Where am I?

Getting up in the water, in a pitch black space of indeterminable length, and size. Merryn ran her hands on the ground. It was hard and wet. It smelled of brackish water. She slipped and fell into the water, it was so cold that it stole her breath.

Getting up again, she continued with her arms outstretched and bumped into a smooth outcropping. Pulling up, she knelt and stretched forward with her hands. Inching back she hit a wall.

After a time she curled up into a ball and shivered. This was worse than the cave could at least see in there.

Water splashed her feet, it's filling up.

She waved her hands about to cast the Luminous spell, though it cost her energy. The cavern lights up, revealing the small ledge, along with the walls that are rounded to the top in a great dome.

The floor of the cavern is a great lake with no passageways. After about twenty mins of looking around, she noticed the water had risen a bit more. Sitting, she watched the water line against the wall rise another inch. It's filling up so fast. There has to be a way out, but where?

Using her night vision the area looked to be a small cavern, the ceiling smooth and curved. The ledge was all that stood above the rising water. Sweat trickled down the back of her neck. She crouched up and wrapped her arms around her knees. Time had no place here, every second as long as an hour.

She tried sending the light globe down into the water, but it flickered and went out. Not going to die down here, do it. Stretching her arm out again, she willed the light spirits to come again. They came from under the water little wisps with faint faces swirling together and made another globe.

"Thank you," she whispered.

They left and passed under the water. Sliding her legs over the ledge, she let them dangled into the water then slipped into it.

She took a big breath, and let it out slow, then took another. She dived down under the water, the light globe followed beside her lighting the cavern lake. As she swam deeper into the lake, the walls were covered with a soft blue-green luminescent moss.

Ahead were several tiny schools of fish with stripes that pulsed as they swam and darted about.

Her chest became tighter, the pain was at the point of being overwhelming, she managed to swim forward to some hanging glowing moss.

She pushed it aside and spotted a small passageway ahead. She swam through up the passageway and swam faster. Light streamed through the water overhead. Her lungs demanded air. A darkness crept around her vision. So close, come on, faster. Unable to hold her breath any longer, her lungs tried to breathe in the water and she lurched forward choking.

Keep going, week to give up so soon, move it! Unnamed screamed.

Anything to make it shut up. She flailed at the reeds along the bank, pulled forward and forced her tired body to roll. Several kicks later she was clawing at the muddy bank and into the sand. Pulling in air until her lungs stopped screaming, the cool air helped push away the thick thoughts.

A soft breeze blew and the clouds changed their cover, as a gentle rain fell it cooled the hot midday sun. She knew this was to change, as the leaves on the trees now all fallen, they yielded their fragile forms on the earth to the coming onslaught of the winter.

Stop stalling and get up. She whispered to the wind spirits her prayer. Her body shimmered and vibrated, while goose bumps ran up and down her arms. She took off in a sprint over the lake, down the pathway leading back to the town.

Running faster than ever had before, it was the only way to get back in time.

Streaking back towards the town of Badger. Pushing hard each breath come out in wheezing gasps and a dull pain in the side of her chest. Come on, push faster.

Hopefully, Maxwell hadn't taken his wrath out on them yet.

The sand covering the path burst aflame, turning it into glass as she streaked her way back to the town. Her leather boots smoldered they peeled back as they burned away.

No time to worry about it, no time to think. Just run. The spirits had taken a smaller toll than usual it seemed.

As she entered the town she whipped through the streets, around the houses straight the marketplace.

Several hooded people jumped out of the way, she heard much yelling and crashing, along with a few less than polite words.

Where to go? She ran round a hill behind the marketplace. Her body was now using up its energy her legs wobbled.

Running over to the right, she found a house on a large hill that felt like the right place to go.

Unable to stop, she crashed through the doorway, splinters of wood scratched and cut into her shoulders. It didn't matter if it hurt, there was no stopping.

Marryn slammed into someone inside who was standing near a long floating table. She tangled with him and they both broke through several walls in the house. At the last wall, she was able to roll off before they both broke through the back wall of the house.

The blurriness started to go, and the person she slammed into had curly black hair. Maxwell.

Maxwell walked up to her, standing close to her face, he leaned over and whispered in her ear: "This is just not your day," he said.

Merryn tried to get up but still need more time for her body to mind her.

"Where are my friends?"

"You're proving difficult and I've had enough. I do see why he chose you though, your stores of energy are high. You have been most aggravating. The spirits favor you, and condemn you."

He stood up and went to the stairwell.

"Master the preparations are underway your stores will be accessible soon."

Unnamed took over, her body stiffened.

"Good. Hurry before the moon changes and find a male body, this one is inadequate."

Maxwell nodded.

Moving wasn't possible and unnamed wouldn't let her talk. To be made so helpless and small was too much she screeched at him in her mind.

Jason came down the stairwell to the right and rested a hand on the stairwell beside Maxwell.

"Where ever you go I find you, be sure not to stray too far, or this day will be repeated, not just for you but for your friends too," said Maxwell.

Only, the sound of the door opening and closing told of them leaving.

Later that day when sunbeam from the window touched her feet did Unnamed relinquish control.

After searching for a while, she opened up the basement door and found them at the bottom of the stairs with several lumps on their heads, unconscious. kneeling down before them and shook their shoulders.

"Wake up. Hurry!"

Her vision started to blur, she struggled to stay crouched upright.

After a while, the men relaxed then sat upright. She smiled a little at Parcival. Glad he's alive.

Her vision, blurred again, she felt a sharp snap inside and collapsed to the ground. The dull pain again from before ripped through. The blood as it streamed out of her mouth spread onto the floor, it was warm as it touched her cheek.

Vessel you take me for granted, endure a little pain and remember if you live or die it is up to me not you. You are mine.

I am no--

The hell with y-

Pain flooded her sides and legs, she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to break--

Parcival crawled over to her.

"Marryn! What did you do?"

She opened her eyes, the blurriness had gone down some. The pain, it was impossible to talk, let alone think. The edge of death ... so easy .. to give up.

Han came over and looked over her. He turned towards Parcival.

"I can't do much right now it's just too soon."

Parcival whispered something.

"Hey, Parcival?"

She groaned. Her eyes even hurt, she closed them and rode the waves of pain.

Parcival picked her up and carried her. She partially opened an eye. Maybe not ... so ... easy. Then closed it again.

Outside the house, she opened her eyes again. He carried her the stables and climbed on his horse. Han jumped up and sat near its tail. He held her upright on his chest with an arm. The steed's hooves clopped in a muted way and a blurriness overtook her eyes. shady figures come to her side as they moved.

She grunted. Parcival turned the horse. She heard a clang of metal and several thumps, along with screams of pain.

There was some yelling, the beast reared, a whinny in pain. Poor horse, damnable people. There was a tinkering of broken glass.

"Come on Han, this way," Parcival said.

She felt them going again, the clip-clop of the hooves and his body relaxed.

Clank of steel, and a snap of a buckle. We must be out of town. Strange that I haven't passed out yet, hells, I should be dead. She closed her eyes resting.

Parcival took them back the way they came, a few hours later she could see what she assumed was trees. Good the forest lots of places to hide.

Parcival patted her face several times, "Merryn, come on wake up, please? Can't you try healing her again Han?"

She huffed at him, though her nose, "Awake," the rest of the words were too slurred.

Parcival pushed her further upright. She hissed and twitched as he had pushed too hard on her sides.

"Sorry," he said.

"Nuuuh."

Han sighed, "I've already used my strongest healing magic on her. I can only heal her so much for this day."

"I don't know what to do. What can I do?"

He adjusted her in his arms. She wanted to move, she tried to move, She just needed rest ... like for a year. She shivered.

He yelled several curses, that the horse nickered, its hooves clopped a couple of times.

"I'll go and make her a potion."

Parcival laid her down, after a while she could smell smoke. Must be a campfire.

A voice in her ear said, "I'll be back soon."

His footsteps crunched and then faded. She passed out a few times and fought to stay awake.

The god she realized had been trying to keep her alive all this time. As some feeling had come back to her, she could feel the vines spreading and pushing under her clothing towards her injured areas.

She didn't want to think about if it was inside her body. The thought of it was too much. Inside her chest, her skull. Stop it!

No idea how long a time passed before she heard the forest floor being disturbed by footsteps. Small sounds clank of metal.

Then later on the smell of something cooking that was so foul she wished she could turn her head away.

"That stinks worse than a young one's britches!"

"Good, it should be effective," Parcival said, In a flat voice.

He sounds tired.

Whatever he was cooking started to bubble, and pop. Then after an even longer time a pouring.

"That's an interesting healing potion you have there Parcival."

"Yes, it's a special one, just for Merryn."

it smells wrong. She felt his hand tilt her head back. His touch was cold and sent shivers up and down her back. She started to panic and tried to move away, but couldn't. Get away from me!

"Gerr-uurg!"

An oily black syrup touched her lips. The fumes from the syrup stung her eyes. What is this stuff? Her lips tingled. She managed to spit it out a little.

"Swallow it," Parcival said, his voice had a rough hollowness to it.

There was the running of footfalls to the right of her.

"Put her down!"

She heard a thump, and a crash with what she assumed was something breaking. Then there was a low sizzling and the smell of wood burning.

He put her head down, there were a few footfalls near her. Parcival, why was he hissing?

Soft padded footsteps near her. A ring of a weapon drawn.

"I warn you, I'm in no mood for games!" Han said.

A slashing the air around her. She opened her eyes. Still to blurry, several showed forms fighting. The two tallest stashed at each other. The one nearest the forest jumped back out of sight.

"What the freck's is going on?"

His small form moved closer with his saber drawn.

"Help me blast it!"

One of the tall men stabbed the other through his midsection.

Parcival!

Nothing would move not her fingers, nor feet. There was nothing she could do when the heartless man thrust the sword in even deeper up to its hilt, and the sword stuck out of his back.

She started to sob when a tinned screech made the hairs on her arms stand straight up. She blinked back the tears. Men don't screech.

Some color came back and she could see a thick blood as it oozed down the blade and dripped onto the ground. The grass smoked and wilted.

No! My friends, no ...

Not this again. Ignoring you.

The injured man hissed with venom in the other man's face.

"Ugg what is this thing?" Han said.

"I don't know, step back."

Ha. You lie.

The annoying tears started again at hearing his voice. Stupid man, making me worry about you.

Whatever it was let out a wailing noise as it pulled the sword out. It staggered and come over towards her. The man landed onto the ground in front of her with a thud.

It turned its face towards her. Parcival? She wanted to scream, his eyes were black and empty and his mouth deformed, filled with sharp pointed teeth. Her heart slammed into her chest, and her breathing became rapid. No!

"Disgusting!"

The other man said, he came over to her and kneeled down. She was afraid to lo look and squeezed her eyes shut, this was far too confusing she didn't know if it was him or not.

"Hey, it's okay."

He laid a hand on her shoulder. She opened one eye. How do I know it's really him?

Freck off!

"Help me with her. Good thing I decided to make this while out in the forest. That is why I took so long."

It had to be him. Right?

A soft padding of feet and furry hands held her head in his lap. Han. He tilted her head back. She managed to turn her head to the side.

"It's okay."

Han tilted her head back again and smoothed her hair.

Huh, is it that bad that he's being comforting?

Han held Merryn's head in his lap and tilted it back. Parcival scooted closer and poured something into her mouth, it was thin and sweet.

"Pink?" Han chuckled.

"Yes pink, the flowers on the plant I need were pink ..."

Must be him. She relaxed a touch-most of her body was still in pain. So far when trying to speak the pain made it so only a moan came out. Am glad he's alive.

"Ahh, that is the stuff for sure," said Han.

She wondered what he meant by that. A tingling sensation started on her scalp and worked down over her face and down to the rest of her body. She blinked, colors came back in full, and the blurriness was gone. The pain in her chest lighted and she took in a deep breath. Yes, much better.

A croaking sound came from her was she tried to speak again. She coughed and spat another mouthful of blood onto the ground.

"I thought you were gone," she said.

She had a hard time looking at Parcival. She resisted an impulse to bolt up and hug him. Heat rose into her cheeks and she looked down to the ground, unsure what to do with herself.

The last time ... You're not, you're just grateful now snap out of it. She shook her head and squared her shoulders, before sitting up.

The mind said one thing, the heart another. She sat up took one look at his worried face and all of the pep talk melted away. She pounced on him and held him tight.

Parcival startled, but then wrapped his arms around her.

"I won't leave you, Merry." His breath warm on her cheek.

Have heard that before, he meant it too. It was unsettling how much they were alike at times.

"You need to leave." She broke free of his embrace turning away.

"Then give it back." His voice was thick and edged.

She bit the inside of a cheek. 

Unnamed is right about one thing. The longer they stay with me the sooner they'll die. Death works though me. He'll die, the longer he's around me the more likely it'll happen. And that is unforgivable. Never again, I can't bare it.

No tears came this time. She fought them back; eyes burning.

Make him leave. Do it.

The cloth fell from the flower as it spun to the ground.