The End of an Era

Resolve

     Lexianna and Cael stand before an extravagantly dressed and opulent Saedysm. He drinks deeply from a chalice as he reclines on a couch that is decorated with a vulgar display of wealth. Wine spills down his face and stains his pristine white robes. The only sounds echoing throughout the parlor are Saedysms greedy and pleasured gulps. The chalice clatters to the floor.

     "So you came. You actually came." Saedysm throws his head back and cackles.

     "We are going through." Cael says.

     "No, I don't think you are." Saedysm replies. Cael holds up the small device he took from Blaze. It gives no indication to the path forward. "You didn't think I'd make it easy."

     "It'll appear if we cut you down." Cael says drawing his blade.

     "I suppose it would. But can you?" Saedysm  hums wickedly. Cael readies for a fight. Lexianna does too. Saedysm just stand there.

     "What are you doing?" Cael asks suspicious of Saedysm.

     "I'm waiting for you to kill me. That's what you need to do to progress." Saedysm taunts.

     "I won't kill someone who is defenseless. I'm no murderer." Cael bites as he grips his gunblade hilt tightly. Lexianna already knows where this is headed.

     "Oh but you are. It's the entire point of all this. Isn't it?" Saedysm tilts his head cracking his neck with a loud sickening crunch. "To kill us? You are, after all, carrying our end."

     "That's not what this is." Cael argues. 

     Lexianna stands quietly observing Saedysm. She can see he's not lying. He fully intends to let himself be cut down. But is it because she and Cael are here? Would Saedysm have reacted differently if Razz or Blaze were here? No, the order of them isn't a coincidence. It was arranged specifically to buy as much time as possible. Meaning that Zaak knew they would break off one by one to fight and this would be the result. Saedysm can fight but he's always enjoyed toying with his victims minds. This is no different. Saedysm is going to make them abandon their frame of mind and perspective on their actions.

     "Why go this far? Why not just fight and be done with it?" Lexianna asks Saedysm. Saedysm's smile slowly slides off his face.

     "Because if you are to face what comes next. It must be faced without any reservations. You especially Lexianna." Saedysm stares directly into her soul. "If you can't kill me in cold blood you won't be able to face Alistair."

     "I will talk with Alistair. We share an understanding." Lexianna replies.

     "No, Lexianna, don't be naive. Alistair will not yield to anything but death." Saedysms word hit Lexianna hard. It is hard for her to imagine the sweet and tender Alistair as anything but an angel. She casts a glance at Cael. "No, it must be you." Saedysm says as if in response to her thoughts.

     "But why me?" Lexianna says visibly shaken.

     "Because you are the one he cares for most. Alistair is a weak boy. Given that he is the embodiment of Zaak's emotions, he can't help but be. And you are who Zaak loves more than anything in all of the Realities. Well, except for Her of course." Saedysm has a weary expression about him. 

     Without warning Saedysm collapses and the room becomes a laboratory experiment chamber. The walls are slick with blood and there are broken chains and shackles at Saedysms feet. Lexianna instinctively rushes to his aid. She can tell instantly that he's ingested the curse from Omega's blade. Weakly Saedysm forces himself into a sitting position. His clothes are little more than tattered threadbare rags.

     "The Curse." Lexianna says.

     "It won't kill me. I just didn't want to give myself the chance to change my mind." The three of them sit in silence for what seems like forever. Lexianna takes the blade of her scythe and puts the tip to Saedysms chest. With a gentle slicing sound she pushes the blade through his heart.

     As Saedysm fades she leans in and whispers something only he can hear. Saedysm chuckles softly and smiles.

     "That's why I love you."

     The door to the next room opens up and Lexianna and Cael leave to face the two remaining Aspects of Zaak.