Rainbows and Blood - Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight1

“Guardian”2

They pulled up in front of the house. It looked just like any other in the pristine suburban neighborhood. Anfel and Sellie exited the cab – they each had one book on them. The elf turned to the driver. “Don’t wait for us this time.” The driver looked like he was about to argue for a moment, then he just nodded and drove away.3

The duo walked up to the brown-painted house. There were no cars in the driveway. Anfel knocked on the door. They waited a few minutes. Anfel was just about to knock again, when the door opened. A boy in his late teens, wearing a bright red hoodie and munching on an apple, opened the door. “Come in.” Anfel and Sellie took hesitant steps inside. The boy closed the door behind them. His hair was brown, curled, and carefully styled. “So … what can I do you for?”4

“We came to talk to you about something.” Anfel tried to think about how to word this. “I realize this might come as a shock to you but you … have certain powers.”5

“Oh. You mean you’re going to tell me something like … I'm a guardian for an ancient book chosen by destiny, giving me awesome fighting powers?”6

Anfel stared. “That's exactly … how did you …”7

The boy took another bite of his apple. “I’d like you to meet some people – well, not really people, but I think you’ll get along great.” He led them into the kitchen. Six elven soldiers languished among the clean cabinets. One of them had black hair, and easily recognizable features. Anfel’s hand immediately went to his scimitar. 8

He glanced at Sellie. “Stay back. No matter what happens next, don't get involved. They're no strangers to witch magic, let me handle it.” For once, she didn't argue, but backed away, into the living room – where she still had a clear view. The boy calmly walked into the kitchen, stopping by Markus. 9

Markus gave Anfel a kind smile. “Hey, old friend. I’d like you to meet Matthew, the new Rainbows guardian. So … if you would be so kind as to hand the book he's supposed to be guarding over to me, I'll make sure you will have a very nice execution. Probably even a last meal and everything. How does that sound?”10

“It sounds like we're going to have to meet each other demands somewhere. Probably in afterlife.”11

The black-haired elf lost his smile. “Is this really how it's going to be? You versus us? Your own kind? Your own friend?”12

“You're all dead to me anyway.”13

Markus approached Anfel. “And you think you can take us?”14

“No.” Anfel drew his scimitar. “I know I can.” Matthew wisely kept out of the way. Anfel closed his eyes. He heard the ring as all six of them – including Markus – drew their swords. This was it. These were his kin. He had fought practice matches with them all his life, he knew their moves, their counter-moves. Fighting with the Blood was always ugly, always chaotic. But this, this was beauty.15

The elf’s eyes flashed open as he avoided the first sword, and sliced open his first artery. His knife wound another vital mark. Scimitar ran out against scimitar while a kick delayed another assault. Spinning attack took out another elf. The blood from his neck splashed across Anfel. Markus himself kept himself back.16

The last two weren't any more problem than the first three, a thrown knife, and a pierced heart. His scimitar was dripping with blood as he faced Markus. The black-haired elf looked around them, at the five dead bodies, his face not reflecting anything but pure hatred once it turned back to Anfel. “I guess the kid I once knew is all gone now. All I have left is to vanquish the creature inhabiting his body.” With the last word Markus launched himself into a furious assault at Anfel.17

Anfel defended from every swipe and thrust calmly. Already he knew victory was at hand – but it would only come swifter if his old friend’s hand was directed by hatred and anger. Utilizing an opening he punched him in the nose, breaking it. Blood now dripping down his face, Markus’s fury redoubled. 18

The strength behind his blows increased – but the strategy behind them was none. Anfel sliced into his friend’s leg, forcing him to go down one knee. But still he fought on. So he took out the other leg. Markus crawled in his direction. Anfel backed away. “Give it up. The fight is over.” He kicked the sword out of Markus’s hands.19

Markus finally stopped. He turned himself, so he could look at Matthew. “Boy. It's all up to you now.” Before Anfel could stop him, he grabbed Anfel’s own knife from a dead soldier, and stabbed himself with it, into his very heart. Anfel stared at his dead friend for a moment, then he turned his eyes to Matthew.20

The boy finished his apple, throwing it away. He casually picked up one of the soldier’s blades. Anfel stepped forward. “You don't want to do this.”21

“I kind of do.” The boy threw the blade up into the air, and caught it again. “I feel like I've got all this energy just filling up my insides. I know how to fight too, I just know. Didn't have to learn it anywhere.” He looked at Anfel smirking. “Of course … you can surrender if you want.”22

For one of the few times in Anfel’s life, he felt unsure of himself. He felt … fear. He had been told stories about the guardians all his life. The Rainbows ones were supposed to be the most powerful warriors in either world. A regular one, and Anfel wouldn’t even stand a chance. This one was untrained and just coming into his powers but … guardians came ready made. He guessed he was about to test just how ready made.23

Anfel jumped up on the kitchen table, charging the boy. He met his swing easily. The elf jumped off it again, executing a complex pattern of blows against the boy. He didn't so much as miss a beat, or leave one opening. And his speed … Anfel had trouble even following his moves sometimes. 24

Without warning, Matthew launched into an offensive pattern. Anfel had never seen anything like that before. It was swordplay beyond even his level. There was nothing he could do but defend. And always that boy had an arrogant smirk. A single slip, and the boy's blade slid beyond his defenses and sliced into his side. The pain distracted him allowing Matthew to knock his sword out of his hand. The boy punched Anfel violently, throwing him to the ground – the force behind the blow was not natural. “You're the bad guy, right? And I'm the good guy. You should have guessed how this ends.”25

Anfel was on the ground, looking up at Matthew. “Things are never black and white.”26

“Regardless,” the boy lifted the sword, “this is the end.”27

Lightning hit him in the back. Most others would have dropped, but although his face contorted in pain, he still managed to keep standing. He turned to Sellie, the source of the lightning. In a few alarmingly short steps he crossed the distance to her, and pushed her up against the wall with the blade against her neck.28

Anfel raised himself up, grabbing his scimitar again. “So if I'm the bad guy, then who is she?” 29

Matthew glanced at Anfel, then regarded Sellie. “Witch. They told me an elf and a witch would come. Witches are bad.” The last part sounded like he was trying to convince himself.30

“Maybe. But she's not one yet. You could say she's a witch-to-be. But none of that matters, what we're here to do is to change it. We want you to change her to human.”31

Matthew stared at Anfel. “What?”32

“You heard me.”33

“They said you were evil.”34

“Maybe I am. But this isn't an evil act.” Anfel looked to Sellie. “Give him the book.” Sellie nodded, and slowly reached down, taking the Blood book from within her shirt and handing it to Matthew. “Just open it, and ask it, how to make that girl human.”35

Matthew looked at it for a moment, then turned back to Anfel, with narrowed eyes. “Why would I want to help you?”36

“Not me. Her. Look into her eyes, and tell me, is she's evil?”37

Matthew stared at Sellie’s face. Then he eventually backed away, taking the blade from her neck. “Okay. Even if she's evil, taking away her power can't be a bad thing.” He opened the book, flipping the pages. They were all blank. He looked at Anfel. “How does it work?”38

“Just … try asking it, out loud.” In truth Anfel had no idea.39

“Uhm,” Matthew cleared his throat. “Book … how … how do I make … this girl … human?” Immediately words formed on the page, in a language Anfel had never even seen before. And from the look on Sellie’s face, neither had she. But Matthew could read it. “That's it? I just have to touch her and say these words.” He put the hand holding his sword to her forehead and spoke something in a tongue humans should not be able to speak. After it was done he let his hand drop. “Did it work?”40

Sellie looked at him for a moment. Then she lifted her hand and tried to do magic. Nothing happened. “It … it worked.” She smiled brightly at Anfel. “It really worked!” She ran to him, throwing her arms around him. When she pulled back, he smiled at her. Then he bent his head down, and kissed her, with passion. She returned the kiss41

Anfel broke away from it, still smiling at an entirely surprised Sellie. Then he hit her in the head with the heavy hilt of his scimitar. She was knocked out instantly. Anfel stepped over her, to face Matthew. “Now I want you to ask the book something else.”42

“You just … wasn't she your friend?”43

“Yeah. But I think I know where this is heading, and I don't want her involved in the fight.”44

“What do you want me to ask it?”45

“How to destroy it. Both of them.”46

“Why?”47

“So that all the magic, all the magical creatures, all of it, will disappear from the world.”48

Matthew stared at him. “You really are evil.” Then he glanced down at the open book. “It responds to my thoughts?” 49

Anfel could see words being written. “What does it say?” 50

“That fire would be a good way, but there's more …” He looked up at Anfel, realizing what he just said. “I gotta stop reading out loud.”51

“Thank you.” Anfel smiled and charged. This time, there was no way he was going to lose. Soon there’d be an end to both the Rainbows and the Blood.52