Cursed

War

Leaf

In the few hours I took to get my things ready, the city spanning the palace had collapsed. All around me people just started to fall. I had no idea what was going on, but could only guess it was because of Sullivan.

Making my way to the palace was easy when I didn't have to avoid guards. The few people who were still normal were hiding or running around, screaming. The roaring had long stopped in the palace, but replacing that was an icy chill to the air. The further I went into the palace the colder it grew.

I decided to take the coldness as a sign that I was getting closer to Sullivan. Suddenly, there was an extremely loud boom that shook the palace. I didn't know what I was, but if that was Sullivan, he was more powerful than I thought.

Speeding up my steps, I go from corridor to corridor. The air kept getting more and more frigid with every step. Soon I could see my own breath in front of my face, but still I kept on going.

The bodies on the ground grew less and less till there were hardly any on the ground. I didn't know my way around the palace too well, and having nothing to follow but the chill in the air. I took many wrong turns, but finally I reached a door deep within the palace. There were suits of armor next to the door, and they were completely frozen with ice.

I took this as a sign that I was in the right place.

Hesitantly, I reach for the knob, but fling the door open. Inside the room were more bodies. The room was frozen, with a sheet of ice covering the floor. It I didn't know better, I would have described it was cold as death.

Crouching in the corner of the room was Sullivan, a young boy clutched in his hands. Sullivan's eyes were glowing with a wicked red color. The boy, slowly growing pale, was breathing slowly.

Sullivan dropped the boy to the ground when he saw me enter the room. He wipes away some bubbling grey liquid from his lips. "It's good to see you. I've just regained some of my strength, thank you for asking. I'm sure you were so worried about me." He gestures at the boy.

Disgust rises in the back of my throat. As quick as I can, I draw my sword. Sullivan, now being able to move more fluidly than the last time we met, was up on his feet the moment I touched my sword.

Now, we were on even ground.

Both of us lunge for each other at the same time. Sullivan didn't have a sword, but he did have razor sharp claws. Everytime I tried to strike at his opening, he would lunge back. I couldn't say the same for me, though. I could avoid the strikes, but barely. This was because of the slick ground.

We both stop for a moment, trying to decide what to do next. I knew what I had to do, but how to do it was a loss to me. Sullivan took in front of the door, and before he could strike first, I made a sweep with my sword to the left.

Just as I expected, Sullivan side stepped further to the left. As his feet started to touch the ground, I opened and ran out the door. It only took a moment for Sullivan to come out behind me. Turning just in time to block a slash to my back, I now faced Sullivan again.

He was smiling, showing his pointed teeth. "I've enjoyed our fights, but it's time for you to join with me."

I block a hit from him.

"What do you mean, join you?"

He deflects my sword with a flick of his wrist.

"You mean Life didn't tell you? There are so many ways for a God or Goddess to gain power. Of course, the ways I go about things don't always mesh well with the others."