This Echo was different, like a voice crying out from the depths of his soul. His entire body was shaking; he’d never felt something that powerful and strange before. So many Echoes in such a short time…what was going on? Echoes had always been infrequent, signaling extreme danger. But he’d felt three in less than ten minutes. Just what was that monster he was stalking? What awaited him further in this cave? He knew these Echoes meant something, but he had a contract. The only way for him to survive was to make himself useful. If he failed to defeat the monster posing as a human woman, he’d be as useless as the other mercenaries who failed this job. Aveyar always fulfilled his contracts. That’s what kept him alive.
However, if these Echoes were the same as they had always been, there was a strong chance he’d die if he kept pursuing the shape shifting monster. He stood up, forcing himself to stop shaking. It’s better to risk your life for the chance to survive than face certain death. It was time to fulfill his contract.
Aveyar walked carefully into the darkness of the cave, concentrating on everything around him. Faeleen eyes adjusted quickly to the darkness, and years as a mercenary had sharpened his senses. He could taste decay in the damp air. The monster must have been using this cave for awhile. The thick shadows must make it very easy to surprise her prey. Darkness…this deep blackness was his environment as well. His jet black skin made him nearly invisible in the dark, and his metallic wings wouldn’t reflect anything in the thick shadows.
The cave seemed to be a single tunnel. Although he’d been feeling along the smooth moist walls, he hadn’t detected any other passages. The monster had to be further in. He began moving more quickly: silently, but quickly. He would destroy this monster. He would destroy her, so that the hell that was his life could go on for just awhile longer. Living in hell is better than ceasing to exist. Death is the end. After all the lives he’d snuffed out, Aveyar knew just how final death was.
Another Echo. Aveyar tensed; she was nearby. He focused. She was…his prey was…
Above him. He spun around just in time to make out a slender feminine figure land past him. Aveyar charged after her. As he pursued her, Aveyar saw a small tattered leather book clutched in her hand as she sprinted towards the entrance. Why did she grab a book? Aveyar thought. Whatever the reason, she wouldn’t escape. Aveyar was faster and quickly gained on her.
As they neared the entrance, the monster spun around. “Enough of this!” she said, tracing a rune in the air. No! Now he knew what that book was. The rune she drew unlocked whatever spell it contained.
He had to act quickly. He had only a matter of seconds before the spell activated. Aveyar pulled out a handful of sharp metal shards from one of his pouches and flung it towards her. Propelling it with Impact, he turned them into deadly projectiles.
With reflexes that rivaled his own, she ducked under the swiftly flying shards of metal. Aveyar lunged forward, readying his sword for a strike.
The rune she traced in the air blazed to life, flashing dark purple light. Aveyar’s body froze in place. She began slowly walking towards him, pulling a small dagger out from her belt.
He tried to move, to finish the swing. But all he could manage was to clench his teeth and glare.
“I could easily kill you now, Faeleen.” The woman’s voice was cold and inexpressive voice. “It would be easy.” Her silver robe brushed against Aveyar’s neck as she placed the knife gently against his cheek. It felt like silk. This monster was not merely a predator; it obviously blended into society enough to understand the concept of fine clothing. Aveyar could fence that robe for enough money to cover months’ worth of armor repairs.
“Stop gloating and get on with it.” Averyar spoke; apparently his mouth still worked. He always hated sadists. They prolonged the death of their victims simply to gain amusement from their contracts. They were nothing but mindless beasts. Just like every human.
“I’m not gloating, just trying to make you understand the situation.” She stepped back, sheathing the dagger. “If I were still hungry, I might eat you.” She said, her face emotionless and cold. “Or if I took your rude interruption of my negotiations earlier personally, I’d kill you.” She smiled, but her pale green catlike eyes remained cold. The eerie look made even Aveyar shiver. “But I know what your life must be like, Faeleen.” She stepped outside the cave.
Aveyar clenched his teeth. Just stay quiet, he thought. He usually offended people when he spoke. He wasn’t as subdued in his attitude as most Faeleens, so he generally tried to stay quite. Silence. That’s what people expected of an elite mercenary anyways.
He felt an Echo.
Anger surged through Aveyar. “You know nothing of the hell that’s been my life, witch!” Aveyar shouted, attempting to lunge forward. He could almost feel his body respond. “You-“ He cut himself off, cursing internally. What in Melbyreth was he doing?
She gave him another eerie smile. “Trust me; I know more about your life than you think.” She drew another rune in the air. “You know, it would have been a good idea to listen to those Echoes.”
Myriad Souls Episode 2 by Spencer Conrad is licensed under a .
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