Once upon a Midnight | BOOK I

Twenty-eight

"How is this possible?" I said. The figure that destroyed the angel was a powerfully-musceled man with gleaming ink black skin and clawed fingers. Golden bands encircled each massive bicep and a kilt was wrapped around his waist. The god of the dead still kept the jackal head and golden eyes of his false face though. But none of it still made sense to me.

There have been accounts and writings of people summoning gods. That wasn't impossible, just difficult. But making a god a familiar was beyond impossible, yet, here it was before me. What arcane dark art did Tiakken use to manage this feat?

I didn't have time to ponder over it. Tiakken hit me with a shock wave that hurled my body backwards. I was quickly on my feet immediately and sent a shock wave of my own making. Except it wasn't powerful enough to knock him off his feet. Tiakken threw a lance of ice at me. I quickly reached into the shadows and they teleported me behind the Egyptian. I shoved my hand sideways and a low metallic swishing filled the air as my sword reached my hands. I quickly struck Tiakken before he could turn around. My effort was useless. He slid out of the way and sent another shock wave at me that sent me flying farther this time around, until I hit my back against the wall, multiplying the pain that was already coursing through my body.

Anubis hurled Midnight at me and my familiar came crashing into the wall beside me. It had taken less than five minutes for the two to bring us to our knees, or more literally, our backs. Midnight grunted. In his now human form, he bled like a mortal which probably meant he felt more pain. I wasn't sure if my apparent action of making him human was the most thoughtful. Which brought me into thinking how that feat was possible in the first place. The more I thought about it, I realised it was less likely to be a transition spell. If it was possible to transition a shadow into human, then it would be possible to transition, let's say, a demon into human. Since the latter had been proven to be impossible, it ruled out the chances of Midnight being under a transition spell. Unless...

Tiakken was in front of me in a second. "You know, when we first met six years ago, you intrigued me. My young self had foolishly fallen for you without knowing who you are. If I was told this would be your end, at my hand, I wouldn't have believed it."

"What are you talking about?" I panted. "I first saw you a couple days ago."

"You don't remember? At the forest of night. Me, you, Nicolas and even that wretched dark elf," he said. "We were friends. Until I found out what you did to all those people. Tell me, Aldrich. How do you sleep at night without hearing the screams of all those you kill?" he growled.

I had no idea what he was talking about, but a part of me knew that whatever I did back then might not be something I wanted to remember. Tiakken placed a knee on my chest and pulled out a golden knife. "Please," I begged. "Don't do this."

"I'm sorry, Aldrich. Believe me, I truly am. But I can't let the blood of darkness awaken one more time. You were always a smart one, Aldrich. You're smart enough to know this is necessary," he said. I fought. Midnight also fought, but the god-familiar had him pinned to the ground. I reached into the shadows and used my magick to send a powerful punch at Tiakken. It had no effect on him. He sent an equally powerful punch at me, sending me into unconsciousness.

Darkness. I wasn't alone in the darkness. She was there. For a while, I'd completely forgotten about her. I didn't notice her absence. But she was here. Before me stood Morgana. The first thought that came to mind was Tiakken had finally killed me. But I knew I wasn't dead yet. I would die, but not just yet.

"I know you," I said to Morgana.

She smiled. "I know you. We are one and the same. Two souls in one. Without me, you will die."