Chapter 5: Two faces
Krebain laughed lightly at the sight of Vanyel. He wasn't able to kill someone yet. Tonight would have to be the night. Otherwise, Vanyel would learn to kill and he wouldn't be able to take his powers and come out unscathed. He chuckled. Yes, Vanyel. He would have him now. He swung the wine glass in his hand around. The red wine poured out to splatter across the floor. Yes, he would be his.
Tylendel readied himself. Did he have everything he would need? Yes he did, all except for Vanyel's power. He would let him through… wouldn't he? After all they were lifebonded. He looked for Vanyel in his room. Knocking on the door he received no reply. He pushed it open. Vanyel wasn't there. He went into the room and looked around. Something clattered behind him. He turned around to find the sight of Vanyel, dripping wet and clad in a bathrobe. He had dropped the comb and mirror he had just used. His dripping black hair clung to his neck. His hands trembled. Tylendel looked at him. Vanyel, his lifebonded he didn't want to do this to him but he had no choice. But you do, said the sensitive part of his mind, you do and you know it. You don't have to hurt Vanyel anymore. You can just forgive and forget about Staven. But I can't! I can't just forget about Staven, he was my brother! One of those whom I love dearly and he's gone. And how could I just forgive them for killing him. I felt him die. But you already killed some of their people. Do you want to lose someone else you love? After Staven? After Gala? A war raged within him.
Vanyel stared at Tylendel. What was he doing in his room? What did he want? Vanyel threw his shields to full force. No one would get in. He would be the one to control his powers and he alone. He immediately began to draw power from the node that was directly beneath him. He didn't think about it, just did it like Savil taught him. But this time he changed it so it was no longer in raw form but something he could use properly.
Tylendel tested the shields. No flaws. How would he get to his powers then? He needed them tonight. Tonight the murderers would be holding a party and they would be especially off guard.
Krebain gated himself to the palace. He searched for Vanyel. There. He reached and laughed. So the little pet had learned to put a shield up. That would be no matter. Forming a hammer with his magic he hit the shield trying to break it.
Vanyel felt the force against his shields. He didn't know if it was Tylendel breaking them or the person who was trying to kill them. He supposed it was Tylendel. "'Lendel please stop this. Stop trying to take my power. I might kill you. Tell me the truth if you're trying to take my power right now."
Tylendel snapped out of the delirium he had been in. "I didn't Vanyel, please believe me. The person that is doing this right now isn't me." Tylendel used, instead of a hammer he used a pin and tried to break it. He began to crack it.
"But, 'Lendel I feel it. I feel you trying to kill me." Vanyel sank to the floor and began to cry. "Please, 'Lendel. Stop it."
Krebain laughed. He was beginning to crack it. He stopped. There was someone else trying to crack his defences. Krebain thought about it and continued to hammer at Vanyel. Two was always better than one.
Vanyel heard him trying to break his defences. Wait there was two. Tylendel and the killer must be trying something. Tylendel had teamed up with the killer? No, 'Lendel would never do that even if he did want his powers…. Would he? However, he stood up, he would never let them get his power. "'Lendel. I want an honest answer from you. Did you or did you not team up with the person who is trying to kill me."
Tylendel looked at him coldly, like he was trying to search his soul. "I didn't. But I need your power. I need to kill those who killed my brother. I need them to feel my pain!"
Both of them sent a final blow on Vanyel's shields. The shields crumbled beneath the power.
Vanyel leaned against the floor, using the wall for support. No. It couldn't be true. They were working together. Otherwise, how could they both have broken his shields, if they weren't synchronized, he would have been able to hold against them. They worked together though. They both struck at the same time. He didn't want to believe it but it had happened. NO! Vanyel drew the power from the node and threw it at them. NO! He used his and the node's power and hammered back at them. NO! NO! NO! NO! THIS CAN'T BE TRUE!
The node's power rushed through him and hit Tylendel. Tylendel threw his shields up at maximum force. My gods! he thought, Vanyel was stronger than any Herald-mage before. Vanyel's power beat at him. "Please Vanyel. Stop! You're going to kill me!"
Vanyel couldn't hear him. The power of the node just rushed through him. There was no way to stop it. It flowed through him. When he tried to stop it. It just pushed past him. His channels began to wear away again. When he tried to stop it from flowing with a dam of power. It just burst through the dam and hurt him even more.
Krebain laughed maniacally. What power this one boy could get! Vanyel would be his. He strengthened his powers and reached for Vanyel. Yes, this boy would be an asset to him. He was burned by the force of the node power that flowed through Vanyel. No, he must have this boy and his power to reach for the nodes.
Vanyel screamed as the node power poured through him and beat at the two intruders. Pain and agony shot through his body. Tears leaked out of his eyes. Death he could feel people around him dying. Tylendel. Dying. NO! He beat back at the node power, but it was too strong. It pushed past him and continued to pound at Tylendel and Krebain.
Krebain screamed in silence. Terror wrought his mind. This boy had too much power. His shields were beginning to break no matter how hard he reinforced them. They shattered. The full force of the node power now beat at him. He cowered away from it but he couldn't run away. Krebain thought that this boy would be an easy catch, but Vanyel was much stronger than he had thought. Vanyel couldn't control all the power he had harnessed from the node but as soon as he could, Vanyel would almost be invincible. Vanyel, he thought, you were too strong for me. But it has been fun.
Tylendel crumpled under the power. His last words pulled at Vanyel's heart. "I thought you loved me, but I guess I was wrong. The ice comes for me, Vanyel, and it was your fault."
Vanyel screamed trying to reach Tylendel but unable to move from his spot where he stood in shock. When he could work his mouth, a scream was heard through the whole palace.
"TYLENDEL!"
Vanyel stumbled towards Tylendel's fallen form. He collapsed before he could reach Tylendel, his hand an inch away from Tylendel's. So close yet so far. He knew what that meant know.
Fimbrethil: Did what You told me to. Betta?
Hee. I got lazy so I used Krebain here. So there's still an opening for the second book. Always keep that in mind. nods.
NightTreader