Fan Fiction ❯ The Four Lords ❯ Inside the Barrier ( Chapter 24 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Alex, Kiba, and Brittany collapsed on the ground in a heap as Alex gasped for air. “Damn, that took more out of me than I thought. By the looks of it, it didn’t even get us out of Celine’s territory either, shit.” Alex coughed up a little more blood as he looked over at Brittany who was sitting on her knee’s staring at him with worry. She quickly looked away when he turned his attention on to her.

Dammit, that fool’s going to get himself killed because of me. He looks terrible, and I can’t do anything because of this damn restraint. Then again, Alex might not even want me too get close to him. I still can’t believe that he really hates me though! Why would he come all this way unless he really cared about me. Still, I want to hug him, I want him to hold me and tell me everything’s okay, but we can’t.

“Brittany, I know you probably don’t want to be around me right now and you probably want to kill me, but I couldn’t let Celine have you. I know no amount of apologizing will undo what I said, but believe me, I didn’t mean it. Now is neither the time nor place for me to go into detail, so please any feelings of hate you have for me...please wait until we get home to show them. You can scram, yell, hit do whatever you want to me, just let us get home first. I’m not asking you not too hate me, just please tolerate me a little longer.” Alex said softly. His eyes were full of pain, not from his wounds but from what he was saying and what he believed to be true.

Brittany turned her head to look at Alex as her eyes began to tear up. Alex...I was right. You never meant those words, but your wrong I don’t hate you. You’ve been torturing yourself with emotions just as I have. Now that we can finally be together I can’t tell you how I feel. I’ve got to get this damn thing off! Brittany thought as she scooted over to Alex to show him that she wasn’t mad. Kiba stood of looking at the two, knowing they needed time to talk but also knowing that this wasn’t the place to do it.

Alex was looking at the sky, trying to figure out how to get out of there. It was then that he felt a small hand rest on top of his and a hand slowly stroke his cheek. Alex turned in shock as he faced Brittany. Before he realized what he was doing Alex pulled Brittany close to him and hugged her tightly. Brittany returned the hug, but made sure hers was softer since Alex was still hurt very badly. “I’ve missed you so much. I promise that if you want to stay, I will never let anyone take you away from me again. Let’s see about getting that restraint off your mouth.” Alex said with a weak smile on his lips. As Brittany sat back so Alex could look at it she realized that she was covered in his blood. She looked at with worry as she ran her hands across his chest.

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine...just some flesh wounds.” Alex said with a smirk. He reached up to fell her restraint. That’s not good. This kind of restraint is very powerful. The more force you put on it, the tighter it restrains the person. I’ll have to cut this one off of her.

Alex was about to tell Brittany what he was going to do when he felt a cold chill surge through his body. He could tell that Kiba and Brittany felt the same thing as they both shivered slightly. Kiba turned to Alex with wide eye’s as they exchanged glances. “We’d better go. Brittany put this on to keep you warm okay. I’ll have to take that restraint off of when we get to a better place.” Alex said as he handed Brittany his cloak which Kiba had brought with him. Brittany nodded as she took the cloak and wrapped it tightly around her. Alex kneeled before her. “We need to hurry so get on my back so I can carry you.”

“My Lord you are wounded, shouldn’t I be the one to carry the lass?” Kiba asked with disbelief that Alex could even stand much less run carrying someone on his back.

“No, she’s my mate and I’ll be damned if I let someone else carry her. I’ll be fine, I just don’t want to.... Dammit just let me carry her okay!” Alex snapped. I just want to have her close to me. Alex’s eyes were filled with sadness and longing as he looked at Brittany. His eyes drifted to the ground as he started to get up. “Maybe you’re right Kiba, maybe you should.....”

Alex was stopped as Brittany gently placed her hand on his back. No, I’ve missed you too Alex. I know what you feel and if me just being with you will help, then I’ll be more than glad to. You came to rescue me, now it’s my turn rescue you. Alex smiled as he kneeled back down and let Brittany get onto his back. Kiba shook his head but didn’t say a word knowing full well that neither one of them would listen to him.

Alex winced slightly at the pain but didn’t say anything as he stood up. “Okay then, we’d better hurry. Kiba, you know what to do right?” Alex asked as he looked over at him. Just as he said this snow began to lightly fall around them causing them both to pale.

“Let’s go before the Hunter’s pick up our trail.” Kiba said as both him and Alex sprinted through the forest.

Hunters...so that’s why we’ve got to hurry. They are creature’s whose sole purpose is to find and capture their prey. I remember reading about them in one of Alex’s books. Evidently they seek out their targets by following their heat sources. They somehow manage to conjure up snow and use that to both slow down their targets and make it easier to sense their body heat. Brittany thought as she she looked behind her. Snow was falling faster now and the forest was beginning to be covered in white sheet. Brittany shivered lightly as she pulled herself closer to Alex. The group had barely gotten out of the woods before they heard and ear splitting roar. Brittany cringed at the sound as she tapped Alex on the shoulder and motioned behind her.

What the hell was that? I don’t remember it saying anything about Hunter’s sounding like that! Brittany thought as she tried to get some answers.

“That must mean that Zanatos arrived.” Alex said in a gasp of air as he continued running through the now knee deep snow.

“Aye, probably both of them have taken to the skies to search for us. What should we do my Lord? We can’t outrun them and we can’t hide from the Hunters.” Kiba exclaimed as he realized that they were trapped.

“Don’t look so down. I haven’t survived this long without learning a few tricks. “ Alex replied as he turned and started heading southwest.

“My Lord, if we go in that direction we’ll be trapped for sure. We can’t get through the barrier!” Kiba responded. “Are you sure about this.”

“Trust me.” was Alex’s reply as he rushed forward. Kiba shook his head as he followed Alex.

Aye, I will trust you my Lord. You’ve never been one to care about others, but this lass...she’s turning you into something I’ve never seen before. I have a feeling that before long, she might just make a Lord out of you yet. Kiba thought as he followed Alex deeper into a new section of woods.

Where’s Alex going? Everything’s flying by so fast I can’t believe either one of them know’s where they are going. Brittany thought. It was then that she turned around and saw an enormous black form flying through the sky behind them. Brittany couldn’t make out what it was because of the falling snow but she knew it meant trouble. Just as she was about to warn Alex she was thrown forwards by Alex halting. Brittany looked over his shoulder to see five creature’s standing before them. The creatures were completely white with spikes jutting out from all over their body.

“Hold on tight.” Alex whispered as he tensed his muscles. Brittany could tell that Kiba was doing the same thing when one of the creatures advanced towards them. In a blur of motion all five creatures launched themselves into the air, launching silver chords from their hands trying to ensnare Alex and Kiba. Just as the creatures did this Alex and Kiba jumped forwards, dodging the wires by mere inches. Brittany held on for dear life as Alex and Kiba continued to dodge the wires until they beneath the safety of the thick forest.

“Let’s go, its not too much farther to the barrier.” Alex yelled as they continued running. They could hear the sounds of the creature’s following them and knew they didn’t have long before the creature’s caught up to them. “Kiba run ahead and find the edge of the barrier. I’ll need to know where it is before I get there.”

“Aye, no problem.” Kiba said as he picked up his pace and sprinted ahead of Alex and Brittany. Brittany looked back but couldn’t see anything in the thick falling snow. Brittany turned her attention back in front of her when she heard Kiba give off a small yell. She looked just in time to see Kiba fly backwards after hitting something. Brittany couldn’t understand what he hit seeing as how he was running in an open field by now. It wasn’t until Kiba got up that she realized what it must be. “I believe I found the barrier my Lord. Next time, you can find it yourself.”

A barrier of course! But this one isn’t like anyone I’ve read about. There’s no color or any warning that its there. Who could’ve created this one? Brittany thought.

“Heh, good work. Kiba watch my back. Brittany, you’ll have to get off for a second okay?” Alex said as he stopped in front of the area that Kiba had been halted at. Brittany nodded as she slowly got off and watched in interest as Alex ran his hand across the barrier. “Kiba, just to let you know this is going to drain whatever energy I have left, so make sure to get us through before it closes go it.”

“What are you planning on doing my Lord?” Kiba asked becoming instantly alarmed at how much magic Alex was using.

“I’m saving us a very painful death.” Alex replied with a smirk.

While at the same time creating a very painful death for you. Kiba thought with disapproving look on his face. “If this is the only way my Lord do what you must. But remember what I said about your well being.”

“I don’t plan on dying today Kiba, I still have things left to do. Now stand back I’ve got to hurry. Kiba, regardless, make sure to get her through the barrier.” Alex said as he waved them back. Kiba noticed that when Alex moved his arms blood flung from hands onto the soft snow.

“Come here lass. We better do as he says.” Kiba said as Brittany ran towards him. He’s going to kill himself. If he doesn’t, he’ll be damn lucky. “Lass, as soon as he finishes the spell we need to make sure he’s okay. I have reason to believe that every time he uses his magic it could be killing him. So just to be safe, prepare for the worse.”

Kiba’s words took Brittany by surprise but she nodded slowly as she let what he said sink in. When ever Alex uses magic...could he be right?

“Doa’s tojiru niyotte ano hikari. E/ni tsuzukeru sota de kurayami chikara. Hiraita ue de so are watashitachi. Temo ii toru hanron soru no nakka anata no anzen!” Alex said. Before he even finished the spell he felt his legs give out from under him. Alex erupted into a terrible coughing fit as he started coughing up more blood. Just as he was about to fall backwards from pain he felt someone stop him. He looked over to see Brittany holding him up. Her eyes were filled with worry as he coughed up more blood. Kiba was on the other side of him as they helped him up. “Hurry, we must go through before the barrier closes.” Alex said weakly before he passed out. It was then that both Brittany and Kiba realized a shimmering light in front of them. On the other side of the light a green meadow could be seen. Without hesitation both of them helped Alex through the barrier just as the shimmering light was fading. Once through they set Alex down as Brittany and Kiba tried to stop his bleeding.

Brittany undid Alex’s shirt as she used the cloak he had given her to try and wipe away the blood so she could see where his wounds were. It was then that she looked up at Kiba angrily as she pointed at Alex. How in the hell did this happen? Better yet, why in the hell did you let him fight like this? Brittany thought as she hit the ground in frustration. Kiba shook his head knowing full well what Brittany was implying.

“You know as well as I do lass that there’s no stopping him once he’s made up his mind. He got those wounds when he saved us all from being killed by the wraiths. That’s the reason I believe casting spells is slowly killing him. As soon as he cast the spell his body looked like this. That night even though his wounds were still bleeding he had already made up his mind that he was coming for you. All I could do was tell him that I would help him and pray that nothing happened.” Kiba said softly. “At least we should be safe for now. I don’t know if you know this or not, but somehow we’ve managed to get inside the sacred forest. This place has a powerful barrier around it that no demon can enter. The Lord said we might end up here if things got too bad. I didn’t understand at first what he meant, because of the barrier and all. Evidently he knew a spell to get through the barrier. I don’t know how though, supposedly Alcadan, the archmage, was the one who created this barrier so only he would know how to get inside. That lad’s just one big mystery.”

Brittany nodded sadly as she looked back at Alex. He was very pale, and his breathing became very soft and raspy. His chest rose and fell slowly as Alex struggled to breathe. He won’t last long unless we do something quick, but there’s nothing here that we can stop his bleeding with. We don’t have any salves, and I can’t use any magic either. This is just great! Now that I can finally see him again he’s going to die in my arms while I’m helpless to do anything. Brittany was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she didn’t notice Kiba tense up as he stared out into the the woods behind them. Brittany didn’t realize what he was looking for, seeing as how all the dangerous things were outside the barrier, it wasn’t until she saw people exiting out of the woods with weapons pointed at them.

“Hmm, this is interesting. How pray tell did demons manage to get through the barrier?” the one who Brittany assumed was the leader asked. He was a tall slender person with long blonde, almost silver, hair. He had fair complexion as did the other ten men who he was with. It wasn’t until Brittany saw their ears that she realized what they were. Elves? But I thought all the elves had been captured. How can their still be free elves? More importantly, why the hell are they trying to kill us?