Is this the end?
- Chapter 37 ~ At Knight's End -
Death. The final wake up call.
The irony of the statement amused Shem.
It amused Shem, the boy who now lay prostrated on the cold, stony floor, slumped away from the hard wall behind him.
He didn't need to strain his vision to see the pool of vermillion red blood spreading slowly across the ground. He felt the blood leave the very wounds of his skin, and his body chilled with every moment that passed.
Shem felt his chest hitch, pain blossoming from his abdomen.
Thunder crackled. The cacophony resonated throughout the dark room. It was a damp, moist environment, only because of the storm that was raging outside.
But that was all he could see. The high ceiling felt endless - shards of glass lay around him. The droplets of rain prickled his face as the rain began to die down. He could see the clouds - the dark, dark clouds through the high, non-existent ceiling. The ceiling they had fallen through.
"Why do you just keep losing?" Another voice interrupted. It was Him. Whether He can be described as a mere man with a lust for blood, or a man who yearned uncontrollably for the grasp of power, the boy did not know. What Shem had found out, though, was that He was someone worth being afraid of.
Austin Baynes. Shem looked up to see the sparkle in Austin's faded eyes.
A chill continuously ran down Shem's spine. He was losing himself, and he knew it. A mat of cold sweat plastered his forehead. A knife lay scattered a few feet away from him.
A knife that had been his, now glistening with his own blood.
A knife that he'd given to her that one day - before all of this had even become possible.
He didn't care where she was now.
He hoped she was dead.
The boy's vision began to blur.
"You . . . You were always the one," The boy said, his voice cracked with pain. His side was burning as though someone had splashed a bucket full of acid on it. He clutched at the long gash on his left arm. The pain was endless.
Nevertheless, he gave the man a look filled with as much hatred as he could muster.
Shem looked dejectedly at the sky once more.
I've learned to hate you, to abhor you, to look at you with scorn coming from the darkest pit of my heart.
The tears glistened at the corners of Shem's eyes, unnoticeable under the light rain.
But it was not enough.
Austin Baynes - who had earned an undying trust that had lasted for so many years, and broke it easily because of one simple choice that had been caused by his own greed.
Austin Baynes - who had hunted for the medallion for so long.
Austin Baynes - who now had the medallion intertwined in his pale fingers - those pale, long fingers . . . the same ones who had taken up the sword to murder his family . . .
"It did always take you a long while to crack such a simple code, unlike my best friend," Austin said dismissively. "Your tenderness was your very flaw. If you had joined me earlier, you would've been much more powerful, Shem."
"No," Shem spat, the hatred being his only lifeline. He clung onto it desperately, staring dead on into the eyes of his killer. He noticed the tiredness in the man's eyes, the constant lethargy that lingered on Austin's face every time he looked at Shem. Now his face was lined with exhaustion, the prior fight taking a lot out of him. "You killed him. How could you?"
Miro, I'm so sorry.
Shem could taste the blood in his mouth, serving as the sign of an endless struggle that had finally surrendered to defeat and misfortune.
Gray eyes met the whitest of gray. It was a little unsettling how the man's eyes sparkled brighter than anything Shem had ever seen. How was that possible?
The older boy sighed, then waved his left hand in annoyance.
"You've become strong, but you would probably never be able to surpass me or the one you've come here to avenge." The sound of a blade caught Shem's attention for the last time.
He strained to look over, and saw a gleaming white, metal, spear clutched in the man's other hand. The weapon was immaculate, with no scratches, no traces of blood lining the edges.
Where did that even come from?
Shem looked away.
He shouldn't have trusted her. Shem felt a mix of anger and sadness boiling inside him. Then he realized -
He was still holding it. The thin, ebony sword in his hand.
Could he still move?
He had to have the strength left. Austin had the strength to stand - surely Shem could do the same.
His brother Miro always had that strength inside him.
Where was Shem's?
He had to concentrate.
He had to think.
To believe.
My name is Shem Baker, and I am the son of Athena. I am not an ordinary demigod.
He was still holding the sword in his hand.
Shem's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Austin's soft voice - at the ring of the spear that was raising itself above the man's head. Shem could've sworn - not a moment ago, their positions had been switched.
Shem just had to - he had to mentally prepare for it.
"Farewell, brave knight."
With the last cry, the final bit of strength, Shem brought his sword upward in a flash.
This is for Miro.
[xxx]
There was blood everywhere.
Shem winced in pain, feeling the spear embedded in his left shoulder. A breath escaped his lips.
Austin had frozen, looking down as he saw the thin black sword - the sword that had pierced through his own chest.
"H-how," Austin croaked, blood filling his mouth. He collapsed onto the ground next to Shem, gasping for breath. Shem held onto his own sword, drawing it out of Austin's body. He knew he'd moved just enough so that the metal spear wouldn't go through Shem's heart. However, the stab wound in his left shoulder looked severe.
Was that blow fatal enough? For the both of them?
Shem laughed weakly.
"I think we're both done here, Austin."
"But - the impact still should've killed you," Austin gasped. Shem heard a few more gasps, then quickly noticed - the man was crying. He could hear the quick breathing next to him. "How?"
"I believed." Shem breathed quietly, almost inaudible next to Austin's heavy breathing. Shem could already feel his eyes closing. The darkness was already too hard to control. "I believed in who I was - not just Miro Baker's little brother, not Mr. Holmes, but Shem Baker."
My name is Shem Baker, and I am the son of Athena. I am not an ordinary demigod.
Shem felt his last breath leave his body, and then he was no more.