Dark Revelation

by S. E. Myers

  ***

  Tristan, Adrianne, and the twins headed back the way that he came. Tristan could hear noises behind and to his side.

  Adrianne looked wild eyed. She felt naked without her imp. Almost as if a part of her were missing. She yearned for her husband. It was the only way she could draw any power now. Although Vee worked his magic and attempted to heal her, it didn’t make her complete and fill in the void she was currently feeling.

  She had the girls to either side of her holding their hands. She could feel how afraid they were through their trembling fingers. “Shhh now, it will be okay. We will get you back to your parents.”

  Tristan still hadn’t the heart to tell the kids that their parents were dead; however, he knew that he had to get them out of the Sanctum and away from Finar. He figured he would take them to the safe house and find someone to watch and keep guard over the children until another relative stepped forward. Finar hadn’t scared the entire community…yet. He was powerful, but he wasn’t powerful enough above ground.

  They reached the room where Tristan imagined hearings or rituals taking place. His eyes drew upon the center of the room and he stopped – rigid.

  In the center of the room waited Finar. Dressed in his debonair flair for style. “Now, now,” he mocked in his haughty voice. “Where do you think you are going?”

  Adrianne backed up with the kids.

  “I am taking them out of here Fin,” Tristan said as his form emerged. The flames licked at invisible wind traveling over his body. He could feel Illeana’s Chi raging inside of him. “You can’t stop me,” he threatened.

  Finar laughed, “Oh really? You think I can’t stop you?” With that he launched a condensed ball of energy toward Tristan. Tristan jumped and rolled out of the way as it crashed into the wall behind him. He wasn’t prepared for that. He would have to be quicker on his feet and reflexes.

  Inside he talked to Illeana, You have to help me. I have to save these kids… and Ryleigh’s mom. He could feel the reassurance from Illeana and a well of power deepened within his core. Tristan created his own energy ball and hurled it towards Finar. Finar was fast. He moved out of the way faster than Tristan could blink.

  He saw Finar direct his attention toward Adrianne and the girls. Tristan put himself between them balling his fists and coercing the flames to the surface. “You will not have them.” Tristan spat. “And by the way, Illeana says ‘Hello’.” Finar looked amused as Tristan shot flames from his hands towards Finar.

  The flames collided with Finar’s chest covering it like plated armor. Finar cried out in pain and fell to his knees. Tristan claimed a small victory and shot out another length of flame. The flame curled around Finar’s abdomen and he doubled. Tristan looked back towards Adrianne and the girls. “Get out of here!” He pointed towards the hallway that he came through to find them.

  Finar started laughing. Mia appeared beside him and the flame seemed to dissipate. Finar stood laughing at Tristan, “Oh, you are getting better. But, you will have to do much much better than that.” He wiped off the dust from his arms, “You can inflict pain, but I am so much more than you, youngling.”

  Tristan was angry. He flung three more explosive energy bursts toward Finar who deflected them into the rock beside him. Tristan could feel the slivers of rock scrape and embed themselves in his skin but he didn’t care. He continued to barrage Finar with the anger resonating from within. “You are a monster!” he screamed.

  Vee pleaded with Tristan, “Master stop, you are going to hurt yourself!” Tristan started pulling energy through Vee incapacitating him. Finar saw Tristan gearing up and flashed to his form. It was dark and sinister. His form had changed since the last time Tristan saw him. His eyes were glowing embers, skin as black as ice under a midnight sky. This was the result of consuming multiple Chi. He looked like a demon of old. Demon, no matter how labeled was still Fae. And Finar’s form was one that children would be scared of in the middle of the night. Tristan’s heart skipped a beat. He could see the power starting to coagulate in the palms of his hands. The room began to dampen with Finar’s darkened energy stifling the oxygen in the room.

  The twins streamed tears down their cheeks and Adrianne seemed to just freeze as if she were a deer in headlights. She stared at Finar, vastly afraid as he continued to ramp up for his next move.

  Tristan stood ready. He was ready to face him.

  Finar flung a large black ball at Tristan. Instead of deflecting it, Tristan attempted to catch and absorb it.

  The pain was excruciating. It tore through his limbs setting fire through every pore. He screamed as he could feel the heaviness of the energy. It left a dirty, grimy, metallic taste in his mouth. He tried to inhale and meld the Chi with his own. He heard Vee scream as he tried to pull it into himself. The twins started screaming loudly as the world crashed around him and went dark.

  ***

  Ryleigh heard screams… at least she thought she did. Everything grew so quiet she could almost hear her own heart beating through her chest. She looked to Nissa, “What was that?”

  Nissa shook her head, “I don’t know, Mistress. But it sounded very painful.”

  Although she was now permanently connected to Tristan, she couldn’t feel him. Finar changed Tristan and Ryleigh…was more than a Halfling. She tried reaching out to try and find him but the other pull she felt overtook her. She was determined to find her parents. It was important. She followed the winding path pushed by only her gut and intuition.

  Coming upon a corner, she hesitated. The air tasted different here, it was sweeter and felt more calming than in any other section of the Sanctum that she walked through. Ryleigh took a deep breath, inhaling her surroundings closing her eyes. She wanted to remember this. Nissa was also affected by the change. She hopped from Ryleigh’s shoulder and started to walk along side of her. Ryleigh hesitated before rounding the corner.

  She saw the room from her dream. The altar, the symbols, the paintings. It was all too familiar. She wasn’t sure why but she knew that she needed to be here. Ryleigh walked over to the altar and ran her hands along the smooth stone. There was energy here, “Nissa, can you feel this?”

  Nissa nodded in agreement. Ryleigh closed her eyes to listen to the hum beneath her fingers. The soft tones were an incantation singing her a lullaby. Ryleigh wasn’t aware of it but her body started to sway to the music she was hearing. It was almost as if it were a pulse beneath her fingers.

  Nissa looked at her Mistress and started to get a little nervous. She wondered if this was a good place or a bad place. She tugged on Ryleigh’s pants and pleaded, “Mistress?”

  Ryleigh thought she heard and felt something but all she wanted to hear was the slow drum beat and melodic tones of the music beneath her hands. She wanted to tap into it - just a little bit. Opening herself up she allowed her energy to flow into the stone.

  The stone began to glow an eerie incandescent yellow. Ryleigh opened her eyes feeling the change. She was pleasantly surprised - and curious. The room increased in light and it flickered, beating in time with the energy in the stone. Nervousness rose to the surface within her and she could feel a rumbling inside. Nissa was scared. She knew that something was wrong and this was not supposed to happen. Nissa was connected to this place and had genetic memories, this wasn’t supposed to happen. At least, not with her here.

  Ryleigh stepped back, afraid of what she might have done. She could feel others around her. She could feel other beings like her… but not like her, in the Sanctum. It was as if she was truly connected to this place.

  Nissa was nervous, “Mistress?”

  “Shhh,” Ryleigh responded. “I’m trying to listen.”

  Nissa obeyed as she always would. She could feel was Ryleigh was trying to do. Ryleigh was reaching out and trying to see or feel what exactly or who exactly was around. All she could pick up were glimmers of beings that streamed through her consciousness.

  She felt the screams. Her green eyes flashed open. �
��We have to go.”

  Nissa jumped on her shoulder and Ryleigh started to run in the direction she felt the screams emanate.

  ***

  Tristan’s consciousness slowly started awaking and his body felt as if it were in an awkward position. His head was pounding and his eyes felt as if there were splinters. But his body felt off. He knew he was on the ground. He could feel the stone beneath him. The warmth of the ground soaked through his clothing and drifted into his skin. As he became more awake, he was able to hear what surrounded him. He could hear the screams of the girls and rage of a male voice. He knew it was Finar. He tried to slowly move separate parts of his body.

  He heard Adrianne’s voice echo in the distance. It was shrill with cries and pleadings.

  “Tell me. Tell me about your daughter Adrianne,” he heard Finar ask.

  “You know! You know already,” she cried. Tristan heard the pain being inflicted on her.

  The male tone was different, he wasn’t sure if it was truly Finar. But then, he couldn’t be sure of anything but the splitting headache he was feeling.

  He groaned but the voices didn’t stop. He was pretty sure that they did not hear him as he rolled over despite his bones and body protesting. But he kept thinking about the girls and Ryleigh’s mom. He tried to pull energy from Vee to heal himself, but he couldn’t feel him around. He knew that he had to be knocked out or unconscious, but he couldn’t feel him at all. This worried him. He would look later, but for now, he needed to get up.

  He opened his eyes and noticed that he was hidden behind a pillar. At least he wasn’t dead. He took the opportunity to try to pull his body up from the ground. Leaning on the pillar he could vaguely see Finar’s shape holding Adrianne by the front of her clothes.

  The girls were cowering against a wall huddled together. One of the twins spotted Tristan. Tristan placed his finger to his mouth motioning them to be quiet. He could tell that Finar was more invested in the conversation he was having with Adrianne. Mia was on Finar’s shoulder just watching. It seemed there were other shadows behind Finar, supporting him, but Tristan couldn’t be sure as they were not visible. Just an echo of shapes whispering behind his coattails.

  Tristan didn’t want to shoot blind and hit Adrianne, she couldn’t defend herself. Tristan felt the storm brewing within him and reached deep. He knew he couldn’t absorb Finar’s energy, but he could deflect it and dodge it - maybe. If he could catch him unsuspecting, then he might be able to save them all.

  Tristan had to think. Think Tristan, think. He told himself. He reached inside looking for his twin knowing that she was there biding her time. He needed to draw from her strength and her desire to kill Finar.

  He concentrated to listen for her. He listened for her melodic tones, the ones he recognized, that he could pull into his own. Although he was powerful, he didn’t draw from Illeana prior to fighting Finar previously. He knew he needed Ryleigh also in order to completely incapacitate him. But at this moment, he needed to save her mother.

  Illeana stirred inside of him, combining with his energy and he started to ramp up. His form changing behind the pillar into something new and cruel. The hatred felt by him and Illeana changed his flames to black. A dark contrast to his violet colored skin. He felt the mass of energy through his palms, knowing that Finar could hurt and wanting to hurt him all the more. Tristan’s emotion shifted and changed the density of his energy to something dark and cruel.

  He waited. He wanted to bide his time to focus on the figure holding Adrianne. Closing his eyes, he used his mind’s eye to concentrate on Finar. Opening his eyes he could only see him. A direct shot. One shot. As he raised his hands in front of him, Mia spotted him.

  Tristan did not hesitate. As if in slow motion, he launched the compiled Chi balls, simultaneously toward Finar. Finar turned a half a second too late, they exploded into him knocking him backward. Immediately, Mia jumped to Finar’s side and faded him away.

  Adrianne fell, crumpling to the ground like a falling stack of cards. The twins were behind her against the wall, eyes large as saucers. Tristan rushed to Adrianne’s side.

  Picking her up, Adrianne’s body was weightless. Looking into her eyes he could see something was wrong.“What’s is it,” he asked her.

  When she spoke is was as if no breath formed the words, “It’s too late.”

  “What is too late?” Tristan’s voice pitched upward with worry. He then saw the blood beginning pooling to the front of the shift she was wearing changing its color from blue to a mottled purple tone. He reached down to inspect the wound and found a small dagger.

  “I can heal you,” he said reassuringly.

  Adrianne shook her head, “No, no, it is my time to go. I have lost everything.”

  Tristan could hear her heart still beating strong, “You can live,” he implored. “Ryleigh will be here soon,” he consoled. Adrianne offered a slight grin baring slightly pink teeth. Tristan knew it. He hoped that Ryleigh would show up soon.

  His hand, still ahold of the handle of the blade. He attempted to move his hand away from the blade but Adrianne held his hand in place.

  “It needs to stay in for me to heal you,” he said.

  “No, pull it out, it’s killing me faster,” This meant the blade was enchanted with witch magic.

  “But, you might die before Ryleigh gets here,” he implored. Tears formed behind his eyes; he couldn’t be responsible for the death of her mother. It made his chest ache for his own parents and his sister who was no longer with him physically. “I can’t do it.”

  Adrianne nodded, “I will be okay for a little while longer. It has to come out. It has to.”

  Tristan knew this to be the truth, he had heard of bewitched blades and how they kill. From the inside out. He could see it was already affecting her. Without warning her, he pulled the blade.

  Adrianne cried out.

  “I am so sorry, I’m sorry,” Tristan continued to repeat. He placed his hands on the wound willing them to close, but he knew they would not. He focused on the blood attempting to staunch the flow. He succeeded - just barely, but he needed her to stay alive for Ryleigh.

  Tristan stood with the blade in his hand. Intricate craft work decorated the handle. But before he could dispose of it, he heard a cry.

  “Mom!”

  Ryleigh found them.

  23

  Whose fault is it really?

  Ryleigh knelt at her mother’s side. Blood poured from her wound. Ryleigh wasn’t aware of who killed her mother - yet. Only that Tristan was holding the blade. Her mother looked up gazing into Ryleigh’s eyes. She opened her mouth to speak. Ryleigh crying said, “Don’t say anything Mom, it will be okay.” Knowing that it wouldn’t be okay.

  Adrianne spoke in faint whisper, “Ryleigh, I am so sorry,”

  Interrupting her Ryleigh said, “No mom, don’t apologize, don’t. You were going to tell me, you were, that’s why we were going camping. So you could teach me. I understand, I do.” Tears rolled down her cheeks as choking sobs dammed her throat.

  Smiling at Ryleigh Adrianne replied, “I will be with you always. Do what is right.”

  Adrianne placed her hand on Ryleigh’s chest above her heart. Ryleigh felt a burning sensation in its place. She was trapped in a moment of pain and power as her mother ebbed her life force into her. Ryleigh, realizing what was happening, grabbed her mother’s hand attempting to remove it. She couldn’t speak and she couldn’t do anything but hold her mother’s hand as the burning continued to increase. Ryleigh opened her mouth to scream but no sound came out.

  She heard her mother’s voice in her head saying, “It will be alright, accept it and the pain will go way.”

  Ryleigh screamed a silent NO as the pain continued to increase.

  Her mother’s voice again comforted, “Accept it my sweets, I love you always.”

  Ryleigh’s sobs shook her body like a violent earthquake. She knew she needed to accept it and reluctantly she did so. The pain immedia
tely subsided as a whoosh of energy flowed into her breaking through every pore and making her skin glow. Her mother’s hand dropped onto her lifeless body. Her vacant eyes staring into Ryleigh’s. Ryleigh could only sit there are her mother’s energy was consumed by her own. sensed someone behind her and stood up to turn around.

  Tristan.

  “You!” Ryleigh spit with venom. “YOU did this,” she screamed as she edged closer to Tristan.

  “Ryleigh,” Tristan calmly said as he moved towards her. “I did not do this. It was Finar. I swear,” he pointed to her mother and the destruction around them. “I would never do anything like this. I could never do anything like this,” Tristan pleaded.

  Ryleigh started to feel the rage inside increase and pulled the energy from inside her. She formed cannonballs in the palms of her hands she learned during training with Vera. They glowed a vibrant white and illuminated the rage in her eyes.

  Tristan stared at her, pleading, “You don’t want to do this Ryleigh. I didn’t do this; I did not kill your mother.”

  Ryleigh knew he was lying. She could see it in his eyes.

  “Ryleigh!” Tristan screamed at her as she threw one of her energy balls at him.

  “You lied to me!” Ryleigh spewed. Her anger darkened her features changing her into something different than what Tristan was used to seeing.

  He quickly dodged the ball while simultaneously throwing his blue flames around him, forming a circle surrounding his body in a bubble. Ryleigh threw another ball at him, the energy ball bounced off of the barrier exploding into a wall beside her. Ryleigh could only see darkness surrounding Tristan. The anger changed her, making her think that everything she knew was a lie. She wanted revenge. .