The Forsaken Hero

Rash’alon’s eyes narrowed. ”You still defy me? You are bound by oath, and soon, your soul. None in this realm can help you now. Not even your precious–”

The demon’s eyes widened, and it recoiled, gaining a dozen yards of distance. A blade, black as midnight, tore through the space he’d been standing in, so sharp it cut the darkness itself.

Scarcely had I registered the sword when the shockwave struck, a storm of mana capable of destroying a city. A figure materialized in front of me, breaking the brunt of the wave with his own body. Eddies of power rippled around him, tearing at my hair and clothes, lacing me with dozens of tiny cuts and bruises. It squeezed my insides, driving more blood up my throat.

The blade, gripped in my rescuer’s hand, flashed again, severing the black chains that shackled me. I fell, limp like a doll. A large hand caught me and pulled me close, sheltering me against a broad chest. I sobbed, fingers curling into the folds of a cloak, clinging to it with all the strength I had left.

I’d never felt anything so warm and safe before. The slave crest continued to scorch my chest, sending more tendrils through my body and soul, and I clung tighter, trying to leech the heat from the body against mine.

”What did you do to her?”

For some reason, the voice sounded like Luke. A furious Luke. Not just angry or upset, but filled with so much rage his sword literally shook in his hand.

”Apostle, what are you doing here?” Rash’alon’s spat. ”None but a curse-attributed demon can enter this field.”

Apostle? I looked up, blinking away tears. Luke. It really was Luke. Despite everything, he’d come for me.

”You forget what power I wield. I am the apostle of curses. There is no hole too dark or shadow too deep for me to tread. I’ll ask you one more time. What did you do to her?”

Rash’alon’s sneer could be heard rather than seen. ”See for yourself. It’s already begun. Soon, she’ll be nothing but a mindless toy. Perhaps, if you’re obedient, I’ll let you play with her.”

”What?” Luke stiffened. He tore at my cloak and gasped. The slave crest was exposed at the top and bottom by the deep, narrow neckline of my dress.

”Xiviyah...?” he whispered, horrified.

I buried my head against him, weeping. My tail curled around his leg, holding him tight. The pain was too much, but it was nothing compared to the shame and torment of the slave crest. Would he accept the demon’s offer? Would he be like Alex, using the curse to force me to–

”Let her go,” Luke said, glaring at the demon.

”You said she meant nothing to you, that she was a tool you discarded. It’s only natural that I, who still need that tool, should pick it up.”

Luke gritted his teeth, tail lashing. Rash’alon chuckled darkly.

”I was there when you were chosen, apostle. I know what you seek, what you swore in your oath. It was I who gave you your power, who holds the string to your soul.”

He raised his hand, curling a finger. Luke growled, doubling over, barely clinging to me. His chest grew hot, burning as much as my slave crest did. I could sense the filthy, vile power radiating from his corruption, stimulated by Rash’alon’s mana.

Rash’alon let his mana stop, and Luke gasped for breath.

”A good reminder, I hope, of what you have lost, and what you stand to gain.” The demon moved a step closer. ”I’m feeling generous, so I’ll make you an offer. The slave for my horde. No faction war, no battle for dominance. Just give her to me, and I’ll pass on every demon I’ve marked in this world, and all those I haven’t. It would be the greatest horde ever assembled in a Descent. Even the Divine, with all its preparations and fortifications on the southern continent, will fall before the tide of infernal hosts. You will achieve your vengeance, and at no cost. This slave is the only thing standing in your way. Step aside, and everything will be yours.”

”Everything?” Luke whispered.

He looked at me, and I could feel him weighing me in his eyes. The same calculative look he wore when he used me to unleash the remnants in Whitecliff City. The same look when he told me he no longer wanted me.

I closed my eyes, the last of my hope vanishing into the curse. He’d promised me he’d choose vengeance. He promised. So why did it still hurt so much? Why did my heart ache like this? Even the curse didn’t feel like this.

Rash’alon said, ”I’ll give you vengeance for your sister. Command of a hundred thousand demons. The power to fight against the Divine itself. All of it.”

”Everything...” he mumbled again. He took a deep breath, and his eyes sharpened, hardening with resolve. ”You’re right. I would have everything I ever wanted...everything but the only star I’ve ever had in my sky. Go back to hell, demon.”

He drove the point of his sword into the earth, letting it stand on its own. He placed his palm against my chest, letting his fingers brush under the hem of my neckline, spreading out to cover the entire circle of runes. Rash’alon’s eyes narrowed.

”There’s no use, apostle.”

Luke gritted his teeth, and his hand warmed, filling me with searing heat equal to that of the slave crest. I started to scream, writhing in his grip. Fire filled every corner of my body and reached into the depths of my soul. It traced the threads the curse had woven, following them to where they still burrowed deeper.

The threads slowed, then came to a stop. Slowly, they began to retreat.

”Fool! You might be able to absorb curses, but that’s infernal mana. If you do that–”

”I don’t care!” Luke growled.

”Then I’m afraid you leave me no choice. Die, Apostle.”

Rash’alon lunged forward, arm extended. Tendrils of shadow erupted from his fingers, extending into claws. Luke, still pressing his hand to my chest, dove aside, cradling me in his other arm. His face tightened, and a grunt escaped his lips.

We landed hard, rolling several times across the ground. Luke coughed, splattering me with his blood. I stared in horror as he struggled to his feet, blood dripping down his back. Rash’alon’s claws had scored deep, exposing his bone.

The last of the curse evaporated from my soul, flowing into Luke. The runes on my chest disappeared, and his hand retreated, clutching his own breast. His breath came short and shallow. The corruption flared, growing more intense.

A shudder ran through me. It was spreading.

”You would throw your life away for a slave?” Rash’alon asked, straightening. He raised his other hand, and a dark sword materialized in his grip. ”Give her to me, and I can yet spare you. The corruption is not so far gone that I cannot slow it.”

Luke staggered to his feet, pulling me up with him.

”Go,” he said, gritting his teeth.

”Nonsense. The Oracle can’t leave the isolation barrier. None in this realm can, save for you, apparently.”

”I can’t leave you,” I whispered. ”You’ll die! He’s too strong.”

”You speak with the certainty of a vision,” he said.

I nodded, clinging to him. ”Please...”

He forced a smile, but his grim, blood-splattered face tainted any comfort he intended. ”Go, Xiviyah. No future is certain. Besides, I can absorb curses, remember? What a gift he’s given me.”

Luke gestured around at the isolation barrier. He sucked in a breath, and his ability activated. The globe of darkness trembled, flowing toward him like water down a drain. Luke straightened, breathing easier. The bleeding slowed to a trickle.

But, at the same time, the heat in his chest grew.

”It’s infernal,” I whispered.

”No one in this realm can help you,” he said, staring at me hard. ”No one in this realm.”

Rash’alon lunged forward, blade aimed at Luke’s neck. Luke shoved me back, sending me stumbling away. Their swords crossed in a shower of black sparks, releasing a shockwave that sent me tumbling.

”I’m sorry,” I whimpered, summoning my staff. Surprisingly, it listened, springing into my hands. ”I’m so sorry.”

Rash’alon’s eyes lit up the moment my staff appeared. ”There it is. The slave’s finally showed her prize.”

He started toward me, but Luke got between us, unleashing a sixth-level technique that forced the demon back.

”Go!” Luke shouted. ”I won’t let him enter!”

I reached for my mana, pulling with every fiber of my soul. The isolation barrier was smothering, but Luke’s ability had some effect, weakening slightly around him. It was just enough for me to squeeze a trickle through.

”Haven!” I cried.

A swirl of gold lit up the barrier, boring a hole in the darkness. Before it was even fully open, I stumbled into the gate. The next thing I knew, I was opening my eyes, staring up at Haven’s starry skies.