Eril's Story

Day 29

I couldn't have been asleep for more than a couple of hours, because when I awoke it was still the dead of night. The moon was at its zenith, casting silver light over the landscape. What had awoken me was Artis sitting restlessly in the distance, oddly in conversation. Fighting drowsiness I looked over to where she had been laying and saw that the calming bracelet had fallen off in the night.

Concerned, I approached where she was sitting, calling her name softly, trying to get her attention. She was crying and pleading with something that I could not see. That was at least until I got closer. When I looked out from the hill in the direction she was speaking, I saw bands of pale light within the shadows, moving in our direction. Artis seemed captivated by these lights, screeching now. 'Samael! Come back to me!'

Then out from under the trees a figure emerged. It was a man. Hairless, and without a shirt or proper clothing to cover his legs. The glowing bands I had seen were marks upon his body, intersecting with scarred flesh. An aura of menace washed towards me and I felt my courage being tested - dread threatening to overtake me.

With a cry upon seeing his face, Artis rush towards the man. I caught her arm. Whatever this thing was, it would be better to be on the safe side. 'Who are you?!' I called out to the stranger. No response. Just a slow steady advance up the hill, dark eyes fixed upon us.

By now Artis was in a frenzy, fighting against my grip. I tried to reason with her. 'This couldn't be your husband. It's inhuman.' Then with a disturbing twisted smile the creature spoke. A voice that was both a whisper and clearly audible. 'Oh, but I am. And I have come back for her.' Deliberately unsheathing a short blade from his waist.

I knew in my heart we were not safe, even if Artis went to him. Something about the situation was wrong. Before he could reach us I ran, dragging Artis behind me. Back to our camp, looking over my shoulder seeing Samael approaching at an unhurried but deliberate pace. Intent on doing harm, almost anticipating it.

I grabbed the bracelet from where it had fallen, slipping it over Artis' arm. Bringing her back to her senses, as if shaking off a bad dream. I hurriedly explained the situation to her as I reached for my spear. The man was almost upon us now.

He sneered when he saw my weapon. Brandishing his own and quickening his advance. Artis shouted at him. 'Samael! What has happened to you?' He grinned, teeth reflecting in the moonlight. 'I have become something more now. And I have come back to take my wife.' I was appalled by his hostility and the notion that he owned another person. I called back, 'Keep your distance!' Trying to sound more menacing than I felt inside. 'We can talk this through if your intentions are well meaning.'

Samael showed no head to my words, his gaze fixed on Artis, who now regaining her presence was shrinking away in fear. 'Don't come any closer!' I warned, lowering my spear to block the intruders path. Without warning and with a superhuman lunge, Samael leapt the remaining gap. The sound of metal ringing out as my spear was swept aside.

I stumbled backwards from the force of the attack. Artis screamed as the hulking figure dashed towards her. Backpedaling, she tripped and her leg was grabbed by Samael as he started to effortlessly drag her away. Regaining my footing and without hesitation, I charged at the beast swinging my spear like a blade as the Seraph had shown me.

The cut was true as it sank with a sickening thud into the man's shoulder. I expected anyone to drop from such a blow. But when I saw the blade, it had merely sliced an inch deep in the bare skin only creating a small flesh wound. Oozing dark blood from the gash.

Though it didn't do any lasting damage, it had diverted his attention enough that he let go of his victim. Turning now to face me instead. His face contorting in deep rage - I felt an awful sense of mortality. Yelling to Artis, 'Run! Get as far away as you can from here as you can.' I wasn't sure I could walk away from this encounter keeping the monster from reclaiming his prize.

'She can never get away. She is mine.' Came the snarled words from Samael. I stood my ground. 'Then you will have to kill me first.' Roots of selflessness re-emerged from me, a feeling I had been unaware of for a long time. I then sized up my opponent. In most features he was strikingly human. The exceptions being his enhanced stature, and pale thin web of scars that ran along his skin. Glowing in the night, and casting reflections in his darkened eyes. The blackness of night made the already dim and film covered eyes appear to be completely black, and I shuddered.

I waited for it to make the first move, not having to wait long. Unconcerned at the reach my spear gave, the creature charged straight towards me. I braced myself and held my weapon point out. The spear wavered though and missed its mark, striking his arm. Instead of ripping through, it was like hitting a wall. The force of his assault was transferred to me, knocking me off balance.

It was just as well, for his swing had already been in motion. Clipping my leg in an explosion of pain. Closer now we traded blow for block, negating each attack in succession. My only saving grace being the shorter length of his sword.

Giving me more time to react to the viscous stabs and slashes. The fight raged on, neither of us gaining a clear advantage over the other - aside from his wounds seemingly having no effect on his stamina, while mine increasingly hindered my ability to carry on. I just hoped at this point that I could give Artis more time to get away from this abomination of a human.

Soon enough it became clear to me that I was not going to be able to continue fighting. Each block I made was draining my energy further. I didn't even have the stamina to strike back anymore. Resigning myself to fate. Samael on the other hand showed no sign of fatigue despite his torso glistening with dark blood and various deep cuts. A result of numerous jabs I had landed, somehow his flesh taking only superficial damage.

As I retreated from the hill I could sense myself being pushed to a steep ledge, leaving me no path for retreat. The ground at the edge was loose and I could feel my footing faltering as chunks of dirt crumbled underneath my feet. Pressed to my limit, I continued blocking and avoiding the flashing blade of my adversary.

In one final onslaught he came at me. And with the last of my strength and will I dropped my spear, leaping at my foe. The maneuver must have come as a surprise to him because I was able to get all the way past his guard. The tackle sending both of us to the ground rolling. That was when the ledge gave way entirely, sending a cascade of debris raining down over us as we crashed downwards.

I lay stunned, choking on dust. There were multiple new broken parts of my body that flared with pain. In addition the many cuts I had already received bled freely. I could feel the pulse of my blood as I lay frozen in shock. From my daze I saw the figure beside me stirring as well. Reaching for his blade that was nearby.

Through sheer will I was quicker on my feet. Scooping up the weapon and pointing it shakily at Samael. Prepared to strike him down, willing myself to. From where he lay, he spat at my feet, hurling curses upon me that made my soul shudder. Whatever this person had become, he was too far down the path. Irredeemable.

I brought his weapon over my head to strike, the jagged blade asking for blood. And as it lingered there, my mind took me to battles I had fought, the lives taken - and sadness overcame me. I lowered the weapon. I wasn't that person.

Even though I had never made the conscious decision or gave it much thought, it was now solidified for me - I would never again take a human life.

With this realization I just stood there, staring at a struggling man, his humanity altered in some inexplicable way. And with one final brandish of the short sword I said, 'There is enough death in this world, I won't add to it. And neither should you. I implore you to find another way.'

A curious look came over Samael's face as he struggled to get upright, multiple broken limbs impeding his attempts. A look of inner conflict. Carrying the sword I turned, limping away to go find Artis.

Then quicker than I could react to, I heard a faint rustle of gravel and a footstep. A burst of force from behind hit me. As I looked down I saw the head of my spear, protruding from my stomach. Falling, I half turned to see Samael with a sick grin on his face, standing over me as my world faded away.