The Strength to Give Up

I should close my eyes for a moment, but I can never follow my own sage advice. Instead, I stare out the large, picture window. The county side flies by, indistinguishable from most of the other hunts I have been called to.

I attempt to take a sip of tea, but with the combination of the swaying train and my shaking hands, the cup manages to fly from my grasp. It crashes on the floor, spilling in every direction.

The sound wakes my son, asleep across from me. Flying to attention, eyes wide, breathing heavy, he eventually identifies the commotion. “Everything okay, Mom?” I nod and smile an apology. He sets off to find a rag to clean up.

As he leaves, I stare down at my hands. They betray me at every turn these days. Something I should not have to face at my age. Suddenly angry, I shove them under the table, willing them to behave. I long for the same reflexes that helped me fell beasts not long ago, before age and overuse took them from me.

My son, Leonid, reappears with a towel. I reach out a hand to take it from him, but he pulls away. I let out a huff and say, “I can clean up my own messes, Leo.”

“So you can, but this time I’m here to help.” He sops it up and dumps the towel in a bin. As he sits back down, his concern is evident. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Why wouldn’t I? I am one of the only people who can do this. It’s what I do, my profession.”

“Was,” he points out. “It was your profession. You’re retired now, and rightfully so.” He taps his fingers, waiting for a response. When I have none, he adds, “I don’t think you should be doing this.”

“You have made that very clear from the start,” I say, adjusting my gaze to the window once more. I do not want to discuss this yet again. My heart hurts. I love my career. It’s not just a very specific job, it’s a way of life. 

“But, you’re not listening!” Leo raises his voice. “You never-”

“Adeline Drake?” a woman interrupts. We both turn to her, Leo glaring. Ignoring him, she beams, bouncing a bit. “It is you! You are a legend! Hi.” She reaches to shake my hand, hers nearly crushing my own. “Thank you for what you do, or did, anyway. You saved my village from a Basilisk as a child, and I’m here today because of that. I was a toddler at the time, but I still remember it’s rampage. You arrived just in time.”

I flash through my memories, and smile. “I do believe I remember that. By the bay? I stayed there a few extra days. It was beautiful.” 

“Yes! Yes, it is. Thank you, again.” With a glance to Leo, she tenses. “I’ll let you alone now.” Giving one last nod to me, she continues to her seat.

“How wonderful,” I say, reminiscing. Leonid narrows his eyes, realizing he’s lost this argument- again. Giving in to resignation, his eyes fall, then look out the window. I feel for my son. I know he has my best interest in mind, but I need to do this for me. I need to know I’m not completely useless. 

Three hours later, the train arrives at a quiet village situated between two rolling hills. The river running beside it glimmers in the afternoon sun, a few fish breaking the surface. Leo and I grab our bags and exit the train. I take a deep, thankful breath. The brisk, clear air fills my lungs and clears my head.

“This is so dangerous, Mom. Please reconsider,” Leo begins to beg before the train has even pulled away. I do not guilt him with the fact that if he would have taken to the family business, I would be able to retire peacefully. 

“I let this particular Basilisk get away years ago. He won’t be leaving today.” Determination sharpens my voice. This is something I must to do. The Basilisk is sure to have killed many people when it slipped from my grasp years ago. I refuse to make that mistake again.

“How are you even sure it’s the same Basilisk?” Leo asks, stretching.

I do the same, releasing little cracks from my back. “Reports say he has a crescent shaped scar right behind his head.” 

“That’s it?” Leo crosses his arms, brows furrowed. 

“I gave that scar to him. Reports also say there is a deep marring down his side. Everything makes sense.” I shiver at the anticipation building. I refuse to let him go this time. I will down this bastard, or die trying. The latter is a higher likelihood than it used to be. I look to my hands, my betrayers. 

Leo’s concern etches his face, and nearly breaks me. “You’re beyond stubborn.”

“Like you didn’t already know that.”

“True.” He shakes his head, then gestures forward. “Lead the way.”

A few moments later, screams erupt from a nearby group of houses. I take off sprinting, which isn’t nearly as impressive as it sounds at the age of fifty-three. Only slightly out of breath, we arrive at the scene. A massive serpent is flashing its enormous teeth at a large group of people.

He is here. 

There is no time to waste as I throw my bag down to the ground and rip out my sword and metallic shield. Just for good measure, I strap a couple daggers to my waistband. Taking one last look at the panic in my dear son’s eyes, I charge forward into battle.

“Over here!” I yell, attempting to take his attention from the bystanders. I smash my sword against my shield. Lower, I say, “Come and get me.”

The Basilisk whips his head my way and heat washes over me. I meet his steely gaze with my own, my born immunity protecting me yet again. There is a flash of confusion across his features as I don’t turn to stone. The beast lunges forward, slithering my way. The telltale scars shine along its scaly hide as markers of our past. I think he remembers me. I hope he remembers.

He bares his fangs, dripping with deadly venom that will mortally wound almost anyone. Almost. The Basilisk rears his head and I scurry forward, landing a slice across it’s underside. It screeches and retreats, but only for a moment. It returns, all belly on the ground, massive head like a sled on the lush grass. I run forward, yelling, and ram the shield right into his nose. Another pained sound erupts from him, but he does not back down. 

Enraged, he looms back to the height of three grown men. Venom falls like rain from his mouth, which snaps toward me. I dive away, but am not quick enough to get up. Some of the venom sinks into my clothing, searing my calf. It won’t kill me, but it will leave a horrifying wound. 

I need to end this fight soon. Leo is right. I may be too old for this, no matter how much I try to convince myself otherwise. Lying on the ground, I wait for him to strike. I don’t have to wait long. He snaps for me and I swing my sword, barely getting it up in time. It hits home, ringing against one of his fangs. The vibration stuns the creature and I quickly right myself.

I limp toward the stunned Basilisk, sword pointed at my prize. His eyes fly open, pupils dilating, panic at what he knows is about to happen. It seems the Basilisk has aged as well. Not as spry as he was. With no sympathy in my heart, I stab into one eye, partially blinding him. Not a shriek, but a whimper escapes him. He knows it is the end. But he refuses to give in as he dutifully raises his head, slithering away. 

No! He will not get away this time! 

I sprint to him, agony electrifying my leg along with dozens of other minor injuries. I slice at the end of his tail. Surprised, he turns around to face me, rage once again taking residence in his features. I back away a few steps, but not fast enough.

The Basilisk’s massive jaws strike for me. I brace the impact with my shield, but the force of it topples me to the ground. My sword rips from my weak grasp. In a heap, I ache everywhere. My born immunity protects me from the supernatural effects of the beast, but not a pure physical beating. He takes this moment to plunge again. 

I can do nothing against it.

Everything flashes before closed eyes, but the end doesn’t come. A crash of steel rings out, and I open my eyes to see Leonid wielding my sword a few feet away. My stomach drops.

“Leo, back away! I’ve got this!” I shout. He has no training. He will get himself killed. No, no, no. I will not see my son dead before me. I motion for the sword as the Basilisk rears back again. “Watch out!” I scream, but it’s no use. The Basilisk dives for Leo.

He will not have him! 

I run to Leo, securing my shield to my back, and tackle my son to the ground. My body covers him like a blanket as the beast’s mouth closes over us. But death does not come. In fact, cheering is heard in the distance. We are not dead, yet the Basilisk isn’t moving. 

We scramble from the gaping maw and marvel at the sight. The head is already turning to stone, the rest of the transformation crackling down the creature. The Basilisk has seen its reflection in my shield, its own gaze turned against him.

Leo cries tears of joy and relief. I am too stunned to do anything but sit for a moment, every part of me on fire with pain. Leo holds a hand out, helping me to a standing position. He hugs me, crushing me as I give him one in return. Even after the hug, I cling to him. My leg is nearly useless. I am spent.

After receiving thanks and adoration from the crowd, it is time to take our leave. We grab a quick meal at a local diner, then wait for the next train home.

An hour later, we are once again seated across from each other on the train. I look out the window, remembering when one injury or fight hadn’t incapacitated me. I am no longer who I was, and that scares me.

“Mom?” Leonid says softly. As I turn my attention to him, he asks, “Will you officially retire now?”

My mind flashes back to the panic in seeing Leo in danger. Panic at knowing I put him there because he will not let me alone on a hunt. I realize there are things greater than my career. Greater than my born immunity that created a calling for me unlike any other. I look at my hands, so damaged. I decide to look to the future, and not relish in the past. Something must change in my face because Leo’s fills with hope. He grins like a little kid.

Solidifying his thoughts, I say, “Yes, my dear son. I will hunt no more.”