I jumped back and held my dirk up between us, which made him laugh. He’s covered in weapons, and I’m holding what’s probably a toothpick to him. Orin growled behind me. “Enough staring at this asshole. The second that barrier’s down, he’ll regret staying behind.”
Dian’s smile faded as he looked past me briefly, but turned his amber eyes toward me once more. “Unlike Dothur’s murderous inclinations, mine are a little more pleasurable,” he crooned. “I’ll leave you with that thought, until next time.” He took his hand off the barrier and gave a cheeky wave. “Bye, for now.”
The barrier slid down, and every man behind me lunged forward to grab the idiot who’d stayed behind, only for him to fly away in another ball of light.
Unintentional Brain Mush
- Keira -
We stood in the dark, rain pouring down. But no amount of rainfall could wash off all the blood and mud that coated my body. Oddly, though, in spite of the multiple bruises and bleeding injuries, my sprained and swollen ankle, my entire body, which I had taxed beyond its capacity... none of this hurt as badly as it should have.
Brann was watching me. He understood. He came up close, whispering to me. “Dark magic. You’re still full of it.”
“Aren’t you?”
“Yes. But it’s time to let it go.” He closed his eyes, took a deep breath. A tremor went through him, growing stronger, into a shudder. His eyes opened, and rolled back into his head, showing only the whites. He stiffened, and shook with a series of small tremors, almost like a seizure.
Suddenly, his shaking stopped. Brann’s eyes came back to normal, and I noticed that all the forest trees seemed to perk up, turning a bit greener. Brann let out a deep breath he’d so obviously been holding. Then he winced in pain, as several of the cuts and wounds to his skin seeped blood. Then, as soon as it had started, his pain subsided, as did the bleeding.
“What happened? Are you all right?”
“I’m getting there.”
“You’re hurt. You started bleeding, but then... it stopped.”
“I’m healing myself. The four of us can repair physical damage much faster than humans.”
“But... why don’t I hurt. I look like someone dropped me into a wood chipper. I should be in agony.”
“You filled yourself with Dark Magic. It gave you amazing powers.”
“No shit. It felt fantastic.”
“That’s why you have to let it go.”
“No, that’s why I want more.”
“See? What do you sound like?”
“Like somebody who knows what they like?”
“Like a junkie who wants another fix.”
The look on Brann’s face was not the usual analytic, number-crunching academic attitude. It was a face that reflected a hollow, gnawing need, one that never let up. It was the kind of face you see at A.A. meetings, or on the inpatients at a drug treatment clinic. That one day at a time determination to harness an insatiable demon.
“You can’t ever use Dark Magic because you want to. Only when there is no other choice,” Brann said quietly, close to my ear. “Otherwise, it will take you over. You’ll grow darker, and darker, until there’s no Keira left.”
“Talk about a fucking buzz kill. What do I do now?”
“Close your eyes. Find your flame. Grab on to it, and let everything else go. Just surrender totally, and empty yourself. Your flame will bring you back.”
“But... I feel so great.”
“I know. That’s the hardest part.”
So, I did it. I closed my eyes, found my flame, and just let everything else flow out. As the dark magic emptied, I felt that invincible power drain away, leaving a profound emptiness. I opened my eyes again, and slumped. Brann gave me a hug, one that was all support, and nothing else. “Good. Good girl.”
“I feel like I just came down from ecstasy. Is that how oooooow—”
Suddenly, the crushing weight of a ravenous pain swooped in, picking at me like seagulls on fish guts. Tearing me in a hundred places, as I literally buckled to the turf with a shriek of agony. “Damn it!” I cried out, touching my swollen ankle sending a sharp bolt of agony up my leg.
Immediately, the other guys swarmed over.
“What is it?” Orin asked, going on red alert. Weylyn and Keegan looked stricken with alarm.
“My ankle,” I squeaked.
“Jaysus puffing a cheap cigar, you look a sight worse than that,” Keegan piped up.
I looked my body over. Oooooh fuck. My clothes were shredded, wet rags, clinging to my body for dear life. Between their rips, and the way the pouring rain plastered the practically translucent shreds of wet cloth to my skin, my wardrobe did almost nothing in the name of modesty. But my near naked state gave a very good view of my torn, bruised, bloody injuries.
“Oooh,” I moaned. “Everything hurts.”
Brann took my hand and squeezed. He looked up to the others. “Her magical high is wearing off.”
“Hang on, princess. We’ll help you.” Orin jumped at the opportunity to comfort me, but Weylyn got to me first.
“It’s all right,” he whispered into my ear. “We’ll take care of this.”
“But, wait,” I mumbled, worry settling heavy in my chest. “You guys got all fucked up too... and what about my sword? I think I dropped it.”
“We heal quicker than humans,” Orin blurted.
“I told her that,” Brann said, a possessive tone creeping into his voice.
Keegan was nodding. “Especially the twins. They can heal even faster while they’re shifted.:.”
“Don’t worry about us,” echoed Orin. “We’ll all be fine.”
“And don’t worry about your sword, I have it.” Brann said, as he shoved my trusty dirk in the top of his boot. It really does kinda look more like a large knife, I had to admit to myself.
Brann placed a hand on my forehead, and mumbled a few guttural incantations. A bright white sphere appeared above him and illuminated the scene. I heard one of them gasp. I guessed shining a light on
