A to Z Challenge 2013 - Y is for Yawned

It's the penultimate post for the 2013 A to Z Challenge!

I can't believe it's almost at an end already. What a month!

I'm posting snippets from a story this year.

If you'd like to read the whole tale, please start with A.

Y IS FOR YAWNED

"No." Danielle's chin trembled. "No! I will kill this monster a million times before I ever hurt Erik!"

She charged the serpent.

You're not thinking with your head, Danielle. Fenn bellowed. The child's safety must come first!

The monster reared back, taking its head out of Danielle's reach. It whipped its tail around and smacked her, sending her flying against a set of drawers.

"I'll never let it harm Libby! But killing Erik isn't the answer!"

You don't know this!

"And neither do you!" Danielle's screech was cut off as the tail slammed into her. It wound around her body and squeezed. She couldn't get a breath. Hacking at the monster's body was doing nothing to deter it.

"No!" Libby ran at the serpent. "Leave her alone! Go away!"

"Libby!" Erik managed to roll to his hands and knees. His cry hoarse and wobbly.

"Go away! Go away!" Libby's tiny fists struck the monster. It hissed, almost like a chuckle.

Danielle wanted to scream for the girl to get away, but not even a squeak escaped her throat. Black dots decorated her vision.

The monster's mouth yawned, fangs glistened, and it descended upon the child.

A to Z Challenge - Y is for Yes

This is part of an ongoing story throughout the Challenge.

If you're just joining me now, please start with A is for Abby.

Y IS FOR YES

Burrows howled and tackled Abby. The two fell to the floor, but Abby felt none of the dreadful strength of the monster. The shadows melted or fled from her touch.

Abby rolled them until she was on top and put her hands on either side of Burrows' head. She held her in place with surprising ease.

"I'm sorry, Myrtle, that no one could save you from your monster. I'm sorry that you lived so long with such darkness within you, but you don't have to be afraid any more." Abby's voice was tender. The tips of her glowing fingers dipped into Burrows' head as if it were made of pudding.

The beast screamed, cursed, and then pleaded. The big bad wolf would not win this time. Abby would make sure it never won. That was no world for children.

There was silence.

The monster was obliterated. Not a trace of it left. Abby was certain of it as she removed her hands from the writer's head. The glow faded from her body.

Burrows was breathing. She was unconscious, but she was alive.

Abby didn't pause to wonder about it. She crawled across the room until she could take Demetrius' hand in her own. She tried to will her full body glow back, to demand it bring him back to her, but it didn't come. The ache in her chest came back and she could do nothing for it.

For several minutes, Abby sat there hugging his hand to her chest. It was only when she heard a soft snore coming from Burrows that she snapped out of her sorrowful trance.

"Your debt is paid. Thank you." Abby kissed the back of his hand. It twitched, and with her surprise, she dropped it.

"Don't let go of me yet, darling. I've got several other bits that need kissing too." Demetrius' voice was weak, but he was talking. He was alive.

Abby laughed and scooped up his hand again to kiss it. Then she bent forward and kissed his swollen lips. Her body tingled with sudden elation. "I'll kiss whatever you want. I thought you were dead. That thing had stepped on your head--"

"Yes, my head." Demetrius chuckled and winced as he did so. "It'd take more than a woman stepping on my head to kill me."

"You are pretty damn hard headed," Abby said and kissed his forehead. He was alive. There was still a great mess to clean up and wounds to heal, but Demetrius was alive. She wanted to laugh, cry, and kiss him all over at once.

What kept her from giving fully over to her emotions before was gone. The next time he tempted her into bed, she would say yes. Only if she didn't take him there first.