The Soul Keeper

Aelith's laughed followed my call for help. Amused, she circled around the Pillar as she followed me. "They do not care for your life, you poor fool." Her bewitching voice rang in my ears. I gritted my teeth. 

She swung her blade towards me as I scrambled to put some distance between us again. 

"That's enough, sister!" An arrow flew past me and almost hit Aelith in the shoulder. The Divine Matriarch raised her blade just in time to deflect it, though her expression showed just how close it was.

"It's never enough." Aelith replied. Her gaze focused on someone else, and I took this chance to quickly put the Divine Pillar between her and me. The ground shook as I moved, prompting me to glance at Mother.

She was standing right besides Fetheion. Her face was pale, but her expression showed no fear. She pointed at Aelith with her staff, and the ground beneath the Divine Matriarch trembled once more. "A traitor such as you has no place in my world!" Aelith shouted. Mother didn't reply, she was focusing solely on her spell. 

As beads of sweat rolled down her neck, the ground continued to tremble. I shot a glance at Fetheion – he was standing before Mother, ready to shield her from whatever harm may come her way.

Knowing she was in good hands, I turned my gaze on Aelith again. Her eyes, burning with hatred, were focused on Mother. She raised her hand, creating countless spears of light in the air. Her lips formed a wicked smile as she brought her hand down. 

I heard Fetheion shout something as the darkness of the Lord's dome suddenly rushed around him and Mother, enveloping them just as the spears were about to hit them.

The sound of each spear striking the protective layer of darkness echoed. Bright lights flashed, only to be snuffed out by the Demon Lord's power. I breathed a sigh of relief, then raised my scythe again. They were all giving me valuable time – time I needed to use to destroy these crystals.

I hit the crystal focal point again and again with my scythe. Each time, it bounced back, leaving only a barely visible scratch on the crystal's surface. My arms dropped as I stepped back, tired from all the effort. Desperation began to set in as I gritted my teeth. I had no other weapons, no way of destroying the crystals!

"Fuck!" I hissed as another volley of spears lit up the sky. 

Something touched my arm. Startled, I pulled my arm back and looked at it. It was a strand of darkness – just a hint of the Demon Lord's power. It floated towards me, and wrapped itself around my left wrist, then slithered down to my palm.

I flinched with the sudden sting in my palm. It took me a split second to understand what this meant. My eyes widened as I looked towards the Demon Lord. Our eyes met, and his lips formed a thin line. He furrowed his brows, and lightly nodded as his gaze lingered on my left palm.

I gulped, then took a deep breath. I knew exactly what he meant – he wanted me to use the power he had given me. I averted my gaze and glanced at my scythe for a moment. 

"Die!" Aelith's voice rang in my ears, bringing me back to the present. My eyes shot up as I shot a quick and worried glance at Mother. Both her and Fetheion were still protected by the Demon Lord's power. 

The earth trembled as my hesitation continued. Mother's spell was nearing completion. 

I took a deep breath once more, then exhaled. I let go of the shaft of my scythe, then hesitantly touched my left palm. I could feel the pulsing power within. The demonic power that I was warned to only use when I had no other option.

I stretched my fingers, then clenched my fist. Summoning that immense power was effortless. Like a dam that broke down, it flooded me. My eyes shone purple as my body filled with power. The souls within my chest stirred as my flames rose up.

For s short moment, everything hurt. I could feel my skin stretch out as my hands turned into demonic claws. Scales surfaced from beneath my skin, covering my body. My wings stretched wide as a tail appeared on my back. 

My chin and face hurt like hell – I could feel my facial structure change along with the rest of my body. I reared by head back, and let out a loud, ear piercing screech as the demonic power finally began to calm. 

I fell on one knee as the transformation finally ended, and long, crimson hair fell before my face. 

I heard distant shouts. Avoided looking that way – I didn't want to see their faces right now. Or perhaps I should say, I didn't want them to see me like this. Not now. Not them.

Without hesitation, I raised my hands above my head. A sword of pure darkness formed in my hands, and I heard Aelith's gasp. She knew what this was too well.

I brought the sharp, deadly edge of the sword down onto the first focal point. No crack sounded, no sound of the shattering crystal. There was no clang to indicate that I hit the thing. Aelith hesitated, confused, and somewhat surprised. She wasn't sure of whether I destroyed the crystal or not.

I slowly stood up as a wind blew some dust into the air. Crystalline dust, glimmering with the golden light of the Divine Pillar.

I looked her straight in the eye as her she looked at the dust, the spot where the broken focal point used to be, and then at me. Her expression twisted into something ugly as her eyes suddenly flashed golden.

"You abomination! Filthy creature whose sold his soul to the darkness!" Her words echoed across the battlefield as she stretched her arm to her side. A blade made of light, yet quite similar to that of my own, formed in her hand. "I will not let you destroy our hopes for a future!"