Ignoring the display, Blackall reached down and picked up a small lump of dry earth. Blowing on it, a strange, blue ember ignited within the lump. Blackall swallowed it, and at that, his eyes began to glow with white flame, and as he screamed a great mass of fire escaped his mouth and moved straight toward the Valak in a great billowing cloud. The creature recoiled, slightly burned, grasping it’s chest protectively. Annabelle saw that, embedded within it’s great scarred chest, was the item the man in black had held up on the streets of London - the one that had seemed to hold so much power.
Though the flames had hit the Valak, the creature didn’t seem diminished at all. In fact, the attack seemed to have fed it somehow. It’s glowing skin burned brightly as it flexed it’s great, mangled muscles in a show of resilient power. But Blackall didn’t stop. Holding a hand to his throat and appearing to speak some words, he screamed once more, and from his throat sprung terrible cold, a frost so thick it solidified in the air, forming great stretching icicles between he and the creature. They collided with the Valak, covering it’s great, monstrous body with blue cold. But with a great, flexing movement, the Valak freed itself; revealing that little damage had been done.
Blackall didn’t waste time. From within his cloak, he summoned a two-balled flail which he swung overhead and then hurled at the Valak with supernatural force. It wrapped itself around the great feet of the creature, eliciting a squeal from it’s grotesque, spitting mouth. The flesh around the flail grew gray and brittle, turning to stone. Soon, the creature’s feet cracked and broke off. It braced itself with it’s great, fleshy scepter to stay upright as it roared in painful anger, it’s eyes glowing fiery hatred. But with a great, taloned finger, it touched the item embedded in it’s chest, and another massive wail rose up from the wanderers of the burning valley. At the sound of their cries, his feet began to regenerate. But Brisbee threw the flail again, this time it made home around the creature’s arm and pinioning it to the ground.
Blackall waved his left arm over his right, speaking once more, and his right arm turned into a great sword. He charged at the Valak in full force while it struggled against the flail’s chain. As Blackall approached, the creature wretched, and a mass of black, tar-like substance escaped it’s throat, covering Blackall completely. The substance was so thick and black it thrust him to the ground, weighing him down and covering his form completely.
No! Annabelle’s heart cried out, her body wracked with pain at seeing him defenseless.
As Blackall lay disarmed, the substance changed, transforming into millions of tiny writhing creatures. He flailed beneath the black mass as the Valak cackled maliciously. It felt as if her heart had been pierced by a cold knife. She made to run down the mountain, though she knew she’d never make it in time.
“YES, BOY,” the Valak mocked. “JOIN MY COMPANY. COME UNTO ME. I SHALL EAT YOUR SOUL.”
The black mass was getting darker, filling Blackall’s body like poisonous spores. Annabelle’s heart contracted painfully within her chest, she would run to him, no matter what it meant. She could never contend with the Valak, but it didn’t matter anymore.
But as she slid down the dusty slope of the mountain, she saw the figure beneath the black mass move. It was shaking, vibrating. Soon, hands had ascended from the black, and then Blackall’s head shone through. The black mass retreated as blue light descended, falling like rain on a sunny day, out of place and strangely soothing. Blackall was speaking now, words she couldn’t make out as she stumbled desperately down the slope. But she could see that the Valak was panicking, contorting painfully as the blue light glowed thick and pure.
When she reached the base of the mountain, she looked up, and the Valak’s great, monstrous form exploded into hundreds of fleshy pieces, sending the item embedded at it’s core bouncing until it lay on the dusty ground at Blackall’s feet. With stained hands, he reached down and picked it up; and with a flick of his skillful fingers, a chain grew from the item on either side, which he then placed around his neck. At that, his eyes glowed with a strange new quality, and he seemed to stand a hundred feet tall, emanating power and energy beyond any creature on earth.
Annabelle feared to move closer, but continued sheepishly, despite the anxiety that would take her. Had the Valak somehow possessed him? Was he the same man as before? Would he accept her or lash out? Perhaps he had become the monster he’d just destroyed. She sensed the same burning authority of the Valak kindled in him now, pulling her in uncontrollably, begging to own her. But was it merely the call of the man she loved? Somehow, her heart was at peace. She could sense Blackall’s eternal heart beating softly, constantly beneath the waves of this new power. And all around them, the blue light shone bright.
As she approached, he turned; his eyes piercing as they locked onto her, glowing brighter than ever before, wet with the painful accusation of loss. The terror took her. She shook with it as his power drew her in and she felt herself tremble and shudder, her face crumpling. She choked on words, forcing them out though they seemed garish and alien.
“I thought,” she choked, barely able to whisper. “...I thought I’d lost you.”
Her face contracted as the words spilled out. Blackall’s chin lifted, his eyelids lowering as his bottom lip hardened. Looking directly into the deep blue of his eyes, finding the courage to truly look - and be seen - she saw that he had known all along, had been waiting for her realization to come, had been searching for her for long, lonely years.
Beyond the Blue Light Page 44