What A Night
630 Words
I looked up at the stars as I sat outside the inn. I heard laughter within the inn and I smiled. I liked their laughter. I wished that I could hear it more.
"Nervous?" A voice asked from behind me, "I mean, tomorrow is the big day."
"I don't know," I told Fergus as he sat down on the steps beside me, "everyone seems to have a plan. A very specific plan. But us? All we've come up with is to fight."
"Isn't that all we need?" he asked.
"What about if we can't beat him? Then what is the plan?"
"Well," he said, "someone else will. We have a good clan. A good, fighting clan. As much as we need you, they'll figure out a way to win for you. But, Alaina, we are going to win."
"How are you so confident?" I asked him.
"Because I believe us," he said, "I believe in our people. In Jade, Maximus, Annabella, all of them. You should too."
"It's not that I don't believe in them," I took a deep breath, "but I don't believe in myself. What if I let them down, Fergus?"
"There's no way that you could. You're doing the impossible," Fergus said as he wrapped an arm around my shoulder, "you are standing up to one of the most dangerous creatures in this realm. You're a hero for even trying."
"Thank you, Fergus," I said as I leaned against him, "for everything."
"Anytime, lass," he said as he stood, "come and enjoy the night. You need it."
"No," I said, "I most certainly do not. I would much rather look at the stars. Felix told me once that they were our ancestors looking down on us. Do you believe that, Fergus?"
"I was told that the great heroes of old sat up there on shining chairs of light. I like to believe your father is up there," Fergus said before leaving.
"Hello, Poppa," I muttered as I looked up. There were so many of them and the sky was so clear. I wondered if they were really up there. What would he say if he saw me now? Would he be proud of me?
"I'm scared," I said, "no, I'm terrified. But you always said, fear is just a feeling. It can slip away as easily as happiness. You just have to face it."
I stood and nodded at the night sky before stepping into the inn. I was hit with the smell of alcohol and body odor before I looked around at the smiling faces. What a night, I thought as I slipped past them and up the stairs.
What a night...
"Alaina!" a voice yelled as I scrambled out of the bed. The morning sun was shining through the open window and I heard people moving downstairs.
"I'm up!" I yelled back as I slipped on my clothes and bounced down the stairs while struggling with my boots.
"You're just like a child," Madam Carmen muttered as she caught my arm at the foot of the stairs. She gathered up my tangled brown hair in her thick fingers and yanked at it. I started to complain until she released me and I realized that she had tied my hair up. I turned towards her with narrowed eyes.
"Thanks."
"You go do good out there," she said with a nod before handing me a slab of bread, "go kick some warlock butt."
I smiled as I nodded and left. Jordan was already waiting for me as was everyone else.
"Ready?" I asked Annabella. She sat on Midnight.
"Yeah," she nodded. I smiled at everyone else as we took off.
Today was the day.
Today was the day that we got our revenge or we die trying.
- Writer
