Reaching Salvation: Post-Acer Part 3

"Have you ever asked yourself why Eithne is doing these things?" Nathan asked. "What made him act like a complete ass to everyone. If you really ever truly knew him then you would've come to the conclusion that I have. He did it to protect you and Simon."

"Threatening Tom with the trigger had nothing to do with protecting me and Simon," Heidi stated. "And 'if I ever truly knew him'? What do you expect, I knew the guy for half the tournament, and then he disappeared off with you. Can't get to know someone too well over the course of a few weeks. Or at least not 'truly' know them."

"Now isn't the time for this." Nathan responded before sighing. "You seriously think that either of our forces could fight these guys on their own?" He asked almost rhetorically.

"You think that our forces could fight properly with so much tension between them, anyway?"

"Yes. If their leaders solved their differences." Nathan answered.

"Well, you're not doin' so hot of a job, now are 'y? I know I still don't like you."

"You're not exactly trying to help things along." Nathan quipped back.

"You're the one who wants the Illuminati in the village. I'd be perfectly content with having them far far away."

"Yeah, and you'll also be perfectly dead you." Nathan snarked in annoyance. They were at the entrance to the tower now.

"I haven't seen proof we need the Illuminati to survive," Heidi shot back with a scowl, looking up the tower and shuddering slightly. The tower didn't bring back good memories.

"You've been fighting Teenagers, Heidi." Nathan said. "As for the adults me and Tom have been fighting other adult level opponents for years now. The only person who you've got who can do that is Joey and even he will be defeated in the numbers game. The rest of you don't stand a chance."

"I'm an adult now, too," Heidi pointed out, her pride a bit hurt. "Joey's just stronger 'cuz he turned 18 during the tournament."

"And you're not even at the level of my top six Illuminati." Nathan responded. "Which is why I'm helping you get stronger. But at the moment with your lack of control your not going to be able to protect Simon."

He sighed and folded his arms. "Come on lets just go and do the one thing that we both have in common."

"Fine," Heidi grunted reluctantly, twirling her spear as she glanced up the tower again.

The hinges of the doors creaked and then with a powerful eruption of ice laced air Nathan blew them into the tower.

Just in time to see ........

An entrance hall that was like an exact replica of their own previous tower.

Heidi shuddered, looking around as she clutched her spear. "I don't like this."

Nathan frowned and drew his sword. "Me either... I don't want to relive memories from the tournament..." He slowly crept along and began walking forward. "We need to find the stairs."

"Shouldn't be hard," Heidi muttered, heading towards where she remembered the stairs were.

"Probably no-" Nathan began before he was cut off by a figure who appeared out of the shadows behind him.

In one swift moment the figure slashed a nice across Nathan's throat and then turned on Heidi. Nathan himself fell to the floor with blood flowing everywhere as the figure began to advance.

As the figure stepped over Nathan's blood, it jabbed upward in spikes, a red glow forming around Heidi.

The blonde pointed her spear at the figure, taking a defensive position. They hadn't gotten too far from the door, and she was fast, she could probably escape if she timed it right...

The figure moved with surprising agility before smirking.

"Thinking of running?" She chided in a feminine voice. "Trust me... you won't be quicker than me." And with that she lunged at Heidi.

"Well, damn it all t' hell," Heidi grunted as the figure lunged. She dodged to the side, her spear form a knife blade at the end as she slashed at the figure.

The figure parried the blow before disappearing into the shadows.

Everything remained silent for a second and then the figure fell from above Heidi with her boot kicking out.

Heidi found herself on the floor, quickly rolling off to the side so she was on her back, kicking up at the figure as she jumped to her feet.

The figure was knocked back with a grunt and as she stumbled backwards she flung her knife at Heidi with considerable force.