Holding on to Juliet, I stared into the face of death itself.
SEVENTEEN
♦
Confrontation
RAKESH WASN'T ALONE; HE was surrounded by Formless of different shapes, animals, Slender legged human shapes and masses of bubbling tar shifted and mixed together as they surrounded us. They made air close to unbreathable, to me anyway. I glanced at Juliet. Her eyes were wide with terror. She looked right at Rakesh, following the direction of where his voice came from. She mouthed ‘what’s that and who’s there’ maybe hoping I could hear her. So, she couldn’t see him, only hear him? I knew he could make himself visible at will, could he do the same with his voice? Make it so only some people could hear him? He truly was like both a reflection and a Formless. She screamed and looked back at me. The bonds tying her hands broke, and she wrapped her arms around me.
"Rayne, what's going on?"
"It's okay Juliet. Just stay here."
Loic came over to us, the shield I held allowed him to enter on its own. He looked back over in Rakesh's direction, unable to see him or his Formless beside him.
"Rayne. Where is he?"
"Right ahead. He has five Formless with him as well. One has a red spot on it, and the other four have no pattern." I pointed slightly and Loic centered his view to where I pointed.
I held on to Juliet as tight as I could keeping us inside my shield. She trembled and gripped my arms. I looked trying to find any of the others. The three soldiers that came with where were they? We were in a pinch here. Loic would have his hands full if he fought alone, but I couldn’t leave Juliet in the open like this. What was I supposed to do?
He stayed on his guard and pulled out his looking glass. Then Rakesh decided to show himself. Juliet flinched, holding onto me tighter as he appeared, the voice finally had a face for her. I locked my gaze on him as well, holding her and I held the shield.
"Now, now Loic, no need for that. I'm here.” He approached us just as Loic moved to stand between us and him. “Show me if you can really protect someone.” Rakesh rose a hand up and morphed his hand into long pointed black claws. His face glanced sideways at Loic. The red eyes looking like blood red daggers. “You got a failing grade last time. We were all so disappointed in you."
Loic growled. He charged starting with a few simple moves. He was so fast, focusing on kicks but Rakesh seemed just as fast looking like he just stepped over the kicks with no effort. Loic backed up using flips to back away from Rakesh and hit a few of the formless that got close. Loic never stopped moving. He attempted to make progress from several angles but landing no hits. His pace grew faster and faster attempting more kicks to Rakesh’s head instead of leg sweeps. Unfortunately, this didn’t have much effect either. Rakesh dodged each time.
“I left all those breadcrumbs for you to find her in time too. Poor Luna, her brave protector was more loyal to her father than to her. Staying on the leash while she endured all that pain.” Rakesh’s grin grew with each word.
“Shut up!” Loic swung at him again.
Rakesh ducked and seemingly teleported behind him, his form looking like black tar as he moved before reforming into his previous shape. He was even faster than Loic!
“Pity you almost made it too. She had just hit the ground as you barged in.” He rose his non-clawed hand up and the tar rose from it making a shape that almost looked like a girl. Luna? The tar girl melted away as Loic’s eyes narrowed, looking at it. “Maybe a well-timed healing spell might have saved her.” Rakesh tilted his head towards Loic. His confident smile morphing into a large smirk that seemed to stretch inhumanly crossed his face, being much bigger than a normal smirk. “On the other hand, it might not have considering what she had endured. We will never know.”
Loic turned and his aura started to glow like a bright blue flame. He charged again, and Rakesh dodged his every swing. The blue aura crossing past Rakesh’s face. The colors burned bright. The blue aura mixing with the bright red light from Rakesh’s eyes almost flashing a light purple.
"I'm still disappointed Loic.” Rakesh laughed as he kicked Loic away. “I thought you had improved after all this time. You may have gotten worse actually. After all, you were twelve last time and you still managed to hit me.".
Loic’s anger overtook him, his aura burning far away from him now. The blue flames nearly licked the ceiling burning away some moss that hung above us. There was a pit in my stomach. I felt something was wrong with this magic. Instead of a feeling that we would be protected by these flames I felt like if I got any closer, I’d get burned. How strong was Loic really? He moved, the flame following him. The movements seemed sporadic. What used to be calculated hits turned into unsuccessful swipes.
"Loic?" I whispered, shocked at what I was watching.
Rakesh cackled in amusement and looked at us while he was dodging Loic. The moment I turned to check where Loic had landed before, I saw that Rakesh was moving out of the corner of my eye. By the time I refocused I couldn’t do anything. Rakesh ran over to us. He kicked the shield shattering it like glass, just like he did in that first meeting. He kicked me with his other foot, both actions so fast I couldn’t protect myself. This last kick threw me out of the way, hitting me right in the chest with what felt like solid tar. I held my chest and sat up to see the shield vanish entirely and him grabbing Juliet.
“Can’t get distracted, Princess!” He sneered. “Unwatched hens get eaten by the fox after all.” I recoiled from the blow to my chest and my aura being forced back against me.
He did this when he first saw us as well. Was it actually the fact I was distracted or was he really that much stronger than me?
He held Juliet above the ground by the neck, awaiting my reaction. She tried to struggle out of his grasp. He was nearly four times her size, she wouldn’t be able to break his grasp alone. I could see the tar from his hands clinging to her neck. That made the pit in my stomach grow. I moved but flinched, the pain in my chest was worse than I thought. It hurt to breathe and to move. I had to move though. That tar would be burning her, hurting her.
‘Juli hold on, I’m coming.’ I begged in my head unable to muster the words out loud. The pain grew and I began to plead to myself. ‘kaarinna if this stone is going to help me let it be now. Let me move.’ I begged. I looked to see Juliet still trying to break free. Juliet gritted her teeth. His hand was the only bit of tar touching her. If he was a normal Formless, she would have been swallowed by now. Rakesh was holding her there to taunt me. I felt a pulse run through my chest and the pain lessoned enough for me to yell.
"No, let her go!" I yelled.
"The knight is a disappointing waste, so let’s see how much you improved Princess. Can you save your friend in time?"
He grabbed her neck tighter and lifted her above his head. I saw their eyes meet. Then something changed. Rakesh's grip had loosened as he looked at her, and she slipped through his fingers. He backed away from her as she fell back to the ground. She scooted away from him, not taking her eyes off of his face. He mouthed something, but I wasn't close enough yet to hear. Loic’s flame lit up the room and he ran up to Rakesh, attacking him again with a swift kick to the neck that actually connected this time, and their earlier fight continued. I stood and ran to check on Juliet, pulling her further away from the fight. I could still feel the heat coming from Loic’s flames and tried to pull further away until the fire couldn’t be felt anymore. I held her tight and looked over where he had grabbed her. she shook uncontrollably her eyes not moving from the fight behind us.
"Juliet are you okay?"
"I-I'm. no what the hell just..." She stopped feeling the area around her neck and catching her breath. ‘What’s happening?’ She whispered in Italian.
What did he say to her? What would make him let her go so easily? Juliet looked at me and I had to focus. I needed to get her to safety. I looked to the back corner to an old storage container. I stood and held her up with me. She continued to s
hake but we managed to make it to the container. The formless seemed to be ignoring us for the moment, focusing on Rakesh and Loic. I focused and created a single ball of light so I could see the extent of the damage on the both of us. Thankfully, her burns weren’t as bad as I thought they were. There was next to no blackness from the poison. Not only did Rakesh let her go but had he also withdrawn the poison? What was going on here? I brushed it to the back of my mind for the moment.
"Juliet stay in here. No matter what, don't move."
She nodded, terrified and curled up in the container. I stood, I focused and created a new shield around me. Loic fought, but Rakesh stayed focused on me. His body looking like it fought Loic on its own as he turned his head backwards to keep eyes on me. I swallowed hard. When I looked again Rakesh kicked Loic away and headed to me.
Rakesh reached for me, but I dodged and ran away from him. Towards the opposite side of the building, drawing the focus away from the container. I was able to make small light orbs and I threw them towards him, but they didn’t seem to hurt him much.
“The knight hasn’t learned anything. Remaining stuck in his ways, getting stale!” He yelled as he ran for me.
A vine split off from his arm and He grabbed my ankle and pulled me back. I made more light and it burned the first vine he had on me, unfortunately like a hydra three more wrapped up my leg and pulled me faster. He shattered my new shield as I was trying to make it and grabbed my neck.
"You, on the other hand, have gotten better since we last met."
"I know the truth.” I gasped as he held me. I tried to make aura blades and managed to drive one into his shoulder but be didn’t seem fazed. I had to at least keep him from taking the stone. I kept up the attacks, but he still kept holding me. “I won't let you get what you want."
"Really? You really know what I want?” He laughed. “My dear girl, you give me too much credit. I only want the destruction of the worlds. Have them remodeled in my image. The little trinket you have inside of you is nothing more than a powerless stone. In your hands anyway."
I twitched; he knew about the Mirror Stone. How was it useless? All of my power was coming from it. I didn't understand. His grip grew tighter. My throat closed. I had to get away. I tried to focus my aura, but I couldn't. Rakesh's face came close to me, and he stared into my eyes. A chill crawled down my spine.
"You said before that you knew the truth? You know nothing!"
He lifted me above his head, and I felt strange, a tingling feeling rippled through me and I saw a strange red magic overtake my vision, and the tingle continued to rip through me.
"Do you really want to know the truth? I will show you the truth!"
My view flashed, back into memory.
~
"Rayne? Hey, pay attention."
I jumped and saw my dad in the driver seat of his truck looking at me.
This was my dad and our yearly trip from Sacramento to camp Spaulding. We went every year even after the accident. But this felt like a different memory.
"Hey, don't go falling asleep on me yet. We just left the house, kiddo."
"Sorry, dad." My younger self said. “And you lie, we’ve been driving for hours.”
I sounded really young. The same as my earliest recovered memories. When I was about ten.
"So, what are we going to do first when we get to camp?” Dad asked with a smile.
"Well, maybe we can swim." I cheered in excitement.
"Yeah, that would be fun. Right after we set up, we can jump right in." Dad confirmed.
I looked out the window, seeing the forest around me. The trees flew by my face. Everything seemed normal at first, then I felt that thick atmosphere around me. I looked through the windshield only to see a deer crossing the road. For a split second, the deer turned pure black, with red spots, eyes, and horns on it. I panicked, grabbing my dad’s steering wheel to get out of its way. My fear took over. I could only focus on getting away from that thing at all costs.
"Dad, stop!"
"Rayne, what are you doing?" My dad yelled. Before I could respond, we hit the deer. My world fell into darkness.
I heard a scream pierce the darkness. It wasn’t mine or dads. Who was it? I felt my vision reactivate seeing what looked like the side view mirror of the truck. The scream echoed again from it and I saw a white shape huddled at its far edge. That white shape was swallowed by shadows and my vision darkened again.
I felt myself moving but I wasn’t sure of the direction. Clawing at the ground, hearing a voice that sounded like a gargle above me. Was I trying to escape the sound? My eyes wouldn’t open. I was trying to navigate darkness.
“No, you can’t be here.” A small weak voice echoed. I felt something force me back and I gasped for breath.
I woke up briefly only to see my dad over me, checking on my well-being, but I couldn't remember who he was.
"Who?" I whispered but then his skin turned dark.
He growled, and his eyes flashed.
I screamed, closing my eyes. The scenery changed. I then woke up in my nightmare except for this time, Luna was pinned to the wall and I was looking at her from a man's arms.
"Princess, this is the end for you."
I jumped. That was Rakesh's voice. Luna lifted her head, and I looked into her red and blue eyes. She was weak, her body slack against the wall and her expression looked tired and about to give up. She saw me, and her mouth dropped open. Rakesh tried to get us together holding me out in front of him, getting closer to her, but Luna shielded herself and I fell to the ground. Rakesh growled, and his hand went through Luna, pulling her soul from her body.
"You may have gotten away back then, but little Luna did not." The Rakesh from reality spoke.
I saw his past self-holding Luna above him. Her soul cracking under his grip, tears streaming down her face. She tried to scream but nothing came from her mouth. She looked down to where my soul had vanished, and she reached her small white hand out to that direction.
"R-Rayne..." She whimpered.
I jumped and reached for her as well. The vision of her was just in reach. I almost reached her when I watched and saw a flash of light. Then I was in Luna's body.
Tears fell down her face as her small ten-year-old soul was held further from me.
“Luna.” I whimpered.
How had I known her name back then?
She looked at me and smiled.
“Please, Take care of them.” She whispered through her tears. Rakesh’s hand tightened, and she shattered like glass. The rainbow shards covered Rakesh and his smile grew. I saw her vanish in his hands. Rage filled me, but I couldn't do anything. I was trapped in the nightmare as it continued. My nightmare continued just as I had remembered it. The two men appeared that always attacked the large shadow of Rakesh. They were Loic and Chase. Loic grabbed Rakesh and wrapping his entire body on Rakesh’s arm trying to pull him down with his body weight. trying to get him to submit. Chase jumped in and fought Rakesh off. Rakesh backing away just barely dodging Chases strokes. Loic eventually came to me and tried to get my attention.
"Luna! Luna, I'm here."
"I'm no-not." I stuttered trying to say who I was, but I couldn't.
"I'll get you home! I’m so sorry." He apologized.
He undid the shackles, and I fell against him. Pain arced through my body. I looked passed him, seeing the remaining shards of Luna at Rakesh’s feet. Tears poured down my cheeks, but Loic didn't seem to notice.
She was right there, Right there in my dream the whole time. I watched her die, cease to exist. Loic, she's right there. Get her, put her back together, please. I wanted to say but the dream wouldn't allow me to. That’s not how it happened.
Loic created a mirror from the shattered glass floor around me. As I sunk into the glass, his eyes got wide he held on to me and his eyes widened as he tried to pull. he panicked as he saw that the body, he held was getting limp.
This must
have been the part where my soul was leaving her body. To me I was just falling away from Luna’s body, to him, since he couldn’t see me it must have appeared that Luna was dying in that moment.
“Luna! No Luna. Wake up!”
He trembled and held Luna's body close. "I'm so sorry, this is my fault."
He jumped and looked down at me. holding Luna against him crying. He rested his chin on her shoulder.
"Loic, it's not your fault!" I called out to him. He wouldn’t hear me. I never said it back then, this was all just me looking in from the future after all.
His eyes got wide. "Rayne?"
I jumped. He saw me. Or was he trying to reach me in the present? I reached for him. Then the vision ended, and I was back in reality. Loic was calling out to me.
"Rayne!"
I woke up fully and gasped for air. Rakesh smiled, and his eyes turned dark again. His grip loosened, no longer choking me more keeping me in place above him. His hand changed into a vine that lightly wrapped around my neck but tightly around my shoulders. Had he changed it while he showed me that vision?
"I'll take that stone from you anyway, but I'm sure you were told that the only ones who can remove the stone from you are members of the royal family. This kills two birds with one stone, so to speak."
My voice was raspy. "If that's true then you can't take it from me."
"Ah, once again you underestimate me. I won't be doing it. I made a mistake shattering Luna, but in the end, the desperate pleas of her mother ended up aiding me."
He opened his palm. His hand rippled. A small transparent hand left his palm and reached for me.
The hand stretched out more, leading into a small thin arm that had what seemed like hundreds of tiny cracks sealed by gold along its surface. Similar to how my injuries showed up in the in-between. A damaged soul?
Glass Souls (Reflection Book 1) Page 43
