The voice of the woods rung clear to my ears. The exact phrase it spoke the day I heard when my power first emerged, save us all. I got in my fighting stance and lunged after Alva. I cannot afford to lose. I do not have time to mourn until his evil vanishes from this world. I struck at his neck, but he deflected with his magic. He was strong, and my grip was loosening on the hilt.
"Aiden!" Artemis called out to me, but I knew what must happen.
"For your sins, you will pay them back with what you treasure more than anything else, Alva. You should have heeded the will of the elements, but you have chosen to forsake them." I leaned in with the force of my power. "I will save them until I extinguish one day."
"We cannot have that, can we, my king?" Alva's power overwhelmed me, and the sword burst from my hold. "Your sword and your power are no match for me as you are now. You go on and on about the elements this and that, but where is your will, my precious king?"
I gripped the soil and threw it in his eyes. He shielded his eyes, but it gave me just the opening I needed. "It is time." I sucked in a breath and summoned the elements around me again. "I must give back what does not belong to me." My armor glowed, and then it dispersed. "I hear all of you, and I will save you." White flames erupted across my flesh as the Soul Wood lit up along with me. I lunged forward and rolled past Alva for my sword. I grabbed it and got up.
Alva turned to me just as I straightened my back. I glowered at him. "Should I fear your flames?"
"Those flames are not what they seem," My father stated, and Alva heard it. "His soul is pouring out of him because of what you have done, Alva. Do you know why he came back when he could easily get away from you?"
"Artemis, catch!" I threw my sword at her, and she stared at me. She gripped the hilt, and it glowed a sunny yellow. I smirked. "Knew it, now I see what I could not back then. Listen to me, all of you," I transformed. I knew how much this cost me in my beastly form. "I have been meaning to say this sooner, but you are the reason I am risking this right now. My body cannot keep up much longer, so let's finish what we started in Amerlise."
Alva belted out a hollow laugh and eyed me. "They lost, and so will you for aiding them. Amerlise will fall first, but before that, will you stop trying to exert yourself? We need you at full strength."
I growled. "I would never massacre people the way you do, and I will not stand down." I raised my head and howled. It echoed across the wood. As my howl grew, the light that enveloped the land had receded to me. I bounded over to my allies and sat before them. "This is where I must be, not forever at your side. Not all humankind needs to know of my name or the triumphs of my clan. I have a duty that comes first." I glared at him.
"How long will you stay tied to fate's hand when you can break free of it, my friend?"
I snickered to myself. "Fate, you say, but I have never been a believer. Prophecy is not fate, and you best to remember that." My body ached, but I must continue or forever regret my actions. "I must do what drives my heart even when I know it will cost me all that I have to give." I felt my flames across my dark coat and the white flames shined up the hairs. I transformed into my human skin. Alva's eyes saw now what I had hidden from his sight. I summoned not a sword to my hand but a scythe crafted from the light that had always followed me.
"You cannot be," Alva started when he noticed the scythe.
"Yes, the beast and man you made are the one thing that can sever existence from this world. I was born and raised in these woods. The elements gave me my gifts, and I thank them for it because I have enough strength in me to defend what is most precious to me." I glared at him for a moment. "There is something you should know by now, Alva. You are no master of the elements."
YOU ARE READING
Destined
Fantasy*The 3rd and final book to the Tarnished Series.* Two months have passed, since the deaths of Judas and Ravela. Jaiden has been tirelessly training for the final battle his father warned him was on its way. However, he still has not unlocked the pow...