Rainbows and Blood - Chapter Three

Chapter Three1

“Real World”2

The warlock approached Anfel, pointing to the elf with a furious expression. “You did this.”3

“Maybe I ... left the door open.” Anfel smirked. “Sorry.”4

The old man turned to Sellie. “And you allowed this to happen. The responsibility is yours.”5

Sellie’s mouth opened and closed. “But I …”6

“No buts! We will deal with this later. As one of the elders I must go out there and help quell this invasion. You're going to stay here and guard the elf.” He glanced at the minotaur and his squad. “All of you are to remain as well.” As the warlock exited the room, he added, “If he escapes it’ll be all your heads, including yours, Sellie.”7

Sellie stared after him for a moment, before shaking her head, as if to clear it. Then she took a seat on the warlock’s desk, still holding the Rainbows book. Outside the sounds of battle raged. The minotaurs kept glancing in that direction, handling their weapons. Minotaurs weren't built for silent guard duty when there was fighting to be had, the elf knew. 8

Anfel looked at Sellie, appraising her. “Why aren't you more shook up?” 9

“Oh please, he makes threats like that all the time. Don't get me wrong, he really means them. I'm just not gonna let you escape.”10

“I didn't mean that. I meant about your mother. She's dead.”11

For a moment Sellie stayed silent, looking at some far away place. Then she turned to him. “So? I never really liked her anyway. You have no idea how mean she was to me, what kind of things she did to me. I'm glad she's dead.”12

“Are you sure you're Blood?”13

Sellie got off the desk, and stood in front of him “What do you mean? I hated her. How is that not being Blood?”14

“Well … I just mean … you’ve got her killer right in front of you. Your own mother. I'm an elf, and you're a witch. I'm completely at your mercy. I don't know a lot of Blood’s that wouldn’t take advantage.”15

Sellie crossed her arms over her chest. “What in the underworld are you getting at?”16

“It just seems to me like … you're too nice for all that. You don't belong here. You're not even a full witch yet. Plenty of time to …”17

“What? Change side? Are you serious? You're not even on that side anymore. What do you care?”18

“I just hate to see someone on the wrong side.”19

Sellie scowled. “Okay, let us get something straight. I am on the right side. Or I mean the wrong … I'm on the bad side, okay! And I know what you're trying to do.” She leaned over him as he sat bound in the chair. “But no way am I lifting the magic bonds from you or helping you escape. You're on your own. And as for my mother. I hated the bitch. And if my master so orders, I will gladly torture you, but until then …”20

Anfel smiled. “Thank you.” For a moment Sellie looked confused – but just as she realized that by leaning over him she had put the book right next to his hand, he touched it. That was all it took. The magical bonds holding him in place melted away. He ripped the book away from her. 21

Sellie backed from him with fear in her eyes. That's when the minotaurs charged. Anfel grabbed his blade and ducked the first axe swipe. The next one nearly cleaved the warlock’s desk in two. The elf slashed the neck of the first one and stabbed another through his armor plates. 22

Minotaurs were slow but ridiculously strong. If even one of them landed a blow on him, he was dead. A fist nearly crushed his skull, but he managed to pull his head sideways and hack the arm off. The head went next. Another minotaur went for a full on charge. Anfel just managed to jump out of the way before the big beast literally ran through the wall of the house and fell all the way down. Minotaurs weren't exactly suited for indoors fighting, which gave Anfel a slight edge. 23

The young witch made a break for it to the door, but Anfel grabbed her blouse and threw her backwards, just before dodging a club smash that went clean through the floor. The elf used the opportunity to go right for the jugular before the guard recovered. And that was the last of the minotaurs in the room.24

Anfel attempted to catch his breath, while casually cleaning his sword on his one of the lead minotaur’s cape. He sheathed it and turned to a terrified Sellie. She backed away as he approached. “I'm sorry, okay?” Actual tears glittered in her eyes. “For betraying you. If you're gonna kill me, make it quick.”25

“Kill you? Oh no. You know the guardian for the Blood book, and you're going to help me get it. But first … you're gonna get me out of this place. And redo the warlock glamour.”26

“But I don't have the right book and …”27

The elf gestured towards a fully stocked bookshelf with dusty tomes. “You better works fast. Cause if not, I can always rethink that not killing plan.” Sellie glanced at the elf, then around the room at the dead minotaurs, and lastly back at the elf. She quietly nodded and pulled out a book, and brought it over to the desk. After flipping the pages, she did a familiar drawing on the floor. The elf hid the book under his armor, then stepped into it and Sellie redid the chanting. 28

After they were finished, Anfel checked out his reflection in his scimitar to see if it worked, then he sheathed it again and grabbed Sellie’s arm. “Let's go.” He dragged her through the house. It looked like all the other guards had been sent towards the battle. They got outside without resistance. The elf released Sellie. “Okay, now find me an exit to the surface. Far away from the battle.”29

The young witch just nodded and started walking, leading him through the city. They met streams of Blood going exactly the other way – towards the fighting – but no one paid them any heed. Pretty soon they were heading through empty streets. Anfel glanced at his companion. “What's the matter? You're awfully quiet.” She just looked back for a moment, not answering, then turned forward. “Fine. Quiet works too. Just lead the way.”30

They went through a seemingly empty alleyway, when all of a sudden an elf jumped in front of them and charged in their direction. Anfel froze. That moment would have cost him and Sellie their lives, hadn’t a vampire wielding a large blade appeared and ran the elf through. The vampire smiled at them, before jumping up and away. 31

Anfel looked at the dead elf for a moment. He had barely felt anything when he killed the guards for the book. But for some reason, he felt sad now, looking at the body of a comrade. He turned to Sellie. “What are you waiting for? Let's continue.”32

She led him through the city. They met no more elfs, or creatures for that matter. Everyone was at the battle. She took them up outside the range of houses and into a side tunnel sloping upwards. Anfel knew very well he couldn't trust her. But he just didn't have any other choices. Everyone else he tried to coerce would be just as unreliable. What he counted on were her own preservation skills. After letting him escape it was her head they might decide to take – so she’d want out just as much as he did.33

Didn't mean she was above leading him into a snake pit – so he kept his eyes open.34

But as it turned out, all she led him to was the tunnel’s end. She opened it with the keywords. Bright sunlight greeted them. Anfel had to shield his eyes. After walking through – and the door sealing itself behind them – they found themselves in an alleyway. Once their eyes had adjusted to the light, the elf grabbed Sellie’s hand and started walking. As soon as he entered into the street he saw a fast food restaurant – and felt his stomach growling. He smiled at Sellie. “How do you feel about hamburgers?”35

She just stared at him. “If you think …”36

“Never mind. It's like you have a choice anyway.” He dragged her across the street, and into the restaurant. It was only as he waited in line and felt the people staring at him that he remembered he was still in warlock guise. His first instinct was to drop it by grabbing the book – but then he realized that would only freak them out more.37

So he resolved to keep it for now. Outwardly he’d merely look like someone in a heavy rock band who went a little too far with makeup. When it was finally their turn, the kid behind the counter – scrawny nerd with huge glasses – stared at them, visibly intimated. Anfel calmly ordered a double cheeseburger and a strawberry milkshake. 38

He glanced at Sellie. “So what do you want?”39

She snarled at him. “For you to let me go.” 40

The elf smiled at the clerk. “She'll have the same as me.” He led her to a table, and sat her down against him. The table itself was wooden with four legs, and a red painted surface. Anfel sighed, looking at Sellie. “So … how about you tell me more about this guardian?”41

Sellie crossed her arms, looking sullen. “How about you just killing yourself, like you seem to want to do anyway.”42

The elf’s expression turned serious. “I don't want to kill myself. I want to destroy all of it. The magic – the creatures – all of it. Not just me.”43

She leaned across the table. “But why?”44

Anfel sighed. “Have you seen their movies about us? Read the books? I have. That's where we belong, Sellie. Not out here. How many lives do you think we've cost them? How many die each year due to our fighting, or your attacks? I don't know the number but …” Dead bodies flashed in Anfel’s mind. So many. He winced for a moment, shaking his head. “But it's big. Too big. I want us back where we belong. Inside their heads. Their books. Their imagination.”45

“But why do they have any more right to live than we do?”46

“Because … because … because you're monsters. And we're fairytales. Just the fact that we can be destroyed or altered by some books shows just how much we don't belong.”47

Sellie shook her head. “There's no way I can change your mind, is there?”48

“No.”49

“Fine. Let's just … not talk then.” They sat in silence until the food arrived. Anfel and even Sellie dived hungrily into their burgers. Anfel had to admit he loved human fast food sometimes. Just as they were finishing, the elf caught the sight of two odd looking humans entering the restaurant. Both had hoods covering their faces, and black gloves. Who would wear … vampires, realized Anfel. Avoiding direct sunlight. Damnit.50

They looked in his direction. And they were approaching. Anfel grimaced. The two guys stopped at his table. He looked up at them. They smiled. “We've never met a warlock before. It's a honor, sir.” Anfel just grinned.51