The Soul Keeper

We both stopped for a moment. Rohir's expression changed, it twisted with anger and wrath as I stumbled back and looked at the cliff wide eyed.

The cliff face had disappeared, a portal had covered it. Beyond it lay a calm, serene field of starsnatchers. The flowers swayed with the same wind that blew my hair back and tugged my clothes.

That familiar smell, the beautiful sight of the distant mountains embracing this serene valley…

"You will pay for this!" Rohir's shout brought me back to my senses. My eyes widened as he struck the ground before me with a blade made of golden light. "I will end you!" His eyes flashed golden as his voice cracked mid shout.

I stepped back, ready to run. Something about him felt off just now, it seemed almost as if he was too focused on killing me. Why was that? Why had Aelith decided to send a god damned Divine after me?

I had no time to answer any of these questions. My mana was mostly depleted by now – it wasn't surprising, considering how many battles I had fought so far – so I couldn't block too many of Rohir's spells.

The cold sea water touched my ankles as I dashed to the side. The earth rumbled as Rohir hit the ground once more. 

"It's over for you!"  He shouted as he once again raised his hand. I caught a glimpse of Aoife running along the top of the cliff. She was rushing somewhere – had help arrived? It couldn't be, there was no one who could help me. Not against a Divine.

A loud bang echoed, and something bounced off the Divine's protective barrier. My eyes widened – had Inspector John just tried to shoot Rohir with a normal, ordinary gun?

Rohir seemed even more surprised than I was. He stopped mid action and looked around, trying to figure out what that noise was, and what had just hit his barrier. I clenched my fists, this was my chance, now, while he was distracted.

Fallen Grace empowered my body, and I dashed forward. I reached Rohir in a split second and passed through his barrier effortlessly – it was a shield specifically made to stop weapons and spells after all.

He noticed me a split second too late. I reached for his throat and as soon as I wrapped my fingers around his neck, squeezed with all my strength. We stumbled back, and for a moment, I had hope that the Divine would fall over. But instead, he beat his massive leathery wings.

At the corner of my eye, I noticed Aoife climbing down the narrow ledge Inspector John had pointed out before. My eyes widened – I wanted to shout, to tell her to stay away, but I couldn't as Rohir was quick to grab my throat with one hand, and my wrists with the other.

A wicked grin appeared on his lips. "Did you really think you could kill me in a battle of strength?" He asked his grip around my wrists tightened. I couldn't squeeze my hands anymore – in fact, I was losing strength rapidly. "With this fragile and weakened body?" His mocking words rang in my ears as he beat his wings once more. 

"Let go of him!" Aoife's shout startled me and Rohir both. The Divine noticed the blade descending upon him a moment too late, and Aoife's raised sword struck his shoulder. Though, the blade was only made of normal steel, while it was the perfect material for most uses, cutting through an Ereth's skin wasn't what it was made for.

Aoife's eyes widened as her blade only left a shallow cut on the Divine's shoulder. Rohir furrowed his brows. "Puny, insignificant human." He exclaimed and stretched his wings wide. Aoife stumbled back as the leathery wings nearly hit her.

"Let go of Kai!" She shouted once more and rushed at us again. I wanted to scream at her, to tell her to stop! It didn't matter if I died or not now – the gate was open, we had a chance. The Keeper of Souls and the Demon Lord would soon arrive. 

I tried to free my hands, to cast a spell of protection around Aoife, but Rohir's grasp was too firm. All I could do was send my flames to form a barrier around my sister. Her eyes widened as soon as the black on purple flames engulfed her. I could see the fear in her eyes.

Another bang sounded. Rohir furrowed his brows. "Nosy little things." He grumbled as he glared at the top of the cliff, where Inspector John stood, aiming at him with his pistol. Perhaps, if it were a larger calibre rifle, and he wasn't noticed, then maybe he could change the situation. But as he was now, he could do little but be an annoyance to the Divine. 

"We are going to see the Divine Matriarch, Kai Friseal," Rohir suddenly spoke. "You just made yourself very, very useful." That's when I noticed his glare – he was looking at my chest. I gulped – I had felt a burning sensation there as I opened the portal but had completely forgotten about it in the midst of battle.

"I now see why they let you live." He beat his wings, and I felt my feet lift off the ground. The only thing keeping me in the air was him. If he let go, I would fall to my death.

"Kai!" Aoife screamed. 

Gasped for air – being lifted up from my throat was… well, let's just say it hurt like hell and I would probably die before we got to our destination. But oddly enough, death was a better outcome that what I assumed was waiting for me.

Nothing could be worse than being dragged before Aelith. Especially now that I was so weak and powerless. I couldn't stand the humiliation, and I probably wouldn't be able to remain sane for long either.

"Let… go… of… me!" I hissed with the little bit of air I could breathe as I struggled to break free. I could see the island slowly growing smaller with every beat of Rohir's wings. He wasn't in a hurry at all as he slowly flew up.

"If you hadn't fought so many times before, you could have had a chance. Your magic had already begun to wane when I arrived." His lips curled upwards. "That's why you let me throw you down there – to open the gate and die in the process. What a noble sacrifice it would have been!" He laughed. His wicked, disgusting laughter echoed as I repeatedly kicked him.

My vision soon began to blur. My neck was numb, as was the rest of my body. I desperately fought to remain conscious, knowing it would be the last time I would have a chance of escape.

Rohir squeezed my throat a little more, that same wicked grin on his face. 

If only I had a little more mana… If only I didn't have to fight all those Ereth before. If only I wasn't all alone.

I heard the fast-paced beat of wings. Rohir's grin shattered as he quickly glanced back, towards the portal.

I felt a surge of mana – dark, yet oddly familiar, much like that of my own.

Then, I felt the Divine's grasp on my throat and wrists loosen.

A moment later, I was falling.