Elements of Emotion

Chapter 34: Thanatos

Thanatos frowned at the lantern that hung in the air before him. He detested celestial spirits, and yet he now had power over the element himself. He extended his arm, causing a blast of light magic to decimate a nearby rock while also illuminating the entire cavern. He smiled to himself as he looked down to eight gems in his other hand. They were beautiful, radiating colored light as they sparkled.

It was their aura in a condensed form, unattached to a soul. He was unable to absorb them, but that wasn't an issue. He could still control them. He'd just have to keep an eye on Mimzi, to make sure she didn't get any ideas about stealing them. The punishment for something like that would be greater than she could ever imagine.

He looked up when Mimzi entered the chamber, alone. "Finally back, are you?" he asked. She kept her head lowered as she approached him, before resting at his right side again.

"Hmph. Don't be so disappointed," Thanatos said with a wave of his hand. "This is why you can't trust others. Damien was foolish to think they could get you light elementals, and you were foolish for ever hoping for it. But perhaps if you behave, I'll consider giving you one of them."

"I understand," Mimzi said.

"Good," Thanatos said as he looked back to the celestial elemental.

"That you're a liar."

Thanatos was still for a moment. When he turned back to Mimzi, a cold expression on his face. "What was that?" He asked.

In response, Mimzi summoned her toxin elemental and shot acid into Thanatos' face. Surprised, he tried to use his hands to wipe it off, but Mimzi quickly kicked the hand that held the gemsouls, causing some of them to scatter onto the ground.

"Go!" She called, but Caelian and the others were already running into the cavern at full speed.

Thanatos let out a hiss. "You ignorant child," he said before striking at her. Mimzi moved to dodge it, but a blast of shadow magic sent her flying to the ground, hitting her head hard against the rock floor.

"Mimzi!" Damien called. They broke away from the others and ran towards her, while Evelyn and Zephyr dragged Caelian towards the fallen gemsouls.

Thanatos wiped the acid from his face before shooting a glare towards them. He raised his hand and sent a blast of shadow magic their way, hitting just below their feet and sending them all flying in different directions.

Caelian hit the ground on his stomach and skidded to a stop. He winced as he opened his eyes, a sparkle catching his attention. As Thanatos bent down and angrily scooped up the dropped gemsouls, he noticed that one of them was missing. He looked up in time to see Caelian crawl over to the gem and touch it, causing a black and purple aura to envelop him as the shadow elemental bonded with him once more. Thanatos gave an unimpressed look.

"Happy now?" he asked as Caelian stood. "I suppose I didn't need that one much, anyway. The others will suit me just fine," he said as he looked down at the seven gems in his hand.

Caelian glared back at him. Anger was already festering inside of him as he summoned his shadow claws. They were longer than usual, clicking together as he moved his fingers. The shadow elemental materialized next to him, her dark glow sucking in any of the nearby light.

"You're welcoming it," A voice said in the back of Caelian's head. "You welcome the anger. Why?"

"Because I should be angry," Caelian said out loud. His eyes flicked over to the lantern. "What's your name?"

"Amelia," the shadow elemental said. "Good. Let the anger fester."

Caelian's wings shot out from his back, throwing feathers everywhere as he flapped his wings and rose into the air. He looked over to Mimzi, who Damien was tending to. She was out cold. That wasn't good. She was the one who was supposed to fight Thanatos. He was only meant to assist.