4: Darken War

21: Alexandria

i pushed the door open, pulling my bow from my back and nocking an arrow, pulling it back and aiming at Theo who sat on the throne. he wore all-black armor, a silver dragon crest on the breastplate that matched my own. it matched my own armor to every detail but in black and silver.

"Theo Darken what the hell did you do to my brother?" i demanded as i could see stone golems circle me as i walked farther into the room.

"Absolutely nothing," he answered with a smile. 

"hes telling the truth." i turned my head to see Calista standing behind me.

"what are you doing here?" i asked. "go back."

"no." she answered. "i said the same thing to Seraphina when i decided to come in. "i am not a child anymore, i wish to end all of these lies."

"fine." i sighed, knowing she was just like me. "but you dont leave my side and you do everything i tell you to."

she gave a nod. 

"if you did nothing to him, then why do you want him alive?" i asked Theo. "i need answers, i think i have earned that much."

Theo stood. "why did i want our dear brother alive?" he started to laugh. "so that i could bring him to my side for an ultimate betrayal. but it looks like he did it himself."

"truth." Calista said softly. 

i closed my eyes for a moment. focusing on taking any mind control from those in the room. 

"if this fight is going to happen, it will be of free will." i said, i looked to the three on his left, two of them started to looked mad. i could tell that those two were not truly on Theos side. unfortunately Annora was on his side it seems. as were the young twins to his right.

i released my arrow, it flew true. a golem reached out and stopped the arrow mid flight.

"thank you sister Amethyst." Theo smiled at the young girl. 

"why dont you stop using children to play your stupid games and face me yourself?" i demanded, turning my bow into two swords once more. 

"fine." he drew a sword from his side. he looked back at the siblings at either side. "a fight to the death or a fight for an item?"

"i would rather avoid killing a sibling." i said. "if i win i want the gem."

"fine." he smiled. "but if i win, i want the shards you brought with you."

i took a step back. "how did you know?" 

"i know everything that happens here." he smiled. "just like i knew you had a fight with your brother just outside. lets agree to no magic. i think we can both agree that i would lose in that fight."

i nodded. "you too then." i motioned to the gem.

"fine by me." he handed the gem to Annora.

i could feel that i could let down the mind shield on everyone, so i did so that i could be at full strength without distractions. 

i readied both of my swords in front of me, taking a defensive stance. i looked over at Calista. "stand by the door for now." she nodded and ran to the door.

"be warned sister dear." he smiled as he stepped towards me. "i was trained by the best." he used one hand to swing his sword in a circle as he got closer.

"i was tried by the dragons." i remained still. "and then by our father, i have thousands of years of training in my mind."

"but only a few it this body." he swung his sword at me, i blocked with my left sword. 

he swung a few times, i blocked every move. 

"i have a question if you dont mind answering it." i said calmly as i blocked another hit. 

"ask away." he pushed me back with his sword. 

"where did you get the armor?" i asked as i ducked the next swing. 

"it belonged to the Great Dragon." he answered as he steadied himself. 

"that cant be true." i answered, swinging my own sword for an attack. "because i am wearing the only armor the Great Dragon owned, and the set you wear is clearly meant for a man."

he smiled. "and yet, you have a gap in your memories."

"how did you know that." we both paused, panting a bit. 

"because if you didn't, you would remember the armor." he launched a fury of quick attacks, each one i managed to parry. "your brother should have told you."

this took me off guard, causing me to misstep and fall to the floor. he held his sword to my throat. "i win." he smiled, sheathing his sword as he walked back to take the gem from Annora.

i quickly put the mind shield back up as i stood. "why didn't you kill me?" i asked him.

"if i wanted to kill you then i would have when you first stepped foot in this palace." he turned to face me. "now hand over the gem shards." 

i pulled the satchel from my hip and threw it to him. he caught it with one hand. "im surprised you handed it over so easily."

"when i make a promise i keep it." i said. "you won fair and square, it was my bad for letting your words get to me."

he handed the bag to Cassiopia. "fix it."

"what." i took a step closer. "it can be fixed?"

"she not only can read the stars." Theo said, looking back to me. "she can repair what's broken. your not the only one who got more then one power."

"Cassiopia." i pleaded. "please dont do this. that gem was destroyed with good reason."

she dumped the shards into her hand and threw the bag. she covered them with her other hand. i could see them glowing in her hands. 

"Theo, listen to me." i took another step closer. "you have no idea what you are doing. it wouldnt listen to you anyway."

"i know." he reached out a hand to Cassiopia, she handed him the now fully restored stone. it was still its original violet color. he looked at it closely. "perfect." he then threw it to me.

i caught it. it begun to glow, it is always has when i held it. it was reunited with its owner. i looked up at Theo. "why? why return it to me?"

"because i am not your enemy." he answered. "use the gem to recover your missing memories." he looked to Calista. "bring the others in, make sure Alexander is tied up." she nodded and ran out.

i noticed that Calista never said Theo was lying. i fell to my knees, and looked up at him. "who is my enemy?"

"use the gem and remember." is all he said as he sat back on the dwarven throne.