“Yeah, though she walks through the valley of the shadow of death,” a whispered voice says in her ear.
Elina spins, ready to fight, but no one is there.
“Hello?” Elina calls out. Only the sound of her trembling voice echoes back. Enough games, she thinks. Desperate for answers she hurries around the building, hoping to find someone. She listens and moves cautiously, but finds only desperation. The building needs to be condemned.
“Do you fear no evil, Human?” The whisper asks again.
Elina knows she is not alone, time to draw them out.
“No demon, for my God is with me!” Elina yells out. A hissing sound from behind with a sharp shove sends her sprawling forward on her knees. She falls to her hands and pain shoots up her injured arm and into her shoulder. Nauseous from the pain, Elina looks up just as the demons step out of the shadows. She stands up, dusting the grit from her hands and readies to fight.
These demons seep in from every shadow, under cars and through broken windows. One steps towards her holding a human bone in his hand. He licks it and smiles at her revulsion. His red eyes stare into hers and he whispers, “Do you fear evil now, human?”
“No! Demon.” Slowly she turns and says loudly for all to hear, “For his rod,” as a rod appears in her left hand, “And his Staff,” a staff appears in her right hand, “They comfort me!” She smiles and pours her power into the weapons.
Shock registers on the leader and then he smiles through rotted teeth. “Keeper! Where have you been hiding? Seize her!!!”
They pour forth and Elina prays as she spins, striking them in bright flashes of light as her weapons pass their unholy flesh.
Holy light erupts from her body, pain and power surge through her broken arm, healing it and burning the demons closest to her.
They come in another wave and she continues turning, like a dancer, except this time she brings her hands together and fires a surge of power. The demons are blown back and fragmented, leaving the leader to face his fate.
In a blind rage the leader leaps at her back, hoping to catch her from behind. Elina pins him with her eyes and swings her staff; slamming him to the dusty earth, careful not to kill him. Elina knows she doesn’t have much time before more come, drawn by her power.
“Tell me what is going on here! Where are all the humans?” she demands.
He smiles into the eyes of the Keeper, revealing sharp black teeth. “Why do you care now Keeper? My master is coming and you will not stand a chance…”
Elina swings her rod and his left arm explodes, leaving a bloody smoking stump. His scream resounds across the plains. She waits until his scream slows to a whimper, “Where is everyone!?” she demands again.
Out of breath, his voice squeaks, “All of your kind have been destroyed, captured or gone into hiding, like you!” The ground begins to rumble and Elina knows she is out of time. He begins to laugh at her fear.
“Ahhhh, yes. There it is, that precious fear.” He starts to struggle under her hold and his arm begins to regrow! Elina is stunned. He is growing stronger because of her fear.
She steps back and raises her rod and staff melding them together. She forms a cross in the air and swings them down together, piercing the demon through the abdomen. He screams as he is pinned to the earth. She bends down and says, “HE prepares a table for me in front of my enemies’ demon, and tell your master that I dwell in the house of the Lord!”
Elina ignores the screams for help and pictures the only place she can think of, Hunter’s house. Her powers are weak because of the battle and injuries. She can’t port very far in this condition. Elina prays, “Father, help me please.” She moves through the air and pictures herself on the road leading to Hunter’s home.
The moment her feet touch the earth her knees threaten to buckle. Taking a deep breath Elina quickly moves to the cover of some heavy brush. The gravel driveway connects to the road and curves back to the left before coming to the house.
Elina is unable to see the house through the dense brush. The driveway is covered as well in grass and weeds, it looks like no one has been here in a while.
Silence surrounds her and she listens for any sounds of humanity as she pushes her way through the deep weeds. She prays that any snakes in the area will have moved on, it probably would not be a good idea to scream right now.
A giggle almost escapes, causing Elina to cover her mouth. She is dirty, hungry, exhausted and on the verge of hysteria.
“No,” she tells herself! “Hold it together, you are a Keeper. You are prepared for anything… except oblivion.”
The quiet closes in and she strains to hear any sounds of life. Nothing. Not the sound of children playing, cars driving, dogs barking, or people. He said everyone had gone into hiding, from what? She wonders as she moves closer to the house.
Bugs leap away from her as her legs push through thick brush. Elina focuses on the house, desperate for shelter and hopeful that she will find it here.
Hunter’s home comes into view and it is a shell of what it once was. The windows that aren’t boarded up, are broken and dirty. Graffiti is sprayed across the damaged, dirty, door. The roof has caved in on itself, leaving gaping holes. Sighing deeply she knows she can’t stay here. It is time to go home.
Chapter 3
Montana. It has been her home since she was twelve years old. Teleporting requires a great deal of energy and Elina is almost depleted. Her first need is water, then shelter and sleep. After she rests she will figure this
