A Hero in the Dark: 2nd Edition

Chapter 52: Unforetold Fate

I'm a spectator of myself; that's new. I look worse than I felt—less tan and grey, like I've been zombified. My eyes snap open, shining cobalt blue, as does my body, skin, hands, and everything. Suddenly, the crowd is speechless while I walk back to the stage. I'm not so far away when someone—male and young—speaks through my vocal cords. "Your end is nigh, old friend."

I turn from the stunned dictator to the people and rise what must be thirty feet. I'm the centre of the world, and the boy inside me begins: "I am Pittacus Lore. Recorder of the fates. Chronicler of the Legacies. I tell the tales of those who would shape worlds, and I come to you now with a matter a great urgency, through the eyes of a girl. I have inherited her body temporarily for my use, given her permission of course. As far as you're aware, I'm dead, and this man is to blame. I was merely trying to prevent a war between my people and his. Please, just listen..."

"What the fuck is going on?" I hear Nine ask while I remain stagnant at the back of my mind. "How is she doing that?"

"Shut up, Nine!"

"A decade ago, he decimated our people. Now he has come to Earth to finish what he started. Only a handful of my people survived. They're here to defend you." He pauses. "This girl—Emily—is a human who was once like you. I've granted her with the most powerful Legacy known by my people, an ability so rare, it had to have been passed down. I selected her so she could fight back against this threat you see in front of you; it was a last resort. But she is hurt. My adversary has gotten to her before she could hone her craft. She is under his will. But she's determined; I'll assure you that. Stand by her, and this world shall flourish as mine once did."

My arm rises, and with it, the blue light brightens, more than it ever has. A brilliant blue beam of radiant cobalt energy ejects out of my palm, sailing at his staff, and leaving it shattered into a million pieces. Setrákus cries out in frustration and anguish as his face contorts gradually, turning beet red. His skin becomes a sea of scars, and a thick purple scar encircles his neck.

I float back down. Everything fades to normalcy, but the event leaves me dazed, like I've gotten hit in the head with a rock, or hell, a car! I hold my middle, cough to breathe, and grit my teeth as the poison picks up speed. My cheeks overheat, and a chill carries itself up my spine, up to the nape of my neck. "WATCH OUT!"

He has me by the elbow and yanks me to my feet, a gasp lodged in my throat as the rest of my body subdues. "You will die for this embarrassment, child," he growls.

I cry out, twist, pull, but nothing works. I hear John yell my name; he's following. But Setrákus's pace is fast; I stumble over my feet, plead, beg, but ultimately, I obey; I'm on my own.