Discordant Note: Crescendo | TBATE

Chapter 235: The Scythe of the Dead

Thank you to my beta reader and editor, GlassThreads!

Toren Daen

I toppled from the sky, blood streaming from me in waves. There was a strange lack of pain as I hit the muddy banks of the river with a simple thud, my breathing coming in gasps. I stared mutely up at the sky, trying to pull together a coherent thought. I could feel the ground underneath growing softer as the blood continued to soak into the sand. It seemed to swallow me whole. I was a corpse that was gradually being laid into its final resting place.

This isn't it, is it? I thought with a cough, my hands weakly grasping at my chest. My fingers grew sticky and wet as the blood stained my hands. I have... I have so much more I need to do... And–

I thought I could hear something in the distance. A mournful cry of pain and anger. I allowed my head to loll to the side as I watched Aurora's relic. It was slowly being torn apart by black wind, but there was nothing she could do. She screamed and raged, but nothing. I felt no connection over our bond. No soothing warmth or gentle caress to lull me to sleep.

Aurora, I thought headily, feeling empty. I didn't want to die, not out here. I needed to deliver Wolfrum back. I needed to talk to Seris again about her rebellion. I needed to see this world to its future. Aurora, please! Talk... Talk to me, I thought desperately as I slowly died. I pressed out desperately, using every inch of my power. Of my soul.

There was nothing. No response pushed through the haze in my mind. No helpful measure of warmth soothed my pains or told me I would be okay. My mother remained silent as I slowly succumbed to my wounds.

That was wrong, somehow. Aurora would never just... abandon me to my fate. But it was as if she wasn't there at all within my mind. Our bond was as empty as the deserts of Darv, and that made everything hurt even more.

"The Beast Glades are under my jurisdiction, Spellsong," a woman sneered from above. Scythe Viessa Vritra stared down at me with contempt as red slowly spread around me. Her teal and gray robes were a stark contrast to her deep purple hair. A string of vertebrae stretched from her hip to her shoulder, all strung through with silver cord. "The traitor is mine to take in; not Seris Vritra's." Her lips curled up into a slight sneer. "A shame you must learn that lesson with your life. Just in time to watch your beast get torn apart."

Her eyes darted to where Aurora's relic huddled protectively over Wolfrum's body. I watched in horror as her bronze form was slowly torn apart, piece by piece. I thought I should be able to feel her pain. She should be fighting.

My foggy eyes drifted to the gaping wound in my chest. A scarlet river flowed, but even in the depths of my Acquire Phase, I couldn't see the sparkling motes of aetheric heartfire that always lingered in fresh blood.

I couldn't sense the tether between me and Aurora. I couldn't sense Wolfrum's intent or hear his heartfire. That didn't make sense. I should be able to, but for some reason, I couldn't.

This is wrong, I thought with more conviction, reaching and grasping. Even if my body refused to move, my mind thrashed in growing vigor. I clawed and ripped and tore my way toward what should be.

And finally, I felt it. The touch of Aurora's mind on mine as clarity returned in waves. Our bond was as deep as our souls, and no petty magic could keep it suppressed.

Rage replaced my existential dread, the unnatural fog over my mind slowly banished by the rising fury of my Phoenix Will. I snarled as Soulplume enveloped my features, a scouring fire cleansing the taint across my mind. Aurora's touch slowly returned, enforcing my desire and fury.