The Purple Pulse
852 Words
From the great, vibrating strength of the purple light, which circled the room like a wave, Ethan's teeth stung. The air thickened and became charged with electricity; he groped involuntarily for his desk's edge. Rising behind the sphere, Seraphina appeared still, staring at its throbbing centre.
"What then?" Ethan yelled above the growing chorus.
Nothing, claims Seraphina. Her mouth cracked to utter something he could hear. Though her hands were near the sphere, an explosive force burst from it skyward before she could touch it.
Ethan tried to sit up, back burning with agony. His penthouse now was a combat zone, the once-sleek furnishings broken by jagged glass, and the vast city outside the windows ripped to bits.
The purple light began to bloom right from the core of the disorder. First, a spinning mass, it changed slowly to reveal a tall, robed creature with Ethan's spine shuddered. Though its face was covered, its eyes gleamed like cutting flames.
Using a strong and loud voice like a razor across the air, the figure sang, "Seraphina." One cannot run from their fate.
Rising, Seraphina felt her rebellion flare back on. Her voice was poison; "You dare to follow me here, into the mortal realm!" she spitted.
The man moved; his presence like fog closing the space. Instead you followed the current policies. Your treachery has death as your sentence.
Ethan, still on the ground, waved a hand. His cynicism piercing the suspense, he said, "Okay, hold on a second." "Who asked Dave Vader to the celebration?"
Ethan became the target of the beast's scorching scrutiny, and for a minute, he felt as though every secret and every vulnerability shown before it was being revealed. His sense of self-preservation was reduced to a simple will; he struggled against the impulse to turn away.
With a disdainful eye, toward You have no place in this, the man said. Leave mortal before you are consumed.
Ethan worked himself to be standing with closed fists. "Listen, friend," recommended. "This is my reality, my fabrication; right now, your situation neither defines you nor what you are.
Shock rocked her face, but Seraphina recovered quickly. Ethan, dumb; stay away from this. Your level does not match his.
Not a match for the last smoke monster either, Ethan shot back. " Would not stop me then; would not stop me now."
One arm raised by the figure shot, dark energy bursts forth. Ethan ready, but before he could get to him Seraphina reacted with a golden light shield. The two powers merged to blast sparkles skyward.
Teeth closed, Seraphina murmured, "I won't let you hurt him," and her arms shook to maintain the barrier.
The man turned his head clearly, amused. Look, care for him, please. Little town: how small? Maybe he's the reason you've been so weak.
Seraphina staggered; dark energy poured beyond her barrier. Ethan looked about for something somewhat practical; his brain whirled. He pointed directly toward the artefact.
"Seraphina," he said, "how do we stop him?"
To keep the barrier, she strained her voice. "The orb offers ability as well as a significant risk. Over it, you have no influence!
Ethan stopped just a tiny bit. Dangerous or not, their only choice was He sprinted toward the sphere dodging falling rubble as the chamber rocked under the weight of the other energies.
His fingers stroking the relic sent an energy spike that seemed to alter the surroundings. His dream veered to show flashes of another place: a crumbling palace shrouded in darkness, an ancient woodland bathed in moonlight, and a woman's voice murmuring his name.
"Ethan," the voice stated, was clear, plain, crisp and forceful. There is a mystery dwelling within of you.
He turned back to face reality, the sphere blazing more brilliantly. The beast stared narrowingly and locked him. Haunted in voice, "What have you done?" said.
Ethan knew the answer, but he could feel wild and uncontrolled strength coursing through him. He raised the ball and spun a vitality spark from it into the figure.
Haunted backwards, Seraphina abandoned her shielding as the dark energy vanished. Her look at Ethan was one of combined terror and wonder. "How...how did you control that?"
Ethan answered with a cracked voice, "I'm not sure." Still, I can envision use for this object outside decoration. It's heavy.
Fast returning, the phantom's form fluttered like a dying flame. It snarled; I'm not sure why. Seraphina cannot have the curse taken from her. It will have you two eaten.
It vanished with that awful silence trailing.
Ethan dropped the sphere with vague gestures. " What the devil was that?"
Seraphina answered with lethargy. She corrected him, her emerald eyes wide with a combination of incredulity and something else he could not quite grasp.
"You're not only a mortal," she whispered at last, just above a whisper.
Ethan began to respond, but the ball began to glow once more-this time just slightly golden before he could finish. Seraphina's face darkened as a fresh hum filled the space, less but still somewhat strong.
Her voice is darkness; "We have just begun."
- Writer
