Lips Painted Black (Part 7)

I watched him jerk up on the glowing spell-rope that wrapped around her wrists, and saw a look of pain cross her face as she was roughly pulled to her feet. As if that wasn't enough, he waited until her eyes met his, and then slapped her across her face as hard as he could.1

I was enraged at that, and stood up. He either hadn't noticed, or was just ignoring me, but I was past the stage of caring. I was just so consumed by my anger that I launched myself at him.2

Now, I realize that this wasn't my brightest move by far, but when I hit him, he certainly wasn't ready. He was, in fact, so surprised, that he dropped the end of the binding spell, and it unraveled. But I was too busy fighting to notice it, and kept trading blows with him.3

Suddenly I was fighting with a large grey rabbit. "What the-?" I swore, trying to figure out what had happened. Then I turned about as the rabbit jumped away from me.4

And there was Jessie, her skin glowing a blinding white. Her eyes were scorching in their intensity, each ring of them outlined and clearly discernible all the way across the room. Her right hand had been on Jikkandir's head as we fought.5

"Jessie? Jessie, was that- was that you?" I asked, my knees shaking.6

She continued to glare ferociously at the rabbit without answering.7

"Jessie?" I said again, slowly moving nearer. I finally drew up all of my courage and grabbed her arm.8

Instantly I was surrounded by bright, burning sunlight. I screamed once, twice, three times and more, until my throat was raw. The pain was so intense that I thought I must have been dying. And there were no shadows anywhere...9

I was wishing fervently for the oblivion of death when it ended. The light began flickering, and I slowly opened my burned eyes to see the firelight casting shadows on the wall and illuminating my love, who was still slightly glowing.10

The room was filled with dust again as the Elementals lifted off. Something that she'd done must have either scared them, or forced them to leave. As I watched, their glowing hides wheeled once, twice, three times over the hut, and then they were gone.11

The rabbit, however, was penned up in a corner by shimmering, shifting spell-screen. It tried to escape, and sparks shot everywhere. It's fur was scorched where it had smashed into the screen.12

She turned back to me, the last vestiges of her moon-shine glow dimming. She rushed over, the fire fading from her eyes even as I watched. And in their place was a veil of tears.13

She looked at her left hand as though it would bite her. "The Hand of Transformation," she said, before the tears came. "I've the Hand of Transformation."14

I didn't grasp the meaning of her statement. What had she done to him? And would he stay that way?15

I forgot all of my concerns when she helped me move to one of the chairs. Sitting on the floor, propped up against it, I could see, in the moonlight, most of the front lawn; it was empty, and if someone were to come, I would be able to see them before they arrived.16

All of this promptly left my thoughts when she laid her head on my chest. Her left hand she left on the floor, but her right she curled in close to her body. Where it touched me, I felt the surcease of pain, which slowly spread through my entire body.17

Stunned, I looked at her hand, which was faintly glowing. As the pain disappeared, she looked up at me, having felt me stir. Then she noticed the glow, and gasped with surprise.18

"The Hand of Healing, and the Hand of Transformation. An interesting combination." I said, trying to lighten the tone of the room, but failing miserably as the tears rolled thicker and faster down her face.19

"Shhhhh, love. It's OK. We're safe now." I whispered, trying to soothe her. I pressed her head back against my chest, and stroked her hair until she slept, a crystal tear gently finished it's journey down her face as I watched.20

And then, despite my best efforts, I fell asleep as well.21