Arkarum: The Hammer and the Blade

  ***

  Mercius reached out his hand and went to touch Keira's face. He winced and drew back his arm, however, when he caught sight of the talons that tipped his hand, realizing that he was no longer the human he had once been; no longer lovable.

  Keira, though, had no such hesitations. She swiftly and firmly pulled his hand to her and buried her weeping face in his palm. As they touched for the first time in what seemed like an eternity, the snarling demons that surrounded them ceased their noise, and retreated slowly, defeated, into the lurking mist, as if they had been called off by some unheard trumpet.

  Keira wept as she looked up into Mercius' eyes, her hand still holding his to her cheek. Slowly, not knowing how she would react, Mercius bent to her and pressed his lips to hers. He felt a momentary stiffness in her just before their kiss, but Keira relaxed, closed her eyes, and let Mercius hold her body against his, her lips to his. Mercius was transported instantly into happiness that he had been sure, only moments before, that he would never know again.

  Their embrace lasted for long moments, and when Mercius finally, regretfully, pulled away from her, he stared deep into her face. It was haggard and covered in blood and sweat and tears, but it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He told her such, in a hoarse whisper, that brought fresh tears of joyous love streaming from her eyes.

  “You brought me back,” he said simply.

  “No, Mercius,” she replied, smiling through her tears, “love brought you back. Yours for me and mine for you.” Mercius smiled at her through painfully cracked lips, then looked around to take in their surroundings.

  The mists of the Hollows still surrounded them, but seemed less thick and oppressive somehow. As he looked around, he saw figures emerging from the gloom, and he stiffened instinctively. Keira placed a soothing hand on his arm and said, “Relax, my love. Your friends are here to welcome you back.”

  As she spoke, Mercius began to make out the shapes and features of Griffin and the marshals of the Hammer and the Blade. They stopped short as they neared him, and all took in his appearance, with a look of astonished disgust on each of their faces.

  “Mercius?” Sophia said tremulously. “Is that you?”

  “It is, Sophia, though I know I’m no sight. Thank you for coming. Thank you all.” His burning gaze took in all of his friends, and their eyes softened slightly at the rich sound of his voice. Unable to take their stares for long, Mercius turned to where Nephilia lay, crumpled and pale in the mud behind him.

  Sophia followed him to the small figure’s side and looked up at him. “Gather your angel, Mercius, and let us leave this place.”