Talent

  Chapter 15

  Daniel arrived in a large room carved out of the earth, with no windows or doors. The others of his group were all there, though no one rushed to greet him. Anise and Will sat comforting each other next to Tempest who lay on the floor, large bite like marks covering his unconscious body. Similarly bruised and bleeding, Rebecca stood cross armed with a defensive look about her. Micala sat crying into the corner as Zara stroked her back and made soothing sounds. Meanwhile, the only ones who didn't look as tortured were Lily, Molly and Abel who huddled in a corner looking as though they were plotting something. They turned to acknowledge Daniel's arrival, and he walked over to them. Still holding the bogwood, he drew out the leather strap that hung from a crude hole in the top, and he stretched it around his head.

  Standing square with Abel, Daniel shot a sideways look at Tempest and Rebecca. "What happened?"

  "Tempe was like that when we got here." Molly indicated.

  "Rebecca," Lily added, "We don't know exactly. She just started screaming and hitting out like there was something there but there wasn't. She was just hitting herself."

  "She did that to herself?" Daniel's query was met with a slow nod.

  Will looked up and over at Daniel then, hate burning in his eyes. As he tried to stand, Anise pulled him back down and they exchanged heated whispered words. Leaving Anise with Tempest, Will angrily covered the distance between himself and Daniel. "Where is she? Huh, where!" Will started shouting. "She's fucking left us to die, to be picked off one by one."

  Molly intervened, placing herself between Daniel and an increasingly angry Will who looked as though he working towards hitting out. "We need to find away to work together. To get out, or at least fight them- like Keterlyn showed us."

  Will looked like he was about to explode. "Keterlyn got us in to this he'll hole, did you see what happened to Tempe? Did you?"

  "We knew what we were getting into, what the risks were. She made that part clear enough." Daniel illustrated, but it just enraged Will who launched at Daniel around Molly.

  "She only told us after." Will yelled. Scrabbling to hit Daniel, Will was practically foaming at the mouth when Abel placed a hand on his shoulder, causing Will to freeze in his movements, contorting backwards. Anise rushed over, a frightened look in her eyes as she saw Will.

  "We can't fight each other right now and think we can get out of this." Abel reasoned. "I want to let you go. Can I let you go Will?"

  Will glared, but Anise spoke. "He will be fine. Let him go, and he will be just fine."

  Abel released Will.

  "None of us wanted this." Micala spoke from where she and Zara sat. "But it's too late. We shouldn't fight, just beg for forgiveness."

  "I can't do nothing." Lily spoke up to which Molly and Abel nodded in agreement.

  Tempest coughed and spluttered from the floor and Will and Anise rushed over. "Take it from me, I have a feeling sitting here doing nothing is a good alternative."

  "Tempe! You're alright!" gushed Anise.

  "I wouldn't go that far." Tempest said as he propped himself up.

  Carefully eying Will, Daniel had to agree with Lily. "Doing nothing is only going to find us all dead. We need to plan now, before anything more happens."

  "You didn't see what happened before you got here." Zara reminded him as she stood. "I don't know if fighting is really going to change anything. We should have listened to Keterlyn and run when she told us."

  "Who says humans have no common sense." Lormorian's voice sounded out with a deep gravelly tone that boomed at the same time. "Sure, you destroy yourselves, each other, give in to your whims and fears, but I kind of like that in my prey." He had appeared from no where behind them and stood looming over the small group, eyes transfixed on Daniel. In the midst of the chilled silence, Lormorian began to stalk around the group, a bone carved dagger at his waist the only thing that wasn't black. Lormorian was adorned in the same armour as in the dream, sending goose bumps across Daniel's skin.

  Those who weren't on their feet already stood, faces awash with different emotions. Will though of all, understood something on seeing Lormorian. There was no choice but to fight him. Doing nothing, pleading for forgiveness would be as much of the end of them. He pulled at Anise who drew in behind Will. She began to wish quietly that they could be out of there, away from everything, everyone else. She wished them back to Paris, but it didn't come.

  Instead Lormorian's attention was drawn to Anise. "Wishing won't help you little one." his voice sounded condescending and she started to tremble as he approached her. Will stood further in front of her and Lormorian snarled. "Really?" he asked of Will, then with a swift clench of his fist the ground whipped up around Will's feet encasing him in solid earth to the knees.

  "What are you going to do with us?" Demanded Ashleigh if nothing more than to distract Lormorian from Will and Anise.

  Lormorian obliged her and strolled away with a fake air of indifference. "A little fillet here, a little fillet there." he said flicking his wrist sideways whilst Ashleigh shrank back.

  Molly, whose fear was rising exponentially lost control, dashing forward and grabbing his arm, meaning to send a shock through him. Instead, she Jake and Ashleigh were all thrown by the charge reversing back. All three slammed into the ceiling and walls.

  "You can’t hurt me, so don’t bother, besides I’m not quite ready to do any real harm yet. Right now, we’re just waiting for our last dance partner."

  "She isn’t coming. She left." Daniel announced to Tempest's surprise. He hadn't been there to see her run into the night, to tell them they were finally on their own, he still imagined that she would stand with them. When the others had been lamenting her abandoning them, he had been unconscious. Now, the colour had drained from his face.

  "What? Why would she leave us, she needs us?" Tempest protested.

  "Is that what she told you? She doesn’t need you!"

  Even knowing everything else, Lily still held on to coming for them as well. She defiantly stuck out her chin, consequences be damned. "But she will come for us. I know she will."

  Lormorian smiled in a way that made Lily want to vomit as he leaned in towards her. "Do you think she likes you?" her purred at her before turning to Daniel. "Did you think she loves you? All she was doing was using you and you are so weak, you actually let her."

  Daniel bought in to the banter "Must be kind of hard to tell when you haven’t really known her for so long – don’t you think? What was it, 800 years or more since you actually saw her, spent time around her, laid a hand on her."

  Lormorian remained disturbingly calm, and a number of them held their breaths. "Good point."

  Momentarily confused glances were exchanged in the second before Lormorian disappeared, only to reappear behind Daniel, who struggled with his right hand in Lormorian's grip. Lormorian's strength was phenomenal so though Daniel resisted, there was nothing he could do as Lormorian forced his hand to the ground. Lily, Will and Jake all moved forward to try and help him, but stopped as Lormorian withdrew the dagger at his belt and hissed.

  "Speaking of hands, do you know what we used to do to people to touched our property without permission?" The stench of Lormorian breathing over him hit Daniel along with the terror of knowing what was going to happen next. Though everything registered for him, Daniel just couldn't react in time, shocked by the sudden realization as Lormorian swung the blade and cut off Daniel’s hand. The howl of pain caused Anise and the others to flinch, all except Lily who furrowed her brow as Lormorian chuckled, replacing his dagger and walking away.

  Lily Sided a still screaming Daniel, "It's just a trick! Daniel. Listen to me." she urged but the pain was no trick, it was as real to Daniel as the sight of his missing hand. "Daniel, I don't think he can truly hurt us not bad enough to kill us. We're still tied to him. Our energy is his."

  "You don't want to be wrong, bandying statements like that around." Lormorian said looking amusedly at her as she leane
d over Daniel still clutching his hand.

  "I'm not though am I. I'm not wrong."

  "Lormorian shrugged. Fact is all I need is one of you left. As you die the power will leech from one to the others, then Keterlyn will have to sever the connection because it will be too unstable with just one to carry it.

  Micala stepped towards Lormorian, shaking her head and hands up in surrender as she waved them about. "I’ve had enough. You said you’d let me go."

  Even Daniel's attention turned to her.

  "Micala?" Rebecca queried, knowing the question didn't require anything more. They had been betrayed, by their own, by the one who introduced most of them to Keterlyn and her circle in the first place.

  Micala deliberately avoided looking at anyone's face, just her feet. "Don’t you judge me. It was just a fun night. That’s all I wanted. I little chanting, some meditation, a feeling of self empowerment. Not this."

  "How can you say that?" asked Abel as disbelieving the others.

  Finally Micala snapped her head around, still averting eye contact. "Maybe not all of us thought hiding for the rest of our lives in exchange for kicking a football was such a great idea. I don’t want to be special. I just want to be...me. So Lormorian. Please, I want to go now. I did what you asked, I gave them that herb so you could find them. I planted that pouch in her room- I’m done."

  Lormorian took another step towards Micala, placing a hand under her chin. "Don't you like my tricks Micala?"

  Zara spoke as Lormorian and Micala stared at each other, Micala beginning to comprehend her mistake. "If you actually thought he was ever going to let you go, you need your head checked."

  Lormorian smiled evilly. "I’m sure I can offer you something, Micala."

  Micala's veins expanded across her face and she was in obvious pain, dropping to the floor and clutching her head.

  "And here's something for all of you to think about. But don't worry, I'll be back for what's left of you." With that, Lormorian walked backwards into the earthen wall.

  Abel ran at the wall and kicked and hit at it as though that was going to help. As he stopped a familiar rumbling sound about them.

  Knowing what it was, the group took a defensive stance, their backs to each other readying to fight.

  Lily shook Daniel violently. "Come on Daniel, it isn't true, it's just an illusion. Believe me. Where's the blood, listen to me."

  Daniel was coming out of what seemed to be a stupor when the first of Lormorian's creatures freed itself from the rock. It looked large and like a half cat, half dog with fangs. It's eyes glowed red and the fangs elongated as it eyed over the group.

  Without prompting, Ashleigh initiated a forcefield and only just in time to hold the creature back from pouncing on them. Abel and Molly hurled energy spheres at it and it howled in pain. A second creature arrived and Molly prepared herself to join her energy. "Lily, we need you!" she called as they struggled to keep back the creatures as they clawed and battered the shield.

  Lily stood to join the group when Daniel clasped Lily's arm with purpose. He felt her power draining into him as though he were a focal point and in a heartbeat realised his hand wasn't gone and the pain was gone. The illusion was broken.

  Joining the group, Daniel placed his hand on Ashleigh's back and a surge caused the shield to strengthen and expand. The two creatures whimpered, backing up and seeking a way around. Without further thought, Daniel clutched at Jake, again, usurping his powers and then extended his hand to the creatures. Within a moment the creatures squealed, contorted and then imploded, pieces scattering.

  Lily stood, practicing at using her power. She still had it even though she had thought Daniel had somehow taken it.

  "What did you do? How?" Jake asked impressed.

  "I just borrowed your skills for what I needed."

  "More like amplified." Ashleigh said. And it was true, Daniel had taken from the others, added to his own, and increased the power he could yield. It still tingled like status under his skin.

  The coven stood after eviscerating the creatures, which lay strewn across the cavern floor, but not for long. Lormorian must have known, because no sooner was the group trying to make sense of what had happened, than he reappeared, a distasteful expression accompanying him. "Well look at you. Seems like I will have to teach you a lesson myself."

  Ashleigh re-engaged her energy, but he reached through, taking her by the neck.

  Abel darted forward accusingly as Ashleigh's field failed. "You don't even fight fair!"

  "I don’t really do fair." Lormorian commented as Daniel took hold of Molly on one side and Will on the other. Taking their energy, Daniel re-directed it towards Lormorian.

  When the energy Daniel shot out had nearly struck Lormoiran though, it dissipated around him, and fizzled to nothing. "Can't hurt me with my own power." Lormorian bit back before sending a blast into Daniel who dropped to the ground.

  "Hey!" Anise called distracting Lormorian. She stood angry, hurling bolt after bolt at Lormorian though he barely reacted except with a look of irritation. It was all that Daniel needed though. maybe magic wasn't the key, maybe it was just as simple as it was for everyone else. Still on the ground next to Lormorian, Daniel grabbed the knife from Lormorian’s sheath, and plunged it forward, but not in time. Lormorian caught Daniel’s hand, forcing him to drop the weapon by crushing bones. That was not an illusion.

  "Now, now, if I wasn’t paying you enough attention, all you had to do is say something." Lormorian added, throwing his free hand behind him to knock Anise, Will, Tempest and Molly off their feet, before taking Daniel by the shirt and bringing him face to face.

  "You do whatever you want to me, but we all know you’re a weak minded, worthless nothing. You are nothing." Daniel spat as he lashed out, hitting at Lormorian to no avail. Letting. Out a frustrated groan Daniel stopped thrashing, almost hypnotized by Lormorian's near glowing eyes.

  Lormorian blazed with fury. "I am a Lord of death, of dark power and dealer of pain. You will respect me!" almost as quickly he calmed again, though still spoke through gritted teeth. "Have you ever been eaten alive, I’ll bet you haven’t. Let me show you what a weak minded nothing can do when focused."

  A myriad of beetles poured from cracks in the wall, all headed for Daniel, who dangled from Lormorian’s grasp.

  Practically a world away, Keterlyn drove along a quiet main road, fingers still locked in a vice like grip on the steering wheel.

  "Come on Ket." she muttered to herself. "This is just another group of people, another day. Another few weeks I can have a whole other set together, get on with it, get over it. This was a sign. It wasn’t meant to be."

  As she drove a deer ran in front of the car and smashed in to the bonnet, rolling up onto the windshield. The car screeched, the sound of grating, scraping metal ringing out, and the car stopped to the side of the deserted road.

  Looking up, Keterlyn saw blood trickle down the cracked windscreen. As she stared at it, she felt transfixed, conflicted, with her thoughts far away. There had been so much blood, so much pain and death in her time. For what? Daniel had been right- what sort of life was this? She tried to remember all the good things. Cooking with Marnie, seeing Sarah born, Patrick's face when he realized he could heal people as part of his skills... There were so many good points, but then so many bad... Out of the corner of her vision, Keterlyn saw the animal twitch.

  After a moment, Keterlyn left the car, and walked over to the animal which lay twitching in the road, its big eyes wide, its breathing ragged, and its nostrils flaring. Kneeling over the twitching animal, she took it by the head as though one quick snap would end it's suffering. She held it down and drew on her strength. Life stole back into the animal as Keterlyn concentrated, feeling the energy leave her and in to the creature. A few seconds later she let go, the animal rising to it's cluttering hooves and running away. Keterlyn felt defeated, and yet determined at the same time as she stared down the dark road after the fleeing dee
r.

  Still on her knees, she used the animal blood on the road to draw a circle around herself, smeared some on her forehead, and began to chant.

  Daniel tried to summon his energy again, but Lormorian wasn't only stronger than them, he seemed to be sapping it the closer he was. Instead he shook his feet to deter the bugs from gaining ground up his body. They started to bite just as he heard her voice.

  "I thought you were beyond parlour tricks Lor."

  Lormorian dropped Daniel and the beetles crawled away in to the crevices.

  "Keterlyn!" called Micala. Daniel started to his feet, but Lormorian put up a barrier of energy stopping any of them from getting close to him.

  "Finally pet. I thought you were actually going to abandon these runts." Lormorian said snidely as Keterlyn smoothly walked over to him. Lormorian reacted by hitting her across the face and she fell to the ground as he cracked his neck.

  Keterlyn stood shakily to her feet and nursed her red jaw. "Nice to see you too, love."

  "I knew if I took them you would come to me."

  "It made me realise you were right. I belong with you." Keterlyn said in bittersweet dulcet tones.

  "How sweet, but I'm no fool. You will try to run again if I let you, but in the meantime," Lormorian took Keterlyn by the back of the neck, pulling her close. " Know I’m still going to make you pay me back for my troubles in blood, sweat and tears - yours to be specific here."

  Daniel broke out in a sweat. Smashing in to the energy barrier. "Ket. I didn’t mean let him take you. Don’t just let him take you back like that."

  "So I have you to thank for talking sense back into her – how paradoxical." Lormorian sneered.

  "Fight him, kill him! I’ve seen how strong you are Ket." Molly encouraged, not understanding the underlying stakes.

  Lormorian was more than happy to explain. "She can’t hurt me. We share the same life. If she tried to kill me, she would only be hurting herself."

  "She dies if she kills you." Lily mumbled to herself as she and Molly looked hopeless for the first time since arriving to this underground prison.

  "We are one and the same." Lormorian continued to taunt as he looked over the small sea of worried faces. "But you – you are expendable. Once I take back my power that she foolishly shared amongst you, I’m going to make her torture you, dismember you then end your miserable lives." his tone changed o disgust, he was clearly tired of the games. Turning once more o Keterlyn he gave her a shove towards the energy barrier. "Keterlyn be a good girl now, take back the gift you gave them."

  Keterlyn reviewed the faces before her and Daniel came to the forefront of the group. "There's always another way." he whispered, but all he got was a sad turn of the corner of her mouth. She saw then the bogwod carving around his neck and turned her head away, tears squeezing from the corners.

  Keterlyn turned back to Lormorian before she continued, wanting to rid herself of and doubt, any of her painful conscience. "A kiss for luck first Lor. Remind me of who I used to be. The girl lost in the woods, looking for you."

  Lormorian regarded with suspicion but couldn't help himself. Leaning forward, Lormorian kissed her, fingernails scraping the back of her neck until there was a sudden jolt. As they parted, Lormorian saw the blade he wore at his belt protruding from below Keterlyn's ribs.

  Lormorian jumped to her, meaning to heal her, save himself, but Keterlyn held her hand out as he drew near and knocked him backwards against the far wall where the earth drew out and around him, encasing his limbs.

  Lormorian roared in fear and anger as he realized he was immobile, and saw the blood seep from Keterlyn's wounds. "What do you think you are doing?" he bellowed.

  "What I should have done lifetimes ago." Keterlyn responded as she saw Daniel testing the limits of the force field that held them still.

  "No!" Daniel exclaimed as Keterlyn sank to the ground just on the other side of the field. He could have reached out and touched her were it not for the energy still running through the shield Lormorian put in place. "Let down the barrier, let us through." Daniel pleaded.

  "We can help you." Zara insisted from behind him, though Keterlyn simply shook her head and smiled weakly.

  From the far former Lormorian screamed in agony before he glittered momentarily, and shattered into a thousand particles flying in a myriad of directions.

  Daniel stood back expecting the force field to come down, but it didn't.

  "Why is the barrier still up?" questioned Molly. Looking about for an answer.

  Daniel looked down at Keterlyn then kneeled to get as close as possible. "Keterlyn. Let down the barrier. Let us help you...let me in." he whispered. The others looked at her in disbelief.

  Keterlyn placed her hand on the energy field and Daniel mirrored the same, their fingers just touching.

  "You have a real talent." Keterlyn grinned one last time as she disintegrated, a power emerging from her fingertips across to Daniel and bringing down the shield. The ground trembled once more, though this time the cave seemed to be collapsing.

  Though distraught, Daniel knew he and the others had to get out of there before they were crushed, but with nothing else left of Keterlyn, Daniel picked up the blade, still wet with her blood. Abel took his shoulder, but instead of standing, Daniel closed his eyes, summoning a blinding light that transferred the group back to the park they used to train in.

  Lily and Micala hugged each other, Will, Tempest and Anise collapsed on one another, laughing, and Jake kissed Ashleigh. Zara, and Molly dropped to the grass in relief and Rebecca came to stand next to Daniel who was a few meters away facing away from the others, and immersed in thought.

  "Nothing will ever be the same." Rebecca said softly.

  "No." Daniel admitted. "It won't." He looked at his palm and it glowed bright in the dawn light. Rebecca curiously gazed at the light, her jaw slackening slightly at the sight. The light shone brilliantly bright, and she realized Keterlyn had transferred what was left of her power to Daniel who open and clenched his fists as he felt the new sensation run the underside of his skin.