Inner Strength

Inner Strength

Blood lay in pools that covered the ground of a dark dungeon, all of it hers. She no longer had the strength to sense his coming. She thought longingly, Where are you, my love? Pain tore through her senses as her jaw was shattered by a powerful blow.

“Why do you persist in these lies, there is nothing to be gained from your silence, only pain.” He shouted at her. With the last of her strength she lifted her face towards his, blood dripping down her jaw, and gave him a final look of defiance. He understood, the following blow rendered her unconscious. As she slumped to the floor he said, “There is nothing left to be gained from this one, kill her.” Two massive guards entered as he left. Walking quickly down the hall he sighed in disgust at the waste of such a beautiful woman but, orders were orders. A spiral staircase led up to the stables and he began saddling his horse.

Consumed by the task at hand he did not notice a dark shadow creeping closer. Jade stepped out of the darkness, his eyes blazing with an inner fire. Eyes wide in shock the man felt a sharp blade sweep through him. Jade towered over the fallen inquisitor and scanned the stable. The eyes of a hunter quickly spotted one stone, among many. He wove wind around it forcing a realignment with the others. A trapdoor slid away revealing a spiral staircase leading away into the darkness.


Flickers of torchlight barely lit the path ahead. Jade descended slowly allowing time for his eyes to adjust to the dim light. A drop of sweat falling from his brow brought his attention to the temperature of the air around him. Whoever built this deserves to roast in it. On and on the stairway went as if to the depths of hell itself. A gust of wind pinned him to the core of the stairway. The smell of rancid meat came with it and the sounds of water dripping in the distance.

He could bear it no longer, rushing down the steps two at a time sometimes three. The heat, coming from below, made the darkness shimmer as he continued onward. I cannot let them take her from me. To my last breath, I swore it to her. The stairway ended in a dark hallway. Jet black stone with white veins surrounded him. In front of him there was a doorway of sorts. A translucent membrane of pink covered it and white light radiated from behind. The sight brought some caution back into his mind.

The scream of a dying soul in the distance brought him to his knees. It had sounded like a woman screaming. I came as fast as I could. Tears streamed down his face as he stared at the veil covering the door. It shimmered more like blood with every passing moment. Cyrstin, I love you. He thought, as his knuckles stood out white against the black hilt of his sword. Memories came in a flood.

**

“I’ve been waiting for you.” A soft feminine voice said from behind. Startled Jade spun and words left his mind as his eyes met the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her chestnut hair trailed down her shoulders stopping midway down her back. The soft brown of her hair accented her dark almond shaped eyes. Her rose colored lips curved slightly almost in a pout, quite misleading as the fire in her eyes spoke that she was anything but petulant. Her slightly pointed chin raised upwards a small amount as she was somewhat shorter than Jade with the top of her head just reaching his shoulders.

She giggled softly as he struggled to loosen his tongue. “You’re late,” she said kindly.

“What exactly am I late for,” he asked struggling to make his voice stronger than a whisper.

**

Velgran surrounded Jade as he knelt weeping from the force of the memories. They seemed unsure if they should attack or not. The rows of soldiers parted to allow their Captain through. A grim looking man with chiseled face and deep black armor. He took one look at Jade and said, “Kill him.” Swords were unsheathed and axes drawn. Spears unbuckled and bows nocked.

“No,” The word rang in the air and the soldiers took a step back as he looked up. “Not like this, she, would never forgive me.” He said his voice sounding dead. His eyes were a deep dark green almost black from the hatred he felt inside. Such disregard for life must be fought against.

He stared at the soldiers trying to kill them with his gaze alone as he rose from his knees. Fire burned in his eyes and he slapped his palms together. The massive concussion of the winds that swirled out from Jade slammed the ranks of Velgran to the walls. Tiles flew from the ground and shattered sending deadly shards swimming through the air.

As quickly as it had begun it was over. Jade stood in the corridor staring at the pink membrane covering the doorway. The fire went out of his pale green eyes and they glistened from tears. Losing the battle to hold them back he focused his energy instead on a return to rational thought.

He took a deep breath and his thoughts coalesced to a focus on just one thing, Cyrstin. He didn’t know if she was still in this world with him. But, he had to know for sure. Ignoring the doorway he ripped through one of its supporting walls with raw wind. He ran through it into the darkness beyond.