16.

X

"What did you do?!"

My father’s voice bellowed. If he had a face, he wouldn’t be grinning, that’s for sure. I smirked at the thought, but it didn’t last. A foot connected with my ribs, shattering them completely. I coughed up blood as he kept hitting me everywhere. The pain was unimaginable as my bones kept breaking. I didn’t make a sound though, I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. This seemed to enrage him more as he increased the tempo of his punches.

“You stupid boy!” he seethed. “You’re just like your mother, stubborn and annoying. I made her suffer before killing her, just like I’m going to do to you.” Shut up, you don’t get to mention her. More punches, each more painful than the last. My body was numb with pain. And I was sure that everything in my body was either broken or sprained. I thought of Cathy at that moment, how I never did tell her about how I felt. Damn, I should have just gone for it. Well, no time to think about that now. I closed my eyes and resigned myself to my father’s rage.

(Well, finally. You’ll be dead, and I’ll be free to return to my Circle.) Astaroth, I’d forgotten about him already...I ran out of energy to keep him materialised in this plane. And that’s when I started losing. “Well, not quite.”, I murmured, dreamily. A plan was already hatching in my mind. (What? What’s that supposed to mean?) The bait was set. “Well, I changed the contract. You won’t be free even if I die. My ownership will just be transferred to Tony, my friend.”

A silence, then laughter. You can’t do that, the contracts can’t be changed by any mortal, god, or demon. This was getting better. “Well, what if I had a shard that belonged to a being above even gods and demons?” A longer silence. You used it to change the contract and include your friend? Time for the last push. “Well yes...but under these circumstances, I can cut you a deal.”, I said, without any emotion, but I was desperate. He would kill me soon if I didn’t hurry. (What deal?)

Astaroth asked hurriedly. He didn’t want to be a servant and he knew how cruel Tony could be. “I’m going to annul our contract. You’ll be released, then you’ll transport me and anyone that is alive back to your Circle. Once that is done, I’ll remove the link between you and Tony.” A longer silence. All the while I was being tortured by my father as he struck me with lightning over and over. How am I sure you aren’t lying? You just have to take my word for it. I have nothing to lose.” That much was true. Very well then. Release me. The Index pulsed and a sigil appeared in my hand. “Demon god Astaroth, I release you from your shackles.”

There was a roar and lightning flashed. I gasped as Astaroth left me, finally free after years of servitude. His form shrank until he was human sized. He raised an arm and the lightning stopped. My father stopped, regarding the new comer with interest. Before he could say anything though, Astaroth said something unintelligible and black tendrils grab me, M’gethir, Zeus and Míriel. I noticed sadly, that Eistibus and Horus weren’t picked. Goodbye, old friend. My father finally realised what his plan was and rushed to stop him, but Astaroth was ready. “Flame of Naught.” My father was engulfed in black flame that started eating at him. He knelt and focused on stopping the progress of the flame and extinguishing it. Astaroth took this chance to open a portal and escape. The last thing I heard was my father roaring in anger at our escape, then I plunged into darkness.

“Xassin?” The voice was muffled. I tried opening my eyes, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t feel my body. My breathing grew more panicked as I tried everything, but came back negative. “He’s awake!”, came the muffled voice to someone else. All of a sudden, a bandage was removed from my eyes and I squinted. The light was bright. Míriel stood over me, bandages covering her upper torso. For once her eyes didn’t shine with hatred at me, rather, she looked concerned. Astaroth walked over to me his white long hair and purple eyes easily discernible. He cupped my bandaged face in his hands.

“You lied”, he said through clenched teeth. (I wasn’t ready to die, surely you can understand that), I replied telepathically.He snarled at me and raised his hand. “Well, you’re dead anyways.” A hand shot out to grab him, but I couldn’t see who it was. Then I heard a voice. “Leave him, Astaroth. You’re free now, that’s all that matters.” I knew that voice, but I was too weak to remember. Astaroth shook off the hand, gave me one last hateful look, and stormed away. 

“Hello Xassin.”, came the voice again. It was soothing and nostalgic. I knew this voice...who... Z’ara?, I asked frantically. It had to be her... But how? She was dead! Then. She stepped in front of me. Tears came into my eyes. It was her. After all these years, she looked the same. Well almost. She now had purple eyes and...horns? I squinted and sure enough, there they were. Horns. Black and slender. I had so many questions. What was happening? Z’ara was a demon? “I’m sure that idiot told you and the entire kingdom I was dead.”

She glared a bit at someone, probably M’gethir before continuing. I know you have questions, I will try to answer them. I am a demon goddess. I was bound by contract to M’gethir years ago, when he was a young emperor. At his behest, I disguised myself as Gentry and became an Arch-mage. I taught his armies my magic and techniques, which included you. She smiled. You were the best student I ever had, and I grew attached to you, so when M’gethir discovered your shard, he wanted me to extract it and bring it to him, but I knew that would kill you. Instead, I helped you escape and the consequences of disobeying my master set in. I was dragged back to him, and before sending me back to the Circles for punishment, he took my third horn and mixed it with his essence, creating a child from us both.

I could move my head a bit now, and saw Míriel curled up somewhere. She was sobbing softly. M’gethir sat opposite her, with his face down. He looked older. “From that point on, I could only watch as he told the entire kingdom the lie he created and dubbed you a killer and traitor.” She finished. In a flash, Míriel was on M’gethir’s neck her eyes burning with hate. “You lied to me!” She raised her dagger and was about to stab him when Z'ara held her. “It’s okay, my girl. He’s not worth it”, Z’ara said soothingly. Míriel fought against her for a bit, before sinking down and bawling like a baby.

Z’ara stroked her hair and held her close as her body racked with sobs. I was still in a daze, my mind trying to process everything that had just been said. So that’s what Ente meant. Míriel was a god spawn. At least she was alive, Tony would be crying right now. If I could move, I would’ve smirked at the thought. I refocused my thoughts on destroying my father. My elven magic wouldn’t do the trick, that much was obvious from out last battle. I needed something else, but what? There was nothing in this world that could measure up to a shard... talk less of three.

Then it hit me. Of course, why didn’t I think of this? Lives would have been saved. I closed my eyes and felt the Index come back to life. My body started healing and the numbness was gone, although I wish it wasn’t, cause I felt every bone that was broken re-join and every torn muscle and tendon reattach. It was hell for a few minutes. I stood up amidst protests of rest from Zara and Míriel. “Where is Zeus?”, I asked, standing. My legs were still wobbly, the muscles were still healing, but I had to see him. We needed to get to Le’uthara, and fast.

“He’s at the balcony.” I made my way towards the balcony where he stayed, and surprisingly, Zeus looked sullen. For once, he didn’t have that smug grin on his face. He held a cigarette between his lips, puffing a cloud of white smoke periodically. The red glow of lava lit up his face as he overlooked the Seventh Circle. It was mostly a vast wasteland with volcanoes and flying creatures everywhere. Typical demon stuff.

“You know, smokers are liable to die young.” I joined him on the balcony, resting my back on the railings made out of some very smooth cold stone. He regarded me with a cursory glance and puffed. “I’ve been living for millennia, Xassin, I think I’ll be fine.” He tossed the cigarette away and opened the pack to find out that it was empty. He threw it down into the lava below and groaned in frustration. “I’m sorry for your loss.”, I said simply, knowing that Zeus had a special place in his grandfather’s heart, and vice versa. He chuckled.

“Thanks, now what do you want?” He knew from my eyes that I had a plan, and he was seething for revenge. “We need to get back to Le’uthara now. I’ll explain on the way. This is our last shot at destroying that bastard once and for all.” Zeus nodded, his eyes crackling with electricity. “Let me go with you.”, came Míriel’s voice. Her eyes looked bloodshot from crying, but she looked firm in her decision. “I want to pay back my debt, and...” I sighed and nodded. Z’ara came over to me. “I would have come, but ...I have a punishment to complete.” I hugged her, tears threatening to leave my eyes. “I will be back. I promise, once all this is over.”

“I’ll be waiting, Xassin.” I disengaged from her and stood next to Zeus and Míriel. She smiled and turned back to M’gethir. “We have a lot to discuss.”, She said to him. Then she turned back. “Míriel, my girl, remember what I told you. You are a demon goddess, the power lies in you. Use it well.” Zeus held is both and a lightning bolt swept in and carried us back to Le’uthara at full speed. I wondered how X would be doing, he probably thought we were dead. He just needed to hold on till we got there.

Don’t die, Tony.