Chapter 15
Grace had waited biting her nails nervously as horrible images of what could be happening to her new boyfriend until she couldn’t take it anymore grabbing her jacket she ran out of the house locking the door behind her.
Jumping in her car she tried to push the thoughts out of her had as she peeled out zooming down the road back towards town, she had remembered there was a side road that had been blocked off by a couple of boards that were just thrown in place.
“Maybe that road leads to where these light clans are and I can get them to help.” She thought not completely thinking clearly because of the worry she was feeling.
The moment she passed the boards on the blocked road it was like she had entered a different world Grace wasn’t quite sure why she was able to see the hidden world and for the first time she mused if it was normal for regular people to see this stuff and then forget or if she had spent so much time around the Spirit Warriors that some might have rubbed off on her.
As she drove further into the forest she almost couldn’t believe what her eyes told was there, Sprites and Fairies darted around the higher branches of the trees in what looked to Grace like a game. Lost in the magic of the trails the creatures are leaving as they fly back and forth for a second Grace fails to see the massive group of creatures marching towards her car until it was too late and a massive giant slams his fist into front of the hood sending her car flipping into the air where the car lodged in the branches of a tree.
Shaking the stars from her vision Grace struggles to hear the booming voices of the creatures arguing.
“Sending a car to try and run us over is low even for you Harken.” The giant bellowed slamming a club into the ground so the Earth rumbled throwing another group of creatures she hadn’t noticed that had gathered behind her vehicle.
“You’re thicker than I first believed if you think I had anything to do with that Linden.” The blond haired elf at the front of the group answered.
Staring out of the window as she unbuckled herself Grace began to notice that the Sprites and Fairies weren’t dancing or playing but instead were fighting hard against one another but were now slowly separating into groups above the two forces.
“Like I would believe a lair like you.” Linden answered.
“I don’t really care what the hell you believe ugly now give up the traitor or we will forcibly take her from you.” Harken answered.
“She is innocent and if you had any goodness left inside of you left we would be allowed to take her to the Spirit Warriors so they could prove it!”
“The Spirit Warriors can’t protect us any longer, the barrier fades and they have become as useless to us as our alliance here.” Harken snapped.
Growling as a wave of anger swept over the group with Linden he holds up his hand for them to be silent. “Now those sound like the words of a traitor to me, turning your back on the clans of light and the warriors who have fought and died for us.”
“It’s not being a traitor it’s being smart, I have no desire to join the dark clans or its leaders. I purpose we flee to another clan home where we can add to their numbers and strength us all.” He yells for everyone to hear him.
Matching his voice to try and keep the followers he has Linden turns looking at them all while shouting forcefully. “A pretty tale but why don’t you tell them how we will be attacked by every creature imaginable from the dark clans and during the journey probably more than half of us would be killed not to mention the death of the warriors who have lost most of their family defending us.”
“I’m not saying that the journey wouldn’t be dangerous but the warriors can come with us and protect us along the journey besides there are only three of them left at least four of them need to be here to keep the barrier strong.” Harken pointed out.
“You know during the trip they would sacrifice themselves for us and if the barrier is getting weaker then why did suddenly every traitor get pulled from our home and safe place? It seems to me that the barrier is once again strong.” Linden retorted.
“Fair assessment but then by your own rationale Lindsey can’t be a traitor because as you pointed out all of the traitors were pulled out of the barrier past the boundary line.” He smiled believing he had him at last.
“She held on to a doorway as the vortex dragged out the dark members the fact that she held on long enough doesn’t prove her innocents only her power which makes her all the more dangerous.” He growled staring at the elven girl standing right behind the giant.
“You will not see reason even when it is slapping you in the face, understand that she will not be going with you.”
“Times have changed Linden things are not as cut and dry as they once were, traitors have walked among us, they have corrupted good people and we are down to three warriors it is time we took matters into our own hands.” Harken answered stomping towards the opposite group again ready to fight.
Grace had finally climbed out of her upside down car and was laying flat hoping to remain unseen forming a plan involving her running in fear as quick as her legs might take her but when she heard this guy talking bad about Caleb and the others reason went right out the window.
Standing defiantly on the car she yelled at the top of her lungs at the two groups surprised at the force in her own voice. “You are a coward! Maybe if you and the rest of your precious little light clan members had stood up and fought along side the warriors they would still be alive and the barrier strong, even now they have gone to fight on your behalf risking themselves once again oh and a little bit of information, there isn’t just three warriors, Caleb’s twin brother is alive and even though he is untrained he still went to fight along side the others!”
For a second everyone was silent staring at Grace until Lindsey stepped forward. “Who the hell are you and why should we care?”
Stunned and suddenly feeling very awkward Grace fidgeted a little bit with all the eyes on her. “I’m Grace, I’m Caleb’s girlfriend.”
Another round of silence hit the group for a moment before every creature laughed so loud and hard the ground shook and the her car nearly fell out of the tree.
“You? You look like a normal human, what are you another Spirit Warrior?” Linden questioned.
“No…I am a regular human.” She answered shyly.
Instantly the laughter stopped and was replaced by a roar of growls and anger.
“Then you are trespassing and are no better than the rest of the scum out there that treat us like we are less than nothing, I don’t care who you are screwing you have no say here.” Harken hollered.
“At least I got them to stop fighting with each other now all I have to do is survive.” She thought. “You’re right I don’t have a say here, I am just a regular human and I can’t tell you what to do. All I wanted to do was state my opinion and tell you that there are four good people out there risking their lives for you right now, shouldn’t you give them the courtesy of at least speaking with them on this matter before you make a choice?”
“The norm has a point.” A gremlin shouted appearing next to her on the car. “And if Caleb trusts her then so do I.”
The crowd looked like it was about to begin shouting again until a seven foot tall man dressed in a black robe appeared in a tuff of black smoke. “I believe she has every right to speak here, human or not she is inside the barrier and the humans are under the protection of the warriors as much as we even if they do not know it. By that reasoning she too has a right to speak when it regards all of our survival.”
“Blackfire I don’t agree.” Linden said firmly.
“I don’t care if you or anyone else agrees with me Linden from this point on the girl is under my protection if anyone cares to challenge me in that regard feel free.” He smiled rising off the ground as massive bat wings sprung from underneath his coat.
“You would fight us to protect a human?” Questioned Harken stepping backwards in fear.
“I would fig
ht anyone who wishes to be a bully to someone simply because they are different no matter whom they may be.” He answered blasting Linden with a light that threw him far into the crowd as he tried to sneak up and attack Blackfire from behind. “Any other challengers?”
“What do you think we should do Blackfire? Stay or flee?” Questioned someone from the back.
“I don’t care what any of you choose, I stand with the warriors just as I always have. The rest of you can do what you please search your owns hearts and see what is there.” He said flying up to Grace who backs away fearfully. “Have no fear miss I will not hurt you come with me and I will give you safety until the warriors can retrieve you.”
“Who are you exactly?” She questioned inching closer to him.
“I am known as Blackfire the last warlock left in the clans of light all of my kind that was here one by one fell victim to the darkness inside them and if I may ask what dear child is your name?”
“I am Grace can I ask…how did you stay…?” She questioned grabbing her outstretched hand.
“Good?” He finished for her.
“Yes.”
“Vigilance my dear.” He smiled.
“What of Lindsey?” Harken asked as Blackfire lifted into the air holding Grace.
“That is a matter to be settled by the warriors in my opinion, fighting each other is not the answer.” He said simply as he soared off over the crowd which slowly dispersed.
“Will they listen to your advice?” Grace questioned as the wind whistled in her ears.
“Perhaps, most of the clan does because I am among the oldest. I have been here since the barrier was first formed.” He said calmly.
“That’s a long time…you look great for your age.” She answered awkwardly unsure of what to say next. “Do you think that girl is actual a traitor?”
“Only the warriors will know for sure, it doesn’t matter what anyone else believes.”
“How will they know the truth?” She wondered out loud.
“Since the warriors are one with the spirits of all things they can do what they call a soul search, merging themselves with the persons spirit they can read the truth inside of them whether they wish to know or not.” He answered.
“They never cease to amaze do they?” She smiled thinking about Caleb.
“No they don’t.” He agreed as they descended to a small town with maybe a hundred buildings.
Grace was surprised at the sight of the town she had harbored an image of wood shacks and people farming like something from a story long ago but instead it looked completely modern. There were a couple of department stores and clothing stores, a grocery store marked the beginning of the town and the end of it. The houses were grouped together in a strategic circle for easy defense apparently not convinced they were ever truly safe.
“Welcome Grace to the town of Radiance, home of the clans of light look around as while I find the warriors and let them know you are here.”
Spirit Warriors The Tunnel Of Light Page 15