Bleh...

Ug...

That's about how I feel today. Just a pervading sense of tired and boredom.

Haven't written for a few days.
Mon --> dancing
Tues --> company
Wed --> Brain dead

So I'm hoping to get to the point where I can write today. No indications yet, but I can hope.

Second to end. At least of the unedited version.

Torn
61

They went out to the patio at about a quarter to ten. Maureen was focused. Scott was terrified. Julius sad.

They chose their respective seats. Julius set his pack on the ground before sitting.

“Why do you have your bag out, Julius?” asked Maureen.

Julius turned away. “I am leaving after your fight.”

“What? Why?”

“Because my work is done here. I have given you everything. It is now up to you to use it.”

“Surely this can’t be the end of my training. We’ve barely begun.”

“You have all of the tools. The rest of your training is in your hands.”

“But can’t you teach me?”

“What need you have left I cannot give. It is up to you to find it.”

“What is it?”

“Experience.” Julius looked at her with a smile, pride in his eyes.

He stood up and walked over to her, knelt, and cupped her face in his hands.

“I know that you can win. And once you have won we will see each other again, I have no doubt about it. But for now you need to spend what peace we have left with your family. They need you now, and you must prepare them for when we need you, when they will be forced to be without you.”

Maureen nodded, understanding completely.

Julius walked back to his chair, he almost made it when Maureen spoke up.

“Julius?”

He turned, “Yes?”

“Thank you.”

He smiled. “Seeing you again after today will be the greatest thanks you can give me.”

Maureen smiled in return. She planned to give him those thanks.

Across the yard a ring of fire appeared. Maureen and Julius stood up. Scott started to, but Maureen pushed him back down.

“There’s nothing you can do except stay out of the way. I don’t want to see you hurt.” Maureen smiled at her husband, then strode confidently into the yard.

The first to emerge from the ring of fire was a tall man. Incredibly handsome, he would have fit into almost any society if it weren’t for the black eyes, and the evil that surrounded him.

He held in one hand a rope. He used it to pull the next person through. Karen started crying as she hit the ground. She didn’t appear injured. Jack choked her with the rope as he pulled her back to her feet.

Maureen knew what she had to do. “How dare you treat my daughter like that?” she yelled, mock anger hiding her calm.

Jack smiled, “Just giving her a taste of what’s to come.”

A third person emerged from the flames. An old man, grown weary with age.

Karen finally started to look around. She spotted Maureen.

“Mommy!” she cried as she started to run.

Jack yanked on the rope, pulling the girl to the ground and cutting off her air again.

Maureen saw her chance.

She pulled her sword. “I’ll teach you to treat my daughter like that,” she yelled, mock anger overtaking her voice. She charged.

Jack let go of the rope. “Hold her,” he told Malchevio as he pulled his own sword. He ran in a charge of his own.

They met in the center of the yard.

Steel rang.