by Jarod Meyer
He held up his hand, and pushed with all his focus, but nothing happened. This was the end. It was as if the world slowed down. The past days were a blur of carnage and adrenaline. William felt relaxed, and his eyes opened wide. Kavin and the beast began writhing in slow motion. He could see the dust particles kicked up in the air as if a great light illuminated them. William felt warmth washing over him, and he heard a voice.
“William,” it said. The voice was so familiar he didn’t even have to look up to know who it was.
“Gabriel,” William whispered, his lips barely moving.
“You always seem to come when things are worst. How did you slow down time?” William asked.
Gabriel smiled. “Our conversations happen within your mind, William. I have not slowed the passing of time. Our exchange is simply happening more quickly,” he said.
“Oh. Well. What can I do for you before I die?” William choked, his cheek pressed to the floor.
“William, you and your companions seem to be doing very well. This ancient beast has never been challenged like this before. I do not believe it has even felt pain before today,” Gabriel said.
“Yeah, well. Looks like it is going to win again,” William replied.
“William, the last time I saw you like this, you amazed even yourself,” Gabriel said.
“Why do you always help me?” William asked.
“Why do you always doubt yourself?” Gabriel responded quickly.
William sighed heavily. “You want me to be something that I don’t want to be. I hated myself on Earth for killing those innocents. Now the only thing that I do in this life is kill, and for what?!” William said as Gabriel appeared between him and the carnage. The angelic man’s face was sad, pity weighing down his eyes.
“William, sometimes one must do evil things so goodness may flourish. I have been on Earth for a long time now, and one of the largest problems I have seen is the indifference of good men. They let evil abound, and do nothing to stop it. I am sorry for the turns in your path, but you chose to walk it. I believe that the path you are walking is necessary. And that you must never give up. Remember your friends, William,” Gabriel offered, and then he was gone.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
RETALIATION
Crippling pain overtook William’s mind again as the passing of time sped back up. The conversation with Gabe ended, thoughts of his friends now swimming in his mind, along with the agonizing bombardment from the beast Karma. There were good people in Archonia, and he wouldn’t let any evil destroy that. A beam burst forth from his eyes, and struck Karma directly in what William hoped was its head. With all the pain, darkness, and chaos, he couldn’t be sure.
His body jerked as if he had been shocked by the unseen mind invasion. He lost his focus completely and was not able to sustain his bombardment of energy. The pain intensified so greatly that he flopped over completely spent.
He still had waves of energy returning to him like sonar pings. He could see Karma in his mind. The beast, staggered, recovered and moved towards them again. The beast sank its teeth into Kavin’s shoulder trying to escape a chokehold. The old man didn’t let go, and while the creature still struggled to get free William saw a blur of black, and the flash of a blade. The great creature’s body writhed, and kicked, and as it did its head fell away from its body, and hit the floor with a thud, followed by a resounding squelch.
William’s energy waves disappeared and blindness took him. He perked up his ears and tried to turn on his belly in case he needed to crawl. The only thing that he could hear was Kavin’s heavy breathing, mixed with a low growl.
“Archonian!” Shou shouted.
With a great effort, William up righted himself. He could hear Shou stumbling in the darkness.
“We have defeated the beast! I struck the final blow! Is anyone alive?” Shou exclaimed.
“Yeah, barely,” William replied.
“How bad are your injuries?”
“Honestly, I don’t think I took a single hit, I’m just exhausted,” William replied.
“I can’t see anything. I am afraid to move,” Shou replied.
William managed to produce a faint light in his hand. Shou squinted at the light and helped William up, ushering him towards a lump on the ground.
William realized Kavin had reverted to his original size. Judging by his wounds he had fought a much more vicious fight with Karma. One of his arms lay completely severed, and stab wounds and lacerations covered his entire body. William dropped to his knees and laid hands upon him. He pushed with all of his might, but in his weakened state he couldn’t produce any energy to heal his ally.
“No. Leave me be, young warrior,” Kavin sputtered.
William shook his head. “I can fix this,” he responded, desperately.
“I have lived long enough. I am weary of this life. I have paid my debt for the evils I have done in the mortal world. I pray that I will have better karma in the next life,” he replied, coughing up blood.
William felt helpless. Shou looked at William, waiting for him to overrule the man’s decision, and heal him, but William pulled his hands away.
“Why such a long face for me, young one?” Kavin asked, trying to smile.
“We couldn’t have done this without you, Kavin. Thank you,” William said, somberly placing a comforting hand upon his small chest. His tiny, mangled body made it all the more sad.
“You may have surprised yourself. No need for thanks, this was my fight as much as it was yours. Now you must take the heart of the beast back to that little filcher, Vanity,” he said, laboring to breathe.
“Why the heart?” William asked.
Kavin wheezed to find the strength and the words. “The heart is what he wants. It holds the power of all the souls the creature absorbed. Their strength, their knowledge. Once you are close to him you… must… eat…” But no more words followed. The grotesque little man heaved his last breath, and William watched as his eyes grew dark.
William reached up and closed his eyes gently. Then he looked at Shou. They locked eyes for a brief moment then their heads turned to the massive beast lying headless next to them. William’s light fell upon it, casting eerie shadows.
Shou didn’t waste any time. His blade sung as it pierced the thick outer shell of the creature with ease. He made an x-shaped slice in Karma’s under belly, and reached inside. The sound of his arm digging inside the creature’s carcass was wretched. Shou’s face didn’t hint at disgust however.
Better him than me.
Shou’s arm slid out of the corpse, the object clutched in his hand casting light over the ancient stones. “The heart of Karma,” Shou growled.
William stared at it in awe, his eyes screaming in protest to the vivid light. If he were to believe Kavin, the disfigured man wanted William to eat it.
“Kavin said I would absorb its power somehow,” William said.
Shou silently contemplated these words.
“All the evil that it has absorbed. What would I become if I consumed it?” William asked.
The beast’s body moved in William’s peripheral vision and he had Gungnir in his hand in moments. Shou jumped at the sight of William drawing his blade and turned. The carcass was moving. Near the belly a lump protruded.
Shou stuffed the heart in a travel sack on his hip, and whirled his blade, ready for another fight.
“What the hell? Is this thing pregnant or something? Don’t tell me we have to fight a little one,” William shouted.
Shou shook his head, and they both kept their eyes on the protrusion as it moved towards the opening Shou made to remove the heart.
“Get ready!” Shou yelled. The bump reached the hole and guts and organs flowed out of the opening, along with a man.
“Goddammit, Leo, you scared the shit out of us,” William yelled, realizing who it was.
“Apologies, Archonian, for not being more courteous. My body may be invulnerable, but I still need to breath. I almost suffoc
ated in that pile of death,” he spat, shaking off the thick goo covering him.
Shou gave William a look of relief and walked over to help his friend clean up. William did his best to bury Kavin, but there was little more than bones to bury him with. He didn’t have the strength to break the stone at their feet and make a hole, so he covered his body as best he could.
Completely exhausted, the group agreed to camp in the main chamber for the evening. After all it was rather safe now that the dwelling’s only inhabitant was dead. Leopoldo was still frightened that in some manner Karma was still alive, so he periodically went over to stab the corpse with his bone sword. After about the twentieth time he seemed satisfied.
William lit a small flame, which hovered in the air. It threw warmth and light around the area.
“Shou, was that you that delivered the killing blow?” Leopoldo asked.
“Yes, the pain left my mind and I acted as quickly as I could,” he said, bowing his head.
“Leo how did you fare?” William asked.
“I’m afraid I didn’t do much more than distract the beast,” he replied, averting his eyes.
“That helped more than you know. Gave Kavin and I a chance to cripple that thing,” William replied, patting Leopoldo on the back.
“I can’t believe we did it. So many have perished trying to best this beast,” Leopoldo said.
“Yeah but has anyone ever tried as a group?” William asked.
“Many times,” Shou said.
“They must not have wanted it badly enough,” William finished.
William’s two companions eventually drifted off into a meditative state, and William quickly followed suit. He saw Angelica’s familiar face almost immediately after the trance took him.
His heart hammered, audibly in his head. Vanity stood behind her, his long arms wrapping around her. He looked directly at William, as if he could see him through the nightmare. Angelica began to scream, slumping towards the ground, writhing in agony.
The dream cut short, his already strained mind unable to handle the punishment. The explosion that ensued rocked the hall, and sent Leopoldo and Shou flying. William leapt to his feet surrounded in energy, growling through labored breaths.
“I have to go,” William said barely leaving them time to register what he was saying.
“We will come with you, but we need rest,” Leopoldo protested, staggering to his feet.
“I know that you need more rest, but I don’t, and I can’t waste any more time. I’m going for Tamara. Meet her west of Vanity’s fortress in a day,” William said, confidently.
Leopoldo tried pleading with him once more. “William, you can’t defeat Vanity on your own. He will not give up Tamara, even if you give him the heart.”
“He will betray you,” Shou added.
William turned. “When were you going to tell me this?” he shouted.
“I wasn’t… because I saw how arrogant you were. I thought you may actually try to take him on alone. His forces would have decimated you, but now we have the key,” Shou said, pausing.
“What key?” William shouted in exasperation.
“The heart of Karma. If you absorb its power, you will have the strength of every soul it has consumed. Vanity will not be able to stand before you. This is why he has sought the Karma’s destruction. This is why every Dichonian has,” Shou finished.
All of these horrible nightmares that William was having made him wonder if they were from being in Dichonia, or if somehow his own deeds were haunting him again. Would consuming the heart make these nightmares come true?
“Shou, give me the heart,” he said, holding out his hand.
The Japanese warrior didn’t question him. He merely detached the pouch from his waist, and held it out. William snatched it from him.
“Leo, mark Vanity’s fortress on this map,” William said, producing the parchment from his waist pouch. Leopoldo was more apprehensive than Shou, but William gazed at him with unwavering determination.
“William, I…”
“Just fucking mark it, Leo!” William interjected.
Leopoldo’s face turned from mild concern to an annoyed grimace, and William watched him mark a few things on his map.
“I’ve marked a few landmarks between here and there. Shouldn’t be difficult for you to find,” Leopoldo said, tossing the map back, and closing off his posture.
“You two stay clear of that fortress. Wait for Tamara. If I don’t return, you get your asses to the wall, and plead with them to let you into Archonia. You are both better than this place, and deserve more,” he said. Then he turned and took off. He was confident that they would be tough enough to get clear of Karma’s lair without his help.
For William alone it was a simple task to navigate his way to the exit. His light surrounded him, and he shot through the passages like a fireball, casting dazzling shadows over its vast corridors. He plunged into the water, and shot through the fire, emerging from the deep hole all in a matter of minutes.
As he flew he could feel a great energy emanating from inside Shou’s pouch. The aura was greater than many older Archonian’s combined. If he did consume it, he held no doubt that he would become powerful.
He made his decision back in the depths of Karma’s prison. He would not let his loved ones perish without doing everything he could to stop it. He would do what was necessary, yet again, to complete a mission. Whether it was considered a moral act or not he would see it through to the end.
Not a single demon dared approach him as he tore through the sky in a blur of light. Whether it was his rage, or the demon heart he carried, he didn’t know. With each passing mile his rage grew. Gabe and Achilles warned him against using his rage in Archonia; they encouraged it in Dichonia. Whatever morality he’d gained during his time in Archonia, if it wasn’t already gone, would likely not survive the day. The mortal world wasn’t fair, and neither was this one.
He blazed a trail through the sky, leaving a streak of light behind him. If Vanity had scouts watching for him, they would know he was coming. After hours of travel through the wastelands of Dichonia. He saw the fortress taking shape through the darkness to his left. He must have aimed a little wide since the last landmark that Leopoldo had marked upon his map. The giant cone shaped sulfur vent that jutted from the ground had been spouting ash from the ground in a great cloud. It was no wonder why he was slightly off course. He quickly corrected his trajectory.
Vanity’s fortress looked ominous sitting on the edge of a vast canyon. During his last approach he could not fully appreciate its size, thanks to the blizzard consuming the landscape. When they entered the hole that morning it took them the entire day, and into the night with a short rest. Now, in the dwindling hours of night, he was approaching Vanity’s castle.
The Windows glimmered with light, and William suspected that Vanity’s entourage was busy with their extravagant parties. He would be in for a rude awakening. The turrets grew more defined in the darkness, and he could make out figures roaming the vast corridors.
Vanity’s Guards were on him quickly. Demon hybrids - half Dichonian, half demon. Gungnir twanged as William pulled it from its sheath. His armor shone bright, clean and unblemished. He cut the demons to pieces before they could lay hands on him.
William crashed through the skylight, dropping right down into the main chamber the very place he first met the tyrant. The severed parts of the hybrid demons hit the floor all around him.
Screams filled the air and the music ceased. William spotted Vanity on the top tier of the room, his face stuck in a comical mask of surprise.
“Guards!” Vanity shouted, after composing himself.
William thrust his hand into the pouch and held Karma’s heart aloft. Even in the bright light of the chamber it glowed, radiating incredible amounts of energy.
Vanity’s thugs and soldiers poured into the room, ready for a fight, but William watched Vanity’s eyes change from fear to wonder. The Tyrant’s hand went
up into the air, signaling the battalion of warriors to stay back.
William, feeling the heart for the first time, was surprised. It was soft, and fleshy, as expected. But it was surprisingly small, considering the size of creature it previously inhabited. Strange. Radiating so much power, and it was just larger than a human heart.
Vanity stood frozen, his hands held to his smiling mouth. “No, it cannot be,” he said, almost squeaking. “My dear, William. I am so sorry that I doubted you,” Vanity said, not taking his eyes off his prize. “I do believe we had an arrangement. Bring me William’s little whore,” he said to one of his guards, and the man walked away. Then he turned back to William. “May I hold it?” Vanity asked William innocently.
He still thinks me naïve.
“Francois, you surprise me. For all your intelligence, you actually believed that you could take my property, threaten my life, and leave me to rot in a pile of corpses, and then expect me not to kill you?” William asked, suppressing a smirk as the smaller man flinched.
Vanity’s smile went instantly sour.
“Because I would rather not have to make a mess of my home, but I must warn you, William. I will have you killed. Now I will give you the girl, and let you be about your business. Simply give me the heart, and we can settle this without anyone getting hurt,” Vanity proposed. William thought for a moment. He knew Vanity thought him a fool. He also knew that if he handed over the heart, he would never leave the man’s fortress, alive.
“How does it feel, Francois? To have what you desire most within your grasp, only to have it taken away?” William asked, and then sank his teeth into the heart.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
TRIPURA GOLD
Katrina rubbed her hands over her wrists and shuddered. They were perfectly fine now, but not hours ago there were bloody holes punctured through. Metallic shackles were now clamped in place. They weren’t breaking either, which meant that they were a powerful projection. She couldn’t believe that it came to this. To be a prisoner in Archonia was a symbolic gesture. Now, they were taking real prisoners. How quickly the world changed.