Jade: Earth's Last Hope Against the Undead by Kenneth W. Cain Page B

second.
    She threw herself down to the floor, trying
to move her sword out of the way and not succeeding. An anguished
cry indicated her blade had struck its target, but she prayed it
wouldn't be a fatal blow. In her haste to spare Trent she hit the
floor hard, and her blade slid away free of her grip. It rattled
along the wooden floor, disappearing somewhere against the
wall.
    Hiru's footsteps creaked along the wood.
"Now you pay for your interference."
    Dear God, she threw him at me.
    Jade hurried to all fours, wanting to check
on Trent, but knowing there wouldn't be time. She scurried to the
wall, where she began pawing at the floor in the darkness, unable
to find the one item that could bring her people salvation. Already
Hiru was only a few footsteps away.
    "You, a common peon, think you can come into
my home and disrupt my plans?" Hiru said, angrily.
    Jade's fingers found the wall and quickly
covered the ground, still not finding the sword. Hiru's hand was at
her hair, tightening and pulling her up to her knees. Jade lunged
forward, exploring everywhere she could reach, and when her fingers
clasped upon something, whatever she'd found, it was too late. She
found herself being yanked backward fast.
    She held tight to what she'd found, still
unable to see what it was. Body thrown, she surged through the air,
striking the desk hard, bringing a light crack and nothing more.
The pain spread to her legs, sharp and deep. Somehow, despite it
all, she managed to hold onto what she'd found and only now saw
what it was.
    My sword.
    Jade rose with confidence and approached
Hiru, who didn't even flinch upon seeing her with the sword, though
she'd seen Jade handle the sword and fend off all her
attackers.
    Why so bold then?
    Cool steel found Jade's neck and although
she did not falter with her sword, she stopped her approach. Hiru
paused as Jade took the time to glance over her shoulder. There,
blade in hand, stood Trent.
    "Trent? What are you doing?"
    Trent didn't answer. His eyes appeared
glazed over and clearly he wasn't acting of his own accord.
    Jade's gaze burned into Hiru. "What have you
done to him?"
    "Nothing, my dear girl. It's only my
contingency plan." She walked with purpose toward the desk. There,
she sat comfortably and calmly, as if readying to watch a show.
"You see you just finished off the remainder of my people for me.
Now Trent will fulfill the rest of my orders by killing you.
Afterward, he'll be my special little pet."
    Trent's blade pressed hard against Jade's
neck.
    "Trent, no." She remained stiff, sword still
raised. "Don't do this."
    He didn't answer. Hiru grinned with pleasure
upon seeing how he didn't falter.
    "Trent, this isn't real. She's playing you."
Jade eased some, lowering her blade slightly. "We're meant to be
together. You know this."
    Trent's blade only pressed harder.
    "I love you, Trent. Do you hear me? I love
you."
    At this Hiru laughed, further enraging Jade.
Jade steadied herself and spoke in a light tone.
    "Trent, remember yesterday? Remember walking
hand in hand, how that felt? How our hearts beat as one when we
pressed our chests together? That was real, Trent. She's got you in
some sort of trance and if you don't let me do this, she'll kill us
both."
    Although he still didn't waver, she had no
other choice. She lifted her sword, to which Hiru showed no signs
of despair. When Trent's grasp slackened ever so slightly, Jade
took that split second of time and threw her sword forward like a
knife.
    The blade spun once in mid-air before
striking its target, piercing Hiru's forehead, penetrating deep
into her skull. When it did, Trent's hold on her further
slackened.
    Jade moved fast, charging Hiru and
withdrawing the blade. Before Hiru could do anything, Jade plunged
her sword forward again, this time deep into Hiru's heart.
    Hiru's eyes widened on Jade. Her mouth went
agape. Fiery embers ate away at her flesh until she no longer could
be recognized as the woman she'd once been.
    Trent