Rupture: Rise of the Demon King (32 page)

/ / / / /

Seeko woke to Keith kicking his foot. He barely got any sleep, making sure Keith didn’t try to sneak off with the necklaces again.

“It’s time to go,” Keith said.

The group quickly packed up camp and was on the move. Keith was walking fast, so both Mori and Seeko had to jog every now and then to keep up with him.

Early the next morning, the tired heroes made it to the forest surrounding the mountains. Dead bandits lay along arrow-riddled ground.

“What the…?” Seeko said. “What happened?”

“I happened,” Keith answered, walking into the shade of the forest without missing a step.

The trio trudged through the forest, passing small shrubs and white trees. The walk continued for the rest of the day, leading into the almost endless forest. Nightfall came and still they walked, Avaroda visible every now and then between the treetops. A worn-out Seeko found himself tripping every now and then over the roots of trees. Finally, the earth made an upward ascension into a mountain pass.

“We’ll stop here,” Keith said. He sat on a fallen tree, watching the other two unpack for the night.

Seeko lay down, still wondering if Keith was just waiting for an opportunity to take the necklaces.
In two days, we either get Hannet back, or we lose another friend. What type of hero lets that happen to his friends?

/ / / / /

Again Keith woke both of them and the walk continued. The group soon came to the crest of the mountain pass. From this height, the trio could feel the full effects of autumn. Chilly wind bit through their thin clothing and cooled off the tired hero. Seeko looked into the valley where the captive Hannet waited for them. The trees had begun to trade away their greens for reds and oranges. It would have been beautiful if Seeko had time to actually appreciate it.

“Hey,” a voice said from the trees.

Keith drew his blade and looked for the source of the intrusion. A man jumped out of a nearby tree.

“I don’t want any trouble. I’m here to relay you some information.” The man wore fur clothing and a bandanna around his neck, making it obvious he was a bandit. “They moved Hannet to Caligula.”

Keith put away his weapon. “Who told you that?” he asked.

The man waved his hand in the air and spoke quickly. “They told me not to say anything more. I’m here to give you that information and leave.”

Keith’s fists curled. “Greg,” Keith snarled.

The man snickered at that and jumped back into the tree.

“We have to hurry,” Keith said.

He ran ahead but slowed once he saw Mori and Seeko fall behind. They moved south, running along the side of the mountains. The day dragged on and still they ran. Nightfall came and Seeko fell to the forest floor, asleep in seconds.

“Time to camp, Keith!” Mori called after him. Then she fell asleep next to the hero.

Keith sighed, knowing that there was only one more day.

Seeko and Mori awoke once more to find Keith ready. Again they ran, through the forest and up the side of another mountain. Only when they were above the surrounding canopy of the forest did Keith slow, pointing. Caligula lay below them, and past that, the endless ocean.

“We made it,” the fatigued hero murmured.

28: Rebels

12 Seek, 112 AV: Day 201

Caligula was similar to Eclipse: built on the side of a mountain, the rebel camp was obscured from prying eyes. Shrubbery covered the small wooden buildings and were built along groups of trees. Other than the rebels and their prisoners, the mountainous area was pristine.

Keith led Mori and Seeko through the thick forest. “Time is running out. Hurry,” Keith said, walking at a brisk pace.

Seeko thought back to the fight between Keith and himself.
Once, Keith thought he had nothing to lose. Now he has something, and he is holding onto it with both hands. He’ll do anything to get her back. He’s dangerous …
He looked to Mori, who he was following closely.
What would I do for Mori?
He looked inward, to the sparks and to the necklaces.
What could I do? What if she was taken from me?

Seeko kept his worries to himself, though. He caught up with Mori and they exchanged smiles.

“I’m worried about Keith,” Mori said. “He’s dangerous when he has a purpose.”

Was Mori a mind reader too? “Yeah,” Seeko replied. “He would have killed me if he had to.”

Keith paused. “I wouldn’t have killed you, Seeko,” he said from ahead. “I could have done it while you were sleeping. I could have her already.”

“Wow, Keith,” Seeko said.

“I need your strength to save her.”

Seeko squinted at him. “Is that all I’m here for?” When Keith didn’t say anything, Seeko grew irritated. “So you would have killed me?”

Finally, after a moment, Keith shook his head. “Joking,” he said, turning to face Seeko with a grim smile.

Suddenly, a small whirlwind appeared in front of the trio. A figure coalesced in the revolving dirt, and as the whirlwind dissipated, Greg stood before them.

“Where are the necklaces, Keith?” Greg asked.

“The hero has them.” Keith looked to Seeko.

Greg looked to the sky and saw the sun beginning its descent. “How many days did I give you Keith? Two?”

Keith curled his fist. “Seven,” he growled.

“Really? I thought it was two …” A breeze picked up. “Easy, Keith.” Greg smiled. “Joking.”

Keith gave Greg a stare that could shatter stone.

Greg waved Keith away and directed his gaze to Seeko. “Well, hero, I will see you in town. We will exchange the girl for the necklaces there.”

Another whirlwind, and Greg was gone.

“Your brother is a jerk,” Seeko said once he disappeared. “It’s things like this that make me happy I’m an only child.”

Keith grunted and continued leading them to Caligula. They stopped at the entrance of the town.

“Where is everyone?” Mori asked.

Seeko looked around. Caligula was indeed empty. Not a soul wandered the streets and no movement appeared in any of the buildings.

“It’s a trap,” Keith said. He drew his sword and Seeko and Mori followed suit. “Be ready.”

The trio continued to scan the city as they entered. They had walked a hundred feet when the breeze picked up. Once more, Greg materialized in front of them, blue scarf flapping in the dying whirlwind.

“A test for you three. And no teleporting,” Greg said.

He gestured to the other end of town, where suddenly a bandit stood. At Greg’s gesture, the man moved to one side and revealed a kneeling Hannet.

“You just need to reach her without—and I stress
without
—killing anyone.”

Greg clapped his hands together loudly, which was another sign. Bandits flooded out of the surrounding buildings, all with weapons drawn.

“I want to see how strong the hero is … and I guess you as well, brother. You best hurry, however. I think your day is almost up.”

With that, Greg teleported back to Hannet.

Without a word, Keith charged at the bandits. Seeko stayed back for a moment, thinking about how best to stop the bandits.
There’s got to be at least thirty of them …
he thought.

“Ignore his rules,”
Kerodesis said.
“Flood the road in fire!”

“How about no?”

Kerodesis’s brainstorming gave Seeko another idea. Seeko and Mori exchanged glances. Keith was about to reach the closest bandit when Seeko reached deep into his split sparks. A dark orb of energy materialized in his hand. He quickly plunged the orb into the ground, sending dark tendrils racing across the earth. Keith rose his sword at the same time a tendril reached the bandit across from him. The tendril sprang out of the ground, became a dark clawed hand, and grabbed the bandit, raising him high into the air. Other tendrils reached the unlucky bandits, and soon thirty-two rebels were hanging above the road, yelling and protesting.

Keith didn’t lose a beat. He rushed to Greg and Hannet with Seeko and Mori on his heels. The spell wore off as they approached. Gently, the hands of darkness receded and the bandits were placed back on solid earth.

When they were only twenty feet from the girl, Greg said, “Don’t take another step, or Hannet gets it!”

The bandit closest to her pointed a drawn bow to the girl’s head. Greg took a step closer, surrounded by two thugs.

“Impressive,” Greg said to the hero. “I want that power.” Then Greg faced Keith. “She is terrified, Keith. Why not come and save her?”

Keith’s face was emotionless. He gave his brother a lifeless stare. His fist clenched but he stayed where he was.

“Good.” Greg pointed to Seeko. “Now, hero, would you be so kind as to hand over the necklaces? You may come forth to give them to me.”

Seeko looked to Keith and Mori. Keith gave a slight nod, and Seeko made his way to Greg, slowly, cautiously.

Seeko spoke as he approached: “The necklaces are worthless to you, Greg, unless you can channel dark magic,” he said. “You can’t access their power any other way.”

“We’ll see about that.”

“It’s the truth, Greg.” Seeko stood before him now.

Greg smirked. “Give me the necklaces, and the girl will be yours, hero.”

Seeko looked closer at one of the bandits behind Greg. What was that on his face? Something clicked in his mind.
One of the bandits from before! The ones I burnt!
How dare they threaten him again, after he had spared them twice?

“You! You work for Greg?” Seeko’s anger took over and he plunged into Kerodesis’s orange spark. He shifted to fire and, a moment later, was behind the one closest to Hannet, skewering him from behind with his blade.

Kerodesis laughed.
“This is the demon I knew was always here!”

Mori and Keith watched in shock. “Seeko! What are you doing?” Mori cried.

Seeko paused. “Kill or be killed,” he muttered to her. And he was gone again, slaying another bandit.

Keith launched himself at Seeko, but Seeko teleported again, beheading a bandit with a burning blade. Most of the other bandits were fleeing by now.

From afar, one bandit fired at Seeko, who teleported again to avoid the arrow. Seeko reappeared an instant later near the archer, grabbing the bow. It quickly caught fire, green flame destroying the wood but not harming Seeko. Seeko’s sword arm hurled a ball of dark energy into the man, sending him flying.

He kept moving, kept killing. Though his victims screamed as he took their lives, all he could hear was Kerodesis’s laughter.

Eventually the blood-soaked hero teleported before Greg. This man had taken Lorissa’s life, and now Seeko was going to take his.

“The Shadow of Dawn ends now.” Seeko grinned. “
You
end now.”

Horror-struck, Greg, who had just stood by as his bandits were destroyed, tried feebly to find his voice as Seeko approached: “Wh–What are you?” he finally said. He backed away from Seeko, tripping as he did so.

I am Kerodesis!
“I am Seeko Dris.” He rose a palm to Greg …

… but at that moment a gust of wind blew Seeko off his feet. Keith, caster of the spell, dashed in front of Greg, helping him up.

Seeko, enraged, recovered quickly, fireballs in both hands. But his resolve faltered when he saw a flash of red.
Mori …

Mori was crying and shaking but moved closer to him. “Seeko! Stop!”

The hero clenched his teeth, finally listening to reason. Kerodesis was whispering words in his ear and the Voice was reveling in the violence. The fireballs dissipated. Mori hugged him and he collapsed into her. From behind her shoulder, he saw the carnage he had wrought.

Four buildings were on fire, orange flames licking the blue sky. Seven bandits lay on the ground, dead. The other bandits were out of the town by now, fleeing into the surrounding forest. In fact, excluding him, only Keith, Greg, Hannet, and Mori were left in the town.

What have I done? I am no better than the demons we fight.
He buried his head in Mori’s shoulder and sobbed.

/ / / / /

They were an hour from Caligula when Seeko finally spoke again: “I’m so sorry. I can’t control myself.”

The company was heading northwest, toward the fourth demon gate in the Renthdra Gorge. They were riding on kitseans stolen from Caligula. This otherwise momentous occasion for Seeko was marred by his actions. His kitsean, a large orange male, was doing almost all of the work; all Seeko had to do was sit firmly in the saddle. Keith was leading the way out of the forest. Mori and Hannet rode behind him, and Seeko brought up the rear.

Mori slowed down and pulled up alongside him. He could see both comfort and concern in her eyes. She was looking at him as if he was a different person. Who could blame her?

She spoke softly. “Seeko, we all know that you carry a terrible burden.” She looked to the road. “Let us help. You don’t have to do this alone. Tell us what you’re going through. Remember when you told me about the demon? Don’t you want to let it out?”

Seeko looked to the reins in his hands. “You don’t want to know. The thoughts that are constantly running through my head, the violence, the death, the destruction … You don’t want to see any of it.” He took a deep breath. “I thought I could control it. But I can see now that I can’t. The best way for me to protect the world is to go away …”

Mori drew closer, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t say that. I don’t want you to go away.”

Seeko looked to her, his red eyes searching for an answer. “Give me some time to think.”

Mori looked hurt. Without a word, she rode back up to Hannet.

What type of hero was he? What type of hero couldn’t control his rage and anger and took lives on a whim? He used to not get so angry … It was probably a side effect from being linked to the demons. He thought it didn’t affect him, but today he saw that it did.

His gut churned.
This world is so messed up. Even the “good guys” destroy entire villages for personal gain. Maybe I am the hero they deserve.

Seeko frowned.
But did I deserve this?
He took a deep breath.
Yoshino will pay for what he’s done to me.