Descent Into Darkness (Book 2) (35 page)

Instead he was greeted by the sickening sound of ripping flesh accompanied by the grinding sound of bone on bone. Ean watched in horror as the rest of the skin covering Sadiek's hands tore itself away, leaving only the bone beneath. Those skeletal hands quickly changed, the bones seeming to fuse together until all that was left was one large blade extending out of what was left of each of Sadiek's arms. They looked exactly the same as the arms on those flesh monsters. It all happened in a matter of moments, and while Ean was still trying to comprehend what had just happened, that was when Sadiek charged.

The man, or whatever he was now, made straight for Azalea. Bracing herself for the charge, Azalea let out a grunt of surprise as Sadiek suddenly changed directions and ran straight at Ean. Only a few paces away, Sadiek raised his right arm as he ran, a look of agony and anger painting his face.

Ean dropped down just in time as Sadiek went past him, the bone blade protruding from his arm slicing through the air where Ean's neck had been just a fraction of a moment before. Ean rolled to a crouching position, mostly because he wasn't sure he could stand right away and turned to face Sadiek. He found the man already charging towards him, his right blade held high and ready to swing down.

But Azalea got there before Ean could react, grabbing Sadiek's arm at the elbow with both hands. Her nails dug in deep as she held the arm in place, and she growled with the effort it was taking her to hold the arm off.

Sadiek brought his other arm back, his attention now on Azalea, but Ean was already on the move. He launched himself up, wrapping his arms around the skin of the man's left arm and pulling it back as much as he could behind Sadiek's body. It took all of his strength to keep the arm immobile.

Azalea let go of Sadiek's arm to step to the side, letting the tip of the blade crash down into the stone floor. Ducking down, she grabbed the bone near the tip with her right hand, then delivered a palm strike with her left just above her other hand.

Ean felt the force of the impact as it traveled through Sadiek's body, shaking them both. With a loud cracking sound, the bone broke, leaving the sharp tip sticking straight down into the stone.

Ean expected that to slow down Sadiek, but the man seemed unstoppable as he lashed out to strike Azalea across the stomach. The broken edge of Sadiek's bone tore into her skin. Azalea clutched at her new injury and tumbled backwards.

As Azalea rolled away, Ean aimed a kick at Sadiek's knee. Big mistake. The shift in balance gave Sadiek a chance to yank his arm free. The next thing Ean knew, he was being tossed into the air. He landed just a pace or two away on his side, the pain of the impact numbing his arm.

Before Sadiek could move, Azalea was back, this time leaping in-between Sadiek's wings and digging her nails right above where the wings had only recently connected.

"Give them back!" she screamed, clawing at the man's back.

Sadiek spun around, trying in vain to impale her with his bone blade arms. When that failed, he threw his entire body backwards. Towards the floor. Azalea tried to leap off in time but got caught up in the wings and went down as well. With a loud thud, Azalea smacked into the ground right before Sadiek's body slammed into her, pinning her arms underneath the wings.

As Ean got to his feet, he watched as Sadiek slammed the back of his head into Azalea face. Unable to defend herself or even move, Azalea let out a weaker and weaker cry each time Sadiek's head was brought down against her face. After the fifth blow, Sadiek rose and turned to face her leaving his back towards Ean. He stomped a foot down hard into her chest, pinning the barely conscious Yulari to the ground again.

Knowing Azalea had little time left, Ean rushed to her aid. Spying the piece of blade Azalea had broken off lying on the floor, he scooped it up as he ran past it.

Raising both his broken bone and full bone blades above his head, Sadiek let out a maniacal laugh. "Die, you wretched beast!"

Ean rammed into Sadiek's back, driving the blade in his hand deep into the lower left side of the man. The momentum took Sadiek off Azalea and sent both him and Ean tumbling to the ground, with Sadiek letting out a cry as he fell. As soon as they hit, Ean pushed himself off Sadiek's back and rolled away, forcing his legs to push him into barely a standing position. He risked a glance over at Azalea and found her still prone, although her eyes were blinking slowly. He needed her to recover quickly otherwise he was in a lot of trouble. The only weapon he had ever held was still sticking out of Sadiek's back, and he barely had the energy to stand, let alone dodge the man's remaining blade.

With a groan, Sadiek began to push himself up. If the man got to his feet, Ean wouldn't have much of a chance. Even with the blade still stuck in his opponent's back.

His legs wobbled as he charged Sadiek this time. He just needed them to last a few more paces before giving out. Miraculously, they did not let him down and he threw himself on top of Sadiek, landing on the man's wings and forcing him back to the floor. Sadiek began moving his wings, trying to shake Ean off. Ean was able to hold on with just one hand, freeing up his other one to try and grab the bone blade sticking out of Sadiek's back.

Realizing the wings were not getting the job done, Sadiek pushed himself over with surprising strength. Ean had only a moment to react before he would be crushed like Azalea. He used the man's own momentum to launch himself off the wings.

Leaping off Sadiek's back, he somehow landed on his feet a few paces away. And then his legs gave out. Letting out a surprised yelp, Ean fell over on his side. He didn't hit the ground hard, but he struggled to get back on his feet.

At the same time, thankfully, Sadiek was having an even more difficult time at getting up. He was down on one knee, trying to push himself up with both hands and very shaky arms. While he struggled, he kept his eyes locked on Ean, the look on his face clearly showing his rage.

Ean glanced around quickly for anything he could use as a weapon, knowing he only had a brief amount of time before Sadiek came at him again. Unfortunately the room was mostly bare. The stone throne sat up on the dais, but Ean had no chance of reaching it and probably couldn't have moved it if he did. The flagstaffs that had been broken littered the ground, but they were all behind Sadiek at the moment. He was completely on his own.

The thought froze him. He was on his own and he was going to die. If he died, Zin, Azalea, and Yaeger would surely share the same fate soon after. Or they would get sucked back to the Abyss. All of their struggles, everything he had accomplished and how he had grown would be for nothing. And worst of all, he would have failed everyone.

Ean watched, paralyzed by his own fear, as Sadiek got to his feet. The older man took a quick glance at Ean's companions and a wicked smile spread across his face. He knew. He knew Ean was all alone. Ean, the least threatening of the three. The one with little strength. No speed or fighting abilities. Not even a weapon to defend himself.

With a short laugh, Sadiek turned his back on Ean and began advancing on Azalea.

Anger returned, filling Ean, burning away his aches and pains, scorching his fear in its inferno. How dare this monster dismiss him as nothing? How dare Sadiek try to murder his only friends, thinking Ean would just stand there and watch? Ean would probably die, but by the Abyss, he was going to make Sadiek regret underestimating him.

With a yell, Ean charged Sadiek one last time, filling himself with as much energy from the Abyss as he could, more than he had ever held before. He took on more than he knew he could handle, not caring anymore if it killed him. The energy charged his body, tore at it, but gave him one last burst of strength. He stopped funneling some of it to the hound, taking in that energy as well. His body hummed with power, the runes on his body blazing and overtaking the torch light. He charged ahead, a blazing light of rage and desperation.

Sadiek turned as he heard Ean yell, his body hunkering lower as it braced itself for the attack. Both of his arms went wide, like the teeth of a trap ready to snap shut as soon as Ean got in their range.

But Ean wasn't all emotion at this point. Just as he was about to reach Sadiek, he ducked low. The monster's blades swept above him, missing as Ean drove his shoulder into Sadiek's midsection. The blow rattled Ean's entire body, but he ignored the pain and brought even more energy from the Abyss to wash over it. He held so much now it felt like he was all energy, his body burning, overwhelming him. But he wasn't finished yet.

Not pausing, Ean began to unleash a flurry of blows to Sadiek's torso. The runes on his right hand blazed as he drove it repeatedly into the man's stomach. The satisfying sound of grunts from Sadiek accompanied every blow as the force of his fists lifted the man slightly into the air.

One of Sadiek's knees rose to strike Ean, but he simply punched it as well. He punched or swung his arms at any part of Sadiek that moved. Keeping this close, Ean realized that the man could not bend his arms to bring those deadly blades into play. So he stayed close, trying to make each blow count, maybe wear his opponent down, cause any kind of permanent damage before he burnt himself out completely.

A knee got past his defenses, slamming into his side, the pain almost doubling him over, but he kept swinging.

An elbow caught Ean on the side of his head, slightly blurring his vision, but he continued to throw everything he had.

An explosion of pain on the top of his head finally staggered him.

A kick to his chest caused Ean to stumble back a few steps.

And then, while Ean was attempting to recover...

Sadiek's full, unbroken right blade slide straight into Ean's chest.

THE POWER OF THE Abyss left Ean as the blade sliced through him. Pain took its place, the burning of overworked muscles, the stings of small cuts covering his body, and shockwaves flowing out like spiderwebs to his entire body from where he was skewered. Ean wasn't sure why he hadn't already passed out, but he wished he could. All he could do was reach down with both hands to grip the blade and hold himself up to keep from sliding down the blade further.

Since he was still conscious, he kept himself from looking down at what he knew was a mortal wound. Instead, he locked gazes with Sadiek, giving the man his best glare. If Ean was about to die, he wasn't going to give the man the satisfaction of seeing him afraid.

All he got in return for his effort was a smirk from the other man.

"It didn't have to end like this, my boy," Sadiek said. "You could have worked with me, been part of something amazing. Instead you let your fear and loyalty to a bunch of beasts cause your downfall. Pity."

"Someone...will stop you..." Ean got the words out through gritted teeth. "The people...or the Seekers will..." A coughing fit interrupted him, and he almost lost his grip on the blade. A small trickle of saliva ran out of the corner of his mouth. At least, he told himself it was saliva.

"The people? The people of this land are sheep, following the wills of deities that only talk to a handful of them. Even a blind man could tell that the high priests of the temples have their own agendas. But the 'people' follow along blindly anyway, moving about their mundane lives with no real purpose. I will give them a purpose, and they will thank me for it."

"And as for your Seekers, they are the worst of everyone. Blindly trying to hunt down anything connected to the Abyss, they won't bother with me or my creations. At least not until it's too late. By then, what good will three highly trained warriors be against a legion of my creations, creations that will be ten times as deadly as the ones you've seen. No, the Seekers won't be any trouble at all. No one will be any trouble."

"You're insane."

Those simple words seemed to strike a nerve.

With a snarl, Sadiek lifted Ean into the air by the blade in his chest. If Ean had thought the pain was excruciating before, the edges digging and cutting even more on his insides as his weight tried to pull him back down was beyond description. It took every last scrap of strength he had remaining to keep himself from sliding forward down the blade.

"Insane?! INSANE?! This world is insane. I am not the one that is insane." Spittle flew from Sadiek's mouth as he raged, contradicting his statement. "It is a shame you will not be alive to see my Master's return. To see how he sets this world right. When he is done, the way the world seems now will look insane. And if the people of this world fight the change too much and refuse to become a part of a better future, my Master will wipe them from this world, and we will start anew."

"The gods..." Each word was painful, but Ean wanted to keep pushing the man. It was the only act of defiance he had left. "Will never...let that..."

"The gods are impotent!" Sadiek screamed. "They are worthless and petty. The gods will be brought down just as easilllluuurrrkkkkk!"

A sharp pain pierced Ean's right leg just as a gurgling sound escaped Sadiek's mouth. It was nothing compared to the constant explosion of pain in his chest, but it was strong enough for him to notice. Looking down while trying his best not to see the damage still being done to his body, Ean's eyes went wide as he saw the top of one of the wooden flag staffs sticking into his leg.

Even more surprising was that the rest of the staff seemed to be coming right out of the middle of Sadiek's chest.

The pain in Ean's chest magnified as Sadiek suddenly threw out his arm, effectively dislodging Ean from the blade and sending him tumbling away. Ean was only in the air a moment before he crashed to the ground, hitting the stone floor hard. It probably would have hurt if the pain in his chest wasn't making the rest of his body feel numb. Coming to rest on his right side, Ean had the perfect view of Sadiek.

Standing behind the grotesque man, Azalea had both of her hands wrapped around the bottom of the flagstaff, a grim look of determination on her face. Even through slightly dimming eyes, Ean could see Azalea's legs wobble as she held herself up by the staff she had rammed through the back of Sadiek. Ean couldn't feel her through their bond but just by looking at how hunched over she was and how her body trembled, he guessed she was barely conscious as well.

Sadiek suddenly spun, the pole through his chest spinning with him and sending Azalea tumbling to the side. The Yulari didn't hit the ground that hard, but when she stopped rolling she didn't get up.

Sadiek did not seem to have any intention of going after her or Ean with a long pole sticking through his body. Letting out another gurgle, Sadiek stumbled away, heading in the direction of an exit out of the room. As he moved, the blades that used to be his forearms and hands began to shift. By the time the man was through one of the doorways, Ean could just make out the beginning of finger bones growing back into place.

With the main threat gone, Ean tilted his head slightly enough so that he was able to see the hound. It was still lying on the ground, breathing heavily but also seemed more relaxed. The wound in its stomach appeared to be healed although the fur was gone and a large, jagged scar was still visible. But it looked at least like the hound would live. Happiness for small victories.

The knowledge that the hound, and probably Azalea, would survive the day helped Ean relax. As much as the pain would allow. He kept his sight locked on the hound, having no desire to watch as life literally bled out of him.

It was strange for Ean, knowing he was going to die. What little energy he had left he funneled into a rage. He glanced down at his right arm, which was spread out in front of him, and at the runes covering it. They no longer glowed, the energy of the Abyss completely gone. Getting that tattoo had effectively sealed his fate. It had been the driving force behind every choice since he got it and ended in his journey here. No, the day he had summoned Zin for the first time had been what led him here. The imp, always convincing him to do foolish things, always getting him in trouble. If anything was to blame for Ean's death, it was that cursed imp. He wasn't even here to say goodbye. Better that he wasn't, he would probably spit in the imp's face...

No. It's not Zin's fault.

Ean let the anger drain out of him. No one was to blame, especially not Zin. Any trouble Ean had gotten into because of the imp had always been minor, a minor punishment from Cleff, a short beating from a bully. The other villagers had already looked down on him even before the imp had arrived. No, if anything Zin had been the reason he had lasted as long as he had in Rottwealth. Having Zin around had kept him sane, kept him from going down a darker path. He had certainly kept Ean from summoning anything that would have razed the entire village.

Zin truly was his best friend.

"Sorry I can't keep you from the Abyss..." Ean murmured.

"That doesn't look too good."

Speak of a friend, and he will come.

Walking into view, Zin's attention was completely on Ean's stomach. By his wide, downturned eyes and sad frown, Ean could tell the imp knew how bad things really were. He sat down a pace or two away from Ean's face, although his gaze remained on the wound for a few moments more.

"I'm sorry I couldn't  help. I got here in the middle of the fight..."

"It's ok, Zin...."

"I tried to get close, bite him, claw a leg, but you both were moving so fast..."

"Nothing you could have done..."

Zin opened his mouth as if he was about to say more, then closed his eyes and sighed. When he opened them again, they returned to Ean's wound.

"That's not something you can just walk off, is it..."

"No..."

"What if we found some medicine, wrapped the wound, and did something..." There wasn't a drop of hope in the imp's voice. "There could still be something around here that hasn't been looted that you could use."

"It's fine...Zin...I know..."

Hanging his head, the imp looked down at his hands. They were clasped together instead of his usual nervous trait of rubbing them together. Ean and Zin sat there in silence for a few moments before Zin finally raised his head.

"So, I guess we should say our goodbyes then."

"Yes."

Silence.

"Well, this is horrible."

"Zin... you don't..."

"No, no, I do have something I want to say."

The imp stood, glancing quickly at Ean's wound, and then looking away just as fast. Shaking his head, Zin made an obvious effort to look Ean in the eyes.

"Alright. Since that first time you brought me back into this world, I know we haven't always seen eye to eye..."

Ean grunted.

"Let me finish!" Zin growled. "Now, like I was saying. We haven't always seen eye to eye but I have always respected you. The way you tolerated how you were treated in Rottwealth. Well, it reminded me of how all of my kind are treated in the Abyss. Like the lowest form of life. And you stayed strong, just like I stayed strong during my years of captivity."

Zin began to pace as he continued.

"I never talked about the more than one hundred years I was enslaved to one of the Nar'Grim, and this moment certainly isn't the time to start. But seeing what you went through in Rottwealth and how strong you stayed was like looking into a mirror. Well, a broken one at least that distorts your appearance. Anyway, that's how I knew I could trust you. And how I knew that eventually I could show you how to apply those tattoos."

"They didn't...help much..." Ean was able to get out weakly.

"Right..." Zin paused a moment, then continued on. "Anyway. It's important that you know that I trusted you completely even though you didn't always trust me. I have always tried to act in your best interests."

"I know."

"Good. That's important."

The imp stopped moving, but kept his gaze ahead leaving the room mostly silent again. Besides Ean's own labored breaths and the sounds of the Yaeger's heavier breathing. The flames in the torches hanging from the walls seemed to dance around silently as they bathed the room in light. How peaceful. He could close his eyes for just a few moments...

"Anyway, hey, HEY!" Two small hands started shaking Ean and he opened his eyes. They were so terribly heavy and the stone floor was so cold, maybe Zin could find him some straw or something else he could use to cushion his head...

"Stay with me for just a moment longer." Zin was right in his face now, his legs crossed as he sat near Ean's hand. The imp's hands were clutched together almost as if the imp was in prayer. "I just want to say that I know you would never become the monster that used to call this place home. You are a stubborn and difficult person, but you also have shown how much you care for the people in your life, even if they are not human. Your acceptance of Azalea and me, and even that stupid hound, shows what kind of a person you are deep down. And that person would never turn into the monster that was my former master in this world."

"Thanks...Zin..."

"Yes, well, enough of this mushy stuff, I think. Best to say our goodbyes while you still can." His voice took on a nervous edge, which Ean barely noticed. It was hard for him to focus on anything at the moment. He just wanted to sleep. "How do you humans say goodbye? Shaking hands? Can you manage that?"

"Sure." His arm didn't respond at first. It felt asleep. Probably because of how he was lying. After a bit of a struggle, he was finally able to lift his right hand up slightly off the ground and hold it out to Zin.

"Goodbye, Ean." The imp grasped his hand tightly and gave it a good couple of shakes. Even with his entire arm and hand mostly numb Ean felt a sharp pain. Had the foolish imp grabbed him too tightly and sunk his nails into Ean's hand? No, the pain was on Ean's palm.

Zin let go of Ean's hand and it dropped to the ground. Ean simply did not have the energy to keep it up. It smacked on the stone floor, Ean's palm opening face up. Something was resting in his hand. Trying his best to focus, Ean saw what looked like a small piece of stone sitting in his hand. It was black and scarred, just like the sphere in the center of the room. Strange. Why had the imp--