Dutybound

by Mark Aaron Alvarez

  Hearing Luzanna speak made Lucia think of her mother. “Duty above all else.” She smiled as she heard the words. “That’s my family’s motto. In a way, I suppose that applies to all of us.”

  Leo scoffed. “Not me. Not anymore. My people want me dead.”

  “Because they don’t know the truth,” Lucia refuted. “You didn’t kill your father. The darkness did, and soon they will see that. When word gets back about Aldric, they’ll change their minds.”

  “How do you know that word will even get back? That monster might have taken out whatever messenger Pinea sent to Moz and destroyed whatever chance we had to clear our names. As far as we know, they’ll think we’re the ones who set the city ablaze. They’ll blame us just like they did in Aldric.”

  “Two people could not cause that much destruction. Not alone. There is no way. It’s not like you had an army with you.” Luzanna shook her head. “Could you try to be a little more positive? Everything you’re saying sounds like acts of wars are being committed, and thinking like that is only going to have more people turn against each other.”

  Leo looked blankly into the distance. Lucia saw the resistance in his eyes about to break. His chin quivered as he wiped his eyes. He hopped up and left the campsite, his footsteps heavy until he disappeared deep into the marshland. The girls glanced at each other. Luzanna dropped her head as Lucia hopped up and chased after him.

  She slowed her pace as Leo stopped beneath a dying tree. It was slumped away from a dry patch and hung precariously over the moist waters of the marsh. Leo sat alone at its base, sending a short glance backward toward Lucia. She sat next to him, wondering what he might be thinking. “Are you alright?” she asked carefully, putting a hand over his. “What she said—she means well. We just want you to be strong, okay?”

  “Am I not”—a couple tears left his eyes—“strong?”

  Lucia got up and crouched in front of him. Leo hung his head and looked away from her. He didn’t want her to see him like this. Usually he was good at controlling his emotions, but lately it had become all the more difficult. As his faith began to break, that part of him that he had once trained so frequently for battle dissolved. There was no winning this battle within himself.

  “Of course you are. You’re the strongest person I know.” Lucia placed her hands on his knees as she bowed her head. “You know, you’re way stronger than I am. I don’t know what I would have done if I ever saw my mother die the way your father did. I don’t know how I would have felt if she had died the way Talon or Ofelia did either.” Lucia closed her eyes, searching for the right words to say. She was tempted to use the light to bring about his healing, but deep down, she felt that would have been a cheat. There was something she needed to say, something he deserved to hear from her own mouth. “I know I was harsh before, believing I had to do this on my own. I said some things, things that hurt you. And I admit, I took you for granted. Everything you’ve done, I’m extremely grateful for. The truth is that I’ve been selfish. I’ve lost the least of the three of us, and I . . . I wish so much that I knew then what I know now. If I was strong enough, if I had used the power even just a little bit more, things could be different.” Lucia didn’t notice it, but tears were flowing from her eyes. “I’m sorry, Leo. Deeply, I am. So please, don’t lose yourself . . . because I need you.”

  Leo’s eyebrows tensed up as his eyes narrowed. “There is something different about you. You’ve changed. I mean, I think I have too, but you have the most. If anything, you’ve grown so sage. Far from the naive girl I once knew.” Leo paused and looked away for a moment, trying to contain his feelings, but his strength was gone. Whatever Lucia remembered, whatever she saw in him, it was gone. “You see, you’re special, Lucia.”

  Lucia bowed her head doubtfully.

  “I mean it. Ever since the first moment I saw you, I could tell.” Leo sighed softly as Lucia looked up to him. “I knew I had to save you. I was only meant to deliver that letter to you, but as soon as things started to fall apart—that was my only instinct, making sure you were safe. I don’t know why I felt that way, considering our family’s history, but I did and still do. The world is not safe, and it’s out of control. Terestria is on the brink of ruin, and all I can think about is saving it.” Leo blinked as his guard broke even more. “And not because the world is ending, but because you deserve to see it as I once did—as I see you, full of light.” He lifted his hand and brushed his thumb against the side of her hand. He watched it closely as he spoke. “My whole life, I always had this edge, this advantage over everything. And now I don’t, not when I’m with you. I’m not in control.”

  “Why?” Lucia asked, tilting her head to get a glimpse of his face. Leo looked up to her, meeting her gaze. His expression surprised her.

  “Because when I’m with you, I’m weak. My desire to protect you, to put your life before my own—that is all that drives me, nothing else. If anything were ever to happen to you . . . ”

  Lucia was speechless. She quite literally could not find the words to say.

  “Journeying with you, it has made me question everything. My plans for my future, my hopes and dreams—they mean nothing without you.” Leo looked into her eyes, the gold that sparkled in the moonlight. In her eyes, he saw his own reflecting blue, both combining into a dark green. There was a long pause. The silence echoed, and only the sound of their heavy heartbeats made it through. Only they existed. His arms reached forward and grasped her soft gloved hands. Slowly, he lifted his body, bringing Lucia up with him. “I’m losing control because I want you.” He placed his arms around her waist as he moved his face toward hers. Gently, as their noses touched, he pressed forward and laid his lips on hers.

  A flutter of sudden warmth swarmed the two, and Lucia felt her heart deepen more than it ever had before. She rested her hands on Leo’s shoulders as she moved closer to him. Everything she was feeling, every emotion, was dialed into this moment, and it was as if she had forgotten all about the danger they were in. Leo held on to her as he broke the kiss, withdrawing a slow breath as he stared into her eyes. She didn’t know what to say or do, but inside, she could no longer deny what she wanted.

  “I . . . ” Lucia mumbled. She lowered her face and touched her lips with the tips of her fingers as she still felt him there, the memory of their kiss still fresh. Leo’s eyes shifted as she let out a soft breath. A shimmer of tingles ran down her skin like a short winter breeze. He lowered his hands, brushing the sides of her arms. He took her hand and brought it to his chest, and she felt his heartbeat beneath his chest. Somehow her own began to take on a new rhythm, one renewed and aligned with his.

  “I love you,” Leo whispered.

  Lucia could not speak as the words lingered inside her head, which was racing. Without thinking, she moved closer to him. She needed to feel it again. Her lips locked with his as he closed his eyes and brought a hand to her face.

  As the two separated, Lucia wondered if this was love. She remained speechless. Her expression was a cross between embarrassment and euphoria, or perhaps a combination of both, but she couldn’t stop feeling it, this attraction that bound their hearts.

  “Lucia,” Leo whispered. “Are you okay?”

  Lucia laughed as she attempted to process what had just happened. “Yes, I’m great. It’s just . . . ” She smiled at Leo. “That was my first kiss.”

  “Oh, really?” Leo clenched his teeth, blushing as he shrugged. “I’m sorry. I should have—”

  Lucia shook her head. “No. Don’t be. It was nice.”

  “Nice?” Leo asked bashfully.

  “Yes,” Lucia said, looking up with a sly smile. “It was.” She giggled a bit as Leo shrugged and rubbed the back of his head.

  He took her hand and rubbed his thumb into the center of her palm, feeling the soft cloth of the glove rub against his skin.

  “I was surprised,” she said.

&n
bsp; “So was I.” Leo took her other hand and held them both close. “When you kissed me back.”

  “In a way,” Lucia said, thinking, “I’m kind of glad, but in a lot of ways, I’m afraid.”

  “Afraid of what?” he asked softly.

  Lucia wrapped her arms around his shoulders and laid her head on one of them. “Of losing you.”

  “You wouldn’t. I’m not going anywhere.” Leo pressed his face against her. “I promise. I’ll never leave.”

  “Well, promise me also . . . ” The Light Wings emitted a vibrant violet glow. “When it comes down to it, let me do the saving.” She stepped back as the Light Wings pulsed between them, as if they had their own words to say. “Don’t die for me.”

  Leo blinked as the light of the wings entered his eyes. He nodded, grasping the message. “Yes, High Maiden. Your word is my command.” He then stepped closer to Lucia as the Light Wings brightened. He held her waist as she tilted her head, smiling beneath their kiss.

  This was the happiest she had ever felt, there within Leo’s arms.

  ***

  It’s arguable whether Luzanna noticed that something had changed between Leo and Lucia. When the two made their way back to camp, she went about acting just as she always had, seemingly oblivious to it. But there were moments when she caught Leo glancing toward Lucia, smiling more than he had before.

  “So I’m guessing you’re feeling a lot better now?” Luzanna asked Leo. His mood was evidently elevated. The darkness in his eyes had faded, after all.

  “Yes,” he said quickly before lying back on the ground. He placed his head on his hands and looked into the starlight, and into the not-so-distant past. “A lot better.”

  “Well good, I’m glad.” Luzanna set her attention on Lucia, whose gaze was locked onto the fire. “And you? How are you feeling?”

  Lucia let out a deep breath before uttering a word. “I’m alright, Luzanna. Thanks for asking.”

  “Everyone’s okay, then?”

  “Yup,” Lucia and Leo replied in unison.

  Luzanna nodded in satisfaction. “That’s good.”

  The three of them sat in silence for a while. Leo was drifting to sleep. Luzanna yawned as her weariness started to come over her. Lucia was still wide awake, her thoughts twisting and turning. Luzanna laid on her side, and soon her breath deepened as she also drifted to sleep.

  Only the crackle of the fire echoed throughout the misty void. Lucia looked up and into the starlit sky. She held her hands out toward the warmth of the fire. It was peaceful. She would have never expected the night to be like this, and oddly, it brought a sense of bliss. She took a moment to appreciate it, this strange feeling. She took in the silence, apart from the whistling of the reeds and buzzing of the fireflies that surrounded them. Since she had left Moz, she hadn’t been able to truly enjoy the places she visited. Her worries often split her focus, leaving her lost in thoughts of the future and the past. She could barely remember a time when she remained fully in the present moment. Now, there was something changing inside her. Despite everything, she felt more alive.

  It was unfortunate that this moment was to be short-lived, as Lucia’s intuition soon brought a chill to her spine. Her selfless revelation and peace were suddenly disrupted as her chest began to cave at its center and the light of the wings started to grow.

  Something wasn’t right. Lucia’s heartbeat hastened as gusts of wind brought in a heavy fog. It was thickening before her eyes, growing denser in the distance as if nature itself was warning her. She rose slowly, looking directly into the sky as the fog ascended, nearly covering the entire sky. The air, once crisp, stung as it entered her body and left her breath hanging in front of her face. “No,” Lucia uttered as the light of the moon and stars became completely blocked. A burst of heavy wind came from the west, casting their fire aside and leaving them in the darkness of the night. Only the incandescence of the pendant remained as the fog darkened, turning into shadow and absorbing all the light that touched it.

  Soon, the fog gathered, drawing up closer to the sky overhead. There were sparks of purple and black lightning within the mist as the shape of wings formed. The body of the beast could be seen in the haze. Its humanlike figure and black slated body became clearer with each passing second. Lucia’s eyes widened, her voice leaving her as it had the first time she laid eyes on the demon. With its wings, it brought down a loud tempest that shook Leo and Luzanna awake. And then, as it opened its scarlet-red eyes, the shadows collected, absorbing into its black wings.

  “Oh no—” Lucia realized its intentions as it arched backward. “Watch out!” she said as the demon’s wings emitted a dark energy. And with one more great flap, a wave of black lightning filled the air rushing toward them. Lucia raced forward and, with a spin of her hand, sent out a wave of her own that spread and extinguished the lightning, turning it into particles of anti-light.

  The demon growled. “I see you’ve grown fond of the Light Wings’ power. How does it feel, being the light’s mindless puppet?”

  Lucia stepped back, holding up her hands. “Luzanna, Leo, get up and move now!”

  The shadow held up its dark claws. Anti-light spiraled up from the center of its body, covering it with slate-black armor. Its gauntlets were sharp, and its claws were surrounded by a dark aura. Its horns spiraled downward from atop its head, as the last bit of shadows collected to form the final pieces of the beast.

  Luzanna was on her knees when she first laid eyes on it. She froze as the air was stripped of its warmth and thrown into an icey blizzard. The moist waters of the marsh started to frost over as Leo rose to his feet, his blue eyes now purple with rage.

  The demon appeared to grow in size as its dark wings stretched outward, sending another heavy gust toward them. They flapped, lifting the beast upward. The dark aura seeped from it, pouring from its feet and spreading across the ground.

  It was impossible to tell why the demon had chosen to show itself here. They were not in a city, nor surrounded by people to mercilessly slaughter. What dubious intentions would it have in the middle of nowhere and with them alone in the night? Lucia tried to attune herself to its thoughts, listening for the Light Wings’ words, yet she heard nothing but the nonsense of her own mind.

  The demon rose high above, taking flight. Lucia stepped forward as it lifted higher, her spirit breaking through the fear and intensifying in anger. “I remember you,” she said as her clenched fists pulsed. “You burned down my home. You killed my people.”

  The beast sent out an unworldly and deep chuckle as it looked at its newly formed body in amusement. “Yes. And my strength grows with each death of the light’s precious life. My brothers have done well . . . .” It set its fiery gaze onto Leo and Luzanna, who both stood silently behind Lucia. “Ruining your lives.” It shook its head, seemingly disappointed. “The nobility of Terestria . . . the ‘light’s virtues.’ What a pitiful bunch of petty children.”

  “Fuck you!” Leo cursed as he withdrew his dagger.

  The darkness laughed hoarsely. “This can’t be Terestria’s last hope! Honestly, I was itching for more of a challenge. But this one can’t control a single emotion in his body, let alone his mouth.”

  “He’s not the one you should be worried about,” Lucia spat. “I am!” She sensed something different about this being. Its power was in fact growing. It drew its power from a source beyond that of what they knew. The light’s precious life . . . virtues of light? Lucia thought. “I’m not afraid of you!”

  “You lie so well.” The beast laughed, sending his obvious horror into her.

  The words sank into Lucia’s body. There was no way she could respond. She had no words to say.

  “Who . . . what are you?” Luzanna called out. She stepped over to Lucia and then ahead of Leo, near the edge of the patch. “Why are you here?” Her anger seemed to flare from the seas of her eyes lik
e an underwater volcano as she placed logic to reason. “There is nothing here for you to destroy.”

  “You speak as if I need a purpose, as if I need a reason for existing. But that’s where you’re wrong, my dear. I exist everywhere, all at once, on the other side—and now here.” It bellowed lowly, almost with maturity, but the glare of its eyes fixated on the light beneath Lucia’s neck almost teasingly.

  “You didn’t answer my question,” Luzanna said. “What are you?”

  “Don’t provoke me, little girl. I’m not like Wym or Lykorus. I’m something . . . much angrier.” Its wings jumped, and like a shadowy star it shot from the sky.

  Lucia’s eyes widened as it darted forward, hitting her as it spun its wings around its body. She flew backward and tumbled as the demon brought itself to the ground.

  Leo rushed to her side as Luzanna ran between them. “Luzanna, no!” he cried as the demon locked onto her green eyes.

  Lucia’s body ached as the Light Wings hung and sparkled slightly. She watched the beast approach Luzanna. Lucia jumped up and, with her hands raised and crossed in front of her, started to pray. “Light Wings, please lend me your strength.” From the wings came a light that clung to her arms. Like veins, it trailed up her hands, releasing a white aura that held a faint glow within the darkness of the fog. The fluid flowed onto her hands and then into her fingers.

  Suddenly, there was a flash of light, and within her grasp the light turned solid like a large, finely cut gem. She held up a sword made of solid diamond. It was the length of her arm, and shimmered as the light of the Light Wings shined up from it. Lucia felt the light draw into it with power. It tingled in her fingertips. She saw the sharpness of the blade as she analyzed the cuts of the diamond.

  “You monstrosity!” Lucia shouted.

  The beast looked back to her and let forth a growl that left Luzanna falling back. Leo grabbed Luzanna as she shuddered, astounded.