Believing in Myself

Thank you once again Falcon! It's always nice to see a reviewer as dedicated as you. Now, more to the story...


Chapter 15


Night had fallen and John and Jessica had still remained at the same spot where they had been attacked. Jessica, deciding that she had nothing to lose, took the man's advice and used the herbs on John's wounds. They seemed to be working fine, and they had decided to camp there for the night.

"Shame... wish I could have practiced some magic tonight."

"Well, I think you went through enough today. Don't you think that counts for some kind of training?"

"I guess..." John said bitterly. The man's words still stung at him. He had been insulted after all. But he vowed that as soon as he was better, that man would be just one more person to beat on the way to Beras.

His actions had been most mysterious. He claimed to know lot about their plans, and seemed like he wanted them to stop. But did he work for Beras? If so, he seemed to hide it quite well. He had supplied them with proper medication, more then was needed. And his warning seemed to be more out of concern for his safety then a threat. Still, he attacked without warning, and without care for either of their lives, so it seemed. He didn't even hold back, which sparked more questions then it answered.

They pondered this for awhile. Now Jessica stood over a fire, making diner, while John rested, letting the herbs do their work.

"It's so confusing isn't it. First Beras and now this guy... why is it everyone seems to have something against me?"

"I don't know. But isn't this why we are going to wherever it is we are going? To get some answers?"

"Hopefully. In any case, how's dinner coming?"

Jessica smiled."Hey, I'm no housewife. Don't act like I have to take care of you."

John smiled and rubbed the back of his head. "Well, I'm not exactly in a condition to help now, am I?"

Jessica walked over to John and sat next to him. She gave him a soft kiss. "Well, you just trust me, alright?" She smiled softly at him, and he smiled back. It was hard not to. Leaving him to check on dinner, she stirred the pot that sat over the fire, taking a small taste to see if it was ready. She seemed satisified with it, for soon she spooned the stew into two bowls for them. She gave one to John, who was able to sit up, and together they ate in silence.

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"Well? How was it?"

The man in black was talking to the angel with lavender hair. They stood calmly, staring each other down.

"He was... interesting. I still don't think he can do it, however."

"Well, it really doesn't matter what you think. What matters is that he isn't doing this alone."

The man in black shook his head. "If he can't do it alone, he will die. For when do things always turn out the way we plan them?"

The angel seemed intrigued, but made no other comment on it. "By the way... I was wondering. That technique you used to dodge his attack. What was it?"

The man in black smiled, although the angel couldn't tell, and turned away, suddenly vanishing from sight. The angel looked around, for any sign or trace of him, but it felt as though he had completely vanished from existance. Suddenly he felt it, and turned around, reaching his arm out. Catching the man's wrist, he saw the tip of a dagger pointing straight for his face. The man in black had a look of amusement on his face, and placed the dagger away. Whether or not he meant to stop the attack however...

"Not bad. Just like that fool of a so called Destined, he too was quick to react."

"A deminstration was not what I asked for. Although I must admit, it must have taken you long to learn."

The man, however, turned away from the angel. "It's... still not perfect. I can hide effectively... but not for long. And if I try to streach it out, I will be noticed, although it's not like anyone could do anything about it."

The angel smiled and spread out his wings. "I must be going back. I trust you not to make trouble?"

"I'm not a kid. I can take care of myself thank you very much."

"As you so wish."

The angel vanished into a fury of feathers, and the man stood quite alone in the darkness. He placed his hand to the crescent moon clasp that held his cloak together and traced the piece with his finger. It glowed softly in the night.

"Shadow walk."

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"Die, like your worthless father before you..."

John looked to the Beras he saw, his figure now more sharp and in focus then ever. Beyond him, still moving further and further away, was Jessica. The fire that burned before illuminated everything. John felt the darkness, choking him, threatening to take his life. But he wasn't going to give in...

Suddenly, another figure emerged behind Beras, although he stayed out of sight. An insane smile was on his face, and his blonde hair was matted down. He gazed at John though just one eye, but when he turned to face him more properly, John had to hold back from disgust. His left arm seemed to glow blue, as though they reflected the blood flowing in him. A claw replaced his left hand, and seemed to twist itself around completely, as though no bone existed but only muscle. From the claw to was appeared to be the left half of his face, his skin was gone and looked as though it were only muscle that existed. Never before had he seen this... this thing. He wondered if he was a demon too...

"What... what are you!?"

"Your fate."

John looked back, with some strain, and saw him again, the man wearing black. He stood behind him, his expressionless face surveying the situation. He reached out and grabbed John. As soon as the man brought him up, he felt it, the darkness that pressed against him, threatening to choke and crush him, lifting. John steadied himself and watched Beras and this new person intently. They both seemed interested in the stranger near him.

"Come John. Your shadow will guide you." The man in black moved foward quickly, attempting to charge the demons. Suddenly he felt himself moving, following the man in attack, bracing himself for impact...

A light shone and he saw nothing.

"John! John! Wake up!"

A voice... but who? It felt like it had come from far away, too far to be recognized. The voice continued to shout at him and suddenly it became clear, more defined. It was familiar somehow, though he couldnt place the name down...

Suddenly he remembered. Jessica... calling to him. He opened his eyes to see Jessica looking at him.

"Thank goodness! Your awake at last. You must have been having some dream..."

John sat up and looked around. Morning had broken and he felt his head rushing, spinning. He tried to remember the dream. Beras was there. Blocking his way to Jessica. Then someone else joined him, someone he didn't know. Then the man in black appeared to help him.

"I'm... alright. I think."

"Thank goodness. You've been tossing and turning, I was starting to worry."

John smiled to Jessica, a smile that reassured her. But he wished it reassured himself. That man from before... whoever he was, he was not working for Beras. The dream... it had to mean something that was for certain. He could still remember the beginning, when it predicted the person in the light, and Jessica came to him. Then it showed Beras, although he hadn't known it at the time, and he spoke of his father... then days later, Beras captured Jessica and revealed that he had indeed known about his father, for what appeared to be years. Now this...

It was all too confusing. Who was that other person near Beras? Another demon who was on his side? And why was that man, who had most recently tried to kill him, now helping him? Was he really more then what he seemed?

"Let's go..."

They managed to pack up everything, before setting out again. Deciding they had no better leads, they followed the mystery man's advice, and headed northwest in hopes of getting to town.