The Soul Keeper

A figure engulfed in crimson light floated before the Divine Pillar, just high enough to be out of our reach. Her cloak fluttered in the wind as she raised her gloved hand. The light of the Divine Pillar pulsed as the ground shook.

Mona let out a surprised yelp as she grabbed on to Laura for support. Theresa stepped back to stand with Rina as Alex stepped ahead, to be their blade and their shield. Lucius clenched his fists and readied his sword while Erik and Vincent seemed too shocked to do anything.

Fetheion raised his hand, and the winds blew towards the figure. The hood of her cloak fell on her shoulders, revealing the face I knew too well. 

"Uriithe." Fetheion spoke in a calm manner. "I see you haven't changed a bit."

I glared at her as she chuckled. "I would have loved to say the same, Fetheion, but I must say, you do look pathetic, shrouded in darkness like this." Her smug, self-righteous tone boiled my blood. 

"Unfortunately for you, I do not believe those who have delved with eldritch beings can have much say about my powers." I could help but grin at Fetheion's words, though they did worry me somewhat. Were dealings with the eldritch what turned Uriithe's body into something so unnatural and, frankly, disgusting?

Uriithe clenched her fists and the light of the Divine Pillar pulsed. I covered my eyes – it was too bright for me to look at.

"And what do we have here?" I heard her voice. When I looked up at her once more, I could see her gold-crimson eyes focused on me. "I killed you." She hissed as her expression twisted. "I killed you, yet you are here!"

The Divine Pillar pulsed once more as her anger only rose.

"I am." I spoke as I stretched my wings. As I rose to her level, I pointed the tip of my sword to her. "Move out of the way, Crimson Witch."

My words clearly startled her. And not just her either, Fetheion was also surprised.

"What did you call me?" The Divine asked as her body let out a crimson shine. Without even a second of hesitation, I released my flames. My heart raced at the thought of revenge. I felt Dorith's soul stir – he had awoken once more, and he was as thirsty for revenge as I was, if not more.

My flames spread through the air towards the Divine. A gold-crimson barrier appeared around her as she raised her chin. My flames clashed with the barrier. Though they couldn't harm her yet, they slowly began draining the protective barrier of its strength.

"I should have known," The Divine hissed as she raised her hand. The Divine Pillar let out a bright shine as a spear seemingly made of pure light appeared in her hand. "You're working with him, aren't you?" As she shouted, she hurled the spear of light at me.

I dodged it with a simple beat of my wings, then grinned. Despite her arrogant words and aggressive behaviour, it didn't take much to see she was afraid. 

"Uriithe," Fetheion spoke once more. I felt his power once again rise as he stepped forward. "You can not protect the Pillar from all of us. Step aside, or you will die." 

The Crimson Witch's eyes opened wide. "You would really do through with it?" She asked, glaring at Fetheion. "You would destroy the lifeblood of our people?"

Fetheion laughed. "The lifeblood of our people – that's a good one!" He raised his hand and darkness once again covered the plaza. "What about the lifeblood of this world that you've been consuming this whole time?" He asked, his expression darkening. "What about the people you've brought from afar, trapped, forced to serve under you with false promises?" A blade appeared in his hand. "What of the natives of this world?" 

He stepped forward some more as his darkness swirled around him. "How dare you speak of the lifeblood of the Ereth, after you've destroyed countless of lives?" He leapt forward and hit Uriithe's barrier with his blade.

As I watched with disbelief, the Crimson Witch's barrier shattered. She disappeared in a flash of light and appeared right before the Divine Pillar, holding her left shoulder as blood seeped through her fingers.

"You've lost your mind!" She shrieked as Fetheion dashed towards her once more. The Divine Pillar flashed with power, pushing Fetheion back and momentarily blinding me. "You've lost it, I'd understand not wanting to live with the burned of Divinity anymore," Uriithe continued as her wound healed. She raised her chin with pride. 

"I'd understand if you weren't strong enough to carry this burden, but to attempt to destroy the lifeline of your own people?" Her lips curled down. "I detest what you've become." She spoke with a condescending tone.

Her expression, her words, her sheer arrogance made my blood boil. I could sense it – the power she held. How twisted and disgusting it was. As soon as the light of the Pillar dimmed, I dashed forward with a strong beat of my wings, my blade ready to strike.

The Crimson Witch noticed me before I reached her. She raised her hand, throwing spears of light at me. My flames raged and formed a protective barrier around me as I dashed ahead without hesitation. I had beaten her before – I could do it again. I was strong enough, I was committed enough. And most importantly, I had my allies with me – I no longer stood alone.

I approached her, despite her efforts to stop me. 

"You've become a demon!" She shouted as she created a barrier just in time, causing my blade to hit that instead of piercing her. She glared at me with eyes filled with wrath. "I should have taken your soul as well, just like his."

Her words startled me. Was she talking about my predecessor? Had she taken his soul and not Aelith? My eyes wide, I glanced at Fetheion.

His expression was an answer enough.

"Where is it?" I asked as I truck her barrier once more. Pieces of the broken barrier scattered about as Dorith's soul burned with hatred within my chest. 

Where is it? 

My voice echoed, startling the others as my eyes flashed purple, and a darkness different than that of Fetheion's engulfed the plaza.