The sword weighed the world as it
scraped across the stone. They had not
noticed in their fight.
Nándor was losing. His
arm seemed weak. Had he been
injured? Did he have the strength to
hold out long enough?
Worry threatened, but it was pushed aside for the job
ahead. The object needed to be destroyed. Without it, the monster was powerless. Without it, the world was safe.
You don’t want to do
this. We can rule this pathetic
planet. Join me.
Ignoring the hollow voice, trembling arms raised the sword and
brought it down upon the podium. It missed
the stone but hit where the violet power still poured. The strange protrusion cracked and tiny bolts
of energy shot out causing a shock.
You will regret
this! I will not allow you to destroy
me. I’m more powerful than you can imagine.
The sword rose again. This
time it skittered off the stone and lanced the same spot. Power surged.
Sparks shot forth. The thrumming
warped to a sick jangle.
“And now you die.”
The words burned like terrible acid then were shoved far
away. The sword lifted for the third
time.
AHRIMAN!
*****
The sword was poised to fall when he
folded in on himself. His eye veered to
Erra. “What have you done?”
His steel grip bruised her
arms. He shook her hard before flinging
her away.
Ruya slammed into the ground. A cry escaped as pain exploded in her hip and
arm. She watched as the Ahriman raged.
Purple fire crawled over the broken
conduit oozed across the podium. It spread
like lava down to the ground, where it breached the other conduit tubes. It poured into the deep crevasse where Erra
had rose.
Retrieve
the Heartstone! Do it now, Ahriman!
She heard the words. Her chest clenched in horror.
Foot-tall flames encompassed the podium. Ahriman plunged his hands into the fire
without fear. It was as if he did not
feel the blisters and cracked skin oozing.
It had no impact on him. He only
laughed as his ruined appendages withdrew from the blaze with the stone.
He moved toward Erra. “We
will kill them all, Erra. We won’t let
anyone stop us,” he said as he took the first step into chest.
He grunted as Nandor threw himself onto
Ahriman’s back. He used his body weight
to yank Ahriman back onto the outcropping.
Nándor wrapped his hand around Ahriman’s ruined arm and jerked it toward
him.
The blackened fingers released the
object. It flew behind them, bouncing
then rolling toward Garrick’s prone body.
The men brawled. This was her chance. She scrambled to reach the object. Her heart lurched at Garrick’s death, but
then, she took the dagger from his belt sheath.
An ominous creak echoed. The shriek of twisting metal squealed from
below.
Ahriman threw Nándor off with a groan,
watching his brother hit the ground and roll once. Purple fire raged as Ahriman whirled to face
Ruya. “Give me the stone.”
Ruya shook her head, raising the dagger. As he rushed forward, she brought the dagger
down with all her strength. A sharp
cracking, almost too quiet to hear, sounded.
The cacophonous thrumming stuttered, pulsed, and then stopped
altogether.
NOO-oo-o-o
. . .
Ahriman roared. His oozing fingers readied to strangle
her. Without warning, a blade flew passed
her peripheral vision, followed by a hand, and then an arm.
The blade pierced Ahriman just under
the ribcage. He staggered back and fell.
Ruya turned to see Garrick’s blood
covered face. “Garrick!”
Groaning,
he fell back on his haunches. “Hello,
princess. Can we leave now?”
They helped each other to their feet,
tottering toward Nándor. He had risen
and was shaking his head to clear it. His
eyes widened in astonishment when he saw them.
Screeching metal had all their gazes
flying toward Erra.
It
yawed left then right.
The fissures of light along its body ignited.
Flares shot out before the inferno
exploded.
The outcrop platform shook. “We need to leave now!” Nándor shouted.
“Nándor! Hurry!” Tién yelled as warriors rushed up to
them. Then in a flurry, arms clamped
around each of them and ferried them down the stairs. Next thing they knew, they were far from the firestorm,
far from the city.
As Tién took care of their wounds,
Ruya shivered. The legendary city burned
purple, and with it, the twisted evil that had fallen from the sky.
A warm hand cupped her side, and she pressed her cheek against
him. “It’s over,” she whispered.
Nándor hugged her closer.
“Yes. It’s finally over.”
