Chapter 21

A Chapter by Rose of Gondor

Thunk!

I skidded back with the impact, my sides aching. Stars danced across my vision, and I went limp, vaguely aware of the small, round ball digging into my stomach.

With my increasingly hazy vision, I could see (not very clearly) that the fake orbs had disappeared. Gone. Vanished into thin air.

At that moment, I still hadn't comprehended what was now buried in my arms, and it was until Chrysanthemum came hurriedly to my side, dragging me up, did I realize what had happened.

“Chrysanthemum! The pearl!” I gasped, producing the gray orb from my arms.

“I know, Mayflower. Now run!” I whirled around at Chrysanthemum's warning. Papa was a few steps away from us now. He smiled at us coldly.

And then with a sudden jerk of his hand he had Chrysanthemum by the throat, tossing her aside like a lifeless doll. She fell back, crashing to the floor with a loud thunk.

“I think,” he said, the lack of emotion on his face making me shiver, “It is clearly too late for that.”

He advanced toward me, and I gulped, backing away.

“Now, Mayflower. I trust you'll not be as thick as your friends. We can do this the easy way...” he grinned, “Or the hard way...”

I continued to back away and he continued to advance. My heart thundered in my chest, threatening to leap out of its ribcage.

“So,” he said, “Will you choose to aid your Papa freely...or do you need some...persuasion?” He drew his dagger. The blade glinted wickedly in the light. The phoenix circled the bridge overhead.

I swallowed and took another step back. I turned to look where I was going. There would be the short passageway, and then back to the broken bridges. There would be no where to go once I was forced back there.

“No,” I whispered to myself, “I'm not going down without a fight.”

And so I drew my dagger. It felt strange, being ready for battling your own father, and drawing a dagger against him.

“So you've chosen the hard way, my dear girl?” His eyes never left me, “Perhaps you are less intelligent then I thought.”

With a wild yell I leapt forward, dagger unsheathed, and slashed at Papa.

With a flick of his wrist, he blocked my attack easily, the impact sending me sliding back a few steps. I fought back, dancing intricately around him, slashing and swiping at him.

“You think you can defeat me?!” He roared and turned around, stabbing at my shadow, “I, who taught you everything you know?”

Suddenly I felt a sharp pain in my side. I crashed to the floor, clutching my waist.

Red was quickly staining the cloth,wet and sticky. I tried to stand up, but failed miserably when I fell to my knees again, my wound having ripped open.

Papa stood and was staring at me. His gaze was cold, no warmth in it.

I crawled away from him, clutching the wound.

Was this it? Is this my end? Would I so die here, alone and forgotten, having been killed by my own father? Would anyone find me, ever? Where was Mr. Guan? Would they bury me? Would anyone cry at my funeral? What would Mama say if she knew?

“Give it to me,” My father said evenly. His temper was checked. He was back to the cold-blooded, chilling creature.

I gazed up at him fearfully. Blood was oozing out of my wound, staining my pocket. I wonder if the pearl was stained with my blood as well.

“Give it to me.” He said again. His voice sounded a mile away and it echoed into my ear. My breath came in short gasps and I felt faint.

“...” I gasped, “...never...”

He raised his dagger as if to strike me. And then suddenly someone in yellow lunged up behind him, her arms wrapped around his neck.

“AGH!” He roared as Chrysanthemum fought to get the better of him, wrestling him to the ground.

I watched through half-closed eyes as Chrysanthemum was thrown off him again and again. Finally, she landed on her back, limp and unconscious.

My father pulled me up to sitting position. I didn't even have the strength to resist him any more.

“Give it to me, or I swear I'll break your neck.”

His fingers closed around my neck and I choked, gasping for air, writhing in his grasp. But his grip was iron firm. I couldn't do it, couldn't continue to struggle. Not in this weakened state, not now, now with blood pouring out my side.

I went limp, leaning against him, waiting for my end to come. My vision was growing increasingly hazy, and I could barely breathe through my dry, open mouth.

Mayflower...Suddenly a voice drifted into my head, Mayflower. Despair not...remember that the purest of air needs no guards...come Mayflower...you are so close to understanding...If you need help, you must ask...

Why did it need no guards, when it was so vulnerable? When anyone could simply snatch it up and get away with it?

Because it has its own defenses, I answered my own question within my head, Because Lady Air would not so easily let go of her power. A third test remains before anyone can fully have the pearl!

But what could it be? What did Lady Air value? Friendship, selflessness, wisdom, faith, and those that were humble.

If you need help, you must ask for it...

With great difficulty, I produced the pearl from my pocket. It glistened even then, coated with my blood.

“Help.” I croaked with my last ounce of strength as Papa released me to leap for the pearl, I collapsed onto the floor.

That was when the phoenix dived down at us, its beak wide open, uttering a shrill, piercing cry.

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© 2012 Rose of Gondor

Author's Note

Yay!!! Got 21 up. I'm proud of myself. :) Like, one more action chapter and two more resolution chapters to go! i"ve reached a hundred pages in this chapter (amazing. My other novels have never made it past twenty pages)