Shadow of the Avatar

Chapter 23 -- Malevolent Toxin

 Avatars? Can we talk about something else, just thinking about them gives me a stomach ache--among other things.

--Wren

"Hethanon." The word was heavy on Wren's lips. As she said it, fear and loathing swept through her. It made a queasy sensation in her stomach. Corona growled like an animal, she felt a charge of energy surge through her limbs. The phoenix pendant seemed to throb against her heart, she put a hand to it.

The black-eyed man came forward, three thugs appeared out of the darkness to flank him. His axe-shaped face split into a yellow toothed grin, and she felt the prickling sensation of his aura. He looked lean and strong, if he'd been covered with scales she'd have mistaken him for a snake.

The rasp of his voice sent itchy tingles down her spine. "A pleasure to have you back. We never finished our talk."

Wren narrowed her eyes, and made sure nothing was coming up behind her. She wasn't afraid. Corona wouldn't let her be. The only thing she felt was the pounding of her heart, and the rising heat of rage. This creature was her enemy, and a part of the creature Corona was designed to destroy. The pulsation of the phoenix was a strong reminder this man was directly responsible for killing everyone dear to her, Sireth, Grahm, most of the Brethren guild. Death was too swift and simple for this atrocity.

"Not much to say. You die or I do. They chose 'die'. What's your choice?" She pointed to the hallway where the shattered corpses of more than a dozen men lay.

Hethanon peered toward the carnage and his smile faded. His already raspy tone took on an even harsher edge. "You have a lot to answer for."

Corona snarled, making her whole arm vibrate. She made her tone low and cold. "Funny, I was thinking the same thing." She shifted her feet, ready to move. Inwardly, she'd been delaying in hopes Desiray would come back for her. It didn't seem there'd be any last instant rescues. If it weren't for Corona flooding her system with angry surges, she'd be shaking. Hethanon was a monster--a powerful one.

Hethanon's henchmen moved, preparing to bracket her. They hadn't seen what Corona could do, so the blade didn't act as deterrent. She hesitated to throw, in the instant it took for him to return, she'd be weaponless. She backed up into the wider portion of the hall, away from debris that might trip or tangle.

"You aren't planning on running again, are you?" Hethanon rasped. A glow surrounded his free hand.

She snapped Corona at the avatar. The dagger shrieked with glee, becoming a lance of light spearing toward the creature's heart.

The snake-man lunged aside with incredible swiftness, twisting his body to avoid the bolt that shredded his tunic and sent a spray of milky blood into the air. Some of the blood struck one of his thugs. The man screamed and clawed at himself, smoke erupting from his skin and clothing. The man directly behind Hethanon had nothing of the priest's speed. He took Corona's strike straight on and disintegrated in a crimson splash. The other man on Hethanon's left faired no better as the blade exploded into the wall behind them then rebounded toward Wren's hand. The hurtling blade sheared through his outstretched arm the way a fishing line parted water.

In a heartbeat, Hethanon's men were down. Corona rested in her hand again and the cult leader could only gnash his teeth, fingering the bloody tear on his chest.

The words echoed in her mind, and the thought of vengeance against this creature pleased her. "Does that hurt? Good."

"You witch!" The glow around his hand became a blaze.

Wren leaped. The thunderous discharge ripped across her back in a rasp of pain. She rolled and came up throwing. Corona screamed forward. Hethanon managed to twist away again, the hurtling blade opened a slash in his arm. Corona shattered the wall behind him, causing smoking fragments to pepper his back.