* * *
Jade could sense that it was almost time to move. She could sense the Mother, her signature of energy now more defined than she had felt it in years. She was close, but not quite near enough yet, so Jade waited patiently with her speed and strength for a few more minutes. And then, in a moment’s notice, she stood up.
“It is time. We must go, now.” Jade said as she ran over to the tree, her speed and strength not far behind.
They ran down the stairs and into the darkness beneath the earth. Jade led them past the door where Reggio was waiting and told them to each wait in their own rooms further down the long hallway, casting two more protective shields for them. Jade then continued on down the hall towards the room where King Orleans was, putting on her most desperate face, ready to pull off her part in this premature yet elaborate plot to gain control of the future.
King Orleans was startled by Jade’s sudden appearance as he ran down the hall with a large sack over his shoulder. “What in fury are you doing here? How did you find me?” He asked in a surprised voice.
“I should be asking you the same thing.” Jade stated accusingly.
The eyes of the king darted back and forth. “You should not be here. There are still many that need help.” He fumbled with his words.
“All the survivors are accounted for, and all that were able left to defend the settlement.” Jade let him know.
“Defend the settlement? What are you talking about?” He asked, now getting confused.
“Our brothers and sisters to the east have decided to attack us while our guard was down.” She explained, “Marigny did what he could to put together a force strong enough to defend the city, but…”
The king’s eyes grew suddenly wide. “That means that… she is coming!” He blurted out almost fearfully. “I knew I felt something was wrong, like eyes have been watching me all day long. It was her the whole time. She knows where I am. You have to…”
“That is why I came for you.” Jade cut him off. “She is close and getting closer as each second passes, you have to hide yourself.”
“I cannot!” He yelled out. “It is pointless! No one can hide from her!”
“Listen, damn it… I need you to calm the fury down!” Jade raised her voice, putting a hand on each of his shoulders. “We will protect you. Just get in that room back there and stay quiet.”
Orleans shook his head in paranoia, realizing all that was happening, the encroaching battle, the approach of The Mother, everything. He then turned to her with eyes wide to admit, “The separated stone is missing! It’s not here, not anymore!”
“Here? I thought it was somewhere back in the chambers with the other two?” Jade spoke with a look of confusion streaked across her face. She knew he had separated them years before, as did a few others, but he did not know that.
“No, no, no,” Orleans rushed his words, “I took it here. I wanted to keep them separated so no one would use them, and now the one I brought here is gone. Someone had to steal it! It is the only explanation. They stole it, and now they’ll move to take the other two, as well. I just frening know it! But right now… right now we have to leave here, and quickly.” Orleans pushed past Jade, but quickly began backing up, stumbling over his own feet as he dropped the bag and spilled gold all over the floor.
“Damn the frening furies!” He cursed as Jade turned around to see a woman in a pitch white cloak, literally floating down the hallway towards them.
“You cannot hide!” A voice rang out, not from down the hall, but from inside of their heads, “I have already found you!”
Jade grabbed the king and tossed him into the nearest room, slamming the door behind him, “No matter what you hear, stay inside.”
She then turned around to face the witch she blamed for the death of her mother, the one who now claimed that same name for herself, the Mother.
The eyes of Jade began to burn with the hatred she held so dearly. Her plan was already in motion and there was now no turning back, not any longer. She only hoped that she was right about the young vampire, because if she was wrong, then everything would have been for naught.
She readied herself as the Mother floated ever faster down the long hallway towards her, rushing into a trap that could change the future forever.
Without saying a word, though, the Mother rose up her right arm and opened up her hand to point it at Jade as she neared, just as a glowing ball of blue energy took shape inside of her palm.
She then screamed out with great passion as their battle began, throwing the energy ball down the hallway, straight towards Jade.
When War Walks – Volume II of The Hurricane Journals, Continues Here - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/204720
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