Discover L (Book 2) | Editing |

~~ Pass The Blame ~~

She watched the magic strike Andrei with a fatal blow. The satisfaction she felt at seeing him disappear in a cloud of smoke was almost overwhelming. She took a deep breath and turned towards Robbie and Bryce. Clapping her hands together, she unravelled the magic of her illusion. But something was wrong. The scene around her didn't end when it was supposed to. L stared around at the historic street in confusion. It should have disappeared when she removed the spell. What was going on?

Suddenly, things did start to change around her. The townspeople vanished, as did the pyre, but the flames remained. They, however, seemed to have gained a life of their own as they raged towards L and circled her. She raised a barrier and watched on in sheer confusion. The flames shifted from orange to blue, and a cold, maniacal laugh pierced the air. L seethed when a tall, dark figure appeared on the other side of the flames.

"Did you think that little parlour trick would work on me?" He laughed harder and wagged a finger at her. "I've lived for centuries, child, I have more experience than you could even comprehend. This is almost laughable."

L curled her lip, "Big deal. It doesn't mean you can defeat me. I'll just have to be more creative in finding a way to kill you."

Andrei raised a hand, and the flames grew in height and intensity. "You still think you can beat me? That's cute." He stopped in front of her and leaned towards the flames. "I don't like cute, so it's time to say goodbye."

He reached for his abdomen and pulled out the dagger, barely flinching at the action. L watched closely, ready to react to whatever he planned to do next. He stepped into the flames as if they were nothing more than a sprinkle of water, and pushed up against the barrier.

"Goodbye, Keeper, and good riddance."

He raised a hand and brought the dagger down at speed. It glinted as it passed straight through the barrier and rendered it useless. Andrei must have done something to it, and now L could feel the heat of the flames. He was too fast and too resourceful, and she watched the dagger head straight for her chest. She reacted too slowly, raising her hands to stop him when suddenly someone else was crouching above her.

She stared up at Bryce, who was looking down at her while his back was to Andrei. He smiled cheekily down at her, pressing his hand to her chin.

"I'm sorry... I won't be able to keep that promise."

L was confused about his meaning until she saw the dark red blood trickling out of the corner of his mouth. Her heart stopped beating at that moment, and she watched in shock and horror as Bryce collapsed against her. The dagger was sticking out of the left side of his back, shining eerily in the blue light of the flames.

"Ah, young love, despicably sickening." Andrei's scathing voice remarked from somewhere nearby. "But you should admire the sacrifice. Don't Keepers live for being saved by others."

L barely registered what he was saying. She scrambled to pick Bryce up, staring down at his pale face and grabbing onto his trembling hand.

"Bryce, come on. Hang in there, and we'll get you patched up. You'll be okay, I know you can beat this."

"He... infused it with magic, L. There's no... patching up." He reached up to hold her cheek in his hand.

"No, we've been through worse. You've been through worse and survived. It's too much, too quick. Come on, fight it, I can't lose you as well... please, Bryce." L pleaded with him.

She couldn't do this, she couldn't lose him, not ever and especially not after her parents. She tried to think of a way to stop the magic and to heal him. There had to be something she could do; she'd do anything. Her brain wouldn't move, shock and panic were setting in.

"I'm sorry... for everything... and I- I..."

Bryce stared longingly into her eyes, and L heard him take his last shaky breath. A sudden wind picked up, and to L's anguished despair, Bryce's body began to disintegrate before her very eyes. The ash fell through her fingers, and she felt her heart fall into her stomach. It was as if time stood stil, and even her own thoughts couldn't move past it. This couldn't be happening; it had to be an illusion of some kind. There was no way that Bryce was really gone.

She stood up and turned on Andrei, who was smiling giddily at her. He hadn't attacked her this whole time, too busy enjoying the scene of her despair, no doubt.

"I'm assuming you wanted to keep him around?" He smirked at her.

L screamed and charged at Andrei. She was frantic as she clawed, spat, and blasted her way around him. She didn't care what happened now as long as she could go and find Bryce. She refused to accept that he was gone; she just had to end this and find him, wherever he was. Andrei was struggling to avoid her now, and though her attacks weren't stronger or coordinated, she was gaining ground.

Without warning, the scene changed around them, and they were back in the cavern. Andrei was backing up again, but this time, he was moving towards Robbie. L swallowed the lump in her throat when she realised Bryce wasn't fighting alongside him anymore. She shook her head, trying to get rid of the truth that was trying to settle there.

"I'm going to take this one away as well." Andrei jeered. He was entirely too happy.

L felt something snap inside of her, and she stopped in her tracks.

"Robbie, get out of here. Go find the Jadavah. Now." L instructed him in a voice that left no room for arguments.

She didn't wait for a response. This was the only way to stop Andrei from getting away. She reached deep inside for every vestige of magic she could summon and glared at Andrei. She reached towards the ceiling and kept eye contact, pulling as hard as she could. The sound of crashing rocks echoed around them, and the smug look on Andrei's face disappeared.

He peered up at the ceiling of the cavern and back to L, who pulled again. The noise of collapsing rock was deafening, and the ground shook when the first stones hit.

"You're bringing the mountain down around us? Are you crazy?!"

L smirked, "I think I might be, but as long as it stops you, it's fine by me."

Andrei stared wildly, but he didn't seem to think she was serious. He advanced on her, but L held up her hand and split the rock directly above them.

"Come near me, and it all ends sooner. I just want to watch you squirm for a little longer."

L knew she should be bothered about being the last Keeper and preserving the knowledge, but she couldn't seem to make herself care at that point. If she had to take herself out in the process of killing him, then so be it. She sent numerous boulders flying towards the exit, blocking Andrei's only escape with her own magic. She was glad to see Robbie was nowhere in sight and hoped the Jadavah would help him get home.

She took a deep breath and allowed the grief to fill her body, turning her numb to everything else. There was nothing to do now, but accept the crashing of the rocks and wait for the inevitable peace that would follow. She could hear Andrei scrambling to figure a way out, and that was satisfaction enough for her. She pulled on the ceiling of the cavern and with one last big tug, she would send everything crashing down. She embraced the end and found comfort in knowing she'd be reunited with her parents and Bryce.

With one last crashing blow, something smacked the back of her head, and L was sent hurtling into darkness.