The Chronicles of Onyx Book Two - Fight of a Hero

Chapter Fourteen

"Onyx!" Dezenym's voice rang out, sharp and urgent in the crisp air. He found himself in a frantic haze, his every step driven by a desperate need to stop her. His molten gold eyes watched as Onyx's figure moved with a determined grace that threatened to leave him behind.

"Onyx, what happened? Who did this to you?" he asked, his voice cracking as he frantically grasped at her hand.

Onyx's head turned slowly, her eyes locking onto his with a cold, distant stare.

"Dezenym," she said, her voice low and tinged with a hint of growl. "Nothing bad has happened to me. I'm just a wolf now... and I have prey to kill."

Dezenym's grip tightened on her hand, his heart aching with a mix of fear and desperation.

"What do you mean, prey? Who do you have to kill, Onyx?"

She pulled her hand away, her movement sharp and decisive.

"The monster behind my mother's undoing."

He could see the spite in her eyes, the pure hatred burning deep within her.

"Who did this to you? Was it—" Then, just as sudden as an avalanche, the realization hit him.

Raven.

It was as if Onyx knew at that moment that he had pieced it all together, for she spoke, "Raven only showed me who I am," with a calm yet chilling resolve.

Dezenym's heart sank, he knew he was fighting a losing battle. Yet, he couldn't bring himself to end it.

"Onyx, listen to me. This isn't who you are. The Onyx I know would never seek revenge in this manner."

Onyx's eyes flared with anger, her canines glinting as she spoke, "The Onyx you knew is gone, Dezenym. She died that day you freed me, and you know it. As for Raven, she only helped me see the truth. I am a wolf, and wolves must hunt."

Dezenym could see the conflict within her, the struggle between the girl she had been and the beast she had become; but the darkness was winning, driving her toward a path of destruction.

"Onyx, please," he begged, his voice breaking. "We can find another way without losing ourselves."

Onyx's expression softened for a brief moment, a flicker of the old Onyx shining through the fog. Yet as momentarily as she shone through was as quickly, she vanished; swallowed by the darkness that now ruled her.

"There is no other way. The wolf is my true nature, and I must embrace it."

With that, she turned away, her figure melding into the fog. Dezenym reached out, but his hand grasped only air. His heart felt as though it were being torn apart, the weight of his failures and mistakes pressing down on him.

-ooooo-

Dezenym walked solemnly towards Rok and the others. At that moment, an arrow could have hit him. He wouldn't care. He probably wouldn't even bring himself to flinch, to move out of its path if it were to fly in his direction. In his mind, he had already lost everything he had to lose. He had failed them all.

He kept his eyes down in shame, his gaze buried in the snow as he walked. He didn't want to know how many were injured, or worse, killed because of his foolish arrogance. As he approached, he could feel their gazes falling upon him, but he didn't return them. He couldn't.

"You're still alive," he heard Rok's deep voice close by.

Dezenym lifted his head slowly, meeting Rok's gaze. The pain in his earthy gaze; he knew Rok greatly anticipated what words he was about to say. Looking for any hope that Onyx was safe, that whatever happened she had returned to her senses. If he could avoid it he would have.

"She's gone," he replied, his voice hollow.

Like a provoked grizzly bear Rok rose up to his full height, his eyes told Dezenym all he needed to hear.

"What do you mean gone?" he suddenly roared like a fire bursting into flames, his fists clenched by his side.

Dezenym felt the weight of Rok's words, the raw anger and desperation behind them. He swallowed hard, struggling to find the strength to tell Rok the truth. To tell him the probability that they would never see her as herself ever again. That she was—truly—gone.

"Raven.." He started, however his words falling short as he failed to grasp the will to continue on. He was exhausted, he just wanted to fall into a deep pit and stay there. Avoiding any and everyone.

Yet somehow Rok's growing fury seemed to awaken his conscience.

He needs to know.

"Raven found her, Onyx knows only her power and her thirst for vengeance has intensified" He spoke slowly, his eyes avoiding Rok's.

"What does that mean?" he said as a growl escaped from his throat.

"The darkness has taken her Rok... there's no getting her back"

Rok's honey brown eyes burned, "We were supposed to protect her! How could this happen?" his jaws clenched as his knuckles whitened beneath the pressure of his own strength.

Dezenym's shoulders slumped, the guilt pressing down on him. "I tried, Rok. I tried to reach her, to remind her of who she was. But the darkness... it's too strong."

Rok paced back and forth, his frustration boiling over. "We can't just give up on her. We have to find a way to bring her back."

Dezenym nodded, though his heart remained heavy with doubt. "I hope you're right, Rok."

With that he looked outward into the distance, his eyes falling onto the fallen.

I hope you're right.