Our Second World book three: Personal Truth

Chapter 22: Haren

After hours of searching, with the help of Grace and Artemis, Haren was able to find a way down lower in the ruins. The three traveled down three floors before they heard it. The roar of a monster. Haren could see the next room, and he could smell blood.

Running ahead of the other two, he launched himself at the monster. His attack sent both the monster and himself flying into another room on a lower floor. Harens eyes glistened with a crimson fury as he glared at the creature that had dared to attack his little girls. The black wyvern remained motionless on the floor.

Haren felt a strong barrier spring up around him as a laugh echoed around the room.

"I had a feeling going after those children would send you running, Haren Kotamine." A woman's voice spoke.

"Who are you?" Haren held his sword at the ready as he searched the room for the source of the voice.

The woman laughed," shouldn't that be obvious by now? You've seen my power enough times to figure it out."

"You're the one manipulating Mydras king?" He guessed.

"He is...But one of my pawns, yes." Said the voice.

Other than the wyvern, the room was empty. Due to the echoing, Haren couldn't determine the source of the voice by sound, and he guessed that the barrier was blocking his sense of smell," what do you want with me?"

"I have taken an interest in your...abilities. You've gotten stronger these past two years, but it's not enough for you, is it?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Those girls...that man... they're special to you, are they not?"

"If you touch them I'll kill you," Haren hissed.

The voice laughed again," you think you are strong enough to protect them from me? That's rich coming from someone who can't even protect himself."

"What are you—"

"To protect the child when you were attacked by bandits. The time you fought a group of wyvern to protect a town, and again to protect a military base. Once during a friendly spar with the princess of Croanade. Against soldiers of Mydra while defending a fort. When you fought the men of Silver Phoenix for that girls fox familiar, and today when you attacked my black wyvern."

"That's—"

"Have you ever wondered why you go berserk like that? Blinded by your rage, you give in to an instinct to kill. Slaughtering everything in your way without mercy. It's happened many times, yet you've never questioned it, have you?" The voice mused," how can you protect others when you can't even protect yourself?"

"You're saying you're the cause?" Haren asked.

"I thought I made that quite obvious. Yes, I am the reason for it. Do you understand now? I could kill all of them easily, but what fun it would be to watch you do it yourself?"

"I would never—"

"Not of your own will, no. Though, if you were to go berserk again, right here and now, those girls in the other room wouldn't last very long." With the taunting words a woman appeared in front of him.

She was pale, with long ebony hair that touched her feet. Her simple black dress accented her deep violet eyes and her face held a sadistic grin," you can't fight me, Haren. As a goddess, my power is far greater than yours," she chuckled.

"You're—"

"The fallen goddess of the sin of wrath: Zila."

"Goddess or not I won't let you hurt them," Haren growled, pointing his sword at her.

"I'm not giving you a choice."

The woman snapped her fingers. In an instant, the anger Haren felt towards the woman threatening him seemed to grow ten times stronger. It bubbled up inside to the point where it was hard to control. He tried to resist, but the feeling quickly overwhelmed him. He couldn't move.

Zila seemed satisfied with herself. A pleased look spread over her face as she sauntered over. She slipped an arm around him shoulder," you're going to do what I say from now on, but don't worry, I'll let you be in control for their final moments," her laughter echoed in his ears as everything else faded.