The Soul Keeper

I beat my wings, allowing them to carry me to the source of Alina's scream. At first, I thought I could catch up with her and whatever had her almost immediately, but I was soon proven wrong. Second turned into minutes, and several of those past as I flew.

Clenching my fists, I finally slowed down when her screaming stopped getting further and further away each time.

Now, I could see where she had been taken – an old ruin. One that I didn't know was here. 

It was a large, circular building with a very high ceiling. While the building itself was quite damaged by time, it wasn't damaged enough to give me another way inside, aside from the very obvious front entrance. The weathered stone blocks weren't weak enough for me to break them to make myself another entrance either.

I hesitated. I could still hear Alina's screams. It sounded like someone was murdering her. Yet, I couldn't hear Joshua's voice at all. Eventually, Alina's voice cut off with a sharp scream, followed by nothing but silence.

I took a deep breath – something was wrong, I could feel it. Was this a trap? Everything had lined up perfectly – I was left alone; I was the only one who could save Alina and Joshua in time. 

Wasn't this too much to be a coincidence?

As I remained hidden within the treeline, I heard yet another scream. Alina dashed out of the building, her arms and clothes covered in blood. My heartbeat quickened – was this not a setup? Was she actually in danger? I motioned to step forward, but before I could do anything, something pulled her back into the shadows. It was too fast for me to see; all I saw was a flash of crimson and black.

I didn't think – I dashed after her, while establishing a connection with Asher.

"Asher, I-"

As soon as stepped through the entrance, pain jolted throughout my body as I lost the connection with Asher. I stumbled and had to pause as I looked around.

I was looking at a large, circular room. The ground was covered with a red carpet. At the very centre of the room lay Alina, bloody and motionless.

Joshua was nowhere to be seen.

And most importantly, a cloaked figure stood over Alina, a dagger in hand. I recognised her in an instant – an Ereth Divine.

"You took your sweet time, Keeper." Her voice echoed. "Too much time," She added, showing me the bloody dagger.

It felt like something squeezed my heart – had she really killed both of them? 

I forced myself to remain calm, pushing the wave of emotions away.

"Why?" I asked, my voice cracking despite my best efforts.

"Because you are unnatural – you can not be allowed to live."

"Aelith disagrees." I said, carefully stepping back. While I desperately wanted to save Alina, dying here would accomplish nothing. If she hadn't killed her yet, she wasn't going to kill her anyways. 

"Aelith is taking too dangerous of a gamble." The Divine said with a mocking tone. "She may be the Divine Matriarch, but her decisions do not represent our views."

I took another step back. Why had the connection with Asher cut off?

"I wouldn't bother, if I were you." She spoke again. "There is a Divine pillar here, I am at peak power. You can not escape through that barrier, not as you are now." 

I flinched. A Divine Pillar? Outside Baile Chailce, deep inside Demon territory? While I had trouble believing that, looking over my shoulder and seeing the crimson barrier surrounding us was enough proof. 

"How?" I asked through my gritted teeth. "Why is there a Pillar so deep in demon territory?" And where was it? I couldn't see anything that looked even remotely like the Divine Pillar at the centre of Baile Chailce. Did it take a different form, or had I somehow missed it?

She chuckled. "Because I just had Alina create one for me." Her chuckle turned into a laugh. "She and her loyal friend."

I flinched as I sensed movement above me. My sword appeared in my hand just in time to block the plunging attack from above. As metal hit metal, my eyes met with Joshua's.

He kicked me in the stomach in my surprise, then disappeared in a cloud of smoke. I leapt back just before he reappeared. His dagger cut the air perhaps a hair's length away from my chest.

"What?" I breathed out in shock. I rolled back again, then turned to block another strike as he appeared behind me. "Joshua?" Since when was he so powerful? Since when had he such abilities? 

He grinned, then disappeared in a could of smoke again. I held my breath, trying to figure out where he was. I hadn't even understood what his ability did – did he turn invisible? Did he teleport? Or was it something entirely different?

I tightened my grip on the hilt of my sword. I was already exhausted from my fight with the other Divine. I had very little mana left. 

I felt something on my left and turned to block a strike. A cut appeared on my right shoulder as Joshua once appeared only for a split second.

"How are you doing this?" I asked as I tried to ignore the pain. His chuckle echoed as he appeared at the other side of the room. 

"Well, as the Divine." He grinned. "It's all power given through a pact of blood." 

"A pact that is yet to be fulfilled," The Divine's voice echoed. Her words sent a shiver down my spine. What did that even mean?

"Eh, we'll take care of it now," Joshua said with a shrug, then disappeared in a puff of smoke again. I couldn't follow his movements, I couldn't sense his magic – everything I could usually do with ease, I couldn't now.

He appeared near me over and over again. Each time, a new cut, a new wound appeared on me. Why weren't my scales appearing? Why? Why? Why?

My mind was thrust into chaos – what little composure I had left, disappeared as fear, panic, hatred and wrath set in. I couldn't even keep up with Joshua, how was I supposed to defeat the Divine? One who had access to the Divine Pillar's power too – I didn't stand a chance!

Joshua once again disappeared in a cloud of smoke. I knew he was coming, soon I'd receive another wound. Another cut that wasn't deadly.

"So, what's your goal?" I asked the Divine. Maybe if I stalled for time, Asher could get me out of here. Maybe. It was a tiny chance, yet it was all I had. "Why are you keeping me alive?" 

The Divine chuckled. "Don't fret, Keeper. Your time is nigh. Soon, you will be naught but a thing of the past. Nothing but a fading memory."

Her smug tone and fancy words did nothing but anger me. Joshua appeared in a puff of smoke behind me. I didn't give him a chance to move. 

Flames burst out of me. They pulled at Joshua's clothes, burnt his skin. The young man screamed in pain and leapt back. I didn't let him get away – my crimson flames followed him as he desperately tried to get away.

I felt movement – The Divine raised her hand. A golden spear appeared in the air above her. She pointed at me, my feet specifically. As it lunged at me, I threw myself aside.

"Now you decide to intervene?" I asked, my eyes letting out a purple shine. I fed more power to my flames – everything I had, I let them have it. They leapt towards the Divine.

She raised her hand again. A wall of crimson tendrils blocked my flames. I flinched – I had seen the from Aelith and the other, now deceased Divine's power took. While they were unpleasant, none were as disgusting as this.

Joshua continued to run – he was trying to hide behind the Divine.

"I thought you said he couldn't use his powers!" He shouted. "His most powerful thing are the flames, and they're right here!" I could hear the desperation in his voice.

With no magic aside from invisibility – or teleportation, I still wasn't sure – at his disposal, there was nothing he could do against my flames but run. 

"What is it, Joshua?" I asked, mockingly. I wasn't thinking that I'd won – I just wanted to anger him more so he would make some mistakes. I needed every bit of advantage I could get. Even if it meant such underhanded tactics. Mother would not be proud, but I'M sure she would prefer if I got out of here alive as well.

"Too scared to fight me properly?" I chuckled.

"Bold words for a dead guy!" Joshua shouted as he stepped away from my flames, still chasing him. "Hey!" He shouted, glancing at the Divine. "Isn't it time yet? It should be dusk by now!"

I flinched. Were they waiting for dusk to kill me? 

"It is, indeed, time."