The Dagger

Emma wiped her eyes and looked up at Seth. She was distraught but grateful that he was by her side through all of this. "Thank you Seth," Emma turned back around to examine the dagger. It was wrapped in fine leather that had words written in an ancient language that she didn't understand. The brown leather was tied with black cord and the sheath came with an Adventurer's belt that was just her size.

Strange. Emma's father had been at least two times her size, it was curious to her that the belt should fit her so perfectly that she didn't have to adjust the strap at all. When she reached for the hilt of the dagger, the three stones on it glowed a dazzling electric light-blue, like the palms of her hands had when she got angry, and when she ground the lightning. She was now convinced that the dagger was connected directly to her instead of her father. Emma had so many questions and far too little answers.

Seth was already in the kitchen packing provisions of as much food and clean water as their bags could carry without being too heavy. He had packed 1 loaf of bread that had recently been bought by Emma's mother at the store, the jar of peanut-butter, a bag of crackers, 4 apples, and some dried meat and fish that her father had stored for the winter. It wasn't the best provisions but along with the water tablets that he could find that would give them enough drinking water for a while if used correctly; it was the best he could manage.

Emma walked to the doorway and watched Seth. She had never noticed how handsome Seth was. She had been staring at him for a minute when he turned around and their eyes met. Those fierce, chocolate brown eyes made Emma melt. Emma turned red and cleared her throat, "um, so are you ready to go? I heard you packing food, so I figured you had it covered." Seth tried not to blush too because he knew Emma had been standing there watching him. He always knew when she was around. He could feel people's energy. He had been able to since he was turned over 1000 years ago, but Emma's felt special; electric.

"Uh, yeah, I packed a bunch of stuff, as much as I could find that we could carry in our bags," said Seth as he put on his backpack first. Then, Seth brought Emma hers, but instead of just handing it to her, he gently helped her put it on. Even if it was just an excuse to be near her, Emma appreciated his kindness. She fastened the Adventurer's belt around her waist and took out the dagger to examine it one last time. It glowed again and the cold steel blade turned hot as small sparks rushed down its surface. She still needed time to get used to her powers, but she wasn't as startled this time.

Emma re-sheathed the dagger and turned to Seth. "Next question, where are we going?" Seth looked at her and thought for a second. "Well, you said that your grandfather told you your destiny is in the Dark Woods, right? That means we have to leave the City and make it past the guards at the Wall." She nodded. He was right. She wasn't sure that she would know where to go in the Dark Woods or if her grandfather's stories were even true, but it was their only hope for right now. They couldn't stay in the City with that monster looking for her.

"You're right, we do. It shouldn't be hard to get past the Guards. I can just tell them my father wanted me to meet one of his friends at the crossing. They couldn't stop me if they thought their superior was sending his daughter to meet someone." "Good thinking Em, I think we will make it okay because it is still daylight, but I haven't been outside the Wall in a very long time. We will need a map. I am sure we can find one on the way though at one of the shops. You have some coin, it was in your mother's pocket," Seth stopped, afraid Emma would be upset at him for going through her dead mother's pockets, but she wasn't. "That was good thinking, checking her pockets." Emma saw the brief look of fear in Seth's eyes when he had said he had gotten the coin, but she knew he was trying to do things smart and she liked that. She could have never gone through her parents' pockets with them in the condition they were in.

Seth was relieved Emma wasn't upset with him, he said, "I just want to make sure we make good decisions, I don't want anything to happen to you." Emma blushed, she knew how he felt because she felt the same way about him. "Let's go Seth."

They walked out of the house and as they were nearing the edge of her lawn, Emma turned back. She knew in her heart that she would never see that place again, but she didn't want to admit it. She mouthed the words "goodbye Mom and Dad, I love you," as a single tear rolled down her cheek. The thing she regretted more than anything is that she had never wanted them around, but now that they were gone and they weren't coming back, she wanted nothing more than to have more time with them. It was too late for that now, though. She turned back around and Seth reached out his hand. Emma took his hand without hesitation, and they started off on the 5 mile walk to the Wall, where they would have to pass the Guards at the gate.

As they walked, the sun started to slowly settle to the west. As they walked through a small patch of woods, they couldn't help but feel like they were being watched. Seth's eyes turned red suddenly again, but it was too late to warn Emma. They both heard twigs snap and saw a shadow ahead of them, lurking behind a tree. It was watching, waiting for them; and it saw them too.