But before long, even she lost her footing.
For a terrifying mont, the current overpowered us, and the cavern swallowed as whole.
At so point the evil chanting had changed to a deep, grating laugh.
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’Mason...’ Fey shook awake.
’Ughh ,’ I groaned as I sat up. My muscles felt like lead and my head was spiked with pain.
’Where are we?,’ I asked as my eyes scanned through my surroundings: It was a dark, earthy place.
’We are in the inside of the cavern,’ Fey answered.
’Co on.’ Fey said. ’This place is dangerous. We have to find a way out.’
She helped onto my feet.
The ground was cold, hard, and slightly wet, a strange mucosal fluid drenched the the caverns ceiling.
Everything here gave the creeps.
’Fey’ I gasped her na. ’Its close!’
’No boy . .. it’s here,’ said a dreadful new voice.
Fey and I imdiately turned to the direction of the intruders voice.
He was only a few feet away— hidden in the darkness. . . so close.
I wondered how he’d neared us so silently without triggering our senses.
’What sort of demon,’ Fey exclaid.
The creature inclined its head creepliy. His eyes were dark gold, but not warm, or even human ... more like a wild beast’s.
’What’s this . . a shifter . . .from the accursed bloodline’ The creature purred. ’How lucky am I to have found you. And what else do we have here –’ he inclined his head toward – ’This one . . . He stinks of Asharum.’
Fey summoned a cyclone of dark fog. ’You know of the great history? How!?’
The creature laughed. His front teeth were a deep rotting yellow.
’Do you think you can frighten girl? I was there when the first of your treacherous bloodline betrayed my master.
I’ve since spent several millenia trapped in this hellscape.
The screams in the demongogue are music to my ears. And soon, I’ll be adding one more voice to the the lody.’
It grined at Fey. ’His blood runs especially strong in you. My master will enjoy tornting you. I hope you are strong one. I wouldn’t want you to break too soon.’
’My fate is my own,’ Fey said. ’A creature as vile and twisted as you has no business decideding my future.’
The creature threw back his head and laughed. ’Yes . .yes that’s the spirit. But don’t worry. Once I bring you to my master, I’ll be rewarded with a new body.
And a place by his side when he descends onto the world to exact his vengeance.
I imagine I’ll made more powerful, too. Doubtless there are many secrets hiding within the body of your companion. A few millenia touturing them out of him should yield a great many surprises.’
I had heard enough. Tongues of fire licked the space around . ’I don’t know who you are, but I will kill you if I have to!’
’Fla,’ The creature said. ’Interesting. It burns hot, truly. But it’s nothing before the endless divine fire.’
I retorted. ’Would you like to taste it.’
Fey and I prepared for combat, but, as soon as we step forward, the stones trembled like they would in an earthquake.
Out of the cavern walls, ghastly warriors erupted – emaciated corpses in the tatered remains of Serzarian armour.
Fey tried to shroud them in mist, but the first two ghastly warriors lunged forward, grabbed her arms and lifted her off the ground.
I buried the warriors in twin storms of fire. But they remained entirely unfazed.’What the-!’
I watched, paralysed, as the cavern walls spewed more warriors – four, a dozen, two dozen, multiplying so quickly that we were completely encircled within minutes
How could one entity summon so many ghouls?
’Handy arent they?’ The creature said, ’These morons journeyed here on a fools quest in the distant past. As you can see, they did not fare too well.
Personally, I would have liked to butcher them, but, because they carried the bloodline my master hates so much, their spirits were enslaved while their bodies were corrupted so they are perpetually under his power.
Which ans they are also mine to summon.’ He pointed to Fey. ’Bring the shifter girl.’The warriors shuffled forward.
Fey resisted bitterly, but they brought her to the creature all the sa, skeletal hands clamped over her mouth. The ghastly warriors pushed her unto her knees. For undead creatures, they were too strong.
Finally, I recovered from the shock. I lobbed a giant fire ball at the nearest ghoul, but it did nothing to damage it.
Then I lunged at undead warrior, striking furiously at it’s heart, but my attack phased through its body like it had no substance.
They acted as if I didn’t exist.’What’s wrong, child?’ The creature’s voice was filled with contempt and glee. ’Fustrated by your own weakness?’
I tried to force my way through the ghoulish warriors, but there were too many.
Fey might as well have been behind a tal wall.
’Mason, get out of here!’ Fey scread. ’Search for caverns entrance and escape.’
I ignored her. I concentrated and glyph faintly flickered in the caverns center. I dug into what remained of my magical energy as I prepared to speak the word.
’Yes, attempt the spell!’ The Creature agreed. ’Of course, you realize that your next execution will be your last. You know you don’t have the strength to survive another casting. But, by all ans, try.’
I glanced down. My hands were dark and transparent like smoky glass. My form shimred like the ghost around . In the darkness of the cavern, I was dissolving.
’Stop this!’ I said.
’Oh, I’m not doing anything,’ The creature said. ’This is simply the price magic demands. I am curious to see what will happen.
If you summon destruction, you’ll disappear forever, right into oblivion.
If you don’t summon it ... well, lets just say youll be begging for death within the first century.’
The creature then cradled Fey’s face in it’s bony hands. ’I wonder how much tornt you can endure. I’ve experinted on all kinds of demons. I even killed my own brother once. I’ve never tried a female Serzar before ... Your kind are stronger than Dhampir, aren’t you?
How much pain can you take before your heart gives out?
My anger turned cold and dark. I felt like it was what happened with Hera repeating itself again. This damned fate!
’Dont touch her,’ I warned.
The creature raised an eyebrow. ’Or what? By all ans, try the spell, child.
I’d love to see what happens to you. I have a feeling any powerful spell will cause you to fade out permanently. Please try.’
Fey strugled. ’Your vendetta is with . Do whatever you want with , put please dont touch him.’
’What touching offer.’ The creature’s eyes zeroed in on Fey’s face, its ruthless, predatory eyes peering into hers.
’You really don’t know how deep my master’s hatred for your kind runs. He’s spent eons perfecting his curses and nurturing his hatred.
’Fey clenched her fists. ’Who at all is your master–’
’He has the right of power and hatred,’The creature said. ’And now he is close to breaking free from the deathlands. He has shown his dark designs and even I am impressed....’
My bones felt like they were changing into lead, the way I’d felt when Rea broke with her power.
Then I locked eyes with Fey.New strength surged through . A wave of hatred and anger so pure that it overshadowed my agony and anchored to material world again.
’Mason,’Fey said, ’do what you need to do. I’ve got your back.’
The creature chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. ’Oh, child. You’ve got his back? It’s going to be so fun ravaging you before demon horde, then later maybe they can take turns ravaging you as well.
I hope my master keeps you alive with his spells.
Ive always wanted a pet to tornt. I can’t wait to begin.’
The creature dragged a bony finger across Fey’s face, leaving a thin bloody line.And my rage exploded.
The air around dropped to freezing. All color and light faded from the world, and the darkness of the cavern beca colder and heavier.
In one horrifying scream, I unleashed a flood of pain and anger on everyone in carvern.
The ghoulish warriors backpeddalled as they felt my rage.
They heard my unspoken challenge to the creature in the center, loud and clear: You want pain? Here is more than you can handle.
The ghastly warriors disintegrated into ashes. The rocks of the cavern turned ash with decay.
The creature stumbled backward, clutching his head, blood leaking out of his eyes.
I marched towards him. I shoved my hand through his chest, closing my fingers around his heart as I ripped it out rcilessly.
’You dont deserve to live,’ I growled.
The cavern floor split under his feet. He sank up to his waist as the destructive elents concentrated on his form.
’Stop!’ The creature clawed at its throat as the grey aura of decay spread up its body.
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