#9 - Rebellions Part 2

[Stardrifter]

by
Stardrifter

#9 - Rebellions Part 2
Old Enemies

"My name is Xanadu. And you're in grave danger, Dawn."

The woman standing above Dawn holds her hand out. Dawn stares at it for a moment, not sure what to do. She looks back at the demon lying dead on the ground and decides that if Xanadu was an immediate threat, she'd have killed her already. Placing her hand in Xanadu's, Dawn pulls herself to her feet. "Who are you and how do you know who I am?"

Xanadu tilts her head slightly, staring into Dawn's eyes. "I am a friend. As you can no doubt guess, I have magical abilities, much like you. I see things."

"You see things?" Dawn echoes.

The cracks in the ground groan suddenly. Dawn jumps, startled by the grinding noise. Xanadu acts unconcerned, but turns to watch as the cracks close and the demon's body bursts into flames. In mere seconds, no sign of the demon or the fight remains.

"The past, the present, the future," Xanadu says. It takes Dawn a moment to realize she's answering her question. "The flow of events. My sight has led me to you."

"Why? What was that about?"

"That was someone's attempt to capture you." Xanadu raises her hood and turns to walk away. Dawn jogs for a moment to catch up.

"Who? Why?" Frustration fills Dawn's voice. "Why is it that I am constantly being attacked, manipulated, possessed, controlled, or...or....just why?"

Xanadu stops at the end of the alley. She turns to Dawn and places a hand on her shoulder. "I'm not certain of that yet. Suffice it to say, you're special. For whatever reason, you've been thrust in the middle of a timeless struggle between good and evil. Through no fault of your own, you are important to a great many people."

"Like you?" Dawn snaps, pushing Xanadu's hand away. "You want to use me too?"

Xanadu sighs, looking away from Dawn's intense glare. "I simply wish to see you safe." Xanadu continues on her way.

"Where are you going?" Dawn calls after her.

"To see your teacher," Xanadu says, her voice uncertain. "A reunion I am not looking forward to."

****

-1193-
England

"Nimue?" Jason says from the doorway of the small wooden hut. Marion turns from her sewing at the sound of her real name. She offers an exhausted smile.

It's been a couple hours since Jason was brought to the camp of Robin Hood. He expected to find a haphazard group of tents and a few men, instead he found a small village of intricately made huts and bridges amongst the trees. It was then that Jason realized this wasn't a simple group of bandits. It was a rebellion.

After an awkward dinner in which Robin spent much of his time marking his territory, Jason was finally able to slip away and find Marion. It's been over a century since he's seen her, yet her beauty hasn't faded in the slightest.

"So are you going to tell me what's going on here?" Jason asks as he walks into the candlelit room. He runs his hand through his hair, suddenly a bit self conscious of his appearance.

"We told you at dinner," Marion replies, turning back to her sewing. No longer dressed in her robes, Marion is wearing a simple white dress. Her dark brown hair hangs down her back in a long braid.

"Yes, rebelling against the corruption of Prince John and the Sheriff," Jason says dismissively. "That's all well and good, but why are you here?" Marion doesn't respond. "I gather Robin doesn't know who you really are."

Marion sighs, putting her sewing down and turning to face him. She crosses her arms over her chest defensively. "No he doesn't, and I'd like to keep it that way."

Jason raises an eyebrow. "Does he know about your magic?"

"He...he knows what he needs to know. He knows I have some ability beyond normal people. Anything more would just frighten him away."

Jason looks down at his feet and paces in the tiny room. "You love him?"

Jason's eyes on his feet, he doesn't see the pained look on Marion's face. "I do. He's a good man."

"You know I wasn't happy with how things went in Paris," Jason says, his words tumbling out. "I didn't want you to go. I..."

"Is everything all right?" Robin says from the doorway. He eyes Jason suspiciously.

Marion puts a smile on her face and walks around Jason to take Robin's hands. "Everything is fine, my love. We were just reminiscing."

"Indeed," Robin says. "You two must have much to discuss. Being old friends."

"Very old friends," Jason confirms. The two men stare at each other for a moment before Marion breaks the tension.

"So, are you going to ask him?" Marion asks, looking up at Robin. Robin bristles slightly.

"Ask me what?" Jason looks back and forth between them.

"Marion has suggested to me that, perhaps, you may be of some help to our cause." Robin fidgets, uncomfortable with the conversation. "Would you be interested in...joining us?"

Jason smirks at Robin's discomfort. He looks over at Marion, who smiles at him warmly. He can see the eagerness in her eyes. It doesn't take long for Jason to decide. Being close to her again, and the added benefit of frustrating Robin, is enough to make this worthwhile.

"I would be honored," Jason smiles, holding his hand out in front of Robin. Robin looks down at the hand for a moment before finally grasping it. The two men squeeze hard, struggling to keep the pain from showing on their faces.

"The honor is mine," Robin says through gritted teeth.

****

-The Present-

The knock on the door stirs Jason from his slumber. He finds himself in his chair in the study. Looking at the book lying on his chest, he feels slightly embarrassed. "You really are getting old," he mumbles to himself.

The knocking is persistent, so Jason walks to the front door, straightening out his clothes along the way. He flips the switch for the outside light and unlocks the door. He swings the door open and finds his apprentice. "Dawn? It's late. Is something wrong?"

Before she can answer, Jason sees the hooded figure behind her. He can't see her face, but he doesn't have to. "Nimue?"

"Jason," she says, her voice even. She lowers her hood and walks past Dawn to enter the house. "And it's Xanadu now."

Jason watches Xanadu brush past him as if she owns the place, not sure what to say. He looks back to Dawn with an inquisitive look. Dawn shrugs and says, "I was attacked. Again. She saved me. Friend of yours?"

She doesn't wait for an answer, walking past Jason to go inside. Jason stands for a moment staring out the door, his still sleep muddled mind trying to wrap itself around the situation, before finally shutting the door and heading after the ladies.

He finds Xanadu alone in his study, idly scanning the titles of the many books lining the walls. He can hear Dawn rummaging around in the kitchen. He walks up beside Xanadu and places a hand on her shoulder. "Are you all right?"

Xanadu shrugs, knocking Jason's hand off her. "Fine. It was a minor demon. There was no real danger, it wanted Dawn alive."

Jason files her words in the back of his mind, his focus remaining on her. "Nimue, I...I'm sorry..."

"Enough!" Xanadu barks, turning to him with cold eyes. "I'm not here about us. I'm here about Dawn. What happened in New York can stay there." She takes a few steps away, uncomfortable at his closeness. "And stop calling me that. You lost that right. It's Xanadu."

They both turn to see Dawn standing in the doorway, a mug of steaming cocoa in her hand and a pastry hanging out of her mouth. She reaches up, tearing a bite out of the pastry, and mumbles through a full mouth, "You two all right?"

Xanadu sighs, releasing the tension from her body. Jason turns away, trying in vain to hide his embarrassment. "Fine, Dawn," he tells her. "Ni...Xanadu and I are old friends. We last parted on...unfortunate terms." Xanadu scoffs but doesn't say anything. Jason ignores her. "So a demon tried to kidnap you?"

"If she says so," Dawn says as she curls up into Jason's chair. He cringes slightly as crumbs fall into the cushion. "All I saw was a demon coming at me."

"It was trying to take her alive," Xanadu reiterates. "I'm not sure yet who sent it, but forces are at work trying to capture Dawn. Something about her," her voice trails off for a moment as she stares past Dawn. Her eyes quickly snap back to Jason. "Surely you've noticed."

"Of course," Jason nods. "Dawn has access to powers beyond this world. I haven't yet determined how, she's only been able to use it once." Jason paces a bit, deep in thought. Without looking up, he asks "What's your stake in all this?"

"There's a convergence," Xanadu says, her eyes closed. "Something is coming. It hasn't taken shape yet, but at the center of it all is Dawn."

"What does that even mean?" Dawn shouts in frustration. Frustration at the world in general, but currently directed at Xanadu. "Who are you? Why do you get to know these things about me?"

Xanadu offers no reaction to Dawn's outburst. Jason walks over and places a hand on Dawn's shoulder, attempting to calm her. "She is King Arthur's sister."

Dawn looks up at Jason. "Morgaine?"

"No!" Xanadu shouts, objecting vehemently to that idea. "Sorry. No, Morgaine was my older sister. And Arthur our older brother."

"The gift of magic can manifest in different ways," Jason explains. "You and I are what you might consider a jack of all trades. We can use magic in any way we want. True sorcerers. Some people, however, are born with a very specific strength in one or two fields of magic. She is like that."

"My powers are rooted in the Sight," Xanadu explains. "As I told you, I can see the past, present, and future. The future is always in motion, and I can follow the currents and use them to help steer events. While I can also use magic as you and Jason do, my skills are very limited in that regard. Comparatively."

"I get it," Dawn says as she finishes off the last of her cocoa. "And all of these future currents are leading toward me?"

"The future isn't set. Until an event occurs, there is always a chance to change it. There are infinite possibilities. Yet the natural flow of events will often converge on one or two possibilities. These convergences are very powerful events whose outcomes affect the entire world. And right now everything is converging on you."

"You can't see the nature of it yet?" Jason asks.

"No. Her place is all I see so far." Xanadu shakes her head in frustration. "It's as if something is muddying the waters, trying to hi..." Her words are cut short and she looks up at Jason, her eyes wide. "Something is coming! Now!"

****

-1193-
England

Footsteps echo in the stone halls of Nottingham Castle. A lone figure passes, walking so fast the torches flicker as he goes. A long black cloak flows down from his shoulders. His brown and black leather armor is intricately detailed. Not simply for show, his armor is covered in dirt and dried blood. His long brown hair, normally tied back in a ponytail, hangs down over his shoulders, disheveled.

Finally reaching his destination, the man throws the large wooden door open. Guards standing about the room level their spears at the sudden intrusion. In the center of the room, a half dozen men sit around a rectangular wooden table. They all look up at the man. One elder noble, ornately dressed, speaks up.

"Sir Guy! What is the meaning of this!?"

Without replying, Guy walks over and pushes the man at one end of the table out of his chair, sitting down in his stead. "Get out! All of you!"

The men around the table start to bluster at the insolence. It doesn't get far before the man sitting at the other end of the table raises a hand to silence them. "Do as he says. Out! All of you!"

The men do as they're told, complaining the entire time about the insult. Once they're gone, the guards follow suit. The last guard turns to the man before leaving. "Sheriff?"

"Go," the Sheriff says with authority. He's dressed in far more expensive clothing than one would expect of a sheriff. His long black hair is styled perfectly about his head. A finely trimmed goatee adorns his face under a large nose.

Once they're alone, the Sheriff looks up at Guy and frowns. "By the look of you I'm assuming you have news of profound importance?"

"I've just come from Sherwood," Guy explains. He reaches across the table and grabs a goblet left behind. Bringing it to his lips, he finishes off the remnants of wine. Not satisfied, he reaches out for another. "I had thirty men. My best men. Armed." He finishes another goblet before spitting out, "They're all dead."

The Sheriff shows no emotion. He simply waits for Guy to continue.

"They came out of the trees like vermin! From all sides. It wasn't just a ragtag bunch of bandits. They were organized. Trained. I fought two of them myself. They knew how to use their weapons."

The Sheriff stands up, slowly. "And yet here you are, unharmed. While your men and all my gold are gone."

"I...barely escaped with my life," Guy says quickly. The Sheriff slowly walks toward him. "This isn't some small group of criminals. You needed to know, these men are becoming an arm..."

His words are cut short by a backhand across the mouth. He starts to rise but finds the tip of a dagger pointed at his face. The Sheriff grabs a handful of his hair and pulls his head back, pressing the dagger against the skin of his neck.

"Explain to me why I should let you live?" the Sheriff says. "Why you should not be punished for such a failure?"

"Because even a failure can be of use."

The Sheriff turns toward the voice coming from the corner of the room. Out of the shadows walks a tall, red skinned woman. Long black hair flows down to her hips. A low cut black dress flows as she strides up to the table.

"Gua...ack!" The Sheriff reaches up to his throat, suddenly unable to breath. The woman is holding her hand up in a gripping motion. Guy is unsure what to do, but a look from her causes him to remain seated and silent.

"I come with an offer for you, dear Sheriff. Keep your tongue still if you wish to keep it." She lowers her hand and the Sheriff falls against the table, leaning down on his elbows as he coughs. The woman walks up and takes a seat in the Sheriff's chair.

"Who are you?" the Sheriff asks, his voice strained.

"You may call me Blaze. Lady Blaze." She leans back in the chair and places her feet up on the table. Her dress falls back, revealing her long legs. "I hear you have a problem with vermin in the forest. Your Prince, John, would be terribly cross to find out you can't keep order amongst the people. And the loss of all his money? Well he just might have your head."

The Sheriff stands up and straightens his clothes, trying to regain a sense of dignity. "And you can help me with this?"

Lady Blaze extends her hands out to her sides. "Of course. You've only seen the tiniest fraction of my power."

"And what do you get out of it?" The Sheriff gives off a calm, cool exterior despite the fear running through him.

A large, evil smile comes to Lady Blaze's face. "We have some common enemies. Oh, and your undying allegiance to me." She laughs as their eyes go wide. "Don't be so shocked. Even your Prince has his masters. I offer you the destruction of your enemies and power you've never dreamed of. In return, you will serve no one before me. Do we have a deal?"

****

-The Present-

Lady Blaze watches from the trees near Jason Blood's home. Her long, black dress flows in the gentle wind, revealing the bright red skin of her legs. She runs her hands through her midnight black hair, letting out a deep breath. She had hoped to capture the girl while away from her master, but she hadn't foreseen the arrival of Xanadu. A recurring thorn in her side over the centuries, her interference this time has led the girl back into her master's protection. Part of Blaze is frustrated the simple kidnapping has been complicated so much, but the other part of her is looking forward to the chance to destroy her old enemies.

A man in black leather walks up beside her. The moonlight reflects off his pale skin, giving him a luminescent glow. His brown hair falls down over his shoulders and face. He takes his place beside Blaze, making sure to remain two steps behind her.

"An interesting turn of events, wouldn't you say?" Blaze asks her companion. He offers no response. Not that she expected him to. "I imagine you're looking forward to this more than I am."

The man reaches up to the collar of his leather coat and feels the skin on his neck. A jagged scar runs across, a constant reminder of his failure. He lowers his hand and places it on the hilt of the sword he wears on his hip.

"Well by all means, Sir Guy," Blaze says with a wicked grin. "Attack."

Guy draws his sword, holding it above his head. With a look of silent determination, he swings it downward to point at the house before him. The signal given, the woods begins to stir as an army of demons marches forth.

-To Be Continued-