Inassea Chronicles: The Blighted Flame

by P. A. Peña

  Again, the Scarlet Mage said nothing.

  “How could you do it?” he continued. “Don’t you know what she’s done?” He ground his teeth. “You have to know. You’ve been with her this whole time. Haven’t you?”

  Still, the Scarlet Mage remained silent.

  “Dad’s dead. He died looking for you. But you, you were fine. You chose to be with her. The woman who cursed him. You chose to be with a witch over your own flesh and blood.”

  Virgil stared at his brother, desperate for a response. Just the slightest bit of acknowledgment would do. Still. Nothing came.

  “SAY SOMETHING!” he shouted as he threw his hand towards Daniel.

  He closed his fists, and the mask covering Daniel’s face burst into flames. In a matter of seconds, it was reduced to nothing but ashes collecting in the sand. Daniel’s eyes were sunken and low, cold and unfeeling.

  “What would you have me say?” Daniel began, finally breaking his silence. “Would you like me to apologize for Danté’s death? Do you want me to grovel and beg for forgiveness?”

  “I want you to care.”

  “Believe me, I care. I wanted Danté to see my dreams come true, to see that I was better than he could ever be. I wanted him to hold on to his pathetic life until that day came, but I suppose that was too much to ask for.”

  Virgil fell silent. His breaths were heavy, and his hands were trembling.

  Calm down, he thought. You have to stay in control. Don’t lose control.

  The Fang of Kayveon began to glow around Daniel’s neck. In one quick motion he burst out from the chains binding him. “It’s been twice now I’ve allowed you to live,” he said, “and yet, you keep interfering with my plans.” He summoned a pristine sword in his hand. It looked sharp enough to slice through diamonds. “Honestly, you aren’t worthy to perish by my blade, but since you insist on being a problem, you leave me with no other choice.”

  Virgil took a battle stance. “You know me. I was always the stubborn one.”

  The two men dashed towards each other. Virgil covered his fists in blue fire. His body was surging with heat, his rage ready to burst like an overfilled balloon. All he could think about was his brother, but not this imposter. No. Virgil thought of Danny, his older brother who had been taken from him.

  Virgil struck Daniel in his chest, releasing a barrage of fire. Daniel sucked in a breath as he flew back and planted his feet in the sand. He swung his sword, and the flames were gone, extinguished by the force of his swing. Daniel’s chest was scorched, and his flesh was exposed. Despite this, he stood unfazed, as if he hadn’t been damaged at all.

  Virgil hissed, blood trickling into the sand. He hadn’t seen it, but during their exchange, Daniel had slashed his arms. Once. No, twice. No, three times.

  Daniel burst forward once again, and Virgil raised his hand. A wall of fire surrounded Daniel, but he leaped into the air, clearing it with ease. Again, Daniel cut away at Virgil, leaving another six lacerations before Virgil could land a blow.

  The battle raged on for several minutes, intensifying with each strike the men traded. Virgil was beginning to grow sluggish. Individually, his wounds were nothing more than an inconvenience, but collectively, they were proving to be catastrophic. The sands were stained with his blood, and it was getting worse with each passing minute. It wouldn’t be long before he succumbed to the blood loss and slipped out of consciousness.

  Daniel, on the other hand, showed no such weakness. He stood firm, each of his movements calculated and deliberate. It seemed like the blistering pockets of skin bubbling in the night air meant nothing to him. He kept going, inching closer and closer to landing a lethal blow.

  Virgil took in a deep breath. Smoke trailed from his body, and his skin ached with burns that coated his arms. However, there was no room for pain in his mind. He was too busy fighting back the disgust seething inside him. “What has she done to you to make you like this?” he asked as he stared down his brother.

  Daniel laughed. “You think I’m bewitched? You seriously believe I could fall victim to her spell? I assure you, my thoughts, feelings, and actions have always been my own.”

  Virgil raised his hand towards Daniel. “You’re lying. This isn’t you, Danny.”

  Daniel dashed forward and took hold of Virgil’s neck, piercing Virgil’s leg with his blade. Virgil tried to scream, but the grip on his throat was far too tight. “You’re mistaken,” Daniel said as Virgil collapsed onto his knees. “I am who I have always been. This fantasy you hold of a perfect life and perfect family is just that. A fantasy.”

  Daniel released his hold and pulled his blade from Virgil’s flesh. Slowly, he raised his steel, preparing to deliver the final blow, as Virgil struggled to regain his breath.

  “You’re wrong,” Virgil said, his voice strained, yet full of vigor. He looked up at Daniel and tightened his fist as his aura began to swell. “You. Dad. Me. We weren’t perfect, but we were happy. Brother, you were happy.”

  Daniel’s face grimaced. He doubled his grip on his sword, and the Fang of Kayveon grew even brighter than it had before. “YOU ARE NOT MY BROTHER!”

  Daniel swung his sword at Virgil, his blade aimed at Virgil’s neck. Virgil released his fire in defense, although his flames weren’t blue anymore. Pain surged across his hand as golden fire erupted into the air, and Virgil couldn’t help but scream out. Despite the agony plaguing his flesh, he pumped his mana into his blast. Daniel hissed and his eyes narrowed as the inferno seared his flesh. Nonetheless, he kept his blade in motion.

  A flash of white light shone, and a loud clang echoed through the air as Daniel’s sword was knocked back.

  Virgil looked back towards Aurelia. “I’m sorry,” she said, tears falling down her face. “But I couldn’t just stand here waiting anymore. I don’t know what’s going on, but I know you’re better than this. If you die here, I’ll never forgive you.”

  Virgil swallowed the lump in his throat, and smiled. “Right,” he said as he forced himself up onto his feet. “I wasn’t thinking clearly. Thank you.”

  Daniel turned his attention to Aurelia, pointing his blade in her direction. “You just couldn’t wait your turn, huh.”

  Virgil reached over, placing his hand on Daniel’s sword. “We’re not done yet.” Virgil’s hand ceased to be, replaced with purple fire.

  Daniel fell back. His blade began to deteriorate, and he tossed it onto the ground.

  Virgil and Daniel locked eyes. Virgil’s left hand turned to flame just like the other, while Daniel summoned two more swords. Virgil’s gaze fell to the Fang of Kayveon, and his eyes narrowed.

  There’s only one way we come out of this alive, he thought.

  Virgil and Daniel charged at one another. As quickly as they leaped, the clash was over. Both men stood in the sand motionless. Daniel smirked as Virgil trembled, grunting as blood spilled into the sand. One of the swords was falling apart in Virgil’s hand, but the other was plunged deep into Virgil’s stomach.

  “You missed,” Daniel said.

  Blood ran down Virgil’s mouth. “No. I, I didn’t.”

  Daniel looked down and his eyes grew wide. Virgil held the Fang of Kayveon in his hand.

  A burst of light erupted from the black tooth, and it began to disintegrate. Virgil reached for Daniel, prompting him to quickly retreat.

  Virgil laughed, fighting through the pain. He grabbed the sword left in his gut. “I wasn’t going to touch you,” he confessed. The blade disintegrated from his body. He held his hand over the hole in his gut and hissed as he quickly cauterized the wound. He trembled, and he wanted desperately to give in to his body’s desire to shut down, but instead he smiled as he looked at Daniel. “I’d never do that to my brother.”

  Daniel’s face grew red, and he ground his teeth. He took a deep breath, and ran his fingers through his hair. “I underestimated you,” he said. “That won’t happen again.” He raised his hand towards Virgil. “Allow me to show you just how strong I’ve gotte
n over the years.”

  The blood in the sand began to glow, causing Virgil’s eyes to grow wide. He covered himself in a fiery barrier, but it was no good. Throughout their battle, Daniel had been methodically wearing Virgil down all while setting the stage for the killing blow. Dozens of spikes erupted from the blood, piercing Virgil’s body. He screamed in agony.

  In a panic, Virgil grabbed the spikes one after the other in an effort to disintegrate them. But for every one he destroyed, two more sprang forward, lodging itself deep into his flesh. The blood began to coat Virgil’s body, encasing him like a caterpillar in a cocoon. It became harder and harder to move, until it simply wasn’t possible at all.

  I have to go further, Virgil thought. My entire body. Everything I have left. I. I can’t. I can’t die.

  Virgil’s eyes began to flutter, and his heartbeat faltered.

  Aurelia charged at Daniel, quickly summoning a sword. She swung, but he parried with a blade of his own.

  “Let him go now!” Aurelia cried.

  Daniel didn’t respond, instead, pushing Aurelia back. She didn’t let up. She swung, again and again, each time putting everything she had into her strikes.

  “How could you do this to your own brother?” Her voice was boisterous and full of rage. “You two are the only blood you have left!”

  “He’s not my brother!” Daniel replied as he pushed Aurelia back once again.

  Aurelia dispersed her sword as she touched the tips of her fingers together. Her eyes were fierce, lit with a mix of anger and determination. “Cerulean Effigy!”

  Four clones of Aurelia sprouted from her body. Daniel took a step back as Aurelia and her clones approached. “Release Virgil, or I’m going to kill you,” she threatened, as she and her clones summoned blades.

  “I won’t,” Daniel replied. “But you do have a choice here. You can spend your time fighting me. Or you could spend your time saving him.”

  Aurelia stopped in place. For a moment, she stared at Daniel before shaking her head and rushing over to Virgil. He was nearly encased in the bloody cocoon. “Just hold on,” she cried. “I’m going to get you out of there.”

  Virgil opened his mouth to speak, but the crystalized blood wrapped around his head, cutting off his words. He couldn’t see, but he could hear Aurelia rustling outside of the cocoon.

  Although that didn’t really matter. His body felt cold, and breathing became cumbersome. Virgil tried with everything he had to hold on, but his efforts were in vain, and darkness overtook him.

  Chapter 50

  Tender memories filled every crevice of Virgil’s mind. He was in his childhood bedroom. The door opened with a creak and in walked Danté, but not the feeble old man Virgil remembered dying before him. No. This was the young, vibrant Danté Virgil had always admired. Alongside Danté was another younger man. He looked to be about the same age as Virgil and wore a pair of black rugged jeans, a turtleneck sweater, thick black boots, and a long black trench coat. However, Virgil was much more concerned with his father rather than the man accompanying him. He stood up, speechless, his eyes fixed on Danté.

  “Virgil.” Danté raised his arms. “Come here, my son.”

  “Dad.” Virgil approached his father. “Is it really you?”

  Danté nodded, wrapping his arms around Virgil and holding him tightly.

  The man proceeded to take his leave. “You have fifteen minutes. Make them count.”

  Danté smiled. “Thanks, Sam. I will.”

  With teary eyes, Virgil held onto his father. “Dad, I’m so sorry.”

  Danté rubbed Virgil’s head. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”

  “That’s not true. You hate me. Don’t you?”

  “What?” Danté chuckled. “I could never hate you.”

  Virgil trembled as he held on tighter. “But I joined the Crusaders. I couldn’t kill Cecelia. I couldn’t stop Danny. I-I destroyed your treasure.”

  Danté pulled his son away from him and looked him in the eyes. He reached over and wiped the tears from Virgil’s cheek. “Crusader or not, you are my son. No matter what happens, I will always love you.”

  Virgil’s tears had ceased, but now Danté began to tear up. “It’s me who owes you an apology,” he said.

  “For what?” Virgil asked.

  Danté shook his head as he took a deep breath. “I was a fool for the way I raised you. I wanted you and your brother to grow up big and strong and fearless. It’s a cold, terrifying world out there, and I wanted you and your brother to be able to care for yourselves when I was no longer around, but I failed. Danny is lost, and you’ve lived a life of loneliness, anger, and hatred.”

  “You did the best you could. And I’m not alone anymore.” Virgil couldn’t help but smile as he thought of Aurelia and Logan. “I’ve made friends. Really good ones.”

  Danté returned the expression, his chest swelling with what could only be pride. “I’ve seen.”

  “You have?”

  “Of course. What? You think your old man wouldn’t be watching over you? You’ve cultivated quite the family. I’m proud of you.”

  Virgil exhaled, his father’s words like a warm blanket on a cold winter’s day. “Thank you.”

  Danté began making his way over to the bed. “Virgil,” he said as he sat down. “I want to ask a favor of you. Actually, it’s more like a promise.”

  “What is it?” Virgil asked as he sat down alongside his father.

  Danté paused as he looked down. He opened his mouth, but failed to speak.

  “Whatever it is, Dad, you can count on me.”

  Danté took in a deep breath, and turned to his son. “I want you to stop your pursuit of Cecelia and Danny.”

  Shock overtook Virgil. He sat, stunned in silence, unsure of what he just heard.

  “Did you hear me, son?”

  “What? What do you mean?” Virgil asked.

  “I want you to stop pursuing Cecelia and Danny,” Danté repeated.

  Hearing his father’s words a second time didn’t make them any less foreign. “I don’t understand,” Virgil said, his voice shaky. “Why would you say that? If I don’t stop them—”

  “It’s not your job to stop them. Nobody should be forced to fight their own family, and Cecelia has taken enough from us as it is. The world will be fine without you taking on that burden.”

  Virgil stood up, taking a few steps towards the door. “No,” he said, shaking his head. “That isn’t right. I can’t just sit back and do nothing while good people suffer. It’s not what you taught me.”

  “What I taught you is going to get you killed,” Danté exclaimed as he stood up. “I’m not saying turn your back on those in need. You can continue to help others. You can even be a Crusader if you want. I just don’t want you to throw your life away trying to clean up my mistakes.”

  Virgil looked at his father. He didn’t know what to say, or even where to begin.

  Tears began to pour from Danté’s eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, only to wipe his eyes and turn away.

  “Dad—”

  The door sprang open, and a blinding light flooded the room. Virgil reached for his father, but it was no use.

  “Dad!”

  Danté was gone, along with the room. All that remained was an all-consuming light for as far as Virgil could see.

  Virgil’s eyes burst open. He looked around to find he was in his room at Roxanne’s home. He was tucked in bed, barely clothed, his injuries nothing more than a memory. Aurelia lay at his bedside, a blanket wrapped around her as she slept. Roxanne sat in a chair off to the side and perked up as Virgil awakened.

  “Welcome back,” Roxanne said.

  “How long was I out for this time?” Virgil asked, his voice hoarse as he rubbed his eyes.

  “Four days.”

  “It feels like it.” Virgil paused as he realized what Roxanne’s presence really meant. “I take it, you already know everything then?”

  “Not everything, but enoug
h to know what a disappointment you’ve been.” Virgil fell silent, bracing himself for what was to come. Roxanne forced a chuckle. “It’s funny. I’ve had ample time to consider just how to have this conversation with you, and I still have no idea where to begin.”

  Virgil swallowed the lump in his throat. “You should know,” he began. “Aurelia and Logan had nothing to do with what happened. They were actually trying to stop me and—”

  “Spare me the bullshit,” Roxanne said, her tone stern. “I’d have to be a fucking moron to believe that, and besides. Your friends already informed me you all came to this decision unanimously.”

  Virgil pursed his lips. “I see. Even so, you shouldn’t expel them. I fully accept whatever punishment you see fit, but please don’t punish them.” He looked over at Aurelia. “Especially her. She’s wanted to be a Crusader more than anything in the world. Please don’t take that away from her.”

  Roxanne crossed her arms and sighed. “Nobody’s taking anything away from anybody.”

  Virgil paused, unable to hide his astonishment. He had hoped for Aurelia and Logan to be spared from the kings’ wrath, but he didn’t expect himself to be so lucky.

  “Don’t be too excited,” she added.

  “I’m sorry,” Virgil replied. “I’m just, you’re really not going to punish us? Like, at all?”

  Roxanne smirked. “Oh, you’ll be punished. If you thought your training was brutal before, you have no idea what I have in store for you. For now, though, you should take a look at the dresser over there.”

  Virgil looked over to find an envelope. He reached over and picked it up, carefully pulling the paper apart. Within the envelope, he found a Crusader’s license, freshly minted with his name and picture, and a diamond rested in the corner of the card. “The Blighted Flame,” he said.

  “Yup. That’s the code name you’ve been assigned now that your probation has been lifted.”

  Virgil shook his head. “I don’t understand. I failed. Miserably. I disobeyed orders. I don’t, I don’t deserve this.”