KotLC: Eclipse (KotLC X Magnus Chase)

Chapter 18

Telepathy

Sophie's POV

Dying hurt. A lot.

But I dreamt again.

"I see you've died again." A familiar voice cut through the darkness, revealing a beautiful meadow in a forest with impossibly tall trees. The grass glittered an emerald green and littered with a rainbow of flowers.

The shadowy figure sat in the centre of the meadow, an ugly grin ripping his face apart. The butterfly was next to him again, wings shimmering with stars and a strange, infinite depth, as if I was staring into deep space.

The figure noticed me staring. "Beautiful, isn't it?" He looked at the butterfly. "Its name is Nóttsvár. Which means 'night guardian' or 'answer of the night', depending on your interpretation. However, its title is 'The Eternal Night'. It has the ability to plunge the world in darkness or raise it to eternal light."

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked.

He held his arms out, which was extra menacing with his glowing red eyes - with no discernible pupils - and mouth . "Because I like you, of course! I sincerely hope that I get to kill you myself. Plus, you amuse me!"
He feigned sadness.
"But, alas, I mustn't leave Nóttsvár here alone, for it might  get lonely. You'll have to come here instead."

"You want me to come to you... So that you can kill me?"

"Precisely! That would be very helpful!"

"So where, exactly, are you then?" I asked.

He wagged his finger at me. "Why, Sophie! That's for you to figure out! I can't just tell you that!"

"Well, that's generous." I muttered, then realisation set in, "Wait, how do you know my name? I never gave it to you."

Waving his hands in a dismissive manner, he said: "I know these things, Sophie. If I were to tell everyone what they want to know, where would this universe be?" He held his arms out to the side, as if for a hug, "Destroyed! That's what!"

"Well then, at least give me your name. If nothing else."

He tilted his head, face still in that horrible grin. "I guess that's only fair." He stood up. I noticed that he seemed to take extreme care so as to not get too close to the butterfly - Nóttsvár. Holding his arms out in a grandiose gesture, he said, "My name is Stygmir, I am an immortal being much like a god. However, always remember that I am not a god. You won't like what happens if you make that mistake."

His grin suddenly somehow stretched wider, splitting his face further. Lines that looked like stitches crossed his mouth, and the sun seemed to dim, casting darkness over the clearing. I heard a hum of static slowly growing in the background. It grew and grew until it became unbearable, and I collapsed, almost falling unconscious. My vision was clouded with static. Then the humming ended, my vision returned to normal, and the light became switched back on again as quickly as it started.

Glancing towards Stygmir again, I noticed that his face was back to normal again, as if nothing had happened.

"The grass is very soft." I stood, pretending that it hadn't hurt as much as it did.
"Why did you want to speak to me again?" I brushed some grass off my leggings, "I assume not to gloat about your powers."

Stygmir's voice turned serious, still grinning, and he stepped forward.
"I wanted to advise you against bringing your friends here. Come alone. There are forces in this world who want to see it burn and will do anything to make it happen. Don't trust anyone except myself. Your friends WILL betray you regardless of what you try."