The Soul Keeper

"Fuck." I whispered as I leapt back. I still didn't have a weapon – I couldn't hope to stand against Uriithe empty handed. 

Her eyes shone golden, with a hint of crimson mixed in. She seemed as if she'd been blinded by rage – she saw nothing but me!

Spears made of light appeared in the air. Her expression filled with pride as she hurled them at me. I blocked the first two with my magic, then evaded the third. 

"Got you!" She declared a fourth one appeared behind the third. My eyes widened – I hadn't noticed that one. 

A barrier made of crackling lightning appeared around me just before the spear hit my shoulder. I heard Asher's grunts, casting so many defensive spells on me and the other two must have been taking its toll on him. I gritted my teeth as I avoided another one of Uriithe's spears of light.

"Hey, Crimson Witch!" Erik's bellowing voice surprised me as much as it surprised Uriithe. Startled, she turned to face the Paladin who once fought under her command.

Erik stepped forward, sword and shield in hand. His plate armour creaked and scraped as he walked towards the Divine. 

"How dare you speak to me as such?" Uriithe shouted, her voice echoed across the battlefield. She raised her hand and hurled the spears that aimed at me, towards Erik. 

"Look out!" I shouted in desperation. I couldn't let him die – I had failed enough people already! I dashed to him in hopes of making it in time, but he was too far away, and the broken, shattered ground slowed me down too much.

The spears struck his raised tower shield. A loud clang, followed by the crackle of lightning sounded.

"Now what?" The paladin asked as he lowered his shield, revealing his unscathed face. "Is that all you're capable of, Crimson Witch?"

My eyes wide, I stopped in my tracks. If I had taken that hit head on, even with my own protective spells, even when I was at full power, I would be severely wounded at best. Yet Erik had come out of that unscathed.

"Is this weak Divine what my friends fought and died for?" He shouted once more. His voice trembled as he tightened his grip around the hilt of his blade. "Is it such a pathetic being that they gave their lives for?" He shouted.

"You little rat!" Uriithe clenched her fists. More spears of light appeared around her while the glow of the Divine Pillar only became stronger. "I am going to make you pay for your insolence!" Her voice echoed across the city. 

My gaze shifted between Erik and Uriithe. Despite his incredible defence, the young paladin couldn't hope to stand against a full-blown assault from the Divine. I glanced at Asher – could he do something about this?

The blonde sorcerer was barely standing. Beads of sweat had appeared in his forehead as his gaze was fixed on Erik. I felt his magic pass by me as he created a protective shield around the paladin. 

He coughed, then glanced at me. Seeing my expression, he shook his head. He was doing all he could do already. I couldn't expect more of him.

I gritted my teeth as Uriithe hurled her spears towards the young paladin. Now was my chance. Erik had to hold on just a bit longer.

Fallen Grace enhanced my body and sped up my steps as I dashed towards Uriithe. Even without my sword, I could kill her if I caught her off guard. I think.

She noticed me earlier than I hoped she would. Her eyes widened as I basically threw myself on her and puncher her face with my fist wreathed in black and purple flames. We rolled down the stairs leading up to the Divine Pillar as she struggled to get me off her.

Yet, she couldn't stop me from putting my hands around her neck and squeezing as hard as I could. As she fought for breath, I fought to survive the golden light emanating from the Divine Pillar. The smell of burnt skin covered the area as I tried to ignore the pain.

"Kai, stop! You'll kill yourself!" Erik shouted. I shook my head – I had caught her, I couldn't let go now. If only I had my sword with me. If only I still had a knife in my inventory.

My claw like hands dug deeper into her skin as she fought for air. 

The ground rumbled as I felt something move underneath. She had been kicking me and clawing my arms off the entire time, but now it felt different.

"Get… off… me!" She hissed with the last bit of air she had just before something wrapped itself around my neck and yanked me away. I fell on my back as the thing around my neck tightened.

"Get off him!" Lucius shouted. He dashed towards me, sword in hand. 

"Such pathetic creatures!" Uriithe's shout echoed in my mind as I heard Lucius grumble. A thud sounded. She must have thrown him away once more. I grabbed the thing around my neck – it was a bit slimy and bulky. One of Uriithe's crimson tendrils was what it was. 

Disgusted more than anything, I dug my claw like fingers into the tendril. The Divine flinched and I felt the tendril loosed just a bit. As soon as it did, I wrapped my fingers around it and allowed my flames to burst out of my palms.

The Crimson witch shouted in surprise more than pain. I pried it off from around my neck and scrambled to get up as soon as I could, gasping for air.

"That was close," I whispered to myself.

Uriithe touched her own neck, then glanced at her bloody fingers. Her expression twisted. "You filthy demon – you dare draw my blood!" She raised her chin as her expression turned into smugness. "I will wipe your kind off from the face of this world!" She declared.

I narrowed my eyes. What was with the monologue?

Something flashed before my eyes as the sound of wood crashing into something sounded. Then, I heard a scream.

"Can you just SHUT THE FUCK UP!"