Zephyr: The Elemental Clans

179 - His Conquest

Geraldine Gina - POV;

"Rael? Rael!" I called out as I stumbled around in the damp cave systems.

"Rael! My God, where does this boy find himself? I mean really now," I sighed. I continued forward, finding myself in another open room. At the far end I could hear a distinct, joyful humming. I looked over to find none other than Xyder facing away from me as he loudly belted out his tune.

"Well you certainly seem to be in a great mood today, Xyder. Any reason?" I teased.

"Uh-uh, not Xyder," he practically sung as he turned to face me. It certainly was Xyder's body but a dark aura enveloped it and, in front of the boy's face, another face constructed entirely of this dark element hovered. An immense pressure exuded from his body and I immediately knew that this had to be him.

"L-Lord Tenebrae!" I yelped, dropping down on one knee and bowing to him, "Forgive my rudeness."

"Ahh, it's no matter. No need to be formal and uptight. I'm in a great mood!" he laughed.

I raised my eyes slightly and only now did I notice the limp figure in his left arm. There was no doubt about it. That was Rael! I opened my eyes widely as I stared at his cold body in shock.

"Hmm? What's the matter?" Tenebrae raised an eyebrow.

"N-nothing, my lord," I lied.

"Oh, is it this thing that's bothering you?" he cackled, "Humans are so fragile aren't they? It was just a bit of fun and such a small experiment. I just tried to pull his Element out of him for a second and this is what happened. It's pathetic really."

"Pull... his element... out?" I repeated.

"Oh yeah, didn't you know? That's something I can do. The Elemental Deities are the ones who gave you humans your elements in the first place after all. It only stands to reason that we can take them back," he explained, "But don't worry about him. I put everything back in place so he should be fine... at least I think it should work like that?"

As he spoke these words, Tenebrae chucked Rael forward and the boy's body landed beside me woth a thud, writhing with a foaming mouth and eyes rolled far back into his head.

"You know, you're an interesting woman yourself," Tenebrae continued, "To willingly seek me out and ask to be my slave? How foolish can a human be? You do realise that my goal... the purpose that we, the Elemental Deities, were created for, is to eradicate all of human life. You pests have done far too much damage to this world and this universe. I simply cannot afford to let tou continue to infest this perfect creation."

"I understand your frustrations my Lord, and you are right in your anger. I agree with your mission and I am willing to be smote by your blade when the time comes. As long as I am given the opportunity to destroy that wretched, evil and treacherous clan known as Zephyr, it matters not what happens to me afterwards. I no longer care for this world and it's people but I simply cannot bear to see that wicked and disgusting clan smile and see the joy they have derived from the others they abuse beneath them! I want to make them suffer with my own hands!" I growled.

He looked at me with a blank expression as he murmered, "It is this very bloodthirsty and self-centered attitude of humanity that led it to it becoming such an unbearable parasite to this Earth and all of its other species."

"My Lord?" I said in a whisper as he raised my chin with his fingers.

"But, to see this attitude turned against mankind... giving them a taste of their own medicine," he snickered as a psychotic grin crept up on his face, "I like that! You have earned a place as my loyal dog! I hope you continue to impress."

"Yes! Of course my Lord!" I declared.

"I see that you have a deep-seated anger towards Zephyr," he pondered as he paced around, "I too have a far-reaching and bitter hatred towards that accursed peoples! Even back in time memmorial, it was their ancestors who fought against me with my siblings and ultimately imprisoned me for an eternity! That was the work of the ones known as Mara! That bastard bloodline persevered in happiness while I rotted away in agony! Before long they disappeared from the world but their blood lived on as Zephyr. I was meant to remain hidden away until the end of times but they couldn't keep a force of balance and the universe itself at bay forever. None of them expected me to shatter the seals holding me in Xyder's body and though I did receive aid from the boy in doing so, I know it was bound to happen! This body acted as a prison but the moment he accepted myoffer to become my Vessel, Xyder's body became my home and a vehicle to supremacy. I still am not fully free. I haven't yet recovered enough from the millions of years of degradation to completely leave Xyder's body and take my own form. Xyder and I must still share his body, though we can interchange control. You may have already surmised this, but when he is in control, he appears as he normally would, however once I take the reigns, my aura bleeds from his very soul and my stunning, flawless face manifests infront of his. Amazing, isn't it?"

"Very much so, your greatness," I answered.

"Yes, yes. Praise me more. I can't get enough of it!" he cheered, "By the way, you seem a bit pale... almost as if a few years have been shaved off of your life."

"Isn't that because of your power my Lord? I've noticed it for a while now that whenever Xyder unleashes his dark prowess, he always leaves behind a subtle tinge of death," I noted.

"Yes, I've sensed it too," he conceded, "Usually Xyder and I are both aware of what's going on regardless of who is in conrtol, but at this specific moment, Xyder is asleep and unaware of what is going on so it's best a time as any to tell you about this: This boy is weird. Something isn't right about him I tell you. Some of these unusual powers that he seems to have aren't given by me. No siree bub! The areas around him become tainted... the living creatures are marked by death and decay, slowly losing their lives. It's so unusual. You know, spending all this time locked in the boy's body, I became deeply familiar with the internal environment of his body and soul. It's how I met his demonic and angelic counterparts. But even in all that time, there was something else. It was always there, lurking in the backgrounds and the shadows. Even me, the great Tenebrae, I couldn't see it nor fifgure out what it could be. It lay dormant all this time so I'd never really bothered myself with it, but the moment Evelynn died it sprung to life almost as if she had been keeping it in check, consciously or unconsciously. It's vicious and it would undoubtedly be a petrifying force to mindkind, however I still don't know what it is. This boy isn't normal and something in him is now free."

"Is that a bad thing, my Lord?" I pressed.

"Hahahahahah. Not really," he shrugged the thought off, "The boy's mine. I have a firm hold over him. His chance to escape left him the moment he agreed to become my Vessel. Now there is only one path: MY conquest!"

"I believe in your victory my Lord, but if I may so ask, why do you remain here when the Heirarchy knows where you are?" I inquired.

"Simple, the Heirarchy will not attack now," he yawned, "Plus, didn't you say we could be expecting visitors any day now? That revelation of yours fixed Xyder's resolve to stay here a bit longer. I guess he wants to meet them. His long lost allies. Such a foolish boy, but I'll entertain his desires."