by J Gaines
They stopped a few feet apart and their eyes met in acceptance. Suddenly, and in the same instant, they attacked, and their blades clashed. Sparks flew from the meeting of the two swords and showered them as they struck again. Each held his weapon with both hands, and as they struck their next blow and more sparks flew across the room in an explosion of power, the hilts locked and Amias could feel the force created between them. They stepped back for a moment, and then attacked again, each strike sending out flashes of light that illuminated their faces.
*
As Jasmine’s attention turned to the flickers of lightcoming from the room, Max turned to her with a look of despair. He gripped his weapon tightly and growled in anguish. She knew what he was about to say, and she knew she couldn’t help him. They were sitting inches from each other, but it felt as if they were oceans apart. She was on an island, and Amias was on another, unreachable and alone.
“I’m out.” They huddled behind the desk and Max placed his rifle on the floor as the flames grew dangerously close and bullets zipped towards them from unseen weapons. “If we stay here we’re going to be cooked. I say we take our chances with the bullets.” He grinned sheepishly. “Amias took a bullet and lived – maybe we can too?”
Jasmine ignored his question, watching as the flashes continued. “He’s fighting back.”
Max took her hand and she allowed him to hold it. “If anyone can make a fight of it, it’s that crazy son of a bitch.” He smiled again and squeezed her palm. “We need to go, Jasmine.” There was another explosion and gunfire erupted from the smoke. “They’re coming for us. This is it.”
Jasmine faced him and let go of his hand. “You go, I’m not leaving.” She couldn’t take her eyes off the room. It was only fifteen feet from where they crouched, and Amias was not much further again, but nothing had ever seemed further away. Her heart thumped as she remembered the night they’d made love. It was the day after Kaden had told Amias of her betrayal, and then they’d been separated for so long. And it was only now that she remembered; she realised Amias had never stopped loving her. He hadn’t given up on her, and she wouldn’t give up on him. It meant so much more now. Hot tears filled her eyes as a feeling of emptiness grew in the pit of her stomach.
There was a pause, and Max closed his eyes. “Then I’m staying with you.” He took her hand in his again and they waited. They both sensed the approaching footsteps and readied themselves to fight. Max opened his eyes. Sweat covered his brow and rolled past his temples and under his unshaven chin. He rocked on his haunches and then leapt to his feet, followed by Jasmine. He grabbed hold of the first person he came across and wrestled their weapon from their hands. There was a grunt of anger, and just as he was about to throw a punch, his legs were taken from underneath him and he fell heavily onto his back. His attacker clambered onto his chest and he saw blonde hair and a familiar soot-stained face. She screamed as Jasmine ran towards them.
“It’s Sophia!” Jasmine stopped, and Max relaxed. “It’s me!” she shouted again, just to be sure, as another person emerged from the smoke. “And that’s Victor.”
Max reached up, and gratefully clasped her face with both hands. “I could kiss you.” Sophia smiled back at him, clambering off his chest and holding out her hand as Victor rushed past them to the glass that imprisoned Amias. The others followed, and Jasmine cried out. Amias and Kaden were locked together, their swords pushed against each other. Victor tried the door again, and then looked around him anxiously.
“We need to get out of here!”
“If this room goes up, will they be okay?” Sophia looked at Victor hopefully.
“I don’t know.” He looked at the large tank, which was now surrounded by flames. “Not if that goes.”
“Then we have to do something.” Sophia searched the room for a way to put out the fires, but Max shook his head sadly.
“There’s nothing here that will help.” He put his hand on Jasmine’s shoulder. “It’s time to go.”
Jasmine didn’t turn. “You go, I’m not leaving him.”
Victor stepped forward, but Max held up his hand in warning. “I wouldn’t do that. She’s made her decision.” A tearful Sophia placed her hand on Jasmine’s shoulder and said goodbye, before she turned and joined Victor.
Max waited, reluctant to leave. He searched for the right words, but the only ones he found seemed selfish. “I told you I could be trusted.” He turned to leave.
“You can,” replied Jasmine. Max nodded before running to the others and disappearing into the smoke.
*
“You can’t win, Amias, I know you feel that.”
Amias pushed Kaden back and they faced each other before their swords met again in a flash of sparks.
Kaden laughed. “You’re getting weaker.” His eyes flashed with excitement as he struck at Amias vehemently, launching a kick into his unprotected stomach and forcing him backwards. Amias drew in breath sharply, and then drew his sword-point across the floor and regained his composure.
“Even if you kill me here, you’ll never escape now.”
Kaden sneered. “You let me worry about that. But be sure that when I do escape, I’ll be paying all of your friends a visit.”
Anger and desperation filled Amias’s mind as he jumped forward, swinging his sword with every bit of strength he had left. Kaden was momentarily taken aback but he managed to deflect each strike before turning Amias’s sword downwards. Their blades locked again, but this time Amias used his free hand to punch Kaden in the face. He stepped back in surprise and placed his fingertips to his eyebrow as blood trickled down onto his cheekbone. He growled and launched himself towards Amias as another huge explosion rocked the room. Amias suddenly felt his footing shift, and he reeled as Kaden took advantage of his loss of balance, bringing his sword downwards so Amias had to raise his to block the attack with one hand. It was the only thing Amias could do, and it was what Kaden had expected. With both hands still on his blade, he twisted Amias’s sword and wrist, causing him to let go and snatching the sword away. He twirled away and faced a defenceless Amias, holding both weapons.
He smiled wickedly. “We have an audience.” Amias turned and saw the tear-stained face of Jasmine with her hands on the glass. He turned back to Kaden defiantly. His smile turned to a snarl, and Amias knew the time had come. In his mind he saw Kaden’s attack before it happened: the first strike cut the inside of his stomach and arm, and opened him up for the second, and deadly, finish. He saw Kaden’s sword thrust deep into his chest, and he fell to his knees.
A moment later, Kaden moved towards him with lightning speed and he readied himself for what was to come. He didn’t feel pain from the first cut, but as he had foreseen, it pushed his arms apart and left him open for the killing stroke. As it came towards him, time seemed to slow, and he saw Blaise again, and then his mother, followed by Jasmine, and then finally the beating heart again. As his heart was pierced by the point of what had once been Virgil’s sword, he felt the cold steel burst from his back, and as he looked into Kaden’s eyes he saw the thrill of victory in them. His legs went weak and almost buckled, but he put every last ounce of strength he still possessed into not falling to his knees. Kaden leaned closer, a hideous smile spread across his face. “You won’t heal from this, Amias.” His laugh filled Amias’s ears and the room, and then suddenly stopped, his eyes wide with surprise. Blood suddenly erupted from his mouth as Amias held their father’s knife tightly as it protruded from under Kaden’s chin. Kaden stepped back, still unable to comprehend what had happened; he let go of Virgil’s sword, and was unable to stop Amias disarming him of his mother’s blade. They stood facing each other for a moment, both dead but still standing, before Amias pirouetted and cut Kaden in half. Both of them fell at the same time, Kaden’s body to the floor in two pieces, and Amias to his knees facing Jasmine. His eyes closed, and he saw no more.
Chapter 32
Jasmine’s scream rose above the desolation around her like that of an injured animal. She watched helplessly as Amias knelt with his head dropped onto his chest, and his eyes closed. She smashed her fists against the reinforced glass until blood from her knuckles smeared the window. Something inside was still compelling her to get through to Amias, but the impenetrable glass before her was unforgiving, and she leant against it in pain. Her whole body ached, and she screamed again. She knew she needed to leave; there were others who needed her, but the strength to do it had gone the moment Amias had fallen. The heat and smoke were slowly choking her, and she knew there wasn’t any more time. She placed her hand on the window once more and watched as Amias raised his head.
*
The sunlight that glared into his eyes as he lay on the grass almost blinded him. He closed them and looked through the red glow of his eyelids. He could feel the warmth and laid the palms of his hands on the grass, opening his eyes and admiring the lush green that stretched out in front of him. He was still kneeling and had never felt as contented and as peaceful as he did now. He winced at the sun as he looked into the sky once more and closed his eyes again. This time, in the red that he saw, a beating heart thumped so hard that he thought it might burst. He couldn’t help but marvel at its beauty and wonder whom it belonged to.
*
He opened his eyes again and saw a bloody window with Jasmine standing behind it, and then looked down and saw the hilt of Virgil’s sword still protruding from his chest. He ignored the temptation to pull it out and lifted one knee, taking a breath before he raised the other knee and got to his feet. He took a few steps and then fell heavily onto his side. The cold steel wouldn’t allow him to rest comfortably and he immediately got to his feet again and walked the final steps to the door. He pushed a button, hoping it would open, but it remained shut and he slid down the glass and sat there exhausted, feeling his time slip away too quickly. Something had changed in the room; now he could hear the twisting of burning metal and the fall of crashing wood.
*
As he approached her, his blue eyes shone with a beauty she’d never seen before. Tears filled them and streaked down his cheeks, but there was a burning determination in his gaze that she couldn’t believe. She moved to the door, unable to believe there was still hope that he would live, and she saw him target something on the wall. When he fell again, she willed him, with every part of her, to get up. And then she heard his voice.
*
“You need to get out of here, Jasmine.”
She ran her fingers across the window as if she could touch him, shouting into the intercom that he’d activated. “I can still get you out.”
“There’s no time. And even if you did, there’s no saving me now. I know that.”
“Please don’t talk like that. You can heal, you’re strong, you don’t even know how strong. There are things you can do… I’ve seen you do amazing things. You’re going to heal.” The smoke was becoming suffocating, and she was unable to hold back the cough which burst from her mouth.
“Please, Jasmine. You need to listen to me and–”
“I remember.” Her words were almost as involuntary as her cough. “I remember. You, me… Virgil, what happened with Kaden that night. It all came back to me after the explosion outside.”
Amias was silent for a few moments. “Then you know how I feel about you?”
“I felt that even before my memories returned to me.” He smiled, and through her tears Jasmine smiled as well. “And I know how I feel about you.” Amias’s smile faded, and he watched her with his bright blue eyes as if it were the first time he’d seen her. The flames had almost completely surrounded her, and the tank whistled and creaked.
“Please, Jasmine. You would want me to live if our roles were reversed.”
More tears rolled down her face. “And you wouldn’t leave.” Amias smiled again, and then winced with pain. “I can’t go yet, there’s something else.” Suddenly she could barely see him through the smoke and her tears. “I have to tell you.” She heard his voice say her name and held onto it. “Amias, you’re a father… we have a child.” There was silence, and she pushed up against the glass, wondering if fate had been cruel enough to cut her off from him now. She banged her fist on the window as she slid down it.
“How?” His voice seemed suddenly distant.
“I forgot, I’m so sorry. I couldn’t remember.” Her body bent in two as the full impact of regaining her memory resonated with her. “I can see her in my mind now, I don’t know why I shut her out. I didn’t know I was pregnant when Kaden threw me from the building. When I woke up I was in a hospital, but I couldn’t remember who I was, and they couldn’t identify me. It had been months since they found me.” She choked back the overwhelming emotion, aware of how little time they had. “My stomach… she was inside me. I didn’t want to accept it, I couldn’t. It felt like it wasn’t me… and then she was gone. It was as if it were a dream, but I know now it wasn’t. She’s waiting for us, Amias. I can’t go to her without you.” There was another silence, and she climbed to her feet. Amias was standing, his bloodied hand pressed against the window. He smiled again.
“Go to our daughter. She needs her mother. Tell her I wish I could have met her.”
Jasmine pressed her forehead against the glass and sobbed. And then Amias’s voice reached her through the desolation and destruction around her, through the smoke and the fire and through her pain. “Run, Jasmine.”
She looked into his eyes for the briefest moment before wrenching herself away from the glass and running towards the fire. She leapt through the flames, and felt the burning fire wrap itself around her legs and wrists as it tried to pull her back. She stumbled as she reached the doorway and it collapsed. As she picked herself up she turned to look back, but all she could see was smoke and a building inferno. She forced her way through the fallen door, which was still burning, and she was in a long corridor with glass running either side of it. Every building seemed to be burning and dead bodies littered the ground. She started to run as an explosion rang out behind her. Two large doors appeared in front of her and she increased her speed as another, much larger noise reverberated behind her. A force lifted her from her feet and propelled her forwards. She collided against something hard, and as the darkness fell, she saw a heart beating. Her last thoughts were of how strong it seemed.
Chapter 33
As she looked at the hair she was stroking gently, she watched the sun shine off the blondest parts. She moved her fingers through the curls, straightening them, and then watched them fall back into ringlets. She pulled her daughter’s head towards her and placed her nose on her hair, breathing in deeply and closing her eyes. The love she felt filled her body, and tears sprang into her closed eyes. She swallowed before opening them and sighed. The warmth from the hot summer sun fell outside the shade of the silver birch they were sitting under. She placed her head on the girl’s chest and listened to the strongest heartbeat she’d ever heard.
“We’ll need to go soon, it’s going to rain.” When there was no reply, she ran her fingers across a soft cheek and received a stifled giggle. She did it again and two beautiful blue eyes looked back at her. “Did you hear me? We’re going to get wet.”
“How do you know it’s going to rain, Mummy?”
Jasmine smiled at her daughter. “I just know.”
“I don’t want to go, it’s so nice here. I don’t mind if it rains.”
“Okay, but there are going to be storms as well… thunder and lightning.”
The little girl held her hand. “It’s okay, Mummy, I’ll look after you.”
Jasmine laughed affectionately and held her tightly. “So brave,” she added as a twinge of sadness passed quickly through her. There was silence and she felt the small, warm body push closely to hers.
“Uncle John and Aunt Mia are coming, Mummy!”
Jasmine turned to look down the hill expectantly and saw them approaching. They were holding hands and smiling as Iris ran to meet them. John embraced her, picking her up in one arm and spinning her around as she screamed with joy. Mia sat by Jasmine and they watched happily as John chased Iris around the tree and surrounding grass. Finally, Iris collapsed in a heap at her mother’s feet, laughing through deep breaths.
“John said he’s one-handed John the pirate!”
Jasmine laughed and turned to John. “A pirate, hey?”
“I feel it’s now the life for me, Jasmine!” He smiled through his wiry beard and tickled Iris who laughed uncontrollably.
“Will you please leave her alone, one-armed John!” Mia stood up. “Would you like to come for a walk with me, Iris? We can find some flowers for Mummy.”
Iris nodded and also got to her feet. “It’s one-handed John, not one-armed John.” They disappeared behind the tree.
“You both look well,” commented John.
Jasmine didn’t reply but smiled.
“When are you going to bring her home, Jasmine?”
“This isn’t our home anymore, John.”
“You always have a home with Mia and myself, you know that.”
“That’s very kind, but we’re very happy where we are. I think Amias would have been happy there as well.” She noticed that the first cloud had appeared in the sky.
