Abel's Tale

XV. Usurper

He knew he could do it. It was simple, pick up the blade, duel him, win the battle. It was so simple. So easy. But his brother was standing there defenseless. This wasn't a battle, it was a slaughter. The final chance he'd ever have at a normal life, ordered to be severed once and for all. Malachi knew what he had to do.

Abel watched intensely. So did Thanatos. He sensed something inside Malachi, his emotions a whirlwind. Slowly, cautiously, he picked up the sword. Turning toward Abel, approaching him, he felt an invisible bond tighten. Try as he might, he could not move, only his eyes.

Malachi pointed his sword at him, walking toward him. Abel felt his knees give out, he collapsed onto them. Looking up, their destiny was in Malachi's hands now.

"Complete your training, my young apprentice. And take your place at my side."

Malachi's face was a storm, a fierce battle playing behind those sad blue eyes.

"Brother." Abel said.

"Have you sensed something?" Thanatos asked, "A weakness? My boy, he is weak. Foolish, unwise. You are his final test. But only I can see his mind, his every intent,"

Malachi closed his eyes, the storm on his face calming.

"I see it, even now,"

Malachi raised his sword high over his shoulder.

"I see destiny fulfilled."

He brought the sword down, turning heel, the sword stopping a mere breath away from Thanatos's neck. Abel felt his invisible bonds loosen, the strength in him returning.

Thanatos gave a cruel smile. "You are weak, my apprentice. You'd throw away everything you've built for somebody you don't even know? I should've killed you when I didn't get the both of you."

"You're wrong, Thanatos," Malachi said, "I'm not weak."

Thanatos leaned into the sword. "Kill me then, prove your strength."

With a crack of thunder and flash of blue light, everyone in the room blew away from Thanatos. Malachi's sword clanked against the ground. Abel was the first to rise.

Elise came rushing into the room, Ophelia and the other two knights in tow behind her. She rushed straight toward Abel, quickly bringing him in for a hug, burying her face into his chest.

"Lovers, how delightful that you'll get to die in each other's arms." Thanatos said.

Ophelia helped Malachi to his feet. "What happened here?"

Thanatos sat on his throne. "Your Master is a traitor."

Ophelia looked at Malachi, "Is this true?"

Malachi looked away from her, instead reaching out his hand, his sword sliding across the ground, and quickly reaching his grip. "You'd have me sever my humanity, turn me into a mindless weapon. I will be your slave no longer."

"Then, Malachi, you will die."

Elise held Abel's hand. She whispered: "What's going on?"

"I don't know."

The two knights beside Ophelia kneeled. She touched Malachi's arm. "Are you sure about this?"

Malachi winced. "This is what I need to do."

"Then the Knights of Imera will follow you till the end of time."

Thanatos's smile fell, replaced with pure anger. Abel had never seen him so still.