Destined

17. Troubled Soul

I glimpsed at Artemis, but she curtsied like a true lady. "Stop. I told you I have no intention to become a king now or ever."

"Accept it. If you have forgotten the truth, this is who you are. You have hunted for the truth, but the truth you seek is already taking form inside you." Mesmer said when he raised his head. His eyes glittered with a grin spreading across his lips.

"You are the source of the magic in this world, a true king. The mark you chose and sought has returned to you."

The Corrupted King grinned wider than any human could spread his lips. "So, it is you. How lovely I thought you would never grace this world again." He tore free from whatever Artemis had done to halt his advance. Mesmer summoned a scythe to his hand and guarded me. The Corrupted King approached me. Artemis drove her blade into his back. She passed through him as his body was air. She stared wide-eyed. "Did you think you could stop me if I let you take a piece of me? What foolish children I have made when they underestimate me."

"Artemis," Her father struck at her, but she blocked his sword with her own, but the look in his eyes made me uneasy. I wanted to take the blow instead of her. Another attack came for her, but I knew something was different in the swing of his sword. I ran at him and tackled him to the ground pinning down his sword arm.

The Corrupted King was confused at what I was doing. "You swing again, and I will rip your arm off myself." He smirked. His sword dissolved.

"Nice to see you again. It has been too long, my friend."

"What?"

"Oh right, you wanted to forget and live in peace. Being ignorant must be nice for you when you show up this world is in danger." He latched his hand on my wrist and tugged me. He managed to pin me down instead. "You cannot run from me again. I grew sick of chasing you."

I kicked him hard. His grip loosened enough for me to roll out from under him. He tried to grasp a hold of me. I pivoted away from his reach. He got up, then his pupils narrowed.

"Always fighting me when you should know by now you and I are the reason this world even exists."

I stared at him. "I do not understand what you mean. What you chose is your fault. I will not let my world fall into chaos because you believe everyone is as weak as you believe." My chest screamed while the heat was bombarding my flesh. I cringed.

Artemis and Mesmer stared at me wide-eyed.

The Corrupted King smirked. "Lucky me, you are unaware of the condition of your body is." He appeared before me while I tried to retreat. His elbow struck into my chest, knocking the air out. "Pathetic, you chose to hide in a form that does not suit you because all your resistance is pointless now." He gripped my left arm and then trained his eyes on my friends. "You weaklings have wasted enough of my time. If you continue to fight your fate, your only reward will be death."

My eyes grew so unfocused; I could barely make out my friends. My consciousness is fading and too fast for me to readjust. I tried to ignore his grip on my arm. My breathing grew labored. "No, no one will die."

"What nonsense are you spouting, my friend?"

I could not focus. I felt the heat bubbling over in me. "I would die first before I see another soul severed from this world!" The brilliant light burst out around me. I shut my eyes.

"Jaiden!!!" Artemis screamed out for me, but I could no longer keep myself from surrendering to the ache forming in me. I fell into the inferno coursing inside me.