OCEANIA

XI

I squeezed on the necklace as I slowly walked out to have a look. The closer I got, the louder clashing metals sounded. It was Heather fighting a dozen masked people. She looked great in her leather jeans and black tank top. “Heather!” that was a really dumb choice when I noticed that all the bad people focused their attention on me. My mouth didn’t stop though. “I found the cast!” I shouted half happy and half terrified. “Break it!” she grunted while swinging her sword. I opened my mouth but before the words came sprawling, a loud calculated set of applause halted us. “Algris!” Heather growled before lounging at him. He conjured up a sword to face her.

Chach and Chack charged for me. I was worried about Heather but she was holding up pretty good. I had no weapon, no fighting skills and no powers to defend myself. I shrugged at the necklace, placed it on the floor and smashed it with my boots. The pieces released a thick dark blue fog. “You fools!” I heard Algris scream. The fog swirled in a spiral and forcing its way into my nose. My eyes snapped open at the surge of power flowing in my veins. I could see different flashy images at a time. I could feel that my eyes had an unusual glow in them. Everything that was cloudy was clearing up including the faces in the room.

I returned Heather's smile then I stared at the villains. My anger boiled hot. Algris broke out of my stare and tried to attack Heather. I stretched out my hands in his direction. The sky rumbled loudly. A wild tornado broke the roof heading for Algris. He quickly did a disappearing trick. Chach and Chack bolted to the entrance shouting, “wait for us boss!” The tornado faded away as my anger subsided. I placed my hands by my side and worked on my breathing.

“So how does it feel to have your soul back?” Heather smirked. I put on a weak smile, “exhausting”, I panted, “really exhausting”. “Don’t worry you’ll get used to it”. She shrugged it off. “Thanks for having my back but where did you come from? I thought my Dad said you couldn’t help?” I let the questions pour, “who were those people? What did I just do? Why did I feel so different?” “Go easy with the questions”. Heather complained. I apologized rubbing the back of my head. “I just need to know why this is all happening”. I said in a small voice. “Too bad you won't live long to find out”. A voice bellowed.

The voice belonged to Algris. I swiftly moved behind Heather who had her bloody sword in combat position. “Why are you back?” Heather’s voice commanded respect. Algris laughed, not the good kind when you hear a joke but the dark and evil kind. “Don’t act surprised, Twilight. We both know I don’t run from a fight”. He had a wicked smirk plastered on his face. “Oh really” Heather challenged, “you vanished like the coward you are a few minutes ago”. “You call it cowardice, I call it brilliance”. He announced. The people that flooded the room where dressed like Heather just that they wore dark blue tops and ski masks.

The thud on the stage we were standing on turned my eyes to my back. More henchmen were behind us. “Give it up Twilight. Hand over the girl and we’ll be on our way”, Algris moved a step with every word, “she’s too clueless to help out anyways”. Heather stared down Algris but whispered to me, “how good are you with a dagger?” A dagger? Does she expect me to kill someone? “Yes, I do”. She answered. I forget we could do the whole mind communication thing. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m against violence”, I whisper yelled, “I can’t even hurt a fly. Literally”. “This is different, Will”, she still wasn’t looking at me, “you have to kill or be killed. That’s how we live our lives”.

She took out a hairpin letting her brown curls fall on her face. She squeezed the pin and chanted something in a strange language. The pin slowly grew longer taking a new form as a twenty inched dagger. The edges looked sharp, enough to cut through metal and the handle had a mark carved on it. “This blade is carved from the depths of the powers of your father which he gave me”, she explained pushing it in my right palm, “trust it and it’ll fight for you”. With that, she jumped into the fight. I looked at the blade then Heather who was kicking ass then back at the blade. I need to live if I want answers so help me dagger I pleaded.

My right arm swung from side to side on it's own will. I felt really comfortable. The henchmen lunged at me but I was ready. I kicked the first one in the ribcage area then stabbed his neck. The gush of blood should irritate me but I felt good. My fists took its first uppercuts at the next guys. I back flipped for room then I threw the dagger at the two of them. It stabbed them together. I was getting more excited like this feeling was already in my veins. We fought and fought and more dead bodies dropped. I claimed my dagger and jumped off the stage to help Heather.

A black fire ball crashed into my chest catapulting me to the wall. I felt pain all around but my vision didn’t blur. I rolled away from the wall as a second fire ball lunged. I snapped my head to see the source. Algris had two in his hands. I continued the acrobatics to dodge the hits. Heather was still busy with the henchmen so I was on my own. I stood up while tightening my grip on the blade. I slashed the fire balls to different directions. The more I slashed the closer I got to Algris. I have never felt more in control in my whole life.

The battle was unending especially since Algris is using magic. A distant sob tingled my senses. Where is Chach and Chack? The answer to that was my fear all along. “Oh no!” I muttered as Helen whimpered under their hold. She was crying, her hair was rough and her dress was slightly ripped. The sight of the room made her sob loudly. And that was when her eyes landed on me. She put a hand over her mouth as she knelt down to weep. I looked myself over. My outfit was smeared with blood even with the cuts, my arms were badly bruised and I was holding a dagger that had blood dripping off it.

I buried my eyes in hers. I could tell they didn’t recognize mine anymore. “Wi-Wi- Will?...” Helen choked out. I nodded just as Algris grabbed her by the neck. s**t!