Vincent, his chin up, his chest raised from a confident breath, summoned his red striker, easily fending off the attack.
The weapons clashed together violently and repelled both of them apart. Sparks scattered and hissed. Malum charged again, swinging his strikers. Vincent quickly dropped to his knees and sliced Malum’s chin. The blow tore a deep gash. A second, bloody mouth it seemed. Stunned, Malum withdrew a striker and pressed the skin on his chin together. Blood squirted through his fingers and onto the green grass. He stared at Vincent in disbelief and retreated a few steps.
“How…” Malum’s pupils dilated.
“Oh, I’m about to do much worse.” Vincent stood tall, waving Malum onward. “Like my brother Jak, I am a knight.”
Malum dabbed the back of his hand across the gaping slit on his chin. He licked his blood and spat the rest to the ground. “Wipe that silly grin off your face!” he shouted. “You’ve changed nothing by wounding me. That was a lucky shot,” he yelled as blood trickled down his neck. “No matter what happens today, I’ve already written your ending.”
“I’m not afraid to die, are you?” Vincent replied in a low, serious tone.
In an instant, the sky opened, the clouds parted, and a single ray of sun glistened. The beam radiated on top of Vincent, illuminating him and nothing else. Noemi squinted, for she beheld the sudden glow of a golden spirit.
Malum glanced back at his followers. They gawked at Vincent, whispering amongst themselves. Everyone except for Vanessa. She crossed her arms and turned her head away.
“What are you all looking at?” Malum flapped his arms. “These are but a few tricks he performs. They are nothing more than smoke and mirrors. Now see true power!” He thumped his chest with his hand.
Vincent snickered. “I don’t know, Mal, I think you’re losing your audience.”
“Enough!” With both hands, Malum raised his striker over his head. He thrust down the serrated blade, driving it into the earth with a mighty stab. The ground rumbled. A rapidly moving fissure carved its way across the grassy ledge. The jagged rift split the ground between Vincent’s legs, weakening his footing, thus toppling him onto his side.
Malum crouched down. He launched, propelling his lean frame twenty feet into the air. He lifted his blade high, aiming it at Vincent. With eyes red from broken blood vessels, Malum clamped his cracked yellow teeth. His sackcloth robe fanned as he sailed with his fiery sword on target.
From a defenseless position, Vincent quickly swiped his katana striker across his body, deflecting Malum’s blade. Clang! Red and black sparks flew as the swords collided.
Malum stood over him. Vincent jabbed his blade. Malum blocked the attack, pushing the edge of Vincent’s striker back toward his own throat. Their two weapons were locked together. Malum exerted his strength against Vincent’s neck. Vincent’s hand trembled. His own blade inched closer to his throat. The sword grazed his skin. A line of blood dripped down the side of Vincent’s neck. A single, cold drop tickled, seeping behind his ear.
Noemi fought to loosen her bonds. She couldn’t bear the sight of Malum beheading her Vincent. “Hold on, I’m almost free!” she desperately shouted.
Malum peeked over at Noemi. She thrashed like a fish on dry land, while struggling to release her arms. In that brief instant, Malum was distracted. Before he could even turn his head back around, Vincent seized the moment. He drew up his knees and launched his legs, kicking Malum in the middle of his chest. Vincent sprung to his feet as Malum jetted high and far through the air.
“Boo-ya!” Vincent exclaimed. “How’d you like that?” He raised a fist.
Thud! Malum smacked the ground. His striker dissolved. “Wait just a minute!” He rolled over onto his hands and knees. He slowly stood up and staggered around, nearly falling again. He blinked sluggishly. He rattled his head from side to side. “Fight fair!” he slurred and wobbled.
Vincent, self-satisfied, grinned. “Oh, it’ll be fair.” He withdrew his blade. He dropped to the ground and did pushups. He jumped to his feet and punched the air, bouncing around like a boxer. “Booo-yaaa!”
Malum snarled. “I’m ready, you blasphemous twit.” His sword rematerialized. He clutched it between his bony knuckles.
Vincent made an obscene gesture, pointing his fiery red blade at Malum. “Bring it.”
“Your conceit will be your undoing.” Malum adjusted his robe with one hand while tightly grasping his striker with the other.
Noemi yelled, “Vincent!” She grimaced while attempting to free one of her arms. “He’s too powerful. RUNNN!”
Malum casually walked over. “Ya know, I’ve been thinking.” He gave Noemi a passing glance, slightly nodding his head at her while keeping a watchful gaze upon Vincent. “What good is immortality if it can’t be controlled?” He tapped his finger to his brow. “Think about it.”
Vincent tilted his head to the side, and paused. “You're crazy”
Malum grinned from ear-to-ear. “My dear boy, I’ve spent thousands of years on Earth. There is so much that I could still teach you.”
“I just want her.” Vincent pointed his striker at Noemi.
“You can have each other, but…you can also have money, power, fame, you can have it all.” Malum held a puzzled stare, before raising an eyebrow and tapping his cheek with his index finger. “Well?”
Vincent remained on guard. “What, you’re bargaining with me?”
“If you act now, the first immortal will grant you your heart’s desire, if…you help him first.” Malum’s form eased, his stance relaxed.
“Help him with what?”
Malum’s left glass eye glinted a cryptic reflection. “The halflings, David and his sister, Danielle James.” He curled a single edge of his lip upturned. “Their father hid more than just his two hybrid children from us. He concealed the fact that he was the last heir to the eternal throne. The first immortal wants them…well, one of them anyway.”
Vincent’s eyes shifted down and toward Noemi. He shook his head. “No! I will no longer serve the Shroud,” he roared.
Malum leered. “The knights protect the halflings from afar, but soon, their ancient ways will be gone, and they shall never rise again. When that happens, don’t forget you had a chance.” He gestured toward a bound Noemi.
Vincent smacked his lips together. He took in a slow, reflective breath before exhaling. He peered back up at the distant castle spire. He thought about Jak. He thought about Noemi. He thought about Malum. His jaw tightened and his nostrils flared. “The knights will…”
Malum refused to let him finish. “They’ll what? Stop the Shroud? Save you? Save her? Right all the wrongs in the world?” He hooted. “Not here and not this time, and they know it. They’re dying just like everyone else in this realm. But you and Noemi don’t have to die today,” he hissed his words through clamped, yellow, cracked teeth.
Vincent lowered his blade. “Okay. What do you want?”
With a smug look, Malum replied, “See, I knew you still craved dark truths.”
“Stop speaking in riddles and TELL ME!” Vincent screamed so even the woods echoed his frustrated voice.
“Let’s keep it real, shall we?”
“What’s your point?”
Malum let his striker slowly vanish from his hand. “My point is, you and Noemi can get on that ridiculous contraption of yours and just ride away, but only if I allow it.”
“Please, Vincent, stop!” Noemi cried out. “Whatever he asks, trust me, I’m not worth it! You’re better than him. He’s a liar!”
“It’ll be all right.” Vincent lowered his hand at her and withdrew his blade.
Malum excitedly tented his fingers. “Now we’re getting somewhere.” He paused and let out a sigh. “I want you to make your way back into the knights’ castle and crush them before the immortal war begins.” He scowled at Noemi and po
uted. “Destroy the last flicker fruit tree in the middle of the castle gardens.”
“What? Why?”
“Because I said so,” Malum seethed.
Vincent fidgeted. He paced back and forth. “Even if I agreed, how the heck am I supposed to get into the castle? In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m not exactly welcome there anymore.”
Malum smiled a devious grin. “You will earn redemption with powerful signs. They will have no choice but to reinstate you.”
“Okay.” Vincent gazed at Noemi. She wistfully glanced back. “I should have listened to you all along.”
“Good, then it’s settled,” Malum gleefully replied.
“No, I was talking to her.” Vincent motioned a nod at Noemi. “She was right. No. The answer’s no. We’re leaving now.”
Malum creased his forehead and snorted. “You rude, ungrateful brats! How dare you talk to me in such a manner!” He materialized a striker. Bbvvv.
Vincent summoned his blade. It sizzled hot and red. With an intense stare, he walked toward Malum. “You killed my brother Jak. You hurt Noemi. And for that, I’m gonna slice you open.” He directed his fiery red blade at him.
“Yesss,” Malum hissed. “You forgot the part where I helped your powers grow until you roasted Jak,” Malum sharply replied. “You’re not innocent. You’re not an unwilling victim in all of this.” He sneered while raising his misty, black sword. “Your hands are red with fault, bucko.”
Vincent never broke stride. “Piss off.”
“Oh, what could have been.” Malum stuck his lower lip out at Noemi, before addressing Vincent. “Well then, I guess this is adieu.”
“Yeah, for your head! Until the last enemy…” Vincent picked up his stride.
“Has been brought to nothing!” Malum boomed.
The two immortals rammed each other as the sun fell beneath gray clouds on the somber horizon. Muted glints of pastel faintly lit the seascape. Thick, salty fog darkened the ocean until it covered the land and sea alike.
With strikers drawn, Vincent and Malum charged again toward each other for what both knew would be the final time. Their eyes focused, faces drawn, muscles constricted. Time appeared to slow for a moment, and then sped up when their blades clashed one to the other. Whoosh! Clank! Clang!
The briny air hinted with traces of smoke, radiating an eerie spectral glow through the foggy haze. As the two immortal adversaries slammed against one another, flaring sparks rained down upon the ground, scattering among a rising vapor. The barrage of clashing swords produced a fierce metallic chorus that rang out over the cliffs. When their strikers collided with flesh, crimson drops smeared the long, slender stalks of grass like careless red brushstrokes on nature’s masterpiece.
All the spectators, the young immortals following Malum, and even Noemi, knew Vincent could not prevail against the dark lord. This was less fight than lesson. Yet during battle, a strange occurrence happened. Vincent became stronger. Something eternal and mystic coursed through his body. His skin rippled with tiny bumps. His hairs stood on end. He evaded every one of Malum’s swipes. Vincent soon realized not only was he good, on this particular day, he was finally good enough.
With each blow and jab of his sword, the battle turned in Vincent’s favor. Malum felt a growing swell of fear and doubt. Death did not vex him, but his sovereignty gradually slipped from his grasp. He worried his followers viewed him as not an unbeatable deity, yet as somehow less than immortal, less than invincible.
Malum backed away, quickly scooping up a handful of dirt. He threw it at Vincent’s face.
Suddenly blinded, Vincent tried to wipe the grit and sand from out of his blurry, watery eyes.
Malum smiled as he calmly approached. His sword cocked back over the side of his head.
Noemi called out, “Vincent! He’s coming at you from the right!” She yelled, “Duck!”
Malum swung his translucent black striker at Vincent’s head. Sensing the motion of his swing, Vincent bent his body backward. The blade missed by inches. Vincent felt heat as it zipped by his cheek. The blade sliced a portion of leather from his jacket, yet he remained intact.
His vision still blurred and teary, Vincent wiped away the stinging grains of dirt. “Throwing sand in my eyes, really? That’s pretty cheap, even for you.”
“Despite what anyone says, they’ll do whatever it takes to survive.” Malum circled Vincent like a shark.
Vincent closed his eyes and held his blade steady. Multiple Malums appeared to pace around him. “No, you’re wrong. Not everyone will do that. Jak proved that. I fought Jak because I was jealous of him, but he loved me until his last breath.”
Malum growled. “How poignant.” He furrowed his brows. “He, like you, was weak.”
Malum upturned the corners of his lips. He spun from Vincent to Noemi. He abruptly extended his arm out at her. She gulped. She shot an aching gaze at Vincent, and then shut her eyes. Malum hurled a surge of power. A pulse wave slammed the ground in front of her. The ground quaked. Dirt and grass exploded into the air.
“Aaah!” she screamed.
Noemi flew backward. Her body tottered along the ocean cliffs. Sharp rocks amid the crashing tide waited far below. The earth crumbled beneath her as solid ground loosened.
Malum nibbled on his lower lip. “My aim’s off today.” He raised his hand again.
“NOOO!” Vincent frantically shrieked. He rushed in quick strides toward Malum, tackling him.
Vincent avoided rage since he killed Jak. But Noemi’s life literally hung in the balance. His ire was now unleashed for the world to see. Hand to hand, he wrestled Malum. They rolled on the ground. They grappled and clawed at each other as they tussled. Vincent knocked his forehead against Malum’s face, breaking his nose in the process. Blood gushed down into Malum’s mouth, staining his teeth pink.
“Bwahahah!” Malum smiled with a sort of demonic, wet laugh.
Off near the tree line, Vanessa whispered and wrung her hands, “Kill him. Kill him.” She eagerly observed.
“That’s good. Show me your anger!” Malum strained to free himself from Vincent’s grip. “You’re a killer, that’s all you’ll ever be, so let her go, and come back to your master. Come back to me!”
His countenance flush, Vincent’s heart pounded. His temper festered. His thoughts turned dark. Sweat dripped from his brow onto Malum’s face. He put Malum in a stranglehold. Pressing firmly against his windpipe, he started choking him. Vincent glanced up at his former friends. The immortal warriors seemed thrilled by his uncontrolled hate. His heart felt weak. His stomach ached. He relaxed his grip on Malum’s neck while looking over at Noemi. She stretched out toward him with her free arm. She gingerly stood and balanced herself on the uneven ground at the edge of the cliff.
Her words were muffled by the hungry, incoming ocean tide. “Vincent, don’t do it! You’re not a killer…” Noemi shouted. She took a step and tripped. A large chunk of earth rumbled, and a massive boulder dislodged underneath her feet.
For the first time, Vincent believed he could overcome his past. He released Malum. He hopped to his feet, extended back toward Noemi while yelling, “Don’t move!”
“Well, wannabe, what’s it gonna be?” Malum rubbed the red circle around his neck. He leisurely hoisted himself. Copious amounts of blood ran from his nose and chin. “You can kill me, or you can save the girl, but you can’t do both.” Malum leaned his head back. He submissively spread his arms out to the sides and waited. “I know you want to take my head, so be a man, and do it!”
“No!” Vanessa balled her fists and smacked her thighs from the tree line of the forest.
Malum put a hand up, motioning for her to stay put. “There, there, he doesn’t have the stones…” His heart raced by what he saw next. “Or maybe he does.”
Vincent summoned his fiery red blade. He licked his lips and lifted
the sword high overhead.
In the background, Noemi yelped. “I’m falling…” She fell to the ground and the ground fell away from the earth. She grasped at anything, but only ripped away pieces of grass and specks of dirt as she plummeted downward upon the thrashing ocean waters.
Vincent withdrew his sword and raced to the cliff’s edge. “Next time, old man.”
“Ha! There won’t be a next time, you fool!” Malum pointed his index finger. “I knew you’d wuss out for a girl.”
Vincent bounded headfirst over the cliff. He dove after her. Down the steep drop, he leapt toward the fierce currents and jagged rocks below. He molded his body in the shape of a bullet, propelling himself in order to catch Noemi. She flailed, one arm still bound, it restricted her movements. Noemi’s locks flapped in the wind. Swoosh. The air rushed. Vincent closed the gap between them. Her eyes widened and his narrowed. He extended his hand and grabbed ahold of her wrist, but she slipped from his grasp.
“I’m sorry you died for me,” she cried out.
“NO!” Vincent yelled. He seized her hand, clutching it in his.
Ffffffffffffff. They embraced and fell as one. The air swiftly rushed past them.
Malum pried loose a boulder with his sword and sent it hurling toward them. Noemi looked up and saw the large rock barreling over top their heads. Tons of compact stone pursued them.
The two lovers looked deeply into the other’s eyes. Noemi’s startled brown gaze held the reflection of Vincent with an ever rising boulder behind him. Vincent’s ice-blue eyes soaked up Noemi’s beauty, and uncovered the watery deep, amidst jagged rocks below them.
“I’m scared!” Noemi closed her eyes.
He pulled her close. He held her firmly and whispered in her ear. “Don’t be, I’ll…”
SPLOOSH! KERPLUNK!
Together the two hit the turbulent waters. The waves swept over the rocks. The large boulder smashed onto the breakers seconds later, erupting the tide with a volcanic spray of seawater before it sank over top them.