Issue # 54- A Shattered Clasp

A Shattered Clasp


*~~~~*

“After you Guardian,” Gallo mumbles after the portals grind to a halt.

“Ephra, you are to stay between Gallo and myself. I shall brook no arguments on the matter,” Mikel states firmly.”If you see us fall you are to flee this realm and find Erick. He is more than likely doing nothing of import aside from drinking and chasing the chambermaids.”

“I will NOT just run off like some sissy girl and leave you to be-”

Her spitting tirade is cut cleanly off when Mikel lowers his head and places his mouth over hers.

“Please witchling, do this one thing for me?” he asks over her lips.”Promise me you shall protect yourself. My soul could not bear knowing I took you to your death.”

She exhales as Gallo shuffles about nervously to their left.”It would kill me to leave you,” she coughs out looking into quicksilver eyes that said things she had dreamed of hearing the male utter out loud.”Okay, I`ll go if something happens. Mikel, I…..”

He nods and then indulges in one last taste of her before taking her thin arm and tugging her behind him. The Guardian pins Gallo with a glare.”You are to lay down your life for the witchlet if need be bestial.”

“She will be protected,” Gallo responds. Ephra rolls blue eyes to the ruby sky at the gagging amount of testosterone flooding this entryway. She was touched at their gallantry though. Her thoughts are rattled to the here and now when Mikel walks forward, his long raven coat slapping at his calves as his remaining Glock leaves its home at his lean hip.

Inside the impressive walls there is no sign of life. Not a sound aside from the constant dry winds can be heard. Small dust devils swirl in the corners where the western wall meets the south. Mikel scans the area well and minutely as they move further into the courtyard. The main keep stood before them, the front door hanging from one weak hinge. The stillness was macabre; it played on his nerves, making him anxious and edgy.

He stops about one hundred yards inside the barren yard to listen. Her small hand lights on the back of his coat. Gallo`s rhythmic inhalations to gather scent blends seamlessly with the zephyrs and the soft protests of the hinge that held the door before them.

A strong gust races in behind them. Mikel spins about raising the handgun in a fluid motion as Gallo drops down into a crouch. Ephra turns as well when the wind blankets her with a hex of such power her small exclamation of warning stalls on her tongue.

The sands that enter in a tornado explode outward in all four directions. Mikel turns his head from the blinding blast and his weapon lowers a fraction of an inch. After the wall of burning ruby sand rushes past him the Guardian opens his silver eyes and his gun falls even further.

“Hello my son.”