A cool breeze tapped Jalen on his back, and he lifted his matted dusty hair from the ground, peeling his eyes open. Huh? How long have I…? He sat back, arms stretched out propping himself and glanced around, light still lingered. “I suppose I reset… but I still feel so apathetic.” Jalen sighed tonelessly, “No. I needn’t be a tool.” He spoke with vigour. Forget this power, I can be more. The resolve echoed through him as he promised himself to engage more and he inhaled and exhaled steadily, closing his eyes to picture what the new him meant. A smile flickered across his face. “I still have uses.” His eyes snapped open and his smile grew his teeth shining from ear to ear, “Haha! I need a deal! I actually need that pompous platinum grump; Kl…” His final words snapped short as he recalled the earlier cries. They’re not back… Jalen sprang to his feet, nothing hurt anymore he noticed but he didn’t hesitate launching forward into the forest.
Trees snatched at him but he ignored the superficial scratches, focused on his companions. It’s strange to feel I need them... He shook his head. “I need them.” I have to pull away from what was. I have to.
It wasn’t long before Jalen came to a small clearing by the mouth a cave. This is where the commotion aught to have sourced. His eyes noticed the splatter of blood by a boulder and drops leading away. Jalen’s eyes bulged at the scene, “Am I… too late?” He darted forward towards to cave but paused short of the entrance as a flicker of light caught his eye. Jalen retracted and bent down nearing the object.
“A dagger?” The weapon looked expensive but it was caked in blood, even the handle. Jalen allowed his jacket to fall ripping a sleeve off his shirt to wrap the blade up, tucking it behind his belt. His other sleeve was looking pretty poor as his own dried blood weighted it. Jalen tore it off discarding it and lifting back up his jacket.
“Looking for your friends?” A voice hissed and Jalen turned to notice a green haired woman standing at the mouth of the cave. “They’re inside.”
“What happened?” Jalen asked indicating with his head the mess outside. The woman, Jalen noticed, didn’t break her gaze.
“They’re safe. I trust you want to see.” It was almost as if she swayed Jalen noticed. A second figure stood behind the woman obscured by the shadows of the cave and spoke softly in tongue Jalen didn’t recognise.
“Who’s there? Arya?” Jalen squinted but it wasn’t her.
“Dark Prince.” The words chilled Jalen and he steeled himself.
“Who are you and just what have you done with the others?” Jalen barked. The woman drew out closer, lift her arm up and placing her hand on his shoulder. The gaze she gave irked him.
“With regards…” She clenched down and Jalen yelled out as her fingers dug into his skin, he dropped to a knee. “… from your mother.” Jalen looked up her appearance was dissolving and scales began replacing skin, her hair began to squirm and hiss.
“What the…?” Jalen tried lifting but woman clenched harder, “Arghh!”
“What have you…” Jalen choked out blood, “… done with… my friends…” His hand clutched round to the back of his, grasping for the concealed weapon; the being gripped tighter.
“I wonder…” The being hissed not revealing anything to him.
If I can just reach… Jalen relented when his eyes caught the opening to the cave. Rows of the beings now stood, serpentine hair, scales, their eyes glowing.
“The unworthy one is no loss.” She spoke commandingly at the amassing force. I have to move… timing is key. Jalen prepared himself to slash and retreat.
“Now.” The woman spoke and Jalen flashed out the bloody blade to strike first.
But she hadn’t moved.
Her eyes flashed completely white.
Jalen couldn’t move.
What?!
The entire group was emitting white from their eyes and Jalen couldn’t avert himself, gripped tightly down he found himself frozen, arm out stretched, blade in hand.
The woman released her grasp, “Tsk.” She looked unimpressed at weapon, moving back to the cave.