Michael was on his knees when Nora brought the knife down. Emma had a vaguely surprised look on her face as she fell first to her knees, and then face first on to the grass. Nora just stood there, staring at her unmoving body. The knife was still sticking up out of Emma's back. It seemed that neither Nora nor Michael knew what to do. They stayed there, exactly the same, for what felt like eons. Nora finally looked at Michael.

"I'm so sorry," she said quietly. A small sob escaped her, and as if all the energy had left her body, she fell onto her knees. Michael felt the magic slipping away as his body figured out that it was no longer in danger. He suddenly felt as if he hadn't slept in weeks, but he knew one thing, and only one thing, for certain. 

"You did what was necessary," Michael said, walking over to Emma and wrapping his arms around her. Nora turned her face so that it was pressed into his shoulder, and the tears began to flow. Eventually she turned so that she was looking up at him. Her face was red and blotchy, and Michael didn't care. He slowly leaned in and kissed her softly. "We'll be okay," he whispered to her when he pulled away.

"Well isn't this just the sweetest little reunion. It's a shame I have to cut it short," a cold voice said. Nora suddenly went rigid, and then limp. The knife that had just been sticking out of Emma's back now protruded from hers. A shimmer was visible behind her, and then the shimmer took the form of Emma. The body in the grass was gone, no trace of it ever having been there. Michael gently let Nora down on the grass. He felt for a pulse and felt a very weak beat. He stopped noticing Emma and tried in vain to shake Nora awake. 

"No," he said, panic settling in. "No." He turned Nora over and placed his hands on her gaping wound. The knife had disappeared. "Vulnera sana eam," Michael said his voice shaking. He could feel the magic flowing through his hands, but he knew it wouldn't be enough. He was just too drained from the fight. The fight that was supposed to end it all, and it had. "Vulnera sana eam," he said, his voice growing quieter. It wasn't working. He felt for a pulse, and he felt it beat just a few more times before stopping, permanently, but he refused to let go.

"Oh Michael. You are being so pathetic. She was just some girl, and a meddlesome one at that. She was a bad influence. Come back to your family, where you belong," Emma said coldly from next to him.

"I will come back, and when I do, you will pay for this," Michael spat, turning his tear streaked face towards Emma. She pursed her lips and shook her head.

"You can't defeat me," she said.

"No. I can't. But when I come back, I will, and this time, you won't come back." Michael felt the magic that he couldn't find to save Nora flow through him, and he closed his eyes. He felt the world disappear. All that was left was him, and whatever remained over Nora. He held her body tightly, and when he felt ground beneath him once more, he didn't let go. He didn't let go when the darkness began encroaching on him, and he didn't let go when the blackness won, and he fell unconscious. 

Well, that was intense. I love me some drama.

I've decided to extend the story, so this will not even be close to the last time you'll hear from me.

I will continue to publish every day, and I hope to make this story at least twice long.

I hope you enjoyed.

xoxo

-Sierra <3