Mara's P.O.V

  In our midst, were verdant lights. Shining and shimmering like stars in the night.

  It formed into a sigil bigger than my head. There were small sparks scorching the floor—a beautiful red.

  Why can't the freakshow see it?

  I look at him with a blank expression.

  "Salhazar," He started. "Even after she condemned me to hell."

  He stared into the nothingness of the sky. The night sky sparkled with grace—yet it didn't quite show in his eyes.

  "It had stuck the most in my many years," He circled me. "Like a machine, this mouth uttered the same name for everyone who asked."

  Is he implying that he didn't have a name? As monstrous as he is, beings always have a pathetic side to them.

  I hear a small sizzle from his side. Like a candle, his mask—his Yuri— melted away leaving a clean slate. White hair and red eyes.

  Maybe not that monstrous.

  A defined nose, and a chiseled jawline. He looked like a young adult—20's probably? His gaze was piercing.

  Okay, damn he's hot. But he's still a hazard.

  As I try to pull away from these restraints, the chains tightened around me with an iron grip.

  If he had this power from the start, why didn't he use it as soon as possible?

  His voice descended to a certain softness that I've never heard before.

  "Yet before that, she called me beloved. To and fro."

  This woman must be very benevolent to love a serpent like him. Disgusting and unconvential ways as his forte, it was difficult to stay patient.

  My eyes widen, as the sigil grew more scorching—striking even. I see a blade pointing out like a hat.

  "I could never distinguish if it was deceit. To trick me." His voice returned to the gruff and evil self it actually was.

  There wasn't any honey in his voice. I couldn't get anything from his face and voice. Just blank.

  "So tell me, child of ash—how much do you think her love is worth?"

  I hold back a sigh. If he was supposed to be such a powerful monster, why couldn't he answer the simplest things?

  "You want me to answer that?" I retort sharply. "You should know that full well by now."

  I choke back a cough. My sight cleared slowly. The air in my lungs struggled to leave.

  I see his look of shock. So he finally sees the sigil, huh?

  "No idea if she was mortal or not," I struggle to get out. These vocals cords weren't built fot this abuse. "But if she continued to call you that..."

  I trail off. He should've taken the hint by now. This Salhazar. But judging by his face, he's the type of being to not believe in anything he doesn't see.

  The crimson sigil glowed with lighting. Everything was a blur. Two small curved blades with a chain linking them together.

  It made a zap. Huh. I wonder if an epiphany went through his brain by now.

  "I'd say her love was plenty."

  The chains that held me captive disappeared with a crack. Those red blades probably flew and snapped it.

  But I thought they were chained together. It seems it had also broke in half. The remains wrapped around my wrists.

  Now that I look at it properly, they're sickles, huh? It hung from my wrists with a slight jiggle.

  My feet felt dead. Like a malfunction of something. I force myself to stand up and face the being who stood before me wide-eyed.

  I grip my weapons tightly. Its handle was smooth and cool. Like Mallory's staff.

  Speaking of her—I felt her usual comfortable magic guiding me through my weapons. Were they linked somehow?

  No time to linger since a wave of snakes had appeared. His right arm evolved into a griky green—scaly like obsidian, yet soft like slimy flesh.

  There came out snakes, hissing as they slithered towards me swiftly. Not very friendly, from the looks of it.

  Ok magic sickles. No idea where you came from but show me what ya got.

  I charge forward, stabbing the snakes with these blades. I run it through their slimy skin.

  Smoke trailed off in their blood. Its scent enters my body. My lungs take it in. Disgusting.

  Jumping and dodging through chains and snakes were more challenging than I thought.

  I hop up to dodge the assault on my feet. It was a mix of slippery and metallic. It surrounded me as a circle.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  I was in some tunnel with no light at the end. So, despite the pain my right hand had, I grabbed on the chains and started walking on the curve of the wall.

  It seemed like my feet became sticky after all the melting it had done. I go faster and my ankle gets number.

  One.

  Two.

  Three.

  Four.

  Five.

  Six.

  Finally the last loop.

  Snakes and chains rushed at me but I didn't stop. Not until I finally get the momentum right. One more loop.

  When I reach the point of the curve, I spin mid-air to look the other way. I put two of my arms infront of me, sickles in hand.

  Three. Two. One.

  Shing

  I swing my sickles and spin vertically. The sound of something like a whirlpool cuts through my mind. I felt heavy yet free.

  When I processed everything, a blood like circle had formed around the tunnel and cuts it cleanly.

  My weapons absorb the material in an instant, pulling me along. I search for any sign of expression on the being's face.

  Nothing was present. What was it with this monster?

  A wave of attacks come at me. I narrowly dodged all of it, giving me a most probable scar on my right leg.

  When I swung this thing, it made a huge blood blade. What if...

  I simply swung one of my sickles at the air, and sure enough, a blood blade came out of it.

  The force of my swing sent it flying to him. He dodged it—of course he did.

  I could feel my magicules pulse through my veins. My weapons absorbed it quietly. So in that case,...

  I spin my right hand, making my chain follow along with it. As expected, these blades came out. And if I was correct...

  Just try and imagine them flying towards him. Easy.

  All the blood I had summoned froze mid-air. They changed their direction right to him and charged.

  His snakes evaded it with snarls. Those serpents bit into it the material, making her blood explode.

  "Even in discomfort, you still offend me with your thirst for battle. Keep learning, child, it makes it easier for me if you do."

  How infuriating. This serpent didn't break a sweat—he just cracked a smile at me like it was a normal Tuesday.

  "I'm winning this." I stomp real hard on the ground, boosting myself forward.

  "Let your delusions roll off your tongue meaninglessly. Your kin would be proud for tradition to be upheld."

  Kin? You really like spouting bullshit, huh?

  I was about to swing my right hand, when a chain entered into the knot.

  It snapped—making the chain fly off spinning vertically.

  I freeze for a moment, wide eyed. It seems it was taking its sweet time on me all this time. In an instant, chains wrapped around me.

  My wrists were bound together to the walls by the thorny chains. The restraints on my torso dug deep into my skin.

  My ankle was static. My legs were covered with chains. A breath made me choke up. I coughed uncontrollably.

  I took a deep breath, and blood dripped from my mouth. I take a lick—it was definitely blood.

  "What kind—hah— long game is this?" My breathing stabilizes. A chain slowly wraps around my neck. Metallic. Cool.

  "Rest assured, this is no game. I would be a disgrace to disrespect the art of battle. I simply needed assistance."

  "So? How was it?." I croak out. My voice sounded like a mess. It was hoarse. I can't help my desperation to get it out.

  "You have answered three things. Helpfully so. It shan't hurt to share one part of the dissection."

  Dissection, huh. He needs a class in social communications. Definitely.

  I sense my sickle. The one I had lost. It feels heavy, like some sort of debris held it shut.

  "One, there is a better alternative for my vessel."

  I need to concentrate. It seemed to have moved. My eyes dart to Salhazar. It was blank.

  Sweat ran like rain drops on my face as I claw my control to the sickle—heavy with pain and debris.

  And miraculously, there was light at the end of this tunnel.

  "Two, it seems sentimental beings fight harder for injured loved ones. Three—"

  I smile with faux innocence, when my sickle swings at his neck—connected to the chain of blood I contorted.

  "Underestimation of your kin will only leave me to my grave. Troublesome cla—"

  Before he could finish the damned sentence, a clean pssh sliced right into his neck. The sickle had reached him.

  I pull the chain as hard as I can to cut his skin. It was as hard as bread and soft as stone. Sweat drips down my face.

  A thin thread of magicule catch my eye. Silver. Pale gold. Blue. I can't look back at Eric now.

  I drag my feet with thick heavy metal chains binding me down. Salhazar gazed at me up and down with what looked like smug triumph.

  I can't help but think that he's more humanly attached than he seems. Amused to the point it felt like it was validation to him.

  What a sick jerk.

  I reach for the thread and pull on it. My right hand starts to sting so I tug at the chain on my left hand.

  Snap— the mark of a black chain overlapped with my bright red bruise. Now two chains were on my left wrist.

  "Focus, Mara"

  Mallory's words crossed my mind. Ugh. Such a strict princess, right?—Ok back to the story.

  As I look closer at Salhazar, the sickle was already half way his neck. What really struck me was the color of his blood.

  Gold as treausure, and black as corruption. Although, there was a calm white—pure as snow—yet tainted like freedom.

  I was about to open my lips, but a small hand grabbed the thread I was pulling. Yuri—glowing from her magicules.

  "Yuri," I call out to her. "You were the one who made this thread thing?"

  "Silly Mara," Yuri pulled on the thread. "It was the three of us."

  I sigh with relief. It meant Eric was awake and Mallory was still alive. Granted, my feet rise awake.

  We were so close on removing his neck from his body but, a chilling sensation coursed through my body.

  A strong gust of wind breezed behind me. My bent wing left me on my last breath. I choke back a sob and stepped back.

  My right hand, now bloody and trembling, let go of the chain. Another set of hands grabbed it. Blonde and blue.

  Huh. When did Eric get here? Oh right he's awake.

  Familiar hands supported my back. Delicate and soft. Mallory. Her touch was gentle, like a lullaby in a storm.

  Her warmth filled my body with comfort. Then I looked at her eyes.

  It was filled with pity. The way her eyes furrowed. Her lips curled into a frown.

  There was nothing else I could've thought of but pity. Why does it have to be that?

  Seeing beings with that face just makes my skin crawl. Was there nothing else to do? Was I that helpless?

  Did I look that weak...?

  "The court of Celestia demands you gone," A voice from above stated, breaking me from my thoughts.

  I try to crane my neck back to see who it was. My eyes widen when I realize. A seraph.

  It seemed like she took her normal form for now.

  She had luscious long brown hair. Eyes greener than grass and deeper than the sea.

  Everyone had stopped in their tracks—besides the freakshow. Her pressure was different.

  Everything stilled. Chains clattered down on the ground—the air thinned. My blood dried and sweat ran cold.

  It felt judgemental and angry. It was as if you made one mistake, one fatal step, her presence alone would crush you right then and there.

  "I have already sent my prayers to Celestia, have I not? And what do I have to lose even if I don't?"

  "Your life," The seraph said. Her voice was clear and commanding. Cool.

  "I'm afraid you'll have a very hard time on obtaining what you desire. This whole time, I've been binding my soul to that girl."

  "Now you dare lie right in the face of the court?" She chastised. "How crude."

  Gladius Lucis, come before the darkness

  A sword came out of the sky with the snap of her finger. The seraph was surprisingly flashy at times.

  Lightning struck, and ripped a hole into the sky. It descended from the sky like the words from a god.

  The sword was about 5ft tall. It was wide—I could not estimate since my eyes threatened to close right now.

  Then came whispers. Different voices and tones. Praises, pleas, prayers. It overlapped with one another.

  Prayers, huh?

  Besides that...

  It had a beautiful dark blue pearl at the helm. The blade was straight and sharp. It shined with the moonlight of the Heavens.

  "Try, seraph. Let's see if effort is enough to shake the world's law."

  He raises his right hand up, like he's taking an oath. She wasted no time. Not a second or breath was wasted.

  I blinked, and his right arm was gone.

  My mouth was about to utter some sort of amazement, yet, in that moment, I sobbed.

  Blood burst out from my right arm. The black chain mark moved almost tauntingly. There was no way right?

  I reach for my right arm, it was there. But it felt like it was sliced off clean. An unspoken heat seared my skin.

  It wasn't supposed to heat up—right it was holy. I didn't care at that moment. Tears welled up in my eyes as a phantom of a stab was in my neck.

  "Mara!" Yuri ran to my side. Eric looked at me with an expression never directed at me so purely. Guilt.

  Mallory on the other hand, just held me close. Smelled like roses.

  "Do no evil," Salhazar started, grin wide. That sentence was for me. "One of the four virtues of Celestia. A painful lesson I presume?"

  "Enough, devil," Her voice was steady—it was right? She looked at me then at him. "Let the girl go."

  "Try to save her, I dare you. She's already summoned her Fated Weapon, along with the princess."

  The seraph's eyes narrowed. Why? What the hell even is a Fated Weapon.

  "That's a liability to Celestia. And liabilities must be banished—or better yet, destroyed?"

  "Sly serpent." The seraph growled.

  My vision blurs. I look at my right arm. There was a white sigil on my palm. When did that get there?...

  "I'll make your duties easier then. I shall go with the girl in her banishment. That way we both have something beneficial. Correct?"

  "How will that work? Evil spirits without its whole can't leave." She said.

  "That wasn't his full potential?" Mallory whispered.

  "Demonstration is key to understanding in these matters. Let me have the honor of doing so."

  My face jerked up when I felt his presence in front of me. In a blink, he vanished.

  I wanted to move—but my feet were stuck to the ground. Before my limbs, my soul flinched.

  The palm on my right hand stung. It was like something wanted to get in. I saw the gist of a snake's tail. Wait wait wait—This can't be real.

  "One, there is a better alternative for a vessel."

  His words ring in my mind. I couldn't have been his option for a vessel. There was no way.

  A devil latching onto me was unheard of. What would happen now? Was I going to get executed. Why me?!

  Badump

  Badump

  I know he's attached to my soul. I can literally feel the tainted tar on it.

  The darkness licked the edges of my heart. The blood that my heart pounded wasn't mine anymore.

  I drop to my knees, not caring if my ankle was sprained or not. I felt Mallory hold me close. My breathing quickened.

  My heartbeat pounded in my chest. Since there was actually no way right? This was unacceptable. A monster apart of me?

  My magicules start acting up. The blood surrounding me started to glow as my senses heightened five times stronger.

  I couldn't understand a word they said. Why. Why. Why. Why. Why. Why. Why.

  I'm not even sure if what I'm thinking right now is my voice now. Was this me or was it a demon's voice whispering?

  Someone touched my forehead. It was unfamiliar. I gave one last look at those green eyes—it had regret and something else.

  Everything went black.

  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

  Chapter Five: Of Sparks and Vessels

  COMPLETE

  Next Chapter: A Hero's Quest for Redemption