Heavy and hard he gives her a smack
Directly across her face
I can sense every bit of her rage
“Jacqueline Frost,
You have crossed me for the secondtime.
Taken again what is rightfully mine.
Sadly, You only delayed the inevitable.
Know this, I own this boy's soul.
Unlike your lover, you will not stealthis one away.
Sadly, your soul I cannot claim
As only nature holds power over you.
However, your punishment will not beone of death.
It will be continuous pain that youwill never forget.”
He gives a scowl,
His expression tame
“Begin!” To Jameson heexclaims
Jameson begins uttering an incantation
As in my brother's... No Death's eyes –Filled with anticipation
Louder Leo echoes and screams
I feel my helplessness as it seethes
Struggling, struggling against my bodyparalyzed
As I look straight into Leo's eyes
Tears flowing as he flails about
“It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!”He cries loud
Suddenly, I sense his mana begin toflow
More and more like he's ready toexplode
Crying and screaming, flailing about
Against my paralysis I shout
“Leo!”
“Nate! Help me!” He callsin pain
As I struggle harder and harder
But it's just no use
I feel like I'm going insane
“Leo! I promise,” I startto say “I promise it'll be ok.”
“I'm surprised.” Deathlaughs “That you can even speak.
Against both Seer magic and my own
You should be paralyzed down to yourbones.
I have misjudged you. You're notentirely weak.
All the same, that promise you will notbe able to keep.
Lying to the boy before it all ends?
And you call yourself a friend?”
Death gives a sinister smile as Leocries once more
The pain too much as Leo fallsUnconscious to his core
The mana now flowing more potent anddense
Death's sinister smile making me tense
Move, move, I have to move...
If I don't do something, then soon...
Death lets out a bellowing laugh
As he says with glee
“This world once again belongs tome.
The seal that has kept me away
By those filthy Seers
Will be undone today!
Witness the payment of The Toll Icreated!”
His patience and planning beingsatiated
Panic ensuing as I feel the darkness
The room growing heavier and denser
The paralysis getting stronger still
As from my eyes tears start to spill
Someone, someone save him please...
Due to the paralysis I can't even dropto my knees
Instantly, I feel a breeze, cold
“There's a lot I have to atonefor I know.”
Jack's voice echoes as she struggles tospeak
“How dare you call my son weak.”
Creeping forward, slowly she moves
Against the paralysis – Againstall the abuse
Both Death and Jameson gaze in shock
“How?!” Death calls
“My rage is stronger,” Jackbites “than even your spells.
Now, I may not be able to send you tohell
But I can certainly thwart yourambitions.”
“You insolent Fae!!!” Deathcalls, burning with anger
“There is no stopping myambitions!”
“You made two mistakes.”
Jack's tone like knives
“One: You mentioned my husbandand your disgusting mission.
Two: You said unforgivable things to myson.
We may not be bound by blood
But he holds all of my love and pride.
For him I'm more than willing to die.”
In the moment, I see Death's eyes showfear
As Jack sheds a tear
“My only regret Death, is that Ican't take you with me
But my son is more than capable
Of putting you in a hole.
Nate.” She calls to me
“Leo's fate is sealed
But I can at least save you still.”
What is she saying?
She can't mean...
“I have a lot to answer for.
Remember exactly what you swore.
Never stop searching,
Never stop fighting,
And never stop laughing and loving.”
She can't be saying her death is coming
There's so much I have left to learn
As the reality of it begins to burn
No...
No...
No!!!
I can't even speak
“Do all that,” She says“And you'll find exactly what you seek.”
Suddenly, Leo's mana explodes
As I see Jack mouth “Heregoes.”
The pressure of herpower at its peak
Her life forcequickly going weak
A frigid windinstantly blows
Freezing all themana as in an iceburg it holds
Death cries out in rage
“CURSE YOU YOU INSOLENT FAE!!!”
Setting his gaze now on us
“I suppose your deaths will haveto be enough.”
Taking a step forward
As the ice explodes
Every shard and piece
Targeted and cold
And because they're all manna infused
Attacking Death and Jameson
It causes devastating wounds
“Arghhh.” They cry out inpain
As we're finally free from their gaze
“Curse you, curse you, curseyou...” Death screams
“Curse you all!
I will see every one of you fall!”
Groaning and panting, heavy with pain
“It would seem that we've lostthis game.
Know this Seer!”
He addresses me
“We're not anywhere close todone.
You will feel my wrath!
You will have nowhere to run!
Until then, a parting gift.
Know that your existence is responsiblefor all of this.
The boy's death and even the fae's.
You're the reason for all the pain.”
Instantly crumbling, they both fadeaway
As bittersweet, we have won the day
But the cost was too heavy
As I approach where they were
No bodies left
Sorrow and despair within me churn
Letting out a scream
I start to sob
Crying heavy tears
For all that I have been robbed
The hollow hole inside my heart isgreat
As I think of the ones I couldn't save
All that's left is blistering pain...
Trial29: What we grow beyond
A week gone by
My heart hollow
There's nothing left for me to follow
My failure etched inside my mind
I feel as though I'm frozen in time
Given a room within the tower
No longer a prisoner
Rather the man of the hour
Being hailed as a savior
What a load of crap
My mind feeling like it's going tocrack
Then there's the last thing that Deathsaid
His words constantly running through myhead
The boy's death and even the fae's.
You're the reason for all the pain.
What the hell did he even mean?
Was he just trying to get under myskin?
However likely that would seem...
He was too sincere
Damn it! I wanna scream
Laying here alone in my bed
Wishing that I had died instead
Suddenly, there's a knock at the door
Opening it without an invitation
She enters the room
Attempting to start conversation
“Why're you in the dark again?
It's almost three in the afternoon.
Sorry for barging in...
I brought you lunch.”
She sets down the tray
The scent appealing – Cremebrulee
Sadly, “I'm not hungry.” Isay
She takes a seat on the edge of the bed
“I know exactly what's goingthrough your head.”
I roll to face the wall
I can't even bare to look at her
“You think you're nothing but afailure.
You wish it was you.
But tell me, what good would that do?”
I clench my fist
What's the point of all this?
“I've let you grieve for anentire week.
Now it's time for me to speak.
Jack made her choice
And
