The Obdurate Avidity

Chapter 24

 
By TurtleBoy


            Dropping down to the ground in front of me; spreading my arms on either side of myself bracing me from the red tainted soil.  My heart sped to a dangerously heavy speed, the world spinning before me in a blurred obscurity.  My stomach in knots the heaving began.  Past the blurry vision I could see streams of red and brown chunky liquids evading my throat and crashing to the ground.  My lungs were empty but I couldn’t stop to breath.  A cold sweat rushed across me as my eyes began to burn with the feeling that they too were going to escape me.

 
            Deep in the backgrounds of the blackened shades of trees and branches I could hear something.  It could have been anything, yet for some reason my body froze as if it had to remain still.  I didn’t dare move a muscle, the heaving stopped as if by command and my senses returned to me.  The blur was clearing to a reddish haze.  The air was carrying something that only spoke danger to me.  Listening to the very best of my ability, I could hear nothing.

 
            This however worried me more.  My heart didn’t even feel like it was beating.  The birds were no longer in the trees and the squirrels were no where to be seen.  There it was; a slight snort.  Almost as if someone had sneezed.  I shifted my head to the left at an attempt to see what had made the noise.  It came out of no where; I was rolling against the ground and crashing against an old oak tree.  My rib cage was burning and my heart was beating at a now high alert.  A scent only to be described as death filled my lungs.  I forced myself to my feet as quickly as I could, only to be struck in the face and forced back to the ground.  I could feel my blood pouring down my neck, but no pain lingered against me.  Gripping my fingers into the soil I could feel the world beginning to intensify.  My vision returned just as a blur of an unidentifiable object came thrusting to my left.  No thoughts, just impulse.  I forced myself back against the rigged bark of the tree behind me, cutting my shoulders in the process.

 
            Jumping up while pulling myself in against the tree in a quick tuck, I stretched out my legs thrusting myself into the air.  The wind split across my face as I opened my eyes looking below me.  A strange figure that seemed impossibly thin, was watching my movement above.  Feeling gravity take its course I prepared to meet the ground; forcing my head down and my shoulders forward I hit the dirt in a sloppy uncoordinated roll.  Spinning onto my stomach and dragging my fingers into the ground to force a stop I steadily climbed to my feet.

 
            Looking directly at the creature I still couldn’t make out what I was seeing.  Its stature was blurred with a greenish tone; no actual features could be properly made out.  The creature stood maybe six feet tall with a thin and unnatural build.  Its legs were long and the shoulders were broad.  At certain times it even seemed to be transparent.  I had a hard time knowing if it was my vision or if it was actually this… thing.  The stand off became uncomfortably uneventful.  It just stood there in an awkward stare.

 
“What the hell do you want!”  I screamed.

 
“Zēns no Mēness” hissed the creature, after a long pause.

 
            With a drawn out extension of its thin arm it pointed toward the sky.  The voice gave me chills and the smell made me sick.  I had to get away from this thing.  It was obvious I couldn’t talk my way out of this, changing didn’t seem to be working either.  Damn it, unreliable!

 
            I felt a dampness increase in the air.  The sky began to darken and change color.  A harsh red expelled upon my surroundings forcing a surge of energy to course through my veins.  My heart now pounding twice as fast as before; I could feel the change force its way to the surface of my body.  I thought I was ready for what was happening, but the speed in which it happened was too fast to register properly in my mind.  An electrical surge rushed through me, with a split second of the sharpest burning sensation I had ever felt before.  Stomping my claws heavily into the soil before me, a look of panic crossed the gaze of this creature.  I could smell the fear rippling off of its stink, I could hear its heart beating at an alarming rate.  All I could do was smile.

 
            It was like the sky was powering me at a ten fold of what I was used to.  I couldn’t contain what I was feeling and could only act on what seemed natural.  Pulling back and thrusting towards this thing before me, it had no time to react.  My sharp claws were buried in its flesh and my teeth had sunk deep into its throat.  The taste of the blood no flowing rapidly into my mouth was metallic and vile.  It burned my throat, giving me the sensation that I was throwing up.  In disgust I repelled myself from this creature.  To my surprise, it stood back up.  The transparency that was there before was now gone, there before me was a creature similar to a lizard.  The skin was scaled and jagged, the eyes were yellow with narrowed black pupils.  It wore no clothing and preferred to stay close to the ground in a crouched position.  Before I could do anything more, the creature had vanished.

 
            I felt unsatisfied; there was something inside of me that wanted to continue, drawn to create more destruction.  Ripping from the soil below me I ran at top speed though the trees.  I could smell the intoxicating scents of blood filling my lungs.  I was close to my target.  The trees became smaller and the bushes became larger.  Approaching the end of the forest, I pushed forward with my hind legs as hard as I could landing heavily on the trailer of a large eight-teen wheeler.  With a stern grip I slowly made my way to the front cabin, until something began to happen.  The sky began to break and light began to ascend once more.  Burning my skin, I felt myself loose my hold.  In a hard thud I hit my jaw to the trailer, and grabbed my sides.  The air began to push me backwards, with a few short rolls I was falling to the street below me.  My body crashed to the ground as the ashes of the beast scattered away from me.  Feeling my flesh shred against the pavement I screamed in pain while I rolled to a sudden halt at the side of the street.

 
            Gripping myself in a curled up into ball, I felt tears welling up and begin to stream down my face.  My heart began to calm itself, letting the pain and soreness settle in.  Hearing the birds once again sing their song in the trees I knew everything was back to normal….  Well as normal as it gets for me.  Finding the strength to raise to my feet, I began to walk back home.  Blood dripped to the street below me, my head was split open on the side, accompanied by many cuts and scrapes throughout the rest of my body.  As the sun climbed higher in the sky, I felt comfort hit me.  And for some reason, a smile crossed my face.  Rolling my neck against my shoulders and stretching out a bit, my head started to tingle with a partial sting.  Running my hand through my hair, the gash was gone.  Looking across my body, I was healed.  Maybe this wasn’t so bad after all.

 
            I felt good again, comforted and content with what had happened.  With no clue why however, but I didn’t question it.  I was done with questions.  What ever had just happened with the sky was over, with the added bonus; it ended before I could hurt anyone.  Well, apart from that creature.  But I don’t think I will dwell on that too much.  I felt so good I just didn’t care.  The air was clean and crisp, the sun was warm and comforting.  And I could heal myself!  That was such an awesome perk.  I didn’t even have to eat anything that would make me sick later….  Well, that time anyway.

 
            It wasn’t long before I could see the backyard of home.  Must be getting pretty late though; mom was already out in the yard playing with her flowers.  Awe shit.  How was I gonna get inside?  Eyeing up my surroundings, I barely took time to think.  I kept low to the ground and began to run as fast as I could, while keeping an eye on mother dearest, I jumped to a tree that was a good 20 feet from the house.  Climbing up it with ease, I ran down a branch and jumped into the air.  Without even a sound I ended up landing on the roof of the house.  A little further than I had planned, but still I made it.  With a smile, I walked towards my balcony and dropped down onto the rail and skipped to the floor below it.  I did it, wow, and I liked it.  With that, I slid open the door and hurried into the bathroom for a quick shower.

 
            The tiles below me were smothered in the red of my own blood, being washed from my soaked body.  Swirls encircled around the drain, while my red covered body began to clear and clean once again.  Lathering up my hair I massaged the shampoo into my scalp, making sure to get all the blood out.  It was so weird I couldn’t even tell where the lesion was.  Not even so much as a scar or bump.  It was great.  I hadn’t felt so powerful in all my life.  It was like I was immortal, immune to all the hurt of the world.  I was defiantly not something to be messed with anymore.  I felt powerful and strong, healthier than I could ever have predicted.  I was definitely in a great mood.  I wanted to show James what I could do so badly.  The only thing was, I was afraid I would scare him again.  I didn’t want to chance that.  Maybe I could just tell him, and show him once he felt comfortable.


            Oh God, James.  I wonder if he felt anything when the sky went all screwy.  I really hope everything is ok.  I mean, I’m getting used to this stuff.  And nothing has really happened to him, yet.  I really hope that I’m mistaken, I couldn’t stand having James go through what I was going.  I mean, things have been so messed up lately.  I just don’t want him to have to experience the crap I have.  Maybe he wont have to, maybe I can protect him from it.  God, why am I worried?  He’s a strong person.  I’m sure he can get through whatever happens.  GAH!  The waters freezing!  Guess it was time to get out and prepare for the day, hehehe.

 
            Jumping out of the shower I quickly dried myself off and scampered off to my bedroom to throw something clean on.  I could still smell James scent in my room.  Just like he was in there already.  It was so wonderful, but it did make me yearn for him that much more.  I wanted to see him right than and there.  I wonder if he’s up yet?  Well enough of this for now, I’m starved.  I tossed on some shorts and a t-shirt and skipped down the stairs.

 
            Turning around the corner of the banister my lungs filled with the wonderful scent of, yes you guessed it! Not too fruity not too perfumy.  Feeling my mood lift higher then it was before, allowing my heart to skip several beats.  There was James sitting in the kitchen with a smile on his face, looking directly at me.

 
“James!  You’re here!”  I said excitedly.

 
“Yea, for almost half hour already.  Didn’t think you’d ever get out of that shower.”  He smiled an even larger smile and raised to his feet.

 
“I’m sorry!  You should have come up and told me you were here.”  I replied.

 
“Well, I figured you needed a while.  I saw you… up on the roof… earlier.”  James tone slowed.

 
“Oh… I ummm,”  James kinda hit me by surprise, I was at a shortage of words, “had an interesting night.”

 
“Looked that way.  You’re not hurt are you?”  A look of concern crossed over him.

 
“I’m fine, I promise.”  I assured him while stretching out my arms to show him I had no bruises.

 
“You better be.  And that was a pretty impressive display earlier.  Looks like you’re starting to get good at… whatever it is you can do.”  He smiled awkwardly.

 
“Not really.  Everything I do only happens without me thinking about it.  I can’t do anything when I want to.  Kind of confrusterating.”  I giggled lightly.

 
“Heh, I had a bit of a scare earlier too actually.”  James added suddenly.  I watched as his smile faded and turned to a look of concern.

 
“Really?  What happened?  Are you ok?”  I scampered quickly to his side, and inspected him quickly.

 
“Yea, I just passed out.  It was weird.  I woke up in the woods.  With no clothes.”

 
“Oh shit.  You’re okay though right?  Nothing tried to hurt you?”

 
“I’m fine.  I think it was that eclipse that caused it.”


“Eclipse?”


“Yea, you know.  The moon covers the sun, or something covers the sun anyway… It happened almost right after the sky went all red.”  James explained.


“That kind of explains it than.  I ended up changing when that happened.  I’m so glad it did too, I could have been in loads of trouble if I didn’t change right than.”


“Slow down, what happened?”


“I woke up this morning in the woods, next to a dead animal.  Than some lizard like creature attacked me.  He was stronger than me, I don’t think I could have taken him if I hadn’t changed.”


“Lizard?  God, we’re gonna have to start strapping you into bed at night.”  James half joked.


“Tell me about it.  I’ve ruined so many clothes lately its not even funny.  And…. Forget about it.  Do you remember anything from when you passed out?”


“No, I just remember the weird smell I had on me when I woke up in the bushes.  I was all covered in dirt and everything around me was all burnt and coaled.”


“So… does that mean we were right?  You are descended of Balial?”  I asked half excited half scared.


“Dunno, but it really made me think.  You’ve been waking up in weird places for a while now.  It must be so confusing for you.”


“Yea, but I’ve been getting used to it.  I’m starting to know the trees very well hehe.  But I could really do with out it.  I wan to know I’m gonna wake up in my own bed the next morning.”


“I know what you mean. I’m a little scared to wake up in some place that I don’t know.  Those trees go on forever.”  James added with concern.


“Don’t worry, I know I could find you if something like that happens.  I know what you smell like, I know how you walk.  I can find you.  I promise.”  I assured him.


“You better, I don’t know which berries are poisonous.”  He smiled.


“Well, you can just cook yourself a bunny or something.  All we got to do is teach you how to build a fire.”  I teased.


“I’m not eating a bunny!  That’s gross!  And bunnies are too cute to cook!”


“No, you’re too cute.”  I smiled.


“I’m not sure if that’s a very good compliment right now… we were just talking about cooking cuteness…”  James smiled.


“Yea… guess timing was a little off.  But it’s true, you are cute.”  I assured him, while pinching his butt softly, “But wouldn’t mind getting a taste of that.”


“Haha!  Now that was cute.  Nerd.”


“How was that cute?  I’m not gonna compliment you anymore if all you’re gonna do is criticize my attempts.”  I ended by poking out my tongue, and that was all I had.


“Anyway.  You want to go out for something to eat?  I really feel like a yummy burger right now.”


“You know just how to get to my heart.  Let’s get out of here!”  I giggled.


“Right on, my treat though!”  James demanded.


“Ok, but I got ice cream after.”  I bargained.


“Deal.  Now go tell your mommy.”


“FINE!  Let’s go.”  I chucked on some socks and shoes and we exited out the back toward my mom, “MA!  Me and James are heading to get a bite to eat, is that alright?”

 
“Yea… You sure you don’t want me to fix you lunch instead?”  She seemed in need of a break from her garden, but I didn’t care hehee.


“Na, you take it easy.  Want us to bring you back something?”  I offered.


“Ummm, no.  I think we have everything we need, and I’ll just have a sandwich for lunch.  But thanks, you two have fun.”  She answered as she flopped her butt to the ground and sprawled out on the grass.


“hehehe.”  James snickered, “You take it easy Mrs. Conner.”


“I will, thanks James.”


            With that we were off!  As soon as we cleared enough distance from the house James took hold of my hand.  Looking over at him, a large smile pasted to his cheeks.  Looking ahead a comforting sigh escaped him.  With a gentle dip in my chest, and a mutual smile on my face we slowly made our way to find a burger joint.



Chapter 25