Good Evening to the blogosphere!
It's been one of those day where, no matter what I did or how long I worked, there was something else pressing in on my life, leaving me to scramble about, hopelessly lost, floundering through the day. But, after a day of hard labor, I've found a few minutes to sit and open my blog. Aaahhhhh.... It feels so good to relax....
Since it's still Friday, and I have a flash written for Amy's wonderful image, I'm going to take the time to post my response, and then I'm going to steal a few more minutes, and read everyone else.
Amy chose a wonderful picture, which at first, I thought for sure, I'd come up with a steampunkish type of flash, but as I looked at the image, I felt a continuation of my previous story falling into place.
Soul Fire, Part 5
by Dottie Taylor
word count: 630
Reena felt herself slipping, slowly falling into a remembrance of a previous existence. Of when or where, she did not know, a different time, a strange place. It seemed far away, and yet, so close she could almost touch it.
In her mind's eye, she gazed upon stormy gray sky, hovering vultures in the background. Something had recently died. Lightning filled the night sky and the darken clouds split open, and rain began to pepper the ground. She found in her hand a coal colored parasol, the tines bony and fabric more like webbing, but beautifully made. She glanced down at her body, and remembered widow's weeds, but she did not morn for herself, it was for another. She raised the parasol as the air shifted around her. With the brush of the wind upon her flesh, she stiffened. It almost felt like any normal breeze stirring the loosen tendrils of her hair, but she knew better.
As she watched, a thin mist covered the ground, her mind screamed for her feet to move, but they refused her. She was tired of running and hiding. Reena shivered as the night drew in around her, the beast coming... would this be the night? Would she meet her death here in this lonely place?
She turned to face the wind, to bravely stare the beast in the eye. Looking out over the edge of the shore, the waves lifted with the boldest of the beast. And she waited. Over the sound of the waves and the roar of the wind, she heard someone calling.
“Reena, Reena!” Petrov broke through her thoughts bringing her back to the present. “It's here, we need to move, we're almost home!” He pulled her hand, breaking into a full run, her home and safety in sight. The cemetery where she came to awareness, far behind them. Like an electrical shock, the air reverberated around them, and the beast laughed. Then she heard a craggy voice, the Soul Eater, coming to her ears.
“Soul Hunter!” It called, making her skin crawl. “Soul Hunter, come meet your fate.” And it bellowed with mirthless happiness. “I'm so hungry, Soul Hunter. The appetizers were not even filling, it is only your bones that will fill me, and I've been waiting. Come to me Soul Hunter, I promise to make my meal quick.” She felt the snapping of it's razor-like teeth, the scent of it's putrid breath. A filthy presence pushed it's way into her thoughts, filling her with a growing dread, she'd been here before.
Petrov also heard the beast, felt the push of it's foul wonderings, anger sparking in the depths of his blue flamed eyes.
“Petrov,” she shuddered, “Petrov, it wants me.” Reena wanted to pull away from Petrov, tried to release his hand. The beast was seductive, pushing it's way into her thoughts to stroke that part of her wanting to give in, to let it have it's way.
Without breaking stride, Petrov urged her on, “We're almost there, a few more steps, you can make it!” Ten yards to her backyard.
Reena shivered and pushed away the unclean thoughts intruding into her mind. She felt the Soul Eater's howl of rage at her refusal. Eight more yards to safety.
“Little girl, why do you bother?” It demanded. “In the end, you're always mine!”
She felt Petrov's rumbling growl, felt a shove of bright blue-white power. “Never again will she be yours!”
Then she felt it, the certain knowledge that this was ancient enemy. With every one of her lifetimes it took, it grew stronger, it had to be stopped here. Yet if she defeated this one, another stood ready.
Petrov prodded her to run faster, five more yards, and safety was theirs.
Suddenly, stepping from the shadows, the Soul Eater raised it's ugly mongrel head, teeth gnashing, as it shimmered before them.
“NO!!” Reena screamed, and blazing white flames burst from her hands, Soul Fire.
Well, there ya go.... more of Soul Fire... I have edited what has already been posted and added to those postings, creating about three chapters, somewhere between 5000 and 6000 words so far. I might sit down, and seriously work on this, I've never written a YA before... I'm having fun with it so far.
And remember, come back Monday, to have a peek at the next flash prompt!
Have a great weekend!
Caio bella!
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