Chapter 12
“Old Scars”
Laurence stared down at the empty space in his bed, next to him. He had spent the majority of the past week looking for Artemis. No one had seen her. He got as far as the woods, following a blood trail until it vanished along with any tracks in the dirt.
His heart ached as he laid down in bed. He kept his window open as some sort of welcoming sign for Artemis to come home. It was stupid of him to do that but it made him feel a little bit better. Maybe it wasn’t the Shadow Knights that had her. Maybe she just left him to drown in his sorrows.
The fluttering of wings was heard along with a thud on his window sill. Laurance sat up, reaching for his sword at the edge of his bed.
“Wait.” A quiet, male voice cautioned him, as the winged figure held his hand up, gripping the window frame with the other.
Laurence stared at the shadowy figure, his gilded horns catching the moon light. One of them was snapped off halfway.
“May I come in?” The figure asked politely, “I mean no harm. I promise.”
Laurence paused, his thoughts racing before asking, “Who are you?”
“My name is Nellus Aquellae. I am Lumi’s older brother and heir to the Village of Heavens Gate." He paused before asking, "You wouldn't happen to know a friend of mine, would you? Her name is Artemis.” The figure stepped inside.
Laurence stood up, "Heavens Gate? I've never heard of a village like that." Laurence gave a questioning glare.
"N-Nell?" Lumi's voice shook as she opened Laurence's door.
Nellus' gaze softened as the sight of his little sister. Lumi sprinted towards him, tackling and hugging him, tears in her eyes.
Nell gave a sad look towards Laurence who stood in front of them, sheathed sword in hand.
"How do you know Arty?" Lumi looked up at him.
"We're both soldiers from the Phoenix Rebellion. We've spent a lot of time together back home." Nell softly smiled to his little sister. His face twisted into a frown as he realized something was missing, "Lumi, your wings…" His voice shook.
Lumi looked a bit sad for a moment, "The Shadow Knights took them and a bunch of my memories- but don't worry! I got away before I forgot everything! I'm strong! Just like you!" She smiled.
Nell stood up, turning his gaze to Laurence, "Where's Artemis? There are traces of her aura in this home."
Tears rolled down Laurence's cheeks, as his feelings overwhelmed him, "She was taken…"
"Tell me everything." Nell growled.
I stood up for the first time in two weeks. My legs wobbled under me but I felt a bit stronger than before.
I cursed myself for even slightly acclimating to this hell. Perhaps I slowly was becoming one of the demons that resided in this fiery pit.
The watcher, Corro, smirked under his helm, his gray eyes twinkling, "You're getting stronger."
I leaned my side against the netherrack wall. I stared tiredly at him. The air didn't burn my lungs like fire so much as it was like a hot summer's day.
"It's not a good thing." I sighed.
The other Shadow Knights had found out I wasn't a Daeconic, yet still decided to keep me prisoner and not execute me. It was odd.
"See, but it is a good thing." Corro hummed, "You'll make a fine Shadow Knight."
There was a twinge of pain on Corro's voice during the second comment. It confused me that he'd feel pain from a weak person like me becoming a Shadow Knight.
Perhaps it was because I wasn't worthy enough.
Corro took his helmet off, letting it hang loosely from his fingertips.
His white hair was tied back in a red string, with black locks mixed in. His gray eyes stared down at me as he rested his head back against the dark brick wall. He looked quite pale, more so than I expected. The upper part of his ears were pierced with black bands. He had a scar running across the ridge of his nose.
He smiled at me, the first time I've ever seen him smile.
"You look cute when you're in shock." He chuckled.
I turned my cheek to him as he put his helmet back on as two Shadow Knights marched into the room It was the duo I first woke up to. Great.
"Corro," The crimson eyed man growled, "get her bound and ready for transport. Lord Zane is here. It's time."
Corro simply nodded in response.
"You know he doesn't like to wait." Zenix chuckled, "He's worse than Gene, here."
"Hopefully we won't have to erase her memories either." Gene grumbled.
My heart rate picked up as the duo left the room. I slammed my fist against the scalding bars in frustration. The burning feeling was numbing.
Corro rested his hand on the blood red hilt of his sword, "Don't make this harder than it needs to be." He looked over his shoulder as he unlocked the cell.
He stepped inside.
"Put your hands forward." He sighed.
I did what I was told, regrettably, my wrists being shackled with steel cuffs. Corro clicked them, yet never locked them.
“So I get to meet the False King...again.” I grumbled.
“Hm? Again?” Corro peered down at me as he nudged me out of the cell.
“It doesn’t matter. I suppose the roles will be reversed this time.” I laughed quietly to myself.
Corro hummed we walked down a red brick path. I looked about to see a surprisingly small population of Shadow Knights.
Corro’s humming broke out into whistling.
It was dull and annoying.
It was oddly familiar.
“Where did you learn that song?” I mumbled, musing over the possible origin of the tune.
“Hm? Oh! It’s just some random tune.” Corro laughed quietly, before pushing me forward resuming his tough guy demeanor, “Doesn’t matter. Keep moving.”
Soon I found myself entering a large room through double doors. On a marble and obsidian throne sat the Lord Zane. He looked bored as his gaze fell on me.
Corro forced me to my knees as Zenix walked over, his smug expression bearing down on me.
“So. What Village are you from? Seeing as obviously you aren’t local to Phoenix Drop, you must originate from somewhere.” Zane hummed.
I spat at the ground in front of the throne. Zenix grabbed my chin, nearly lifting me by it before Zane called him off.
“Let her speak before she loses her tongue.” Zane leaned forward. He seemed intrigued by my very existence. It made me sick.
“I killed you before…” I hissed, “I’ll kill you again!”
“See but this time you won’t live to tell the tale, little Rebel Songbird.” A chillingly calm, mechanical voice spoke up.
My blood grew icy cold. I recognized that voice.
That voice. How-
I gasped, doubling over as a mass deep in my bad shoulder burned painfully.
Wraith hummed, walking in front of me, his rifle bouncing on his back as it hung by it’s sling. His armor was covered in an old, ragged coyote brown cloak.
“Lord Zane.” Wraith addressed the Lord, “I will gladly dispose of this undesirable filth.”
Zane sighed, thinking for a moment.
“Or, “Gene spoke up, “We could turn her against the people of Phoenix Drop.”
A sudden shout of pain was heard as a figure blurred past me, colliding with Wraith. Corro held Wraith to the wall of the throne room, his once blood red sword now a gilded scimitar, digging into Wraith’s shoulder.
Corro had a single raven wing, now, his white hair still tied back. A shadowy crest of feathers were raised in anger on his head, his ears flattened as he growled. His white scaled tail swished in anger, the black fan of feathers at the end shimmering in the glowstone’s light.
I took my chance as the respective chaos ensued. I booked it out of the room, realizing the shackles were never locked. I found Corro sprinting next to me.
“This way!” He shouted, directing me down a skinny, netherrack path overlooking a pool of lava.
Wraith took aim, yet by the time he got a good sight line we were out of range. He lowered his rifle with an irritated robotic sigh.
Corro led me to an obsidian ring, a purple bubbling miasma flowing from it.
“Are you sure?” I look at him.
Before he could answer he threw me into the portal, running through himself.