by J. J. Egosi
Michael took a deep breath, “What are those elementals to you?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, what do the lives you take mean to you?”
Julianna’s glare was frightening. “That’s a very different question, Michael.”
“It is?” Michael's eyes widened as he saw the callousness upon her face.
“They mean nothing to me aside from a paycheck. I simply take on a hit list and kill whoever’s on it, without hesitation or regret. You’re not starting to sympathize with my targets, are you?”
“Oh, no. It’s not that. Well…maybe a little.”
Julianna grabbed him by the chin. “The moment you start feeling sorry for your victim is the moment that it’s all over. Remember that. Do I make myself clear?”
Michael was taken aback by the harsh words. He was fearful. Scared, even. Yet, a part of him had expected her to say this. What sort of person would choose to become an assassin, and what would that lifestyle mean to them?
“Yes,” said Michael, his voice was riddled with terror.
“Good. I don’t want you getting in my way when I’m fighting these elementals. I may like you, but if you cross me, I’ll kill you.”
Michael gulped, unable to even so much as blink through his fear.
Julianna patted him on the back. “Hey, cheer up. It’s not so bad. Just turn the other cheek while I kill some creatures, and you’ll be fine. Hell knows you can do that when I’m trying to flirt with you.”
Michael could only laugh nervously in response.
The realms of Light and Dark were miles apart, divided by the Twilight Forest. Two separate clusters of towns that would never touch.
Julianna had a frightening side that wasn’t like that of Isabella. They were from opposite worlds, the Light centered around faith and the Dark far less so, yet she once again reminded him of his adoptive sister. She was seemingly from somewhere else entirely.
Without any warning, the clear morning sky began to cloud over. They both looked up in confusion. Neither of them had been expecting a storm. Instead, they felt the presence of something bleak and ominous. It was something immense in size and power. It stormed forth like a hurricane.
They watched as the clouds split, releasing a beam of sunlight. There was something unusual about the light. Its rays moved like the restless legs of spiders in a nest. Michael and Julianna were enthralled as they watched a huge creature descend from the heavens. It was as if it had been constructed by the sun and the sky.
Julianna was mystified, almost losing herself in its incandescent presence of an elemental she’d never seen before.
It vaguely resembled a human in shape, just like the others had, except electricity coursed through its body. A trail of lightning bolted outwards with every step. For the first time in the face of opposition, their feelings were the same; sheer disbelief.
“This can’t be real, can it? You said there were only three elementals.”
“Apparently, the tales missed a chapter,” she replied. Even Julianna trembled.
Missed a chapter?
“I hope you’re ready, Michael. We’re about to fight against what I think it’s fair to call the lightning elemental,” Julianna said as the beast roared.
Michael took a deep breath and nodded, “I am.”
His attention was then drawn by a dark cloud in the distance. It moved like tendrils through the sky, staining the clouds with its inky presence. A second creature appeared from beyond the shadowed horizon. It looked like a legless mass moving seamlessly amongst the shadows. Michael questioned the legitimacy of this fairy tale more than he already had.
Michael tapped Julianna on the shoulder to direct her attention from the lightning elemental to the second beast.
“What do you want? Can’t you see I’m trying to concentrate?” She turned around and gazed upon the creature of darkness that approached them.
“Another one?!” She was overcome with panic. “This can’t be possible.”
“Are you sure there isn’t more to that fairy tale?” Michael asked.
The brooding darkness of the dark elemental enveloped the land. It brought a chill that penetrated their skin.
“All I know is three creatures made from the elements once ruled over the Twilight Realm. But then the witch who first summoned them attempted to return them to their original forms. As I’m sure you’ve guessed by recent run-ins with the beasts, she failed.”
“And there was nothing about there being others?”
“No.” Julianna had to catch her breath from the sheer intensity of the foreboding creatures.
“These creatures were only rumored to exist. There were claims that people saw the land move and devour its inhabitants. I was curious. Of course, I wanted the bounty for them. But I knew nothing of there being more than three elementals.”
Julianna gazed up at the two beasts. They stood motionless, almost indifferent. Yet they were corrosive to everything they touched. The land. The clouds. It was all tainted with a trail of their respective essences.
That’s a pretty severe oversight for someone who took on the bounty. Though the witch might be more concerning.
Michael tried to make sense of the witch of legends. He wanted to know why she had decided to return the elementals to their original form and what became of her when she failed. His heart skipped a beat at the frightening thought.
The two elementals turned towards one another. They locked gazes for seconds that felt like hours.
“It looks like they recognize each other,” said Michael.
They both watched in awe as the creatures marched towards one another. They appeared ready to commence a battle of their own.
“Looks like it. This should be captivating, to say the very least,” Julianna said.
“Captivating?” Michael was more apprehensive than anything else. “So, what should we do? They’re not targets, right? Should we take cover before the battle starts?”
“And miss out on an opportunity to make a fortune off of these beasts?”
“You think you can make money off of these creatures?” Michael was stupefied by the very idea.
“Of course!” Julianna jovially replied. “It’s one thing to sell the head of a beast everyone knows from stories. But a beast no one’s seen before? Two, for that matter. That’s what we call in the business a black heart opportunity.”
“Black heart?”
“All I need to do is craft a story of my own for these beasts that’s enticing enough to get buyers lining up by the hundreds. It’ll bring in enough gold to own the entire Light Realm.”
“Oh, black heart.” There was clearly no subtlety in the name.
Julianna called forth one of her most trusted swords, Durandal. She released it from its iron chains and flew towards the elementals. Michael watched her fly off. He couldn’t help but feel disappointed by her decision.
It really seems like she’s driven by nothing but money. What made her like this?
The two mighty giants of light and dark squared off in their battle stances. Each was a hundred feet in height and poisoned both the grasslands and the once blue sky with the trails of lightning bolts and stygian shadows.
Michael watched in wonder as the lightning elemental delivered the first blow to the face of the shadow elemental, knocking it over. Its inky tendrils stained the ground, splashing liquid shadow in every direction like a great boulder being hurled into a pond.
The shadow elemental rose and struck the lightning elemental in the chest. The blow brought it to its knees.
The creatures exchanged continuous blows as Michael stared on. Meanwhile, Julianna was devising her own plan.
She contemplated waiting for one elemental to crush the other, but she feared the Twilight Forest would crumble long before. With the growing desire to collect a high bounty from her findings, the decision was clear.
Julianna took to greater heights and then descended between the two forces of nat
ure. With a swing of her blade, she deflected a strike of the lightning elemental that had been aimed at the creature of shadow. Michael watched in amazement as her sword defended against the monolithic force of the towering beast.
Michael watched in awe as lightning bolts connected with her sword. Incredible. She can deflect such a massive and powerful assault with a single blade? Durandal is something else.
He squinted, noticing something peculiar.
“Wait a minute, she’s not blocking it. She’s absorbing it!” The sword took in every bit of lightning from the elemental’s attack. It became a glistening metal rod. “This is just like when she absorbed the attack of the earth elemental into her sword.”
The shadow elemental came closer. Julianna summoned another sword that was wrapped in chains. She shattered the iron cocoon around it with her light.
“I give you my second legendary blade: Excalibur!” she shouted. Julianna raised both blades high above her head, crossing them.
Michael stared at the two blades in awe.
A dual wielder. I’ve heard of warriors being able to wield two weapons at once, but I never thought it could be true. Incredible!
As Julianna finished absorbing the lightning elemental’s attack, the shadow elemental made its move. Now holding a sword on either side, Julianna could take in the power of both beasts.
She breathed heavily; sweat rolled down her face. These creatures had proved to be stronger than she had anticipated. In her desire for great riches, she now found herself struggling to hold the colossal beasts off.
Panting in exhaustion, she pushed the swords as far from her body as she could. The blades were like walls knocking back the elementals. She pushed them away in either direction, just in time to fly over them.
“With dual swords comes a dual assassination!” Julianna cried.
She turned so that her swords were now facing the elementals they didn’t block against. Durandal was against the shadow elemental and Excalibur against the beast of lightning. Manifesting her power through her blades, a swirling typhoon of magic energy came pouring out from each one. She released all the strength she had taken in from the attacks and slammed it into both beasts at once.
A cosmic cyclone of shadow clutched the lightning elemental by the neck, while a furious blitz of lighting took ahold of the shadow elemental, sending it into convulsing misery.
Michael was blown away. Julianna had absorbed so much of their power that neither beast stood a chance. They were puppets, and she was the puppet master.
Both elementals soon fell to Julianna’s redirected attacks. Their bodies evaporated on impact, returning to the world from whence they came.
Julianna flew back down and walked through the debris of the creatures she had just slain as she caught her breath.
“So, what did you think?” she asked, as her swords vanished.
“That was amazing!”
“Well, I’m always happy to put on a good show. Especially when I can make some money from it.”
“Where did you learn to master using two weapons like that?”
“I’m self-taught. Why? Do you need a teacher?” Julianna asked.
“I’ve wanted to be a swordsman since I was a child. I always dreamed of escaping my life and becoming someone great!”
“Very ambitious. It makes you even cuter,” Julianna replied.
“It does?”
“Unfortunately, I charge one hundred gold pieces an hour for one of my lessons,” Julianna said, her tone was blunt and to the point.
His heart sank. “I’m afraid I don’t have anywhere near that kind of money, living off a servant’s salary of zero pieces.” He dug deep into his pockets, looking for some change he may have picked off the streets. He had nothing.
“Oh, Michael. You’re going to make me cry.” Julianna wiped his tears with a handkerchief she pulled from her dress pocket. “I’m just kidding about the money, Michael. I’ll be happy to teach you free of charge.”
Michael’s face lit up. He hugged Julianna tightly.
“Calm down, big guy. You’re hurting me,” she said as she patted his back.
“Sorry. I’m just excited. Things are finally coming together.”
“Coming together, huh?” Julianna chuckled. “If you say so.”
“Do you think you could teach me to take down some orcs? Maybe even a dragon?”
“Really?” Julianna replied. “There’s plenty of money in raiding a dragon’s lair, and orcs are great for beginners.”
“In that case, when can we start?” Michael was barely able to hold back his enthusiasm.
Julianna grinned. “Well, if you’ve got everything you need right here, I guess you don’t need Isabella anymore.”
Michael paused.
“I promised I’d see her again.”
“Look at the hotshot slave boy stringing two women along at once. Maybe having no money has its perks. Although it probably helps that you’re tall and good looking.” Julianna wrapped her hands around his arms.
“I don’t know about that. You probably have guys complimenting you on your looks all the time.”
“If only. Men from the Light Realm are pigs. All they do is try to grope and whistle at me like I’m some sort of dog. Of course, I’d kill them if they tried to touch me,” she said.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Michael gulped. He hoped, once again, not to get on her bad side. Be it with his clumsy words or lingering stares, he felt it best to keep a certain distance.
“The men from your realm are even worse. They’re still disgusting. They’re just sneakier about it!”
“That’s terrible. I’m sorry, on behalf of all those guys too. Even an assassin deserves better than that. You’re still a person, you know.”
“Oh, you’re too kind. But you should never apologize for someone else’s shortcomings. They got what they deserved. Trust me,” Julianna grinned nefariously.
How does an assassin find herself in the Light Realm anyway? It’s a violent job, and those eyes must really make her stand out in a place known for being holy. She’d probably be better off in the Dark Realm.
He thought about Isabella and the scornful glares she wore; he also thought about the gentler stare she had.
Those eyes… Red eyes…
“About Isabella, would it still be fine if we saw her after all this is over?”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” said Julianna.
They proceeded to walk back to their campsite. Michael couldn’t help but watch as Julianna’s hair fluttered in the wind. As she caught him staring, he quickly turned the other way.
“Something on your mind?” she playfully asked. She clearly believed him to be staring lustfully at her again.
“I’m glad I found you in those woods.”
Taken aback, Julianna grinned. “Well, if we’re being technical, I found you in the woods about to become dinner to a fire elemental.”
The two of them returned to their campsite. They sat on the same log they had sat on at breakfast. Michael looked down at the ground.
“What’s wrong?” Julianna asked.
“I was just wondering what made you want to become an assassin? Was it the money or was there something more?”
Now, Julianna averted her gaze. “The money’s obviously great and all, but the real reason is that I wanted to learn how to defend myself against the creeps and perverts out there.”
“Oh…I think I understand,” Michael replied with a worried tone. “Were there any instances, in particular-”
Julianna glared at him before cutting him off.
“I think we’ve talked about this long enough, Michael. There are monsters out there that are far more terrifying than a couple of elementals. Monsters in human skin that pretend to be someone you can count on. End of story.”
Whatever she spoke of, Michael could tell by her words it was far worse than a relationship gone wrong. Feeling guilty for bringing it up, he decided to change the s
ubject to the first thing that came to his mind.
“Um, I really like your hair. Do you cut it yourself?” Michael blurted out.
Although puzzled for a moment, Julianna relaxed. “As a matter of fact, I do. I use my swords.”
“Oh, very cool,” Michael said.
Julianna scooted closer to Michael until their hips were touching. She took a deep breath. “I appreciate the attempt to divert my attention instead of prying.”
“Not a problem,” Michael said, still feeling somewhat anxious.
“But there are just some things in my past that I don’t talk about. Ok?”
Michael nodded in agreement. The two of them watched the sun finally set.
“Get some sleep. We have a big day ahead of us. You never know when the next threat will come,” said Julianna.
Whatever made her choose to be an assassin, it doesn’t matter. Because I trust you. I think I’m starting to like you too, Julianna.
The sun finally gave itself to the stars and the moon. They welcomed in the night, at last.
Chapter 5
Denizens of the Deep
F
ar from Michael’s and Julianna’s campsite, the young girl continued to watch through her crystal ball. She grew weary of seeing the elementals being slain, one after the other. She bit the back of her thumb.
“You’ve taken out my beasts of lightning and shadow. Master won’t be pleased at all.”
She looked to her right. Upon her wooden desk lay disheveled spell books and parchment, and atop it all was a painting of a young man. His face was obscured in shadow. The girl took a deep breath and nodded.
“I won’t fail you this time. The final elemental will ensnare the target.” She pulled the sleeve of her mantle up, revealing the many bruises of recent disappointments under the candlelight. “And if they do succeed, I’ll step in to capture him. That is a promise from your most devoted servant.”
Michael woke up the following morning to the relentless pouring of rain. He opened the tent that Julianna had brought with her, taking in the earthy aroma that the storm had brought in. He couldn’t see Julianna, so he put on his trench coat and began walking through the woods. The ground was muddy, and the stones glistened under the rain. The bark on the trees was slick from the downpour.