Infinity

Chapter 4

The Shadowlands were a dark place. The sky was a sickly pitch black color and the smell was a stench of desperation and fear. Few ever traveled there and the ones that did hardly ever made it home alive. Unfortunately for Zayn this is where his master had sent him. He'd been the one unlucky enough to cross his master's wrath. He'd been in a foul mood since they'd stormed the Guardians temple. Well in a worst mood than usual.

Wrapping his cloak tighter around him he felt the cold breeze seep through the thin fabric. The only noise coming from the forest surrounding the road and he shook as he made his way. Why couldn't his master have sent him directly to the castle instead of opening the portal in the middle of the road? Cursing under his breath he kept moving forwards as the castle came closer into view. It was dark just like everything else in this god forsaken place. The only light came from the torches held by the two guards at the front gate.

"Who dares come around here?" one of the guards spotted him pulling out a long shiny sword running in his direction. Before Zayn could pull out his own weapon he felt the tip of guard's sword on his neck and he held his hands up in the air.

"P-please I am here on behalf if my master. He sent me to speak to the Wiseman." His voice cracked, he closed his eyes shut waiting for the Guard's sword to slice through his neck.

"Who is you're master? Identify yourself." He demanded digging the blade deeper into Zayn's skin. Hands shaking Zayn pulled out the scroll in his pocket handing it to the guard who snatched from his hand. Ripping off the seal he watched the guard's dark face go pale as he removed his blade from Zayn's neck. Turning to the other guard who'd been standing by the gate with an amused smirk on his face. He stood patient as the first guard made his way through the large gate.

"Watch him" he snapped to the bored looking guard as he went inside. Giving him an annoyed glance they stood in silence waiting. Oh why did his master always have him doing this grunt work? It's not like he didn't have an entire army of people all willing to do his bidding at a moment's notice. Zayn suspected that his master secretly liked watching him struggle sending him on the most dangerous mission part of him curious weather he would return alive or at all. With a loud squeak the gate opened.

"He will see you now follow me." Walking one step behind Zayn took a moment to look around the large building. All the walls were made of dirty stone and there was no light except for the torches hanging off the walls illuminating there way as they walked through the darkened maze. Zayn was pretty sure he heard a tortured scream somewhere in the distance and to keep from flinching. It wasn't anything he wasn't used to. Especially considering who he worked for.

Finally they reached the end of a large hall and Zayn saw a dim light in the distance. Following the guard he suddenly found himself in a large throne room. Sitting ahead on a large metal throne made of what he suspected to be gold was a dark figure. Zayn couldn't see the man's face and he felt a deep chill go through his spine just from looking at him. He was hooded and his robe was a pitch black. At the end of the sleeves Zayn saw long boney hands with thin almost translucent looking fingers. As if belonging to corpse.

"I see Brix as sent one of his underlings to see me." The words came out calm and slow like a whisper but Zayn could almost feel the room shake as he spoke.

"Yes my master has sent me to procure you're services he wishes -"

"Fool!" in the blink of an eye the hooded man seemed to fly off his throne. Feeling a warm liquid on his face Zayn felt his jaw drop as he turned and looked at the guard next to him. The hooded man had plunged his pale hand through the guard's chest. Entering through the front his pale hand exited through the man's back a pale veiny hand was visible and Zayne saw him holding something in his grasp. It only to him a moment to realize he had the guards heart in his hand. "Who do you take me for boy? Some simple merchant or blacksmith you can summon whenever you see fit?"
Immediately getting down on his knee as a sign of respect. Zayn felt panic in his breath. Sure his master had a temper and would occasionally get rid of someone without thinking twice. This man however seemed far more temperamental.

"My master sent me because he knows of your greatness. He knows that only you are capable of doing what he himself can't sir. I meant no disrespect." Lies all of it. If his master were there he would probably cut off Zayn's head for bowing down to anyone one. For demonstrating fear and showing weakness. Zayn however wasn't planning on dying yet.

"So what does he want that he would send you to flatter me so?"

"He knows that you can locate anyone. Even if they are in other words or dimension's. He's looking for the guardians' sir."

"So that's what this is about. He's still on that foolish quest for the key." Normally Zayn would have defended his master. Stabbed whoever dared question his master's wisdom. This time however he stayed down with his head bowed deciding to stay silent. "Fine ill help him with his fool's errand. Does he have payment for me?" Nodding Zayn pulled a large pouch he could feel the weight of the gold inside weighing down his hand as he handed it over.

"What am I supposed to do with gold? This is useless to me." Crap what was he supposed to do? Zayn had never met anybody who would turn down gold. Zayn had never met anybody who would refuse his master anything. He knew there was no way in hell he could go back to his master empty handed. He have his head on stake for sure. Gulping down his dear he felt his mind race. There must be something he could do for the Wiseman. Everyone had a price even him.

"I'm sure we could come up with some sort of agreement. Tell me what you want and I'll get it all you need to do is ask." The Wiseman stood silent for a moment with a flick of his finger a large dagger materialized out of thin air. Zayn could see his face reflected on the shiny surface of the blade. It looked so sharp it almost hurt to look at it. Was he gonna stab him with it? Never beads of sweat dripped down his neck until the Wiseman finally spoke.

"I want blood. A couple drops of your blood and we have a deal."

"What? Why would you want the blood of a lowly servant?" Zayn looked up startled at the request. He wasn't particularly strong sure he was a gifted thief and he had some magical power. But definitely nothing special.

"I sense potential for great power in you. Now give me a couple of drops of your blood. Or I'll just have to kill you and take it by force. Then your master will have lost my services and a servant." Potential for great power? The words rang in his head. What was he talking about? Pushing the thought out of his mind he stood and nodded.

"Fine we have a deal." He held out his hand to shake but yelped when the Wiseman slashed it with his dagger. Read droplets fell from the blade into a bottle that had suddenly appeared and Zayn held his wound tight trying to stop the bleeding. With a snap both the bottle and the blade were gone and the Wiseman turned to face him.

"Let's get started."