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Jack kept poking her with his sword to keep her going.
“Hurry Elizabeth,” he gasped. “They’re gaining.”
”How do I know-“ she huffed. “That this isn’t a trap?”
”You just have to trust me,” he panted.
Trust wasn’t something she was generous about at the moment. After finding out that Jack aided in her kidnapping, and the start of the war between Kanta and Koura, her patience with him was low.
They had been running for hours, and their chasers didn’t seem to get tired. Elizabeth’s legs were crying for a rest, and she was sure her heart was going to burst from her chest.
Jack poked her again. Elizabeth attempted to move her tired limbs faster.
“Just go Jack,” she said between breaths. “They want me.”
“We can make it. Just a little bit further.”
Elizabeth saw a break in the trees, and the smell of salt air. She was approaching them, when someone jumped out and grabbed her. She screamed in frustration of being tricked again. The three soldiers who were running after them, halted, and left Jack running towards the ocean.
She struggled to get away, but the man who caught her ordered for Jack to be captured too.
“I finally got you, my dear,” He said in her ear.
“Jack, run!” She screamed, and repeated it, tears springing up in her eyes. She was too tired to blast him away, and that was probably the reason for having them run so much. Jack would be too exhausted to fight, and they’d both be taken prisoner. She was tied up to a tree, and finally saw the face of the man who caught her.
She had been warned to stay away from a man with the scar over his eye. And now she was looking at him. He was the most famous Talented hunter known. Red. That’s what he was called, for the scar crossing his eye was red. On his belt were tons of crystals hanging on string. Ropes were thrown over his shoulder, and a sword lay unsheathed by his foot. Just as her father described him.
“We got him,” the three guards said upon returning, carrying a struggling Jack.
“Leave him alone,” Elizabeth cried. “He’s not a Talented!”
“All threats to the Kanta army are to be destroyed,” he said, picking up his sword. “This one’s a traitor. Helping the enemy, and giving tips.”
“Destroyed…whether it be physically, or mentally.” He unsheathed his sword, pressing it slighting against Jack’s chest.
“You,” he said pointing to one of the soldiers. “Make sure she watches.”
The soldier held her head in the direction of Red and Jack
Jack’s face was calm, and collected. He stared into Elizabeth’s eyes, and ignited the flame of anger within her. Anger being Elizabeth’s best defense.
She closed her eyes, and cleared her mind.
She cried out loud suddenly, startling Red. The soldier that was holding her suddenly went flying, and the ropes, as well as most of her clothes disintegrated.
She leapt up, and punched Red away, hurling energy balls at him, melting his sword in the progress. They disappeared into light, and the two soldiers holding Jack stared stupidly after them. Jack broke free, and tied them up after knocking them unconscious. He could hear the sounds of a fight beyond the light, and it began to move towards the ocean.
He followed it, it moving rapidly. The light suddenly dispersed, and revealed Elizabeth on her knee’s, grasping the handle of the weapon that she was stabbed by. On her face, you could clearly see the pain and surprise. Red was standing on the edge of a cliff, looking quite pleased with himself.
Feeling triumphant, Red pushed a couple of crystals into her widely torn shirt. She immediately began to sway, about to fall over, when she pulled out the weapon that impaled her, a long dagger, and stood up. She tossed the dagger over the cliffs and into the ocean. She was holding her wound, and with her free hand, she summoned an energy ball. Red laughed and took out yet another small knife from his boot, but before he straightened up, he was knocked off the cliff.
Elizabeth removed the crystals, and threw them after him. Although he was far from Elizabeth, Jack could hear her wheezing. He ran over to her, calling her name as she tumbled down after Red, the strong wind catching her off guard.
As she fell, she managed to grab a hold onto rocks, which stuck out from the cliff side.
She clung on weakly, the stab wound in her chest twisting, and burning from the salty spray. She inhaled deeply, trying to suppress the pain. She looked up and saw Jack looking over the edge. He called out to her but his voice was lost in the strong wind.
She shrieked in surprise as something took a hold of her ankle, followed by a sharp object being stabbed into her calf. The sudden pain made her lose her grip, and she and the person went falling. As they fell, the person let go, and Elizabeth fell faster. As she went lower then the person, she saw it was Red. She looked down just as she hit the water.
When she opened her eyes, she was being held under the water. Red was pushing her neck under the water’s surface. She struggled, but the water seemed to be against her, and filled her mouth. She felt her body go limp, and her head ache from lack of air. Her heart pounded wildly against her chest, and the sound filled her ears. Her eyes closed, and she was free.
No one was holding her. Heck, she wasn’t even in the water anymore. She was laying in a field, in the shade of a willow tree. An angel’s arms were wrapped around her, barely touching her. The face of the angel was as cold and as solid as porcelain. Her hands cold, and her blue eyes even colder. Her blonde hair lay perfectly smooth, as if there was no wind. No gentle breeze to disturb those golden locks.
“I-I-I…” Elizabeth began.
“Failed them?” The angel said in a monotonous voice.
Elizabeth looked down, and nodded.
The angel’s hands pressed down even more, touching her bare flesh.
“You have failed them. And as you rest in the Arms of an Angel, this Angel cries for you. So young, and so loved you were. No,” she said, breaking away from her monotone suddenly. “You must go back. You have so much to accomplish in your life it wouldn’t be fair for Adia to take you.” Before Elizabeth could answer, she was back in the water, still being held under.
Red’s laughs were echoing in the water, amplifying. She opened her eyes and stuck her hand out and grabbed his throat and squeezed. In result, he began to squeeze her throat, but soon pulled his hand away as if he had been burnt. Blue fire engulfed Elizabeth, shielding her from the salty spray, and violent winds. Her clothes disintegrated even more, leaving nothing. As Red was struggling to breath and stay above water, the water surrounding Elizabeth was evaporated, and water would disappear the second the flame would make contact with it.
Flames danced across her arm, slowly making their way to Red. He began to panic, as the flame reached her wrist. Then her hand. And then he screamed. A scream rich with pain, and made Elizabeth smile a pleasing grin. Evil, if you saw it. It was almost as if she was enjoying this. Which she was.
Soon Red’s skin was ablaze, and disintegrated, leaving nothing but bone. All organs burnt, and left nothing but ashes. She dropped the heap of bones, and they quickly sank to the bottom of the ocean.
The blue flames extinguished themselves not long after, and she fell into the water. Now she needed help. All of that had taken her energy away. She could hear a splash not far from her, but she was so tired, and she ached. What else to do when you’re tired but sleep? So she closed her eyes, the water’s rough hands taking a hold of her body, and gently pulled her under.
“Elizabeth!” Jack called as he surfaced the water. The only thing he saw was her hair disappearing into the dark. He swam over and dove down. He opened his eyes and ignored the stinging from the salt water, and went further down, looking for Elizabeth.
And there she was, gracefully falling. Her hair wrapped around her, creating a delicate covering. He struggled to keep up, but she seemed to be falling even faster then he could sink. He pushed himself to go faster, and caught her hand. He pulled her up to him, and wrapped an arm around her chest, ignoring her bare flesh.
When he broke the surface of the water, he gasped for air while swimming to the docks on the Kanta shore. He dragged Elizabeth onto the sandy shore. He checked if she was breathing, and was overjoyed to see that she was, but was shocked to see her wound in her chest was gone. He took off his shirt, and laid it over Elizabeth’s body, keeping her warm, and people passing by from seeing her naked body.
But he knew they couldn’t linger there for long. Guards were bound to come looking, and they were hours into Kanta. There was no safe way out. They’d have to stay. Make up some story; like their siblings.
“Or you’re going to get married,” said a voice in the back of his head.
“But she’s not yet 18! Her mother would murder me if I even thought about it.”
”Well you are thinking about it, and you’re not dead yet. When she wakes up, ask her.”
Jack grumbled. He hated losing against himself.
“Besides, she hates me.”
He quickly checked his money pouch, and was glad he took all of his money with. There was enough to rent a place, and get clothes for Elizabeth, as well as food. He’d have to get a job, and they’d have to change their names. He rather liked the name Charlie. But they were so light in skin color that they’d instantly think of them as outsiders, and not be too warm and friendly towards them.
So when Elizabeth woke up after a few hours, Jack had to confront her about their situation.
“Defense is going to be more heavy. We won’t be able to leave Kanta for some time until the war is ended.” He helped her sit up and she instantly fixed the shirt so she was completely covered.
“Turn around,” she said.
He turned around, and continued. “We need a story. So we’re accepted here. I was thinking siblings?”
”They’d never go for it,” she said. “We’ll have to be a newly wed couple on our honeymoon.”
Jack nearly fell over. “I know. I’m not too happy about it either. After all, you got us into this mess,” Elizabeth said angrily. “You can turn back around now.
The shirt was definitely too big, but it would do.
“Now you go hide in that shack while I go get you some descent clothes.”
”Dress,” Elizabeth corrected. “And hurry, Jack.”
”Charlie,” Jack corrected.
“Fine, then I’m Molly,” she said, moving towards the shack Jack pointed out.
Jack was having a problem. He found a shop that carried women’s clothing, but it was entering and asking for what Elizabeth needed that was unnerving him. He finally bit his lip, and entered. Thank god it was empty, and it was a man who was behind the counter.
He sighed with relief.
“What are you doing in here?” The man asked.
He was a husky man with copper colored hair, gray streaking it in odd places. He had a long face, pointed nose, round eyes, and a moustache and beard. He was very tall, and towered over Jack.
“I could as the very same thing,” Jack said, stepping up to the counter.
“Touché,” the man said. “Wife sent you?”
Jack nodded. “Polly,” the man said, extending his hand. “J-Charlie,” he said, taking his hand, and shaking it.
“So what does your wife need? I can see you’re new in town. What brings you to Kanta in such troubled times?”
“My wife and I, Molly, got married a few days ago, and came here for our honeymoon. She sent me to fetch her a few dresses and undergarments for our stay here. She’s always been fascinated by the Kanta dress.”
”Well congratulations! You two must come over once you’re settled in for supper with the wife and I. Nothing special, but it’s cozy, and nice to meet someone else who’s wife sends them into a woman’s shop.” Jack and Polly laughed.
“So you need dresses and undergarments, eh? Well stay right here, and I’ll help you out. I’ll even give you a discount.”
Jack couldn’t believe his luck. He managed to step into the one women’s shop where the owner was a man.
Polly came back a few minutes later carrying a few bags.
“Here you go. Three dresses, and two changes of undergarments.” He rang up the price, and Jack gave over the money.
“So when you’re settled in, come back, and I’ll be glad to have you over for supper.”
”Hey Polly, you wouldn’t happen to know a place where Molly and I could stay, do you? We haven’t found a nice place yet, and Molly wants a nice place. Clean, and cozy.”
Polly thought for a minute, and then chuckled. “Why, here of course! The wife and I had our children grown up, and they left to start their own lives. We have plenty of room! You go get your missus, and get over here!”
”Polly, you have such a generous heart, I must repay you somehow.”
”No need to, Charlie. I love to help. Now go get her, and get back here!” Polly said, as Jack turned to the door. Jack waved, and left the shop. He suddenly remembered something and dashed back in.
“A shawl. I forgot, my wife wanted a shawl. Something to wrap around herself when she’s strolling around.”
”Gotcha,” Polly said, showing Jack a beautiful charcoal gray shawl with pearls embroidered in a flower pattern.
“Polly, you have wonderful things here. I will have to bring Molly back with me.”
“Yes, you have to. No no, this one’s on the house,” Polly said as Jack handed him a few coins.
“Thank you again,” Jack said with a smile, and left the shop.
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