Poison

by Dejana Vuletic

  “Yeah, same here,” I murmured back as we passed yet another long window. “What the crap?” I asked in irritation. “This hallway never ends.”

  “I think it does,” Alyssa countered gently. “But it only ends when she wants it to.”

  That took me a second to process. “Oh . . .” I said sarcastically. “. . . Great . . .”

  Alyssa scoffed. “I know, right? She could potentially make us keep going endlessly until we collapse.”

  “I don’t have time for this,” I muttered, and I started running faster. Alyssa caught up with me moments later, but the scenery around us seemed stagnant. I knew I was running . . . I knew my legs were moving, propelling me forward, and yet, the walls stood still. . . . The windows didn’t come closer.

  I looked over at Alyssa, who shrugged and looked confusedly at the phenomenon we were trapped in. “What is this?” she asked. “I’ve never seen anything like it before.”

  “We don’t have time to appreciate her design, Alyssa,” I chastised.

  “I’m not,” she corrected. “I’m simply analyzing so we can figure out a way to ignore it.”

  “Ignore it?” I asked.

  “Dess, chances are she’s just messing with us. It’s physically impossible for a hallway this large to continue on indefinitely. She’s messing with our perception, that’s all.”

  How could we fight against something that screwed with our vision? What was I supposed to do? Continue running like a fool in a never-ending hallway?

  I thought and thought, letting my legs slow me down to a steady walk. Alyssa didn’t notice I had changed my pace, and she was running full speed, but remained next to me the entire time I was walking.

  I looked down at Akarusa, which vibrated slightly against my leg. I unsheathed it and pointed it down the hallway.

  Dessa, if you cannot see, allow me to be your eyes. I will guide you through this illusion. Allow me to rule your senses for you.

  I stared at Akarusa for a second, but then nodded resolutely and raised my hand until the sword was lying horizontally in the air. I slowly closed my eyes, letting the strange hallway diffuse into the darkness.

  Akarusa was pulling itself forward, and my muscles followed it instinctively, letting it lead me down the hallway. I quickly grabbed Alyssa’s hand and dragged her along with me, speeding up until I was running again. The sword would sometimes gently pull to the right and left, darting through right and left turns, when the hallway I had seen was clearly straight without an end.

  For about five minutes I ran at a sprint with Alyssa by my side until my sword began to slow down gradually. With a slight smile on my face, I tightened my hold on the hilt.

  “Thank you,” I murmured to Akarusa, and it vibrated gently in my hands. I opened my eyes and we were in a different room, completely empty aside from a large throne lit by two solitary torches. The throne was silver with anaconda heads protruding from the arms, their tails entwining around the legs of the throne. The eyes of the glorious snakes were some sort of black crystal, a quartz-like onyx. The throne was, thankfully, unoccupied for the moment, but I felt my stomach drop when I looked beside the throne.

  On the right hand of the throne he was kneeling with his head tilted to the ground, his spiked black hair drooping ever so slightly into his menacing eyes.

  I took a few steps forward, but found myself startled when my footsteps echoed endlessly as I walked. I hesitated for a brief moment, but continued forward with Alyssa by my side. She had hidden Himitsu in the pocket of her shorts and her hands were folded across her chest, while mine rested on Akarusa’s hilt, ready to strike at a second’s notice.

  The glowing sapphire eyes gazed up at me for a moment as I approached the empty throne, but his head shot back down instantly.

  I scowled at him through the darkness of the room and strode up to the silver cathedra, my eyes staring resolutely at the black snake eyes that gazed back at me.

  “So you came?”

  I looked around at the voice, surprised still at how remarkably similar it sounded to my own. The dark twist was still present in her voice, and Chris’ eyes looked up hopefully when he saw her walking across the empty space toward us.

  “Of course I did,” I retorted to Desdemona, who was strutting slowly over to us, her hands caressing Yamikage. “Did you think I’d let you get away with this?”

  She smiled wryly. “Of course not,” she replied callously. “But it would’ve been the smart thing to do.”

  I chuckled. “Well, let’s just say neither of us has been acting very smart lately,” I replied. “If you didn’t follow that,” I added when I saw her look of confusion, “Allow me to explain. You messed with people I cared about. That was your first mistake. And your second and final mistake you will ever make,” I continued, “Was your decision to let me live. Because I will kill you. I will end this tonight and I will watch you die.”

  She began laughing maniacally, tilting her head back and letting her beautiful hair fall back out of her hideous eyes. They were so beautiful, yet so disgusting.

  I loathed those eyes; those were the eyes that ruined everything . . . they were the eyes that had stolen all I loved from me.

  I was going to watch the light fade from her eyes when I killed her, when I killed myself.

  I was going to enjoy being free of the accusing gaze of her black eyes; I would enjoy being free of my emotional turmoil, and my friends could live in a world where I could no longer hurt them.

  “We’ll see the outcome soon enough, you naïve child,” she chided.

  “Who are you calling a child?” I said with a crooked smile.

  She snarled and with a swift movement she was in front of me. I swung Akarusa adeptly just as she came by, and we both froze with a blade at our throats. Yamikage’s curved blade of darkness was inches from cutting my head off, but Akarusa was in the exact same position on her own neck, making us considerably even.

  It gave me confidence to see that this was a challenge for her . . .

  My lips curved up in a frenzy of excitement as she pulled back her blade ever so slightly, and I growled at her.

  “I can see why you’re enjoying this,” she snarled angrily in my ear. “This is the second time you’ve held a blade to my throat!”

  She pushed her body away from me and twisted her body around majestically, swinging Yamikage just in front of my eyes. I felt a shot of adrenaline at the sight of the blade and rushed forward, keeping an eye out for Chris, just in case he decided to attack me from behind.

  My leg muscles were screaming in protest as I pushed myself off the ground, propelling myself into the air toward Desdemona, who was staring angrily down at me, pulling her hands back, ready to strike . . .

  Desdemona’s fingers flexed around the handle of the scythe, swinging it around too quickly for me to get out of the way. With brute force alone, she managed to get the blade within striking distance; then, after twisting her body again, the blade inched close enough to touch me. . . .

  I staggered backward when I felt the blade pierce my skin. I tried to lift my left arm, but it wouldn’t respond. Looking down, I saw blood dripping steadily out of the wound in my left shoulder. On top of the wound, there was a tiny black flower bud, burrowing itself into my arm.

  “What the hell is this?” I asked under my breath, moving my right hand to touch the small flower bud. I winced in pain as the flower’s roots began clinging to the inside of my shoulder, rooting themselves to my tendons and muscles. It completely grossed me out, and for a few minutes I thought I was going to be sick.

  “Yamikage is a very special servant,” Desdemona replied. “When the blade pierces an enemy, the place where it pierced becomes the flower pot for one of my precious death buds.” She smiled evilly. “Once that flower has bloomed, your life is over.”

  I looked down at my useless arm and scowled. Not only did I only have one arm to fight with, but now I had a limited amount of time, too. Shit.

  “How long
?” I asked monotonously.

  She lifted her eyebrows. “I’d say no longer than twenty minutes.”

  “Good,” I said, picking myself up again. “That makes my job a whole lot easier then.”

  She barked out a laugh. “How’s this easier?” she asked, gesturing at me. I probably looked really pathetic, bloody, and stupid. But I didn’t care about any of that anymore I had less time than I’d bargained for, so I knew Alyssa could take care of the rest if my time ran out.

  “Now I can actually focus,” I said. “You want me to fight you with all I’ve got? I won’t hold back anymore.”

  I had no idea where these words were coming from, but I knew that Akarusa had abilities, too. I would just have to strike her and find out. Until then, I was in the dark just like her.

  “Alyssa,” I called back to her from where she stood facing Chris, who was still kneeling motionless beside Desdemona’s throne. Himitsu was still not drawn, but Alyssa’s hands were opened at her sides, ready at an instant to block Chris from interfering with my prey.

  She looked up when I called her name and nodded immediately, almost as if she completely read my thoughts. She walked slowly toward Chris, who remained motionless as she approached. Step by step she approached him, and he didn’t even twitch.

  She was within a yard of him when he suddenly leapt up with a grunt and clanged Koorimizu into Himitsu’s blade. Alyssa’s reflexes were superb; her body evaded Chris’ attack with beautiful agility, giving her a fraction of a second to draw Himitsu and press her palm to the hilt, causing it to grow into its spear form and almost pierce Chris’ head.

  I breathed a sigh of relief when he backed out of the way, freeing his gorgeous face of any wound. I couldn’t see him with blood on his face. I’d stop breathing before I had to see something like that . . .

  Chris twirled Koorimizu, caught it, and rushed at Alyssa. She adeptly ran off, kicking off the wall to propel herself ten feet into the air, where she floated majestically, keeping Chris well behind her as she darted around the dark room. I turned to face Desdemona again, wincing in pain as the roots of the flower dug deeper into my flesh, ripping at my tendons mercilessly.

  I slowly raised Akarusa with my right hand, struggling a little under its weight, but I was able to lift it. With a swift slash, I tore open Desdemona’s dress right near her stomach, just barely scratching her skin. A small trail of blood traveled down her toned stomach onto the ground ten feet below us.

  Without saying another word, I rushed forward again, moving with so much speed that I was momentarily disoriented. I opened my eyes to find myself already ten yards past Desdemona, and she stood motionless for a split second . . . almost like I had traveled faster than light.

  Desdemona’s body leaned itself forward, and blood gushed out of her side where I had cut her with Akarusa; she gave a cry of anguish and began falling in slow motion toward the ground.

  As Desdemona fell to the ground, all havoc broke loose. Chris stopped defending against Alyssa, descended to the ground, and started running after Desdemona, who was falling slowly toward the marble floor; Alyssa stared at me with wide eyes as I appeared beside her seconds later; and to top that off, Ricky, Pa, and Skylar all burst through the doors the moment Chris caught Desdemona in his arms.

  “Are you all right?” Chris asked as he looked into Desdemona’s eyes. She nodded stiffly.

  “I’m fine,” she managed to choke out. I couldn’t help but feel proud of myself for getting this far. Chris set her on her feet and she staggered to keep her balance.

  Alyssa and I carefully floated back to the ground where they were all waiting for us. Skylar had a ball of fire in his palm already set to fire at me, but Desdemona waved him off.

  “She’s mine,” she argued. “Put your fire away.”

  He nodded subserviently. “Of course. Forgive me.”

  She scoffed.

  “How can you even treat them that way?” I shouted at her, shivering as my voice echoed back at me. “You treat them like absolute shit! What the hell’s wrong with you?”

  “It hurts to see the evil side of yourself, doesn’t it, Dessa?” Desdemona shot back at me. “All this time you thought some part of you was missing and you were right! You were missing this part of you!” She gestured to herself, poking her bloody flesh with the blunt end of the scythe. “You tried to erase me!”

  I stared at her mercilessly, feeling the pent-up anger make me stronger.

  “Do you want to know what it’s like?” she asked. “I’ll show you . . .”

  She took out Yamikage and slashed it in the air, whipping it around to cut into the beautiful flesh that should have belonged to me. . .

  He cried out in pain and fell to the ground in a puddle of his own blood. I tried to run forward, but Alyssa’s hand restrained me. Chris lay there, unconscious in his own blood.

  “Why’d you do that?” I asked calmly. “He means everything to us,” I added. “Not just me, but to Pa and Skylar and Ricky and even you. He was devoted to you—to me—even when I decided to stray away . . .”

  I felt the tears coming to my eyes again as she stared at Chris’ motionless form. He wasn’t dead, but he wasn’t too far from it. I looked down at my own arm and saw that the petals of the flower were starting to form a blooming bud. It looked ready to bloom any second now . . .

  I needed to time this perfectly. If I didn’t, I was done for. We were all done for.

  “Alyssa,” I said to her. “Take care of Chris’ wound. I still have some business to take care of.”

  “No problem,” she said in a firm voice, despite her face being streaked with tears. “I love you, cousin,” she said, and finally her voice broke. “I’m gonna miss you.”

  “I’ll miss you, too,” I said with a smile. “Don’t worry. It’s all going to be okay after I finish this.”

  She nodded and rushed to Chris’ side. The others didn’t move to protect him; they were still sheltering Desdemona where she stood hunched over in pain.

  “Is this your full power, Desdemona?” I asked. “I thought I was stronger than that.”

  She scowled. “I’m not done yet,” she barked back at me.

  “Prove it,” I chided. She growled and pushed her feet against the marble floor. With inhuman force she flew into the air above me and rushed down on me with the scythe.

  I dove out of the way and counterattacked with Akarusa, clanging the light metal against the dark metal. My breathing was labored now, and my vision was beginning to blur from the rage and tears. I could only hope Chris would be okay.

  I glanced at the flower bud on my shoulder, and the petals were ready to bloom . . .

  I reached my hand out to the side, pushing my hand into the space paradox. I got a full grip on Soyokaze and pulled it out of the rift, letting its blade shine in the light of my own sword.

  I dropped Akarusa, letting the blade clang against the marble with a low resonating sound, and gripped Soyokaze tightly. Desdemona was watching me curiously, and I walked calmly up to her.

  “Desdemona,” I said. “This fight’s over.”

  “What?” she asked as she backed away from me.

  “Relax,” I said in a calm voice. “This sword is going to tear my soul to pieces, and since you and I are one and the same, when I destroy myself, it’ll destroy you.”

  “It was wrong of me to banish you and leave you alone. I apologize for that. But it’s time for this to end.”

  She looked at me with wide eyes and saw the weapon in my hand with its two blades of destruction.

  “This weapon won’t touch you,” I promised.

  She reached out her hand to stop me, but I stopped her with my other hand. The moment her hand touched me, the black flower grew more rapidly, opening the buds as I clasped her fingers. I twisted the sword until the soul-piercing blade faced my heart.

  With the greatest force I could muster, I brought the blade closer to me. The cold metal mixed with my warm soul, ripping it apart from the in
side out.

  I felt like screaming, crying out, but my mouth wouldn’t move. My eyes were wide opened, but I saw nothing.

  As I felt my body slowly fall toward the ground, I felt another presence grabbing a hold of the pieces of my soul. Desdemona’s voice screamed at me as her soul clung to mine, healing the broken pieces and trying to make them whole again.

  You’re not gonna die, I heard her voice whisper, now a perfect replica of my voice. I refuse to let you kill yourself and kill me along with you!

  Too late, I argued softly. I made the choice. We’re gonna die together this time. This time you won’t be alone.

  You’re so stupid, you know that? she asked. You always had to be the hero. I don’t have to die, you know. I can save us both.

  How? I argued back gently.

  My soul grew estranged from yours for years. It’s strong enough to pull your mess of a soul back together and fuse with it. At least let me try.

  Fine, I sighed, feeling myself slowly slipping away.

  The darkness never seemed so comforting before. I leaned in toward the darkness, letting the shreds of my soul become wrapped in Desdemona’s blanket of obscurity.

  The light in my eyes was fading away, replaced with a comforting darkness that embraced me and cushioned the pain. My thoughts became unfocused . . .

  Chris, I’m sorry I couldn’t show you how much I loved you.

  Ricky, tell Mom and Dad I’m sorry.

  Pa, forgive me for not being a friend to you when you needed me.

  Skylar, I’m sorry for pissing you off, but take care of each other, won’t you?

  Live. Be strong, be gentle, be courageous, be compassionate, love, and be loved.

  The darkness came closer, and I felt Desdemona’s dark soul wrap around mine as the pain completely faded away . . .

  Fateful Intervention

  Most people are afraid of the end. Death is frightening, a terrible concept that none of us can come to grips with. But if I told you I’d conquered it, what would you say to me?