Shadows of the Heart

Elena’s Point of view:

The air felt weighty, as though it were bearing a thousand whispered facts.

Just a few steps from Orion's damaged and wounded form, the flickering light from the remains of my shard lit him.

My breath stopped as his chest lifted and dropped gently, a pale copy of the power he used.

I said, "Orion," crawling toward him. The shaking in my palms betrayed the steel will I was clinging to.

You vowed not to leave me like this.

His eyes opened to show the inside maelstrom.

Though almost heard, his voice broke over the stifling hush.

And you said you would keep secure.

I stopped, rage bubbling beneath me.

"Safe? You dropped yourself into the emptiness for me! How might I, “My words stammered, stifled by the tears poised to burst.

Orion moaned and tried to get upright. I reversed him. "Do not.

You hurt. "I've been hurt before," he replied, his lips twisting into a weak, mocking smile.

His defiance still radiated even now. "This is nothing".I shook my head and pushed my palms up on his chest.

Orion, this is not a joke.

That thing nearly brought me down! We have no strategy; it is still out there.

Warm in spite of the cold seeping up around us, his hand covered mine.

"We usually have a strategy, Elena.

We rebel."No..." I spoke with strength. This time, we consider. We are not hurrying in blind once more.

His eyes softened, but his voice carried fury. "It will win if we do nothing now. That it what you are looking for? To part from everything?I drew back as his words cut me.

"You believe I have no idea the stakes? Every decision I have made and every move I have taken has been to guard what counts! My voice split.

"You Matter.

"The strain hovered between us, heavy and electric for a minute.

His palm then grabbed my face and his thumb swept away a tear.

Elena, you are the one thing that really counts to me.

I thus cannot let it prevail.His honest remarks tore me apart.

The earth shook before I could react, shadows moving menacingly.

From the emptiness, a deep growl frozen us both in place.

Orion replied, his voice dark: "They have found us.

" He pushed himself to get to his feet, faltering but resolved. Behind me, stay.

"No," I answered, taking my shard and lighting it with a burst of vitality.

Though delicate, the light it created was sufficient.

"We fight alongside each other.

"The shadows burst forth, and a guy covered in darkness emerged with terrible red eyes. "So touching," he drew lightly. "Your defiance is useless, though.

Who are you?"? I asked, forward stepping.The man wore a harsh, nasty smile. "I am your end's messenger. He grabbed and the battle started.

The man sneered, his voice tinged with contempt as he turned away Orion's attack, "You can't win!" You are only a flickering flame and a broken warrior.

Orion groaned and avoided a hit, maybe. Still, broken does not equate to beaten. Slashing, he drove the man back.

Now, Elena. I focused everything into my shard and threw a beam of light toward the man.

He turned away, his laughter ringing.

"Is that all you currently possess?"Orion screamed.

"She is only getting started.

"The man's smile wavered as my shard got more brilliant, the light scorching the margins of his dark shape.

He snarled and then withdrew somewhat. "Impressive," he said, his voice poisoned.

But it will not save you."I don't need saving," I said, lunging ahead.

My shard cut across the night, and for a minute I saw terror in his eyes.

“I need answers. ”He laughed again, a harsh, piercing sound. “Answers won’t help you, little light.

But if you desire the truth so badly…” He paused, his attention going to Orion. “Ask him.”“What are you talking about?” I begged, looking at Orion. But he did not look at me.

"Elena," he started, his voice tight with sadness.

"Now is not the time.

”Now is just the time! I snapped.

"What is he talking about, Orion?,"The man laughed softly in darkness.

"Oh, this tastes really great. Then, Orion. Share with her the truth.The quiet of Orion was overwhelming. As doubt crept in, my heart hammered.

"Orion, what is he saying?"The man pushed us apart and went ahead before he could respond. I stammered, a shard flickering under me.

Time's up, he roared, his dark tendrils encircling me."Elena!" Orion yelled, his voice unvarnished with desperation as he shot for me. But the tentacles drew me into the darkness.

"Let her go!," he said, his gaze flaming with wrath. Holding me captive, the man grinned."Choose, Orion," he responded, sounding contemptuous.

Save her; or confront the truth.I was completely dark, only Orion's agonizing scream ringing in the emptiness.As the shadows seized me, the darkness felt stifling.

Weakly flickering in my grasp, my shard was a dim lighthouse in the emptiness. As the man's red eyes burned into mine, his laughing echoed, icy and mocking.

"You're so predictable, Elena," he snipped. So blinded to the sacrifices others make for you, so anxious to save."Let me go!!" Screaming, I battled against the tendrils.

My voice carried a defiance not felt in me."Why would I do that?" he questioned, almost lighthearted in tone. "When unlocking everything comes from your pain.

Orion will stop you," I murmured, determined yet shaky.He laughed softly, low and threatening. Orion cannot even face himself, let alone me.

You will see soon enough.

I glimpsed Orion behind him, his shard blazing with ferocious intensity.

His facial expression combined resentment with something else, guilt.

"Elena!," he cried, his voice breaking as he shot ahead.

Holding on!Orion! I yelled back, clearly driven by desperation.

The man turned slightly and started to smile broadly.

"Ah, here comes the hero.

He raised a hand, and the shadows between us thickened to create a wall throbbing with evil force.

Orion drove his shard against the barrier, the impact echoing across the vacuum.

"You won't take her!" he yelled, his voice a mix of dread and fury.

Tightening his hold on me, the man teased, "Won't I?" " Orion, she already is mine.

You failed her, as you did in past times."What are you talking about?," I insisted, terror wriggling at my chest.

"What failure?" Orion paused, his eyes darting to me. "Elena, don't listen to him!"But the man’s laughing grew, his remarks piercing through the tension like a sword.

“He’s hiding the truth from you, little light. About your past. About your future. And regarding the reason behind this all happening."Orion?," I wondered.

My voice shook as I murmured."I will explain everything!" Orion cried out, his shard shining more brilliantly.

Just hang on!The man drew me nearer and his eyes sparkled with hate. Too late.He dropped us both quickly down into the pit.

The last thing I heard before the darkness engulfed me totally was Orion's agonised scream.