The Dark Elf

by C C Morgen

  “Ali,” Achilles yelled loudly for me. “We all decided to have a sparring match to get us prepared for a good fight. The light shouldn’t be wasted. Do you want to join?”

  I glanced over at Angelica pretending to gather wood. “I actually promised the lady I’d teach her the bow right now. She wants to be more useful when we go into battle.” The lie that spilt out was easier than the truth. I wanted to spend more time alone with Angelica before there wasn’t time left between us. I grabbed my bow and collected six arrows from my quiver to bring with us when we walked away from camp, down into the field where there were broken fences.

  Further in the distance was a thick old fence post near a farm that appeared abandoned. The wood look rotted but was still good enough to be a target for practice. We stood a far enough distance to align a good shot, and I mounted the arrows in the ground in front of Angelica to pick up.

  “I didn’t know if you were going to actually teach me or something else,” she was wondering the reason I made up the story.

  “Sorry,” I apologized. “I didn’t want to spar with them. So, I used you as an excuse.”

  “Oh, really?” she reacted to my answer by getting close again, gazing deep into my eyes. “Here I thought we would finish what we started.”

  I handed her the bow. “Maybe...” I didn’t want to give her a real answer and show her any sign that I wanted her to do what she intended. I glanced at her lips for a brief second and looked away. “But first—I want to see how well you can shoot. A Dark Elf has standards in their companions, did you know? How well you can hit the target will determine how well you can handle this.” I gestured to my body seductively, I don’t know what made me say something that bold, but I took it back. “I meant how well we go together… How well you can shoot will determine how well we go together.” I grinned at her playfully. “Impress me.”

  Angelica finally tore her eyes away and held the bow in her left hand. Then she mounted an arrow she pulled from the ground and nestled it in between her fingers. She set it firmly before pulling back the string. Her elbow aligned with her shoulders perfectly. Her eyes became focused and her face stern as if she was taking it seriously, what I said. She had a strong stance that made me believe this is not her first time holding a bow. Her fingers released the string and the arrow cut through the air, hitting the fencepost without flaw.

  My eyes widened on how well the shot was. “Well done.” I clapped my hands to give her praise. “You’ve done archery before I see.”

  “Trainers taught me as a child how to handle a bow—among other skills,” she answered. “Although, I’m not as skilled as a Dark Elf I assure you, but I can manage on my own quite well.”

  She takes the rest of the arrows and shoots them off into the fencepost one by one, rapidly until there was none left, making a circle on the target. Then she revealed a dagger underneath the leather vest she wore. Tucked away and hidden from the naked eye. She pulled it out and flung it at the post. It sheared through the air and hit the center of the circle.

  My jaw dropped at the sight of her precision and marksmanship. “I can see you can handle yourself as you said.” I walked towards the fencepost to get a clear view of how perfect the circle she made with the arrows with the dagger stuck in the center. “Flawless,” I blurted out in shock. I gripped the base of the arrows and pulled them out one by one until they were all in hand. Angelica approached from behind, leaning over me to reach her dagger and pulled it out.

  It only took a split second for her to push my back against the post and gripped her hand around my neck. She shoved into me until I couldn’t move away from her face getting close. “So—I guess I’m more than worthy to be a Dark Elf’s companion.” Her lips found mine in a deep tender kiss that sent my mind into a spiral and my heart felt like it leaped out of my chest with excitement. The kiss of her soft lips was like silk and even better than the dream. My stomach exploded with butterflies, making me indulge in the taste of her tongue circling mine. I wanted more so my arms automatically enfolded around her waist, locking her in as our kiss became more passionate until the air was no longer in my lungs. But even that didn’t stop us until Eric shouted for us from the top of the hill in the distance. His voice echoed down, calling us to come back to camp.

  At the sound of his voice, Angelica released my lips from hers in a sigh of annoyance. She panted faintly and laid her forehead on mine. “Are they always like this?” she asked, while catching her breath.

  “All the time,” I answered. “There’s no avoiding them right now.”

  She kissed me on the cheek. “I want to keep doing this.” Then she briefly kissed my lips one more time before moving away. “But we should see what they want.”

  “I actually don’t care about what they want right now,” I groaned.

  Angelica took my hand and forced me off the post. “Just amuse them for the evening,” she said while getting close to my ear. “You and I can have some time together later—if that’s what you wish.” I nodded for ‘yes’. She caressed my face with hers and enclosed her arms around me. “We have all the time in the world if you wish.” She released me once again and tugged at me to follow. “Let’s not keep the others waiting for too long.” I finally stopped resisting, and we set off to meet the men at camp.

  I could already smell the alcohol in the air as we approached them. Gabriel and Achilles were clashing swords with sheer force, making their steels sing. However, they yielded at the sight of us. “Are you done with target practice for the evening?” Gabriel asked. “I need a real match in sword. Achilles here is too weak of an opponent to spar with me right now.”

  Eric laughed while sitting on a boulder, watching them shove each other. “No insults Gabriel. We are all skilled in our trade. But it’s true. Ali?” he glanced at me. “You are the more skilled swordsman. Spar with Gabriel.”

  Angelica elbowed me. “Go on,” she said. “I want to watch.” She kept glaring at me to do it.

  I sighed. “Fine—I’ll spar with you Gabriel.” I went over to my things and unsheathe my Elven sword.

  “Not taking out Valora?” Gabriel asked.

  “Not unless you want to die before sucking a cock tonight… I think not.”

  “Haha… Someone is confident,” he stood in his fighting stance, raising his sword ready for an attack. “Mmmm—I do love your flare today Alucard.” He charges at me in full force, but my feet was swift and drifted passed him. “You seem excessively charged today.” He flicked back his golden hair and held the blade of the sword close to his face where his blue eyes glisten in the mirrored gilded steel.

  I glanced at Angelica through the corner of my eye and finally took my fighting stance, holding my blade to the side and slightly elevated from the ground.

  “Careful Gabriel,” Eric shouted. “She is taking you seriously.”

  “What do you think I want?” he grinned rebelliously. “I want to see who’s the better swordsman.” Gabriel charges at me again, but with less force and our swords finally collided. My blade glided off his where I circled around him, since I was small and quick compared to his large, heavy, built. I lunged forward pushing him and then dodging his elbow, trying to hit my face. His sword swung at me once again, my blade just blocking and maneuvering his movements by using his built against him. The longer I avoid his attacks, the quicker he will eventually get tired and quit,. I twirled around him and under his arms as he swung many times to land a blow.

  Angelica sat on the boulder with Eric, giggling at what’s supposed to be the fight of the better swordsman. I winked at her, while Gabriel grunted, trying to pierce me with his sword. “Ali… take him serious please. He’s trying his best. At least give him yours.” Angelica tried to convince me to stop avoiding his attacks.

  “This is why Ali is a skilled fighter,” Eric said. “A Dark Elf is so agile that in combat they protect themselves by avoiding attacks. That’s why they don’t wear heavy armor. Ali can avoid nearly every attack and see i
t coming before the opponent can act.”

  I sprinted away from Gabriel as he stood in exhaustion, sweating profusely. “I don’t think Angelica needs a lesson in Dark Elf traits.”

  “Dark Elves are not the only ones agile in combat,” Gabriel blurted out. “Werewolves are just as quick in the heat of a fight and just as cunning as a Dark Elf.” I suddenly stood still and my face lost joy in the match after his comment. “I forgot to tell you Eric. A werewolf — a full moon ago raided the village we visited. Killed a few and stole what he could get his hands on before disappearing in the night. A red-haired lad with deep gray eyes.”

  I gasped at the news. Edon was here. Of all places… Of all realms to visit. He was here in the Underworld.

  “Gabriel—what are you doing?” Eric asked, noticing I’ve become angry. I gripped my sword, readjusting my fingers to hold the handle tighter.

  “I believed they recognized a very distinct tattoo on his chest,” Gabriel shared being egotistical. “What was it again?” He paused for a moment. “Oh yes, now I remember. Crossed daggers…” I glared at Gabriel and the smirk on his face.

  “Ali,” Eric called out to me, but his voice began to fade out into my growing rage.

  In that moment, I imagined Gabriel’s face turning into Edon. His deep gray eyes staring back at me. His red hair short and spiked like how I remembered that day. He had a crooked grin just like back then before the wolves tore through my flesh. Even his voice sounded like him.

  “That fight I would like to see. Who’s stronger—Ali?”

  The moment he breathed my name, I rushed him at full force, colliding my sword against his blade, which sent him into shock. His reaction slowed while trying to fight back. I slid under his legs and back on my feet behind his back, sliding my blade across the joint on the back of his knee. He knelt forward, grunting in pain. The sound of my blade cutting through his leathers and flesh sent me into a blood lust. All I can see is Edon before my eyes. He grabbed me and threw me away from him, but that didn’t stop me. I slid back onto my feet and rushed at him once again. He swung his sword, but I avoided the attack, ran up the trunk of the tree behind him, and leaped in the air with both my hands on the hilt ready to thrust it into his chest. Edon turned to watch me in mid-air above him until I could see the fear in his eyes as I saw my reflection in his iris.

  Suddenly, I heard Eric and the men screaming for me to stop. Before my sword reached his chest, the illusion broke, and it was Gabriel once again. In that moment, I faltered, and a burst of energy slammed me in the chest, pushing my body back until I hit the base of the tree.

  “I yield,” I heard the fear in Gabriel’s voice. “Thank the ninth heavens.” He kneeled in relief.

  I looked at Angelica to see her arm extended. She was the one who stopped me. Her eyes widened in shock of what almost happened. Eric and the men kept their distance, not knowing if I would strike at them. I dropped my sword and stood to my feet. “I’m sorry Gabriel. I don’t know what came over me.”

  Eric rushed over to Gabriel and clobbered him in the head with his fist. “You are a damn drunken fool I hope you know!”

  Gabriel finally realized his fault. “I’m sorry, Ali,” he bowed his head in shame. “I forgot.”

  “Are we ok?” Achilles asked in concern.

  “It's fine,” I answered. “I just need to clear my head.”

  The look on Angelica’s face changed into something I didn’t want to see. It was terror written all over her face as if I was a monster. Am I a monster?

  I ran off into the forest after seeing the expressions on everyone’s face. I didn’t know what happened. It was like I lost control of my anger and nearly killed Gabriel. If Angelica wasn’t there to intervene, I would have succeeded.

  Angelica’s voice called out to me not wanting me to leave. I even heard her try to chase after me, but Eric stopped her before she could. However, I didn’t dare to turn back to face her after everything.

  What have I become…?

  CHAPTER 18

  Angelica

  IT WAS A STRUGGLE TO KEEP MYSELF from ramming through Eric to go after Ali, who raced away faster than a Shadow Strider in the thickness. I desperately wanted to see if she was ok; however, Eric prevented me from going any further with his stern glare, saying ‘let her go’. Even though, it was the right thing to let her escape the scene for a while, it worried me. The energy ball I conjured to throw her back was too much for the average being to handle without receiving deep injuries. However, she stood up, as it did nothing. She is stronger than my assumption of her capabilities. When she nearly struck Gabriel, there was darkness in the air. The others wouldn’t notice it, but I could sense the change. Ali has the dark roots embedded in her, and it’s growing with her anger and fear. It seemed like she barely recognized Gabriel and acted as if we weren’t there; and those black eyes. I don’t think she realized it. Her eyes turned completely black as night, like the darkness had its hold. In that short time, I didn’t sense the light in her soul. Ali, who are you really?

  “Eric—let me get by.”

  He continued to block my way. “She needs to walk off the fight. Gabriel shouldn’t have provoked her that way.”

  “I hit her hard,” I said. “I don’t know if she’s alright.”

  “She’ll be fine,” he answered. “It takes more than that to harm her. However, if you don’t give her space, she might harm you instead. So please…” He indicated to me to sit back on the boulder.

  I sighed in frustration and did what he wanted. The rough surface felt warm from sitting on it earlier during the spar. Eric sat next to me and kept a watchful eye, making sure I didn’t run off after her. “Eric, what happened?” I asked. “She was fine.. Then she turned... Did you see her eyes?”

  “Yeah…” He scratched his head. “We have noticed that too during our time together.”

  “And you don’t find that strange?” I wondered why they weren’t shocked by what happened.

  “Ali has her moments,” he answered. “It happens only when she’s consumed with anger though. It’s not often she gets like that. Although, I’ve noticed after what happened, it’s gotten worse. Before she would not lose control. After what I just saw—she was gone. Not even there with those black eyes. It was like looking at a different person.”

  “The darkness has touched her,” I said. “It’s like a seed that sprouts roots in the soul turning it black. Makes you impulsive and filled with fury, reckless…”

  “It probably has to do a lot with her mother,” Eric responded. “I heard she has a similar affinity over the darkness. It doesn’t help that she has suffered a lot in her past. Gabriel let his ego get the better of him and it triggered her rage. Thank you, by the way.” He looked me in the eye. “You saved his life. Without your power, Ali would have struck him dead. That would have pained her to murder a comrade.”

  “It was a response I didn’t know I had,” I said while looking at my palms. “My hands were trembling. I was so afraid that I hurt her trying to stop everything. I didn’t even think about how much I unleashed. That would have killed one of you in an instant.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t miss,” he lightly nudged my shoulder. “Ali is like this boulder. Stubborn and strong. Not the best at letting things absorb and get in. A bit of magic will not do much… I’m pretty sure she’s fine. She will come back, and things will be back to normal. She was rather taken back though. You have an influence on her. I think she feels more shame having you witness her worst moment. She probably is overthinking about how you think about her.”

  “I hope she didn’t take my expression the wrong way,” I thought back about how I physically reacted. “I was just in shock about how quickly it all went. It’s not as if I haven’t witnessed someone lose control over the darkness before. I just didn’t expect her to be that way.”

  “I understand,” he replied sympathetically. “It’s hard to imagine that quiet, conservative Elf to be that terrifying in a fight. Al
i, I have to admit walks that balance between light and darkness. You wouldn’t even know just by looking at her at first glance. Her calm demeanor, her kindness towards others; she’s deceiving. Even the men learned to not let her frail exterior fool you. Those sad eyes can really cut through in an instant. If you let yourself become deceived, she has you; but Ali has a good heart. She means well. I think she denies too much, of who she is and forgets that no matter how far you run, you cannot escape who you are. Ali is meant to be a Harpy.”

  “Harpys are my sworn enemy,” I said. “But she is special. I don’t care if she becomes one of them and takes her place within the dark clan. She will always be the shy Ali I have come to know. So adorable when she’s flushed from being teased by me. She’s not very open sexually, but she is charming.”

  “You sound like you’re in-love,” Eric batted his eyes. “Ali and Angelica.”

  I laughed. “No… Actually, I’m not permitted to fall in love with someone of lower status than me,” I answered, feeling a pang in my stomach like my own words wounded me. “Being a Demon Lord is difficult. My birthright has responsibilities I need to uphold. And my sister… Oh my sister—would most likely treat my lover like a target to practice her black magic on. I don’t mind having quick romances. Since, it’s the safer route than dealing with the repercussions of falling-in-love. Ali is a breath of fresh air, but at the same time, I actually truly care for her as I would a friend. Plus aren’t you all planning to leave the kingdom once you are done enjoying the spoils? Knowing Ali, she would probably itch for another battle after a while.”

  “That’s sad to hear that you have little freedom outside your family,” he commented. “This journey must be a relief. No eyes on you and no responsibilities except surviving this mission. You can get drunk and dance naked under the stars and no one would know. You can have an affair with whoever you want—love whom you want without consequence. What happens out here stays out here. And you’re most likely right. We might move on after this. Ali itches for a good fight, but I actually think she might want to settle down one day if the opportunity arose. We all do actually want to find a place to plant our roots. I don’t always want to be a mercenary. Even the men actually want to find companions, buy a piece of land, and start a family. If someone called us to the battlefield again, we would at least leave behind a legacy.”