Globe Tracers 1: The Case of Thomas Crain

Chapter 25: Showdown

Xao:

I grabbed both of the younger children and tried to shove them behind myself, Jessica slapping off my hand. Jessica lit up with an electric power like I had never seen, drawing out both her swords. Kyle lit up too but submitted to being shoved behind us and being protected.

My own electric field surged as before us stood my old friend Darius and his disgusting little warlock servant, Gregory. "What the- what are you doing here?!" I demanded of Darius.

"Dear Xao," said Darius, clicking his teeth at me. He began to pace behind Gregory, his sword drawn out and casually waving back and forth at his side. "Don't you know I always keep my ear to the ground for my dearest friend? When I heard you were headed for London... well I just had to inquire why for. When I then heard you and this rare flower," he pointed at Jessica, "had the same destination, well everything seemed so wonderful, too good to pass up to see you together."

"You've seen us then, leave," I said, clenching my fists.

"Ah, that spirit of defiance," said Darius, "I think I know where it's coming from in both of you. Someone who thinks he can just condemn others for not thinking like him. Am I really so evil Kyle?"

Kyle walked out from behind me a little, both of his swords drawn too. I gritted my teeth, saying under my breath, "Don't think I needed him to tell me you were evil. I already knew you long before he did."

Darius just smiled. "I will have you both. And that little annoying child will be removed from my sight." Darius paced just a few inches too far to the right and I threw my fist forward, a concussive blast ushering forth from it and sending Darius flying backward into the city. I thanked my lucky stars it was night time so our battle was largely unnoticed.

Darius scrambled to recover his sword as Gregory froze in shock. I barked orders back to Kyle and Jessica. "Get clear both of you. I'll take care of this."

A pair of eyes met mine, so close I could feel his breath as I finished speaking, Darius saying, "Is that so?" He grabbed me around my waist and pulled me away from the two, quickly flying into the sky.

Darius deposited me on a building high above the streets, on a large flat worn down roof. "Did you so easily forget, you're not the only one with toys?" he asked. He showed me a wristband of his own. Darius drew out a sword from a sheath on his side, "I wonder which of us made better choices on his invention for battle."

I drew out the plastic blade from my own sheath. I flicked the hilt and two large pieces of plastic fell off it, revealing a very real blade. I yelled back up to him, "Do you really want to fight me? You were never my better Darius, but we were once friends. You were a good person Darius, why are you doing this?"

"But don't you understand?" Darius asked back, "I learned it watching that city burn. There's no point in defending the good and innocent. They will all perish just the same, if not because of you, then despite you." Darius flew into the air above me. "I learned that day I could find more fulfillment in not fighting it and just embrace it. It's the only way to be happy Xao. Rather than fighting for some idea of good, embrace what they call evil and let it overtake you. It's intoxicating you see. Destroy beauty, destroy innocence... let it all burn!" He screamed at me these last words, eyes wild, like the whites were trying to take over his pupils, so wide and full of anger.

I closed my eyes, shaking my head, "The Darius I knew... is he still in your heart anywhere?"

"I don't know, I tried to purge him from myself," Darius answered, "But you're welcome to try and find him." I raised my fist and sent a pulse at him, forcing him to crash back into the roof. I used my powers to flash over to him, raising my blade to him, quickly being parried by Darius' own blade. Darius rolled left, my blade slipping off his and him quickly moving to his feet.