by K MacBurn
Avis had also disappeared.
“Wha…? What happened?” Taylor looked around, worried they were going to appear behind her.
“He lost, and the Witch couldn’t let me finish it.” Tarak stood and looked up at her. He was covered in blood, both his and Ransidius’. “Without him, she is nothing, but now she has robbed him of an honorable death so he is also nothing. The Pride must reject him.”
Taylor didn’t fully understand, but she didn’t care when the Tiger’s hand slid into hers. He took her up the side of the temple, so they stood on the highest peak. Tarak’s roar thundered across the battlefield with such intensity it stopped combatants in their tracks.
“Your Lord is defeated! The Crow stole him from battle at his last breath. I claim victory!” He took a deep breath and bellowed his demand, “GO! Tuck tail between legs and retreat back to your lands.”
At first Taylor didn’t think they would listen, but it only took long enough for the next in command to make his voice heard. Riccem stood on a rocky outcrop.
“Sabres. We are done, fall back. This is no longer our fight.”
The pride did a tactical retreat, leaving loyalists and non-Sabre forces to their fates. Most of them fled as well, but a few loyalists stuck it out long enough to make their ends respectable.
Taylor felt the Tiger sink against her. Even with the potion he was severely injured and needed to rest.
They made their way down to the entrance of the temple where Taylor helped the Tiger sit. She stared at the blood and gore covering him, not knowing what to even do about it.
It was then that Jarden chose to make his appearance.
“Ho ho, look at you two.” He eyed them with disgust. “You would think after all those years of training, someone would have mentioned to stay out of the splash-zone, Fur-face.”
Tarak chuckled in exhaustion.
“You would think.”
Jarden didn’t even ask, he started to chant and let the blue healing mist do its job on the Tiger.
“That is good Monk, don’t waste your energy on me. The potion is still working so go try to help some of the rebellion.”
The Croc gave a toothy smile.
“Fine, fine. Are you injured?” Jarden eyed her skeptically.
“No, I am fine. This is mostly Tarak’s blood.”
The Croc gave a nod then smiled again.
“You cubs owe me an ale after all this. A big one.” He started to shuffle away, still talking but not to anyone in particular. “Booze and females. Maybe a soft bed. Wonder if Moana would be open to free services if I tell her I am a war hero?”
Taylor sat between Tarak’s legs and laid her head on his chest.
To exist in that moment was enough.
Chapter 16
It took a couple days for them to sort out the aftermath of the battle before they could make their trek back to the East gate.
Tarak made a full recovery after a good night sleep, and the aid of the blood-potion still in his veins.
Taylor remained by his side, because, for obvious reasons, she still had to guard herself from Animen looking to use her, and being around the Tiger was the safest place to be.
The entire village celebrated their arrival back at the East gate. Decorations and food lined the temple, with an offering to the Gods and to Tarak’s ancestors taking up large sections.
It was all bittersweet to the teen. She was looking forward to being back in her world where the beasts didn’t hunt her, but she had to admit she would miss the adventure and her friends.
She forced herself to enjoy these last moments and tried to commit everything she could to memory so she wouldn’t forget.
The music played as she watched Tarak dance with a tiny Deer fawn, her little hooves on top of his boots. Taylor glanced over to see Jarden sipping on a glass of wine close by. Now that she had time to relax, some concerns had come to her about the gate, and she decided now was the best time to talk to Jarden about it.
She slid into the seat next to the Monk and waited for him to acknowledge her.
“What do you want? Shouldn’t you be up there pawing over that Tiger?” He asked with a toothy smile.
“Can we talk?”
“Since we already are, I am inclined to say yes, but if you mean about something else, the answer is also yes.”
“I am worried about the gate,” she admitted, “It's one thing to have a single human like me fall through unexpectedly, but if my stepfather, or someone like him comes through, with guns, I am afraid it will destroy your world as you know it.”
“We have faced such evil beings before,” Jarden said, but doubted the truth to that statement right away when he saw the look on her face.
“Humans as individuals are good for the most part, but when we are in groups, or nations, we can do some horrible things for the sake of our own greed. I just don’t want to see this place ruined.”
“Are you saying we should destroy the gate?” Jarden asked surprised.
“No.” her voice cracked a bit, “And I know that is selfish of me, but I don’t want to lose my only way back to him.”
They both looked at Tarak for a moment.
“So, what do you propose?” Jarden finally asked.
“The Crow witch was working on reversing the gates, so Animen can go through to my world. Can that be done? Make it so you all can travel freely, but we can’t invade?”
“Yes,” he answered, but she sensed there was a but coming on. “But that magic is old, it is not something I alone can manipulate. Plus, if I were successful what happens if you want to come back?”
“It’s too big of a risk. My world would eat this one alive; Strip it of everything good.”
“That would take a lot of magic, and a lot of time. But, it could probably be done.” She could see him thinking on it now. His brow furrowed, and several minutes passed before he spoke again. “I will have to research and work on this for a while. I can’t make any promises.”
“That’s ok, when you send me back, provided the key is still there, I will hide it so no one can come back through until I know what is happening. And if your only option is to destroy it, I will understand.”
She patted Jarden on the shoulder as she left him to his thoughts.
Politely cutting in on Tarak’s next dance, she took the chance to enjoy the rest of the festivities with him.
The next morning, Taylor woke up to find herself curled under the Tiger’s chin with his arms wrapped around her. As soon as she stirred, he came around as well.
It felt like they should be talking, maybe spewing out their feelings and confessing an undying love or something, but they didn’t. They just laid there and enjoyed the physical closeness until it was time to get up.
The two made their way to the top of the Temple where Jarden and the village elder were waiting for them.
Jarden handed the Temple key to Tarak, and it was he who led Taylor to the gate.
Taylor hesitated for a moment before she turned and hugged the Tiger tight before kissing him with overpowering emotions.
“Thank you,” she whispered, “for everything.”
“It has been my honor,” Tarak leaned in to rest his forehead against hers.
They took a moment to just stand there.
“Someday it will be better, and then you can stay.” Tarak said with a smile. Taylor smiled back.
She couldn’t speak for fear of breaking, but he nodded his understanding.
The teen turned to Jarden and gave him a hug as well.
“Thank you,” she said before giving a nod in Tarak’s direction, “look after him for me.”
“Of course,” Jarden agreed. “The Fur-face takes down the biggest Sabre out there and he thinks he’s all grown! Pffft, cubs!”
She gave Tarak one last hug before turning and placing the key into the slot. As she rotated it, the air between the pillars rippled like water before a small point of light appeared in the middle.
A familiar feeling overcame her as she reached out for the light. Hundreds of hands reach out and pull her in before the sensation of falling enveloped her.
Still not quite prepared for the landing, Taylor hit the floor of the storage shed with a dull thud.
Her ribs screamed in pain and she had to take a moment to catch her breath.
The jade key was still on the floor where it had fallen. Picking it up she held it tight for a moment.
Before anything else, she needed to hide the key. Peering outside the shed door, she wasn’t shocked to see cop cars at the end of the driveway. She had probably been missing for a while, so it wasn't surprising someone noticed.
As fast as her newly bruised ribs allowed, she snuck out the back through the woods. She found an appropriate spot to hide the key before looping around onto the road down from her driveway. She had a vague story she had been working on for the police, consisting of half truths and elements they wouldn’t believe true outside a drug induced state.
Limping up the road, she saw it was Constable Hendricks and a uniformed officer standing at the end of her driveway, talking.
It took a moment for the Cop to notice her.
“Taylor!” He yelled when he saw her, “Oh thank you God! Taylor what happened? Where have you been?”
As he got closer and took in her state and the odd clothing, his concern only increased.
Grabbing her under the arm, he helped her sit on the cruisers hood while the other cop got a blanket from his car. Constable Hendricks took a step back and did an assessment before he called in an ambulance.
Bruises dotted her body here and there, her ribs were black and she had a nasty looking scar across her stomach.
“Taylor, can you tell me what day it is?”
Taylor thought for a moment.
“No,” she finally admitted, “How long have I been gone? I remember it was the day after I was talking to you on my run, something was odd at the house, so I went to check the locks. Then I felt hands grabbing me.” It wasn’t a full lie that was the sensation of going through the gate. “After that everything gets fuzzy. I know there was several men, one was trying to help me, most were trying to hurt me, and one did this.” She touched the scar.
Constable Hendricks listened intently, making a point not to interrupt in case it made her lose her train of thought..
“The one that was trying to help me eventually got me free.” She paused and looked at Constable Hendricks, “How long was I gone?”
“Almost a month.” He answered. Taylor groaned.
“Oh wow, felt a lot longer.” She admitted. She glanced at the house, “Where is my Mom?”
Constable Hendricks looked uncomfortable at that question. Taylor had to frown; she knew the answer.
“They didn’t bother leaving the cruise, did they? Probably said I took off or some shit to justify it?”
Hendricks nodded sadly.
“Whatever.” Taylor muttered suddenly wondering why she left Nexus, homicidal Sabres seemed a better trade off than her asshole mother.
“Can you tell me anything else about the men that took you?” The constable asked, getting back to the task at hand. Taylor shook her head.
“It's all pretty messed up,” she admitted.
“There anywhere else that hurts?”
“No, not really. I mean I am sore all over so it’s kind of just blending into one ache.”
“Can you lift your shirt a little Taylor? So I can get a good look at that wound.”
The Constable stiffened as Taylor lifted the edge of her shirt to show the still red jagged line that had been primitively stitched.
“Oh, Taylor. Maybe you should have started with that?” he breathed, “Where is my damn ambulance?” he yelled into his radio.
Taylor looked down at the bruises and knew what he was about to ask before he did.
“What else did these men do?” Constable Hendricks tried to keep his voice level, to soften the blow of the question.
Taylor flinched.
“I don’t remember much, and I don’t think I want to. So, if it is ok with you that can be a topic for another time.”
Constable Hendricks nodded, he understood.
The ambulance arrived and Taylor was transported to the local hospital.
The teen was kept overnight, just to make sure she was alright. The doctors were horrified to see the scar on her stomach, bite marks, and cuts on her arms, and the remnants of severe burns.
How far along the healing process was didn’t quite fit the timeline exactly, but no one had an answer to give the police. At least not one that was plausible.
With hours of interviews and police investigation, Taylor was at last allowed to return home.
Pip and Dwight picked her up, ecstatic she had been found safe and sound. They delighted in being able to recount all the action filled rumours that were floating around in relation to her disappearance.
Their enthusiasm was not shared by her mother, the woman could only pout that the local newspaper didn’t catch her good side when they came to interview her.
Tex glared at her, but said nothing.
Two weeks later Taylor was in her room, finishing up the last bit of packing she would need for university when Tex came into her room.
“You. Come with me, now!” He ordered.
Her stomach gave a sickening turn.
“I am a little busy can this wait?”
“No.”
Taylor let her face show her annoyance as she walked with him downstairs, then outside to the storage shed.
She faltered when she saw six heavily armed men sitting inside. Most of the equipment they had was illegal, but they didn’t look like they cared about things like laws.
Tex walked past her to where an old school VHS player was sitting and hit the play button. Her step-father didn’t trust digital surveillance, but it appeared as though a closed circuit system was just fine.
Taylor watched the grainy video of herself entering the building, rooting through the boxes then being sucked into the gate. It then jumped ahead to her being spit out in a similar fashion. He paused it on a frame of her holding the key.
A long moment of silence came after that. Taylor knew what they wanted, and her jaw set as she looked at Tex.
“I want that key, and I want to know exactly what is on the other side. The people, the area, everything.”
Tarak had put his life on the line to protect her from the evils of his world and to see that she got home. Now, she felt, it was her turn to put on a stone mask and act the martyr.
“No.” She squared her shoulders and clenched her hands into fists at her sides.
One of the men slowly got to his feet and eased a bowie knife from a sheath on his thigh.
“Don’t worry Tex, she will tell us.”
Taylor stared back at him.
“No. I will not.” Was her promise.
The End