The Zero Hour | #Wattys2016

Chapter 19 - Burning Bush (Part 2)

Amadeus felt the last of the Lighvel's energy being consumed by his body. He would have to finish this quickly. He held the frost dagger in a reverse grip and pulled his arm back as he descended from the sky with a trail of light behind him. From afar, he looked like a bolt of lightning. Once he was in arm's reach, he struck Waldo's head with a forceful blow from the hilt of his dagger. Waldo was thrown backwards from the island to the other end of the pit. Waldo collided with the wall of the pit and clawed desperately at the ground above him in a frenzy; trying to gain a hold onto the edge of the pit. Below, the searing heat of the fire enveloped him. The very flames he had set, now called out to him to join them with an inviting glow.

"Gene! Lockheed! Willie!" Waldo screamed. "Help... p-please! Help!"

*******

"Waldo! Hang on, I'm coming!" Lockheed shouted in reply as he scrambled to his feet. Leaving his broadsword behind in a hurry, Lockheed ran forward to save Waldo from a fiery death.

"Bad move," Izumi whispered. Seeing an opening to end the battle, she twirled the icicle in her grasp. It was an easy shot for her, she swung her arm and the icicle in her hand propelled after Lockheed. It whistled through the air, quickly finding its mark on Lockheed's back. It's over, Izumi mused. She knew her icicle had hit the exact part of the body to disable a person without killing him – just as she had intended. Blood started to drain from the wound immediately and Lockheed managed to stumble forward a few more steps before his injuries overwhelmed him. He collapsed to the snowy ground, painting it red.

*******

Amadeus leapt from the island to the edge of the pit. As he landed at the edge of the pit, he felt the last drops of the Lighvel's energy being drained by his body. The fatigue started to return, weakening his limbs and causing him to pant for breath. Looking down, he saw Waldo holding desperately onto the ground beneath his feet. It would be so easy to just kick him down...

Waldo looked up at him, and Amadeus saw only the fear in his eyes. Compassion started to fill his heart, and he immediately regretted the thought of wanting to finish Waldo off. I can't turn into one of them. Mercy; it's what sets me apart from them. Kneeling down, he reached out a hand to Waldo. "Take my hand, I'll pull you up. No one else has to die today."

"Never! The Drake will never accept help from a mere commoner. Take your hand away or lose it," Waldo yelled his empty threat.

"Don't be stupid Waldo. Is your pride worth dying over? Let me answer that for you; it isn't. I'll only say this once more... Grab my hand!"

For a moment, Waldo wrestled within himself. He saw the sincerity in Amadeus' eyes. He wanted to trust him. He didn't want to die. He wanted to live. But, how could he - a Noble, allow a commoner to save his life?

"Okay..." Waldo finally replied with resignation, all pride removed from his face. "I'll take your hand." It was the first time Amadeus had heard Waldo Drake speak without referring to himself as 'The Drake'.

Amadeus smiled and reached out for him. Before he could grab onto Waldo's hand, a bright light flashed between both of them and Amadeus was flung away from the pit.

"I don't think so," said a familiar voice. Looking up, Amadeus saw two cold red eyes and immediately recognized his attacker – Turney. "You're pathetic Waldo, a joke really. You just lost to a commoner. You don't deserve to live."

"Y-y-you? B-but you...I-I mean...w-we... why?" Waldo said weakly as his hands trembled against the edge of the pit.

"I never liked being under you. I've been waiting for the chance to take over, and today fate decides to deliver you to me on a silver platter. I'm in charge now, and you've expired." Turney looked down at Waldo condescendingly. "Goodbye, Waldo." With a wave of his hand, Waldo was sent plummeting towards the fiery bottom of the deep pit. Arms flailing, he disappeared beneath the flames with pleas of terror followed by screams of excruciating pain.