To start this chapter I have added an excerpt of the ending of chapter 05. Sort of a preview from last seasons ending, lol. Please leave comments on how to get better. I can't be like JazCullen but I can still learn. Remember to vote, and no matter what happens in life...enjoy the journey. Now, without further ado, the conclusion of Secrets of the Forest Nymph.
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He had to keep his plan going. He had to get Marrow angry enough for it to work. "I heard that you were fairly dumb Marrow. I don't recall anyone saying you might have brain damage, that's pretty funny," Chad said. Marrow glared at the arrogant human. Shea was going to watch, as he tore the limbs off this insignificant human.
Chad really didn't want to fight this thing. If his plan was going to work, he needed the Ogre to follow his fighting tactics. He needed Marrow to charge at him. Chad got his wish.
"You fucking human. I'm going to rip that crystal from your dead body," Marrow screamed.
Given the size of the room, it only took a few seconds for Marrow to close the distance between them. Fortunately, that's all the time Chad needed. He reached into his back pocket, pulling out the Tulok root Leonia had given him.
Just as Marrow was about to hit Chad, Feather pulled the dagger out. She pushed it into the lungs of the hellhound, killing it quickly. Feather pushed the carcass off her, just as Marrow was about to collide into Chad's body. Chad braced himself for what was sure to be a powerful and painful collision.
Marrow hit Chad, wrapping his arms around him. The powerful Ogre quickly tightened his grasp, trying to snap Chad's spine. Regrettably, he did not see the Tulok root Chad was holding, or he would have let him go. Chad could only hope this would work as he closed his eyes. He had only one thought...home.
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The blinding light that accompanied the travel between worlds subsided. Chad found himself once again slightly dazed, but in his bedroom. The room was in tatters from Marrow's previous visit to find the crystal. However, one thing remained on the bed...thanks to Feather.
Marrow, disoriented as well, stumbled haplessly away from him. So far, Chad's plan was working. The Ogre turned towards Chad.
"You stupid human, you've done nothing to stop me. This just means you'll die here. Shea will die right next to her whore mother...and her friend."
"Before you kill me Marrow, there's one thing you should know," Chad told him.
"What is that, you worthless human?"
"In this world...these things work," he said. Chad grabbed the .357 magnum that was left behind when Feather dragged him into the forest. If this worked, he'd have to give her a big kiss when he returned.
Marrow charged at Chad for the second time since they met, but it was to no avail. He raised the weapon up, and put two rounds into the chest of the evil Ogre. The hollow point bullets lived up to there reputation, as they entered Marrows chest cleanly. However, the rounds left a hole the size of a human's fist, in the center of his back. Marrows eyes were as big as marbles as he came to the realization...the human won.
Chad aimed higher. "Welcome to my world fuck head. Now go to hell," he told the dying Ogre.
Chad fired a single shot that tore through Marrow's brain, finishing the job. Chad slumped against the bed, the stress of the journey rolling off him. Suddenly, he snapped his head up. "Oh my God, Susan!" he said aloud. Chad slid over and grabbed Marrow's lifeless arm. He thought of his wife, as he closed his eyes to shield them from the bright light.
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Feather removed the dagger from her victim, and then went over to Shea. "Give me a second Shea, I'll have you and your mom out of here soon," she said.
Feather cut the ropes that were suspending the princess, and then laid her against the wall. She could tell from the look on Shea's face what she was thinking. "Please don't worry Shea. Chad's a smart guy and I know he'll be ok," she told her.
"How could you let him bring the Crystal of Physis here, of all places?" she asked weakly.
"Shea I swear. I had no idea he brought it with him. Now just rest here why I try to find a way to get Bolara out," Feather told her abused friend.
Feather moved over to the cell door, and started pulling on it again. "Bolara, do you know where Marrow keeps the key for the door?" she asked.
She looked up into Feather's eyes, and started to cry. "He keeps it in his pocket. Just get Shea out of here. Leave me behind Feather," Bolara whimpered.
"I'm not leaving without you Bolara!" Feather yelled.
"As your Queen, I order you to do as I wish. Get her out," she said, trying to sound as majestic as she could.
Just then, a very bright light blinded all three women. When their vision returned to normal, they witnessed a remarkable sight. In the center of the room was Chad. He was kneeling next to the dead body of Marrow.
Feather didn't know what to say. She couldn't believe that one human, who had never been to their world, could ever have defeated Marrow. Coming to her senses, she yelled at Chad. "Get the key for the cell out of his clothes."
Chad searched the dead body and found the key. He tossed it over to Feather and then moved to be next to his wife. He placed one hand on the underside of her chin, lifting her face up. "Nice to finally meet you...Princess Shea," he quietly said and kissed her lips.
Feather had to help Bolara. She was too weak walk alone. She was also having difficulty breathing from her broken ribs. "Chad, you help Shea, I'll take Bolara with me. We really got to get out of here." Feather told him.
"There's a problem here Feather. I don't think these two can go back out through the cave. It would be dangerous to take them out front. The only option we have is the Tulok root," Chad said.
"That wouldn't be my first choice Chad. For one, they probably won't survive the trip. If they do, any hospital would take blood test. That would be awkward trying to explain our way out of that. I think our best choice is out the front. At least we would have Larry and Malifin to help us...maybe," Feather told him, a little unsure about what has happened out front.
Chad and Feather ascended the stairs; one arm around their charges, the other holding their swords. When they reached the door to the upper level, Feather turned to Chad. "What do you think our chances are that Larry and Malifin are still alive?" she asked.
Chad placed Shea against the wall and handed the Tulok root to Feather. "You three stay here. I'll go check on Larry and Malifin. If anyone other than me comes through that door, it's up to you to get Shea and her mom back to my world. Once you're there, get them to a hospital right away," Chad told her.
Chad leaned down to Shea, "I lost you once already, and I'm not going to lose you again. I will be back for you." He kissed her softly on the lips, hoping not to hurt her anymore than she already was. "I love you Princess Shea."
Feather told Chad how to get to the front of the castle. He opened the door slowly, stepping out into the corridor. As he proceeded to the castle door, Chad got a little nervous. He should have seen at least some of the creatures inside the castle.
The only ones they had come across so far were Marrow, the hellhound, and that thing with no knees. Walking out into the courtyard, he looked up and saw a bright full moon. "Now that's the first normal thing I've seen in days," he said with a chuckle.
Chad readied his sword as he approached the front gate. His apprehension grew, there was no noise coming from the outside. 'Now that can't be a good sign. One of two things has happened. Either everyone is dead, or the other creatures are waiting at the door,' he thought.
Chad slowly pushed the door opened and peered outside. What he saw in the moonlight was beyond words. The bodies of at least two hundred creatures were lying on the ground; covered in blood. He knew there was no way his new friends could have survived that kind of an onslaught.
He turned around to head back to Shea, when something caught his eye. Fifty yards away he saw a large white wing lying on the ground. In a dead sprint, Chad covered the distance in seconds and knelt down by the blood covered Tengu. He put his fingers to Larry's throat, trying to find a pulse, when his eyes fluttered open.
"Hi human. How's your day going so far?" Larry said softly.
"I can't believe you're still alive Larry! Did Malifin make it?" Chad asked.
"Malifin's over there. I don't think he's doing very well. He had five hellhounds on him towards the end of the fight."
Chad went over to find the Wokulo and soon discovered him, surrounded by dead hellhounds. Chad could see that the beasts tore him up pretty good. He had large gouges covering his body and he was bleeding badly.
"Malifin can you hear me?" he asked. Chad reached down and found that Malifin had a pulse, it was weak, but it was still there. Chad ran back to where Larry was and placed his hand on the Tengu's shoulder. "Malifin's still alive...barely. You stay put and I'll get the others," Chad said.
Chad ran back to the castle, trying not to trip over the dead bodies. When he reached the door to the dungeon, he called out. "Feather its Chad, I'm coming in."
He opened the door and helped his wife stand up. "Feather, I found Larry and Malifin but their both injured. Malifin is in the worst shape. He's bleeding badly, and he's unconscious. I don't know how to help him," Chad said quickly.
They all walked as quickly as they could out of the castle, rejoining the rest of their group. When they reached Larry, the Tengu looked up. "So you're Princess Shea. I'd bow your Majesty, but I'm a little under the weather at the moment," Larry said chuckling painfully.
Feather took in the scene around her. In all her very long life, she had never seen the amount of carnage that lay scattered around her. "Christ Larry, do you think you could have saved some for us?" She said, trying to cheer Larry up.
Larry started laughing. "Oh damn, don't make me laugh. That doesn't feel very good."
Chad laid Shea next to Larry, and took hold of Bolara. "Feather, go check Malifin and see if you can help him, he's over there," Chad said. Feather ran over to him and knelt down. She started to check him over when Malifin opened his eyes.
"Well Elf, I guess you get to skip out of your promise to me," he said weakly.
"You don't get to die just yet Malifin. I made you a promise and I intend to keep it. You're going home, but we've got to get you patched up first," she replied.
Chad looked at Bolara. He could tell from her breathing, she probably had a punctured a lung. "We haven't been properly introduced. My name is Chad Franklin."
"Nice...to meet...you. I'm Bolara," she said slowly.
