Forgotten Legacies Collection

Chapter 14

Night paced the length of the ebony table. His scowl was as dark as the heavy drapes which obstructed the view of the outside world. His steps were long, impatient strides as he paced back and forth, mentally checking everything was prepared to ensure occurrences such as these would not transpire. Having confirmed all the precautions and safeguards remained unbreached, unaltered, he was brought back to the one question which frustrated him more than anything else at this time, a question for which answer eluded him.

“How is it possible?” he questioned aloud as he paced back down the other side of the table. He paused for a moment once more in silent reflection before, in an attempt to break his continuous pattern in both thought and stride, he stepped away from the table to follow the wall"s curve and approach the enormous cast iron cauldron that stood, as always, atop a never fading flame. He peered inside it at the jumble of magical essences and threads which stirred beneath its turbulent surface before he spoke again. “We have detained all the Oneirois,” he stated flicking his gossip crystal idly between his fingers as he once more began to pace.

“Yes sire, according to our best estimation, their forms make certainty somewhat tricky.” A dark shadow flickered across the wall, almost as if it followed his movements as he paced.

“Yet one is helping them. One in our possession no less. Tell me, have there been any fluctuations anywhere, have any of the guards noticed anything out of the ordinary?” As he once more reached the table, he raised the glass which stood upon it to the light in order to examine the ruby fluid contained within. He did not wait for an answer, it was one he knew already. “Although I am surprised, I am not concerned. This may just work to our advantage.” He mused, although this was an unexpected twist, it had the potential to work to his advantage. In fact, this was even better than what he had planned. He walked back towards the iron vessel, carefully adding the fluid from the glass. As he did so, a purple haze rose briefly from its surface as the contents within began to alter. He looked towards his visitor as they spoke.

am“That one may have escaped you?” the shadow questioned uncertainly, approaching his vicinity once more.

“That one within our possession has found a way to assist them.” Seiken"s image flashed briefly upon the surface of the liquid. He appeared to be resting with the other Oneirois in the area they were being detained. “Go, bring me the one we call Seiken.” He phrased the sentence carefully. He knew much of the Oneiroi race, after all, it could be said they were his children or—if one was to be really literal, given the circumstances surrounding his being—siblings at the least.

Night was no stranger to their lands and knew about their ever changing nature, but he also knew one thing which would never change within their realm. Each Oneiroi, like all living things, possessed two names, a social name, the name given to them by their parents or the ones responsible for their training, and their real name, their true name, a name kept secret from all. One which reflected the true power of their being, a name so powerful it should never be uttered by a creature from either world. This name could only be discovered by those who could look deep into the very being of another person, and the only reason someone would look at another thing in this manner was if they wished to control it.

In any world but Darrienia, to know a thing"s true name would grant a person some control over that life or element. It was part of the fundamental practice of magic, but in Darrienia things worked differently for the Oneirois" own protection. Night knew Seiken"s true name just by looking at him. He was, after all, once a god. A god, who was once part of a greater being, one who had assisted with creation itself.

In the past, some had even referred to the Oneiroi as his children, well Nyx"s, whereas others hypothesised they were Gaea"s. In reality, both were right. The first Oneiroi was something they brought into creation together, but they could only take credit for the first. Everything after that was left in its control, thus negating any divine influence. The Oneiroi became a race of their own making. Had it not been for this, he may have made the mistake of trying to place the Oneirois within his control, but fortunately, he was familiar with their world and its secrets. To know an Oneiroi"s true name was dangerous, he would never utter it. The repercussions, even to one such as himself, would be great.

“And security?” The figure lingered as it awaited his command. Night hesitated for but a moment before his answer.

“I see no concerns, bring me the Oneiroi, and have somebody find Aburamushi.” The new design was already developed within his mind. This was going to turn out far better than he had anticipated.

When Marise had summoned that creature from Hades all those years ago, he never imagined he would find a purpose for him. The guardian was no longer a concern. Since Aburamushi had been released, it had no further purpose, and so it had returned home once more.

Night knew Aburamushi would be difficult to locate, especially since it was now free from the restrictions of boundaries. It would no doubt be after the one thing it wanted more than anything, life. A life that was not based around the survival of Marise or Zoella. Whilst Marise had summoned Aburamushi, she had used Zoella"s power to summon it, even if she had not realised it herself. Once one persona gained full dominance and destroyed the other, the spell which summoned him and the link between the summon and the summoner would be broken, as a result Aburamushi would return to Hades.

There were only two ways to prevent his ultimate demise, by his own hand he needed to kill those who created him in a way which took their life-force and sealed it within him, or find a way to break his ties to them and obtain a life of his own. In order to execute the first, Aburamushi would need to learn the manipulation magic, to do so would be a lengthy process; for the second, he would need to find that which most mortal sought, a means to gain immortality, thus freeing himself from the burden of death. Aburamushi was not foolish, quite the opposite in fact, he knew should either of his creators vanish, he would become nothing more than a memory. Night knew this being"s desire well enough to know it would not idly await its fate, and hopefully, he knew it well enough to predict its next move.

“Yes sire, consider it done.” The figure melted backwards into the shadow. Before fading completely, it moved slightly as if to bow.

It was only a few moments later that Seiken was thrown from the darkness to his feet. His hands were securely fastened before him with a strange cord which shifted through all the colours of the spectrum. The ones which bound his hands were the only restraints which seemed to serve a purpose. The others, which he wore one on each ankle and another around his neck, did not appear to restrict his movements in any way.

“My lord, the Oneiroi known as Seiken.” The voice from the shadow introduced the figure it had deposited, although it knew there was no need. Night knew all too well who lay before him.

“Very good.” He walked around the Oneiroi taking in his appearance carefully. He looked over his auburn hair and his gentle features before crouching to meet his eyes. There was fear within the delicate brown shades, yet there was something else too. Despite the fact Night knew he was not an Oneiroi of the last cycle, his eyes were old. Nyx had known each Oneiroi from the last cycle, thus Night did too, and he had not been among them. He would have remembered.

heAlthough Oneirois were immortal, there were those who chose to become mortal, to cross over into "Gaea"s star" as they called it. When this occurred, a new Oneiroi was born by ritual, one who would possess the same wisdom and knowledge as their predecessor. The knowledge of Darrienia was removed and used to create the new being, allowing the retired figure to enter the mortal world in a form of their choosing. Thus, as they entered the mortal life cycle, everything they knew, everything they remembered, vanished with their final step through the boundaries as the new life was formed by that which they left behind.

A smile crossed Night"s lips but only for a second.

“You"re Eryx"s successor,” he observed, knowing he was the only figure this young man could have replaced. “Why am I not surprised?” He watched Seiken"s eyes widen in shock, no doubt as he wondered how this god could have known his predecessor.

Night shook his head in mild amusement before looking back into the shadows. This Oneiroi also had a fascination with people he couldn"t have, but in Eryx"s case one person in particular had sealed his fate. Eryx had crossed into the mortal world to obtain her, yet somehow he had retained his knowledge of Darrienia. That was the first time he and Night competed for anything, although the word competition would imply there was a challenge where truly, there was none. Ironically, his successor had the same infatuation for one of their kind. It was through this weakness for the human world he saw his way to exploit them. Night did not need to speak for the shadow to know what was being asked of them.

“With his new-found freedom he is proving very difficult to locate, although I estimate his retrieval within the hour,” it answered without the need for the question to be posed.

“Very good, then you are excused.” There was hesitation from the shadow, almost as if they had expected a different response. Seeing this, Night spoke again. “These restraints are infallible, correct?”

“Yes sire.” The bonds which held Seiken were one of a kind. They had been handcrafted to adapt to the life-force of the person they touched, drain them of energy, and seal their magic to render them helpless. The more someone resisted, the more energy they took. In fact, if someone struggled enough, they would certainly lose consciousness, perhaps even die.

“Escape from such a wonderful creation is impossible, correct?” The shadow moved as if to nod its confirmation. “Then I see no reason why you should remain. Even without them I am certain I possess the necessary means to control this child.”

“I did not mean to imply—” Night raised his hand to silence the shadow.

“Now if you will excuse us, I have a proposition for my young friend, and you have work to attend to.” Night waved a hand dismissively and the shadow vanished.

“I am no friend of yours!” Seiken spat, the words themselves hanging bitterly in his mouth. He struggled against the strange bonds, but with every movement he found himself growing weaker. To pull himself to his knees was an effort he swore had almost killed him, but he knew there had to be a way to escape.

“It"s no use struggling, those bonds are a highly developed genetic seal. Here.” A chair dragged itself across the floor from the nearby table to rest beside the struggling Oneiroi. Night watched him critically as he refused the gesture which had been offered. A frustrated sigh left him. He had hoped to keep this amicable, but it seemed this boy was as stubborn as his predecessor. With a flick of his wrist, Seiken found himself reluctantly placed upon the chair.

“I know who you are. I have no interest in anything you have to say.” Sprays of his auburn hair had freed themselves during his struggle, the loose strands moved rapidly back and forth in time with his laboured breathing. He had heard rumours of such a restraint existing, he could only hope if he preserved his energy, he could regain enough reserves to disable them in a quick, unexpected, desperate attempt. Perhaps he could even find the strength to alter the vibration of his life-force, an act which would surely give him the time he needed to execute such a plan.

“Well, if nothing else it spares me the introductions.” He stepped backwards slightly in order to fully take in Seiken"s appearance once more. Visually, he seemed no older than his daughter, although his uniquely brown eyes held more knowledge than any one person could expect to learn in the entirety of their life. Night"s knowledge of Eryx placed Seiken as an Oneiroi for almost twenty-seven years, yet the knowledge he possessed dated far before his appearance on Darrienia. He questioned his calculations, but knew that, had he been there previously, he would have known this boy. The power and knowledge he saw, had to be that passed from his predecessor, yet it seemed impossible.

There was something different about him, an age about his presence no passed wisdom could create. However, despite these doubts, this boy had a very Eryx presence about him, from his reaction alone it was clear he had succeeded his role. Night studied him harder for a moment, certain this child was older than he first thought. When he considered his hidden heritage, he had to be, but he could not fathom how they could have kept a being of his obvious standing hidden.

Seiken, was an unusual Oneiroi, his appearance, although similar to those of Gaea"s world, was different to any other of his race which took that form. There were those who looked mortal, human, but something about his appearance, about the look in his eyes proved he was different. Each Oneiroi had a never changing form, unique to them and this was his, human, yet slightly different. Build wise he was slender, it would be easy to fall into the deception that he possessed no strength, any foolish enough to believe this would soon learn the error of their thinking. His build disguised his strength well.

“As for you choosing sides, it doesn"t really matter. The outcome will be my victory.” Night smiled deciding it was time to resume their conversation.

“Clearly to contain such arrogance you do not know your challenger.” Seiken glared at him as he once more tried to release the bonds. If he could just escape, he would only need to dodge the guards, navigate the tower, find an exit, and free his people without any of them being seen. Realising the futility, he gave a frustrated sigh, leaning back into the chair. Even if he did break free of the bonds, there was little chance he could do much more. He had no choice but to listen to what Night had to say. Just then the reality of the situation became clear. Their only hope really was the success of this "game".

anddidreally“On the contrary.” Night smiled to himself as Seiken finally stopped fighting. “I know them very well.”

“Tell me, what do you wish to gain from destroying both our worlds?” Ultimately, this would happen if things continued to progress along their current course. Should his kind not return to defend the barrier there was a very real chance both worlds would be forced into havoc and self-destruction as it tried to right the wrongs which had occurred. Maybe, if he could discover his ultimate goal, he could warn Thea. Perhaps, armed with this knowledge, they could stop his plan before it was set into motion.

“Destroy them?” Night questioned. “You misunderstand. I don"t wish the destruction of the world, I plan its redemption.” He walked across to the enormous window which stretched from floor to ceiling. With a wave of his hands the drapes opened.

As the heavy curtains parted, Seiken squinted against the light as his vision adjusted. After so long spent in the dark confines of the prison, even the light of this room had, at first, been too bright to bear. The time he spent out of his body to aid The Chosen, did not change his body"s reaction to light, after all, he still remained confined within the dark prison. Those he aided simply saw a solid projection of his life-force.

This omnipresence was normally easier to achieve in his own world, here he had to bring his body to a near-death state, lowering his life-signs to the minimum, by doing so he could appear anywhere in Darrienia. It was a talent only those of the royal house shared and, occasionally, he could even do it without the need to stop his real body from moving. He could control them both, but only for easy tasks.

“Tell me, what do you see?” Night questioned as Seiken blinked several times. When finally his eyes adjusted he realised they were incredibly high. Despite the vision of what lay before him, he did not answer. He merely looked down on a world which was nothing like his own, a world man had destroyed to create a life for themselves. Unlike his own world, the damage caused here was permanent. “Can"t you see it? The deceit, the treachery, the greed. That is the way of the world now. It"s not only the corruption, it is the disregard for Gaea as they slowly sentence her to death with their selfishness. People need to learn their place, they have become too arrogant. Everything is not theirs to take as they wish.” Night"s voice was calm, yet undertones of outrage and disgust lined his words.

“So, you want to destroy them?” Seiken wasn"t sure he quite understood the situation. If Night wanted to destroy them, he clearly possessed the power to do so. It made him wonder why all this was necessary. What was there to gain by this method when just a wave of his hand could see all he despised, destroyed?

“Not all of them, but a majority, yes.” Night did not want to eradicate all of humanity, just the unworthy. After all, originally even Zeus himself did not want man upon this world"s surface. He had wanted them to die out having never evolved, yet he seemed fond of them now, but still Night couldn"t help but think by eradicating them he would win the favour of someone whom he was intent on destroying. “But once my plan is complete, the world will not tremble to man, but man to the world as it was millennia ago.

“The world"s magic has all but been extinguished. Although we can thank the Hoi Hepta Sophoi for their role in this, even they cannot take the brunt of the blame. It is down to them.” He gestured through the window in disgust, a burning hatred reflected in his eyes. “Things need to change. Those people exploiting the poor to line their pockets with gold, those who take yet never return, the predators and persecutors of this so-called society, I call for their eradication. An end to the arrogance even in blatant stupidity, the moral righteousness amongst the worst sinners, the apathy in the face of absolute manipulation, the unfulfilled promises, the sheer lack of will for the betterment of self and others. Out there they are nothing more than self-serving hypocrites and those who would do good, those who would sacrifice to bring others joy, are those mocked the most.

“Those remaining will serve the land once more. It will be Gaea who is their mistress. I shall simply take back that which was taken from me so long ago. The goddess has waited long enough for the final sign of the prophecy, and now it is upon us, I shall fulfil it.”

shall“But then, are you not showing them the same persecution you just spoke of.” Seiken was unsure how much he could say, but for the moment he knew there was something Night wanted from him, some reason why he was summoned to his presence. He knew, true to his word, Night would not harm him, or his people, at least not yet. It was a truth he planned to exploit whenever possible, especially if it could give him some information which could be used to their advantage.

“When the world was born, like animals, humans too would hunt and were hunted. It was a world where to survive was to live, and failure cost the ultimate price. Magic ran rampant across the earth and none could tame it. It moulded things in the way they should have stayed, but eventually, they were permitted a way to seal it. Since then, they have grown arrogant, self-absorbed, but soon they shall be re-educated. They shall learn their place in this world, or be torn from it as things revert back to the natural order.”

“You"re talking about unleashing the Severaine! To do such a thing, to unleash such a power, is reckless. You know it can"t be controlled now.” Seiken could barely believe what he had heard. In past millennia it took generations to finally devise a way to seal its power. This world had long forgotten its ancestors and their old knowledge.

When the world was young and Nyx had not long given life to Hemera, the wild energy born of Chaos and Gaea coursed across the planet in the rawest form. An energy so pure, so absolute that all trembled before it. Its approach was marked by chaos and disasters, tame to that it reaped on its arrival. Its sole purpose was to bring balance, to keep Gaea thriving and replenish that which had been destroyed. It pursued those who failed to heed its warnings until their threat was no more.

It was such a fearsome force, the Gods had eventually shown mercy, sealing it in order to allow mankind time to adapt, trusting they would adhere to the lessons taught by the fearful beast. Their trust had been ill placed. This had been the only time the Gods had assisted mankind with the Severaine, but their periods of development had seen them advance beyond the need for their guidance. As the ruler of the Throne of Eternity was overthrown, the power restraining the Severaine diminished, and once more this mighty force ran rampant.

It levelled all it approached, reshaping the very fabric of the world. But some people survived, as did their knowledge, and in time they too found a way to restrain this threat. But sealing it once brought only a slight reprieve until the throne of the Gods was seized once more by another. Being bound in the beginning to those claiming reign meant with the falling of each ruler, the cycle repeated and has done so times beyond count. But this cycle, and the people within it, were still young. If this fearsome force was to be released now, there would be little chance of any finding a means in which to once again seal it.

It was for this very reason Night believed now was the perfect time for him to act. Once released, they would never be able to evolve to a level which would permit them to restrain its power, and its release would reduce the population of the world. It was the perfect plan, their numbers would be reduced, and Gaea could be given a chance to heal and revitalise.

“Perhaps, but any further details on this matter do not concern you. Now down to business, the reason I brought you here.” Night had wanted to recruit this young man"s aid if possible, but no matter, if he were unwilling to lend his support to his desire, there were other means to obtain his full compliance.

were“Whatever your plan, I will not help you.” Seiken stated, he had wondered the reason he had been summoned and was relieved to find they were about to discuss it. The sooner he knew, the sooner he could refuse and be returned to his people. There was nothing Night could say, nothing he could offer, which would make him betray his people or his home. There was only one hope for freedom, and he would trust her to keep her word.

“We shall see. It seems you have little option other than to listen.” Seiken still gazed out of the window when Night decided once again to draw the heavy drapes. He could see Seiken had understood what he had said, to a certain extent. He could feel Gaea"s pain as he looked out across their world. However, what he was going to say was important, the young Oneiroi"s distraction was not an option. It was vital he absorbed his every word.

“How is it that I am in your world?” This question had been bothering Seiken for some time, and although eager to leave, he realised the answer may provide him with insight on how to get his people home. “Is this place—”

“This place, neither exists here, nor in any other reality, although, it is accessible from all, like most gods" homes. Now, as I was saying, I know you are helping our travellers.” Seiken felt himself turn pale at his words, his stomach churned under his stare as he wondered how it was possible for him to know such things. He had been careful, he was certain his motions had not been detected, and his time outside the prison in his astral form had most certainly been unobserved. He looked to Night in awestruck horror. If he knew this much, there was no telling what fate may await him, after all, it was in Night"s best interests for The Chosen to lose. “You may now find my proposition, difficult to refuse.”

“Are you sure you"re all right?” Daniel placed his hand on Zo"s shoulder, worry crossed his already wrinkled brow, further increasing the lines in his forehead. Glancing up at him she smiled, nodding, yet this did little to convince him.

He glanced back down at a book he had brought along for the trip, he was not really looking at it. The timeworn pages curled to meet his fingers as he flicked absent-mindedly through the content. He knew exactly where to find the information he sought, but he was utilising this pause for other things, such as trying to decipher what she was thinking about.

reallySince the stranger had left, she had been focusing her efforts on remembering him. Perhaps finding the answer could solve some of the riddles concerning her past. Looking to Daniel she pushed the thoughts from her mind, as if spurred by the realisation he stalled for time.

“Well?” She didn"t need to read his mind to know he already knew the answer. It seemed he wasn"t quite as good at concealing his thoughts as she had first thought.

“Well…” Placing his book on the ground for all to see, he tried his best to conceal his frustration, but even with this new advantage, he still found himself unable to gain insight into things she wished to remain buried. He had hoped if a new memory had tried to surface he would have the chance to retrieve it, after all, knowing what she did, it was doubtful Zo would really want to pull on the threads of memory. It was more likely she would force it back, in fear of what may be seen. “These amulets are somewhat of a rarity, they are similar to those used in astral travel, but the designs are more ancient in origin. I think what he said was correct.”

“It is. My father possessed an identical charm,” Acha confirmed, her tone showing her reluctance at having revealed so much. She knew well the markings upon its surface, her father had spent weeks carefully crafting one, and she had been the one asked to acquire some of the more unique ingredients. She had never thought to query why it differed to the one the local shaman used, but now she understood the reasoning all too well.

“Y" father used magic?” Eiji questioned, although Acha had now spoken much about her life as they travelled, she had only spoken of the time she lived in. When it came to more personal matters, she barely uttered a word. She had never mentioned anything of her family, and had avoided the topic whenever possible. She spoke only of the flowing fields and the way of life.

“In a manner of speaking, yes. My father once used an identical charm for just that purpose, but things were different during my time. Those with immense power were gods, with the power Zo and Eiji possess, perhaps they too would have been worshipped. The magic was very limited and only those of certain families developed the gift of healing, blessings, or astral travel.”

There was a long period of silence before Eiji spoke, taking one of the amulets from the ground.

“I wonder how he knew there"s five of us?” he wondered aloud as he flicked the charm over, it was a question which had previously crossed Daniel"s mind when he had first received them. “And our names,” Eiji continued, turning the others over to find the one with his name. Carved on the back, next to his name, was also a symbol. The symbol on Zo"s was identical to the rune they had obtained from the church, each charm differed only by the name and symbol. Were they to assume these symbols represented the keys meant for each of them?

“Well, he knew about Darrienia, and the Oneirois, I guess it only stands to reason he knows who we are. Of course, I"m more concerned about how he knew where to find us, who he is, why he possesses Hectarian artes, and more importantly, whose side he is on.” Daniel took a breath after he had reeled out the questions which had been plaguing his mind.

“Surely ours,” Eiji answered. “I mean, he assisted Zo, and he gave us these charms t"help us on our way.” Eiji placed the charm over his head tucking it securely under his shirt.

“True, but why did he choose to help us? And what brought him here in the first place?” Daniel closed his book, placing it back into the backpack Zo had brought. He had brought a bag of his own, yet it had been insisted they just kept the one, which now seemed to take permanent residence in Elly"s possession. He wondered why she had left it with them this time, and where exactly she was.

had“Maybe it"s just like he said, there"s somethin" more valuable at stake.” Eiji wasn"t sure who the figure was, but he was sure he had been genuine in his attempts to help.

“Like what?” Daniel glanced briefly at Zo, still searching for some indication of where she may have come across the stranger. If she could just remember something, anything, the slightest detail would make him easier to trust. Perhaps had he not discovered what he had about the life previously led by his friend he would have been more trusting, and just been thankful for his intervention, but the recognition between them was unnerving. Who exactly had his acquaintance been with? He hadn"t realised he was staring at her until she looked up at him and smiled. “Another thing, why did he leave so quickly?” Daniel questioned when no one volunteered a suggestion to his previous enquiries.

“The people in Abaddon are different to you and me, I just can"t remember how.” Zo silently scolded herself, unsure if, when the people began to wake, they would truly be in the danger she felt. But for now there was little they could do. “Besides, it is not like we can leave until Elly returns anyway. I bet she could tell us what they are.” The fact she had just used the word "what" unnerved her almost as much as Elly"s sudden appearance.

“They are children of Hades.” Elly seemed to appear with such perfect timing that it seemed as if she had been waiting for her name to be mentioned. “Abaddon, it is another word for the devil, Hades. The town was not called such without reason.

“All who reside within it are cursed by the Gods, destined to live forever as the creatures your parents frightened you with when you were young. They may look human now, and they will even try to convince you they are, but when the sun sets we should ensure we are nowhere near here, they undergo a transformation.”

“Into what?” Acha questioned, aware sunset, although a number of hours away, drew ever closer. She glanced nervously towards the forest.

“Banshee, gorgon, harpies, lamia, need I continue? First, they trick people into spending the night, feed them, make them welcome. Those who stay never see the light of another sun. Of course, if no one stays they hunt. Why do you think we once had so many missing people?” Elly smiled to herself thinking how different things were now. The first time she visited here was over five years ago. Back then, Marise knew no fear.

“There"s not been many in the last five years.” Daniel felt he had to add his part to the conversation. When he was younger his parents told him all the time about groups of missing children and adults. It did seem as if he didn"t hear as much about that kind of thing anymore.

“Well, do you not think that is about right? They have been trapped, until now, and I warn you, tonight they will hunt.” She smiled to herself, knowing not only would they hunt, but they would also find a new ally. When the sun set tonight the world would make a powerful enemy. “I suggest we try to put as much distance as possible between ourselves and the town.” This place was dangerous. The town held many memories for Elly, it was the second time Marise had almost lost her life. It was not a place to be taken lightly. Although Elly blamed her own carelessness for what had happened here that night.

will“Agreed.” Daniel stood moving to offer Zo a hand, only to find she was already standing and seemed to have been about to do the same to him. “Are you sure you"re up to it?” he questioned, noticing she still looked rather pale.

“Shouldn"t I be the one asking you that? You are the one who was trying to infiltrate the underworld,” she teased, but she was touched by his concern.

"And you came unbelievably close yourself," he whispered to her mind. She was a little alarmed to discover how proficient he had become at projecting his thoughts.

And you came unbelievably close yourself,“So where have you been anyway?” Eiji questioned as Elly grabbed the backpack.

“Well, it would not have been fitting to leave Liza in the town, especially tonight, then she truly would be dead. I took her home.”

“Liza is alive?” Daniel questioned suddenly.

“Of course, she was in Darrienia. Dead people do not dream. She was simply subjected to Aburamushi"s form of suspended animation,” Elly advised, deciding not to tell them his unique torture had slowly been stripping her life-force from her. All that was important was they had found her before she had passed into the underworld and vanished from Darrienia.

They began to walk, the sun was barely a few hours from setting and, having discovered the dangers, getting away seemed more urgent than they had first believed. They stayed on the track, unsure really where they were going as Elly guided them, they were just relieved it was in the right direction, away from Abaddon.

“Hey where you kids headin"?” An elderly farmer slowed his wagon to a trot as he pulled on the horses" reins to keep pace with them. He had gentle features, although tired, his dusty coloured eyes sparkled as he offered them a warm smile. They turned to Elly for the answer, after all, it was her idea to head down this track, and she had given none of them the slightest clue where they were heading.

“We are heading to the Ring of Fire,” she answered with a smile.

“My word, I haven"t heard that name since I was a boy. It"s a good hike, I"m headin" to a town close by if you wanna hop on.”

“We couldn"t just accept a lift. Can"t we be of some assistance t"you in return?” Eiji asked, noticing the wagon was filled with fruit and vegetables. Perhaps they could help him to unload, it seemed a lot for one person to take on alone.

“All I ask is for the pleasant conversation of your companion.” He looked to Elly and smiled, “it is, after all, a long and lonely road. Besides I am headin" your way, a few extra heads will only liven up the journey.” Elly nodded, agreeing to his terms she climbed in the front of the wooden wagon, while the rest of them climbed into the rear to sit amongst the home-grown fruit and vegetables which were spread out in carefully packed boxes. They instantly felt the drop in temperature, caused by the huge lumps of slowly melting ice used to keep the produce fresh for as long as possible.

“So where are you heading sir?” Elly asked as she made herself comfortable. When he was satisfied everyone was safe, he picked up the reins and commanded the two horses back into motion.

“Headin"? Oh yes, Kalá Port, you see there"s a new master of the castle on Therascia, I am takin" some of my crop for the banquet. That"s my contribution back there with your friends.” He motioned, unconsciously gesturing before he turned to look at them. “I wouldn"t miss some if you"re hungry. I should just make the ship, maybe with an hour to spare to catch up with some old friends at the tavern,” he smiled. “And you, what takes you to the Ring of Fire?” He used the name she had given despite few ever knowing it as such. It was a name it had not been called for a very long time, only those who frequented Collateral, or possessed old cartography would even be aware of its former title.

“My companions and I are on a quest, we seek a safe place to sleep,” she answered simply, looking at him suspiciously as he gave a wry smile.

“Ah I understand,” he glanced back towards Zo, “the young witch is in trouble.” Zo frowned slightly as she heard his words. While it was true Elementalists had a certain look and feel about them, an aura of power which betrayed them, but Hectarians didn"t, not as far as she knew.

“What exactly is this circle of fire?” Zo questioned, feeling slightly embarrassed. From the moment Elly had mentioned it, she felt as if it was something she should have known.

“The Ring of Fire,” Elly corrected, “is a circle of ancient volcanoes dating back to before Zeus.” Not satisfied with Elly"s short reply, the elderly man continued.

“They"re on the furthest western peninsula. Though I"ve heard rumours of a land beyond, if it exists it"s accessible by neither man nor beast. The rumours say it"s the origin of the Phoenix, and there are those who would have you believe they bore witness to the creature"s emergence.” He paused, giving a slight smile, “I haven"t heard it referred to as the Ring of Fire since I was a buddin" young adventurer. It"s said there is no safer place for travellers than the forest before it. The volcanoes are said to stifle any location magic or technology. It"s the ideal place to hide, especially if attempting to conceal someone who still has the gift.” He glanced towards Zo. “I"m not such an old fool to think it was extinguished completely, your friend here proves that. Anyway, to stay in such a place is the safest haven in the world. No man, or god, could ever find you there, you could disappear, so to speak.

“Of course because of this, there are a few bounty hunters roamin" the area, and many unsavoury characters as you would imagine. In fact, last I heard Viriatus, the Highwayman Commander, had set up operations in those parts, but they tend to work at night so there should be no concerns as long as you"ve left by the time they return at daybreak.” He turned back to look at Zo once more before he addressed Elly. “Your friend looks awfully familiar, is she from around these parts?” he asked quietly, Zo leaned forwards in hope to hear the response.

“She has led a somewhat eventful life when it comes to travelling these lands. There is a possibility you have laid eyes upon her at some point.” Elly replied vaguely much to Zo"s disappointment.

The steep, treacherous rise of the volcanoes appeared on the horizon, their jagged slopes descending down the sheer cliffs to submerge into the waters below. Their presence, even from a distance, was awe inspiring. They didn"t appear as the ring their name had implied, but it was easy to imagine the giant crater which lay between them to form this apparent ring. Mountains seemed to span endlessly beyond the closest peaks, standing proudly, making them appear to fill the horizon.

They were old, perhaps even ancient, the peaks rounded by the journey of the swirling winds as they whipped around their now dull summits, making what once would have been the ferocious points seem calm and gentle. Concealing the base of the volcanoes stood woodland, which climbed the frontmost peaks, the green carpet stopping only when the lands became unfit for life to thrive or climb. The grey shades of the bare rocks and crags sat against the almost slate coloured volcanoes which stretched into the sky.

They had made better time than she had anticipated. If they remained in the wagon any longer, it would just increase the distance they had to walk.

“Anyway, I believe this is where we shall part company. I thank you again for your assistance.” The old man nodded as he pulled on the reins bringing the horses to a stop. “Oh sir, our quest is of a secret nature, I trust you will tell no one of what you saw and heard.” She placed some coins on his seat.

“I was young once too, quests are fun, but it wouldn"t do to have groups of people after the same goal.” He pushed the money back towards her. “Since I never had travellers, I dunno what this is for,” he smiled mischievously as he spoke, “I don"t require payment for a service I"ve not provided,” he reinforced still smiling. She returned the gesture, there were rare few who would refuse such gratuity.

“You have saved us a great deal of time and effort, for that we are most grateful and insist you take it.”

“I"ve a better idea.” He secured the reins before stepping down from the cart, his hand grabbing a twine bag as he did so. Climbing into the back he placed some fruit and vegetables inside before passing them to her. “If you wish to pay me, then you"ll do it for my food, not my favours.” He was young and proud once too. Elly thanked him as she took the produce from him, as long as he accepted the coins there would be no issues.

“Thank you,” she stated extending her hand. He shook it before remounting his wagon. “Although you are lucky to have any produce left with those four in the back,” she added to bring a lighter mood to the air as she removed a small piece of apple pulp from Zo"s chin.

They crossed the plains, their hastened pace saw them reach the dense green woodland within thirty minutes. To the north of the forest"s border, a small town could just be seen. Its modest dwellings almost hidden within the foliage, but at this distance, none would see them gain passage into the forest.

It was clearly not a place often walked, there were few tracks leading through. Shrubs and bushes made the undergrowth thick, but would also prove to be a bandit"s enemy should a skilled tracker be in pursuit. It made them question whether the bandits would indeed choose such an unforgiving terrain in which to centre their operations. Elly guided them carefully through the area, choosing the easiest routes to avoid leaving a trail, although with Eiji accompanying them, she was unsure why she took such precautions. He could probably leave tracks in running water. As a small clearing opened before them, Elly dropped the bag to the ground, signalling for them to stop.

“We shall make camp here, I shall secure the perimeter,” she stated before disappearing into the woodlands, leaving them to make the necessary preparations.

Zo busied herself getting a few twigs and nearby sticks to create a small fire, but it was clear they would need more than the immediate area could provide. She glanced around, she disliked the feeling of numbness. Her senses—which were normally so tuned with her surroundings—were now dead to the world. It made sense when she thought about it. Her senses were nothing more than a location spell to keep her aware of her surroundings.

“I shall get the firewood,” Acha volunteered, almost as if reading Zo"s mind. As she walked past Eiji, she grabbed his arm. “It will be quicker with the two of us.” She gave him an encouraging glance before releasing him. Eiji followed her into the woods. They had walked for about ten minutes before they found an area with ample fallen branches. Not long after they had started to collect them, Eiji broke the silence. It was clear there was more to this than safety in numbers.

“What"s goin" on?” he asked, his voice nothing more than a whisper. He glanced around the area, only now did he realise how far from the camp they actually were. Given the old man"s stories, he felt it was better if they kept their tones low so not as to attract unwanted attention.

“That"s what I wanted to ask you,” she paused as she felt the heat rise to her face. “First Elly vanished in Abaddon. Then that stranger appeared . We had barely been there a minute and she vanished again.” She retrieved another piece of wood from the ground to avoid having to look at him, hoping he wouldn"t see the redness in her face confronting him brought.

“Wait, you think—” Eiji seemed baffled, although in fairness he understood, after all, he had arrived with Elly. It made sense she would think he knew her motives, and to a certain extent, she was correct.

“That you know, don"t you?” Eiji shook his head. “Then, exactly what is this deal you have with her?” A sudden realisation dawned on him as she asked.

“No, y" have it all wrong.” He stopped so they could talk. It was clear she was just trying to protect her friends. Since he had first met her, she had become so much more confident, to the point now she would challenge someone to protect those she cared for. He didn"t want to see this new-found confidence destroyed. He needed to give her some form of answer, but if he could avoid doing so politely, he would.

“Do I?” she questioned, looking away from him.

“Yes, Elly, that"s t"say, she…” How could he get out of this one? He couldn"t really explain the truth of the situation. He could not tell Zo"s friend that, from what he could understand, Elly wanted to reawaken Marise Shi and, at first, he was only helping her in fear of his own life. He knew when Zo was ready to tell her, she would, and only she had the right to do so.

“She is trying to find Marise right? And you"re helping her, what will happen when you find her, what were you promised?” Acha prompted, after a long drawn out silence.

“Nothin", the only reason I"m with her is because I know t"much. I told y" before, if I leave, I die, until she releases me that is.” Eiji sighed as he thought back to how this all started with the best of intentions, then somehow he had become entangled in this situation, not that he minded as much anymore, he had even started to enjoy the company of the people he was with, he was just too careless. Besides, he had realised a little while ago, for some reason, perhaps because of his master"s thoughts on Marise, he wanted to save Zo from the fate it seemed awaited her.

“What do you know that is so valuable?” she questioned, moving to sit on a nearby log. This seemed like it would be a long conversation. He joined her, although never moving his focus from the pile of wood he placed at his feet. It was a good thing, in her embarrassment, she couldn"t look at him either, finding the gathered wood also held her attention.

“Marise Shi"s whereabouts, and her weakness,” he answered truthfully. He hoped this snippet of information would keep her satisfied. He saw her look up to him in surprise.

“So, she does live,” Acha gasped as Eiji confirmed what she and Daniel both believed, Marise Shi was still alive. She had to wonder, if Eiji knew such a thing, had he shared it with Elly, was that where they were heading, to retrieve her? “And what about Zo, what role does she have to play in all this, why does Elly want her? I know something big is happening and I know Zo has a part to play, whether or not she wishes it. If we are in danger, don"t we have a right to know what that danger is?”

“I dunno what she has planned. The only thing I know is Elly wants t"protect Zo, as much as y" may doubt it, it"s what I know t"be the truth. She cares deeply for her.”

“For her, or for the role she has to play?” she asked coldly. She knew this was another question he couldn"t answer, in truth, she realised a lot of his answers were based on assumptions. He had no idea of what her plans may be.

“Only Elly can answer that,” he sighed moving to pick up the firewood. Something told him it was about time they moved on.

“You said you know Marise"s whereabouts, are you leading us to her?” Acha questioned, realising as she did so Eiji had made no attempt to lead them anywhere. He, like them, was being led by Elly.

“I don"t need t",” he stated. A silence descended upon them, an uneasy silence which stretched on for some time. They collected more branches in an attempt to make the silence a little less harsh, both wondering why they would need so much to build a fire, yet still they continued to collect it until both of their arms were full. It was Acha who finally spoke.

“If it makes any difference, I believe you,” she said after some thought. She really believed he was worthy of her trust. “And I believe in you. Eiji, there"s something I need to tell you, but it can go no further.” Acha knew she had to tell someone. It had been gnawing at her since Collateral, yet at the same time she feared what speaking the truth would mean. She knew she could trust him, time after time he had proved to be honest and defend his word. Even if he did know Marise Shi"s whereabouts, or the situation that surrounded Zo, she knew no one would learn of it from him. It would be far easier to tell him than her friends. She took a breath readying herself to continue, but before she spoke, she was interrupted.

“It is fortunate I am not the enemy or you would both be dead.” Elly appeared from the darkness to stand beside them. “Sorry I was so long, I had some business I also needed to attend to.”

“What business?” Acha enquired, shifting the firewood uncomfortably.

“None of yours,” she answered firmly.

“Well, we really should get this back t"the others.” Eiji glanced down at the wood in his arms and began to walk away. He already knew he would not get very far, he had the feeling Elly had been around far longer than she implied with her sudden appearance.

“Before you do.” The pure chill in her voice froze him to the spot. “I do not appreciate being the topic of other people"s conversations.” She looked at both of them meaningfully, all at once Acha was glad her confession had gone no further.

“Y"know what they say, listeners never hear the best of themselves.” Eiji smiled, but his attempt to lighten the mood had failed miserably as she glared at him in warning.

“Eiji, a word,” Elly commanded; she looked at Acha meaningfully. Acha didn"t need to be told twice that this was a conversation she was not welcome to hear, and so, she decided to leave them to it and head back towards the camp alone, regardless of how tempting it was to try to listen in.

Once Elly was sure Acha would be unable to overhear she continued, but the topic of conversation was not what Eiji had expected.

“We need to be on our guard.” Her voice had now lost its earlier chill. “I have it on good authority that there is a bounty order on our comrade, and a few in the vicinity with the ambition to pursue it.”

“Y"mean Marise right?” As he thought about it, he wondered why Elly would mention such a thing now. Marise had always had a price on her head. Perhaps the old man"s warning of hunters in these parts had stirred some concern. He moved, shifting the wood, it wasn"t that it was heavy, just awkward, a little like their conversation. Elly didn"t seem to trust any of them, he couldn"t help but wonder why she was so willing to disclose information to him. He could only reason it was because he was the only one who knew the truth about Zo, and he knew exactly where he stood with her, his betrayal would mean his death.

always“No, I mean Zoella,” Elly declared. He couldn"t help but feel shocked by this, after all, there were but a limited few who knew her true identity. To everyone else she was simply Zo, a young woman who assisted the physician on Crowley, if they knew of her at all.

“Ah.” Was all he managed to say, no matter how hard he tried he could not think of anything more to say.

“Ah, is right. You know what this me—” she began to question, her voice dropped slightly.

“Wait a minute.” Finally, he had found the words to follow his surprise, the words rolling from his tongue without a thought to the fact Elly was still talking. “What"s Zo done that could possibly warrant a bounty?” Normally anyone with a price on their head had committed some form of crime, but what could she have done? Elly answered his question with a look of disbelief.

“Since when does that have any relevance? It is a basic process. You write a request, go to a Plexus, and offer a price. There are no questions asked.” She wondered if he had believed it worked in some other way. The truth of the matter was, if you had money, you could do anything. Money was the only law bounty hunters respected. It was not about right and wrong, they were simply hired assassins who paraded under the cloak of justice.

“I think we best hurry back.” He began to run as he realised what danger could await them on their return. Images of death and s*******r crossed his mind, but the one thing that wasn"t clear in these horrific images, was whose blood it was that filled his mind. He knew to face Zo with such confrontation would not be a good thing, not considering her past and what she had just discovered. She had already briefly lost control to Marise once. He knew when she left the inn why she had been so desperate to leave. Discovering the truth had released her, and Zo had known she could not longer restrain her. If events pressured her into confrontation there was no guarantee she wouldn"t lose to her again. “We need t"warn—” before Eiji could finish the sentence he heard Acha scream.

“It looks like we are too late,” Elly stated.

“Look, it is her.” Two men hid deep within the undergrowth of the trees and watched as the figure they targeted arranged some firewood into a circle. “The one from the bounty, just like we were told.” He passed a small notice to the other man, who examined it quickly looking from it, to the girl, a number of times.

isWithin the undergrowth, a game of roshambo was quickly played. When the tall, dark man won, with scissors, he took the notice back from his brother, who was of a smaller frame and build. He rolled the paper as his brother quietly circled around to the rear of their camp to listen for his cue. This was the way they had planned it. It was fool proof.

“Zoella Althea I believe.” The tall man emerged from the bushes with a smile that added a sparkle to his hazel eyes. At his hail, her hand had shifted to rest on her sword. Her partner, unknown by name, stopped unpacking what appeared to be food rations to look at him questioningly.

“Yes, and you are?” Her hand relaxed from her sword, suggesting she was still unaware of his brother, who hid nearby. As he saw her relax, his smile broadened. It was clear this child did not know she was hunted yet, nor would she have time to share that information with anyone else. He glanced her over and wondered what a child such as this could do to warrant such a bounty, but his was not the place to ask, such was the beauty of being a hunter.

“I"m Ben,” he smiled. It was clearly a well-practised smile, it seemed friendly and comforting. She returned the gesture but it soon faded when she heard his next words. “We don"t want any trouble, so I think you should come with us,” he cursed silently as her posture straightened. Although she didn"t move, she glanced towards her partner questioningly, a silent message seemed to pass between them. For a brief moment he stopped unpacking. He hadn"t considered the implications of using the word "us", it was something they would have to correct for the future.

After a quick glance of the immediate area, she returned her attention to him. It seemed her mind was on other things, something which would work to their advantage.

“Why would I want to do that?” As he reached inside his long, battered coat, her hand instinctively found her hilt once more. Something inside her commanded her to draw. A wild force called to her, she had only felt it once before, back when she fought with the enormous figure. It was something she feared, something which scared her more than anything else. The power called to her life-force and she knew now that this power, this temptation, had a name.

“It"s like I said, you"re Zoella Althea.” From his coat he pulled a small parchment, he flicked it open to reveal a sketch of her. That was the signal, his brother moved with grace and speed to place the jagged edge of his knife at her partner"s throat.

Daniel heard the anger in her mind as she scolded herself for being so careless, for having dropped her guard, and for not detecting the lurking life-force. Searching magic was useless here, a fact she had been reminded of when the stranger had emerged from the undergrowth without prior warning, but still, she had been careless.

Anger sparked in her fragile eyes, memories of blood and violence danced on the surface of her mind trying to remind her of who she was, trying to warn her what may happen should she choose to fight. It was a powerful hatred she felt, but worse still, was the desire to kill them.

Ben smiled at her, introducing his brother, Simon, although his words never met her ears, they were drowned out by someone no one else could hear. A female"s voice who screamed her name over as it told her to run. It was a voice that seemed so familiar, a voice from a memory. Its words from the past begged for her to leave now, as they had back then, but she knew she could not obey. She could not abandon Daniel. The sound of the warning dissolved into the air as she heard Ben"s mocking tones.

“I know what you"re thinking,” he sneered as his brother tightened the ropes around his prisoner. “But compared to us, a child like you does not know the first principle of fighting.”

"Zo." She heard Daniel"s voice filled with desperation. He too had heard the cries which had echoed through her mind. As he fought against the ropes which now bound him to the tree. He heard the strange voice fill her thoughts again. It cried her name as it begged for her to leave while she could. It was a voice he didn"t know, a memory he knew she couldn"t find. Then there came another, a voice telling her to stay.

Zo.Daniel knew that voice, the voice of temptation telling her it would be all right to surrender control. It offered her a promise of stopping those who pursued her. It told her the price was worth it, and if she didn"t pay it willingly, she would take what she wanted by force, and destroy more than just her attackers.

Daniel watched as she slowly drew her sword. He understood what was going to happen, and knew exactly what he was going to see. His eyes closed, forcing free a tear. He didn"t want to see this, he didn"t want to see her.

“I know a few tricks.” She tried to sound threatening, only it sounded more fearful than she had hoped. Her best friend lay at the mercy of bounty hunters. There was only one way to save him and that was to fight. She couldn"t fail, his life, his safety, depended on her. A silver flame formed at her fingertips as Simon moved to join his brother. From their expressions alone, it was clear they were already satisfied they would earn their money today. The boy was useless to them, there was no need for him to share her fate, in fact he had the honour of bearing witness to the justice they would deliver.

The ground absorbed the flame as it fell from her hand, seeing this they snorted, believing it to be nothing more than a parlour trick to intimidate them. Before they could voice their derogatory comments, flames shot upwards from the ground. The fire circled the three of them as the heat from the silver flames made the air shimmer, yet the ground remained unscorched by the flames" heat.

“Daniel, get everyone out of here.” A spark flew from the fire to perish the ropes which bound him. He could not tell if this was a deliberate action, but he knew one thing for certain, what she had instructed him to do, and her actual thoughts were two different things. Her initial thought was only for his safety and that of the bounty hunters who advanced. Something frightened her, so much so she felt the only way to be safe was to distance herself from him, and he had a very good idea of what that something was. He opened his eyes as he felt the isolation, knowing all too well what it meant.

Trying to claw his way through the mental walls she had erected he attempted to force just one thought through, for her not to allow her past to control her. But now she had acknowledged it, it already had power. She had to be strong enough to keep its temptation buried, to find the strength to overcome things with her own will, not that of a murderer, of bloodlust. She had to fight it. He knew it hadn"t reached her, the level of blocking she had constructed around her mind far surpassed anything she had done before. Then, through the silence, he heard Acha scream.

The sword tilted in her hand as she looked to those who opposed her. She had known from the beginning this moment would come, the moment that fear and need took over and all rationality was lost. This was the time she thrived. Zoella had feared this moment with all her heart. She felt the aggression within her grow, trying to force its way through the cracks created by her weakness, she felt its hunger, its power. It grew in power as if aware she knew it was stronger, that there was no choice but to give in to its desire. She wasn"t strong enough, she couldn"t restrain it any longer.

she“A barrier, very clever,” Ben snorted moving to stand beside his brother after having examined the silver flames. It appeared they were all trapped within its fiery wall until their battle was over.

“I suppose that is what common sense would seem like to those who have none,” she sneered. She could still feel Zoella"s shadow on the edge of her mind, but that would soon be over. Zoella had lost, surrendered. Nothing was going to interfere now, she was exactly where she belonged.

Not waiting for the first strike, she chose to make it. Her thrust barely dodged by Simon as his brother pulled him away. Half a second later and the sword would have been stained with his blood. For someone to dodge her sword was an achievement, then again, she wasn"t exactly trying. She was more focussed on her attempts to permanently suppress the other persona, this engagement was just something happening in the background.

“I see you do know a few moves.” Ben smiled giving his brother some kind of hand gesture. Marise smiled to herself, the people before her had claimed the title of bounty hunters, but she seriously doubted they had completed a single job request. They were clearly such amateurs.

do“Oh, I know a lot more than that.” The bone chilling tones of her voice made it difficult to suppress a shudder.

Her posture was different now, she seemed confident, alert. A ball of flames formed in her left hand, it was an action which startled them. There was no mention in the Plexus about her being some kind of Elementalist. They looked to each other in surprise as she stood with her sword held poised and ready to strike in one hand, and the unexpected magic burning fiercely in the other.

“I do hope you prove to be more than an easy kill.” She drew her tongue playfully across her top teeth. The two men made their move, their short swords drawn.

It was an attack she had anticipated from such amateurs. One attacked high, the other low. The ball of flames engulfed Simon, leaving Ben with a poor hearted excuse for a charge attack whilst his brother rolled on the ground, trying desperately to extinguish the fire.

“I guess not,” she sighed in disappointment. A spray of blood erupted from Ben"s back as her blade followed through. He hadn"t even realised she had moved to strike him until seconds after her sword had impaled him. Unable to free himself from her blade, he desperately struck out towards her. By making only the smallest of movements she dodged his wild slashing with ease. “What a disappointment,” she yawned, using her foot to push his weakening body from her sword. He fell before her to the ground, lying at her feet where he belonged.

Simon screamed, seeing his brother"s figure slump to the ground. He had barely extinguished the flames when his brother had fallen to her attack. Rushing to his side he took his hand, blood trickled from his mouth as he breathed his last breath. He looked up to her, his eyes filled with venom and pain.

“Come on then boy.” A wicked sneer crossed her lips, she raised her eyebrow as if in challenge. It was a challenge he foolishly accepted. He moved with an unexpected speed. She didn"t move as he struck out. She was unprepared, she hadn"t expected him to strike, he was going to do it. He drew his concealed blade; she would pay with her life for the loss of his brother, she would die and it would be by his hand. The blades cut through the air at great speed their target locked, he would kill her. He would avenge his brother.

The sound of ricocheting metal rung through the air as his blades met with resistance, both blows were blocked, one by her sword, the other against the sword"s scabbard which she now held in her hand. Their eyes met briefly, as he gazed within them he saw the gates of Hades as they opened behind him. He, like the many who had faced her before, now looked upon his own death.

She moved with grace and speed, grabbing his right sword by the hilt, she turned it sharply forcing it into his neck. She smiled as he gasped for breath, a strange gargling sound coming from his throat until he finally fell. She looked at them, at the fallen excuses for hunters, a look of satisfaction crossed her face. It had been a long time since she had smelt the scent of blood, by the Gods how she had missed it. Fishing in her pocket, she removed two coins and flicked them upon the bodies, being her calibre of assassin was costly, but she would never cheat Kharon of his fare.

“Zo,” Daniel gasped as he stared in disbelief through the flames. Although she had ordered him to leave, he had stayed. Despite wanting to obey her request, he could not. The figure who stood before him had the same paralysing effect on him now, as she"d had all those years ago. He had been unable to move, unable to run, from the moment he had laid eyes on her.

He couldn"t believe he stood before her again, but this time things were different. He knew somewhere, sealed away inside her, was his friend. He hoped by simply saying her name the demon he saw would vanish, but the red-haired devil still stood in the place of his friend. Her green eyes seemed to mock him as their vision met across the fire.

The silver flames vanished instantly. She flicked the blood from her sword as she looked at him.

“Daniel.” Marise smiled running her tongue across her top lip.