Xiven was slightly strained. I could tell by the sweat beading on his forehead. And then it hit me; Xiven was cheating. I couldn’t see the flow of Denai power he was using on me but I could see the effects on his physical body. He was hampering my fighting. I instantly reached for Faraway but hit a wall. Those stupid mists were blocking me from using Faraway’s strength. I had no way to counter any of his attacks; I was on my own.

Gritting my teeth, I focused my sight and tried to see what he was doing but once again I was blind to the energy he was using. Xiven came forward and swung at my face and I brought up the stick to block and countered. I tried to move offensively and keep him moving while I thought of a plan of attack. Pushing him around the room, I desperately tried to think of a way to hinder him.

But because of the veil, there was no power, no energy for me to grab except for what I saw pulsing deep within his body. I hesitated and felt sick at the thought. But Xiven swept at my arm with the broken end of the stick. I gasped as a long cut ran down my arm and blood started to pour out of it. I looked at Xiven’s face and was disgusted by the look in his eyes. I thought to see sorrow or sympathy in his deep brown eyes but instead I saw excitement. He enjoyed making me feel pain. Unable to control the rage, I mentally reached out and grabbed at the white pulsing light in the center of Xiven’s body and watched as his eyes widened in shock. I took enough power to push Xiven hard away from me; he sailed backwards and used his power to stop himself short from hitting the wall. The fuzziness in my mind and mental block I felt I was fighting through disappeared when I attacked him, proving that I was right.

“Finally, a worthy opponent. You’re my perfect match.” His eyes were black and his chest was heaving from the physical exertion. He looked wild and feral; his grin was crazy as if he were enjoying this too much.

I hesitated a moment too long as he rushed me and when he punched me there was extra power behind it.  This time I flew into the wall and dropped to my knees. Xiven’s face was pale and I knew he was struggling as much as I was to gain control of power. Because of the mists it was harder for him to use it, but I didn’t know his limits.

“Xiven! Stop! This isn’t right; we shouldn’t be fighting like this.” I yelled at him, trying to keep my distance.

“Why not, Thalia? You are the only one that has even made this interesting for me. You need to prove you’re a powerful Denai to Gloria and this is one way to do it. Beat me and I will personally vouch for you to marry Joss.”

“That’s not the point,” I tried to reason with him. But he interrupted me.

“What was it that you did to me? I never even saw you use power.”

“It’s hard to explain.” I needed to talk Xiven out of this fight because the only way to defend myself against him would ultimately hurt him in the end.

“Doesn’t matter, because you won’t get to do it again.” Xiven moved and rushed me and I grabbed at his energy again and used it to push him to the side so he missed me with his charge. His face was becoming pale; he was tiring and I could see the exertion of keeping Hemi immobile was wearing on him. I was feeling sick to my stomach from the use of power.  It affected me worse than it does a normal Denai.

“Xiven, you have to stop, NOW! I don’t want to hurt you.” Xiven ignored my scream and gathered together all four broken broom handles in his hands, point sides down. They looked like stakes that floated menacingly above his hands. What had started as a physical exercise turned into a duel between Denai. The only problem was I couldn’t fight fair. Xiven looked up at me and what I saw terrified me. He was serious. Xiven was in this too far, and it was no longer a game.  It was war and he wasn’t going to lose. Just trying to access as much power as he did in such a short time was unsettling his mind.  He was drunk on power and maybe a little mad. I could see it in his eyes.

I could feel the blood drain from my face as I saw all four stakes fly towards me. Desperately I tried to deflect it like I they had taught in the arena, but it didn’t work. In a last ditch effort I tried to drain everything I could from Xiven to make him pass out or give up but it was too late. I barely was able to throw up a wall between the flying stakes and me. Three of them hit barrier and disintegrated and I watched in horror as Xiven paled and collapsed to his knees. I screamed his name and ran to him.

Xiven was limp like a child and I grasped his head in my lap. He looked up at me and he smiled weakly; blood trickled slowly out of the corner of his mouth. “Well played, Thalia. I had never met my match before. I’ve never seen anyone do what you did.” He gazed adoringly at me. Hemi came and kneeled by both of us. I gave him a look that told him to be silent.

“Xiven, are you crazy? Why would you try and use so much power in Skyfell? You could have burnt yourself out or worse, died.” My gut clenched in pain at the thought of him dying because of me. I didn’t want to tell him he was in this state because I stole his life energy.

“I had to know,” he whispered weakly. “If you were worthy.”

I felt sick; I had no idea what he was talking about but the use of all of that power was making me feel dizzy and now that the adrenaline had worn off, pain was making it hard for me to speak.

“Thalia, I would be honored to be considered your friend.” Xiven grinned at me and I could see a little bit of color come back into his face. I was secretly relieved that the damage I had done to him wasn’t permanent. My stomach was cramping again in pain but I ignored it as I reached for Xiven’s hand and noticed it was covered it blood. My eyes searched Xiven for other injuries but found none.

Xiven started to choke and I looked at him. His eyes were filled with tears and his lips were whispering a phrase over and over again. “I’m so sorry...I’m so sorry…I’m sorry.” I was having problems concentrating as I followed his gaze. Xiven wasn’t bleeding, I was. I had blocked only three of the stakes.  The fourth had imbedded itself into my stomach and the adrenaline and shock had kept me from feeling the pain. Xiven had seen the injury and had tried to heal it and couldn’t, which was why he was apologizing. He couldn’t because I had drained him of power, he was weakened from the mists and I wasn’t able to heal myself.

“OH!” I said and felt full force of the injury as if my mind had been waiting for my consciousness to fully acknowledge it before assaulting me. All I could do was stare at the stake and the blood pouring out around it and I felt a moment of relief as I realized my blood was still bright red.

Chapter 23

“Son of Light, save us,” Hemi howled. The drinks he had carried up the stairs fell from his hands, clattering and spilling their contents on the floor. He unceremoniously knocked Xiven’s hands away and picked me up.  Turning, he ran towards the stairs yelling as loud as he could. “JESAI! Help!” Silence followed, no answering call came. The house was unusually quiet except for the sounds of Xiven apologizing. Joss must have left shortly after bringing me home.  Otherwise he would have heard the fighting and would have come to investigate like Xiven did. Swearing under his breath, Hemi carefully hauled me down the winding steps and into the streets.  Once there he picked up his pace and ran yelling for a healer, for anyone to come and help.

Despite the horrific display that Hemi portrayed, a giant man covered in furs, bruises and my blood carrying a small girl, someone was brave enough to approach him. A small copper haired woman called out to Hemi and he turned gratefully towards her as she motioned for him to follow her. The woman walked swiftly and Hemi had no problem keeping up with her short legs. Skirts didn’t hinder her because she wore a tan split dress with a brown apron and a leather tool belt around her waist. Turning abruptly down a side alley, she headed for a side door and entered into what appeared to be a workshop. Bee-lining into a back room, the woman stopped before a short wall. Pulling a drab tapestry to the side, she revealed a copper fitted door. Opening it, she motioned for Hemi to enter.