“You are nothing!” Vincent yelled.
Jak wheezed with the last of his strength. His words strained from the bottom of his diaphragm to the tip of his tongue. “It is a shame. Your first victory will be our last moment as brothers.” His face tightened. His brows merged. Moisture soaked his forehead. His knuckles whitened around his striker. His muscles locked up. “You need to know two things.” Jak paused to catch his breath. “I love you. I always have…Aaaahh!” A chilling scream bellowed forth before he could finish.
Vincent’s anger softened once he had won. He tried to release the rail and stop the flow of electricity, but something from beyond held his hand on the track. He vigorously struggled to let go, but it seemed an invisible force kept his hand there against his will.
Jak’s power met its limits. His striker could no longer take the electrical assault. It exploded into fragments of tiny blue shards. The lightning bolts devoured him.
Everything went dark as Vincent collapsed.
A strange, uneasy silence fell.
Face down, Vincent clumsily groped his way through the pitch-black tunnel. With a remorseful tone, he called out to his brother. “Jak, I’m sorry.” He began to stutter. “I was just…I don’t know…I was being stupid and mad about dumb stuff. I’ve never felt that kind of anger before. I didn’t know what I was doing. I swear. I’m really, really sorry. ANSWER ME!”
Vincent’s nightmare shifted locations. He was given insight on things he had not seen with his own eyes. In a strange, third-party view, Vincent watched Malum give orders.
“Noemi’s heart is disloyal to the Shroud. She loves the traitor, Vincent.”
Dominic, Malum’s new first-in-command, added, “I’ll make Vincent watch as I slowly kill her. I want his last thoughts to be of how powerless he was to protect Noemi from me. After I’m done with her, he’ll beg me to end his wasted life.”
Malum shouted, “You’re not even half the warrior she is. You could have learned a few things from her. Noemi’s life is in my hands, to do with as I please. Perhaps, in time, if she fails to satisfy me, you may do what you’d like with her. But until such time, you shall not lay even a finger upon her!”
“Aaah!” Startled, Vincent woke up. Drenched in sweat, he sat upright in bed. His heart raced. He placed his hand over his head. “God, Jak, what did I do?” He sobbed violently before stumbling to his feet. Throwing back the blackout curtains, he dried his tears on them. He shielded his eyes from the midday sun, and inhaled a cleansing breath. He rubbed the dark circles under his eyes. Vincent looked out upon the city of Los Angeles. He leaned his head on the sliding glass door and slapped his open palm against it. “Noemi, hold on.”
Vincent washed and dressed in a flash. He got on his motorcycle and sped through the city, weaving in and out of traffic. He raced north, following the rocky coastline.
The overcast sky threw shadows, so that the bright became dark and the dark turned gloomy. Gray clouds draped over the roaring ocean tide, making the steep cliffs high above the water’s edge appear bleak and forlorn. A foreboding wind blasted in manic spurts. The long, slender stalks on the grassy ledge bent and bowed to the wind’s command. In the distance, a strong gust rustled the leaves among the murky forest. Sea squalls drove angry whitecaps toward the coast, bashing waves against rocks beneath the cliffs. From high above on the grassy ledge, the ocean seemed black and unending.
Barroomm. Barroomm. The black motorcycle wildly sped up the twisting road that scaled the ledge overlooking the ocean.
Vincent wore a black helmet, a black leather jacket, black jeans, and even black shoes. With nary another vehicle on the road, he jetted the bike across traffic lanes and came to a screeching halt, leaving long tire marks on the pavement. He stopped at the entrance to a dirt path. Vincent revved the engine and then bolted up the trail. He rode with hastened desperation, jumping over dead tree branches and ducking under limbs. Though the bike looked out of control at times, the motorcycle gradually slowed with a controlled purpose as Vincent approached the top of the cliffs. Near the end of the woods and just before the open grassy ledge, he steered off the tiny dirt path.
Vincent twisted the key and shut down the engine. With his helmet and complete riding gear still on, he cautiously began walking toward the top of the cliffs.
A single crow flew overhead in a circle. Caw! Caw!
Vincent wandered over to the sharp drop-off and peered down to where the land ended and the seemingly never-ending ocean began. He turned toward the dark forest, waiting and watching from the grassy ledge. He looked at nothing else other than the distant outer rim of the shadowy woods.
As anticipated, a scruffy, middle-aged man appeared from out of the dense forest. With a leisurely gait, he walked without hesitation toward the biker in black. The disheveled man pulled back his sackcloth hood from his robe. He strolled to the edge of the cliff. “Vincent, you can take off that ridiculous disguise. I sensed you long before you ever arrived here on that loud contraption of yours.”
Far below the grassy ledge, the tides crashed against large rocks at the bottom of sixty-foot high sandstone cliffs.
Vincent removed his helmet and carelessly tossed it to the ground. The back of his heels neared the edge of the slippery grass. He quickly peeked over his shoulder at the thrashing waves below the cliff’s vertical drop. “Malum, no more games. Where’s Noemi?”
Malum snapped his fingers and a large group of young immortals emerged out of the woods. Young men and women stood shoulder to shoulder in a perfect line far behind him. There were dozens of young warriors, all blankly staring at Vincent.
The line parted for one immortal female who shoved a blindfolded Noemi out of the forest and toward the open grassy area. Noemi stumbled and fell, scraping her elbow on a small rock. It lacerated her skin and a single, elongated drop of blood ran down her forearm. Noemi’s female abductor callously jerked on the white rope tightly bound around her biceps. The captor lifted Noemi onto her feet. Though she was limping, she forced Noemi to walk onward. Her captor aggressively pushed Noemi in the back. With Noemi’s arms securely tied, the female captor harshly pushed her again toward Malum. She kicked the back of her knee, causing Noemi to instantly drop to the ground. The female immortal ripped the blindfold from Noemi’s eyes. She then backhanded her across the face. Noemi’s head and neck jolted to the opposite side.
With balled fists, Vincent lunged forward.
Malum wagged his finger. “Not yet!” he scolded.
Vincent’s heart pounded. With arms curled upward, his fists still balled, he yelled at Noemi’s captor, “Vanessa, we all grew up together! What’s wrong with you?”
“Never trifle with a woman’s affection.” She rolled her eyes and dismissively flipped her hand at him. “Whatever. I’m over you, loser.”
Malum clutched Vanessa’s shoulder. “Thank you. You may go back and join the others now.”
Vanessa spat on the ground near Noemi. “Traitor!” She narrowed her eyes and crinkled her nose before she looked high and away. Vanessa flipped her long, frosted blonde tips in the air before walking back toward the line of warriors.
Malum turned to address his young followers who were standing at the edge of the forest. He raised both of his arms and shouted, “Behold, the traitor, and her lover, the murderer!” He pointed condemningly at Vincent. “He has graced us with his charming presence!” Malum snorted a facetious laugh.
Frozen with indecision, Vincent stood there helplessly. “You know that’s not true, Malum.” His expression mixed with concern and fear. He tilted his head and half smiled at some of his former friends. They glared at him with nothing but hateful contempt. Vanessa shot a personal glare.
“I know nothing of the sort.” Malum smiled. “They can’t hear us unless we shout, you see.” He pointed his thumb backward. “The ocean drowns out everything here. Maybe even the two of you in the end.”
He chuckled. “That’s why I chose this location.” Malum gestured toward the edge of the cliff and then back at his warriors far behind him. “Vincent,” he smirked, “I have to ask you, what’s with the whole black décor?” Malum held his chin in his hand. He twirled his index finger at him. “A little drab and pretentious, don’t you think?”
Vincent remained deadpan. “What, haven’t you heard? Good guys wear black these days.” He crossed his arms.
“Oh, give me a break!” Malum threw his hands up in the air. He glanced down at Noemi, who was battered and bound. He yelled out to his followers. “I want you to learn what true weakness is!” He turned toward Vincent. “Noemi has chosen your love and death rather than power and a life with us.” Malum stuck out his hand with a thumb up sign before quickly flipping it to a thumb down. “Are you happy now? Does your vanity know no limits?”
Vincent gazed achingly toward his eternal love. His heart wished to free her. She appeared bruised with a troubled response. She struggle to move along the cold, wet grass. The right corner of her lip was busted, and dried blood caked down her arm. Most of her beautiful long hair had been hacked off, and one of her legs appeared injured. His heart thumped, his breaths became heavy, and he held numbness in place of anxiety. “Are you okay?” Vincent meekly asked. “What’ve they done to you?”
“I’m okay.” Noemi could sense that he was scared for her safety, but she knew Vincent’s fear would not help either of them in this situation.
Malum rolled his one real eye. “Yes, yes, I’ll let you both walk away as long as you never interfere with the Shroud again.”
“I don’t believe you.” Vincent tapered his eyes and slowly shook his head. “Send Noemi over to me.”
Closing the gap between them, Malum crossed his arms and stood toe to toe with Vincent.
“Fine. You leave us alone, we leave you alone.” Malum jabbed his finger into Vincent’s chest. Malum smiled. He turned around and walked close to his followers, speaking to them loudly as he did.
Vincent locked a gaze with his beloved Noemi. Her stunning brown eyes had become dull and weary. Vincent felt the sheer essence of his living soul wrenched from his body. He knew Malum well. He knew he never intended for them to walk away together, nor would he ever set Noemi free. Realizing this could be the last time he saw her, Vincent grew determined to fight what he could not win. He would make one last stand against Malum and the Shroud, waging his own personal war until his final breath left his body.
“Can you get free?” Vincent quietly asked Noemi.
Noemi struggled to loosen the rope around her arms. She could barely hold back the tears she so desperately wanted to hide. “No…I…I don’t think so.” She tried to be brave, but she knew this was the winter of their springtime love. “Don’t worry. I’m all right.” She smiled for him, but tears ran down her cheeks. “Just focus on what you have to do.”
Vincent motioned for her to look directly into his ice-blue eyes. “Together we can do this, but only together.” He took a deep breath and then exhaled. “I know I haven’t given you much reason to trust me, but we’ll make it out of here.” He stared intently into Noemi’s wondrous brown eyes. “I swear.”
She looked down at the ground and shivered. “No, no we won’t. Don’t you get it? I believe in you, but not in us anymore. We were doomed from the start.” She briefly glanced at Malum. “Love can only survive so much misery.” She squeezed her eyes tight and refused to look at Vincent. “Just go away. Get out of here while you still can.” Her tears stung her face.
“Why are you saying this?” Vincent knew they only had a few precious moments left to talk. “I won’t allow our love to be crushed. I’m not going to just go away.” His jaw tightened. “We can beat anything together.”
Malum began walking back toward them. “How inspiring, but then again, Vincent, you don’t believe you, so why should she?” he snidely remarked.
Vincent took a cautious step toward Noemi. “Dammit, I believe!” All of his muscles braced for action. “It’s not over! I won’t let it be.” He chopped his hand down and away. “We’re so close.” He gestured with his index finger and thumb, having just inches of space between them. “Don’t give up on us now.”
Malum tapped his foot on the ground and loudly grunted. He put his hands over his ears. “Oh, for goodness sake, will the two of you just shut up for a minute! I can’t take your teen angst anymore!” He stroked his chin, and inquisitively looked them over. He tilted his head. “I wanted Jak to join the Shroud, not you, Vincent. But he was a disappointment. I’ll give you credit though. At least you had the guts to kill your own brother, a fellow immortal and powerful knight.”
“Don’t talk about my brother!” Vincent shouted.
“Relax. He served his purpose.” Malum quickly glanced over his right shoulder and off into the expanse. He stared at the tip of a castle spire high on a mountaintop. “You got the girl and I got the immortal war, of which you drew first blood. It’s a two-for-one special, shoppers.” He chortled.
Vincent gestured toward all of Malum’s followers along the edge of the woods. “It’s just too bad they don’t know you like I do.” Vincent peered over at his love and then back at Malum. “You were there that night in the subway station weren’t you? Jak couldn’t be turned or manipulated, so you used me to kill my own brother instead.”
“Oh, bravo.” Malum sluggishly applauded with an unimpressed frown. “Wow, there’s no fooling you, is there?” He sneered. “Well, here’s something that I knew right away. You always wanted to be Jak, and you coveted what he had so badly,” he looked down at Noemi, “your heart already killed him. You want someone to blame. Then blame her!” Malum shouted, pointing at Noemi. “Why didn’t you release the track when he begged you to stop?”
Indignant, Vincent shot back, “I wanted to let go of the track. I tried to stop, but something held me there. I’m gonna make you…”
“Hmpf.” Malum cut him off. “Choose your next words carefully, youngling. Remember, it is my will alone that allows you to breathe.” Malum noticed Vincent eyeing the castle spire in the distance. “What are you looking at?”
“Nothing,” he quickly replied.
“Forget it! They won’t help you.” With eyes darting at Vincent, Malum motioned back in the direction of the castle. “You’re a rogue. You have no place now.” He lowered his chin with a menacing glance. “You’re not Shroud or even a real knight. You’re just a punk kid. A vigilante with a chip on his shoulder…A wannabe hero.” Malum casually plucked some lint from his sleeve. “Besides, they never really help anyone. At least the Shroud takes action.”
Undaunted, Vincent turned his attention along with a few tender words toward Noemi. “I’m so sorry for everything.” His ice-blue eyes fell downward and filled with damp regret. “I’ve loved you for so long. I buried how I felt ‘cause you were with Jak.”
“No, stop!” Noemi called out to him as she slumped over on the ground. “Save yourself. You’ll learn to love another. Please, I’m begging you!” She pressed her forehead against the wet grass and sobbed.
“Never.”
Noemi slowly tilted her head up. “I didn’t mean it when I said I should’ve married Jak. You need to understand that I never loved him like you.” Her eyes mirrored shame when she looked up at Vincent.
Malum loudly belched. “Up here, buddy, I’m talking to you.” He put his hand over his stomach. “For crying out loud, you’re giving me indigestion! Noemi, if Jak really loved you, he’d have joined the Shroud. You both could have had the benefits of power without surrendering your personal freedom to the knights’ traditions.” He waved his arm sideways through the air. “Cut to the chase and stop your blubbering. That joker didn’t love you, but this sap over here does.” He shrugged. “You want to hop on the back of his motorcycle and live happily ever after?” He gritted his cracked yellow teeth and stomped the gro
und. “Well, it’s not happening! Say goodbye and prepare for a long, cold journey into everlasting death!”
“Wait!” Vincent put his hand up at Malum. “Just loosen her arms and let me hold her once more.”
Malum rubbed the deep scar that ran from the top of his left eyebrow to the bottom of his cheek. “Yeah, I don’t think so. But I will do this.” He lifted his hand in the air and sent a wave of invisible ripples toward Vincent, knocking him down and pushing him backward.
Vincent dug his fingernails into the ground. He slid toward the edge of the cliff. He grabbed handfuls of long grass. He stopped himself from plunging off into the crashing ocean waves. His shoulders hung over the ledge. He quickly peered down at the rocks rising past the breakers.
“Drat! What do you know, I missed.” Malum brooded. He tucked his elbows back, bent his bony fingers, and charged another shot.
Vincent leapt to his feet, raised both hands, and blocked Malum’s next surge. His eyes shut briefly with a strained press. With his chin tight, his calves flexed forward, his bodyweight wobbled sideways and backward. He grimaced, yet never took his eyes off Noemi. His power and control faded. Bursts of hot and cold tingled throughout his skin. “Aaah!” he yelled. Gathering the last of his strength, Vincent returned the surge upon Malum. The pulse wave flung the dark lord head over feet tumbling to the ground.
At the forest perimeter, some of Malum’s young warriors squinted and gawked, their mouths agape, while others shook their heads.
“Argh!” Malum looked over at them, and then glared at Vincent. He wrinkled the folds of skin on the bridge of his nose and arched his brows downward. He gnashed his teeth. He hastily stood from his flat position, shaking the grass off his hooded robe.
Malum screamed, “So this is how it’s going to be, eh? I never should’ve wasted my time teaching you the finer things of the dark arts and sciences!” Malum summoned two translucent black, serrated strikers. He charged toward Vincent. His blades smoldered a ghostly trail of smoke in their wake. Malum jumped, swiping his swords down.
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