Flames of the Past #8: The Cost of a Hero (Ninjago Fanfiction)

Chapter 31

The darkness of the hallway concealed Clouse as he moved through the fortress. Simon and Harry's unsuspecting voices echoed off the walls. Clouse caught up to them quickly. They each held one of Laurie's arms, helping her stay upright since the cuffs on her small wrists weighed her down. After her outburst yesterday, it was quickly understood that she had inherited Lloyd's elemental power. Energy. The most powerful element, and the only one that could damage their dark magic. Sleete had ordered Vengestone cuffs to be made for her, which had nearly turned Clouse mad. Vengestone was temporary. The only permanent solution to the threat the little girl posed was death. And Clouse was done compromising that fact.

He teleported in front of Simon, Harry, and Laurie. They skidded to a halt as the Mage positioned his cloak behind him. "I'll be taking the child now," he croaked, holding a hand out.

Simon and Harry looked at each other in disbelief. "The Dark Lord specifically told us not to let you take her from us," Harry pointed out.

The beginning of magic swirled around Clouse's fingers. "Then the Dark Lord told us two different things," he lied. "He wanted me to bring her to him."

The two still hesitated and Clouse's patient ran out. Lifting his hand, he shot a ball of magic at Harry and he flew backward. Fear flashing in his eyes, Simon let go of Laurie and stepped back. "Whatever you say, boss," he laughed uneasily.

Clouse smiled as he darted off, leaving Laurie at the Mage's mercy. Whimpering, the girl tried shuffling backward, but Clouse already grabbed her and dragged her onward. She began to kick and scream, promptly stressing Clouse out. She hadn't been so loud with Simon and Harry. Sleete would hear her for sure. Clouse would have to get it over with quickly.

"Shut up," he hissed, shoving Laurie into the wall. She shrieked and he placed his hand over her mouth, holding her in place. With his other hand, he pulled out his dagger. A thrill rushed through him. Finally, he would rid those heroes' of their hope forever. Finally, there would be nothing left to stop him. Finally, he would win.

Just as he raised the dagger to Laurie's chest, a blast of purple shot him down the hall. Gasping, Clouse sat up as Sleete laughed above him. "Oh, Clouse," the Dark Lord sighed, "I'm very disappointed in you. I had a feeling you would take Laurie from Harry and Simon. It was a test. And you failed it."

Laurie darted over to Sleete, hiding inside his mist while stealing frightened looks at Clouse. Sleete threaded a gentle hand through the girl's red curls. "It's quite unkind to keep scaring a child," he cooed.

Grinding his teeth together, Clouse stood back up. "I've had enough of your foolishness, Sleete," he growled. "I don't care how old she is, I want her dead!"

Sleete blinked in shock. Straightening, he began to laugh. Crazily. Angrily. "I'm sorry, what happened to 'my lord?'"

Clouse's eyes blazed with undying fury. "Don't act so full of yourself that you forget where you started from," he snarled. "You wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for me. I pulled the strings. I planned, I killed. You just stood back and took all the credit. I did your dirty work, and I deserve more respect!"

"If you claim you've done so much, how come I'm the one in charge?" Sleete shot back. "Why isn't it you, Clouse?"

Clouse's voice dripped with challenge when he replied, "I'm beginning to ask myself the same thing."

Blue magic crackled around the Mage's palms. Sleete's glowing eyes narrowed as his cloud of mist thickened. "Do you really think you can overpower me, Clouse? After all the power I've consumed?"

"I didn't come this far and done everything I did to be stopped now," Clouse countered fiercely. "If you won't get rid of the only thing destined to stop us, you don't deserve to lead this gang!"