Chapter 23: The Darkness Comes
Danielle stared into the face o Pious Augustus as he chuckled heartily. "Perhaps it would be useful to you and your sister if you had knowledge of the array. Its portal must recharge after each use." He beckoned with his free hand, and a barrier of energy blocked off the section where Danielle had arrived. Almost immediately after, Alex appeared, looking surprised that she was trapped by a barrier while Danielle and Pious were on the other side. "Ahhhhh… Miss Roivas. You're just in time. Your pathetic sister is finally going to receive the death she has been evading for so long."
As he lifted up his bone staff, Danielle rolled out of the way, Alex's screaming of her name ringing in her ears. The tip of the staff hit nothing but stone, and Danielle jumped to her feet. She lifted her shotgun and pulled the trigger, getting knocked back slightly by the weapon's kick. The blast hit an invisible barrier around Pious, and he laughed once more. "Is that all the great Liche of Xel'lotath has to offer?"
Danielle gritted her teeth, aware that Alex was staring at her with a confused expression. "Liche of Xel'lotath? Danielle, what's he talking about?"
Pious laughed sharply, amused by this. "First your grandfather, and now your beloved sister? My, my… People sure do love to keep secrets from you. Danielle here has kept the truth from you. All this time, she was a Liche, a betrayer of humanity. She knew about it all along, but she decided to not tell you."
"No way… You're lying!" Alex shouted.
A sneer spread across his face. "Is that so…? Then tell me, why is she so weak to my Master's magick?" As he said this, he raised his hand, sending a blast of magickal energy at Danielle. She screamed in pain, collapsing to her knees and unable to move.
"Danielle! Leave her alone, Pious!"
Pious laughed again, turning to face Alex. Danielle could just barely see her sister out of the corner of her eye. "Why? The Liche are your enemy, Alex. Think to yourself: Why did just a weak blast of magick cause so much pain and damage to her? How come she could never use Chattur'gha magick herself?"
Alex fell silent, and she looked at Danielle. "Danielle, is it true…?" When she didn't say a word, a hint of anger crept into her voice. "Danielle! Why didn't you tell me?"
Danielle felt her heart sink, along with the effects of the Magickal Attack wearing off. Pious laughed once more. "It hurts, doesn't it? The only person you can trust turns on you as soon as she faces the facts and learns the truth. I wonder how your adoptive parents must have felt when they learned their child was the one who killed them."
"No… I never hurt Mom and Dad!" Danielle shouted, staggering to her feet.
Pious walked up to her, but Danielle held her ground. "You don't remember? Then let me refresh your memory. During the first week they were gone… Do you remember the nightmare you had? The one where you watched them be slaughtered by the Greater Guardian of Xel'lotath.
No way! How the heck could he know about that? Danielle thought, her heart sinking. Pious went on. "It wasn't a dream. You were there. You summoned the Greater Guardian. I watched you myself as you ordered their deaths."
"No… You're lying…" Danielle whispered quietly. But deep down inside, she felt that it was the truth.
"I'm not lying, and you know it."
Danielle's eyes were filled with tears as she gripped the shotgun tightly. With a roar of anger, she charged forward and slammed the butt of the shotgun into Pious's jaw. He was silent as he slowly turned his head to face her. Danielle was about to bring the shotgun around again when Pious shot his hand out and grabbed her around the throat. With ease, he lifted her up, letting her feet dangle in the air. Her shotgun slipped from her grip as she tried to pull his hand away.
Danielle heard Alex cry her name, and Pious's hand tightened. "Last time, your sister came to the rescue. Not this time." She struggled to think of a plan, and one came to mind instantly. Bringing up her left leg as a brace on Pious's armor, she landed a solid kick on his chin with her right leg that forced him to release her. She landed awkwardly on the ground, but managed to recover quickly. She snatched up the shotgun and stared Pious in the eye. "No matter what you do, you can't change the future. You're destined to serve Xel'lotath and kill your sister. Nothing will change that."
Danielle pumped the shotgun with one hand as nine blue runes appeared on the ground. "No, Pious. You're wrong. Things can change, and I'm going to prove it." The spell finished with the last of her words, and a blue shockwave from the Dispel Magick spell knocked out the barrier.
A look of rage appeared on Pious's face as Alex stepped up beside Danielle. She didn't even glance at Alex as she spoke. "Alex, I'm sorry. I shouldn't—"
Alex cut her off. "Don't say anything, Danielle. I understand. Let's not talk about it until we finish this battle."
Danielle nodded solemnly, and Alex readied the Enchanted Gladius. Together, they were a force to be reckoned with: Alex, the Guardian of Light, and Danielle, the rebellious Liche. They were the last hope for humanity, and they didn't plan on losing.
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Pious knew things would not be simple. He was counting on Alex to no longer trust Danielle after the truth was revealed. It would weaken her will and maker her easier to fight. As for Danielle, she wasn't even supposed to have the strength to break free from his grip. His whole entire plan was falling to pieces. The last chance he had was to summon his master. Even if he was to fail his master, Lord Chattur'gha would reign over all. He could imagine his lord making them pay, torturing them until the last minute of their pathetic and worthless lives.
"This is the end," Danielle said calmly.
Pious tapped his staff on the ground, replying with a hard edge in his voice. "Yes, the end indeed." Nine red rune appeared on the ground, and power flowed though Pious into his staff. With a maniacal laugh, a great explosion of energy rocked the chamber, and a pillar of red light shot forth into the air from Pious.
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In the cold depths of space, nine red runes appeared in a circle. An enormous claw was thrust out of it, and a serpent-like creature wriggled out as if climbing through a hole. Its tail came out just before the portal closed, and it gazed down at the sapphire and emerald jewel that was Earth, its new kingdom. Its armor was black in color and covered most of its body. Two large, pincer-like claws were its arms, and their ridges were sharp and lethal. It opened its three-jawed maw and let out a hideous roar. After thousands of years, Chattur'gha had returned.
Some distance away from the Ancient, a set of blue runes appeared. A jellyfish-like monster dropped down through the portal. A veil surrounded its pulsating internal organs, and small blue globes of energy surrounded its apex. Ulyaoth, Chattur'gha's mortal enemy, pulsed with power as it sighted its nemesis. The battle had begun.
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Pious glared at the sisters. This was something he hadn't even considered in his scenarios. The two sisters would summon Ulyaoth when he, too, wished to control the Earth? Were they willing to sacrifice the whole human race just to defeat him? No… he would not let this stop him!
The Claw of Chattur'gha appeared behind him, protecting him with a Shield spell. Taking his staff in both hands, he prepared for the fight.