VERGLAS (Complete)

FACING THE JOTUNS

The dense fog covers the ground, illuminated through the gaps between the trees surrounding the mansion’s backyard. The backyard garden was maintained well, varieties of shrubs covering the boundaries, seasonal flowers blooming and filled the scent of morning dews in the atmosphere.

It has been a week since I started working on my training, luckily, I am improving. Learned few basics and defensive moves, I can feel the little warrior spirit awakens in me. I started learning the basic history from the book Elijah gave me, he teaches me the Gaelic language, and at least I can understand few words now. I have started doing meditation as I need to control my emotions before I can control my powers. I think I need to control my tongue first.

“one.. two.. three.. back to one.. two..” Daphne commanded, she is giving me lessons on counter attacks, we started with the punches first, I never knew that there are different types of punches.

“First in the centre, second in the guts and third is an uppercut. Repeat that.” She gives me the demo and I have to imitate her. “No! not like that, focus Silver, Focus, suppose your enemy is standing in front of you, you have to punch him in the chest, than guts and last throw an uppercut, make sure they do damage.” I nodded and tried to do the same. After few more demos, I am able to punch correctly.

“That was good and I am exhausted now.” I cried, we woke up early in the morning went to run around the forest, to warm up our body. Elijah says that I have to build my stamina otherwise I will collapse while training.

Daphne nodded and granted 20 mins break, as we continued the training for 3 hours. Elijah came to the garden with a thermos bottle and cups, “anyone for coffee.” I was so relieved and went to take the cup from him, Daphne followed. Elijah pass the hot coffee to us, I took a sip and devour the taste of natural energy drink. The day passed quickly and I was completely worn out after the extensive training. We continued the same for another couples of days.

“It’s been 2 weeks, how long we are going to stay here?” I asked Daph and resume my training. “I don’t know, Elijah said that Jotuns are seen in a nearby town, we still have to stay low.  You have murdered a prince, of course they are furious.”

“What are Jotuns?” I ask her. She looks amused and says, “Jotuns are giants with superhuman strength lives in Jotunheim. There are different types of Jotuns, like fire Jotuns, Rock Jotuns, Snow Jotuns and Water Jotuns, there are many more but I have no information about them.” She continues, “the one’s we met were snow jotuns, because of their resemblance, platinum blond hair, extremely pale skin, tall, blue eyed, these are characteristics of Snow jotuns. They live near Antarctica but I don’t know what they were doing here.” She looks confuse but covers up her expression with a smile. “Let’s start with the stretching.” Oh no!

Another week passed and I have learned so many basic techniques. My further training will be continues when we reach the kingdom. I have started controlling my powers, like I can freeze a glass of water and make few, small patterns with ice. It is really cool but terrifying at same time.

Daphne is preparing soup and I am still practising or controlling my powers. Suddenly the main door open with thud and we gasped. Daphne rushes to the door, expecting an attack from an intruder. She pulls out the knife and inspecting the area, I followed her quietly. I am scared right now and we both screams as a tall figure enter through the door.

“Calm your t**s, it’s me.” Elijah removes the heavy woollen mask he was wearing. He looked tense and a panic rose in my guts. My instincts were saying that something is wrong.

“What happen? You look anxious.” Daphne assured him, and Elijah closes the door behind, securely and went inside the kitchen. “Guys, there is a problem.”

Daphne and I asks in unison, “What?”

Elijah stayed quiet for a moment and hissed, “Jotuns. They are here. We need to leave right now. Pack your belongings, girls.”

Daphne and I stayed stand there in a shock, we were dumbfounded. My mind still trying to process everything and flashbacks of that night came into view. I fell on the floor, my body went limp but my mind was conscious. Siblings help me stand on my feet.

“This is not the time; we need to leave Silver, hurry up.” Elijah pleaded and I nodded, rushed back to my room, I packed the belongings into a suitcase and went out to the hall. Daphne was cleaning her daggers and sort of weapons I don’t even know the names. Elijah hangs his swords on his hips, looks like they are ready to fight. I could not resist my urge to ask, “Do we really need this?”

“If we accidentally bump into Jotuns, we need to be prepared as well. Take this, use it in a case of emergency.” Elijah handed me a knife like weapon, shiny and sharp on the edge. I place it in my boots. Daphne hides small weapons in her attire.

“I am Ready.” Daphne pulls her suitcase and went outside, we followed her back. Elijah securely adjusted the luggage in the car and get inside to the driver’s seat. Daphne went to the passenger side or I take the back seat. “Silver, be careful and remember to stay low, we can’t risk it to lose you.” Elijah commanded and starts the engine; he sighed deeply, and muttered something under his breath. He takes an abandon route to leave the town without getting noticed.

Instincts are telling me that something is going to be wrong, I am not procrastinating but honestly, I am getting bad vibes about this. The silence was terrorising, focus on the road; no one knows what comes out of nowhere.  I am choking on my own saliva; I guess I am a bad luck charm to everyone, always in trouble. We almost drive past the town when Elijah slams on break abruptly.

“What was that for?” Daphne hissed, Elijah replied, “look there, what’s in the way.”

Shit! Jotuns! They look like clones, seriously, they look so similar, no one can easily differentiate them. I gasp for air, I feel I can’t breathe. “Silver, stay inside the car, better you duck down, I don’t want them to know that you are with us, okay?” Elijah commanded. I nodded and showed thumbs up to them. Elijah and Daphne gets out from the car and approached them. Oh god! Help them.

“Whoa! Whoa! What’s the emergency? Did you guys lost the direction?” Elijah grinned at the group, what a d**k move Elijah?

There are more than 15 Jotuns blocking our way and one of them, I recognise Dylan’s brother, I bumped in the restaurant. I think he is the leader of the group, of course he is a prince, my dumb ass forget that fact. f**k! He looks so hot, but his eyes are full with rage. Focus Silver, it is a situation of death or life. They can attack us anytime. I gulp down the saliva, praying that they leave us.

The leader took few steps forward; “going somewhere?” he crosses his arms below his chest, glaring at Elijah. This is not good at all.

“Umm.. Yeah.. Heading back to home.. Vacations are over.. See ya later..” stupid ass can’t act even.

“Where is the girl?” the leader demanded, my heart start beating like a jungle drum. I don’t care if I am panicking right now; I just wanted to do it quietly. The leader signalled one of his men, “check the car.”

“She is not in the car.” Daphne yelled, the leader smirked in a wicked way, “Drag her out, NOW!” he shouted. I feel the ground slipping from my feet. It was like Déjà vu. I wanted to cry out loud, “No.. Please” I whispered, hoping a miracle to happen. The guy was near the car, fortunately, the temper is shaded, and he is not able to spot me. He clutches the door lock and about to open the door but Daphne brings out a knife and throws at his direction. The knife sliced his hand and severing it from the wrist.

I screamed at the top of my lungs. Daphne throws a dagger which pierces through the chest, killing him on-spot. She immediately runs to him, pulls out the knife from his chest and aims at the other one, “Run, now and don’t look back.. We will handle this.” She screamed at me and without wasting any seconds, I barge out from the car and ran for my life. I did not stop to look back to check if they are okay, I knew it will cost me my life. I ran in a random direction and keep running far away as long as my legs will take me. I felt pathetic that I felt them fighting those giants alone, what a jerk I am.

Elijah draws his sword and run to the leader, he dodges few attacks but Elijah hits him in the chest with the back of the sword, and then kicked him in guts. The prince falls down; screaming in pain but one of the Jotuns grabs him from the back. Elijah loses his grip on the sword and it fall on the ground. Enraged, he hits his elbow just below the chest of the Jotun, breaking one of his ribs. He grabs his sword just in time, as another jotun tried to hit him on the head, Elijah dodges and kicks him at his ankle. The Jotun fall with a thud and Elijah penetrates his sword deep in his chest near the heart and draws it back; he turns and severs the head of the jotun who earlier attacked him.

“Remember boy, history is written by the victors.” Elijah said to the dead bodies. He turns to see the prince but he was long gone. The tension rises so he started looking out for him but saw Daphne fighting three Jotuns, alone. He took out the dagger; swing it in the air and then throws it at one of the Jotuns. The dagger punctures his eyeball and he fall down on the ground.

“Nice shot.” Daphne praises Elijah while shoving her dagger into the skull of the other Jotun. They both look at the surrounding; most of the Jotuns were dead, Daphne turns to face Elijah, “did you bring us here to die?” she is infuriated at him.

“obviously.” Elijah rolled his eyes at her.

“I can’t tell if you are being sarcastic or not?” Daphne spat and passes him to attack other Jotun.

“Where is Silver?” she asks him, “How would I know? You said her to run.” Elijah hissed. Daphne stands in confusion, “what?” Elijah asks.

“She is in trouble.”