Chapter Thirty Six: The Time When the Bird Must Fly

Akasha
What is the meaning of this Velis?
Velis smiled.
Velis
What do you mean?
Akasha
Well last I checked you held your place in our ranks. Now I am the receiver of your foot?
Velis laughed.
Velis
Sorry Akasha, but I don’t work for you anymore.
Akasha
You are not my enemy.
Velis
Oh but I think I am. I’m working with Hayden right here. Isn’t that right?
Hayden
She is right.
Akasha smiled.
Akasha
You know, I’ve always thought about killing you. The only problem was you were on our side. I guess it would be okay to do it now.
Velis
Be my guest.
Suddenly Akasha had her arm stretched out with Velis’ neck in it.
Akasha
You forget I can see your every move. You may be fast young one, but you’re not that fast.
Velis
Kill me, bitch.
Velis’ foot went up and Akasha jumped back.
Akasha
In due time.
Hayden appeared behind Akasha. His foot went up and met the ground.
Akasha
What speed, what speed.
Hayden, Velis, and Akasha now stood in a triangle.
Akasha
Velis, do you really think you can beat me? You’re nothing more than level three scum.
Velis
Two!
Velis appeared behind Akasha and swept her off her feet. Akasha’s hand touched the floor and she pushed herself into the sky. Hayden jumped up to meet her in the air. His fist was caught by her hand and she kicked him in the face. Hayden gracefully landed on the ground.
Hayden
You can’t keep this up forever.
Akasha
I don’t plan on it.
She raised her hands into the sky.
Akasha
Witness my lighting rain!

Roselyn
Malic, you may leave. Go now, to the top of the wall.
Malic disappeared.
Roselyn
How could you betray us mother?
Amya
You wouldn’t understand.
Roselyn
You went against your word mother. You said your allegiance was to the humans, not these monsters.
Amya
And my allegiance is still to them. There are just other methods of getting things done.
Amya stepped forward.
Amya
I saw the dead end before I ran into it. I made a decision that had to be made. I didn’t think you’d run with me so I had to make you think I had abandoned you. This is still for the good of the people.
Roselyn
You lie!
Roselyn slammed her hand into the ground. Giant green vines came from the ground in all directions surrounding Amya.
Amya
You’re still a child.
Roselyn
Save it.
The vines sprang towards Amya in attempts to capture her. Amya dodged them easily and turned them into stone one by one.
Roselyn
Knives of Leaf!
Roselyn slammed her hands together and the leaves from the tree fell down from the surrounding trees and quickly flew towards Amya.
Amya
This is not good enough.
Amya dodged each coming leaf. She landed behind Roselyn.
Amya
You’re weak, Rose.
Roselyn dropped on her two hands and pushed herself backwards. Her feet collided with Amya’s stomach and sent her into the tree wall.
Roselyn
I may be at sixty percent of my power but I’ll still fight you till the end.
Amya stood up and dusted off her white robes.
Amya
Sixty or a hundred, you are still no match.
Amya raised her hand and sand began to circle around her arm.
Amya
You are so young Roselyn and still so naive. I’d show you again the meaning of things and the reasons why things happen, but you’ve lived long enough.
Roselyn
So you are ready to kill me?
Amya
As it stands, I’ve always been.
Amya’s hand fired a spike of sand that hit Roselyn in the shoulder as she attempted to move out of the way.

Arkain
Gemma?
Gemma raised her head from her hands.
Gemma
Arkain?
Arkain
Gemma, do you remember me?
Arkain is still on the ground facing the sky.
Gemma
Yes Arkain, yes.
She moved to his side.
Gemma
Arkain, what has happened? I don’t remember anything.
Arkain
They’ve had you under control. I don’t know how you broke it, but you did.
Gemma
Arkain, what did they do to you?
Arkain
They hung me on the cross.
Gemma
How could they?
Arkain
Gemma, you stuck that spear in me.
Gemma ran her hand across his bleeding wound.
Gemma
Arkain, I did not mean to.
Arkain
Gemma, I know, I know. You were under control. It’s okay.
He coughed up blood.
Arkain
I’m dying and the others don’t have enough time to get me out of here.
Gemma
Arkain, no! Don’t say that. You promised you’d never leave me. I thought you did once but I knew you’d come back to me. You’re here, so stay.
Arkain
Gemma, I think I’m going to have to break that promise for real this time. I don’t want to, but it seems like I will have to.
She held his hand above his chest.
Gemma
Please Arkain, don’t!
She screamed. Her scream was not heard by anyone else due to Akasha’s lightning hitting the ground.
Akasha
You can’t outrun it forever.
Roselyn
Hayden, we’re at fifty percent!
Roselyn shouted on the floor with Amya above her.

Gemma
Arkain, I have something to tell you.
Arkain
Say it.
Gemma
It’s been eating at me inside. I just didn’t know how to say it. When I was going to you had to leave. Again and again you had to leave me before I could tell you.
She wiped tears coming out from her eyes.

Akasha
Do you want a real fight?
Akasha landed on the ground across from Hayden and Velis.
Akasha
I’m only toying with you both.
Hayden
I was aware.
Velis
Fuck off!
Akasha smiled.

Arkain
You can tell me now Gemma.
Gemma
I just don’t know if I can.
Arkain
Gemma, I’m about to die, if you have to say anything, now would be the time.
Gemma began to cry again.

Roselyn
Well, you can do it already.
Amya
Don’t rush me. You always did think you could tell me how to raise my child.
Roselyn
I was your child. I think I had a right to do so.
Amya
Are you ready?
Roselyn
Not yet.
Amya turned around just in time to see Arrows coming her way from the wall of trees.
Amya
Damn!
She lifted her arms and the arrows turned to stone and fell to the ground.
Amya
Anything else?
She turned back to find Roselyn wasn’t there.
Roselyn
Yes!
Roselyn’s fist connected with Amya and sent her ten feet away crashing into the ground.

Gemma
Arkain, the truth must set me free.
Arkain
Are you sure I need to know this?
Gemma
You must, you really must.
Arkain
Say it.
He coughed up a little more blood.
Arkain
Gemma, there isn’t much time.
Gemma
Arkain, I, um, I,

Hayden
We haven’t much time Velis. Get to the boy, I’ll handle Akasha.
Velis ran towards Arkain but Akasha appeared in front of her.
Akasha
Going somewhere?
Akasha’s fist turned blue with electricity and collided with Velis’ face. Hayden caught Velis as she flew backwards.
Velis
Thanks.
Hayden
We can’t get by without getting past her. She’s faster than you and I.
Akasha
What’s wrong Hayden?
Hayden
You are annoying.
Hayden flew forward.
Akasha
Fun!
Everything he gave was dodged by Akasha.
Akasha
You can’t touch me. La, la, la, la!
Velis grabbed Akasha from behind.
Velis
Looks like I caught you.
Hayden’s fist hit Akasha directly in the face. Velis let go of Akasha and her body hit the ground with a thud.
Velis
Is she dead?
Hayden
No. I only gave her enough to knock her out.
Velis
Well shit, that was hard.
Hayden
A little more and it would have been her head. Now, let’s get to the boy.
They ran forward only to have been stopped by a giant wall of blue.
Akasha
Nice hit Hayden. You really are a pain.
Velis
I thought you said it was enough.
Velis said disappointed.
Hayden
I’ve clearly underestimated her.
Akasha
Now, what do you say we get serious?
Hayden
I’ve been waiting all this time. It was you holding back.
Akasha
Such a gentlemen. I must warn you, you won’t leave here with that boy.
Hayden
Trust me, I will.
Akasha
I’m confident you will run from here empty handed.
Velis
And you will run from here headless.
Akasha
Big words Velis. You on the other hand will be the one who remains here,
Akasha’s hands burst with electricity.
Akasha
Dead.


Amya stood up.
Amya
I’ve trained you well. You took advantage of me letting my guard down.
Roselyn
You said to never do that.
Amya
Forgive me, but you are my daughter.
Roselyn
I didn’t ask for special treatment.
Amya
None of that matters anymore. It won’t happen again. Are you ready to get serious?
Roselyn
Despite you having the advantage, yes.
Amya smiled.
Amya
My baby is all grown up and ready to bite that hand that fed her.
Roselyn
No mother, it was you who withdrew your hand.
Amya
Roselyn, join me. Join me and we shall be happy again.
Roselyn
No mother, like you said, I can’t run with you.
Amya
There comes a time when the bird must fly.
Roselyn
That time came along time ago.

Gemma
I never meant to do it Arkain. I never meant for any of this.
Arkain
What are you talking about?
Gemma
It was an accident, I swear.
Arkain
I understand.
Gemma
Arkain, I never meant to hurt you.
Arkain
Gemma, whatever you did, it’s okay.
Gemma
I'll tell you now. Like I should have told you then. Like I should have told you the moment I first saw your face. Arkain, I-
Giant wall of fire came in between them.
Gemma
-killed your mother.
Arkain rose with strength he didn’t know he had towards the fire to Gemma.