The Soul Keeper

"I will not hear such slander anymore!" Uriithe's words were barely audible among our screams. As I leapt up into the air in an attempt to escape from the disgusting crimson tendrils, Asher cast a spell to lift everyone else up. 

"I do not remember granting you permission to attack them." Aelith spoke. Uriithe responded, but I couldn't hear her voice over the chaos taking place all around us. I searched for my blade – where had I dropped it when I took that hit from Aelith?

"Kai, they can't get away!" Asher shouted beside me, pointing at Theresa and the others. While his flight spell had begun lifting them up, the crimson tendrils Uriithe unleashed had almost reached them. 

I gritted my teeth. I had no time. I gave up on trying to find my sword and instead dashed forward with a powerful beat of my wings and my flames in hand. 

Before I could do anything worthwhile, a golden light flashed and the tendrils fell to the ground, lifeless.

"Explain yourself Uriithe." Aelith's voice sounded.

My gaze snapped back at the two Divines. It wasn't difficult to see who was in control – the power that radiated from Aelith was on a different level. Uriithe, even in her anger, knew she couldn't possibly defy the Divine Matriarch.

"The Keeper conspired behind you – plans to destroy Baile Chailce, plans to destroy our Pillars. Look," The Crimson Witch pointed at me. "Even in death, he continues to defy your will!"

Aelith narrowed her eyes, yet she said nothing. Fetheion lightly squeezed my shoulder – the chaos I had created was slowly being resolved. The moment Uriithe and Aelith had an agreement, our group was doomed.

"Let us kill him once and for all – take the soul of the child within and destroy the body – he will never come back, and we will strive in this world!" Uriithe shouted, spreading her arms wide as if she tried to take the whole world into her embrace. "You know we can do it!" She hissed, her gaze not once leaving Aelith.

The Divine Matriarch raised her chin. I could see it in her posture – she liked that idea. She wanted to control the whole world, she wanted to kill the demons, she wanted to win it all.

"I see," She spoke and the feeling of dread in my heart only grew stronger.

"You will not succeed, Aelith." Fetheion raised his voice. "I will not let you succeed!" His darkness spread as I heard his whisper. "Uriithe is yours to kill."

One moment, he was by my side. The next, he was far away, standing against Aelith.

"You are a fool, Fetheion. A naïve fool who thinks mere humans can stand against us." I flinched. There it was again – human! How did she know…?

I felt power gathering all around us and turned to face Uriithe. Even without Aelith interfering, this was going to be tough fight – especially with Fetheion's absence.

"Asher," I spoke in a low voice. "Shield me."

He nodded and cast his protective spells on me. As soon as I noticed the see-through barrier appear around me, I dashed forward. As I made my war to her over the broken and shattered ground, Uriithe raised her chin. A wicked smile on her face, she raised her arm and created several spears of light over her.

"I've got it!" Laura shouted as the spears flew at me. A magical glyph appeared above me, shattering Uriithe's spell. I glanced behind me only to see Alex and Lucius running right behind me, their blades in hand. 

I clenched my fists – without my blade, I had very few options. One of which I'd rather save for Aelith.

"Today is the day you die!" Uriithe shouted with all her might. The Divine Pillar let out a golden shine, then released a shockwave.

Asher's barrier protected all three of us from the Pillar's attack, though it soon shattered – despite his incredible strength, even Asher couldn't win a battle of pure strength against something like a Divine Pillar.

The ground shook as I neared the Crimson Witch. She raised both of her arms, drawing even more power from the Divine Pillar.

"Kai!" Alex called my name as she reached my side. "Can't you cut the connection she has with the Pillar? Like you did back at the mountain?"

I couldn't remember what she meant for a moment. As Asher cast a new spell to protect us from Uriithe's spears, I hesitated. "Back at the torchlight woods!" Alex shouted. 

Then I remembered. "Ah!" I exclaimed right as Asher's barrier broke. My flames rose just in time to cover me, Alex, and Lucius. "I can try." I said hesitantly. As the rumbling stopped, we dashed ahead one last time, clearing the remaining few dozen steps of distance between us and Uriithe within seconds.

Alex and Lucius took point at the last moment. Alex leapt up and came crushing down on the Crimson Witch. Uriithe's protective barrier remained intact, but not without at least some damage to it. 

"Out of my way!" She shouted as a golden light flashed in her hand. 

"Out of our way!" Lucius shouted back, completely unharmed. If I hadn't noticed Rina's spellcasting, I would have been as surprised as Uriithe was. Completely dumbfounded, the Divine staggered and stepped back, preparing another spell in her palms.

"Come on…" I whispered as I took on Dorith's form once more. My eyes flashed purple as I searched for the connection between Uriithe and the Divine Pillar, only to find a whole lot of nothing. My shoulders dropped – Alex's brilliant idea had gone down the drain, just like that.

I gritted my teeth as I turned to look at the two of them fighting Uriithe. Even if that idea had been fruitless, we still had a battle fight. I raised my hand and created a spear of black and purple flames above my head.

Uriithe swung her own spear, pushing Lucius and Alex back a few steps. She then glanced at me, and her eyes narrowed as our gazes met.

And thus, our final battle began.