Dutybound

by Mark Aaron Alvarez

  Our fates are written and cast within the stone—the stone of our salvation and our only beacon of hope. Make haste for the North, for the darkness is not far behind. Moz can no longer protect you. You must protect yourself and trust in the light. The answers lie in the virtues that you seek, those you must have dreamed of. Time is short, and you must leave your life behind if you do hope to survive.

  My sweet daughter, whom I miss with each passing day, I truly wish this duty wasn’t your own, but you must be strong and follow your faith. The struggle has just begun, and the covenant is broken.

  Stello Sanoon

  The candles over the altar were bright and heavy. Lucia felt the creep, like a silent echo, starting inside her head and slowly flowing from her lips. Hoping that the spirits would guide her and show her how to do right, she prayed to the light. “Stello Sanoon,” she whispered, “so he is alive.” To hear her own words say that brought tears to her eyes. For so long, she had attempted to forget this man, one whose face she did not remember but whose absence haunted her every day. The guilt pierced her core like a blade slicing through. She brought her hands to her stomach, tightening them around the parchment as tears ran down her face. “What is happening?” she cried. “Why me?”

  There was an unsettling silence. Only the sound of the descending showers sprinkled from above as a vibration brought the candlelight into a quiver, dancing in the darkness. As the candles dimmed, a familiar chill filled the air. Lucia looked up slowly as the air bit at her chest, striking her heart with bitterness, draining her mind of everything that once knew bliss. It spread like a poison, paralyzing her with a type of anguish she hoped she would never have to feel again. It felt black, empty, and cold; perhaps like death. It intensified within her—the fear—as if she sensed it coming. Something closing in from behind.

  Lucia moved her gaze to the altar as the faint candlelight extinguished. All she could see was the smoke rising in the light, streaming from the stained glass. Behind her, the door swept closed as if all the air was pulled from the sanctuary leaving behind a vacuum that absorbed all light. Startled, Lucia spun, leaning against the altar. Her eyes darted around the room as she realized that she wasn’t alone. The darkness around her thickened, as the light from the window faded. Her eyes seemed to be playing tricks on her, and she was cautious. Never had she experienced something like this before. Never had her intuition felt so right—but she was hoping that she was wrong.

  Lucia backed up against the altar, using it to support her as the room darkened in the diminishing light of the stained glass window. Eventually, she saw nothing, and heard only the storm outside along with the pounding of her own heart and the occasional roar of thunder that only seemed to make the sky darker.

  The sweat on her brow froze when she heard its growl.

  Something was there. There had to be something within the shadows. She wasn’t feeling something that didn’t exist. The fear was undeniable and, thinking of her father’s warning, Lucia knew that none of this was imaginary.

  She sought out its presence as it watched her, with its scarlet eyes. Its breath was colder than ice. Her own breath hung ahead of her as lightning flashed, finally revealing the monstrosity.

  “Impossible,” she whispered as she stared into the shadows, watching as dark matter swarmed out from them, consuming the walls around her. From the dark matter formed the gigantic wings of the demon—solidified by the shadows into a muscular-shaped form. Its skin was slate, with claws at the tips of its fingers extending into silver blades. Its face became visible within a faint glow—a grin filled with fangs. It hovered as the dark matter formed gigantic horns that arched toward Lucia, stretching into life while emitting a wretched stench from a foul and icy chuckle. Lucia struggled to find the source of a scream, but choked as the beast’s feet touched the ground and armor formed around its exterior like an onyx shell. A mist surrounded the being, a haze that spewed from the backs of its wings, filling the air and coating the inside of Lucia lungs, making it hard to breathe. She moved farther back, watching the mist thicken and spread out before her, collecting into orbs of matter that absorbed the light still sparkling at the base of her neck. What was this? Trapped within the terror of this nightmare, she clasped a hand around the pendant and prayed.

  The beast laughed, broadening its palm, its claws glistening as light streamed from Lucia’s fist. Swiftly, the monster slashed upward toward Lucia, causing her to cower backward as she prayed. Her eyes filled with tears. “I’ve got you now,” it bellowed. “You’re all mine.” And with one great push of its powerful wings it sent Lucia falling backward.

  Lucia caught herself with her free palm and knelt before the altar as the monster closed its fist, summoning dark matter to form beneath her feet. The earth cracked open and fell apart beneath her as the stone floor dissolved away and turned into a tar-like substance, pulling her in. And it was then that she screamed.

  In agony, she called out, hoping someone would hear her. But the shadows grew, pulling on her. She struggled as she cried, “Help me! Someone, please! Mother!” The frost of a tear formed on her cheek. The darkness crept up her torso as she felt her lungs collapsing, her energy draining. “Please,” she spoke in prayer, her head faint. “Please, redeem me of this fate. Forgive me of my sins. Accept me as I plead. Destroy this darkness!” She attempted to close her eyes but was immobilized, forced to look at the abomination as it moved its large and hideous feet toward her. Closing in, its eyes fixated on the light beneath Lucia’s fingers, it breathed heavily, snarling as it lowered its face to her as she trembled.

  Lucia’s eyes quivered as she abandoned hope and gave herself to the monster.

  “Witness true darkness,” it whispered in a silent echo. “We have returned, believe this. Your rituals could never keep us apart. Surrender your light. Your words are no longer strong enough to stop us.”

  “What?” Lucia uttered, feeling her sanity break from reality and into delusion. Her heart popped and jumped as her spirit pulled away from this monster, while her body remained motionless. “No!” she cried as her mind was consumed by fear. Beneath the surface of her tormented thoughts, she sought out something to cling to. With each moment she found a new reason to surrender, facing a fate far worse than a quick death. The dark being consumed everything around her like dark flames from a distant world. But as fear overtook her, her thoughts collapsed behind something she did not know and a face she did not remember. In that moment, holding on to this image in her head, she found the strength to pray, not out of the fear of what she faced in the darkness of the sanctuary, but in hope that she may someday see this face of whom she did not know. In that instant, the light recognized her plight, summoning forth its blessing and streaming brightly beneath the cracks of her fist. Her vision blurred as she absorbed every bit of light she could into her fist before it burst open and revealed her pendant—beaming with divine light.

  Lucia, struck with disbelief, felt the monster’s hold loosen and shatter as the light caused the beast to shield its eyes with its claws. The pendant pulsed within a spectrum of colors. The light was magenta, then violet, then a stunning blue before changing into a brilliant yellow, shining almost gold. The symbols on the stained glass window behind her glowed as the window came to life. The outline of the divine being’s wings rose from within the window as Lucia watched, astounded by the power she had awoken.

  The dark monster hissed and roared as it flapped its wings violently. The flames of the candles burst to life, sending the light spiraling into the pendant, which only brightened before releasing threads that spun around Lucia and into the window. The panels of glass quaked as the light filled them, making them appear to be on fire. Light erupted from the window in multiple streams, dazzling around Lucia, bouncing in heavy sparks and colliding with the pendant, which shot an array of beams into the darkness. Lucia was in shock, frozen, as she became warm again and the darkness receded from her.
The monster twirled into the altar, knocking the candles onto the ground and setting the pews ablaze. The heat intensified as smoke filled the air. The monster reached once more toward Lucia. “Leave me alone!” she yelled, waving her hand as light shot from her palm, causing the beast to fly backward into the flames.

  “You dare use its power?” the beast snarled. “No matter. Its light is not strong enough to defeat us. Not now. Not ever.”

  What was this power surging through her body? This strength was incredible, and it filled Lucia with emotion. Her thoughts homed in on the words of the message: “Time is short, and you must leave your life behind if you do hope to survive.” Though she felt more invincible than ever, she knew there was truth in this. What if she was not strong enough, even with this new power?

  “Go,” it whispered within her mind. The pendant, so radiant, seemed to invade her thoughts with each plea. “Protect the light. Protect us.” She looked toward the far door; the manor was being consumed in flames. As the beast growled and tore at the debris that surrounded it, light burst around the door, pulling it open. “Go!”

  Lucia caught her breath and agreed, without the slightest feeling of doubt. She ran toward the door, looking back to watch the darkness take flight and smash through the wall and into the corridor, roaring as it pursued her. The manor was dark ahead, but the flames moved quickly, feeding upon the tapestries and golden-framed artwork along the walls.

  With the beast not far behind, Lucia made her way to the study, her mind set on escaping even as she watched her home being destroyed. As she pushed through the ruby-red doors, the chill of the darkness closed in behind her despite the inferno rising up and through the mansion. Quickly, she moved her father’s desk to block the door as she thought of a plan. She raced to the window and lifted her hand against it instinctively. She closed her eyes, praying silently as the tips of her fingers filled the window with light, causing it to shatter. She hurried through, climbing onto the ledge outside as the rain poured overhead.

  Lightning zipped through the sky, dark in its appearance. Instead of emitting its own light, as lightning should, the streaks were black and absent of all light, absorbing any light surrounding it instead. The darkness burst through the doorway, knocking back the desk with ease and tearing the ruby doors off their hinges before releasing its revolting mist, catching the coming inferno and igniting the gallery in dark purple flames. The air was still cold as it went through and toward the window. Lucia released a faint whimper as she let herself dangle and drop into the garden. She fell into the bushes as the darkness shot through the window, flying into the storm above just before fire burst from the window.

  Lucia could only watch in despair as her home became a shadow of what it once was, falling into itself as the stone lost its strength and crumbled the foundation her family had built. Boulders of marble crashed down, and Lucia’s heart stopped.

  “Mother!” she cried out as the stone fell toward her. She raised her hands to shield herself from the eruption of fiery brimstone, but was distracted by her sudden worry. “Mother—I have to save her.” But slowly, she felt it again, the power within whispering.

  “This is not your fight. If you stay, she will die. Where there is light, darkness will surely follow.”

  Lucia took a deep breath, realizing what that must mean. She could not bear the thought of losing her mother, though she felt as if she already had. But there, amid the storm, was an echo of a promise, one that meant her mother would survive. Though it seemed unlikely as the blaze destroyed her childhood home, the force promised her so, and in that moment, she believed it to be true.

  Glancing into the fiery essence of all she once knew, perhaps for the last time, Lucia sobbed before turning and dashing far away, taking to the city’s streets. She kept running as far away from her home as she could, afraid for her life and fearful of her future. As she gained more and more distance, she rushed past people who looked at her as if she were insane. She was panicked, moving nonstop. It took some time for the people to notice what was happening. Once they did, Lucia was almost shocked at how oblivious they were, these people on the outside—watching as the high-borns burned beneath the white-hot rubble of Sanoon Manor.

  But Lucia couldn’t think about that right now. She didn’t know where she was going, but the pendant guided her, pulling her along the streets with this familiar intuition, ever stronger. But before long, her legs grew tired. She would have to stop eventually. How could she travel so far on foot? Slowly, she came to a stop. She collapsed onto her knees, panting heavily. “Why?” she whispered to the pendant, feeling heavy tears fall from her eyes. “Why me?”

  A gentle hand fell onto her shoulder. Afraid, she whipped around as if it were the force that stalked her, but instead she found a set of sapphire eyes staring back, comforting her immediately. It was then that she sensed the promise in the power that had saved her. “You . . . ” Lucia said, feeling her heartbeat deepen and her head spin as she fell into his arms.

  The warmth of his embrace filled her as she whimpered, burying her head into his chest. He was real and as alive as she was. At that moment, she knew her faith would not lie. Though it felt as if her world was falling apart and her life was being stripped from her, Lucia found solace as Leo held her tightly, his grief masked by the rain as tears streamed down his face.

  Chapter Five:

  Fleeing Fate

  Smog fell upon the streets and a dense discord spread. Sanoon Manor’s sudden destruction sent terrifying shockwaves amongst the people. The darkened sky brought about an eerie silence. The stench of decay rose within the cinder and smoke of the fire. Ashes showered down over the city and everyone raced toward their homes, desperate for safety.

  Leo’s arms tensed with worry. His muscled body remained still, stiff, as if he were in some sort of shock.

  Lucia’s heart was fluttering as she squeezed her eyes shut. She gathered her strength and pulled back to look at Leo. She saw a struggle in his eyes, with an azure reticence.

  Leo held himself together, though he did not desire to. He was just as afraid as these people, if not more. He looked away for a moment as if he needed some time to think, but eventually found words. “Are you hurt?”

  Lucia shook her head. She raised a hand to her chest and took the pendant into her fingers. “How did you . . . ” She paused as memories of the monstrosity ran their course within her mind, darkening her heart and making it flutter more than it already was. “H-how did you escape? Why are you here?” She shuddered.

  “I could ask you the same question.” Leo lowered his eyes, breathing heavily as he attempted to speak over the sounds of the pouring rain. “But it seems I may already know the answer. After all, my father told me.”

  “You know”—Lucia tightened her fist around the jewel—“about this?” She opened her hand to reveal the diamond as it twinkled in the refracted light of the faraway blaze.

  The glimmer of its light shone a brilliance that Leo could not forget. He nodded. “Those are the Light Wings. I’m certain.”

  A shiver ran through Lucia, elevating her senses as she heard the name for the first time. “The what?” she asked, almost as if she craved to hear the name one more time before being satisfied.

  “The Light Wings, an ancient relic spoken of only in legend. For eons, its existence was thought only to be a myth, a part of a legend no one ever dreamed was true,” Leo said, detached, as his thoughts lay adrift. “It is said that, once those wings appeared, the world would fall to ruin one province at a time, and Terestria would no longer be safe.”

  His somber eyes looked up into hers as Lucia tried to grasp the reality of what he was trying to tell her.

  “The final days are approaching—the very end of the world,” he finished.

  Lucia brought a hand to her mouth as a great weight fell upon her chest. In that instant, she remembered her father’s message. She patted her
self down, only to realize she must have dropped the parchment during her escape from the beast. “The letter.” Could it possibly be true? “It warned that it would not be safe here. My father . . . ” Lucia shuddered. “He told me to leave and not return, but then”—the weight of the pendant seemed heavier around her neck—“I was attacked.”

  Leo’s own face hardened, rife with anger. “As was I. The entire ballroom was slaughtered.” His eyes quivered as he spoke, his voice nearly shattering as he lowered it. “The moment you finished your song, the torches blew out and all went dark. The air became unbearably cold and I heard screaming. I started to run, shouting to find my friend, when I slipped on some blood and was knocked unconscious. It was the stench of burning flesh that woke me. Somehow, I had survived and was able to make it here. By some holy chance, I was able to find you. Although, much of it is a haze. I don’t quite remember how I did. I just knew.”

  Lucia could hardly breathe. “If what you speak is true, then my mother—she would be dead.” Her fist clenched around the pendant. “And it’s not true!”

  “It’s unlikely anyone survived,” Leo said grimly. “I’m sorry.”

  But Lucia knew deep in her heart that this was not the case. There was a promise to be kept. A whisper of doubt within her mind told her so. “I must go. Whatever that beast was, it will be searching, and I can’t be here when it finds me.” The maiden bowed her head, her eyes brooding. “No one else has to die.”

  Leo was confused by her words. “You really believe she’s alive, do you?”

  Lucia set a finger on top of the pendant. “It told me so. It promised to keep her safe as long as I fled.”

  “It speaks to you?”