Zephyr: The Elemental Clans

190 - In Your Darkness

To say I was stunned by her actions would be a grave understatement. Even with the gargantuan sword buried hilt deep in her chest, she pulled away gently as she whispered, "Maybe I'm really not as good as Cheryl. She accepted and supported you in your rampage all this time without question, but I can't. I can never agree with, help or watch you do these terrible things. I can never love someone who harbors only malice and hatred... but that is why I love you Xyder. I love you because I know the kindness and selflessness in your heart. I know the man you are and I know he is in there. That's why I'll never stop loving you. Come back... to us...... Xyder......."

As she finished speaking, her body began to slowly slide down me as she lost her strength and faded into unconsciousness.

*"Aww, how touching. She should have joined us while she had the chance. She would have been nice to have around. A shame she chose to side against us,"* Tenebrae shrugged, *"Oh well! Nothing we could have done."*

I watched as her body began to fall towards the cold, unforgiving Earth; as the pure skin of an innocent girl who was forced to taint her hands with the blood of an ally was about to be marred by the disgusting dirt trodden upon by an unholy soul. I watched as she was about to hit the floor lifeless, having been betrayed by the one she trusted most: by me..... and then.....

*"Save her, Xy."*

....then, I broke. Before I knew it, my body was moving on its own. I caught her before she could collapse and looked at her dying face in shock.

*"Xyder?"* Tenebrae's confused voice sounded, *"What are you doing?"*

I erected a stone bed, upon which I laid her gently and took a step backwards.

"No," I murmered, staring at my shivering, bloodied hands.

*"Xyder?"* Tenebrae repeated.

"No.... no, no, no, no, no. NO!!!" I bellowed before bolting for the Alter. My mind was a jumbled mess of thoughts so much so that I couldn't even understand a single one myself as they overlapped each other aggressively.

*"Xyder?! Xyder, calm down!"* Tenebrae roared, trying to forcefully seize control over my body. His dark aura began to swirl around me incompletely, eventually managing to cover have of my face.

"XYDER!" Tenebrae boomed.

"NOOO!!!" I growled, ramming myself headfirst through the heavy, metallic doors. That seemed to knock Tenebrae out of his senses at least momentarily as his attempts to take over ceased spontaneously, but it also gave me quite the wallop as well. I flipped over haphazardly and crashed into the floor at the centre of the Alter.

"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" I screamed at the top of my lungs as I rose onto my knees.

*"Ugh! Xyder! Listen to me!"* Tenebrae insisted.

"WHAT HAVE I DONE?!" I screeched, pulling strongly on my hair as I threw my head back and wailed in agony.

*"None of that matters anymore Xyder! It's already done! It was all your fault and there's nothing you can do about it!"* Tenebrae boomed.

"It's... all my fault... I did this," I murmered.

*"That's right. Thanks to you, everything you knew and loved is gone. Thanks to you, one of the world's greatest empires has been brought to its knees. There's nothing left for you to fight for Xyder,"* Tenebrae cooed.

"There's... nothing left...." I repeated.

*"Yes. You have nothing more to live for. Just give in Xyder. Let me take the reigns and rest. I will give you peace,"* the God of Darkness promised sweetly.