Chapter Ten

Breakable

The Catacombs

Below Elysion

David was the first of them to approach the door, one hand reaching for the thick iron handle and pulling it open. Gentle light spilled from the interior and when the generals moved in after their lord Rush followed behind them, his stomach coiling with fear. He entered into what looked like a study with book shelves stacked with all kinds of tomes and books on Remnants and the Four Races.

Lights were suspended from the dark ceiling but they were warm without a harsh glare. At the far end of the room was a wooden table with books and papers scattered on the top and sitting behind that table was a man with graying hair wearing a white coat.

His head was on the table, his breathing even indicating that he had fallen asleep. Glancing around the room to make sure there was no one else here David approached the slumbering man and gently shook him awake. The man grunted and moaned before raising his head to stare at the intruders into his private domain. It took him a few moments to recognize the Marquis of Athlum and his four generals. The man leapt from his chair with a grateful smile on his face.

"Are you here to get me out?" he asked hastily.

"We were told that John Sykes was spotted down here. You must be him." David smiled.

"Thank the god…" the man muttered as he sighed with relief. "I thought no one would find me down here."

"Congress wished to find you as soon as possible. Your safety and that of your family is top priority." Torgal stated.

"My family…oh god! My daughter and Marina! Where are they?" John gasped out.

"We have seen your daughter Dr. Sykes. She was taken by Wagner." Emma informed the man.

"Wagner? He took my child?" John was shocked.

"Yes but this is not the place for this discussion. We need to get you back to the city." David said.

"Wait! I need to get something first." John rushed back to his desk and fumbled around in a drawer.

"What is that?" Pagus questioned the mitra.

"It's something my wife and I are working on. It can transform Remnants into small talisman, binding them to their owner. It doesn't matter how man you have already." John explained.

"Wait, that tablet can bind any amount of Remnants to the holder?" Emma clarified. John nodded in response.

"But I thought the mental and physical strain would be too great." Blocter looked confused.

"Indeed. Any living thing can have only one Remnant bound to them. Any more will bring madness or death." Torgal frowned.

"And it's safe to assume that Wagner will come for that right?" Rush spoke up for the first time.

"Yes Rush." David nodded. When he turned back to the doctor he noticed that the man had gone deathly pale. "Are you sick Dr. Sykes?"

"W-What?" he shook his head. "N-No…I'm fine." He gave them a smile.

"Dr. Sykes, Irina's safe ok. We talked to her but she's safe." Rush approached the man. He frowned when the man took a small step back. "Do I know you at all?"

"I don't think so…" the doctor mumbled. "Shouldn't we be moving now?"

"Yeah you're right…" Rush was cut off when he screamed.

Splintering hot pain coursed across his body and his skull felt like it was being cleaved in two. He collapsed to his knees, his hands cradling his throbbing head as his body wracked with pain. He couldn't hear the other screaming his name nor could he feel the effects of the healing spells he was being subjected to. He could feel his arm, the one without markings; begin to burn like he was being pressed down into hot coals.

Rush tried to scream but nothing emerged from his bloodied mouth. He realized with dawning horror that he was choking up blood. It felt nearly impossible to breathe suddenly. The blood in his veins felt like it was on fire a she fell forward onto the floor. His eyes turned as black as midnight as he was thrust into another vision.

"The seal…broken…" he whispered then darkness claimed him.

The world was on fire.

Rush could taste the ash in the air. He could smell the burning flesh of millions of living beings all around him. He could hear their pitiful screaming from where he stood. He recognized this place with growing horror and absolute fear. Before him the once beautiful city of Athlum was ablaze. Fire tore through the castle, slashing and cutting its way across the marketplace, the homes and stalls and streets leaving only ash and death in its wake.

The sky above him was thick with the ash, blocking out the sunlight or moonlight. He couldn't tell if it was day or night anymore. His eyes were drawn once more towards the city when he heard a terrible piercing snarl. He felt his heart ram against his ribcage when he took in the sight of what he was staring at.

Large red wings with black horns on along the edges jutted out from a blood red torso. Black talons clung to the ruins of Athlum Castle as the winged stretched and flapped causing ash and dust to float around the burning city. It was a large red dragon with golden eyes that blazed with madness and hatred.

Black horns jutted from the crimson head and a forked tongue flicked across white teeth. Opening its jaws again the dragon let out a horrid scream that promised more of what had occurred in Athlum. The dragon continued to howl even after Rush fell to his knees and begged, begged the creature to stop screaming, to stop killing…to just stop existing. "Rush! Rush wake up!" David tried frantically to get the brunet to awaken but nothing worked.

"I can't heal him my lord." Pagus stopped using his healing powers. "The herbs won't work either."

"We need to get him out of here know." Emma was worried but her voice did not betray that fact.

"I got him." Blocter scooped the bleeding boy into his arms.

"Dr. Sykes, come with us now." Torgal instructed. The dazed man nodded then left with the group out of the room. They were making their way back into the tunnel when a familiar ice portal opened up.

"Wagner!" David yelled. He drew up his sword ready for a fight. "What have you done to Rush?"

"Now what makes you think that I have harmed the boy?" Wagner questioned.

"He mentioned that another seal has been broken." David narrowed his eyes. "Why are you doing this?"

"So this boy does have a connection to the seals. This is most…unexpected." Wagner looked thoughtful. "But he is not why I am here."

"Did you break the seal?" Emma barked out.

"Yes my dear, the seal has been broken. Although how that boy knows it is a mystery to me." The white robed man smiled. "Now hand over the tablet."

"No!" John reared back.

"You do not have a say in the matter doctor." The robed mage waved his hand and a bright blue light enveloped the scientist.

"What are you doing to him?" Pagus demanded.

"Now give me that tablet." Wagner held his hand out. David gasped when he saw the telltale spider silk threads attached to the man's arms and legs. He was under an Enthrall spell.

"Stop!" Emma approached the scientists only for Wagner to use an ice spell to send her flying back across the chamber.

"Don't attack him!" David ordered. The man was too powerful for a frontal assault and he had to make sure John and Rush were safe.

"Excellent…" the mage smiled when he was handed the tablet. "And here is your reward." He waved his hand and the light blasted outwards knocking everyone back.

"If the Seal wakes from his dream…" all motion stopped when that voice began to chant softly. David turned and saw Rush standing upright, his midnight black eyes boring into Wagner. "Perform the Rite of Stakes, his limbs pinned tight…"

"What?" Wagner frowned.

"Lest the doors open wide and suffering unleashed on all." Rush moved sluggishly towards the robed man as he sang what sounded like a children's verse.

"What are you boy?" the mage snarled.

"Sleep Seal lie in peace." Rush sang as he took another step forward.

"How can you have such knowledge?" Wagner spat out.

"The Seals keep him in place…break them and he will return." Rush intoned in a voice so void of emotion it made David's skin crawl. "He will burn the world."

"You cannot know of this…the purpose of the seals." The mage raised a hand to attack.

"You're all going to die." Rush raised one hand and sent a black bolt of power straight into Wagner's chest.

"This cannot be…" the man coughed. He had been thrown clear across the chamber. "You will pay for this boy!"

Wagner grunted in pain as he summoned up a portal and vanished into it with the tablet in his possession. Deathly silence filled the chamber now with Rush standing and staring at the spot Wagner once was. David was the first back on his feet and he went to see if John was alright. The man was surrounded by a blue haze that died down when Wagner left but he couldn't wake up.

Leaving Pagus to help him along with Emma the blond teenager slowly approached his friend. This was the first time David was ever afraid of Rush. There was a dark aura around the boy, so thick and consuming David could practically taste it. His blue eyes took in the sight of the boy when he stepped in front of Rush. His eyes were still that horrible inky black and his skin was pasty white. Blood dripped from his slightly open mouth. David gulped down whatever sliver of fear he felt as he reached out to touch that pale face.

"Rush? Please talk to me." The blond man pleaded.

"D-Dave?" the brunet choked out after a few moments. His eyes returned to the familiar cobalt color David liked.

"Are you ok?" he reached out and pressed his fingers against the cold skin.

"I…I saw things…terrible things…" Rush choked out, desperate to not cry. "My head hurts…"

"We're leaving." David murmured. Blocter was carrying John Sykes while Emma, Pagus and Torgal made sure that the tunnel ahead was clear.

"Dave…" Rush glanced at the blond with misery shimmering in his eyes. "The seals…they can't be broken."

"I know Rush." He nodded. When Rush wobbled a little David pulled the boy's arm around his shoulder and helped him out of the chamber.

The Marquis could only hope that the Sykes had answers to some of these questions.