by Nesa Miller
Velnoxtica
Dar’s gaze penetrated Midir to the depths of his black soul. “Show me,” he snarled, Day Star flashing forward, leaving a shallow gash across his left shoulder. Burning Heart opened another cut across Midir's right shoulder. “You have taken everything I’ve ever loved, but not this time, brother. Not this time. This life you will not destroy.” He followed his brother’s retreating steps, Day Star in the lead.
Midir answered his strikes. “You have no life with this one.” His sword slid past Dar's block and scored a hit, leaving a cut across his neck. “You can feel it in her blood. Whatever bond you had weakens by the minute. You should know she has willingly taken my blood.” He came at him with an overhead swing.
Dar blocked his move. “You lie. She would nev-”
“But she did.” Midir held his sword close, giving his poisoned words time to work. “She’s ready to be mine.”
Dar then realized the game played at his expense. Just moments ago, this dark force was ready to sacrifice her just to see him suffer. He dropped his swords and looked over at Etain. “Let’s test that theory.”
Across the yard, Etain bit her bottom lip, watching as Midir’s sword sliced into Dar, who went down to a knee. “No!” Nim’Na’Sharr went into action, killing demons in her bid to get to him. There were far too many to make much headway, but she continued to fight regardless.
Midir leaned down, glaring into his brother’s face. “I will take her while your corpse grows cold and the crows feed on your flesh. She will bear me many sons.”
“Which is it, Midir? Wife or victim?” Dar struggled to restrain the beast within. “If you asked her, I think she’d say they are the same. See for yourself. She fights for me.” His voice ended in a roar as Burning Heart sliced deep across Midir's chest. The injured warrior dragged himself to his feet, blood rolling down his leg. “I will see the both of us dead before I allow her to be tainted by you.” With renewed strength, he launched a fresh volley of blows.
They exchanged blow for blow, each taking numerous hits. Out of the blue, Midir asked, “How is your daughter?”
Dar withdrew a few steps. “Victoria is dead. You murdered her.”
Midir laughed. “You really believe she was your daughter?” He brandished his sword. “That’s the past. I’m talking about the here and now. The little demon girl. Who would’ve thought the righteous Dar of Krymeria would fuck his own daughter?” Midir laughed. “And leave her pregnant?”
“She isn’t…” He refused to take the bait. “How do you know of the child?”
“On the lakeshore, when we battled last, I felt the presence of another life. One that wasn’t there when I first met her.” He eyed his brother. “It will bring back sweet memories, destroying your latest attempt to build a family. You remember your first family, don’t you? I peeled the flesh from their small bodies, one agonizing strip at a time, while they begged for their lives. Their cries were music to my ears.” He backed away a few more steps. “Once you are dead, Etain will stand by my side, then I will rip your whore and her unborn bastard apart.”
Images from the past mixed with those of the present. Dar’s control over the beast slipped a notch. “You...will…not...touch...them,” rumbled from deep in his chest. “You will not destroy the life of another innocent.”
The rage burst forth, annihilating Dar’s slender thread of control. Instead of the bloodlust, a golden glow emanated through his skin, growing brighter and brighter, as if the very sun itself burned within him. “No more!”
Midir sprinted away, disappearing through the open door.
Day Star blazed with golden fire. Burning Heart burned with flames of crimson.
“The air reeks with your fear. Come out, come out, wherever you are,” he said, slicing along the wall in a methodical cadence as he worked his way closer to his cowering brother. “Come out and play with your new master. His name is Death.”
Although Etain had never seen Dar in this state, she had heard enough stories about his white light, his solar flare ultimá, to realize what was happening. The ground trembled. Windows exploded outwards, covering the ground with shards of glass. She frantically hacked her way through the demon horde standing between her and safety, diving behind the remains of a partial wall for protection.
She shivered, seeing the melted edges of the stone wall. “Holy hell.”
Having heard Dar’s proclamation to his brother, she raised up, peering over the wall. There wasn’t a demon in sight and what little vegetation had existed was now ash. The destruction left her overwhelmed.
Dar’s glowing swords caught her eye. Nim’Na’Sharr, linked by the blood to her creator, as well as her mistress, spoke of the mighty weapons. They are his newest creations. Day Star, which he named for the sun and salvation of his heart. His love for you is true, mistress. The other is Burning Heart, the flaming retribution he seeks against those who have taken innocent lives.
A loud yelp from across the yard ended the conversation. Dar had obviously located his brother. He stalked toward a deformed iron door melted by the power emanating from him.
A voice from behind made him stop.
“Not now, Etain.”
“I can think of no better time.” Having shared blood, she knew more about him than anyone, knew the things most important to him. “You mean to kill him,” she stated, knowing his answer. She walked around to face him.
“We’re wasting time.” He looked over her shoulder at the melted doorway.
Her eyes went to the blade etched in flames. “Flame of Retribution? Is that how you want this to play out?”
His gaze snapped back to her, his expression one of grim surprise so intense, it made her jump. She cleared her throat and nodded toward her own blade. “Nim told me of your new swords.” He glanced at the crystal in her hand. His expression remained grim, but he understood. Good.
“Killing Midir, to stop him from doing more harm, is a good thing.” She leaned forward, bringing her face close to his. “But to kill him in retribution of your own loss, to prove yourself against him, or to satisfy your hate is not.” He cocked his head, ready to rebuke what she said, but she didn’t give him the chance. “You have been terribly wronged but will Midir’s death change those wrongs?” Dar was silent. “Stop for a minute and think. His death won’t undo what he’s done or bring back your family.”
“You’re a fine one to talk. Tell me you weren’t satisfied seeing the head of your family’s assassin separated from his neck.”
“If I denied it, you’d know it was a lie. Aye, it felt good to know he would never kill again. But it wasn’t me who wielded the sword, was it? You did it for me. To keep me safe. To make sure I felt safe. You did that for love.
“Killing Midir for revenge will only complete his evil by twisting the good in you to darkness. If you fight with hate in your heart, he will win and you will die. If the goodness in you dies, I will die. Faux will die. The child will die. Everything you’ve fought for will die.”
He felt like he had been slapped, but he knew it was true. Leaning back, he saw Etain as he had never seen her before. Here stood this woman, seemingly young and inexperienced, laying bare his very core with her words.
“Be true to yourself, my love,” she whispered. “Your heart must be pure to defeat your brother. This must be done for the safeguard of innocence, not the evil of revenge.” Smoothing his brow with her fingertips, she took his face into her hands. “I love you, Dar. You are my life. Do not let the darkness of your brother steal your light.”
Those three words meant more to him than anything else. The tension eased from his muscles. He had to forget about revenge and release the hate in his heart. Midir was his dark side and must be accepted without reservation. It was essential he engage in the spirit of justice, not revenge.
“Thank you,” he said.
“With that said…” She stepped back. “You owe me a life.”
“How so?” Where was she going with this?
“The assassin who butchered my family.”
“Aye. What about him?”
“Midir sent him.” She gripped his arm, her gaze boring into his. “Midir murdered my family. His life is mine.”
Dar pulled from her grasp. “He is my brother, my responsibility.”
“You had your chance. I will end him.”
“What was the talk about virtue, about taking his life for the right reasons?”
“That was saving your soul.”
“Is your soul not worth saving?”
“Killing him will save mine, and free you from having to kill your brother. Let me do this for you…and for me.”
He took a step closer to the door where Midir had fled. “I once told you it would take the strength of a demon to kill him.”
She lifted her chin. “I am a demon.”
“With a lot to learn. You cannot beat him, Etain. He is too strong.”
The look on her face cut him to the core. When she spun around, disappearing through the door, his sympathy flashed into anger. “Goddamn it.” He dashed after her and his brother.
Along the way, he encountered small pockets of demons, easily overcoming their attempts to kill him. Neither Etain nor Midir had shown themselves Sensing their locations, he found a modicum of solace knowing they were moving in opposite directions. He moved deeper into the tunnels beneath the castle, following corridor after corridor, staving off the fear that, at some point, his lady would cross paths with his brother before he could catch up to either of them.
Turning a corner, he came upon a throng of demons, their long spears jabbing at his face. Dar managed to take one of the lead demons down, but the press of those behind pushed him back. Giving ground, he fought off their thrusts. When an opportunity showed itself, he was quick to take it.
A distinctive odor, strong enough to overpower the stench of the demons, rolled through the passageway. A syrupy, sweet reek that rekindled memories of Krymeria, the world of his birth. Some noble families had kept such creatures as a show of strength, monstrous beasts that exuded that unmistakable smell. Velnoxtica, lumpy masses of rag-like, sticky tendrils that engulfed and dissolved anything that came into contact with it. One drop of the mucus from the fleshy center would eat through skin and bone within seconds.
Aware of what lay in wait, Dar increased the fervor of his fight, mentally kicking himself for letting these maggots herd him so easily. A sudden flutter on his back made him glance over his shoulder. The Velnoxtica, barely ten feet away, was already reaching out with its sticky fingers. His twin blades weaved through the demons, spinning and cutting in as magnificent a dance as he had ever performed. The demons’ bravery boosted by the sight of the creature, surged forward, unaffected by Dar’s flashing scimitars. Many had to be hit several times before even acknowledging the first blow. There were simply too many for the warrior to hold his ground. The flicking tendrils stretching their full length, searching for their next meal, felt their way toward him. He had no room to maneuver. The spears would either run him through or force him into the creature. Eyes bright, his burst of laughter startled the demons. He’d be damned if a demon would end his life. Dar spun on his heels, diving into the mass of the Velnoxtica.
Etain pulled up short, staring at the dark hole where Dar had disappeared. She didn’t know what he faced, but she’d seen the grotesque tendrils reaching for him. And the smell... Bloody hell! Holding her breath, she watched the demons back away and disappear down another corridor. She listened to Dar’s struggle and waited. A minute or so later, she gasped for air, running a hand through her hair.
Come on, Dar. Please come out. She bit her bottom lip, her heart in her throat. “Please, my love,” she whispered.
Just as she decided to go after him, the sound of footsteps made her retreat into the shadows. Midir came into view, a smirk on his face.
“And so you die,” he said, sheathing his sword. “The risks I took getting you here to prove whose life was the lie. To show you the emotions you hold onto so dearly have no place in the heart of a true warrior. If Father were here, he’d finally understand who is the better son. At least our struggle is over.” He laughed. “I thought you almost my equal. Never would I have fallen into such a trap.”
Etain swiped away her tears, reached for her dagger, and lunged at the man. “You aren’t far behind him, fucker.”
Midir turned in time, leaning back and over, avoiding the deadly arc of her blade. Going with the move, he slid past her, grabbing her around the waist and getting hold of her wrist. “Lady Etain. Perfect timing.” He squeezed until she dropped the blade. “Alone at last.”
“You make me sick,” she said, struggling against his grip. “Dar!”
“He won’t be saving anyone anymore. Say your farewells, milady.”
“No! Let me go! Dar! Dar!” Tears blurred her vision. She felt sick to her stomach, her heart about to explode. She had to get to him. He couldn’t be dead. She would know. She would feel the loss.
No matter how hard she fought, Midir held tight.
“Let’s leave the Velnoxtica to its dinner.”
“Fuck…off!” Using the force of her wings, she pushed against Midir, his grip loosening when he hit the rock wall. Twisting from his grasp, her talons extended, slashing down, raking him from cheek to belly. “You won’t live to see another day,” she said, her other set of talons ready to strike.
Midir barrelled into her, transitioning into his demon form. His great wings far exceeded the span of Etain’s, engulfing her completely. “I will…and so will you.”
Trapped within his embrace, Etain could do no more than move her head. She stilled and, hard as it was, allowed his face to come close to hers. His breath against her skin, the condescending leer in his eyes, his smirk… It was too much. She lashed out with her teeth.
He snapped back, his grin erased. “Taming you will be a pleasure.”
“I’ll kill myself first.”
In spite of his struggles to hold the wildcat, Midir laughed. “Begging for bondage so soon? You are a delight.”
“Stop!” she screamed. “Let me go!”
His laughter echoed off the walls as he dragged her down the corridor. “I will never let you go, Lady Etain. You are mine.”
19
Fallen
Hearing footsteps, Midir slowed his pace, tightened his grip on Etain, and waited.
“Is that fear I smell?” she asked, making another attempt at freedom.
He gave her a lopsided grin. “Merely anticipation, milady.”
A soldier in full armor, followed by men clad similarly, appeared from an opposite corridor. “Milord, are you well?”
“Lieutenant Cromorth. Yes, we…” He stole a glance at Etain, “are fine. We have fulfilled our objective and the prize is ours.”
Cromorth bowed his head. “Shall we sweep the remaining corridors, milord?”
“No need. The threat has been eliminated. You and the men take the night off. Enjoy yourselves.”
“Yes, milord.” With a salute, he and his men disappeared down the tunnel.
“Dar isn’t dead.”
“Let it go, Etain. I won. He’s gone. The sooner you accept that fact, the easier it will be.”
“Nothing’s gonna be easy for you, especially me.” She gave him a hard push. “I can walk on my own.”
“Until we’re clear of these tunnels, you’re stuck to me.”
She expressed her disgust with a snort. “Afraid I’ll rescue him from whatever monster you’ve set on him?”
“Not likely. Velnoxtica don’t leave remains. You’d only be risking yourself.”
She slapped him. “Asshole.”
He gritted his teeth. “You have no idea. But keep it up and I will leave no doubts.” He squeezed her arm, making her yelp, and pushed her ahead of him. “Let’s go. This day has made me weary.”
After a few steps, she stopped, smirked, and continued walking.
“Confident, are
we?” he asked.
She shrugged. “I don’t have anything to do with this. It’s whatever Midir wants.”
“From your point of view, I’m sure it looks that way. I told your father I would take care of you, and I have.”
“Great job, killing everyone I’ve ever loved.”
“Not everyone… There’s still that Alamir chieftain and his brats.”
Anticipating her violent reaction, Midir slammed into her, pinning her against the rock wall. “You and I, we have history. It’s time you learned the orchestration of your-”
“This obsession with me is sickening. I was just a girl. No one special. I was happy! Why? Why would you tell my father such a thing? How long had you planned their murders? What history have we ever had?”
He felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise. The cold steel against his throat told him it was too late.
“We don’t give a damn about your lies,” Dar said, his lips close to Midir’s ear. “Let her go, then we will end this farce we call brotherhood.”
A nervous smile crossed Midir’s face. “Well done, brother. Not many have survived the drool of the Velnoxtica.”
Midir pressed his body into Etain’s for a brief moment, then gave her a hard push. She stumbled out of the line of fire just as he swung around with his saber, followed by a dagger jab. Dar twirled out of the way and turned, slashing down with his own sword. Saber and scimitar locked hilts, bringing the combatants face-to-face.
Dar heaved up, pushing his evil sibling back. “It’s not so hard if you know where to aim.”
Midir rolled with the momentum from Dar’s shove, but stepped on a stone, losing his footing. Although he tried to catch himself, he slipped to one knee. Dar was on him with both blades.
Midir reacted equally fast, his head and shoulders bobbing as he tried to get back to his feet. Unfortunately for Dar, his assault left him too close to the wall to move. He attempted to ease back as Midir straightened.