him. I would follow you life to life and bide my time. I didn’t remember all of until weeks ago when I heard his voice in my mind. Again, I thought I was going crazy. I realized you were keeping secrets from me, I knew it was true. I admit the whole thing at the lake was all me. I pushed you in and framed Lexy for it. I even stole and left her bracelet. I didn’t count on that fae to save you.” Heather felt a shudder running through her as she heard these statements. Everything she had known was a lie. Trying not to struggle she raised her eyes and found herself studying her surroundings. There was a whooshing in her ears as everything seemed to slow down. Esus was standing in the middle of the room.

“The ceremony is about to begin and you are going to witness.” The woodland god said with an amused tone of voice spreading his arms out, his robe fluttering, Whispers from multiple voices came from the creases of his robe.

Adrenaline ran through Heather as her eyes rose to the ceiling. It was at that moment she saw the disco ball, hanging high in the air attached by a chain. “Not today.” Heather threw her head back hitting Maryanne hard in the face with the back of her head, knocking her glasses off causing the other girl to fall back. Stumbling forward she fell on all fours after being free she grabbed the dagger that was lying on the ground that had fallen from the fight. Wrapping her fingers around it she stood with it light in her fingertips. There was only one chance and one chance only. She couldn’t focus on anything else; not Sean, or the twins, or even Fionn. It was only this moment. Letting out a ragged breath she brought her arm back and threw in an arch up. The moment she let it go she started to doubt that it was the right thing to do. The voice inside the back of her mind though told her that she has done this before and it will work. The dagger sailed through the air and hit the chain at an angle, slicing it. The decoration came loose and crashed down along with the light fixtures. The whole structure came down on top of Esus. The god cried out buried under it. The whole gym sparked, the vines catching fire, a scream coming forth from them.

“We need to get out of here!” She could hear the voice of Aldraven calling out hoisting an unconscious Sean up. Heather turned and looked behind her, but Maryanne was gone. Fionn grabbed her arm and pulled her close him. His right arm around her waist, as if it was never gone the only evidence was the torn off arm of his suit still tattered in blood.

Ms. Pond was standing with blankets, standing on the lawn waiting for them. “I am relieved you’re all alive.” Her voice trembled as she spoke. Curtis was groaning his arm was bloody from being bitten up. Jemma held onto him tightly. Heather took one of the blankets and shivered, still coming to terms with what she witnessed.

“The Onyx Eye will have to be kept safe and studied. I have a feeling there is more to this and that this isn’t the end.” Aldraven said softly. Heather reached into her pocket and pulled out the strange artifact from her pocket and rolled it around in her fingertips. It didn’t have the same glow as it had before, but still hummed with energy.

“Ah, there it is.” Fionn said out of nowhere. Bending down the prince reached into the tall grass and pulled out the violin that laid in it along with the bow. Taking both in hand he rose to his feet and placed the bow under his neck and started to play. The students seemed to be coming to and hurried out of the front of the school.

Heather watched the school burning and looked over when she heard Sean groaning, starting to come to. She bent down and looked down at him. “Are you okay, Sean?” She asked softly. Sean blink and opened his eyes looking at her. “W..what happened? Where is that music coming from?” Heather was relieved that he was okay, but it didn’t erase the foreboding the dwelled inside her heart. The world of normal and the world beyond were open to her. As the music played softly in her ears she stared off wondering how far this was going to go. The door was open and all she had to do was step through it.