Supersize had two weapons, I had none. When I’d run the walls like a human fly, I had a surge of hope. But my hopes were dashed. How can I kill a man if I have no weapon? No time to think about it. Supersize was coming at me with both swords blazing. Time to make like a cricket and leap.
I sprung through the air in time to miss being chopped like tuna at a sushi bar but not before he landed a gash across my thigh. I felt the warmth of blood trickle down my leg. I knew it would stop soon, but it still hurt like blue blazes. I didn’t know what to do with no weapon so I took to running again until I could figure something out.
Supersize wasn’t going to let me just run in circles anymore. He took to the air and leapt from wall to wall, occasionally finding purchase, and I’d get a new gash here or a slice there. I knew there were phenomenal healing powers in the Netherworld, but I intuitively knew that if I got injured badly enough, my death would come before I had the chance to heal.
Then I heard a familiar voice come from what seemed like a long way away. Jake yelled out, “Emily! Over there.” It seemed like it came from a dream. I turned my head to where Jake and Fanny were tied up, and I saw Jake point to the corner opposite from where they were bound.
There, by the fireplace, was a poker. It wasn’t the Sword of the Order, but it was something. No time to be choosy.
I ran over and down the wall, picked up the poker, and went back to running like a mad thing around that room. We were both moved so fast that we blinked in and out. I’d see supersize in front of me. I’d approach and thrust but he was gone. Occasionally I’d get a slash in on him, or he’d get a gash in on me, but mostly we ran and flew around like idiots.
I was so tired, I thought I’d drop. This had to end.
I glided down to the floor, beckoning him to join me. Sweat poured in rivulets down my back and between what little chest I had. My hair was soaked, and wisps of it clung to my face and neck.
When supersize landed I could see that our hours of fighting had slowed him too. His bare torso was completely slick, covered in sweat, his well-muscled chest heaving. If it weren’t for the fact that he was trying to kill me, he would have looked hot. But it was no time for a crush. I had to kill this guy so I could free Fan and Jake.
As supersize caught his breathe, I planted my feet like I’d learned from Madame Wong. I held the poker firmly in both hands out in front of me, ready for his offense. I took a long, deep breath in, closed my eyes, and focused. Aware. Alert. I felt the molecules in the air shift, heard the sound of his blades swirling and opened my eyes. Acting on instinct alone, I let my arms do what they knew how to do. I trusted my body to protect itself and went with the flow, my arms moving independent of my conscious thought, fending off blow after blow.
Finally, the moment had come. I felt it before I saw it. His guard was down for the smallest fraction of a second, and I swung the poker in an upper cut that caught his chin, took him off balance and down he went. As his hulking frame fell backwards, the Sword of the Order flew out of his weaker left hand and slid across the floor.
I willed my body to do several front flips to where the sword had landed. I scooped it up before supersize could reach it. I leapt to the air and came down behind him, planted again and ready. With the Sword back in my hand, I felt a renewed energy course through my body. As I brought the sword out in front of me, clasped in both hands, I could hear it sing.
Supersize took to the air and so did I. No running away from him this time. I leapt for him before he could gain speed and blink out of sight. My sword caught his hand and his broadsword went flying. I didn’t waste a single moment as I began hacking at him with my sword as he tried to run away. But I was on his tail and moving at the same rate that he was.
I did a flying somersault over him and landed in his path. Before he could even see me, I swung my sword low, taking his right leg off below the knee and sending him down to the floor, a river of blood flying in the air around him.
I knew that wouldn’t do it. In this place of mystery and magickal healing, I knew that if I left him there, he’d just grow a new limb in a few minutes. Time to do what I’d been sent there to do.
I landed beside him and pulled my sword up high, ready to thrust it deep into his heart. His coal black eyes were not filled with hatred or sadness. They did not plead with me to spare him. He looked into my eyes with the eyes of a true warrior, knowing that he was bested and ready to accept his fate.
It was a small gift that I knew Dughall wouldn't give me if it were he that lay there on the floor. But I was glad of it as I thrust hard, swift and true. The Sword of the Order sang out as it struck Super-size in the heart. He didn't say a word or make a sound, but soon he began to vanish. His eyes held mine to the last second.
As he vanished, the Sword of the Order vanished too, swept right out of my hand and back to the aether from where it came. My body ached as it had never ached before. At that moment, I wanted nothing more than to be in my own bed in my own house and sleep the sleep of the dead. But a recess of my brain remembered that Jake and Fan were tied up, held against their will.
I turned and ran to them, surprised my trembling and wobbly legs could still move. Super-size had bound them even tighter, and I didn't have the Sword of the Order to rip through the ropes. I began trying to untie them with my hands, the rough rope giving me burns.
Jake caught my eye. “You were amazing,” he said.
“Yeah, thanks Em,” said Fanny as I worked on the knots. Once I had Jake's hands free, he worked on the knots at his ankles while I worked Fan’s hands loose.
When they were finally free they stood and stretched, happy to be free of bindings that had held them for an unknown amount of time. I couldn’t believe they were there. I didn’t want them to leave. For a moment, I forgot about my T.V. receptor and how it came on when I touched people. I just wanted to hug them both to me and hold onto them so they’d stay.
With my arms stretched around them both the visions started at once. I saw a large explosion and Jake’s lifeless eyes looking up at me, his head covered in blood. I turned and saw Fanny’s leg sticking out of a pile of rubble.
I took my arms out of the embrace and backed away so the horrible scene would get out of my head. As I stepped back, the vision vanished. Then Fanny and Jake vanished too.
Tears instantly sprang to my eyes. Fanny. Jake. Gone.
The walls around me dematerialized as well, and I found myself once again in Madame Wong’s meadow. The sound of the stream was so peaceful and comforting after what I’d just been through.
Madame Wong sat in silent meditation, her eyes closed. She looked dead.
Exhausted beyond reason, I flopped down hard and sat cross-legged, too tired to put my legs in a lotus position. I sat and breathed hard. It took several minutes before my breath became slow and smooth.
“Miss Emily succeeded?”
“You know I did. I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t killed him,” I said. She didn’t open her eyes or say a word, but her mouth put on a small smile.
“Madame Wong, will it be time for me to leave soon – you know – to leave the Netherworld?”
“Your lessons with Madame Wong almost complete but not finished yet. When done here you must go to next Master.”
“I’ll have another teacher here? Who will it be?”
“Not Madame Wong’s place to tell you that. You must find teacher on your own.”
“But Madame Wong, that means that soon – soon I’ll leave you?”
“Yes, Miss Emily.”
The thought of leaving Madame Wong mixed with the emotion of seeing Jake and Fanny die in my vision then vanish before my eyes brought a flood of tears.
“There there Miss Emily,” she said as she gently hugged me. “You crying to leave Madame Wong? You miss my lessons, yes?”
“I’ll miss you,” I said. “You have taught me so much … ”
“You taught yourself,” she said.
“But Madame Wong, you don’t
keep the past. For you, memories are like ghosts. I’ll be no more than another ghost that you lock away, won’t I?”
“Memories not ghosts, Miss Emily. Just little birds. You will fly in from time to time. Madame Wong say hi then let you go. One of my little birds.” She patted my hand and winked at me.
“Rest now, Miss Emily,” she said. “After sleep, last lesson.”
I bowed to my teacher and crept into her cottage for what would be the last time that I slept there.
36. THE DARKEST WOODS
I woke after sleeping the longest, soundest sleep I’d ever had. I went outside and found Madame Wong in the same place she’d been each day before, still as a statue in a perfect handstand. How long can she hold that pose?
I sat on the ground across from her as I had become accustomed to and waited for her to speak. I was just about asleep when I heard her ancient voice croak, “Relaxed, Miss Emily?”
“Well, yeah, I am actually.”
“Good, good. For your lesson today, must be extremely relaxed.”
“I’m ready for this lesson.”
“Yes, Madame Wong agree. This lesson, hardest for some to learn. I ask you question today.”
“Okay, I can answer a question.”
“Who are you?”
“Who am I?”
“Is there echo in my mist? You have question, now answer.”
“Who am I? Well, I am Emily, of course.”
“No. That is a name. Does not answer question. Again, who are you?”
“Well, I’m a girl. And my name is Emily. I am a human … ”
“No, no, no. Names only. Does not answer. Who are you?”
“Well, I don’t know then. I think I’ve answered your question.”
“You think you ready, but you don’t know who you are? Maybe Madame Wong put it to you another way. What are you?”
“Well isn’t that different? Who I am. What I am. Two different things.”
“No different. Same question. Answer now.”
“Well I don’t know. I’m molecules and cells. Water and carbon.”
“You describe that thing you call body that you drag around with you. What are you?”
“I guess I don’t what I am. If I’m not this body, then what am I?”
“Don’t ask me! I thought you knew who and what you are.”
“Come on, stop with the riddles. I don’t know what you’re asking me.”
“Only you can answer who you are.”
“Apparently I don’t know who I am. How can I find out?”
“Ah, that is good question. That I have answer for. Come.” She gracefully exited out of her handstand and began to walk.
I followed Madame Wong as she walked through her little yard and into a deep, dark wood. I don’t remember this being here before. We walked silently for a long time, ever deeper into woods so thick you could barely see your way. We came to a small clearing, scarcely large enough for both Madame Wong and myself. There she stopped and gestured me to sit on the ground.
“Most important question, one you must find answer to, what you are. You will journey on your own now, to find answer. This wood will help you. Listen well to the trees. They will guide you. When you have answer to question, you will find me.”
“But how do I find you? I’m lost here. I wasn’t paying attention to how we got here, and I didn’t mark my way.”
Madame Wong rose from the ground and walked away. I was up in a flash.
“You can’t just leave me here! I don’t know what I’m doing. I could be here for days.”
“Maybe months, even years,” she added.
“What? This is going too far. Look, I’ve played along. But this isn’t right. Jake and Fanny – even my dad – they need me. I don’t have time to sit in the woods.”
“Miss Emily. Such a Youngling. Your journey here will be long one I fear. You have seen you can create all that you need here yet you do not accept it. Yes, long journey.”
“Well if I can create whatever I want, then I’ll create a road out of this mess.”
“Once you have answered the question, a path as clear as the morning sun will appear before you and lead you to next phase of your journey.”
“I was afraid you were going to say that. Loophole.”
“Madame Wong leave now, Miss Emily. Madame Wong return when Miss Emily have answer.”
And with that, she was gone. No puffs of smoke or wave of a wand or anything. Just there one minute, the next vanished.
I stood alone in the darkest woods I could imagine. I didn’t have any food or water, no flashlight or other provisions. Just me in the dark. With Madame Wong gone it seemed even colder and darker in the small clearing. All I could think about was getting out of there.
I wasn’t interested in answering her question, but I figured by the time I found my way out of the woods, I’d have something worked out to say to her. Walking again, destination unknown.
37. AKASHA
I walked for what seemed like days. I never saw light shining from outside the thick wood. After a long while, I saw a clearing and I ran. I was so excited that I might finally be out of the woods.
When I got to the clearing I cried. I wasn’t out of the woods after all. I was right back at the same clearing where Madame Wong had left me. I’d walked in circles.
I sat down with my head in my hands. “Get a grip Emily,” I said to myself. I had to find a way out of that place.
I was determined not to go in circles. I got up and walked in a direction that was at a ninety-degree angle from the direction I had traveled last time. There was no way to end up back in the same place going in that direction. And as added insurance, I thought about a large bagful of peanuts in the shell. A bag materialized in my hand. Something to eat and something to mark my way.
Off I went again. I ate the peanuts and dropped the shells as I went. I walked like that for many hours. The supply of peanuts was endless. My stomach hurt from the pain of eating too much. I have to be out of these woods soon. I looked down and could not believe my eyes. I was walking on a path littered with peanut shells. And in just a few minutes I was back to that same clearing.
I had felt sad before, even depressed, but until then I’d never felt complete despair. I felt like I was at the end of my rope and it would never get any better. I was beyond tears. What’s the point of even crying? I was in a living hell. I’d wandered in circles in a dark, cold wood, all alone. Utterly, completely, helplessly alone. And my friends were out there, somewhere, in our world wondering what had happened to me. By now Dughall has probably succeeded in whatever evil plan he has.
What can I do? What’s the point of any of it? It was clear that I wasn’t getting out of there by walking out. I’d just end up in circles again. I sat down on the ground and curled up in a ball and tried to sleep. I was lying there thinking about how pleasant it would be to at least have a comfy beanbag chair to lie on when one appeared. It was all fuzzy and so comfy.
Now that’s more like it. Funny how a stupid beanbag chair could make life seem a little less hopeless. “How about a warm blanket,” I said aloud. Bam, there it was. I’d conjured a fuzzy, peachy soft blanket. Now for a nap.
I lay there, curled up on the beanbag, snuggled in my blanket. I wanted so badly to sleep. But sleep didn’t come. Instead, I just lie there fully awake.
“What am I supposed to do here?” I screamed into the woods.
No answer.
I’d rather spend my days facing Madame Wong’s blade than sit alone in these dark woods by myself.
I was one hundred percent alone. No T.V. No cell phone. No computer. No people. Just completely, totally, utterly alone.
There were many times, living with Muriel the Mean and Zombie Man, that I thought it would be much better to live alone. But my experience of alone? Well, it’s not what it’s cracked up to be.
“Apparently I’m supposed to sit in this stupid clearing until I figure out – what was it that I was sup
posed to figure out? Oh yeah, who I am,” I said aloud to no one but myself. Talking to yourself – not a good sign.
I sat on the beanbag chair, not quite asleep, but not quite awake either. I heard the sound of wind in the trees surrounding me. I thought I heard a voice. It sounded like it came from the trees. The breathy voice sounded like it was saying ‘breathe’. “Listen to the trees,” Madame Wong had said. So I closed my eyes and did what I thought I’d heard the trees say. I breathed. Open the receiver.
I concentrated on the rise and fall of air going in and out of my lungs. I found my mind got more and more quiet. If a thought came in, I just let it go like Madame Wong had taught me. Little birds. I concentrated instead on the steady flow of air going in and out, in and out, in and out …
After immeasurable breaths, I felt weightless. No sound. The breathy whisper of the trees was gone. I didn’t even hear the air going in and out of my nose. Complete emptiness. I knew instinctively that a part of me was no longer in the darkest wood.
Where am I? I knew that wasn’t the right word. ‘I’ didn’t seem to describe me anymore. Am I floating? Not so much floating as just being without any effects of gravity.
If I'd had eyes, I would have seen the most beautiful sight. It was like trillions and trillions of stars, tiny and large and miniscule and epic, all twinkling and pulsating and connected one to the other by what seemed like an almost invisible filament.
This cosmic string pulsated too. And it created a sound, like a low, melodic hum. As I tell this, I realize it’s hard to explain in words what I felt. It wasn’t just that each star was connected only to the next closest by this pulsating string. Instead, it was like all the lights were connected to each other all at once in every direction by this nearly invisible throbbing web.
I’ve seen graphics of the nerves in your brain and how there are those spiderlike dendrites that finger out to each other. It was like that, but all lit up and pulsating with life.
The Akasha Chronicles Trilogy Boxed Set: The Complete Emily Adams Series Page 17