Everybody Has A Price

Say Goodbye

"I was just trying to protect you."

"Well, you didn't do that very well. Did you?"

"I just thought..."

"You thought wrong." I had Tom's body curled into my arms. It seemed like he would wake up any moment, but I knew he wouldn't. I glared at the standing monster in front of me. "You say you need justice, but your idea of justice is tainted."

"Jordan, I'm sorry."

"If you're sorry, bring him back." My glare challenged her weak gaze. Her eyes darted away, accidentally catching her disaster multiple times.

"I can't do that, Jordan." I laughed bitterly, making her look at me again.

"It's funny. We can all take lives away so easily, then we realize we screwed up. We can't give the lives back." I was shaking my head while looking at Tom's already glazed over eyes.

"He's with his god now."

"He's lucky he was following Dianite, not you."

Thunder erupted from the sky. I shivered thinking back to moments before Tom was gone.

"That's enough, boyo. I'm sure, my dear sister had only the best intentions." Dianite was next to me, looking at his fallen follower. He had been brought back. Why can't Tom?

"He's a god, Sparklez. Tom is not."

"Get out of my head! Can't you see I don't want you anymore? You have caused enough damage! You just destroy the people that try to help you!" I saw her growing angrier. With herself or me, I did not know.

"I try so hard to protect you and the others, but sometimes I can't! Gods are not perfect! Can't you tell I'm already torturing myself? I don't need you to add to it!" Tears were leaving her violet eyes. I looked up at Dianite then back at Tom. When I looked back up to meet Ianite's gaze, she was gone.

I moved my eyes back to Tom and started stroking his hair as if he were alive. Maybe there was something in witchery that could bring him back. Maybe if I just try enough I'll get him back. But what if he just end up like Capsize? Would I be the one to kill him?

"Just let me have him, Sparkly Pants," Dianite spoke softly. Dianite rested his hand on my shoulder as if it would help me calm down, but I couldn't. I was filled with rage and madness. It was like Tom's presence had made me a better, more forgiving person.

"Why do you gods only care about yourselves? You only care about resurrecting yourself, not your followers."

"Give him to me, boy, or you will end up in the same situation as Syndi!" His hand was now burning my shoulder, but I didn't give in to the pain.

"No." I stared at Tom to avoid Dianite.

"You stubborn fool!" I heard the rumble from the clouds above and braced myself for death, but it never came. I slowly turned to look at Dianite. He didn't looked angry or shocked at all. "You should know I could never have enough power without Syndi alive."

"Well what are you going to do now? You'd never have enough power without a single steady follower."

"Well, I could use a follower like you." I was taken aback by what I just heard. He wanted me to join him and leave Ianite. She did just murder Tom, but I want ready to leave her just yet. I wish I were. "Everybody has a price, Sparkly Bum, and I'll find yours." With that he vanished along with Tom's body, and I was left on the ground, angry and confused.

I slowly rose up, unsure if I could carry my weight along with the weight of Tom's death on my shoulders. My legs wavered initially but I eventually steadied myself and made my way to my Fortress of Fury. I was far to weak to fly so I walked. I walked past the memories of Tom and I fighting mobs and fighting each other. I walked past the memories of Tom and I talking about nonsense. I walked past memories of Tom and I together.

When I reached the Fortress, I thought I was going to vomit. The memories made me sick.

"Hello, Captain!" I turned my head to see Guard Tom. He was not the Tom I was hoping to see. "You look down today. I made you a pie!" He gave me the same kind of pie everyday as payment for the room I was loaning him.

"Tom, I don't need anymore pie." He cocked his head to the side.

"What happened out there, Captain?"

"Syndicate was killed by a god," I choked. He gasped in return.

"Did Dianite get mad at him?" I had forgotten that Guard Tom still believed Dianite was evil and cruel.

"No. It was Ianite."

"Why would your lady murder your best friend?" I had never told him just how close Tom and I were. It never came up.

"She feared for my life. She did what she thought was best." I was too sad to be angry anymore.

"I'm sorry, Captain. I hope you feel better soon." I nodded slowly before going up the elevator. I immediately ran into something and fell to the ground.

"Oops. My apologies, Twinkle Thighs." Dianite held out his arm for me to grab then pulled me back up to my feet.

"I'm not going to join your side," I started abruptly while brushing the dust off of my clothes.

"Well, that is not the reason why I happen to be here. I can't to tell you Tom is resting peacefully in the nether." Dianite gave a slight smile.

"Peacefully?" I shouted. His smile fell. "There is nothing peaceful about the nether!"

"You are insulting my home, boy. Syndi was quite a fan of it as well." Dianite talking about Tom in the past tense almost killed me. My heart seemed to compress far too small. "His soul resides in the nether. That is no choice of mine. I thought I'd give the poor soul a sense of home with his body." Dianite spoke quietly and softly as if not to scare a child.

"There's really no way to bring him back, is there?" Dianite shook his head. I sighed and nodded. "Okay."

"Do the others know yet?" I shook my head.

"I haven't told them yet."

"You better get on that then. They seem to be planning a group adventure." I nodded in response. He vanished from my sight as I went down the elevator.

I went to Tucker's to try and find them. Tucker, Sonja, and Wag were standing around a map pointing to various places.

"Hey, guys," I said smiling as much as I could. They all greeted me in return. "So, what are you guys up to?"

"All of us are going to go through and fight the bosses in the Twilight Forest. What do you say?" Sonja asked. Tom had always begged to go to the Twilight Forest, but I told him we had to wait until the others were ready. Now he's the one that wasn't ready. I smiled and nodded. I couldn't talk. If I did I would break down sobbing.

"Would you also ask Tom if he'd like to go?" Tucker asked. I shook my head. They all stopped. "Why not?" I tried to tell them I couldn't but nothing came out.

"Where's Tom? I'll go ask him," Wag offered, preparing to fly.

"Dead," Dianite had said for me. He stood next to me while I hung me head. I heard choruses of screams, cries, no's, why's, what's, and how's. Most importantly I heard 'who?'.

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Yooooooo this is my first Mianit fix ever so ye I'd appreciate some feedback.
Also, I hope you guys appreciate the filler cover until I can get my hands on something more fitting.