Chapter Twenty-Six: Sophoclean Duels

Mordred suddenly dropped Russell to the ground. Russell cowered, shielding his face with his arms.

"Oh my god, it's coming back?" Carmen whispered in disbelief.

Russell looked around. Indeed, the swirling mist that had dispersed was reentering the room.

"What the hell?" the mortal said.

Mordred stared coldly down at his apprentice. "Did you really think," he said slowly, "that I would not be prepared for a situation such as this? Did you not think I would not be prepared for the day someone would try and thwart me? I had only wished it would not be you…and you have disappointed me once again. Pity. But you'll make a better mantelpiece than apprentice, I think."

Russell stared at his master in shock. No matter how many times the idea was presented to him, he couldn't get over the fact that his master, for whom he might have had to die for, would discard Russell's life like it was nothing.

He babbled hoarsely, "But…the magic…it was gone…"

Mordred smirked. "I prepared for a situation like this, fool. When I took others' magic, I knew that if I ever lost my magic, they would get their own back and it would be lost to me forever. No, I ensured it would remain with me. I made sure it could never get back to them when I killed them."

Mordred strode past Russell towards Carmen. "What say you now, daughter?" he asked. "Do you still feel that you are in a position to bargain?"

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Two-Bit's mouth operated independently from the rest of him. "Take me instead!" it blurted. "Don't hurt her. Kill me and let her go free."

Mordred cut his eyes at Two-Bit. "How sentimental," he said dryly. "But you are worthless."

"Anything to save her," Two-Bit pleaded. "Please. Don't…" He stopped himself. He had been about to ask, Don't you have a heart? But of course he didn't.

Mordred turned back to Two-Bit. For a moment, hope leaped in Two-Bit's chest. Was Mordred actually reconsidering?

But no, he wasn't. A wicked smile spread across Mordred's face.

Uh oh, Two-Bit thought.

Mordred turned back to Carmen. "What do you say to a duel?" he said.

"A duel," Carmen said flatly. "Is that the best you can come up with?"

"I thought we'd take a more indirect approach. I don't suppose you are aware of the Sophoclean method. It is not taught until the second year of university, and even then only in the most select and elite of them, the Vine Leaguers, as they so quaintly call themselves." Mordred seemed to be enjoying himself more and more.

"I'm sure you're going to tell me," Carmen responded coldly.

"The method in which each opponent sets up an obstacle course of a given length and difficulty for the other, and the one to make it through first is the winner."

Mordred had an immensely unfair advantage, and he knew it. So did Carmen, whose face fell. But, it wasn't like she had a choice. Even if she did, Two-Bit doubted very much that she would have backed down from it.

"What are the limitations?" she asked wearily.

"The course may be of any length and of any level of difficulty," Mordred said simply. "In other words, there are no limitations, save for that there must be an exit at the end. And an assistant is allowed."

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Russell knew then that he was in for it. Whatever Carmen cooked up, he would have to go through it with Mordred just behind him, barking orders in his ear and then taking all the glory. He was used to it by now, but being used to it didn't mean he liked it, either.

"Two-Bit," Carmen said automatically.

"I might have known," Mordred said. "You two run through my little obstacle course and beat me coming out from yours, and you keep your lives and your magic. No need to worry, mortal," he chuckled upon seeing Two-Bit's horrified face. "Even if you lose, you keep your life. It's she who loses hers. No use arguing," he added pleasantly. "The deal has been set. Would you prefer to say your goodbyes now or later?"

"Later," Carmen said firmly. "When will we be setting up our obstacles?"

"Tonight. The challenges will be first thing tomorrow morning," Mordred said, striding towards the door. "Come, Russell."

Russell came.

"Sweet dreams," Mordred said to the two teenagers before slamming the dungeon door shut, plunging them into darkness.

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First update in forever. I don't think it's that good.