The Soul Keeper

As I fell, my sight was fixed on the Divine. 

He turned back towards the cliff and the portal with a blade of light in his hands. A shadow, black as the night, flew towards him. One moment, he was ready to fight, at the next, a blade seemingly made of darkness pierced his heart.

The Divine's lifeless body plummeted into the sea below, along with me. I reached up with my hand as the dark, wavy surface of the water neared with frightening speed. 

The figure up above sheathed the dark bladed sword, then folded its feathery, black wings. His bright purple eyes met with mine as his lips formed a thin line. He flew down towards me, leaving a trail of black smoke and embers behind.

Perhaps moments before I fell into the dark depths of the sea, I felt his grip around my wrist. My shoulder ached as his grip suddenly stopped my fall. I gritted my teeth, hoping it wasn't dislocated.

"Is he dead?" I asked as the body of the Divine finally fell into the sea. The Keeper of Souls simply nodded. He pulled me up and slowly began to rise up to the air.

My body felt numb as I held onto his shoulder with both of my arms. I was exhausted, so much that all I wanted was to fall asleep. I stopped supporting my body with Fallen Grace, and immediately regretted it. 

"You were in no shape to fight a Lightbringer Divine." The Keeper's soft voice sounded as we flew back to the island. I nodded, he wasn't wrong – what I did was more along the lines of suicide.

The Keeper remained silent for the rest of the way, giving me a short moment to think and rest.

The smell of starsnatchers soon reached my nostrils. I opened my eyes and glanced down. We were nearly back at the island. I could see Aoife and Inspector John on the shore below. They watched us wide eyed, and pale faced. Aoife was still holding on to her sword.

"Please don't harm them." I had to force myself to speak. What was that lump in my throat all about? 

The Keeper chuckled. "They are no threat to me." His soft voice rang in my ears as his feet finally touched the black sands on the narrow stretch of beach. He let me down, and as soon as my feet touched the black sands, Aoife lunged forward. She grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the Keeper, closer to the cliff and behind Inspector John.

"You're ok!" She exclaimed as she looked all over me. "You're ok, you're alive…" She whispered. She hugged me, trembling. "You made it." Her gaze focused on the Keeper, who hadn't spoken a word yet.

I took a deep breath, then stepped back. 

"The Divine of Vengeance, Rohir, is dead." I declared, glancing at the Keeper of Souls. "We have the Keeper to thank for that." 

Inspector John's wide-eyed gaze turned on the Keeper. "Kai, who – no, what did you set in motion by opening that portal?"

"I brought help." The Keeper continued to silently watch us as I explained. "It's a gateway to the world of the demons." I then looked at him again. I so desperately wanted to ask what would come next, but for some reason, that cold gaze scared me into silence.

"Wait, so you let demons into our world?" Inspector John exclaimed. "Kai, what have-"

The Keeper suddenly took a deep breath. An unusual, unnatural wind tugged at our clothes and blew our hair aside as it circled us.

"The Light Bringers have come to your world for revenge. Revenge against the death of their leaders, the loss of their crowned jewel, the Chalk City, and revenge against you, Kai Friseal." The Keeper's voice startled me more than it did the other two.

"I can understand him!" Inspector John whispered. He then paused and looked at me. "Wait – they're here because of what?"

"The Lord has deemed it right to help this world drive them back. Some of your people have saved us from the Lightbringer's plight after all. However," He paused and glanced at me. "He wishes to see you." His tone changed. "Now." He added after a moment of silence.

I gulped. I could still clearly remember the Demon Lord's presence. 

"I understand," I spoke in a low voice. "It's fine, I'll come." It wasn't like I had much choice anyways.

"Wait, stop." Inspector John's words surprised me. "Wherever you're taking him, I'm coming along." He holstered his gun and folded his arms. "I'm responsible of Kai, and as the only available representative of the United Nations, I need to be there."

My eyes widened. "Wait, hang on. You're not stepping foot through that portal, inspector."

"You don't get to decide that." Inspector John glared at me. "It's our entire world's fate at stake. You're talking about meeting with the Lord of the Demons! Do you really expect me to just stay here and wait?" 

"It's a whole different world!" I shouted. "It's a different planet – a different reality!" I clenched my fists. "I'm not-"

"I'm coming too." Aoife's said, stuffing my words into my mouth. "It's not any safer out here, and I want to be there as well." She glared at the Keeper, making my heart skip a beat. "Is that fine too?"

"Do as you wish." My shoulders dropped upon hearing his words. "But know this – the Lord will not negotiate." Our eyes met. "Explain to them how they must act, for I will not promise their safety."

I gulped. I knew exactly what that meant.

"I thought we weren't a threat to you guys." Aoife started to speak, but I immediately talked over her. "Shut up and listen to me!" She seemed more shocked than anything. "Aoife, if there was ever a time to keep your mouth shut, it's when you're talking to him," I glanced at the Keeper, "Or the Demon Lord. No not mess with them. Don't joke, don't be sarcastic, don't even speak unless you're asked something!" 

I glanced at Inspector John. "The same goes for you – when we meet the Demon Lord, I want both of you to stay silent." 

"You're scared of him." Aoife whispered. Inspector John nodded. "Is he stronger than the Divines?"

I laughed – what else could I do? How could I ever expect them to understand his sheer power, the aura he radiated, and just how god damn difficult it was to even breathe when he was near?

"I'm not scared, Aoife." I hissed. "I'm terrified."