Chapter 21 Sacrifice

“Now then, Have you ever fired a Gun before Twilight?” Brick asks as he walks out from behind the till via a reinforced door. Leading me to a display case he unlocks the display and pulls out a strange metal and wood object.

“N-No.” I say looking at it in curiosity.

“Well, I’ll start off by saying this, the end right here…” He pints to one end of the metal tube on the top of the object. “You must only point this at whatever you want to die. This is where a thing called a bullet comes out at a high velocity.”

“Wait, this is a weapon?” I ask, getting a nod in response.

“It isn’t the most accurate. The book I gave you is from a relatively advanced world. It has info and details on more accurate guns but making anything in this resourceless place is hard so don’t expect to be able to make them unless you become a Pact carrier.”

“A Pact carrier? Like Alexander?”

“Ya, he and I are Pact carriers. We can be summoned to other worlds to make deals.” Brick explains. “Now, you want to hold this handle…” He says pointing at the wood that curves down from the main body of this gun. “Then when you want to fire you pull the little metal trigger down in the finger space here.” He says as he points to the metal trigger he mentioned. “This is a flintlock so it can only be fired once before you need to reload. I’ll toss in ten shots worth of powder cartridges and the ammo. First thing about reloading is you use this metal rod to push the cartridge to the very back of the barrel.” He says as he pulls a rod from the side of the gun itself to show me. “Then you take these balls…” He reaches into the display and pulls a metal ball from a pouch and shows me it with two fingers. “And then you push them until they are right against the cartridge via this rod again. Put the rod back and pull back this hammer on top and you're good to fire whenever.” Brick explains as he shows me the hammer on the top of the gun. “Guns need to be cleaned regularly to keep them working and keep them accurate. Sadly these guys aren't the best at being accurate but they work.”

“That’s… a lot to keep track of but I think I got it all.” I say with a nod.

“Alright. Sadly I don’t have anywhere you could practice but I’m sure Alexander can help you whenever you first try shooting.” He says holding the gun handle to me. I slowly take it in my hand and feel out the handle and find a comfortable way of holding it.

“Oh and one final thing.” Brick says as he comes in behind me and crouches so that his eight feet tall head is down beside mine. “The way you aim is by raising it up and lining up the two pieces close to us and the other one at the opposite end.” He explains so I lift the gun and notice the three bits of metal and I line them up to their tops are in a straight line.

“Okay… I think I have this.”

“Good, Then she is all yours.” He says as he stands up and looks over at Alexander. “Hey, What did I say? Hands off the merchandise.” Brick barks getting a laugh from Alexander.

“Sorry.”

“Sometimes…” Brick groans as he turns back to me. “Anyways. That pouch of bullets and cartridges are yours.” Looking at the gun I brush my fingers over its side as I look at it in detail.

“Oh, I never did get you a bag to carry things did I?” Alexander asks as he peers over to me. Right, I can’t just go walking around with a weapon out in the open. I might panic people and draw unwanted attention. “Tell you what, go grab a bag from Hemrick. Tell him I’ll knock off more from what he owes me.” Alexander says as he bends over and taps the glass of one display.

“No touching the merchandise!” Brick barks as he storms off to reprimand Alexander. Rolling my eyes I laugh and place the gun on a vacant table and head to the exit but find it locked. “One second, I need to go to the office to rotate the door locks. You though…” Brick says to me but ends off by turning to Alexander. “Stop touching, the magic protections are fragile on the displays. If they break because of you I’m going to wring your pockets dry.”

“Ah, my bad. I just find the displays so captivating.” Alexander chuckles. Brick glares at him but after a few seconds heads to behind the till and into a room. A few seconds pass then a soft click comes from the door, trying it I am able to open it then slip into the room closing the door behind me. A few seconds pass and I hear the two clicks, trying the next door I get out into the Alley again. Running down the alley I enter in to the crowd of people towards where the clothing shop is but as I run I hear something that stops me dead in my tracks.

“Stop, I’m coming.” I hear a woman's voice say to my right through the sounds of the crowd. It is a voice I know, yet couldn’t believe I was hearing it. Pushing through the people walking around I get glimpses of a small green skinned woman. That’s Gomra! I use all my force to push through the crowd.

“Gomra!” I cry out getting her attention causing her to look around. She is dressed in a dirty white cloth outfit with a metal thing around her neck.

“Twilight?” Gomra calls out. Just a bit more. I grunt as I push a burly creature aside and fall out to the clearing Gomra is in. “Twilight!” Gomra cries as she comes over to me but cries out in pain as she does so and falls to her hands and knees.

“Gomra!?” I yelp in surprise but the sound of someone coming over to us draws my attention away from her. What stands before me is a Wasp looking creature who holds a device towards Gomra. “What are you doing to her!?”

“Disciplining my property. What do you think you’re doing trying to take it?” the woman asks in a disgusted manner.

“She isn’t an it. She is my friend, why is she here?” I ask, looking at Gomra who has relaxed it seems.

“She is my slave, you pest. Now Leave her alone before I make you.” The wasp angrily says, clicking her pincers that are her jaws.

“No, I won’t let you take her. Slavery is wrong!” I say as I move in between Gomra and the woman.

“I could care less what you think, I paid for this bitch. I’m not letting that corruption go to waste.” The woman says as her free hand pulls out a small knife that ebbs with magic. “I’ll give you one last chance girl. Leave this slave alone.”

“Twilight… please go.” Gomra whispers to me and my heart aches as I hear her begging tone as her hand lands on my shoulder. “I’ll be fine.”

“No, NO!” I shout and get to my feet to look the wasp woman who is my height in the eyes. “I won’t let you take my friend.” I growl in anger. The wasp woman just looks at me unhappily and brings her dagger ready to strike at my abdomen but I prepare a spell to hit her with a magic shockwave. The next thing I know I feel a force pushing me to the side and as if in slow motion I see Gomra standing where I was, the dagger flying towards her chest as she looks at me having pushed me and into her chest where her arms usually rest. Hitting the ground the spell I had prepared fizzles out and Gomra cries out in pain.

“You stupid bitch!” The wasp snarls as Gomra falls to the ground having the knife be pulled out as she falls. Turning my gaze to the Wasp my vision narrows and I feel every fiber of my being burst into a flaming inferno of anger.

“YOU!” I scream getting to my feet. I snap my fingers, not mentally comprehending what I am casting till I do so. The wasps hand holding the knife gives a sickening crack as my magic crushes in as if in a vice. Blood gushes out of the many points the bones have ripped through flesh and the wasp screams in anger and pain. Looking to Gomra I snap my other hand intending to heal her wound but it is then I realize what magic the dagger had. It stopped magical healing… This isn’t good. “Someone, please get a doctor.” I call out to the crowd, some people have stopped to watch but no one is moving to help Gomra or even go get a person who could. “Please so-” I am cut off by the sound of Gomra screaming in pain. Turning back to the wasp I see she is using the device again to make Gomra hurt. Gritting my teeth I look at the dagger that now lies down on the ground. Snapping my fingers I teleport it in to my hand, the wasp seeing this immediately stops using the device she holds giving Gomra reprieve. The damage is already done and I stomp over to the wasp woman who backs away.

“Hey, listen. You can take her. She’s all-” I cut her begging like a dog off by plunging the dagger into her throat. A sneer upon my face as it easily enters her throat and the first goggles of surprise and pain come from her mouth.

“Tell me, Does filth like you bleed?” Letting the dagger go so it stays in her throat I snap my fingers grabbing her in my magic and toss her with a good amount of my strength at a nearby building causing a loud crunching and snapping to overwhelm the sound of the crowd around us and to cause a noticeable dent and wreck to the wall she hits. “I hope you rot, scumbag.” With that I turn my attention back to Gomra who lies on the ground in her own pooling blood. She lies on her back and isn’t moving besides her shallow breaths. No, this can’t happen… I can’t have her die. I rush over to her side and see she is pale, grabbing her head. I gently lift her to look at me and I smile as she sees me. “Don’t worry, you’re free from that woman.” I say as I pick her up. “Is anyone here a doctor?” I ask the crowd but no one does anything or acts as if they dont notice me and the situation playing out. What is wrong with these people? Feeling tears running down my face I feel Gomra’s hand on my cheek.

“Don’t cry Twilight… I’m happy you’re alright.” Gomra happily says wheezing as she speaks.

“But if you don’t get help-”

“Don’t worry… About me. Gelfree… you must get her. You still have… that promise you made.” Gomra whispers as she wipes my face of the tears.

“But I promised to take you too…” I whimper feeling my body shake and my throat to tighten up. “I… wanted to show you my home.”

“You… silly girl. You are too innocent for this… world.” Gomra chuckles though her breaths have gotten more difficult sounding. “Gelfree… take her… she’s… with him.” With him? She’s with… the Incubus… That sick bastard. “Now… Please let me rest.” Gomra asks and I feel my heart shatter as I know what she means. Kneeling downI mentally curse everyone watching for not doing anything and I lay her down on the ground. Slowly I kneel down holding Gomra’s hand as her breaths become more and more shallow till the stop entirely. Lowing my body over hers I wrap her body in my arms and let the damn of tears go.

I don’t know how long I was there but eventually my tears dry and I am left feeling empty… I hadn’t seen death before in my life… Not once. Laying there over her I just sat, empty. That is until I feel a hand on my back. Bolting my head and body around I expect the wasp to have somehow survived but instead I see Alexander with a sorrowful look on his usually happy face. “I’m sorry Twilight… I wasn’t fast enough… I wish I had checked sooner.” Alexander somberly says as he looks past me and to Gomra. “Let’s take her home, We will give her a proper burial.” He says as he kneels down and is about to grab Gomra but I stop him.

“I can do it. I already have blood on my clothes.” I say knowing my dress is covered in her blood. Alexander looks at me but then nods and lets me gently pick up Gomra.