A Forgotten Encounter

By Alina Blaine

Black smoke danced above Ember's hands as a wicked smile spread across her lips. Her eyes gazed nonchalantly over the remains of the latest human city that she had destroyed. She watched closely, hoping to spot the last few survivors who she had seen flee when she arrived, but they were already long gone. "No matter." she spoke aloud. "I'll find you again soon." Ember could almost feel The Silent King behind her smiling, his excitement growing with hers each time she destroyed another city. In her own mind the same words repeated over and over.

"They will pay."

Ravelyn approached Ember from behind. She had long since outgrown the name "tiny", choosing a name on a moonlit night in the middle of a destroyed city. Though neither she nor Ember asked for the goddesses' blessing, those times were far away now.

Ravelyn quietly put her metallic bow in its holder on her back. She always made sure to watch Ember's back recently, but was wishing for nothing more than to put the bow away for good. "We should go sister." She spoke gently, resting her hand on Ember's shoulder before it was quickly shaken off. Ember never accepted any loving touch from her anymore. Ravelyn wasn't sure if it was due to the death of their parents, or if Ember was scared she would infect her with whatever dark magic she was now using. "More assassins will come, especially with you out in the open like this."

Ember's pitch black eyes faded back to their bright blue color as she looked back at Ravelyn. Ravelyn couldn't tell what emotion she saw in her sister's eyes anymore. Fear, anger, sadness, possibly even happiness.

"I have killed every group that the kingdoms have sent, any new groups will meet the same fate as those who lived in this city." Ember replied coolly.

Ravelyn sighed as she looked towards the ground. "About the city." She had tried to have this talk with Ember many times before, and each time Ember took it the same way.

"This city was full of humans. Humans who destroyed our home, I am simply repaying the favor."

Ravelyn felt her nails dig into her palms. "These humans had nothing to do with what happened to us and you know that! Hells, there have even been other races in these cities that you've killed! What did they do to deserve what you've done?"

Ember felt her eyes turn dark and quickly turned from her sister. There had been times that her patron had warned her about Ravelyn. That she may try to destroy Ember, that he could help. It was the one thing Ember refused him on. She would never touch Ravelyn, and she knew that Ravelyn would never harm her, after all they only had each other now.

"I'm doing what I have to Ravelyn, I wish you would understand that." They deserve no mercy or pity. Ember's voice shook as she spoke, she could feel the fear and anger building in her, and she wanted Ravelyn nowhere near that.

"I'm going on a walk to find any survivors." Ember turned back towards Ravelyn, exposing her darkened eyes. "Do not follow me."

Ember walked quickly away, listening to make sure Ravelyn had not followed. She sighed as she slipped between the flickering buildings, not truly looking for any survivors, but instead maybe some time to think, without her sister's voice or her patrons in her head.

Close by the city a group of adventurers walked cautiously along. Nerissa, the bard hummed a cheerful song as she danced around the cleric, Edmund, who offered her a nervous smile.

"I wish you would take this at least a little seriously Nerissa." Hal sighed aloud as he grabbed his bow from his back. "This target has killed many guilds already, I'd prefer we are not next."

"38 of them to be exact." Abiel piped up as he looked up from his holo-watch, his goggles pressed against his forehead "We are dealing with a very dangerous warlock according to the reports."

"We've faced danger before and turned out alright. As long as we stick together we can stop this one too." Edmund said as he felt his hand brush against Nerissa's and smiled slightly at the warmth. "I don't think there is anything wrong with being optimistic towards our goal."

"Has anyone tried just talking to her yet?" Raya, the team's druid, spoke up.

Nerissa smirked as she matched her pace with Raya's." I mean I have a trick or two that could charm even the coldest of–" Nerissa began but was cut off by Hal.

"There is no talking to this one. We find the target and eliminate it before she can hurt anyone else." Hal snapped.

Raya shifted uncomfortably before changing to her owl form and resting on Hals shoulder.

"I hate to say Hal, but one thing that has helped separate us from other groups is our empathy with each other and dangerous foes. Maybe she's in pain. A memory spell might help if I get close enough." Edmund offered.

"It could be worth a try but we don't know what caused this warlock to become so violent. You may not be able to erase what has been done. From all my research I have to agree with Hal here. She needs to die." Abiel closed the hologram on his watch. His hand now moved to his blaster and charged the rounds so that he could begin firing immediately.

Edmund gave a simple nod towards Hal. "Okay."

Nerissa fell back beside him, her joyous nature faltering. "I'm sorry Edmund. Just sometimes we can't save everyone."

Her hand grabbed his gently, trying to offer support. "If anything I want to make sure we all get back home safe, especially you."

Edmund offered her a sad smile. "I want you to be safe too Nessy."

"Help! Someone please help!" A voice screamed in the distance causing the group to pause, each of them pulling their weapons.

They had been tricked before by calls for help and they wouldn't be fooled again. However all weapons lowered as soon as they saw her. A young woman covered in ash desperately ran for them, tears streaming down her face. "Thank the gods." The woman collapsed to her knees in front of Hal causing Raya to shift back to her elven form, her rainbow hair flying behind her as she landed. "What has happened to you?" Raya leaned down letting the woman wrap herself around her.

"Everyone's dead. I–I ran…but I know she's still coming for me..the laughter the horrible laughter." The woman broke into sobs as she clung tightly to Raya.

"Our target is near. Let's end this." Hal started forward, forgetting the woman they had just met for a moment.

Raya lightly brushed the woman's back. "Keep going 2 miles past us, there is a man there named Dominic, he will help you." Raya helped the woman to her feet and handed her some herbs for the nerves. "I promise we will take care of this."

The woman shook her head in understanding. "Thank you."

Raya pulled her staff from her back, walking quickly to catch up with the rest of the group.

The city was before them now. The buildings that still stood looked like death. Bodies lay on the road ahead, the ones still containing skin looking as if they were still screaming.

Edmund held his sword tightly in his hand as he scanned his surroundings.

"Target 6 o click" Abiel could see the she elf through his goggles. A building stood between them but he could spot her heat signature clear as day.

"Is everyone ready?" Hal whispered, his green eyes glancing behind him.

Everyone gave a brief nod before Ember passed the building, her dark eyes finally spotting them. "Ah the government has sent more friends?" She laughed helplessly.

A beam of light shot forward from Hal's bow, only grazing his target's cheek as she ducked out of the way.

A dark ray shot from her hands straight for him but Abiel already had a shield up. "Everyone move!" Hal shouted as the shield cracked, the force throwing Abiel back.

Even in the air Abiel shot from his blaster, one blast piercing Ember's arm as she stopped from the impact, if only for a moment.

Raya shifted to a wolf, her paws racing towards Ember. "Raya don't get close to her!" Hal cried but it was already too late.

Raya was sliced by an almost invisible blade as she was forced to shift back to her elven form, her body still breathing but unable to move from the damage that had been done.

"Raya!" Hal screamed as he flung light bolts at the warlock over and over, Abiel joining him with laser blasts.

Ember blocked every attack with an invisible shield, showing only wrath as she calmly walked towards the group.

Ember released a pained scream, causing Abiel and Hal to fall to their knees. Their screams matching hers until all life had left their eyes.

Nerissa locked eyes with Edmund, the look in his eyes conveying all that she needed to know. He still wanted to try, and there was no time to debate on the matter any more. One chance she tried to convey through her eyes as she reached out for his hand.

Ember stopped, her eyes watching them both carefully, trying to choose which target to hit first.

Nerissa's palm grasped tightly onto Edmunds as she focused on teleporting as close to the warlock as she could.

The moment Ember saw their forms vanish she realized they were trying to get closer to her before she could strike another blow.

Time seemed to slow before her as her fingers lightly pushed against one another, her mind now focusing on forming an invisible blade. Wherever they reappeared this would hit at least one of her targets if not both.

As if on cue Ember watched as the blade sliced into the cleric, his lips parting in surprise.

The bards eyes had yet to see what happened to her companion as she whispered the words feeblemind.

Ember wanted to scream as she felt the invisible blade shatter before her, her mind plunging into chaos as she tried to fight against the spell and regain herself.

Nerissa smiled as she saw the elf stumble back. It had worked now Edmund just needed to. The thought broke off as she watched Edmund crumple to his knees. His hands trying to hold in the blood that seeped through his fingers.

Rage and heartbreak flowed through Nerissa as she looked between Edmund and the elf. She'd kill her for this.

Nerissa shakily lifted her violin, ready to give one final attack while the elf was still unfocused, but two words stopped her.

Modify memory. Edmund choked out as both his body and Embers fell to the ground.

Nerissa quickly rushed to Edmund. Lifting his head to rest on her lap. She could see though his eyes were closed, that he was still alive, his mind now changing the memories of the elf.

"Edmund you idiot." She whispered as she cradled him closer.

Nerissa couldn't say how long she held him like that before she heard him gasp.

"Nerissa?" He weakly choked out.

Nerissa's hands rested on his wounds, willing them to close but her magic was too weak, closing the wounds just to have them reopen seconds later.

"Hey Nessy it's okay." He smiled up at her with a look of adoration and acceptance. "I did it." He said proudly.

Nerissa sighed as she stroked his cheek. "Did what exactly angel?"

Edmunds eyes traveled over to the elf who still laid unmoving on the ground and at once Nerissa understood.

"What does she think happened?" She forced herself to ask.

Edmund winced as he tried to sit up slightly. "Actually with your spell plus mine. I'm not sure she will remember a thing at all. You might be dealing with a child when she wakes."

Nerissa shot him a slight look. "You mean we? Or neither of us." She looked over at the elf. "She can be someone else's problem."

Edward shook his head as his eyes pleaded with her. "I would have helped her find a new way. A way to help others. Please Nerissa I know it's not fair to ask but"

Edmund gasped as his body started to react to the wound, shock starting to take hold of his body as he looked up at Nerissa, his eyes showing horrible fear.

"No. No." Nerissa held him close, trying to provide him some comfort as his body slowly stopped shaking and became calm and cold in her arms.

Nerissa still held him close as she looked around the destroyed city, seeing the broken bodies around her now joined by the corpses or her friends of many years. "Edmund I can't. Come back. Please I can't."

The elf stirred as her palms felt the broken ground beneath her. Where. Her eyes fluttered open as she took in her surroundings.

Death. That was the only word that came to mind as she glanced around herself. Something horrible had happened here.

From mere feet away Ember became aware of someone silently sobbing. She watched a woman holding a man close. Her hands lighting up only to flicker back to nothing as she whispered things in his ear.

"Are..are you alright?" She spoke gently. Wanting to help this stranger who seemed to be in so much pain.

The woman looked up at her, her eyes showing rage at first, but then softening to sadness.

Nerissa looked down at Edmund one more time. I'll do my best. She silently promised to the only person she had ever loved.

"Yeah..I'll be alright Kya." She spoke as she gently set Edmund on the ground. She wanted desperately to bury him, to give him a proper ceremony to say goodbye.

"Kya? Is that my name?" The elf looked at her shaky hands before nervously hugging herself. "Sorry, I seem to not remember much.." Kya nervously admitted.

Nerissa approached the elf slowly. Her hand reaching out to the elf. "Yep that's you." She choked back the want to continue sobbing as the elf lightly grabbed her hand. "And I'm Nerissa, we've been friends for a long time. I'm a mentor to you actually."

Kya grasped onto Nerissa tightly, her anxiety creeping up her spine. Something felt wrong but she couldn't place it, all she had was Nerissa. "We need to go." Nerissa spoke quietly. Her eyes scanning for any possible back up. "Before any other monsters come" She looked down at Kya seeing bright blue eyes looking back at her like a scared child. I'll try my best. She repeated the silent promise to herself as she rubbed the gem on her wrist.

"Hang on Kya, we're going to see a friend." A bright light shone around them before they both vanished into nothingness, their bodies quickly traveling to the other side of the world. A place Nerissa knew she could use to keep Kya safe.

The Silent King sat on his throne. Watching as the lesser demons before him sorted through all the souls Ember had recently sent to him. Most would be devoured by him, but a few would find other purposes until he grew bored of them.

He smirked as he thought of Ember. It had been a bit of a risk when he took her on as a new toy but she had proved even more entertaining than he had previously suspected, and she kept a never ending supply of souls coming to him. The longer he played with this toy, the more he became addicted. If only I could get her to let that annoying sister go. He thought of Ember's sister. Always trying to hold them both back. He would simply destroy the issue himself if not for knowing it would cause Ember to falter.

A sigh escaped his lips as he leaned back onto his throne letting himself slip into darkness, searching for Ember but finding nothing. Ember?

He gasped as he felt the air ripped away from him, the darkness cutting him off as he scrambled back into his own consciousness.

Where is she? "Ember!" He shouted out as he felt their bond snap. Pain shot through his body as he forced himself to remain still. The bond with Ember had been so strong, so connected to him, that the breaking of it felt as if part of his very own being had been cut away.

His mind searched for her on the upper planes but could find nothing, not even a trace of her soul.

She's not dead or she'd be here. He thought calmly. So where are you?

His eyes locked with that of one of his lesser demons. "You've got things handled here, yes?"

The demon excitedly shook his head as he stared at the souls, his tongue licking his teeth excitedly.

A white glove grabbed the demon's face, the gloved finger's digging into his skin. "You may eat one Dramius. Eat more and I will devour you when I return."

The Silent King threw the creature to the floor as he gently grabbed his dark cane, his gloved hands wiping it down to make it appear clean as possible.

"May I ask where you're going master?" Dramius nervously asked.

The Silent King looked back at him, flashing a smile that seemed to peel back his skin as he did. "To go find my favorite toy."

...

For visuals beyond these short stories, please visit Alina Blaine's TikTok at: littlevixenlife