Odder- The Blood Curse

by Nathaniel Red

  "Then I'm dead."

  "You are in the in between but your time is not yet. We have chosen you to be the Champion to protect your world from the demons."

  "Then why didn't you help me defeat the Queen and her army?"

  "We cannot yet be in a physical form in your realm, but we do guide and watch over your world as we have many."

  "But at least one demon has entered here," Odder said.

  "Bahl-xolus entered through a fissure, a weak point between our realms, and now your arm with demon's blood has created another fissure. Demons have a thirst for magic and your silq is a beacon, enticing them in. Soon demons will flood your world, consuming it like locusts. You must destroy the source of the silq and hold off the demons until we arrive. Prepare your armies."

  "But the silq is the lifeblood of Arcaina, and a living creature is its source.”

  “When the time comes, you will know what to do.”

  “As for the demons, how can we fight an army of supernatural monsters?" Odder questioned.

  "You have been given the Maha'De. When the demons arrive, the natural laws that govern your universe will stifle their powers, making them vulnerable."

  “But the Maha’De is not complete.”

  “It will be.”

  Time started to flow again.

  Grigori pointed at Odder's body. "Your healer is preparing a spell to bring you back. Step forward and place your hand into the portal.”

  Odder did as he said, pushing his hand through the threshold.

  The Celestine placed his palm against Odder's. Energy surged and ignited every cell in his body. For an instant, Odder witnessed the explosion of creation.”

  "You are now blessed with the divine."

  "What do I do?"

  "Even demons have free will. Use your powers for good."

  After a bright flash of light, Odder found himself standing over his body once more.

  "There is a spell," Aimma said, her voice softened. "The healing breath. My grandmother taught it to me and said one day I would know when to use it."

  "Looks like today's that day," Finkle said.

  She nodded. "There's no one more deserving."

  "Aimma," Drugan said. "Are you aware of the consequences?"

  She lowered her head. He patted her shoulder and stepped back.

  With the knowledge given to Odder, he immediately recognized the spell. "No Aimma," he yelled. "The consequence is your..."

  She closed her eyes. A solemn tear fell on her cheek while she chanted. She reached into her chest and pulled out her magic essence and placed it into Odder's chest. Aimma then leaned over his body. A glowing blue mist left her mouth and entered Odder's. Her face and skin turned pale-blue, and her eyes whitened. She collapsed.

  "Aimma!" Finkle and Serra cried out.

  Odder returned to his body but for a moment, past Aimma's spirit. She was beautiful and radiant like Kellas's first light in the morning. She smiled at him.

  Odder reached for her but then his eyes sprung open. A strange metallic taste coated his mouth.

  "By the love of the Celestines," Finkle said, both hands on his face. "Odder you're back."

  The celestial energy surged in Odder’s body. He looked at his hands and then his arms. His skin tingled then radiated a blue light like that of Ophelia. He climbed to his feet. Four well-endowed celestial wings sprouted from his back and pulsed with lightning.

  The others, with surprised expressions, moved back.

  His body grew to over seven feet, and he threw his ripped clothing to the ground.

  "Who are you?" Finkle questioned.

  "Step away from him," added Serra.

  A Guriquar launched a saw a blade at Odder. He stretched out his wing and vaporized it upon contact.

  The goblins coward back and hissed.

  "Attack him you fools!" roared the Queen.

  Several goblins charged at him, but Odder held out his hand, picked them up with magic, and launched them over the edge of the mountain. The goblins parted, and a giant troll approached, hitting its palm with a club. He swung, but Odder caught the club and turned it and the troll into faint ember flakes.

  The panicked goblins shoved each other to escape. "He's a Celestine," cried many of them.

  A spear flew over the hordes and nicked Odder's face causing him to bleed. "You see," said the Queen. "He is not immortal. Now kill him!"

  The goblins rallied back with rage. Odder's wings blocked their spears as he destroyed one goblin after another.

  Serra held her hands to her face and shouted, "Odder needs a clear path to the Queen."

  The elves reunited and pushed the goblins back enough to free Odder. The Queen launched fireballs, hitting Odder with no effect. He stepped closer. She launched a massive lightning ball, but Odder caught it with his golem hand, and threw it toward a troll, incinerating it. Odder continued, stepping closer. Determination in his eyes.

  She pulled the two golden scorpions from her back and flicked them into swords.

  Odder clapped his hands together, forming a fissure under the Queen. He then pulled his hands apart, opening the ground. As the Queen fell in, Odder slammed his hands together causing the fissure to close.

  Moments later the ground erupted, and the Queen threw Odder into the air. She stabbed him in the arm with the one scorpion blade, while the other gouged his side.

  Odder fell to the ground. Blue blood spilling from his wounds.

  She jumped on top of him, detaining his body with her claws. "You don't even know what you are. You are destined to rule, if not in the demon realm, then by my side."

  "I know exactly what I am," Odder snapped.

  "You are what you despise the most. Your body is now a cocoon for what festers inside of you."

  "And what's that?"

  "You are Bahl. You are a demon."

  "No! Lies! The Celestines would not have chosen me."

  "Lies?" She grinned. "Look at your skin. See how the demon's blood courses through your veins?"

  Demon patterns and writing appeared on Odder's entire body.

  "The curse was never intended to keep the demon blood from spreading, but to trap your true demon blood." The queen laughed. “You do not have a blood curse, you have a gift!”

  He gasped but knew her words to be true. The darkness and its power consumed him. Horns sprouted from his head, and the evil overtook him. Then he heard a whisper, a faint voice through the darkness. The Maha'De. It called to him. He grabbed the Queen's throat and held his other hand toward the sword. The Maha'De leapt into his palm, and he pierced her scaled body. He knocked her to the ground and stood over her. His wounds healed.

  The Queen shrieked, and she launched at him, knocking him to the ground. Her scorpion legs and body straddled him again. She held his hands down with her massive claws while her stinging tail ascended, ready to strike. "Bahl-xolus promised this world to me."

  She jabbed the stinger into Odder's neck. The poison spiraled, stopped, and disappeared.

  "No," The Queen’s voice cracked like stones in a quarry. "It cannot be. He promised."

  Odder ripped his hand from her claw. "I am no longer Odder the vekart I am Odder the demon hunter. Your reign is over." His skin brightened, and a bright blue glow traveled from his hand, engulfing the Queen's body. She shrieked, and in a flash, her body turned into sparks and ash.

  The goblins and trolls retreated in a frenzy, making them easy targets as the elves gave chase.

  Odder used magic to lift the remaining shadow reapers into the air and propelled them at the portal. As the last one vaporized, the portal closed. His horns and markings hid back under his skin.

  He ran to Aimma's body with Serra and Finkle joining him.

  "She's gone," said Serra.

  Finkle knelt beside her pale body. "She sacrificed herself for you and all Arcaina, laddy."

  Odder chanted a spell.

  "What are you doing?" Serra questioned. "She's already dead."

 
"You can't do the healing breath spell," said Finkle. "You'll die.

  "She's not dead just in between," Odder said. "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."

  Odder pulled the magical essence from his chest, split it in two, and placed one into Aimma's chest and the other back into his. A bright blue mist traveled from Odder's mouth to hers. His four celestial wings shriveled and blew away in the wind like falling leaves before winter. His size decreased, and his glowing star-like skin faded back to his flesh color.

  Aimma gasped and sat up. She jerked her head back and forth. Beads of sweat fell from her forehead.

  "It's alright. It's me, Odder. I brought you back."

  Her eyes cleared, and she exhaled. With tears, she embraced him. “Thank you.”

  CHAPTER 29

  A NEW WORLD

  Finkle retrieved the Maha'De and placed it into Odder's hand. "So, did you become a Celestine?"

  Odder knelt in front of the gnome. "No, my silly little friend. I was given the power of the divine."

  Finkle shook his head. "It's terrible you lost it then."

  "Once touched by the divine," Drugan interrupted, "the magic is never completely lost."

  "Don't worry, Finkle," said Odder. "I know what I must do."

  Odder asked his friends to gather around. He shared his experience with death and his conversation with the Celestine. He warned about the imminent demon attacks, the looming presence of Bahl-xolus, the evils of silq, and uniting all of Arcaina.

  Drugan took Odder aside. "Look at the crowd. You’ve proven yourself, and they need a leader. Lead them."

  "There is something I must tell you." Odder’s voice cracked as if agonized. "I'm not fit to lead."

  Drugan gripped Odder's arm. "The Celestines chose you. Their blessing is all you need."

  Odder nodded. He understood and knew, despite the truth of what he is, he is the one. He held up the Maha'De. The crowd went silent. "You accomplished a miracle today. Go now tend to your wounds, bury the dead, and secure Skyger. Tonight, we rest, and tomorrow we rebuild."

  The crowd cheered.

  Soon after, various leaders formed groups to complete the tasks given by Odder.

  A Rigan guard approached and took a knee. "My lord, I went to retrieve Prince Destin's body, but it's missing."

  Odder held his fist over his mouth as he paused. All these years of deception. He loved his master. Was there ever a time his master cared for him? Odder wanted to believe so. He lifted the emptiness in his heart. "Finkle, can you search for Destin's body?"

  "You got it, laddy or should I call you Champion?" Finkle asked with a grin.

  "I prefer King," Odder replied his chest puffed. He laughed. "Come on little gnome. I'll always be Odder, your friend."

  Finkle held up his hammer and roared before leaving.

  After several hours, Finkle reported back to Odder. "Sorry." He shook his head.

  ***

  Later that night Odder sat with his friends around the campfire and discussed Destin's missing body and their victory.

  "Perhaps the goblins took his body," said Finkle.

  "No," Odder replied. "I fear we will see him again."

  "Then I'll kill him twice," said Serra.

  "Can you retrieve your divine magic?" Finkle asked. "We could use it."

  "Doubtful, but I have no regrets losing it. It's a small price to pay for saving Aimma. Besides, I still retain the ability to wield magic."

  Everyone agreed, and Aimma blushed.

  Serra tossed a log into the fire. "So, what of the Maha'De? Without a Skyger high wizard’s blessing, the sword is useless as a demon killer."

  "There is a way," said Aimma.

  "There is?" questioned Odder.

  "Edan, remember. He's still living." Aimma pointed to Drugan. "Is this not true?"

  "It's possible," Confirmed Drugan. "The high wizard is trapped in a looking glass in the King's war room. At the time, the King and I thought it best to hide the meaning of Odder's curse at all cost. Edan discovered our secret during your exorcism, and we trapped him until after the Tetrad."

  "It makes sense now," said Odder. He frowned knowing the risks. "The war room is above Bahl-xolus."

  "And the dragon," Drugan added.

  "We know the demon plans to possess the dragon if he hasn't done so already." Odder gripped the hilt of his sword. "We need to free Edan."

  “Then I have a plan,” said Finkle.

  Odder stood. "We'll make plans tomorrow." Ignoring the heavy stares of his friends, he sauntered to the portal.

  He looked up into the sky. Kellas had already set, leaving only the Eye of Adeit hiding in Ophelia’s pale light.

  Odder placed his hand against the stone and closed his eyes. He focused his thoughts to reach Grigori, but nothing came to him. He peered down at his markings. Will they still follow me if they find out what I truly am?

  “Eventually, they will all serve you,” said his inner voice.

  Odder jerked his head from side to side, searching for the source. Hoping to find something other than what he already knew.

  I vanquished you.

  “Not me. I am you. The you before you took this form, and I will not be silenced again.”

  Odder's demon blood boiled, attempting to surface again. He closed his eyes, determined to control it.

  "You alright?" asked Serra, walking up next to him.

  "What!" Odder said, startled. The demon blood retreated. He held the bridge of his nose and composed himself. "Yes, just reliving the battles. It all seems like a dream.”

  "More like a nightmare."

  Odder sighed. If you only knew. "Can you sense the evil?"

  "I feel it in my bones."

  "I pray we can hold out until the Celestines arrive," Odder said, peering into the heavens.

  "I'm confident we will."

  He turned toward her. "Thank you for everything."

  "I am your shield." She grinned.

  “And I am your sword.”

  "You need your rest tonight,” Serra said. “Tomorrow we start a new quest."

  "Until tomorrow then."

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  Nathaniel Red

  I have written stories most of my life, and as a child, living with mental illness in my family, I found fantasy tales a perfect escape. My love for the genre, as well as life conflicts, led me to write my stories.

  My novels are about struggle and hope mixed with a dash of macabre and plenty of twists. Readers will not only enjoy the fantasy worlds, but also relate to my characters in their own lives.

  When I'm not writing, I'm hiking and enjoying life in Phoenix, AZ with my wife and three sons.

  Be sure and keep an eye out for my current work in progress, Odder and The Titan’s Tear, Book Two in a series of seven.