• "thunder" chapter six

    "Are you ready?" he asked.
    I took a fighting stance, "hells yeah, I am."
    He lunged forward at me with a quick slash. I stepped back to dodge the blow, and threw a right cross at his chest. He began talking to me as we fought. "I know that you have many questions, Defiant. Now would probably the best time to ask them.
    I was unsure of what it was that I really wanted to know, so I asked, "first, why does everybody keep calling me defiant? what does it mean?" I asked, blocking an upward slash to my arm.
    He began to parry my attacks as He answered, "The defiant is a powerful name, given to a powerful elemental. The defiant is not bound by the timeline. Therefore, the defiant can Betray the laws of the spectral realm. The defiant does, however, anger death very much. for this reason, Death has tried to kill the defiant through generations."
    "why does death hate the defiant?" I asked as we switched. now I began parrying his attacks. I noticed he was holding back, but I didn't care. He had a good reason to hold back. Geryon was a powerful being, from what I read.
    "The defiant is able to break the laws of the spectral realm, which death governs. It is only fitting that he'd hate the defiant. but you see, the defiant is necessary for life within all three realms. Material, spectral, and demonic. you know who governs the other two, right?" He was becoming increasingly difficult to block, but I remained calm.
    "Yeah," I stated simply, "The demon queen governs the demonic realm, fittingly. And the gods and goddesses govern the material realm together."
    "Yes. but there is one factor that they cannot exist without." He both confused me with that bit, and blindsided me with a small jab at the head with the hilt of his daggers.
    I stopped, and rubbed my head. Then I began wondering what he meant, "What is it they can't exist without? Is it the defiant?" I asked.
    He nodded, "Without chaos, there is no order." He recited, then I understood.
    "So, why me? Why am I the defiant?"
    "Because you were chosen to be within the bloodline of this power. You were chosen as one of the defiants of the timeline." he stopped altogether. His body still against the complete red, "But you must remember this, Adrian Winters," I was glad somebody called me by my name, even though it's Reynolds and not Winters, but I'd gotten used to that, "You must remember that you will die, Adrian. That is one thing that must be done. Especially if you want to tap into your true power."
    That meant that I only Had two questions. I figured I'd ask the easiest one first, "What do you mean?"
    "Death is necessary to carry on the bloodline. You must..."
    I cut him off, "No, no, not that. I understand that. What do you mean by true power?"
    He gave a solemn smile, "i'm sorry, child, but I truly cannot answer you that question. you are a being made to protect the many masses of creatures that coexist in the world. You are the one to maintain balance between the great lords, and their subjects. Remember that, and the answer will come to you. It is time for you to wake up now. I look forward to helping you again, Adrian. And do not ever once think you are alone. It will be your downfall."
    "I'll remember, Geryon. See you soon." I blinked, and he was gone. I blinked again and found myself laying on Ms. Tenor's floor. A small boombox was resting next to me playing some classical music. Ms. Tenor was looking at some papers. She saw me regaining my conciousness (and balance) as I stood up.
    She smiled warmly, and looked at me, "Have you been enlightened yet, sweety?"
    I mustered up the voice to talk to her as my muscles began to ache. I didn't think that fighting would really take a tool on my body, "Man, my body hurts. WAs that really Geryon?" I spoke more to myself than Ms. Tenor. but I managed to turn to her and answer, "I didn't learn everything I wanted to know, but A bunch of stuff was cleared up for me. Thank you Ms. Tenor."
    She waved me off, "Don't mention it, honey. At least, not to too many people. Oh, and keep the shoulder plate and gauntlets somewhere safe."
    I took them off, gently laying them down in respect, "I will, Ms. Tenor. I only have one more question, though." I Said.
    She looked up from a stack of tests, eyeing me in a motherly fashion, "Yes? What is it, sweety?"
    "How did you come to know all this about me?" I'd realized in my consious that all of this was a little bit suspicious. Ms. Tenor knew about elementals, knew what plant to give me to do whatever it was that I did with Geryon, and, most Importantly, she knew what kind of stuff to give me for when I left my concious.
    She stood up, kissed me lightly on the forehead and stared into my eyes, "I've always known, honey. I was waiting for you to begin the metamorphisis of the real Adrian. Otherwise known as the great Defiant, Adrian Winters. You are blossoming from a measly caterpillar, into a beautiful butterfly. And I'm supposed to help you with that."
    I scoffed, "Metamorphisis. Good Diction, Ms. Tenor, but why do you call it a metamorphisis?" I took a moment to think, "And did you have to compare me to a bug?"
    She smiled a concerned smile that also said 'Adrian, you have issues' then she kicked my stuff over to me from where i plopped it down near the door as Maria walked in.
    She saw me brushing myself off, and immediately ran to help me. That was another thing I'd noticed about her. she helps out a little too much sometimes.
    She began talking to me as she brushed the dust off my back, "How'd you get all this dust on you?"
    I came up with the best excuse that came to mind, "I tripped and hit my head on a desk. I was writhing inpain for a bit." I chuckled a little. Pain was something I was so used to that I could laugh at it. Ms. Tenor's smile was right. I do have issues.
    Ignoring my chuckle, Maria turned to Ms. Tenor, "Why didn't you help him?" She tried to put som force into her question, but failed. It sounded more like her unfathomable curiosity than anything else.
    She shrugged it off, "He didn't want me to.You'll find that Adrian's like that, sweety."
    Maria passed me what I could easily tell was a you-better-not-get-yourself-killed- because-I-really-like-you look. I sent her an I-can-handle-it look. she looked over my shoulder (and so did I) and saw a small puddle of blood. Was that mine? I reached my hand up to touch my head. Sure enough, I could feel dried blood on my forehead. I also noticed that there was some on my shirt. How the hell...
    Before I could say the rest of it in my head, Maria spoke up. And I mean she literally spoke up as if she were yelling, "Ohmygod! how much blood did you lose, Adrian?"
    I looked over at the scarlet puddle, pulled my hair back, and laughed, "Don't worry about it. I'm fine." Even though I have no idea how I hit my head (seeing as I was nowhere near that desk, or any desk, when I blacked out) But, hell, I guess I had to ease her poor mind some other way, "I just need to make sure that this doesn't get infected.' I pointed tothe mark on my head that may or may not have (I say that because I felt something wet trickle down my head, but the roof sometimes leaks) began bleeding again.
    She sighed, unsure of what to do with me, "Fine, I'll believe you for now." She perked up, flashing me a damn near adorable smile, "Besides, I still don't know what you do for a living out here." I heard Ms. Tenor let out an inquisitive sound.
    Well then, did you let your dad know that you were with me. " I asked
    "Yeah, he said he was glad that I had friends already and that It would help me get past..." She stopped. All of a sudden, her unfathomable curiosity had looked like it receeded to somewhere else, I could only see pain that was covered for a while, but finally escasped to the open.
    "Get past what?" Ms. Tenor and I asked at the same time.
    She didn't say anything. She began balling up her fists, and she collapsed to the floor, where my blood remained untouched, as she burst into tears.