Magus {Complete}

Epilogue

Cinder was gone.

Kydyn couldn't describe the things that flooded him. Watching Iriyn drag the boy down the stairs and into the smoke where Kydyn couldn't see them anymore had snapped something in his mind. The two men that Iriyn had left behind had taken advantage of his immobilized state and pounded into him with all they had. They were only sorcerers, but they were managing the injuries that Kydyn normally wouldn't have allowed. Why was he still allowing it though?

He had things to do and they were in his way. Kydyn closed his eyes, wincing ever so slightly as one of them struck the same bruised rib several times over. The emotions that had led to his screw up calmed and Kydyn was able to think again. The bonds holding him weakened, which meant that Iriyn had left. With Cinder. "Dosma'iy." The air condensed around him and shredded the last bit of Iriyn's spell that held him against the wall. As it burst forth, it sent the two men flying across the hall, stopped only by the wall as they slammed into it.

Kydyn caught himself as his weight came back on his feet. He'd stumbled just a little, bending forward to regain his balance. But once he had it, a wicked smile curved his lips and he laughed, low and mirthless. Straightening, he ran his hand under his nose, smearing the blood that had streamed after taking a strike to his face when he'd lost his composure earlier. Raising his eyes, he watched the two of them stagger back up to face him.

"My turn," he hummed, pleased with himself. Or rather, with the thought that he was going to thoroughly enjoy the sound of their breaking bodies. Kydyn could have smacked himself for letting a pair of mere sorcerers overpower him. As the one on his right lunged forward, lightning snapping along their fists, Kydyn simply put out his hand and twisted his wrist. No chant, no incantation. Just pure, raw power. The sound of snapping bones was music to his ears. he was certain he'd just broken every single one in the man's body as he dropped in an odd angled pile upon the heated floor.

Fire was lapping at the walls and the paint was starting to peel, bubbling as the flames worked to tear the house down. The smoke was growing thick, but Kydyn had a section all to himself that was clear of the ash. His magic circled around him, swiping away the toxic air and keeping him safe from it.

The second sorcerer took a moment before he attacked and Kydyn thought that maybe he was going to retreat. Not that he would allow that. Especially after Iriyn had stolen Cinder from him, and even less so that they'd injured the warlock. It was his own fault of course, but since when had he ever admitted to any of that? Iriyn had done well in picking the men though, Kydyn gave him that much. Electricity was a hard element to master, especially for a sorcerer. It was chaotic in nature. Like fire. Which was why Kydyn was so good at it.

After all, he was the epitome of chaos.

The sorcerer closed the distance between them and swung his fist to try to connect with Kydyn. What he got instead was Kydyn's hand wrapped around his throat and crushing down on his neck. Kydyn grinned at him as he walked the few feet to the wall and slammed the man against it. Light crackled into existence along Kydyn's shoulders and worked its way down his arm. He watched with satisfaction as the man he held twisted and slammed his hands on Kydyn's forearm to try to get him to let go. Unfortunately, all he hit was the small barrier that Kydyn had erected around his arm just for that reason.

Kydyn took pleasure in listening to the screams as he fried the sorcerer. The bastards twitching and convulsions didn't last quite long enough to satisfy the warlock though. When he finished, all that was left was blackened skin on a smoking body that had stopped moving. Kydyn let go, grimacing in disgust at the bastard. Shaking his hand out, Kydyn turned and made his way toward the staircase where Iriyn had dragged Cinder. As he went, he reached out to his side and pinched his fingers together. Drawing them up in the same usual fashion, he muttered the incantation to call his hell hound.

"Hull huiln."

The floor opened up to the circle of lava and from its depths his hound came crawling out of it. Iriyn had dispelled his contracted demon before the dog had a chance to tear his throat out earlier. It had pissed Kydyn off. Putting his hand down next to the hound's nose, he let the beast sniff him. Kydyn knew he still had Cinder's scent on him underneath the smell of his blood that coated his body from the multiple wounds. His demon would smell it.

"Find him," Kydyn ordered on a growl. The dog answered him in kind, though the rumble that left the beast's throat was twice as deep and far more intimidating. Kydyn made his way down the steps, his power sweeping aside the smoke and flames. The hound bolted ahead of him, disappearing into the thick black ash. Kydyn rubbed at his nose again, feeling fresh blood slowly trickling down onto his upper lip. He took a single glance at the bright crimson on the back of his hand before he ran his tongue along his lips.

"Readyor not—" Kydyn grinned— "Here I come."