A sudden pulse of energy ran through Emil’s body as the aura around him resurfaced, illuminating the sword he wielded as well. This won’t be another Nerai, Emil thought as he gripped the handle of his blade tight and watched another squadron of soldiers approach him. The distaste he had for the guard amplified as he watched them rush towards what would be their death. Another jolt of energy surged from his left hand, igniting his blade with a series of ominous blue sparks that cracked the earth as it tethered to the ground. I’ll kill them all.
“Emil, stop!” The reality around Emil contorted as Omari phased through the void he had created.
“DAMN YOU!” Emil roared, before Omari appeared in front of him, arms sprawled, breathing heavily.
“Don’t!” Emil stopped mid-motion as the energy he aggregated slowly began to fade away from his body. The scowl he wore beneath his mask melted away as he lent his ear to reason. “The very people you aim to protect are in this crowd. With that much energy you would have killed them with ease.”
“I…” Like a ghost, whatever had possessed Emil left him with the coming breeze. The blade Emil held grew heavy as it weighed his arm to the floor, momentarily deeming him unfit to wield it. Though it was impossible to read Omari’s expression under his mask, Emil felt the sting of disapproval prodding him as he and his mentor exchanged glances.
“It’s okay,” Omari grunted before he tethered off into the wind, reappearing behind the men who Emil previously planned to attack. Emil’s weapon dangled from his hand as he watched Omari neutralize the guards with precision. Within seconds, he’d dealt with them in his trademark meticulous fashion, picking apart their weaknesses and striking them between their defenses with pinpoint accuracy. As they fell one by one, Emil knew they were no longer a threat. Even though they lived, the damage done would render them incapable long after the fight was over. Just as quickly as Omari had appeared, he disappeared and returned to his former position in front of Emil.
“Raise your weapon. Now isn’t the time to doubt yourself.”
“Right.”
“Skye informed me that an Abnormal is in our presence and that he is the cause for this uprising. From what Skye explained to me, she noticed a shift among the towns’ people and the guards in the square. At first, she attributed the steady climb of tension brought upon them through current events, but at one point, there was a massive spike. As I’m sure you have felt by now, the air is awry. The atmosphere is thick with emotions, but not necessarily our own. Skye believes that an Abnormal is manipulating the people by twisting their emotions.”
Emil silently backtracked over his actions leading up to the moments before Omari’s intervention. “Where is he now?”
“To my knowledge he is no longer here. By the time I reached Skye, he was no longer in her range. The last thing she told me was that she felt Marona’s signature near his before he eluded her.”
“And Marona, where is she now?” Emil asked.
“She’s still in the square. Before I dropped off Eric at the determined point, I spotted her in the crowd. By happenstance, the area she is in is not as afflicted as the others.”
“Good,” Emil said in relief. His shoulders dropped and he appeared visibly calmer. “So what now?” Omari paused as he reflected momentarily while still keeping split focus on the developing battlefield.
“Stay focused on the task at hand. We aren’t quite sure where the allegiance of that man lies. He could have been a trying to do justice with his own hands or simply another one of your brother’s men. If we distinguish them by only an insignia, then we are naïve. Lines have already been drawn. Only by actions can we determine who we trust.”
“I can find him. Maybe he’s just afraid. Maybe we can use him to help us. If I find him, I can talk to him an—”
“No,” Omari interjected. “The degree of his power is unknown. It would be dangerous. If he has the power to influence the emotions of a whole town, imagine the effect he could have on a single individual. He could essentially destroy your mind.”
“If Arius finds him before we do—” Emil started.
“If he hasn’t already,” Omari added. “If we were to confront him, friend or foe, Skye would be a necessity, but that is the least of concern in the present moment.”
Emil’s train of thought shifted off its course and ultimately subsided. He realized his thought pattern was foolish. To be considering such a thing in the midst of a potential uprising exposed his shadow—his naivety. For that he resented himself and admired Omari.
“The people need us,” Omari insisted. “Now more than ever. I’ll cover the northern half, and you take the southern. Guard your heart, guard your mind, for everything you do flows from it. The Abnormal who was previously here may return in the future when Skye is not with us.”
“Right.” Emil nodded through the mask as he showed the upmost reverence to Omari’s character. In the face of adversity he flourished, even though everything he loved was at stake.
“Oh, and Emil, don’t worry. I’ll make sure Marona is safe. Just focus on neutralizing the guard.” Omari’s body vanished, and soon after Emil dashed in the opposite direction, recharged and refocused on what he set out to do.
Chapter 3: The Man Who Walked With Vipers
He moves too slowly, that will be his downfall. In time, our day will come, that is certain. The less aware hold no regard for their impending judgment, and our ascent back to our rightful positions. Forcing the people to be consumed by their own destruction is far more pleasing than serving as only a bystander. They rally at our deaths as if it is a joyous cause. Their vice against us will be their demise.
From his back, a set of four snake-like specters, visible only to him, slowly receded back into his body as he overlooked the city square. A smile emerged on his face as he watched the ensuing chaos unwind from the rooftops of Everrmore, delighted in the progress that he had made.
I can feel their anger, their envy, their hate. I’ve tasted it all. As my snakes weaved through their hearts and pierced their soul. They felt nothing. They knew nothing.
The cloaked man chuckled to himself. Who would have thought? A leisurely stroll through the crowd and an uproar manifests. I simply gave them what they wanted. Sometimes it feels good to let it all out. Brother against brother, father against son, mother against daughter. It’s all there, down below, deep inside. The man in red tapped his chin as he quietly assessed his next course of action as he observed Emil, Omari, and Skye holding their own in the city square.
The three masked Abnormals still in the square do seem to pose a threat. Although a minor one. It’s a shame that they still believe those fools are worth saving.
One has energy manipulation, one has space and possibly time manipulation, and the other seems to be a healer—viable assets. Although the same blood runs through our veins, I doubt our mission is the same. They hide behind masks like cowards, afraid to show the world who they truly are. For that, I resent them. More than likely they’ll get in my way, but I suppose I’ll let them live. Of course, only after I have my fun. Perhaps in time they’ll learn to see things as I do.
With his heart set on destruction, the cloaked, slender man jumped from roof, landing behind the crowd in an alley where he could not be seen. This will be fun, he thought as the serpents tethered to his back grew in size. Like demons, they hissed and snarled but only he could hear them. Of all the shapes he could choose to manifest as his will, he chose the snake. The most cunning, the most sinister, the most effective, the most manipulative. It suited him perfectly. The way that they coiled and constricted their prey was the same way he chose to operate. Rather than killing them quickly, it was always painful and indirect. Breaking his opposition was more to his liking.
“Time to come out and play,” he whispered to himself as the serpents manifested themselves to his desired size. Silently, he walked into the crowds as his serpents pierced into the hearts of the people, taking what he desired and leaving them only
with malice. Calmly, he treaded towards the center of the square as his demons grew. Like wings, they drifted behind his back, only bringing the promise of death to those who opposed him. He wore no armor and wielded no weapon. Instead, his hands rested gently in his pockets as he carried on with ease while his serpents passively protected him.
In the distance, his eyes caught hold of Emil as he pressed deeper into the crowd.
Ah…the manipulator. He will be the first.
Chapter 4: Emil and the Angel of Death
Guard your heart, guard your mind. Guard your heart, guard your mind. The words constantly streamed through Emil’s conscious as he ran through the crowd neutralizing the guards, preventing them from wreaking any further havoc on the people of Everrmore. Like the wind, he parried and evaded enemy attacks, expending minute amounts of energy while at the same time immobilizing his opponents. His exceptional speed and dexterity worked to his advantage. All he needed was a well placed slice or a second to channel his energy through their armor; the former wounding them and the latter rendering them unconscious.
Something isn’t right, Emil thought to himself as the air around him suddenly grew heavy. A heart-stopping chill fell over him, momentarily freezing him in place as his mind continued to search for answers. What is this? Emil’s pulse began to pickup from where it once fell off. Anxiously, he spun around in the square as he searched for the root of the perceived evil he felt slowly approaching. With every passing second, his feelings grew. He was afraid, nervous, anxious. The air was once again blanketed with emotions which magnified his own. Damn it. It’s him.
Ever so smoothly, he walked, like he was in the least bit of danger. The cloak he wore over his silver hair bounced steadily as he ominously approached. Fully on guard, Emil kept his distance. Emil’s aura reinvigorated itself and covered him. To his surprise, it seemed to protect him from the mental effects of his potential enemy’s presence.
“It doesn’t have to be like this,” Emil said as he drew his sword. “Whatever you’re doing to the people, make it stop. People are getting hurt. There are other ways to get your point across.”
The mysterious man’s dry face cracked open as he chuckled to himself in amusement. “And what if it was my intention to hurt them? Obedience is hard to enforce through words alone.”
“So you win your battles by attacking the defenseless? I see Legion is as spineless as ever.”
A moment of silence filled the gap that was between them before the hooded man decided to speak once more.
“I do what I please. Me and Legion don’t exactly see eye to eye.” He then eyed out a bystander that was in the crowd nearby, and almost instantly, his target dropped dead. “Unless, that is, you can stop me.”
The hooded man’s gaze returned to Emil, accompanied by a coy smile. Emil’s body grew numb as he stood terrified at what he had just seen. This…this can’t be real. I’ve never seen anything like this before.
“Impressive, yes?” the mysterious man mused as he tasted Emil’s growing fear.
How did he do that? He didn’t even move! “What did you do to him?” Emil asked as he remained on guard.
The hooded man ignored the question as he slowly began to walk towards Emil. “You say it is like us to pick on the helpless and defenseless, so tell me then...what does that make you?” Emil began to back away slowly in synch with his foe’s steps until he finally shook the cold that weighed heavily on his body.
Damn it. There’s no way he’ll let me live, but I have to try something. “Take this!” Emil’s blade swung swiftly to the right and released a controlled wave of energy at his opponent. Unaware to Emil, the hooded man’s serpents expanded and folded around him like the wings of an angel, preventing any damage from coming his way. The crooked smile he wore grew as he remained unharmed.
His energy bears similar characteristics of lighting, yet it is his own. Interesting. For him to channel and send it through an object in such a concise manner shows skill, I do admit.
Emil clenched his teeth beneath his mask as he began to weigh his options. My attack didn’t even get through. He has a barrier of some sort. If I can break it, then maybe I’ll have a chance.
“Rahh!” Before his opponent had the chance to progress any further, Emil rapidly sliced his sword in the air, firing a barrage of projectiles at his enemy’s perceived barrier.
Hmm. He should know by now that an attack of this magnitude isn’t nearly enough. Perhaps if he weren’t desperately afraid of causalities, he could actually do some damage.
Emil continued his assault, but the hooded man remained unharmed. His feet began to move again, pressing closer to Emil as Emil continued to pelt him with his blinding light.
He’s moving again. It’s now or never. From his hand, Emil fired a wave of his energy that released a blinding spark upon collision. Immediately, Emil’s aura encompassed the hooded man as he rushed forward with blazing speed, concentrating his energy into his blade. If his power is within his eyes and he can’t see me, then he’s powerless. Within the second, Emil was well within striking range and was able to deliver a concentrated blow with all his might. His sword met little resistance as it penetrated through the remnants of his opponent’s energy, partly because the hooded man had foreseen the attack. Of his four snakes, only one stayed in place to guard against Emil’s assault, acting like buffer, giving him time to parry his blade at the last possible second.
Well played, the hooded man thought to himself as he jumped into the air. His attacks from earlier were used to test the density of the barrier that he thought I had. His power is formidable.
From the sky, the three remaining snakes coiled together and lunged at Emil. Unaware that an attack had even launched against him, Emil was unable to dodge.
“Ahh!” The viper struck at Emil’s chest but was thwarted by the aura that danced over him. Stunned, Emil jumped backwards, putting distance between himself and his foe once more.
Shit…he didn’t even touch me an—, he thought as he fell to one knee and gripped his chest. But he can be killed. That much I know for sure. As Emil shakily rose to his feet, he watched as splotches of blood dripped onto the concrete from the hooded man’s clothing. I managed to get to him, but it’s not nearly enough. I can’t trade off with him again. I’ve got to keep my distance.
The hooded man watched patiently as Emil took his time to recover, all the while wondering why Emil refused to succumb to the odds stacked against him. The hooded man was confused, yet amused at Emil’s tenacity; his undying will to live.
So he managed to do some damage to me, and it wasn’t till I landed that I realized it. He’s quick. If I hadn’t extended my defenses before he charged, his strike would have been potentially fatal. This one is most particular indeed. With the proper guidance, he could join us.
“Why do you stand? Don’t you know when to give up? I haven’t even used my hands and you still believe there is hope?”
“Because,” Emil said as a rush of energy ignited from his core, “I have people who need me.” The hooded man tried his best to maintain a straight face as he watched Emil’s flame-like aura engulf him.
So, he finally decides to show his fangs. Good. But just how far is he willing to go?
“Is that so?” the hooded man said as he extended his hand towards Emil. A tremendous snake shot through the air but remained undetected as it rapidly gained ground. Confused, Emil raised his sword to guard his body but failed to protect himself from the unseen force. As the snake approached Emil, it split into three different entities which struck him simultaneously by drilling into his aura. Emil’s body hit the ground as his aura left him. His body lay still as he struggled to bring back the air that escaped his lungs.
Humph. Just as I figured. His aura protects him mainly against physical attacks but his defenses against psychic attacks are next to nothing. He should be done now.
“I hope now you understand,” the hooded man said as he overlooked Emil’s body from afar. �
��Lay there while the ones you fight for fight one another. Watch them. Learn from them. I only started the spark. The rest is of their own doing. You know how quickly they can turn yourself. That is why you hide your face, is it not? Why protect those who would gladly throw you out to die? Only a fool protects the one who beats him.”
From the ground, Emil reached for his sword and lethargically rose to his feet. “And only a madman kills his own people,” Emil said as he tensed his aching body to remain stable as he stood. “If you want me to stop, then kill me. Until then, I’m going to give it everything I got until you do.” His aura resurfaced as he assumed a defensive stance; a bold front to delay what was to come. The amount of damage he had sustained caused his body to lag. Each time he had been struck, it felt like he meandered on the brink of death. A hot flash of heat exploding from the point of impact followed by a bone-chilling numbness that resonated through his entire system, dulling his senses as the feeling spread. He had been hit twice now, and the inner workings of his body had already begun to exhibit signs of duress. As Emil watched the hooded man raise his hand again, his vision doubled over as he tried his best to remain able.
Once he understands that his crusade is vain, he’ll find me. When he has nothing left, he will gladly find a rank within our domain. He lacks the power to overthrow Arius, but, in time, he will grow to be a fine warrior. Until then, I’ll track his progress.
“I’m afraid this is goodbye, young warrior.” The hooded man extended his hand once more and the serpents that levitated from his back molded into a giant tendril that floated above his head. Spotting the familiar pattern, Emil closed his eyes and braced for the expected impact, but as time passed, no harm came his way.
“Skye?” Emil said as he groggily tried to decipher the silhouette he saw in front of him. The screams and panic of the town mulled his hearing as the world slowly began to turn black. Amidst the chaos, it was indeed Skye who saved him. She stood in front on him and formed a barrier that shielded them from the hooded man’s latest assault. Omari was also there, fighting on their behalf.
All Things Eternal (The Last Light Book 2) Page 3