by Mark Albany
“Stop fighting, Dark One,” one of the Trelans said. His eyes were wide, and he pressed his sword tighter against Leena’s throat. “Or they die.”
Seeing them with steel pressed against their necks, I could feel something rising from deep inside my stomach. It was the Darkness, but it felt like it was struggling. Before, it had pressed against my control, so when I released it, it surged up in a wave. Right then, it was more of a trickle than a wave.
“What is the matter with you?” I asked. No response, though I could feel that it was just as frustrated as I was.
“Put your weapon down!” the man shouted. His accent was heavier than I’d heard from Trelans before.
“All right, all right!” I shouted, dropping the dagger to the ground. A pair of Trelans came up behind and kicked my knees out from under me. I dropped to the stone with a grunt of pain. They swept up the dagger I’d dropped, as well as the sword on my belt.
“Don’t hurt them,” I snarled as Kalna and Leena were dragged to their feet I could almost hear them rolling their eyes in unison. Ropes bit into my wrists as they were tied too tight around them. Once I was fully incapacitated, I was hauled up off the ground. The soldiers kept their blades to Kalna and Leena’s necks anyway, just in case.
“What did you call me back there?” I asked as we were being taken out of the cave. The man to my left quickly hammered his fist into my ribs. I felt a soft crack from his wrist. He grunted in pain, drawing his hand back.
“I called you Dark One,” the apparent leader said, his accent still thick almost to the point of being unintelligible. “The name given to those with power but no knowledge or restraint in how to use their gifts. From the power I have seen you wield, I think it appropriate.”
I gritted my teeth. It was appropriate, but I wasn’t about to admit as much to the man who was holding a dagger to Leena’s neck. Still, the leader’s words made the men holding me tense with fear. A good response. I wondered if they handled the likes of me often.
We were headed back to the castle. I didn’t even need to see the watchtowers cutting into the sky to know it. I had a fairly good sense of direction, and as the sun was starting to rise, I had no doubts about our destination.
I hated the fact that this was the second time I was being dragged to this place while roped up. There were a lot more soldiers waiting for us at the palace gates this time. The soldiers looked tense, and as I stepped through the gates into the castle, I could see why. The man that had equipped us was there, stripped down to his bare skin and impaled on a stake. His eyes were open wide, the terror written on his face, even though he looked like he had died quite a while ago.
I quickly averted my eyes, feeling a lot more pain from the sight than when I had been punched. I was responsible for this guard’s death. I did that to him. There was no escaping that fact. I gritted my teeth and kept my eyes down as we passed by the corpse on display for the rest of his comrades to see.
I couldn’t help but feel that the demonstration was for our benefit as well.
As we were pushed into the inner atrium, I looked over at Kalna and Leena. They were finally not under the blades anymore.
“Where’s Vasara?” I asked in a hushed voice.
“She wasn’t in the cave when they attacked,” Kalna replied.
I gave Leena a piercing stare.
She shrugged. “Don’t look at me. I didn’t say anything to her.”
“So, you heard our little spat then,” I said with a nod.
“It wasn’t like the two of you were keeping it quiet,” Leena countered. “So, she tried to get it on with you. Why didn’t you take her up on her offer? I’m not sure I would have had your restraint.”
“I didn’t feel comfortable going through with it. Not without both…well, all three of you knowing and giving your approval.”
“As nice as that sentiment is,” Kalna cut in, “I don’t think right now is the time or place to talk about our love life, do you?”
“Well, all things considered, we might not get another chance.”
“Don’t even say that,” Leena ordered.
“What are the chances that we survive this?” I asked, looking at both of them. “That’s not a rhetorical question. I really want to know. Because my memories of the last time we were brought here are still painfully fresh.”
They both nodded, but neither had an answer for that. I gritted my teeth, not realizing how much I’d hoped they would. I was trying to keep my spirits up, but the mind-boggling agony that had torn into me was not something I wanted to repeat.
And yet, here we were again. They hadn’t even bothered taking us into the dungeons this time. Straight into the castle. The only real hope I had was that my conversation with Vasara had driven her away and spared her all of this.
Maybe she could rally the forces of the island without us.
“Eira’s coming,” Kalna reminded me softly, moving over to press her cheek gently to mine. “That’s what she said in her vision. Don’t lose hope.”
“Tell me that in a minute,” I replied as I looked up to see guards returning to fetch us. Their friends opened the door into what I could only assume was the throne room.
“Prince Drucio will see you now,” the commander with the accent announced.
“How fucking accommodating,” Leena snarled as the men took hold of us and started yanking us toward the main chamber. They pushed us through the massive doorway, revealing a strangely bare throne room, left completely open except for the throne itself at the other end. The towering seat looked like it was carved from ivory. It was hard to make out what the carving was supposed to be. It looked like some sort of mythological dragon, though all the dragons I knew about had wings.
Prince Drucio was seated on the throne, slouched to the side with one leg hanging over the arm of the chair. He seemed to perk up when he saw us approaching. He stood quickly, brushing what looked like crumbs from his dark robes, and he smiled brilliantly as he came in closer.
How could someone that hideous look so good?
The Vizier came out from behind the throne. I could feel the Darkness trying to pull as far away from him as possible as the prince approached. He seemed to have learned his lesson from last time, keeping clear of Kalna and Leena and focusing his attention on me.
“Your disappearance was most unkind, sir.” He lightly brushed his fingers over my shoulder and grinned radiantly. “You must tell me. What left you so dissatisfied with your accommodation that you departed with such haste?”
“Well, the torture was mildly annoying.” I tried to keep a brave face and avoided looking at the Vizier directly. “But mostly, the sleeping arrangements were just deplorable.”
The grin on the prince’s face turned almost manic as he leaned in closer. He placed both hands on my cheeks and bent in close enough that I couldn’t see anything but the man in front of me.
“I truly do hope that my Vizier succeeds in breaking you, Braks,” he whispered intensely. “Having to reduce you to dust would be such a waste of so much delicious talent.”
The Vizier approached with his hands tucked in the sleeves of his cloak. “Unfortunately, that won’t be up to the good prince. As powerful as he is, he is more indulgent than intelligent. For myself, I have obligations I must adhere to.”
The prince pulled away again, seeming to be as repulsed by the strange old man as I was. I wondered if he had been subjected to the same kind of pain I’d experienced. It would explain why he refused to come anywhere near the wizard.
“I need you to tell me about your home,” the Vizier said. “You successfully fought back a Trelan invasion. It has been done before, but the God-King is nothing if not humble enough to recognize his mistakes.”
“Indeed. Humble is exactly what I think of a man who calls himself a God-King.”
He moved before I could see it, backhanding me across the face. It didn’t stagger me, but it left one hell of a sting.
“Show respect for your bet
ters, boy. He has seen power like yours before. Impressive as it might be to your primitive mind, you have yet to see the concept of true power. I will educate you. Now, how did you repulse the Trelans from your home?”
I looked at the old man. The Darkness in me was feeling less afraid. There was an anger now, boiling beneath the surface. The weakness I’d felt before was being pushed back as pure rage started to rise. I wondered if I should control it. I wondered if I could.
“Stay close.” I felt that same change in cadence I was starting to grow familiar with. “I might just give you a personal demonstration.”
“Insolent to the last, then?” the Vizier sneered. “Most disappointing. Spirit is appreciated in those who serve the God-King, but idiocy is not.” He looked at the guard standing behind me. “Kill him.”
I heard the man drawing a blade. I remembered the power being able to heal an arrow to my chest, but it was weaker now. It was still there, but I had no idea if it could do the same again. I needed to buy time. Both for myself and for Eira. She said she would come. She needed to come soon.
“Wait!” I called out, and the man behind me froze. The Vizier, who had started to walk away, paused and looked over his shoulder.
“I lack the prince’s appreciation for your wit, Braks.”
“You said you’d educate me,” I spoke quickly. “And now you’ll just have some lackey do your dirty work?” I turned back to the man with his blade drawn behind me. “No offense. Well, a little.”
The man shrugged. I turned back to the Vizier, who had spun around to face me again.
There was something different in his eyes. He looked uncertain. The Vizier flinched, then cast a questioning glance toward the prince, whose fear toward the Vizier had vanished. Maybe never really there to begin with?
The prince actually looked gleeful at this point.
“What do you propose?” the Vizier asked, although I wasn’t sure if he was talking to me or the prince. I decided to take the initiative.
“Face me in single combat,” I challenged. “Show me that your power is what you claim.”
The Vizier frowned and shot another hesitant look toward the prince.
Drucio laughed. “I have no objection.”
“I—” the Vizier tried to speak, but the prince had already moved away. Drucio looked at the man behind me, who still had his weapon drawn and no idea what to do with it.
“Cut his binds,” the prince said with a smile. “Should we give him a sword, too? No, best to leave it an even fight.”
The guard’s sword came down, cutting the ropes around my wrists. I pulled them forward, rubbing feeling back into the spots where the ropes had left a mark. The Vizier suddenly looked panicked now that I was free, angry, and ready to fight.
“What are you waiting for, Vizier?” Drucio asked mockingly. “Educate him!”
My mind wondered about the sudden change in dynamics between the two of them, but I could think about that later. My hands were free now, and I could feel the Darkness roaring to life, erasing the weakness I’d been feeling in my body. The Vizier raised his hands, more as an instinctive response to the prince’s words than any actual intention to fight. I was moving before I realized what I was doing.
He made a gesture with his hands, and a part of me flinched, anticipating the agony I’d felt before. I tried to prepare myself to power through it. It was coming, and I wanted to be able to break him before the pain got too bad. Once that was done, maybe I could get to working on getting us out of this place, since it seemed like the Darkness was back.
And with a vengeance.
The Vizier gestured with his hands, looking like something was supposed to happen.
Nothing did. He looked shocked by his sudden impotence. I was quicker to react than he was. I grabbed at the hand that was supposed to be directing some sort of power at me. I twisted hard until I heard a snap at the wrist. The man cried out, dropping to his knees as I twisted back the other way, leaving his elbow exposed as I brought the full weight of my body down. Another crack, another scream. After the last few days of being out of control, I had to admit that this felt…
Good?
I roared and lifted the Vizier to his feet. Then I threw him across the room to land heavily in a pile in front of the throne.
“Educate me now!” I roared, feeling the power rush through my body.
The throne room was quiet for a moment until I heard a chuckle. It turned into a laugh, growing almost hysterical. The prince was almost doubled over, cackling like a madman.
“Well, congratulations!” he said, tears coming from his eyes. “You have successfully crippled and maimed an old man. What would you have next? A pregnant woman? A child, maybe?” His words dissolved into another fit of laughter.
“I… I don’t understand,” I said. That brought no answer from the prince. Only more laughter.
Suddenly, I felt the ringing in my ears, the kind I’d been anticipating when the Vizier extended his hand. I was completely unprepared. The feeling knocked the breath from me, sending me to my knees. The sound of a door opening from the side drew my attention. I turned to see a woman facing away from me, closing a door.
The clothes were elegant. Silvers and golds framed a pure-black silk dress that dropped all the way down to her ankles. Long, curly dark hair hung around a beautiful face with dusky skin, high cheekbones, and large, dark eyes that made me feel like I was swimming in them.
“Vasara?” It was hard to tell, since she looked so different. But her smile told me that it was, in fact, her.
“Yes, my dear Braks.” Even though she was all the way across the room from me, I could hear her voice inside my head. It made the ringing and the pain even worse. My back spasmed as the agony moved in a gush through my spine. From there, it flooded through my whole body. I flipped around, looking up, unable to close my eyes as the pain washed through me.
“Braks!” Leena shouted. Both she and Kalna tried to reach me but were stopped by the men in black armor. I wasn’t sure if I was screaming or not. I wanted to be, though.
Vasara knelt over me, flashing her gorgeous smile. Her fingers gently stroked my cheek, completely contrasting with the fire and electricity rushing through my body.
She was saying something, but I couldn’t hear her. My eyes went out of focus, and the ringing got louder. I still couldn’t close my eyes, but there was something there. Darkness started to spread across my vision. I could hear my heart thumping over the ringing. The thought that I might be dying crossed my mind, followed by a wholly overwhelming sense of relief. Dying had to be better than this.
A flicker of white snowflakes appeared in my blackened vision. In the white, I saw Eira’s beautiful eyes.
“Move back,” she whispered.
What?
I blinked. The pain was still there, but somehow, my mind was pushing past it. Moving was still a terrifying prospect, as it felt like whatever Vasara was doing was draining the life from me, but with a roar, I pulled myself away. She looked at me, amused.
“And where do you think you’re going, my pet?” she asked as I rolled over onto my stomach and started crawling away, struggling to make my way to safety in response to Eira’s message.
I didn’t answer her. I didn’t have the strength to say anything. I tried pushing myself to my feet, and after failing the first attempt, I gave up and went back to crawling on all fours. I could see that Kalna and Leena had managed to disengage from their guards, and instead of coming to me, they were rushing to the side of the room as well.
They had gotten the same message. I kept pushing myself. Annoyingly, Vasara was now standing over me. She didn’t seem to care what Kalna and Leena were doing. She only focused on me, still looking amused. It meant that she was taking cover too, albeit unwittingly.
It didn’t matter. All I could do was make sure I was safe from whatever it was Eira was bringing our way. If we managed to survive, then I could take care of Vasara.
I could hear
a whine in the air that, while soft, felt like it was vibrating the building around me.
A scream from outside the room was the only warning we had. Then the castle shook and shuddered, and the walls came crashing down as a massive boulder the size of a house crashed into the front of the building and kept rolling until it was halfway across the room.
Right where I had been writhing in agony only minutes before.
The pain had disappeared, I realized, so I got to my feet. My body felt like I had been engaging in physical activity for days on end, each individual muscle crying bloody murder. But in comparison to what I had just been suffering this was nothing, so thankfully I could successfully ignore it.
“Drucio!” Vasara screamed in rage at the Trelan prince, as she glided regally to the back of the room.
Something snapped inside me. I didn’t want to control it anymore. I didn’t need to. These bastards had tortured me. I would inflict a very similar agony on them.
At last. Common ground.
I unleashed the Darkness. I felt it rush through me, healing my wounds, easing the pain in my muscles, and filling me with the kind of rage that could only be quenched with blood. Lots of it.
The fury powered an inhuman roar. I felt my eyes going black, watching as the world around me changed. Everything was still there. I could hear Leena and Kalna screaming at me to stop. Eira was suspiciously quiet. I wondered if it was because she was a servant of the Darkness inside me, or if she approved of what I was about to do.
Either way, everything disappeared from my mind except the woman in the black silk dress, framed in gold and silver.
I had time to think about and see these things. I wasn’t controlling my body anymore. I had time to kill.
I was almost upon Vasara now, my hands reaching out to grab and tear at her beautiful curves when my view of her twisted and spun. Something hit me from the side. I would have ignored it if it wasn’t pushing me farther away from my target. I turned to see Prince Drucio standing there, reaching for me as if in slow motion.
