Nothing less than the wo.., p.18
Nothing Less Than the World, page 18
Alana curled up in a fetal position on her chair and her mind went blank. She was running from the pain. She couldn’t think. She couldn’t move. Heather was her passion, her reason for living. As she sat there she slipped into her haven without realizing she was and she was facing all of the guardians.
Marilyn stepped up first and said, “You can do this. Finish this so no lives are lost in vain. We believe in you. Don’t let the world end for your own pain. You aren’t the first or the last to lose loved ones but if you don’t finish then all the others you love will also suffer. Rise up guardian and save the world.”
Marcelius just looked at her and the single tear on his face that showed his compassion for her caused Alana to find her heart. She left her haven and stood up. She warned the pilots she was leaving the plane soon. Her senses were cast out to their farthest and the moment the magic users came into her awareness she slipped out of the plane and turned into a fireball streaking to the middle of the temple. It was built underground but in Alana’s current state of mind she wouldn’t let anything be a barrier to her. The moment she was in range she was opening the earth and she shot through the roof of the temple.
She found herself in the room where the sacrifices had occurred facing fifteen magic users but none were Quionnes. Alana’s sword was in her hand and she saw the fear in her enemies. They attempted to attack but every spell was defeated and Alana gracefully cut down each. Stepping left and right and rolling in perfect time she had the room cleared in two minutes and she was walking the halls. Stepping into a door on the left hand wall she found the private room of Quionnes but no one was in there so Alana continued down the hall. She knew where she would find her enemy. She came to a set of ornate double doors she knew led to the chamber.
A spell to blow the doors off came seconds before Alana saw who was on the cloth covered altar and Alana didn’t hesitate. Her sword was flying through the air to cut off the hand holding the dagger that was just then descending to impale the stomach of Heather Vincent.
Quionnes turned disbelieving eyes on the guardian as Alana used her magic to force the dagger out of its path downward and change to fly into the stomach of the woman who nearly made the guardian witness her love’s death. Alana ran in and kicked Quionnes onto her side to separate her from Heather.
“The world should suffer for the torment it puts those in who are born different. I didn’t ask to be born as I am. Why should I accept a life of daily agony for something I didn’t have any control over?”
“Everybody must endure some pain in their life. You have caused me more pain than I thought I could ever endure and yet I still love people. You don’t get to take you anger out on the innocent just because you suffer a little pain. Pain is a part of life. Now you shall go to you master and suffer more pain than you ever endured.”
Alana turned her head for a second and saw the rise and fall of Heather’s chest then she turned back to catch Quionnes attempting to cast a spell. Alana sent a block of the ceiling down to crush the woman. Alana turned on hearing Heather groan. The brown-haired love of the guardian sat up and screamed, “Mildred!”
Alana was holding her in an instant on the floor as she didn’t want Heather anywhere near the mirror. As they sat there cradling each other, as if the will to let go had left them, the room began to chime with a sound that jarred their souls. Alana forced Heather to her feet and they backed away from the mirror. The eye appeared and Alana felt more fear than ever being in its actual presence.
Tortan said in a voice that grated on their bones, “I am not done. I will be back and next time the guardian will not defeat me.”
Alana found some courage as she said, “I destroyed the books. Without those you truly will become the forgotten god.”
Alana felt the rage and forced Heather to run as the temple began to tear itself apart. A block fell from the ceiling and shattered the mirror. With the power of Tortan contained in the mirror the resulting explosion forced Alana to find the room she first appeared in and use much of her remaining strength to simply fly her and Heather out. She felt the drain but she had to keep them going for nearly five miles as the land became a crater. By the time Alana exhaustedly brought them down Botswana had a new canyon.
Alana and her love lay side-by-side on the edge of the canyon just trying to find the will to believe they were still alive. Alana found a small amount of energy to tilt her head backward to see the man who just blocked the sun, “Are you going to carry me home?”
Frank Lintel smiled as he replied, “I could but I think I could only manage one of you. I have a jeep if you can find the strength to get into it. We found where the children were being housed. Fortunately it’s about twelve miles from here. They’re being sorted and sent home.”
Hearing this gave Alana the will to roll over and she saw the vehicle. She inspired Heather to follow her example and they crawled to it. Then they pulled themselves up and made sure the seatbelts were fastened as they had nothing left to ensure they stayed in the vehicle. Less than a day later Alana and her love were on the plane headed home. Each was sound asleep for the whole trip.
Benjamin was waiting at the airport for them when they landed. He had a sorrowful face as he said, “The President paid to have your house cleaned. Mildred has been made ready for burial. I’m sorry.”
Alana pulled him in for a hug and said, “She’s just one more hero who lost her life helping me. I’m happy I still get to see your shiny white smile when you feel like letting it out. Take us home, Benjamin.”
Once they were in the manor Alana and Heather buried themselves in their room for ten days just loving each other in all ways. Benjamin turned out to be good at cooking too so he brought their meals. On the eighth day Alana called Agent Spiller and asked her to find her family and send them to her house in Texas. They arrived on day ten.
Tears came when Alana explained about Greg and Samantha. Alana endured the heartrending calls to each of their parents to explain. Billy clung to his sister and Alana’s parents just cried for a whole day in relief that it was over. Deana and Thomas became doting parents to both girls as they welcomed Heather into the family.
Alana endured phone calls from the President and the leaders of other countries she had managed to save. Alana did everything she could to deter anyone who wanted to make a public spectacle of her. She told them she did it because it was the right thing to do and didn’t want to become a public figure for it. She just wanted people to be happy the world was safe until the next time a guardian was called up.
The guardian and her love traveled back to Colorado for a week so they could see Heather’s parents and to answer the call by Samantha and Greg’s parents to see them. Alana gave them all the answers she could and endured the grief and pain in person this time.
Alana then took Heather with her and they went to visit Jason, “So you didn’t need me after all.”
“I could use your help with something.” Alana blushed a bit as she continued, “Would you be willing to donate some sperm? Heather and I want to have a child and we could think of no one better to be the father than you. You just aren’t going to get the chance for normal implantation.”
Jason smiled and said, “Can I at least be a real father to the child?”
“Of course, who else is going to help train the child?” Jason didn’t find it very amusing as the girls started laughing. Alana continued, “Relax; there seems to be four or five generations between the need. I’ve talked to Marilyn and I keep my abilities but I was cautioned about not using them for anything unless it’s necessary. I’m still officially the guardian until it’s my turn to be placed in the tomb. If Heather and I have our way that’ll be in eighty or more years.”
One month later Alana and Heather were each competing for space over the toilet bowl as they decided to learn the joys of pregnancy together. The road to their long boring life began but first they had to bring their children into the world.
Old Powers Reborn
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CC3IBWM
Arielanna’s Wrath
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CGSFJVO
Enchanted Tech
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E8XSXWM
D.A. Smith, Nothing Less Than the World
