Defying the Void

It had been almost two years now since Breanna left her home for a new life. She’d made a living for herself by taking some odd jobs here and there.

Some of those jobs included stealing and sometimes even killing. It didn’t really help her reputation and she had made quite a few enemies. But she knew how to defend herself though.

She didn’t need some Tyvian prince to rescue her. It was not like the stories her mother told her about when she was younger. She could handle the situations without anyone’s help.

The night was cold but Breanna had rented a small room in a local pub.

While lying on the bed her mind wandered off to the aristocrat she robbed the same day. Man, he was so pissed. Breanna grinned when she thought about his face.

Her grin, however quickly changed to a more concerned look. The man had sworn revenge on her.

Normally Breanna would shake such threats off as a bluff but this man seemed different than the other aristocrats she’d robbed in the past. This man, he was determined.

‘What are you even worried about? He doesn’t even know my name!’ Breanna muttered to herself.

She stared at the dusty ceiling and soon she fell asleep.

***

In her restless dreams she heard a soothing female voice calling out to someone or something.

Breanna dreamt about something that resembled the Void. There were dark eyes looking at her.

The voice of the woman seemed to grow stronger and just when Breanna thought she saw a dark figure approaching her, she awakened from the loud noise of wood clashing against wood.

A male voice was heard shouting: ‘Where is she?!’ ‘I- I don’t know who you’re talking about’ the voice of the bartender answered with a trembling tone.

 Breanna immediately knew it was that darn bastard of an aristocrat and alerted she jumped out of bed. She quickly took her bag from the table and stuffed her few belongings inside it before opening the window.

She looked behind her back and heard footsteps approaching and doors slamming open.

Without hesitation she took the jump.

Thank the Outsider for convenient placed balconies! Breanna reached for the drainpipe and slid down smoothly.

 ‘There she is! Take her!’ the aristocrat yelled at his henchman.

Breanna ran for her life and stopped in a small blind alley to catch her breath. Heavy boots marched over the cobble stones. Where they so quick already?

Those men would’ve had her cornered if she didn’t find another way quickly.

Breanna didn’t remember much about the fight that followed. She only recollected parts of when she was on the ground, bleeding and coughing.

There was a loud ringing noise that quickly became a distant humming noise. Almost like a singing tune. Breanna was surrounded with darkness.

 ‘I see you have some trouble fighting them off. Maybe you would like some help?’ a female voice was now clearly heard through all the chaos that surrounded the young woman.

It was the voice she heard in her dreams.

 ‘Wha- Who are you? Show me your face!’ she exclaimed, slightly panicked. Her surroundings seemed like illusions and Breanna felt nauseous.

 ‘Are you willing to accept my help?’ the woman’s voice sounded very close now. As if someone was whispering in her ear.

Breanna breathed sharply and with a soundless ‘yes’ she accepted the strange voice to lend her a hand.

There she was. Back in the grim city. She felt a strong burning in her hand. The woman crawled back up, feeling stronger now.

Her attackers seemed surprised. They slowly backed off when she pointed her hand at them.

The burning in Breanna’s hand became stronger and then she shot a black projectile to one of the henchman. It sliced his throat and left him a rambling mess on the ground.

 Breanna stared at her hand that emitted a greenish smoke.

A wide grin showed on her face now that she felt confident enough to take a few steps forward.

 ‘Who’s next?’ she taunted and swung her hand. There were three men left. One fled.

Breanna wasn’t sure if she could pull it off again but she targeted the guy on the right and another projectile pierced the air and then the man’s chest.

While he screamed the last henchman launched himself at her. He was quick and landed right on her. He tried to pin her down while Breanna clawed at him. She could sense the diminution of the burning in her hand. She gnarled and tried to keep a distance between her face and the man’s sword.

 ‘Now you have nowhere to run, you little rat’ the aristocrat appeared next to her.

‘Go fuck yourself, dog’ Breanna snapped. And with an equal force she managed to place her fist into her perpetrator’s stomach. The power returned and soon a large part of intestines flew all over the place. It was a fucking mess. The aristocrat was next.

Breanna was back on her feet and panted heavily. Blood and sweat were mixed on her skin. Her hair was messy and there was dirt all over her clothes.

A sudden clapping sound. In the opening of the alley stood a tall woman. She had a pale skin, dark  piercing eyes and a confident look on her face. She didn’t seem to be repulsed by the guts and blood at all.

 ‘That was quite a show you pulled there’ the woman praised. Breanna recognized the voice immediately from her dream and the feverous illusion from a moment ago.

 ‘You are that voice’ Breanna breathed and the other woman nodded.

‘Delilah Copperspoon at your service’ the odd woman said with a smile on her face as she bowed.

 ‘Y- you mean the Delilah Copperspoon? From, from the paintings?’ Breanna stuttered. Why was she stuttering? For someone as confident as her, it was odd to be lost for words.

Delilah laughed but not in a mocking way. ‘Yes I am. And whom am I pleased to meet?’

 ‘I’m Breanna Ash-, you can call me Breanna.’

Suddenly Delilah gestured to shake hands. With some hesitation Breanna shook the woman’s hand. Just as she wanted to pull back, Delilah pulled Breanna’s hand closer and gave it a small kiss.

Breanna felt her cheeks redden. Delilah made eye contact.

 ‘Pleased to meet you, Breanna without a family name. But you’ll have your reasons, I assume’, she said.

 ‘Care to join me?’ she asked. Breanna blinked a few times in confusion. ‘Go with you?’ Delilah nodded.

‘Travel together. See the world together.’

Breanna’s head was spinning but she pulled herself together and smiled back at the woman.

 ‘I’m in. Only if you tell me why you gave me those powers.’, she wanted to know.

 Delilah laughed amused ‘Just helping my fellow women in need’.

 ‘I didn’t need your help’ Breanna snorted. ‘Oh really?’, Delilah raised an eyebrow.

‘But thank you for saving me’ Breanna mumbled, a bit embarrassed. ‘How did you do it anyway? Giving me these strange powers?

Delilah hummed  ‘I’ll tell you all about it, but for now we need get off these streets. Go somewhere safer.’