Billy: Seeker of Powers (The Billy Saga) by Collings Michaelbrent

Author:Collings, Michaelbrent [Collings, Michaelbrent]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2012-09-03T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THE TENTH

In Which Billy sees a Friend Taken, and sees his Death…

Billy had seen dead people before, in his time with the Powers. But never one like this. Veric, the epitome of Life itself, had disappeared into a shadowy place. A dark place. His eyes stared at the bright “sun” above them, but did not reflect its light. His body was relaxed, but did not seem at peace. Indeed, his face was contorted into a final rictus of pain and terror, the look not of a man who died in bed, but of one who had been terribly tortured.

Tempus reached out a trembling hand, and touched the Green Power’s chest, felt his throat, clearly feeling for a pulse, and just as clearly failing to find what he sought.

“No,” whispered the Wind Power, and Billy could not remember ever having seen him look so stricken. Not even when faced with the destruction of Powers Island, not even faced with his own certain death at the hands of a horde of Darksider zombies, not even then had he looked this weak, this enfeebled.

Terry stood motionless, his face contorted into a look of pain and horror. Mrs. Russet started to reach for her husband, as though intending to hold his hand, but stopped herself in the last second.

No one moved.

No one spoke.

No one, it seemed, so much as breathed.

Veric was dead.

Finally, Vester reached out a hand to the Green Councilor. “Goodbye,” he said simply, and closed the man’s unseeing eyes with his fingers.

Billy felt pain again. But it was not the pain of the DeathBlade. It was, instead, the pain of loss. He had lost Veric. He had failed the man. He, Billy, the Messenger and the Seeker, had not been able to save his friend.

He felt tears stinging his cheeks, etching hot trails down to his chin. He didn’t wipe them away. He felt like doing so would be wrong. Veric, the Councilor of Life, was gone, and so all Life should show that it mourned.

He looked over at Vester, seeking to draw strength from the Fire Power. Through all his adventures, Vester had been the most unshakable of his friends. Even Mrs. Russet, with her vast power and knowledge, didn’t seem as steady and sure as Vester sometimes did. And Billy needed that – needed something sure. Something steady. Something that would remind him that the fight would go on. That they could continue the struggle. That they could win.

That was why it was such a shock to see Vester suddenly look up and scream. The scream was loud as the Greens’ shrieks had been, a wordless cry of agony that left Billy feeling ravaged inside.

“My friend,” said Tempus, and reached out a hand to comfort Vester.

But Vester would not be comforted. He shook Tempus’ hand off his arm, then ran.

Vester ran so suddenly that it startled the group, and no one moved to follow him for a moment. Then Billy ran after him, feeling strange to be running among the rows of the dying Greens.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.