Destined

26. The Bargain

The longer I held her, the more I wished to not let go. She gave me more than comfort; she opened my heart. I cannot say that was something I wanted. Her aura, her scent, her wit, all of her possessed a power no element needed to be given to her. A soft breath escaped me, and I felt it. My flames singed across my flesh, but I held her. "Artemis, you think you need me that this world needs me, but truth is it needs you too."

She pulled away enough to stare into my eyes. "Whatever you think, you are wrong. You shoulder everything on your own and protecting us cost you all you had." Her eyes watered. "Why would you give up like this is over when it's not?"

I scoffed. "My soul trapped, so what else could I do?" I sighed and stared at my friends and allies. "Watch it happen again and let him have his way, no that's not me." Her aura grew stronger. "His gravest sin must kill him. No man, no curse, or blessing will save him from the wrath of the elements."

"You think the Elements exist after all that has happened to you?" Alva cut in with a retort. "They would let everything you have wither before they do anything if they even existed. How can a sin even kill me?"

I glared at him. "Magic has two counters, and you broke them without realizing the consequence. Its first is physical force, but its second is spiritual. You have tainted those with your greed and lust, Alva."

He chuckled to himself, and then his laugh belted out across the meadow. He smirked. "You take that archaic nonsense as the truth of this messed up world of yours. How truly childish. There is no God in this world to stop me or your precious elements."

"It is over for you, Alva." I felt the aura of the Soul Wood. It was building up and readying itself to spear Alva through. "If you thought I would be the destroyer you wanted, then I am afraid there is nothing more capable than the elements to dispose of you."

"Not the elements again. You think they care about you or your world? Look at it and tell me if you see they have done anything to shape it. All of that was you, my king, not the elements." He argued.

Artemis studied me for a long moment. She gripped my arm so suddenly that I locked eyes with her. "Aiden, what sin is so grave it can kill a man?" I cringed back from her. "Aiden,"

"I am bound not to speak of it unless I wish for them to seek me out." I sighed and her eyes widened. "Whatever you do, do not get in their way."

"What are you?" She stopped short when the whole wood cried loud enough that every living being could hear it.

"What was that?" Kay shivered.

All of them stuck close together.

But I saw them, riding on their dark stallions, each draped in darkness. They were racing straight for us. The closer they got, the more my allies took caution, but not Alva.

"Is this a jest? You think this will end me?" He pointed to the five riders he just insulted.

"Who summoned us, and why?" One rider asked in a husky voice.

I unsteadily got up and walked over to the riders. "I did." The rider turned his hooded head toward me. "Why, you need only to see my soul."

The rider took down his hood. He wore a crown of flames. "I remember you," His coal eyes stared at me, then at Alva. "I see. Then you wish to fulfill your promise?"

I nodded. "Yes, I must give it back now. It no longer needs to be in my possession." I extended my hand, and the rider took a hold of it. Pain shot through me and I felt him taking the blessing they gave me when my clan died. Everything blurred the more the pain intensified.