The Shadow of Death

by Timothy Smith

  The aching pain in his feet from days of walking, to the pain of his hands from days of fighting had become numb. The sound of his footsteps was becoming ever silent to him with every passing step. The torrent of rain drops, and even the crackling sound of the raging thunder above had become mute. There only remained one sound, replaying itself over, and over again inside him.

  Upon stepping outside, Ira collapsed to his side onto a stone wall besides the temple’s doors’. In his misery, he clenched his fist and teeth tightly. And in the moment, the despair which gripped him was far too great for him to carry, as he lost the strength to stand, falling to his knees. Kneeling down, Ira screamed in bitter agony from the bottom of his heart, his cries of anguish were also silent to him, lost in the void of his despair.

  The only sound that remained were Cherise's final parting words, repeating itself in an endless loop. After all that had happened, and after all he had done, Ira could hardly fathom how she could’ve spoken those words to him. Just as the first time the words crossed her lips, he was still just as unable to understand how Cherise could have said them. As the life was fleeing from her body, by the very same Darkness that Ira himself had set loose, Cherise said with a sincere smile through her final breaths; “I forgive you”.

  CHAPTER 62 – RECKONING

  At the top of the temple holding the last orb, after surmising that his sister was gone, Theo was hardly able to hold back his tears as he yelled out in anguish. Afterward, the champion of the west had a mixture of great anger and overwhelming grief as he said to his once closest friend.

  Theo: "Ira, even now, you can find forgiveness, but you'll have none from me… Not after what you’ve done!" He said in a tempered rage, with dead serious eyes, positioning himself to fight, fulling intending to be the one to end Ira’s life.

  The Darkness still lingered closely behind Ira, and scoffed at the young champion’s gesture before outright laughing.

  Sin: "HA! FORGIVENESS?! AFTER EVERYTHING HE'S DONE?!” And in disgust, the foul creature leaned its enormous frame over Ira, to say to him,

  Sin: "IT'S TOO LATE! EVEN THE LIGHT WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU! THERE CAN BE NO REDEMPTION FOR THE LIKES OF YOU!-" And with a sinister grin, the diabolical fiend continued to say in a lowered voice.

  Sin: “…Not after all the innocent blood you’ve spilt."

  After the supernatural being said this, the cries of the innocent Ira had slain came rushing into the room. Like wailing spirits coming from every direction, they tormented him. Cringing as he heard their voices, Ira closed his eyes, and covered his ears in a vain attempt to ignore their presence. The last voice that echoed in the room was that of Cherise’s final words, which pierced Ira like a dagger, as he held his face in agony.

  When the torrent of voices finally subsided, Ira took a few seconds to get ahold of himself before looking back up at Theo. And the taint of the darkness was upon him once more.

  With a lifeless void expression of a man with nothing left to lose on his face, he spoke with a cold seriousness to his childhood friend.

  Ira: "I've gone too far to be forgiven, Theo… And I've sacrificed too much to stop now!" He said while quickly unsheathing, and displaying his black fang’s to his sides, getting into a battle stance of his own.

  Preparing to fight, Ira spoke to the malicious entity that lingered over his shoulder.

  Ira: "Don't get involved. This is between me and him."

  The Darkness looked down at Ira then Theo, and let out a sinister laugh that seemed to be never ending, as it found amusement in these once close friends now having to face off with one another to the death. As the entity was cackling, its laughter started to silence as it was similarly matching the fiend vanishing into thin air, until the Darkness and its voice had entirely for the time being, disappeared.

  The once close friends now stood off in opposition to another, both regretting that it had come to this, and both in common having greater determination to stand their ground than to step aside. They both knew that one way or another, this is where it was all going to end. That this is where it would all be decided.

  With amazing speed, Ira lunged towards the champion, swinging both his blades into a single strike which Theo had preemptively prepared to block. Surprised his attack was stopped, Ira looked directly into Theo’s eyes. It was then that Ira noticed, that this wasn’t the same sparring partner he'd once known, and that his victory would not come so easy.

  ────────

  As the duel to the death had begun in the temple’s tower, the situation on the ground was becoming dire. The minions of the Darkness started to overwhelm both armies, as their numbers continued growing with every fallen warrior. And seeing his men fall left and right, Raddington could no longer idly stand by watching. With all his courage, he began yelling to his soldiers.

  Raddington: "This will not be the end of us, men! We will hold out! We will fight! And we will survive!!" After he yelled this out, the general let out a war cry, rallying his men before charging headstrong directly into the heart of the unnatural army.

  The general’s bravery instilled hope, and courage into the hearts of his own men, who proudly charged right after him, and also towards the Aijin Riders.

  ────────

  Although the Aelaan front had a much greater multitude of men at their disposal, they were not faring much better.

  The Aelaans were openly yelling out in panic, with some even crying out, "This foe was promised to be easily overcome!" As well as others among them saying, "The gods’ have abandoned us!"

  The Aelaan morale was in peril, as some of the men started retreating. Their Chosen would not have any of that cowardice, as he snarled down from his horse at those who showed fear. He yelled out at them who openly despaired.

  Razkaul: "Cowards and Fools! I am your Chosen! As long as I am here with you, the gods’ have not abandoned you! For those who choose to flee, I will personally see to it that you are put to the blade!"

  To the terror of all those who witnessed, some Aelaan had deserted their ranks while having made some distance from the battle, as the dark fog slowly wrapped itself around them. Out of their sight, the army heard the unnatural bellows of a malevolent creature’s roars. The beast’s continued roars were accompanied by the sounds of death chilling scream from those who fled, until there was nothing else that remained of them, only silence. The supernatural fog lifted for only a brief second, revealing an enormous lion that stared back with ravenous eyes. And just as quickly, the fog covered the creature, and receded to only a few feet from the ground. The beast had vanished.

  The Chosen then saw one of his men nearby was so still absorbed in the moment, terrified of the unnatural creature and army, as he continued backing away from the fight. Unnoticing of the Chosen’s presence, the man came too close as Razkaul drew out his sword, before cutting the soldier’s head clean off with a single swing of his blade.

  The other Aelaans looked on in fear after seeing their comrade die at the hands of their own Chosen. He paid their concerns little mind, as he pointed out to the unnatural forces, continuing his demands.

  Razkaul: "You will either fight, or you will die! The prophet wills it!" His words now stoked more fear than inspiration from his men, but it gave them the push they needed to continue on fighting.

  ────────

  The duel at the top of the tower was going on for several minutes as Ira had just blocked one of Theo's heavy strikes, and as a result was pushed back up against the wall with great force. After hitting the wall, in a split second, Ira managed to dodge to the side, narrowly avoiding a killing blow. A feeling of nervousness Ira had never known started overcoming him, as he got back up to his feet again, looking back at Theo before asking in frustration.

  Ira: "When did you become so strong!?" And getting back into a battle stance before answering, the young champion answered.

  Theo: "It's simple really. All those times we sparred, I did the one
thing you never could… I held back!" Ira’s face contorted with a mixture of emotions, and not wanting to believe it he scoffed before responding.

  Ira: "It doesn’t matter?! You seriously don't think that'll be enough to beat me, do you?! Since we were kids, you’ve always followed my lead, trying to match me. And just like then, you're always going to be in my shadow!" And Theo was calm and collected before he responded tauntingly.

  Theo: "Prove it." After hearing this, Ira became infuriated, and charged forward while yelling out.

  Ira: "It ends here, and now!"

  And now up close to Theo, Ira let out a devastatingly quick flurry of strikes that the champion of the west could barely manage to deflect. Often Ira’s strikes were cutting, and scrapping against Theo’s skin. And before he knew it, Theo was backed up against the wall as Ira reached back, preparing for the final blow.

  Ira: "It's over!" He yelled out while swinging his right handed blade widely.

  Positioning his great sword pointing upright in defense, Theo had barely managed to block this single blade from Ira, leaving his right side exposed. Seizing the opportunity, Ira thrust his other black fang towards Theo's chest.

  To Ira’s surprise, as he was about to thrust his left handed sword forward, he’d caught a quick glimpse of Theo's grin. But it mattered little, his fate was sealed.

  Before Ira’s blade could pierce his heart, Theo held out his armored right hand in front of the strike, but his gauntlet was not strong enough to stop the might of a black fang entirely. The blade pierced through Theo's shaking palm, but the strike was slowed enough so the champion was able to change the swords trajectory. The nigh unbreakable black fang went fully through Theo’s palm, and outward landing against the wall, right beside to his face. The momentum of the Ira’s sword was only stopped after hitting his weapon upon the stone.

  Ira was in shock to see how his attack was stopped, but more so, that it seemed deliberate. Only a foot away, he faced down Theo, who grinned.

  Ira tried to recoil his left blade, and was caught off guard again after noticing it was firmly stuck. Mustering all his strength, and ignoring the pain, Theo was clenching his pierced armored hand down tightly, holding Ira's weapon in place. Theo's expression grew dead serious with a determined certainty after seeing that Ira had fallen into his trap, and now it was time to spring it.

  Now knowing it was Theo's plan all along, Ira forsaked his left handed blade, trying to jump back while still keeping Theo’s sword at bay, but he was unable to withdraw himself quick enough, as Theo propelled himself off the wall with his leg. With the weight of his great sword to aid him, Theo crashed his sword down upon Ira, missing his main body, but nearly cutting into his right arm, slicing deep into his flesh.

  While Ira’s right arm was getting struck, he’d released his last remaining black fang. Barely managing to escape the death blow, Ira yelled out in pain while tightly holding onto his limp bloodied arm.

  Theo let go of Ira's blade he had been clenching in his hand, dropping it to the ground before noticing Ira’s other blade was now in between them, but much closer to himself, and out of reach of Ira. Staring at his old friend, Theo now saw that he was now completely unarmed, and on his knees in pain, looking back at him in frustration.

  The two stared at each other for a few seconds without saying anything, somewhat remorseful of the hand fate had dealt them before Theo forced his injured right hand to grasp onto his great sword. The champion of the west then started walking forward, holding his sword high in preparation for the final blow, as he spoke regretfully but sincerely.

  Theo: "I'm sorry it had to end this way. Goodbye, old friend." He said before swinging his great sword down at Ira, who had closed his eyes, accepting his fate.

  In this moment, an ear shattering shriek came from all sides, screaming.

  Sin: "THAT'S ENOUGH!!!!" The Darkness manifested itself from Ira’s body in a blink of an eye, and just as quickly, it slammed Theo against the tower’s rock wall with such force it cracked the very stone.

  Immediately on impact, Theo coughed up blood from the tremendous blow, as the Darkness continued to scream out.

  Sin: "I WILL NOT BE DENIED!!! THIS WORLD BELONGS TO ME!!"

  The sudden intervention caught Ira completely by surprise, as he looked on to see Theo starting to sputter up blood.

  Cracked bones and internal bleeding, the blow Theo received dealt him unrecoverable damage. Unable to stand, while leaning against the wall, Theo’s legs failed him as he slinked towards the ground.

  Now laying down with his back against the wall, the champion silently and despairingly spoke to himself.

  Theo: "What's taking them so long?..." And all the while, the monstrous figure inched ever closer towards him before reaching its hand out to finish the job.

  Ignoring the Darkness’s presence for only a moment, Theo looked just beyond the foul creature, and back at Ira as he pleaded through exasperated breaths.

  Theo: "Ira, it's not too late! You can still do the right thing!" After hearing this, Ira was in complete shock while the Darkness’s reaction to Theo’s comment was entirely different.

  Hearing what the champion said made the Darkness stop in its tracks, and burst into hysterical laughter.

  Paying the Darkness’s taunting laughter no mind, he continued to plead to Ira, saying.

  Theo: "Even now, Ira. Even now, you can still find forgiveness! Just turn back to the Light!" The words that were spoken seemed to shake Ira to the core as he asked back in dismay.

  Ira: "How?... After all that I've done. If it wasn't for me, Cherise would still be alive!" He said in bitter agony, full of regret.

  The Darkness continued its taunting laughter before looking back to Ira, and tauntingly proclaiming.

  Sin: "You think you can be forgiven?! After all that bloodshed?! Who has use for the like of you?! THE LIGHT WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!!-“ It loudly proclaimed before delivering more poisoned words in a hushed tone.

  Sin: “You've lingered in the darkness for too long… The only path left open to you is through me." The words brought Ira further into despair, as he clenched his teeth, looking down to hide his shame.

  After reveling in Ira's suffering for a moment, the Darkness looked back at Theo before deciding to take one step further to finish where it left off. As the Darkness reached out its hand towards Theo once more, it gleefully said.

  Sin: "AND NOW YOU'LL DIE!" And right when the creatures hand was almost upon Theo, it let out a scream of pain, recoiling back, holding onto its belly as it cried out.

  The fiend looked back to see Ira had picked up one of his black fangs, and stabbed himself in the gut. The unnatural black taint that was once upon Ira’s eyes had been lifted, as he appeared to have returned to his normal state. Broken from his shackles, Ira gave the Darkness a confident grin after seeing that the foul creature was injured by desperate gambit.

  Ira: “Not so cocky now, are you?” He taunted before twisting the blade further in his stomach, as the Darkness screamed in agony, but the pain was unbearable.

  Losing the strength to stand, Ira turned to his side before collapsing to the ground, facedown. And while lying on the stone floor, he only had the strength to lift his head upwards.

  The Darkness was infuriated, and it lunged back towards Ira. And once over him, it leaned down so its face would be in front of his entire vision before it spoke.

  Sin: "DO YOU THINK THIS WILL MATTER! THAT YOUR INTERFERRENCE COULD STOP ME!" Its taunting words didn't seem to reach Ira, who outstretched his hand towards something beyond its presence.

  Filled with regret, Ira’s eyes started swelling up with tears, as he pleaded out to something beyond his sight.

  Ira: “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…” His anguished words only infuriated the Darkness more as it yelled out in an unbridled rage.

  Sin: "IT'S TOO LATE! IN THIS LATE HOUR, I NO LONGER NEED A LIVING HOST! IF ONLY FOR A MINUTE, I'LL USE YOUR LIFELESS HUSK TO REGAIN MY FULL STRENGTH! YOUR SA
CRIFICE MEANS NOTHING!" And once again, the words of the Beast, and its presence entirely, were completely ignored.

  Ira then started crying tears of joy, as he started uttering in disbelief, and gratitude to an unknown entity.

  Ira: "Thank you...Thank…"

  Before he could finish speaking, the Darkness let out an ear shattering scream of rage that shook the very foundation of the tower before reaching down. And baring down the full force of its hand onto the back of Ira's neck, with a quick twisting motion, the malicious fiend snapped it.

  Theo looked on in dismay after seeing the words the Darkness spoke were true. Its unsavory essence was slowly dissipating into the air, and converging back into Ira's lifeless body. His old friend’s body was slowly being enveloped in dark shadow before his very eyes.

  With what little strength Theo had left, he slowly reached into his pocket before pulling out, and holding onto a small but precious object, and rolling it around slowly in his hand as a small means of comfort.

  Seeing the Darkness arising to its feet in Ira's lifeless body, Theo had almost completely given into despair as something caught his attention. Looking upward out through one of the openings in the tower towards the sky in the east, he let out a short burst of laughter before saying.

  Theo: “You were always there, weren’t you?” He said hopefully, letting out a smile.

  ────────

  The situation below where the dwarves were, had only worsened. Having fended off their former comrades they now had to contend with a seemingly never ending stream of minions of the Darkness that strayed off from the larger battlefield. Boldin was not shy to hold his opinion back from Scruff. And as he continued fighting off the multitudes of enemies, the Dwarven prince yelled back to the hairy dwarf.

  Boldin: "What in the blazes are you doing, Scruff?! By the stone!! If that elf is proven right by us dying ere’, I swear I'm going to personally throttle ya in the life ere’ after! And that's a promise!" And while the fighting was still going strong, Scruff let out a loud but confident sounding grunt in response.