Unseen Scene—Book Three, Chapter 6 (Nat PoV) (Patreon)

A buzz of tight vibrations washes across Nat’s skin as she inches a step closer to the barrier. She’s seen barriers before but this one is different. Not in looks but in how it feels.

The invisible wall is less a physical thing, even with the fizz of magic, and more…a pounding in her head she can’t shake past. Her eyes almost water at the pressure which fills her mind the closer she advances on it.

But she grits her teeth against the throbbing ache to meet eyes with the Anunnaki inside the protected walls.

"Your attempts to save the human are admirable, but they are pointless," the stranger comments as though able to read Nat’s thoughts on how to progress.

Going up against this obviously much more powerful opponent would be inadvisable in any situation, and resorting to a fight is never the solution Nat favours.

But what would she do to protect [Name]? What lengths would she go to?

Her gaze slides in their direction, and her lungs seem to collapse. Any rational thought is lost behind the swell of need to protect them. To not lose them. To not let them suffer. It’s the only instinct left to her as fear almost overtakes her at the thought of a world without them.

She almost lets out the resigned laugh that she bites back. How long has she craved to feel this way for someone? To truly feel this way?

Now she has it…but everything wants to rip them apart from each other.

But not this time.

She stares at the Anunnaki, straightening herself with new resolve. “We won’t stop.”

The man’s expression sinks with sorrow. “I understand. But neither shall I.”

An explosion of energy thumps into Nat’s chest with such speed, she barely has time to register it before her body is flung to the other side of the clearing. She slams into the ground before the force of the landing keeps her rolling across the ground. She reaches and scratches for purchase against the sun-baked dirt before her motion is stopped painfully by a boulder slamming against her shoulder blades.

Colour-specked darkness shadows her mind until someone shouts her name. But it’s barely a ringing in her ears as she groans and lurches to lay on her back. She sucks in a breath and panics when the air doesn’t reach her lungs.

But a moment later oxygen bursts through her body with a desperate ragged breath.

Her fingers are numb but begin to tingle as she can feel the crushed bones of her arm begin to heal at a rapid rate. Thankfully the only serious injury from the attack.

But pain is soon replaced by panic.

Her heart stutters in her chest, and she swings herself around onto her front in order to frantically search through the blur in front of her eyes for [Name]. Her vision clears painfully slowly, but she almost wishes it hadn’t at all as she spies the Anunnaki making a direct path for [Name].

They’re saying something to each other Nat can’t hear, her ears popping as her body still tries to slowly bring itself back from injury.

Nat claws at the ground, forcing herself inches closer as pure dread threatens to consume her.

To lose [Name] now would be…No, she can’t think that now. She’s paralysed enough without that notion freezing her completely.

But her fear is burst like a bubble as the Anunnaki is shoved away from [Name] by [Name] themself.

Nat isn’t sure what to feel first: confusion, pride, relief, still that fear that wants to take hold…. The sight seems too impossible that the emotions are held in check as she actually tries to process it.

And Nat can’t deny the guilt that wriggles in her gut at not believing in them more.

She sinks onto the ground with a breath, resting her forehead on her hand, wondering if this fear is how it will always be…and is it because of a selfless want never to see [Name] hurt, or a selfish fear that they’ll be taken from her life?