Darksiders: Deathly Aura (Book 1)

Chapter Seven Corrupted Heart

Not expecting that at all, none of them moved until Dust left the ground and flew over to perch in a hollow above a door. Instead of heading for the one nearest him, Dust went, so to speak, as the crow flies to the western passage.

It took him a moment, but Death soon caught on to his companion's unspoken point.

"He's right" the Horseman announced, looking back at Carina and Soren "It would be wiser to restore the Heart Stone of the Guardian's other shoulder before awakening his mind. Therefore, we'll leave the northern corridor to last"

"Sounds like a plan. Let's go" Carina replied as they left the courtyard.

<<>><<>>

The west wing of the Foundry was proving to be much larger than the east. The hallways were longer and more winding with various dead end routes branching off from the main corridors.
It was one such passageway that caught Dust's attention. Squawking, he wheeled to the left, demanding the others to follow.

"Dust where are you-" Death started, but was cut off by the crow.

Squawk!

"You found somethi-?"

Squawk!

"For the love of-Not a Heart Stone, but something?...Fine"he finally got out, following Dust without much choice.

The crow led them to a small chamber. At its centre sat a chest that was emitting a purple glow. Surrounding it however were large, yellow crystals.
Death brought out his scythes, but, seeing something else, Carina quickly stopped him.

"Woah, hold on a second! See those?" she asked, pointing.

Latched onto the crystals were dark, jagged spheres. The spikes were of an orange colour.

"Thane told us about these. The Makers call them Shadow Bombs" the Auralin explained.

"Explosives?" Death asked, glancing between her and them.

"Exactly" Carina nodded, gesturing for the rider to stand back. "Apparently they're another result of corruption. Small ones like these aren't too powerful though"

As she spoke, she formed a flare of aura in her clenched fist. Aiming carefully, she fired it at the shadow bombs.
They exploded, destroying the crystals, but leaving the strange chest practically untouched.
Seeing it was locked, Death used a small amount of necromancy to pry it open.

From the chest, a glowing mass of purple rose up. It had the ghostly face of a skull.
Death lifted an arm as if to welcome it. The chunk of energy enveloped the Horseman's wrist and stayed there.

"Deathgrip" he stated, answering Carina's unspoken question. "To be blunt, it's the necromantic version of a grappling hook"

"No way! Talk about a lucky find" Carina replied, tilting her head a bit studying his new appendage.

Death offered a nod of his head as Dust settled on his shoulder. "Well then, let's just hope our luck holds out"

<<>><<>>

The second Heart Stone gazed down at its visitors from an even higher spot than the first. No platforms stood near it and the walls were smoother.
Not that this was a problem.

Death glanced at his glowing wrist, then up at the stone. It was worth a shot.
Dust hopped down from his shoulder, Carina took a step back.
The rider aimed Deathgrip at the chains suspending the rock, willing it to activate.
A purple light in the form of a skeletal hand fired from Death's wrist and latched onto the chains. As it retracted, Deathgrip brought the Horseman up with it like a shot.
Holding tight to the chains, Death set the Heart Stone free with a few swings of a blade, dropping as it hit the floor.