Heartmender

by V. Romas Burton

  I looked to Claire to see if she was just as confused as I was, but her face held no trace of confusion. Her muscles were strained as she concentrated on the woman. Hearing Ophidian's footsteps crunch along the black hearts, I returned my attention to him.

  Once he had settled back onto his throne, Ophidian snapped his fingers, causing black smoke to escape from his fingertips. The smoke infiltrated every space of the mound of hearts, oozing from the crevices. Before long, the smoke receded, carrying two dying hearts with it.

  Ophidian kept his hand opened, allowing the black smoke to drop the hearts into his palm. His long fingers clutched them tightly as he strode back down the mound.

  Standing in front of the once-shaking woman, he held out the hearts. One was a dull gray, while the other was pure obsidian. Ophidian looked down at the hearts, a hunger in his yellow eyes.

  "Which one of these, do you believe, is more powerful?”

  The woman stared at the two hearts before nodding at the black one, causing Ophidian to grin widely. “Very good. A black heart is not easily formed. You must believe you deserve the answer to any question, no matter the consequence. You will do whatever it takes to know. Do you agree?"

  The woman nodded her head quickly, her eyes fixed on the black heart.

  “Whereas this heart only has one purpose.” Ophidian squeezed the gray heart between his long fingers. A dull, red light poured from it, streaming from the heart into Ophidian’s chest. The Beast sucked in a deep breath, a look of ecstasy on his face, as the power of the dying heart entered his body.

  My stomach squeezed as I watched him unfurl his fingers to reveal the withered remains of the powerless heart. Ophidian tossed the useless heart to the ground, returning his attention to the woman who had chosen the black heart.

  "Do you, Diana Magnum, choose to trade your heart for Aeternam Scientia: the knowledge beyond all that is known?"

  I stifled a gasp when Ophidian said the woman's name, suddenly understanding why Claire was so focused. That was the woman who had traded her away. That was her mother.

  Without any hesitation, Claire's mother nodded again, causing a demonic grin to spread across Ophidian's face. He extended his fingers, and long, black claws slid out from the nail beds. In one swipe, she was cut free from her chains.

  As soon as Claire’s mother stepped away from the broken metal, Ophidian sliced a gash in her chest and slammed the black heart into it, causing her to scream a horrible shriek. I pulled my hand away from Claire to shield my ears from the noise.

  She screamed more and more as the blackness of the heart spread over her body, tightening around her like rope. Soon she was completely covered. Her limbs began to fade, followed by the unpleasant sound of bones shattering. A black cloak formed from her broken body, encasing it entirely, until her screams were silenced forever. I stared in horror as all her humanity was erased.

  Ophidian smiled, taking in the creature in front of him. Lifting one of his clawed fingers, he poked it where he had placed the black heart. As if placing a key in a lock, a finalized click clattered within the cloak, causing a singular red eye to form in the center of the creature's face.

  Chapter 34

  The blood drained from my face as terror seized my heart. I couldn't believe that anyone would voluntarily want this.

  Glancing over, I could see Claire's face was just as pale as I’m sure mine was. I reached out and grabbed her hand, expecting her to shove me away, but she didn't. Bowing her head, she cupped my hand in both of hers.

  I didn't know much about my parents, only what Lyle had told me and shown me from their journals and letters to one another and the few details Nana had given me. I didn't even know how they died. But I couldn't imagine watching my mother condemn herself to life as a malum.

  “My lord, choose me next!” one of the half-siti men screamed, trying to wrench himself away from his chained companions.

  “You’re pathetic,” Lucas sneered, shoving the man out of the way. “If the master is going to choose anyone next, it’ll be me.” He pushed the man aside again, causing the other prisoners chained to him to stumble back.

  “Why would he choose you? You’re nothing but an idiotic child!” a voice shouted from the back. Murmurs of agreement rose out of the long line of people, and soon they were all shouting—some at Lucas to stand aside, or at Ophidian, begging him to choose them next for Eternal Knowledge.

  I clutched the sword in my hand as the man who had spoken out first forced his way toward Ophidian. The shouting of the chained people ceased as they watched Ophidian assess the man. Some of their faces fell with disappointment as Ophidian snapped his gaunt fingers, retrieving the man’s black heart, deeming him worthy of the prize. As soon as it dropped into his palm, Ophidian sliced, then shoved it into the man’s chest, repeating the same process as before.

  Ear-splitting screams and bone-crunching cracks filled the cavern, sending my head spinning. How could they be so willing to give up everything? Was knowing all the answers worth the price of humanity?

  I looked over to see Claire curled in a ball once more, plugging her ears with her fingers, her face contorted in anguish. With each new malum created, she curled farther within herself.

  My heart was beating hard inside the satchel, but not with the fear I expected. A light shone in my periphery, and I looked to see the sword glowing brightly once more. The power laced itself through my veins, warning me that my time to act was coming soon.

  Swallowing hard, I peered through the space between the boulders, stifling a gasp. All the people who were once chained were no more. Their shackles and chains were laying in heaps on the clay floor. The hair lifted on the nape of my neck as I watched countless malum line the cavern walls.

  The stench of decay filled the air as I searched for the one person I came here for.

  Not everyone who had been chained had traded their heart for Eternal Knowledge. There was still one line of chain left. I followed the rusted links to the defiant, hardened face of my older brother. He looked minuscule against the hundreds of malum.

  A wave of relief flooded over me. There was still a chance I could save him. But how was I supposed to save Lyle from evil incarnate and his life-hungry demons?

  "You are not alone," the sword whispered, vibrating slightly in my hand.

  I glanced down and saw the mark of the Mender glowing back at me, not bright orange like before, but a dark red. I didn't have to think long before I knew what I needed to do.

  Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath. Was I crazy for doing what I was about to do? Yes. Was it stupid? Yes. Was I going to die? Probably.

  But was it worth it?

  My eyes flew open, locking onto Lyle. He was my brother, and I loved him more than I feared Ophidian's wrath. If I could give Lyle another chance to choose, I would. Grasping the sword tighter, I rose from my crouched position.

  Claire slightly uncurled from her fetal position, shaking her head at me. I shot her a smile and pressed my index finger to my lips. There was no reason why Ophidian needed to know we were both here. She shook her head even faster, but I was already halfway to the exposed path.

  The sword and my heart pulsated as one as I marched toward Death himself. For the first time since this adventure began, the voice didn't tell me to run. Rather, it seemed to be telling me to stay. To fight. To win.

  My feet landed on the path, and I stared down the huddle of malum surrounding my brother. A new feeling crept through my veins. I looked down to see that the glow of the sword had spread from the blade to the hilt, and then up my arm. It was hot and cold at the same time. Wild, yet tame. Complex, but utterly simple. I took my stance as the glow continued to spread from my arm to my entire body. Once it reached the tips of my toes, my heart let out a solitary beat.

  The ground shook beneath me, but I stood tall.

  The malum paused their movements, turning their hooded faces toward me. Their red eyes scanned my glowing body, itching to devoid me of this pow
er. I knew they hoped to seek out my heart and corrupt it. But the glow around my body was thick, a barrier protecting me from their penetrating gaze and an immunity keeping me from their wrath.

  My eyes fixed on the path ahead, and I raised the blade. "Step away."

  A powerful voice had erupted from my lips, commanding the attention of all around me. Not a demonic and possessed voice like Ophidian's, but dynamic, strong, and confident.

  The malum glowered at me, their red eyes never wavering as they floated in the air. My fingers tightened around the sword, my heart fearless of the battle ahead.

  Releasing the inner warrior I never knew I had, I unleashed an earth-shaking cry and charged toward them without an ounce of fear in my heart.

  The stalactites hanging from the cavern ceiling began to fall, shattering into pieces as they crashed on the red ground. But I didn't stop. I swung the sword back and sliced through the first malum I reached.

  Its sword-length, black claws swiped at me, inches from slicing off my head. The clang of the sword against the metal claws rung throughout the cavern, stunning the malum long enough for me to retract the blade and slice it through its middle. A horrible noise rose from the monster as it collapsed in a mass on the ground.

  A dark, thick liquid escaped from the hole I had created, bubbling over the floor, causing the clay to disintegrate.

  My heart beat steadily as I pulled the sword back once more, driving it into the malum's red eye. It let out a horrid screech before contorting on the ground. As moved across the clay, the malum liquified, creating a giant hole where it had once been. The sound of rushing water escaped from the hole, and I peered down, watching as the black water receded beneath the cavern’s foundation.

  A slow, exaggerated clapping from the Beast returned my focus to the group of malum. I lifted the sword again, ready to strike. But the obedient creations separated, allowing the malicious face of Ophidian to appear. His lips curled with disgust, and his cold snake eyes never wavered from my face.

  Against the darkness of the malum, Ophidian looked like a beautiful creature of light. Though pale, his skin was smooth, a stark contrast against the decrepit beings surrounding him. His cropped hair gleamed against the light of the sword, lush and thick with health. But as with Schism, I knew the monster he was. I kept the sword high and my stance defensive as he approached.

  Touching his palms together, Ophidian ceased his clapping, a cynical smile replacing his scowl as he gave a mock bow. "Well done." The snake tattoos flicked their tails toward me, mimicking the motion of their master.

  My heart continued to beat steadily with the pulsations of the sword, but my stomach clenched with disgust from his approval.

  "I've never seen anyone take down one of my children so quickly before,” he growled, straightening to his towering height.

  I didn't react as his eyes analyzed my glowing body.

  "I see your help has not left you," he muttered, wrinkling his nose before a wide grin spread across his face. "However, your new power will make this all the more fun."

  Ophidian snapped his fingers as he had before, sending black smoke from his hands. It retreated behind me, pulling on the last segment of the chain.

  The links tightened and loosened as the smoke struggled to maintain its grip. Once it secured its captive and delivered him into Ophidian's hand, he gave it a hard tug, forcing Lyle to fly forward and fall prostrate in front of me.

  Lyle groaned loudly as he landed, then shook his head and looked up. He squinted before his bright blue eyes grew wide in awe.

  "Addie?" he whispered. "Wh—how?"

  I only had a moment to look at him before Ophidian yanked the chain back with a powerful force. He snapped his fingers again, cocooning Lyle in a thick, black film. Lyle's face contorted as the breath departed from his lungs, and his head hung limp as he was fully consumed by the smoke.

  I whipped my attention back to Ophidian as my heart picked up speed. "Let him go."

  A wicked grin spread across Ophidian's face. "I would love to, Adelaide. But you see, your dear brother traded his heart for a choice, and until he makes his Final Choice, his heart stays with me. Interestingly enough—" he clasped his hands behind his back while the malum created a wider circle around him as he paced "—this is not the first time your brother has sought the knowledge he so desperately desires."

  I flinched back slightly at this new information. I tried to conceal my surprise before the Beast could notice, but by the grin on Ophidian's lips, I knew it was too late.

  "Ah, so he was right. You don't know."

  "I don't know what?" I gripped the sword and pointed it at Ophidian, not about to be distracted again.

  "Anything, apparently," Ophidian scoffed. "But I won't bore you with the details. Let's make this a little more fun, shall we?"

  I kept the sword level with his chest, unwilling to be swayed by his taunts.

  "Oh, come now, Adelaide. You've made it through almost all of my Seven Choices. Don't you want to see it through to the end?"

  My heart beat as the sword pulsated. I knew Ophidian was going to vie for my heart one last time. And just like the young blacksmith, I knew I would be expected to sacrifice something dear to me.

  I nodded my head so slightly that only the Beast would see.

  "Excellent," he growled before a demonic grin passed over his face as he turned back toward the black mound. Behind him, the dark smoke lifted and carried Lyle like a captive animal.

  The pack of malum divided in two as I followed. I still held the sword high, not trusting Ophidian to keep them at bay.

  The final malum floated into formation around the mound of hearts. I would have thought it would be smaller, considering all the black hearts Ophidian had used to create the malum, but it appeared unchanged.

  Ophidian grinned. "The question why is always spinning through the minds of humans. They are obsessed with the unknown and that which they cannot understand." He turned and settled onto his throne of skulls, crossing one leg over the other. Schism flanked his right side, squaring his muscular shoulders as he placed his ebony fist across his chest in salute. "I give them peace in offering Aeternam Scientia. Now they know everything."

  I kept my face stoic, but my mind raced back to the process of gaining Eternal Knowledge. All those people gave up their lives just to find out the answers to their questions. I shook my head. Some things weren’t worth knowing.

  But how could Lyle have resisted Ophidian for so long? He loved knowledge, and he loved giving it to others, too. When I was young, Lyle would let me pick out any story I wanted and read to me before bed. He never prevented me from picking a story too childish or suggested something different if I picked a book too mature.

  "How about we make a trade?" Ophidian asked, tenting his fingers as he interrupted my thoughts. The serpents surrounding his eyes curled tightly around his eyes before loosening.

  "What kind of trade?" My voice teemed with power, causing the black hearts to rattle as I spoke.

  Ophidian shrugged. "A simple one, really. You give me half of your heart, and I give you your brother."

  I pointed the sword at the Beast. Although I already knew the answer, I asked anyway. "Why only half?"

  Ophidian growled, his eyes shifting to black. He extended his long claws and punctured his chest. Black liquid, similar to the malum's, oozed out. Pulling his claws out of his chest, he unfurled his fingers to reveal a disfigured heart.

  The right half of the heart was red and vibrant but outlined in a dark gray. The left half of the heart was black like coal. They had been fused together, but their beating wasn't synchronized.

  My mind fled back to how Ophidian had sucked the power from the gray heart, rendering it powerless. He had to be using the power of the dying hearts to sustain his own disfigured one.

  With another growl, Ophidian clutched the heart and slammed it back into his chest. His eyes reverted to their snakelike stare, ready to feed.

  "Do we have a
trade?"

  I stared back at Ophidian. He wasn’t the same as when I saw him in the young blacksmith's vision. There, he had been old and decrepit, barely hanging onto life. Here, he was young and vibrant, looking like he could live for centuries. I realized then that the power of the young blacksmith's heart had preserved him for this long. If I were to give Ophidian half my heart, it would assist him in achieving his goal of immortality.

  But if I didn't take his trade, what would happen to Lyle? I'd come all this way, and I wasn't going to lose him now. My mind raced as I tried to piece together a countertrade to propose.

  "No more trades!" a voice from behind me yelled.

  Amid the sea of malum, Claire stood tall with her chin held high and her eyes blazing. To my surprise, the man from the sixth Choice was with her. His plaid shirt was torn and his face bore several cuts and scratches, but his eyes were just as defiant as Lyle’s.

  "Isn't this sweet?" Ophidian growled through clenched teeth. "My own slave and the fallen follower of my sworn enemy have come to defy me."

  "Leave her alone, Ophidian. She's protected by the Mender. You can’t harm her," the man proclaimed.

  I looked down at the sword and my matching glowing skin. The mark of the Mender was still burning a deep red upon the gilded hilt. The Mender was protecting me. But why did he choose me? I had always denied his power and existence.

  "You're right, Betrayer," Ophidian snapped, grinning as the man winced. "Though I can't touch her, she can choose to give her protection away, just like you did."

  Ophidian snarled, then flung his hand at the man, causing him to fly into a boulder. The crack of his skull against the stone sent my nerves on edge.

  "And you." Ophidian turned to Claire. "I own you. You cannot defy me."

  Snapping his fingers, the black smoke rushed from his fingertips and encased Claire. She tried to dodge the smoke, but it soon covered her body, sucking the breath from her lungs. Another cloud rose up on the other side of Ophidian, directly opposite of Lyle.

  "My, how interesting things have gotten, haven't they, Adelaide? "Here I offer you a trade, yet you decide on something entirely different."