Even if I escape will I get there on time? She bit hard on the right hand's knuckles. Doesn't matter, have to try. Quit whining and do it!

She stepped over to the door, jostling the handle. The handle wavered became hazy and vanished. That was cruel.

That burning sensation started again, she bent over in pain as the vines worked their way past her shoulder blades and up to her neck. The long vines burrowed into her skin. She stood there gasping while trying to resist pulling them out like last time. Not now!

They worked their way up to her Elvin ears, wrapping around and, into them. She reached back, touching the vines. The vines developed small bumps on both sides.

She reached for a long one behind her back and looked at it. The bumps unfurled into leaves that split down the middle.

The painful burrowing needled into her neck at a faster pace. Her sanity became a seething madness where Unnamed lurked behind the corners of her mind. Every memory, every thought she could feel him there, peering in, ready to pounce. He slammed her with the memories of that city burning.

When she tried to think about something else ... it dropped an image of Maxwell's son, burning in the fire his skin peeling off, complete with the boy screaming to the heavens.

She clenched her chest, it hurt. Sweat fell down the sides of her face in rivers, causing her hair to stick her face. She bent over kneeling on the floor with her hands supporting her. Hyperventilating. Stop it Breathe.

I ...

...

Ordain it.

A mental hold snapped.

She shrieked along with the vines until her breath ran out. And then screamed, repeatedly. She dropped on her stomach gulping in deep breaths.

You lie.

She stiffened, you are wrong, I will keep fighting you no matter how long it takes.

I tricked you once didn't I?

Never again. The god pulled back inside; smoldering.

A dark crackling of energy appeared near the door, it became wider and Maxwell stepped into the room.

"Time to go."

His rough hand grabbed her arm and dragged her up. Now what?

"Come. It is time," he said.

She leaned away from him. With her free hand started to pull out a dagger.

He smacked it out of her hand, it bounced onto the floor slid across it and fell into a crack under the floorboards on the left of the room.

"Move!" He pulled and jerked her towards the portal by the door.

The portal. Wait.

"Let go of me!"

Thirty seconds. After that your life energy." He flitted away through the wall.

Her body thrummed with pure energy granted from the great winds. Need to do this, and quick. She whipped her arm and broke free from his grip.

Rushing towards the window at the end of the room her, she jumped onto the thin windowsill balancing there.

"I don't believe this-" He ran down the tower, passing by the outer windows.

Merryn weaved and grabbed the edges of the window. Maxwell strode over to her. She sprang up clawing at the roof shingles, they fell off the roof seconds after grabbing them and shattered on the ground. Going to die, again!

She clutched to the edge of the roof with the tips of her fingers. No! I refuse! An ill timed wind passed over her sweat soaked skin, she shivered.

The edge of the roof cracked and crumbled away. Oh, come on!

She shrieked while falling thirty some feet below. The stars above were brighter than she'd ever seen them. The spirits of her clan streaked down silent, a sadness emanated from them. One said something, but it was too far away.

She rolled over while failing. The details of the ground cleared and grew larger.

It hurt; failing them. Failing everyone. Hot tears streamed from the sides of her eyes. Perhaps the god would die with her, she held on to that thought and squeezed them shut.

She slammed into the ground. The pain didn't register for a handful of seconds. She wiggled her fingers, then slowly sat up. How? He felt her back cold, slimy gunk ran down it. She reached up some, a mass of vines covered her back.

Why?

The vines separated and hissed as while falling off dead. She knelt on a knee. The grass spun, and a pit if acid rose into her mouth.

Maxwell spotted her as he crossed through the portal. With inhuman speed, he rushed over and struck her across the face.

Merryn flew over two hundred feet way, smashing into a large pinnacle tree.

"I warned you."

Her body slid downward, and she stared at him. A warmth burned from deep within, it raced through her body. It's back again. The last time ... so many died.

Flashbacks of what happened with Maxwell hit her unrelenting. Not Unnamed. Calm have to-

Her sense of time cracked and wasn't sure how long that she had been screaming. Her throat now raw, unable to stop, she screamed to an even higher frequency.

Sweat drenched her clothing and she shivered. The burning intensified down to the marrow. She collapsed to her knees, still screaming.

I don't care all I want ... now is ... is chunks of his flesh in my hands!

Maxwell held his hands over his ears, unable to move, stunned. Her screams continued and smashed into his chest, pushing him back.

She stood. All emotions faded, but one. The burning from within that bubbled to the surface like a poison.

A prickling ran up and down her arms, up her neck and a rush tingled her scalp. She shook her head while a slow grin spread. "Human stop me now or I'll rip you apart ... and enjoy it." Before all the hell happened he had been an ally. Though he'll be far less gentle than before. Just as well.

Maxwell gave a cut nod, then took his hands off his ears then moved forward. He took his spear off of the back holster and walked towards her.

His lip furled, then he gritted his teeth as he came closer.

"I make no promises."

"Do it already. Just remember you caused it this time."

He bent down towards her, his face smooth and unreadable. "Yes, quite."

A tear streamed down her face, it dropped onto the palm of her hand, crystallizing, damn it. Hurry.

"I'd rather be your prisoner then have this happen, hurry damn it!"

He broke into a run his gaze on the crystal.

The crystal emanated a soft glow from within, every moment growing brighter. The burning faded and a coldness spread through her body. Unable to stop, she began chanting the forbidden spell.

She strained to push the arms back, they wouldn't listen. 

As if each arm was being pushed from under by an unseen spirit. Will alone wasn't enough. 

She tossed it up into the air. The tear spun as it did it sent out a glowing nova dot of light. Next, it widened into a halo. This enveloped the entire area in a blinding light.

The elders said that it would only go off if there wasn't any choice. But, this is the second time it's started on its own?

Maxwell worked over real slow. The light washed out parts of his face while the rest stayed in shadow.

Not much time left.

"End it." Her tone was faint, less than a whisper and tinged with an underlying chime.

"I thought I'd enjoy this more, the necessity of this takes from that."

His lips thinned as he gripped the sword in both hands and swing it at her.

He turned to the side at the last second and rammed it in deep into her side.

The crystal tear flew out of her hands. She shrieked. Pain everything became this as a numbness again. She fell on her side shaking. Did it stop?

He went over to where the crystal laid picked it up and put it into a pouch.

He stood over her, his features smooth and flat.

Her vision grayed out and his features became a hazy blob.

####

An unknown time later she felt something slamming into her chest and she gasped. Her chest was heavy and cold.

Another slam.

A grayed out forum stood over her. His arms were raised up with a ball of ice floating in between them.

He tossed and it slammed into her chest before spreading out and down like tiny knives.

Live. Die. Just make it stop. This went on for what felt like forever.

The person stood and as her vision cleared. Maxwell.

He kneeled down at her side.

"You will die when I say it's time."

From under the palms of his hands, a hidden dagger shot out dripping with a thin pearl gray fluid. It caught her in the neck.

Trying but unable to move. So tired, let me go.

Maxwell crouched down and picked her up and carried her behind the building. 879Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Wkr8qJlWM