Miracle

Pt. 53

Alistair wasted no time. With a roar, he launched a massive, burning hot magma ball straight towards Lily. Her eyes widened in terror. "Lily, look out!" Bill yelled, shoving her fiercely out of the way just in time. They landed with a hard thud as the magma exploded where she'd stood, searing the ground. All around them, the creatures of Nearon Village screamed, scattering and running for their lives.

Alistair chuckled, a chilling sound, his gaze sweeping over the group, now spotting Bill. "Ahh, and you're with the banished failure, I see." Disgust twisted Alistair's features as Bill and Lily scrambled back to their feet. The demons flanking Alistair began to creep closer, their eyes glinting with malice. "I should have killed you when I had the chance, instead of just banishing you, you disgrace." His fiery gaze snapped back to Lily. "My daughter, you could have led by my side, but you had to make everything so difficult."
Lily's hands clenched into tight fists, her eyes burning bright red. "You killed my mother, you sick bastard! I would have never joined you!"

Alistair threw his head back, laughing loudly, the sound echoing ominously and sending another wave of terror through the fleeing villagers. "You're right, I did! Because no one goes against me and lives! Attack!" Lily watched in horror as the demons surged forward, a tide of monstrous forms rushing towards her friends and the defenseless townfolk. "Protect the townfolk!" Lily roared, her voice raw, just before her father, moving with terrifying speed, tackled her to the ground. She quickly threw him off, countering with a fiery kick aimed directly at his chest, knocking him off his feet.

Alistair landed, rolling smoothly, a sinister grin spreading across his face. "Oh, I see you've learned how to fight, huh? Then this will be fun! Try not to die too quickly." He sprang to his feet, leaping into the air and bringing his fists down with crushing force towards her head. Lily sidestepped, her movements fluid, and his fists slammed into the earth, leaving a deep, smoking impression.

Alistair, with a flick of his wrist, smoothly pulled two blade handles from his pockets. He concentrated his fire magic, channeling it through the handles, and two crackling, shimmering blades of pure flame erupted from the hilts, forming fiery weapons. He moved with sudden, deadly precision, making quick, jabbing movements to stab her. "You're weak, just like your mother!" he screamed, his voice filled with contempt.

Lily was too consumed by her own fight to fully register the chaos erupting around her. Her friends were battling furiously. River flew through the air, her wings beating furiously, expertly trapping seven demons in a swirling, floating ball of water. Max darted around the small homes, shouting out different spells of attack, flashes of light and bursts of energy erupting from his hands. Valentine, Bill, and Jinx fought back-to-back, carving paths through swarms of demons.

Alex rushed to protect the townfolk, his magnificent wings spread gracefully behind his back as he unleashed powerful gusts of wind, blowing demons away from the fleeing villagers. Even Momo was there, a furry, orange blur, swatting demons away when they got too close to any innocent creature.
"Set this place ablaze, boys!" Alistair yelled, his voice cutting through the chaos.

Some of the demons, carrying flaming torches, began to throw them towards the small, wooden homes. The screams of the townspeople, no longer just of fear but of despair, broke through Lily's concentration. Some of the villagers rushed to put out the quickly growing flames, but the fire continued to spread, licking at the dry wood, and thick, acrid smoke began to fill the inside of the tree village, making it difficult to breathe.

Alistair's fiery blade grazed against Lily's side, a searing line of pain. She screamed, stumbling backwards, her hand instinctively flying to the wound. She fell to the ground, her fingers already covered in her own blood.
"You see what you brought to these poor creatures, daughter?" Alistair's voice was low, condescending, a cocky grin on his face as he walked closer, an intimidating shadow. "They were fine living their sad little lives till you showed up. They'll burn just like your bitch of a mother. So sad."

Lily could hear her heart beating loudly, a frantic drum in her ears, as her eyes darted wildly around. The suffering she had inadvertently brought upon these innocent creatures, the sight of their burning homes and terrified faces, made her heart plummet into despair. "We have to go... we have to leave Nearon now!" she screamed, scrambling back to her feet, Alistair mirroring her steps.
"Running away again, daughter? Wherever you go, I'll find you, and I'll end you!"

The others quickly broke apart from their individual fights. Jinx, with a desperate urgency, opened a shimmering portal. Valentine, instantly understanding, manifested a psychic force field to cover them as Alex scooped up Lily, and they all dove through the swirling vortex to another unknown destination. "I'll find you, daughter!" Alistair's enraged scream echoed through the dying village just before the portal closed, and Lily buried her face in Alex's shirt, trembling.

****

Alistair stood in his opulent, yet scorched, office, gazing into a fiery, floating orb. "What do you see?" he leaned against his desk, a tremor of anxiety in his voice. A deep, resonating voice, ancient and detached, filled the quiet room. "Ah, yes. A powerful king, now feeling confident. He burned a village, sent the townfolk running, their screams echoing, all to achieve power and greed. Yet, the final battle draws closer and closer by the day, while his opponent's resolve bleeds away. Her walls are crumbling, her faith tumbling. The end battle depends on her will to fight, her will to go on. If she's strong enough, the once powerful king will fall along with his kingdom, and a new ruler will take his throne... this... is known." The orb whispered its last sentence before slowly fading into shimmering dust.

Alistair slammed his fist onto the desk, the heavy wood groaning in protest. "Damn it!" he snarled in frustration. The prophecy, while hinting at his power, still left the unsettling possibility that he could lose the fight against Lily.
His door swung open without a knock, and Satan himself strode in, his hands clasped casually behind his back. His eyes burned holes through Alistair. "Have you taken care of our problem yet, Alistair?" he asked, his voice deceptively smooth.

"No, unfortunately," Alistair whispered, barely audible, as he looked at the ground, feeling the immense weight of Satan's intense gaze upon him.
Satan shook his head, a subtle gesture of disappointment. "You know I'm not supposed to interfere in matters such as this, but I guess I can make an exception this once... for my old friend," he whispered, a hint of something cold and calculating in his tone. Alistair looked up, confused, as Satan walked in front of his desk, pulling a small, ornate box from behind his back. He set it gently on the desk.

"What is this?" Alistair asked, looking from the box to Satan.
Satan merely shrugged, a gesture of casual omnipotence, gesturing for Alistair to pick up the box and open it. Alistair's curiosity overcame his apprehension. He opened the box, revealing a single, shimmering dark blue blade resting on a bed of blood-red silk.

"It's a little something I thought would put an end to all this," Satan explained. "It's one use, but it will kill any creature, immortal or not. I wasn't sure if the girl is immortal yet, so when I had it crafted, I made sure it covered all contingencies." Satan tilted his head slightly, his gaze piercing. "It will kill her. All you have to do is land the shot." He turned, walking back towards the door, looking back at Alistair one last time, his voice chillingly soft. "Don't fail me, Alistair. I would hate to have to replace you." He slammed the door closed behind him, leaving Alistair alone with his thoughts and the killing weapon gleaming ominously in his hands.