Embers of Magic

The Shadow Of Alzil

“You probably know who I am, don't you?” A figure spoke as he walked through the darkness. He adjusted the ring on his finger which glimmered impossibly in the absolute darkness. A skull.

My hands began trembling as he stepped closer, remembering I saw that ring before on the hand of the man in my vision. “Zahir.” I spoke with my voice more unsteady then a rusted down engine of a lawnmower. “How is this possible? Where are we?”

He turned around, reaching into the darkness as the image behind him flickered – the shadows took form, transforming into an apple with an unstable form. “However futile dreams may seem to most of the world, the power of Morpheous does rather have its advantages. But, you already knew that, didn't you? I felt your presence in my office a few days ago.” I gritted my teeth as he explained. My body could hardly move – every inch tugging at my very being, threatening to tear my soul straight from my psyche.

His black hair was combed back neatly, giving him a near god-like appearance in his crimson dyed coat and eyes that gleamed of confidence. He wasn't what you'd expect of a tyrant. He was far too attractive to fit my definition of one – no sour scrawl, no scars running across his cheeks. My hand instinctively shot up as he tossed the apple towards me, catching it firmly as the shakey form began stabiling out. It felt real. All of this did. It felt too real.

“I'm sure you're wondering why I'm doing all this. The imminent threat on the feeble shifting town, Metamorph. The attacks on you and your friends. The empousa.” He paused for a moment, before a smile crept up along the side of his face. “Your father. Your grandparents.”

My heart dropped as I stepped forward, crushing the apple in my head and ripping loose the fine fibers that held me in place through fear. “What have you done to my family?” I bellowed. My throat felt dry now and I could barely control the thoughts that ran riot back and forth through my head.

“Nothing. Yet.” He responded, coldly. “I suspect you're on your way to my humble home. If you are determined on keeping your families health in check, I suggest you leave your friends behind and come to me on your own.”

I trembled as my gaze dropped. “Why are you doing this?” My words slipped as a weakened whisper, nearly inaudible. “Power? Is that your reason?”

He shook his head. “Power. A word so losely thrown around. But no, this isn't for power.”

“Then what? Tell me.” I begged, feeling completely drained and powerless.

“No one ever sets their gaze upon their mothers womb, yet they would never deny it is there. They cling tightly onto the hope and faith given to them by the spiraling chord of life that feeds them – nurtures them – until they are ready to move onto the next passage of their pointless existence.” He said, placing his hand onto my shoulder as he were speaking to an old friend or his own offspring.

“I'm sorry for what I have put you through all this time, but unfortunately it was a necessity.”

“Why.” I begged further.

“To test you. I had to see if I was right about you, and I was. You and I are no different. We are nothing like the rest of the world who hung tightly onto hope without knowing any answers. We have seen the other side and we have the power to show the same thing to the rest of the world.”

“I am nothing like you! You're a monster!”

“Do you honestly believe that what you've just said is true?” He spoke as the darkness quickly shifted, showing the scene that happened at Dionysus's club. I tried looking away, yet my body once again refused to move, forcing me to stare at the murderous glimmer that shone brightly in my eyes. My breathing became heavier as I tried stepping back to no avail.

“H-how did you know about that?”

Zahir sighed, genuinely regretting that the conversation had dragged on to this point. “Zarah Alzil. My daughter, of course.”

I dropped to my knees as every bit of energy drained out of me. Scenes of Zarah and I flashed through the darkness like thunder in ominous clouds. From the time we met up until the smile she wore as we put out the fire and inspired the people of Gelida. Was that all just a lie? Was all that just her mission?

“No... ”

“I'm afraid so, Ember.” Zahir said, leaning onto one knee and placing his hand onto my cheek in a similar fashion that a parent my comfort their child. I place my hand on top of his as I felt heat beginning to well up behind my eyes, dripping out the tiny crevices of my shut eyelids and eventually finding its way down my cheeks, stinging slightly.

“You're waking up.” Zahir said one more time as I opened my eyes slowly. My cheeks still stang from the salty tears that ran across it, yet I wasn't asleep any longer. I sat up, hugging my knees as I peered over the top, staring at Zarah who slept peacefully across the room. The colour in her hair had faded now to streaks of sunset orange and yellow, but it wasn't enough to hide the spots of red that now felt as ominous as warm blood. I stood up, leaving my Gladius behind and ran out of the room, down the long corridor, out the building and eventually out of the town.

“Hecuba!” I yelled as my voice echoed through the mountains. The shadows shifted in front of me as it took the shape of a giant wolf, running at my side. I leaped on her back as she continued running through the endless snow.

I hugged tightly around her, feeling terrible. For the first time in a while, I was alone.