With New Meaning

Leo hissed in an effort to forcefully grab his sword and bounced back fast from the split second she gave him. Through the smoke or fog, Felicity pulled herself up to blurrily see a deformed figure. She blinked twice, and she staggered back when the creature was pulsing, the body rattling and quaking through its tough breaths.

She focused back on Leo, who was clutching his arm, and she zeroed in on the sheer amount of blood coming out of the wound inflicted. Felicity was frozen, fear filling all her pores, as she trembled like a leaf in the wind.

"Felicity, a little help here!" Leo yelled, as he dodged the attack of the creature that was still hidden in the mist.

She broke through her mental barrier as it was a matter of life and death, drawing her sword. Charging with her heart in her hands, she brought her blade down on the creature.

The crash was harsh on her hands, and she bit down on lip, drawing blood, as it tore through gossamer flesh. It drew away violently, and a burst of energy made her go up in the air. Felicity screamed, caught off guard with her center of gravity thrown off. Leo caught her arm, swinging her to his side to catch his breath.

Felicity glanced at the creature and analyzed its movements. It was swaying back and forth like the waves beneath them. She glanced at Leo's sword, and it was matte compared to her shiny blade.

She wondered if his sword vibrated just like hers, pulling them towards an unknown energy that enticed just as the unknown that was embodied in an eerie and chilling manner. Tightening her grip on the hilt, she geared up for another swing.

The creature was almost human-like, but it was translucent. The form had no distinct hard form, the edges looking like a colorless blob. The figure was stretched out on the ground with its limbs pointing grotesquely out. The curves of the elbows jutting out with the bones contorted unnaturally.

The fingernails were dark, but Felicity couldn't tell the color from the dim lighting. She didn't know what brought her to look down there in the first place. Felicity ran her eyes down the full length again, holding her stomach. It was a vile-looking entity.

Arrows or spikes were coming out of the back, and it was pulsing intensely. The creature was saying or mouthing something, but Felicity couldn't hear it. Her brows creased, and there was a breath where no one moved.

The wind danced around them, but they all stood still watching one another. Jerking, the creature charged at them wildly, and Felicity parried the attack. Felicity let out a cry of surprise with her sword barely blocking the long limb from gauging out her eye.

Her arms were shaking, and bracing her weight on her right, she swung her blade forward. The creature met her blade with a sharp gust of wind that felt tangible. Felicity got pushed back to her heels, and she tried to rebalance herself. Teetering on her heels, Felicity felt herself get closer to the edge of the cliff. She screamed when the creature created another wind spike. She was going to fall off.

Leo took the short time window to dive his sword into the creature's stomach, but it screeched and flung Leo off its body. Leo landed on his feet, but his sword got blown to the side.

Felicity forced herself to the right where she collapsed, and she grabbed onto the black hilt throwing it over to Leo. He caught the blade and immediately went on the defensive.

Her shoulder was crying out, but Felicity bit her lip as she pulled herself up. Leo cried out, as he forcefully dragged his sword down the length of its torso. Black liquid poured out, and Felicity choked down the need to pass out.

The slimy contents seemed to still be moving on the ground. Pivoting on her foot, Felicity ran forward and jumped above. Bringing her sword down, she forced the blade down on the head.

The creature split in half, and an eerie blue light shot into the air, blinding her for a moment, before disappearing. Tiny shimmery dust went everywhere, and she coughed from the harsh inhale. Felicity bounced back and covered herself from the explosion of the body.

The wind gathered around, slowly forming a circular shape. The shape erupted into a cone, and it funneled the dust into the sky. Moonlight was reflecting on the shiny material until it disappeared into the darkness above.

The contents that spilled out from the creature's wound were still there, and amid the dark ink, there was a reflective object. Felicity leaned in closer to examine it and gasped when it was a translucent rune. She immediately coughed again from the remaining shimmery particles still lingering.

"It's here!" Felicity hoarsely exclaimed.

There was a small circular object sitting on top of the pile of dust. The rune was translucent just like Obrien said. But she didn't expect it to be so beautiful. Despite the dim light, the intricate design of swirls could be seen. The grooves were deep, and in the center was a black sphere. What the rune meant to the creature or humankind was a mystery.

Leo ran over and almost toppled over into the vicious waves below. She reached forward, a scream ripping out of her throat. He collapsed in the ashes of the creature, the shimmery dust a paradox to the black gore that covered the vicinity.

Felicity ran over to his side to place a hand on his shoulder. His hands were shaking as he picked up the rune from the black confines and rubbed the residue on his sweatshirt.

Felicity lifted her gaze to his, as she also got to her knees. His blue eyes were glistening in the dim light, and Felicity felt her feelings reflected in them. She feared for her future, as she buried her head in her hands. There was no comfort left. No dream that could help her get through the unending loosing hope.

Lifting her sleeve, she wiped her face and breathed in a shuddering gasp. Looking out at the ocean, she felt a tear slip down her cheek. It couldn't be. It shouldn't be.

The salty tears clung onto the material of her collar, making it stick to her skin, as Felicity brushed her tears away. The ocean was sparkling in the moonlight—with new meaning.