Rising Phoenix - Sequel To Forgotten Power

Chapter 9

"Welcome back. Ready to comply yet?"

"You really expect me to listen to you? I already told you, I don't trust anyone."

"Well, I had hoped the hydra would possibly change your mind."

"So you did send it!" She exclaimed into the dark.

"Who else would you expect to?"

"Uh, literally any of the Greek gods and goddesses right now. You know, with the whole "not trusting elves" thing."

The voice laughed, "You were there."

"Idiot. I was the one they made set the terms. Of course I was there."

The voice chuckled again, "Well, maybe those terms will be broken when you die, then."

"Are you implying something?"

"That's for you to decide." the dark figure emerged again from the shadows.

"So, that's it? That's the end of the conversation?"

The figure pulled out his sword, "Would you like it to continue?"

She shrugged, "Not really, but it wouldn't kill me if it did."

The figure laughed, which was unsettling, considering he had no mouth, "I wouldn't be too sure about that. This may be the last chance I give you to help me."

"And this is the last time I'll tell you that I don't help people."

"You helped the Neverseen just fine."

"That was against my will. I didn't want to."

"And you don't want to help me. It's the same circumstances. Unless there was something else?"

She shook her head, "There was, but it doesn't matter anymore."

The figure grinned - somehow - and tossed the sword in his hand, "I'm not so sure about that. I'm the Lord of the Night. If I wished, I could see into your nightmares. I know who you care about, and I know who you trust. I could kill you right now, if I wanted."

"But... but you don't?"

The figure shrugged, "Your unwillingness is making me have second thoughts. For all you know, you could already be dead. Trapped in this void until I kill you. Except you won't wake up."

She crossed her arms, "Alright. And say I do wake up? I'm just gonna come back here, right? There's literally no difference between the two."

He laughed, "Alright. If that's what you want to think. Just, don't say I didn't warn you when you end up in the Underworld."

She smiled, "Actually, that's where I'm headed. Killing me would actually be doing me a favor, if you think about it." She let her arms hang at her sides, "Alright. You can kill me. Take me to the Underworld!"

The figure paused. He just stood there, trying to comprehend what she'd said, "Wait... if you want to die, why haven't you complained about it before, or something?

"Haven't thought about it till now."

He studied her for a moment before frowning - which still seemed impossible - and raising his sword slightly, "You're trying to find the Moonlark, aren't you?"

"What makes you think that?" She tried to keep her expression calm, but could feel her fear rising.

"You are. I can tell." He tensed and stood still, as if waiting for her to attack him, "You expect me to not be able to tell when someone's afraid? I feel like you should've picked up on that by now."