The forest was silent, the air passing through the exposed roots across the floor. The leaves danced overhead, gently falling off the cold dead branches. Gliding to the ground, touching the frosted grass. One side of the forest is dead, along with the corrupted energy of the Legions of hell. The trees handing over the Watcher’s still full of life. David stepped forward once more.

  Liam appeared from the black host, standing in front of his Legion. Staring down David from afar. His eyes were black, full of hatred and malice. David stepped again, closing the distance between Liam and himself. “That is far enough.” Liam’s voice was heavy, raspy from the torture on his body. David stopped in his tracks. Careful of what he would do.

  “I’m surprised you remember that name,” David said, his hand on the pommel of his sheathed sword. “That’s the name the Order gave you, wasn’t it?” He asked.

  “The seeress, the one you refused to believe of the future,” Liam called out. “That name, the angel of fire. Which I plan to bring.” Liam told him. “It is never too late to join me, David.”

  David continued to stare him down, his eyes green. Passing off his words, doing whatever he could to stall for time. “That armor doesn’t belong to you.”

  “I think it fits me well,” Liam said pounding on the scarred chest plate. Eleazar and he shared the same spirit animal. Though on separate sides of the spectrum. “I see they pitied you with your own.” Liam pointed at David’s armor. “Considering how clean it is, I’d say it has yet to see the battle.”

  David looked at his old friend, his voice, his face. Being no longer recognizable, Liam had fallen to the point of no return. Though that did not stop him from trying. “It’s never too late to come back, things can be how they were before.”

  “No.” Liam said, “They couldn’t. There is no Kaitlyn, they will never be the same. I will create a world where no one will ever have to lose another in war.”

  “That’s why you plan to kill millions in a war?” David asked sarcastically. “That doesn’t really make sense.”

  “You cannot make peace with the warmongers,” Liam said. He looked past David, seeing Eve standing in the distance. “Do my eyes deceive me?” He asked. Eve stood at the ready, her hand on her pommel. Liam stood confused, feeling as if he was staring at an illusion. “Impossible, you didn’t kill her?” He looked at David. “You lied to me?” David remained silent, looking at Liam. Taking a step forward, walking in her direction. David grabbed firmly on his hilt, preparing to draw it. Liam stopped in his tracks.

  “I lied to you; I couldn’t afford for you to know she was alive,” David muttered.

  “This day just keeps getting better,” Liam smiled. “Have you killed anyone, David?” He laughed as his army did as well. “How do you expect to stop me?” He asked. David remained silent; he didn’t know.

  “Liam, listen to me before you destroy your life!” David yelled at him. “Kaitlyn would never be on the path you are on.”

  “You don’t know anything!” Liam called out. “I will bring her back to life! Once I take this commune, and I get to her grave.”

  “Black magic will not bring her back Liam; she will be nothing but a shell of her past life.” David continued. “As you have become.”

  “You don’t know that” Liam said. The masked man came from the front, joining his side. Whispering into his ear. “Get back!” He yelled at the masked man. “I’m afraid my Legions are anxious. It’s time to end this. Enough of your stalling David.”

  “No one has to die here today, Liam.” David said, “Only us.” This was his last chance at buying them time. “You and I, here and now. We will settle this.”

  Liam dropped his black cloak onto the floor, “My men could use a rest, while they enjoy watching me tear you apart!” Liam said, “Now you will deal with the monster you betrayed and created. And after I am finished with you, I will give you and your people to the wolves.”

  “I may have failed you, Liam. You are the one who betrayed us, you betrayed Kaitlyn. You are the one who betrayed your honor and your oath for love and vengeance.” David put on his helmet, his eyes glowing a bright green, almost white. Drawing his sword. “You joined and became an apprentice of darkness that Kaitlyn died to destroy. Now, I sentence you to die.” His blade ignited a deep green along with his armor.

  Liam’s armor infused with his red energy, burning in a black flame. This was the power of pure corruption. David would rely on his power and his faith. Not powers of evil. Liam drew his sword, identical to David’s instead of the wolf head’s pommel. The luminescent seraph steel had turned black. Smoke had steady lifted off the tip.

  Gabriel had brought his team forward, the rest of the guardians and knights from bravo, and Charlie company joined alongside the Watchers. Taking in the view of the battle. Energy radiated between the two, though Liam’s was significantly stronger. “Does David stand a chance on his own?” Eve asked Gabriel quietly. She looked up at him.

  Gabriel watched ahead; his eyes full of faith in his brother. “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” Gabriel had quoted from the book of Samuel. Eve looked away from him. Unsure what she could say, though it filled her with hope. The hope she needed to believe in David.

  The two stood across from each other, both on the edge of their journey. It was undeniable, there was no running this time. One would die here today. David took his defensive stance, and Liam took his offensive stance. He extended his hand quickly, sending a bolt of black electricity out of his palm. David leaped to the side, as it struck the tree to his side. Setting it ablaze, Liam took the chance to rush David. Bot clashing swords. Energy repulsed from every blow and parry. David switched up his style, to keep Liam from anticipating every move. David used his experimental form, a combination of all the others.

  Each clash of swords was met with a memory. David was just a boy standing in front of a young Liam. He held out his hand. “I’m...” His hand was smacked by a man standing over himself. Not given permission for David to speak with Liam.

  The swords clashed again. Liam was holding David’s lifeless body. Crying for his friend. David opened his young green eyes to him.

  “Liam, Kaitlyn this is my little brother, Gabriel.” The young children smiled at an aloof young Gabriel. Their swords interlocked, David glaring into his old friend’s eyes. Who have they become? Brothers, fighting each other one last time. For that, he was terribly sorry.

  “David. I’ve been thinking a lot lately. I don’t think I’m going to take that oath with you.” A twelve-year-old Liam said as they stood on the roof. Both leaning over the half wall, staring at Kaitlyn sparring with Jasmine.

  “I understand.” David smiled at him, placing his hand on his shoulder. “Promise me you’ll be good to her. She has no other family than us.” Liam chuckled nodding at him. They broke their interlocking blades. Swinging back and forth once more the fight was stagnant.

  “David!” Liam screamed out from the back of the Silver Arrow. “We need to go back for her!” He screamed in a panic.

  “You know as much as I do, we can’t do that.” David, eyes filled with shock. Kaitlyn had thrown David inside the Silver Arrow before they sped off. Leaving her behind to hold back the exploding volcano. Telling him to protect Liam.

  “She could have survived!” Liam screamed pounding on the door to the cockpit.

  “She forced me inside! If it were up to me, I would have stayed behind so she could be with you!” Tears poured down his face. “She saved us, all of us!” Liam broke down to his knees. Pounding his knuckles bloodied as he punched the floor. “I failed.”

  “You did,” Liam told him, looking back at him with his eyes a crimson red. Fueled by hatred, losing his love. David stood in silence watching the burning island filling the sky above with ash and smoke.

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  They struck again, a battle of passion and pain-filled not only their hearts but in the spirits surrounding themselves. “So, they told you to kill her?” Liam asked, hands against the table looking at a map. David nodded slowly. “We can’t do that. I refuse.”

  “She’s dangerous.”

  “Are you listening to yourself?” Liam asked. “You don’t kill people David.”

  “If I don’t, who knows what destruction she can cause.”

  “We can turn her towards us, the Watchers could have immense power.”

  “It’s too risky.” David looked away from him. Knowing that Liam was no longer himself. All he had ever talked about was bringing Kaitlyn back, David couldn’t allow it. That is why he had to lie. To keep Eve safe from Liam.

  Liam took off his cloak and pauldron. Slamming them both on the table. “I can’t do this anymore. I’m finished.” He said turning around walking to the elevator. One last time. David wept, was it worth protecting this girl at the cost of his best friend?

  The memories finished; Liam continued to strike chaotically. As expected from him, David remained focused, waiting for Liam to leave an opening. Though impossible to memorize patterns on both sides. Liam had never seen this fighting style before. Nor has David dealt with such unpredictability. Liam swung at David, dodging quickly as Liam brought his sword into the tree. How he had been paying attention was beyond himself. Too focused on his bloodlust cost him a kick to his chest, knocking him backward. David thrusted his sword following his kick, met with Liam’s hands grabbing his sword. Screaming in pain. Though gripping it tightly, gripping it with his underarm. David fought to keep his sword within his hands.

  No matter the pain it had brought him, Liam disarmed David with a punch to the face. Throwing his sword to the side onto the forest floor along with his helmet. David wrapped back around, getting Liam into a chokehold, throwing him to the ground. Liam brought him down with himself. David’s nose bleeding from the punch, Liam pulled out a small dirk from his belt. Attempting to stab David’s side. Met with David’s hand on his wrist, preventing him from getting stabbed. Though losing the chokehold, Liam flipped himself around. Bringing the knife down on David’s face. As he stopped it with both hands, Liam pushed with all his might down on the knife, even spitting on his face.

  David ignored it, pushing back, and releasing pressure against the knife. Swinging his head to the side, Liam stabbed the root on the ground. David took his chance, forcing his forehead against Liam’s jaw. David grabbed onto Liam’s arm, beginning to pull the corruption from his body with his hands. “No!” He screamed, punching David in the throat. Causing him to cough and wheeze. Gasping for air, Liam stood up, drawing his other sword. “Now, you will die.” He said, “and you will not come back this time.” He said, leaping at David with an overhead strike. David raised his hand, as the sword tore through the flesh and muscle in between his knuckles.

  “David!” Eve screamed out. Gabriel reached his arm out, keeping her from interfering. David gritted his teeth in pain, absorbing the corruption from the sword. Releasing it swiftly in an explosion of energy back at Liam, sending him to fly back. Slamming against a tree. David stood back up. His hand was now stained with corruption. Reaching his hand out, pulling his sword back to his unwounded hand.

  Liam grabbed onto his back, feeling a muscle being torn. Struggling to stand, to his feet. Pulling both of his swords to his hands. “I will not die here today.”

  David finished healing his hand, only able to stop the bleeding. He took his defensive stance. His back turned toward the Legion; an acolyte took the chance to strike him from behind. Liam reached out swiftly, sending black electricity at the man, obliterating him into thin air. “He’s mine!” He yelled out, charging at David with two swords. Both burning with the black flames of corruption.

  David took his defense, guarding and blocking each strike. The adrenaline in his veins blocked out the pain in his hand. David focused hard, bringing his sword down into the ground as Liam thrusted his blade. Covered in green energy pouring from his armor into the sword, Liam struck the face of his green blade. Sending an earth-shattering repulse, pushing Liam sliding back a couple feet. The two trees next to them uprooted from the ground. Crashing to the floor, taking advantage of the chaos, David charged forward. Sending the energy into his leap. Now was his opening, to perfect the Eagle strike. If this didn’t work, he didn’t know if he would get another chance. Liam looked at him, swinging his swords forward as David leaped just over Liam. Slashing down at him. Landing on the other side, taking a knee. Regaining his footing immediately recovering. Looking at Liam as the back of his armor was ripped open. Blood ran down his back to his legs. Though not a single drop was red. All was black. Liam turned around, throwing a knife into David’s stomach under his chest plate. David kept a straight face, unbelieving in the strike. He stumbled. Trying to regain his footing.

  Eve attempted to run forward as the front line of the Legion watched her preparing to run forward. Gabriel grabbed onto Eve, pulling her away. The Legion stood still, “Let go of me!” She screamed at him. “He needs help!”

  “He knew what was going to happen!” Gabriel told her, interlocking her arms to keep her from running. Tears rolled down her face.

  David stumbled once more, falling to the ground. As Liam spat blood out onto the floor, stumbling forward. David attempted to pick himself up, pulling the knife out. David started to heal himself, using the energy reserves within his armor. Looking at Liam who was stumbling towards him, David picked himself back up. Still fighting the bleeding, his hands red. Never had he seen so much of his own blood. Even since their last encounter. Liam gripped onto his sword, lunging at David. Reacting quickly, catching Liam’s sword with his armpit. Swinging his fist at Liam’s face with his wounded hand. As painful as the connection was to him, it was equally effective. Liam poured his energy into the sword, raising it higher. Cutting into David’s armpit, drawing even more blood. The corruption met with David’s blood. An explosion of pure white energy sent David back to his knees. Liam is back once more.

  David had nothing left, whatever that was. Used up the last of the energy he had reserved for the fight. His willpower was hanging by a thread. “I can feel your pain.” Liam said, “I will make this quick.” Liam’s black blood ran down his chin to his neck. David fought his breathing, gargling the blood in his throat. As it bubbled in his lungs. The knife had caused a lot of internal damage he was not skilled enough to heal on his own. Liam prepared to charge at David one last time. Two brothers breed to kill, now to meet blade and flesh once more. David closed his eyes, focusing his breathing deeply. Feeling the spirits of life and death around himself. He could feel Eve’s temperament, her energy, fueled with rage and vengefulness. She really did love him. Gabriel’s energy, calm. Fluttering like normal, but content. He would be a good leader. He would protect them well, may be able to bring some real change to the world. They all had come so far; David was really proud of them all.

  Gabriel could hear David’s thoughts, knowing now. He was truly weak, and there was nothing he could do. His grip fell weak, not believing what was about to happen. Eve broke free from him, screaming out. Her hands hit the ground, sending a blue shockwave in the ground as it flowed like a wave. Dancing across the floor, her crystal glowing an even brighter blue. Liam charged at David, one foot in front of the other. Everything was in slow motion. Eve watched as her energy flowed like a tidal wave towards David. Death loomed over David’s head, nothing left in his body. He was fighting destiny; Liam was now inches over him. Feeling a slight shiver in his legs and up to his spine. Liam looked over at his old friend. “Goodbye, David. I would ask you to tell Kaitlyn I miss her for me.” He muttered, “But she would soon be back with me.” He lifted his sword on David’s head, preparing to strike down on him. David launched to his feet, driving his sword into Liam’s heart. David looked past his friend; his cheek pressed against Liam’s. Liam was full of disbelief, a single tear rolling down his face. Loosening his grip dropping the sword to the ground. As it stuck into the dirt below.

  Eve watched on, along with everyone else. Eyes wide opened. Liam dropped his dead weight against David, as he caught him. David dropped to his knees, holding Liam in his arms. “Do you think she could forgive me?” Liam muttered, his eyes staring into the blood moon overhead.

  “I don’t know,” David said softly, bloodied hand against his face. “I forgive you.”

  Liam chuckled, “I like to think, things would have been different if our roles were switched.” He looked at David.

  “I don’t know,” David told him. “I really tried to save her Liam.” David continued, feeling his body grow cold. As Liam’s breaths slowed.

  “I know.” He said. “I should have been there,” Liam said, he chuckled a bit.

  “Hold on, just a bit longer,” David said.

  “Funny how things turn out. You were the first to almost die on us. Now you are the last of us. I do feel sorry for you.” Liam said, “Can you do me a favor?” He asked. David's tears rolled down his face. “Two favors I should say, don’t stop saying our names. People die twice in this world, once physically. And the last when you speak their name one last time.” David gritted his teeth, all the adrenaline now wearing off in his blood all the pain flooded in. Combined with the pain of losing his friend.

  “I promise,” David said. Slapping his face as Liam’s eyes began to fade. “One more. What’s the other thing?”

  “I realize now, I’m the one who failed you. I just wish I had realized it sooner.” Liam said. “Don’t ever stop fighting. Find love, carry us to victory.”

  “I won’t stop, I promise I won’t,” David said.

  “Good, you’ve always kept your word.” Liam smiled softly; his red eyes turned yellow. “I can see her, David. I can see- “Liam’s words faded with his last breath. Along with the energy in his eyes. The crystal around his neck shattered. David lowered his head against his friend’s. Crying deeply, a never-ending pain in his heart. Feeling his heartstrings pull tight. Fighting the urge to blame himself. Feeling his soul leave his body, David was the last of the Memento Mori. Most importantly, he felt Liam’s pain fall into the Earth. No longer carrying it with him into the afterlife.

  Covered in dirt, sweat, blood, and tears. David stood up, pulling his sword from the ground, and drawing Liam’s sword. He stood at the ready, watching the Legion of acolytes fueled with rage. Preparing to charge at him. David stood with both swords out, screaming at them in pain. As if he were protecting Liam’s lifeless body. All colors of energy lifted from the ground and trees surrounding him. One eye closed from the blood running into it. The spectrum poured into his body. His skin and muscles were on fire. Both opposing forces stood across from each other preparing to collide to decide the destiny of the heavens and hells.