Regrets of The Fallen (Victis Honor Book 1) (10 page)

“It’s been… a long time,” Isabella said calmly, feeling the power flowing through her as her feet touched back on the ground. It excited her, drove up her adrenaline and battle lust, and she fought to control it and retain her true thoughts. There was a different look in her eyes, a hungry and threatening one that dimmed only slightly as she fought her desires. Her voice was different as well, colder and bearing an underlying fury that was even more terrifying because it seemed so repressed, invisible in her hard expression, only boiling beneath the surface.

Isabella walked forward slowly, her eyes fixed on the elemental. Her sword lit with white flame and she broke into a jog, then a run. The elemental turned its attention fully on her and flew at her, stone and lightning whirling to meet her charge. She didn’t slow but sped up, even as it flung a bolt of lightning at her. She brought her shield up and deflected it, then launched herself into the air, cleaving through the creature and coming through to the other side.

Rocks shattered in her passage and two of the boulders splintered into tiny pieces before she landed beside Haruka. She stood and turned golden eyes on the monk, who still had no idea what to think. “We need to deal with this creature quickly.”

Haruka blinked, taking in her new appearance. “What… I don’t…”

“Haruka!” she said sharply, snapping the brunette out of her confused daze. “Now is
not
the time for questions. We must kill the beast first, and then we can talk.”

Haruka nodded, pushing aside her confusion and curiosity. She looked at the large entity that was moving towards them again. “You first… Block first strikes…” She looked at Isabella. “Then me. Explode… Knock away defense.” Her eyes moved back to the creature. “Then you… go for the kill.”

Isabella nodded, taking a step forward. “A wise course of action. Stay right behind be!” She took off running and Haruka listened, keeping right on her heels. Their steps fell into a rhythm and they ran as one straight into the heart of the storm. Isabella raised her shield as the creature reacted, launching rocks and lightning at them. She knocked away rocks, hacked bigger ones apart with her sword and deflected the lightning with her shield, weathering the volley.

As soon as it was done Haruka leapt up and Bella raised her shield over her head. They didn’t need to talk about it; Haruka stepped on the shield and launched herself forward into the center of the beast. She struck in every direction, her hands a blur as she hit every rock, stone and boulder within reach. After a few seconds she was finally flung out of the whirlwind, but her job was done. She flipped to land on her feet and watched as the ensuing explosions scattered the parts of the creature in every direction.

Isabella gathered her strength and jumped straight up as soon as the explosions started. She entered the field of dust and debris, clear of the usual defenses. There; the runed stone hung suspended, turning slowly, unguarded. Her sword shot out and split it in half. She immediately brought her shield up between it and her, a memory triggering the reaction. Fortunate, as it exploded with energy that sent her flying. The impact would have hurt, but Haruka caught her, skidding back in the mud from the force but taking no damage.

Another unnatural shriek filled the air as the stone and lightning flew about madly. Light flared up brightly for one final second before everything just stopped in an instant. All the remaining rocks fell to the ground, as inert as they had always been. The storm in the skies above them immediately relinquished; the lightning and thunder faded with one last sound and, only seconds later, all that was left was a light, calm rain.

Haruka steadied Isabella, who smiled. “Sometimes it’s worth it.” She lifted her sword and scabbard, staring for a few seconds in indecision. She looked… regretful, as if she truly didn’t want to sheathe the blade. Her hand shook for a moment before sliding the blade into the sheath. She shuddered as the light faded; her hair turned back to its normal dark blue color and her eyes returned to grey. In the next instant pain shot through her and she collapsed in a spasm of agony. Haruka was at her side but could do nothing; fortunately the pain didn’t last for too long.

The fatigue was immediate, though, and irreversible. Haruka looked around but, as expected, neither horse was anywhere to be seen. Luck was with them in one thing, however; her packs were still fine. She hooked them over her shoulder and then carefully picked up Isabella, and headed towards the forest just to the north of them. Inside she found a clearing big enough and set the other woman down. First thing to do was obvious; she set up the tent they’d brought, grateful that had been with her packs. The blankets had managed not to get soaked through so she tossed those inside as well.

Isabella washed all the mud off of her armor that she could before she eventually gave up. She pulled off her armor just inside the tent, setting it outside the entrance. Now clad in a simple sleeveless white shirt and shorts she fell onto one of the blankets, staring up at the “roof”. Haruka followed her example, removing her longcoat, boots and gloves. She joined Isabella inside, sitting on her own blanket but choosing to stare at her companion. “
What?
” Isabella asked irritably, getting a raised eyebrow from Haruka.

It wasn’t that it was wrong to be irritable. It just seemed wrong for
Bella
to be irritable. “What was that?” she said, deciding to ask her questions anyway. “Back there?”

Isabella sighed, laying her arm over her eyes. “That was me. Sort of. I told you I was a second-generation fallen. The mixing of my parents’ angelic and demonic blood had… odd effects. They don’t mix, really, that’s the effect. To keep me from being overloaded - or overtaken - by it, they tied the power into a release; my sword. In other words, if I draw my sword, I take on one of two forms.”

Haruka frowned. “Effects?”

“It’s not important. It’s just a weapon I can use if I really need to. I don’t like to for multiple reasons.” She moved her arm to look at Haruka. “
None
of which I wish to talk about.”

Haruka sighed, shrugging and turning to lie down. Both of them remained in a tense silence for the first time until Isabella gave a frustrated groan, sitting up and looking at the monk. “Look, it’s been a… really long time since I’ve felt that power. Years. It’s kind of… intoxicating. Sometimes it’s hard to turn back, which is bad because I’m not really me when using it. My refusal to kill? That disappears. Feelings for allies or discerning between friend and foe? That’s sometimes lost as well. It’s dangerous and not a good option to use if I
have
an option, but sometimes it’s the only thing I can do.”

She looked out the crack in the tent flap at the light rain. Haruka just watched her quietly, listening. “And right now part of me is angry at myself for using it, another part is angry at me for giving it up, and another part is angry at that second part for being angry about giving it up. At the same time I feel like an addict who just took a hit of something she’d been off for years; all the cravings are back, the pain from giving it up, and it… kind of aggravates my sickness,” she said, looking away.

Haruka pushed herself up on her elbows, studying her. “Why use it, then?” She shook her head. “Shouldn’t have.”

“Yeah, well, I did. Okay? I
did.
” Isabella lay back down on her side, facing away from Haruka. “Just… Shut up and go to sleep,” she muttered. “I’m tired of talking.”

Clicking
her tongue in thought, Haruka watched her for a few seconds longer before falling back to the blanket. They’d left that morning in high spirits, but so far this trip was not going well at all. Neither of them was in a good mood and Bella, well, she was obviously keeping a lot of things to herself. Trying to get her to talk about them now would only anger her further, though, and the last thing they needed was to be further apart. She just hoped they’d get over this; she hoped it was just a short thing brought about by them both being cold, wet and hurt, having lost both their mounts and half their supplies. Haruka closed her eyes, praying the next day would be better.

And it was; Haruka actually woke to a smell other than damp clothing and dirt, the scent of food. Not
good
food, but food. Sitting up she noticed she was alone in the tent and Isabella’s blanket was on top of her. She slipped out of the tent, relieved to see it had stopped raining and sun had actually replaced most of the clouds for the first time in several days. Looking over she saw Isabella had set up a campfire and was on her knees before it at the moment, blowing at something in the pot suspended above it. “No, no, no, stop… Stop that! Ohhhh, not
another
one…” She sighed in dismay, pulling something from the pot and tossing it into the bushes. She looked up as Haruka approached. “Oh, Ruki!” She wore an embarrassed expression and Ruka could tell she was thinking of the night before. “Haruka, I’m…”

The monk held up a hand and shook her head, physically waving away the apology. She moved behind Isabella, leaning over her to look into the pot. “Making… black things?”

“They’re not
supposed
to be black,” Isabella moaned, poking at one of things that, Haruka guessed, used to be some sort of bread. It was a guess. “They’re supposed to be a lovely brown. Mother used to say they were a simple way to have an easy breakfast that tasted like it required more work than it really did. For once I’m trying to convince myself she was lying.”

Haruka smirked, failing to hold back a chuckle and receiving a glare for the sound. She held up her hands, backing away. “Not making fun. Not funny.” She clasped her hands and bowed her head. “Somber. Serious.”

“Uh-huh.” Isabella tilted her head, noticing something that caused her to smile and softly say, “You’re not wearing your mask…”

Haruka grew self-conscious, looking to the side. “Had a promise.”

Isabella stood up and cupped her scarred cheek in one hand, turning her head to meet her gaze. “I’m glad,” she said with an affectionate smile.

Haruka matched the smile, leaning into the hand for a moment before looking down towards the pot. “Teach you?”

“Me?” Isabella raised an eyebrow incredulously. “You want to try teaching
me
to cook? Ruki, I just burnt bread.
Bread.
”

Haruka snickered, ruffling Bella’s hair playfully. “I like challenge.”

“Hey!” Isabella tried to fix her hair. “I’m not a child.”

“Lies.”’

“In fact, I think I’m older than you.”

“Falsehoods.”

“At the very least I’m more mature.”

“Fabrications.”

“What are you saying? Who even talks like that?”

“Smart people.”

“Are you saying I’m stupid?”

“Your words.”

“You could at least argue with me.”

“You’re right.”

“Thank you. Wait. Am I right about you arguing or about me being stupid?”

“One of those.”

“Which one?”

“Just proved.”

“You’re driving me crazy.”

“Short drive.”

“Haruka, I’m going to count to three, and by the time I get there you’re going to have apologized.”

“Count that high?”

“One…”

“Scary.”

“Two…”

“Terrified.”

“…Two and a half…”

“Keep going…”

“…Two and three quarters…”

“Well?”

“Um… Two and… five eighths?”

“Three.”

“You can’t say three!
I’m
supposed to say three!”

“Say it then.”

“…You’re impossible.”

“You like me.”

“Now who’s lying?”

“You like me.”

“Say it as much as you want, it won’t make it true.”

“You like me.”

Isabella stared at Haruka’s smug smile with her arms crossed. She had to wipe it off… it was way too smug… Unfortunately wit abandoned her, if she’d ever had it. “Fine. You win again.”

“Skill.”

“Yeah, yeah, skill. I still say you’re cheating.”

“Skill at cheating.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be teaching me how to cook?”

“Take years.”

“I’m done with you. Just, done. I’m going to go walking off in…” Isabella turned slowly before pointing a random way. “That direction. And I’m going to walk until I meet someone nicer than you.”

Haruka chuckled, taking a seat beside the fire. “Nicer, maybe,” she said, smiling in amusement at Bella. “Not as fun.”

“Darn.” Bella sat down beside her. “Okay. You get to keep me for now.”

Haruka smiled. “Then I’m lucky.”

Isabella reddened slightly. “That was actually sweet. Where has that been during all the insults?” she said teasingly.

“Insults are fun,” she stated simply, cleaning out the pot for reuse. “Playful. Sharing feelings…” she coughed, feeling a bit of pain alre
ady from talking so much. “…is important.”

“Is that so?” Isabella tilted her head. “What kinds of feelings is it important to share?”