05-07-2014, 08:04 AM
Elias's hands landed on her shoulders, the narrow press of his fingers squeezing tight. At first she presumed fear, but his breath only curled secrets in her ear, the length of his raven hair brushing her neck as he leaned in. And then the force of her protection was swept carelessly aside. It speaks to us. His words pressed a shiver through her, suppressed by the grim line of her mouth. Her concentration rocked.
He went to it, purposeful. And thrust a hand into its centre.
Tehya was powerless to stop any of it.
The Ijiraq keened a shrill cry. Elias's veins blackened like spilled ink rippling out over his pale skin, so fragile as to look almost translucent. A grimace burned pain into his expression, but his grip did not relent, and the connection pulsed. She had no proof, but suspicion began to darken a conclusion she dare not allow herself to complete. Though it offered a solution. Fiery strands hovered ready, glinting like blood in her peripheral. Ready to char both monsters.
She knew she should. The snake might as well have writhed on her wrist.
But she didn't.
When he let go the Ijiraq recoiled, dispersing loose in all directions that led away from its tormentor, its howl echoing distantly. Tehya drew the Flame, released it. Droplets steamed as they caught in the net. A few sparked then died singular deaths. Nothing ignited, and the Ijiraq continued to drift. Pinpricks of rain kissed her skin, burying like blades as it passed through her body. The cold fisted her heart, crushed it as though determined to squeeze out its last beat, then passed like ice-melt, rippling shivers in its wake.
The mist coalesced behind her; its presence felt like she leaned back on solid ice, pinioned by the dreadful cold. Strands of hair, caught in the creature's aura, tickled her cheeks; the Ijiraq mimicked the placement of Elias's hands, like it planned to use her as a shield. Hell sparked fury in Elias's eyes, and she was no longer certain what he was truly capable of, but her dark gaze held no plea. She was built for this. If he would not end it, she would.
Though if she burned it now, she would burn with it.
Ropes of power spiralled and tightened, but in the moment she released them to blaze, they frayed. It took a moment to realise the spirits were lulled by the creature at her shoulder, that as her carefully aligned weaves dissolved to nothing the Ijiraq had begun to inhale the very essence of light from her. It burned bittersweet, soothed her to quiet surrender. The first inkling of fear sparked in her gaze, surprised at first, then desperate. It grew a heavy burden. Heavy like sleep.
Then it withdrew without warning, wrenching the light and spirits from her grasp. Nothing remained of its presence.
Darkness rushed in the empty space, leaving her dizzy, lacing every limb with weakness. Through the black spots floating across her vision she saw Connor, and a few hazy connections put together that he had scared the Ijiraq off. She had no idea how he knew what he was doing, or if it was perhaps a fluke. Something to think on later, not now. Right now it was better to concentrate on keeping her feet, and regaining her composure. She was determined not to fall in front of these strangers, nor to invite their concern.
A rumble from the tunnel finally announced their train.
He went to it, purposeful. And thrust a hand into its centre.
Tehya was powerless to stop any of it.
The Ijiraq keened a shrill cry. Elias's veins blackened like spilled ink rippling out over his pale skin, so fragile as to look almost translucent. A grimace burned pain into his expression, but his grip did not relent, and the connection pulsed. She had no proof, but suspicion began to darken a conclusion she dare not allow herself to complete. Though it offered a solution. Fiery strands hovered ready, glinting like blood in her peripheral. Ready to char both monsters.
She knew she should. The snake might as well have writhed on her wrist.
But she didn't.
When he let go the Ijiraq recoiled, dispersing loose in all directions that led away from its tormentor, its howl echoing distantly. Tehya drew the Flame, released it. Droplets steamed as they caught in the net. A few sparked then died singular deaths. Nothing ignited, and the Ijiraq continued to drift. Pinpricks of rain kissed her skin, burying like blades as it passed through her body. The cold fisted her heart, crushed it as though determined to squeeze out its last beat, then passed like ice-melt, rippling shivers in its wake.
The mist coalesced behind her; its presence felt like she leaned back on solid ice, pinioned by the dreadful cold. Strands of hair, caught in the creature's aura, tickled her cheeks; the Ijiraq mimicked the placement of Elias's hands, like it planned to use her as a shield. Hell sparked fury in Elias's eyes, and she was no longer certain what he was truly capable of, but her dark gaze held no plea. She was built for this. If he would not end it, she would.
Though if she burned it now, she would burn with it.
Ropes of power spiralled and tightened, but in the moment she released them to blaze, they frayed. It took a moment to realise the spirits were lulled by the creature at her shoulder, that as her carefully aligned weaves dissolved to nothing the Ijiraq had begun to inhale the very essence of light from her. It burned bittersweet, soothed her to quiet surrender. The first inkling of fear sparked in her gaze, surprised at first, then desperate. It grew a heavy burden. Heavy like sleep.
Then it withdrew without warning, wrenching the light and spirits from her grasp. Nothing remained of its presence.
Darkness rushed in the empty space, leaving her dizzy, lacing every limb with weakness. Through the black spots floating across her vision she saw Connor, and a few hazy connections put together that he had scared the Ijiraq off. She had no idea how he knew what he was doing, or if it was perhaps a fluke. Something to think on later, not now. Right now it was better to concentrate on keeping her feet, and regaining her composure. She was determined not to fall in front of these strangers, nor to invite their concern.
A rumble from the tunnel finally announced their train.