World 9 - Mythical Crossover

Why? he asked again. She simply shrugged, unable to find the answer.

Please....tell me. I don't understand it. And don't say anything of that stuff before, about it not being right, or owing me some sort of messed up lifedebt, because I know that's not the truth.

She sighed deeply, moving over to sit opposite her. She buried her face in her hands for a moment, but forced herself to raise her head, so that her amber eyes met his own peridot ones.

In all honesty, I don't really know, she whispered.

How....?

She shrugged, a little mechanically.

I just felt like I had to save you, she answered. I can't explain it - not any clearly than what I said before. But it was far too strong to ignore.

Hours had passed before she stirred. She woke feebly, feeling her entire body aching. Her voice was groggy as she forced herself to speak.

What.... what happened?

She noticed Circh almost flinch at the question.

I've no idea, he lied.

You must have seen, though.....

He nodded, once, starkly.

Yes, I saw, he admitted. But I don't know how to explain it....I can't...

What?

He shook his head.

Please, tell me, she implored. He hesitated, but nodded.

You.... you died, he began, but then she interrupted. Her face had flashed pale.

What?! How?

The attack, he answered, simply. A strike hit you right in the chest, and I know it was strong enough to be fatal. You fell backwards. You were dead. But then..... you started to glow, and they panicked, and fled, and then you were.....

I.... I died? she repeated, stunned. And came back? Is that normal?

Really, really not... he whispered, his eyes wide. For the first time, she noticed the fear half-concealed beneath his voice.

What is it? You know something about this, don't you?

He shook his head at first, but then stopped, hesitant. Slowly, unwillingly, he nodded.

Too much, he whispered.

What? she asked breathlessly.

Have you heard of the Immortals?

She shook her head.

No, I think it's only a few families who keep the legends, he mused. Strange though, when you're one of them.

An Immortal? she echoed again, too shocked to do much more. What are they? What.... what am I?

He laughed brusquely.

Well, for one, you're almost impossible to kill, all of you...

He trailed off, looking at her coldly, but with the fear still evident.

And? she prompted nervously. Circh, what is it?

Immortals..... they're the one thing which frightens my kind the most, he spat out bitterly. She paled.

(recap?)

(The Oherin Council decided what they were going to do about the threat from your city - namely, to send in assassins spelled to make them unnoticeable. And Nam tried to hide Circh - the witch who'd tried to kill her earlier - from his family because they'd kill him for failing. They found where they were, and Nam was almost killed in the fight)

What does it mean, though? she asked hollowly. Her voice came out as barely more than a whisper, and Circh didn't answer.

And why.... why didn't I know....? There's no mention of anything like it, anywhere....

That's because we arranged that, erased it, he admitted. We were trying to.... trying to prevent this, really. Prevent you.

King Vension drummed his fingers on his thrown. Only a few more days his visions were telling him but he knew that today and tomorrow were crucial. He knew he would succeed but - well you can never be too careful.

Looking up he called, Dern!

A small man shuffled out from the corner of the hall. He slowly came and bowed at Vension's feet. What is it you require of me, Sire?

He sighed, I've had a vision that we're going to have a few magically concealed assassins. Send out The Blood and tell them to bring me the heads on stakes. And no, that wasn't a figure of speech. He absent mindedly twisted his long robes in his hands.

Fear flashed into the servants eyes, Of course, Sire.