Chapter 2 - The Darkness of the Condemned (Part II)
1680 Words
When Komram had finished absorbing the Garluts' mana, its body began to rot until it disappeared, leaving the others watching the scene in horror.
"You are not..." Tror started, but he didn't finish speaking. Komram raised her blood-covered index finger to her lips, making a shushing gesture.
"I don't want to waste any more lives, as we will need all of you to escape the island," she said in a calculating voice. "You will serve Prince Derkno, whether you like it or not."
The presence of Derkno caused silence to fall. Komram stood tall, lifting her head high. After a few seconds, she turned to him, showing a sly smile.
"I see you've been having fun," he commented, noticing the dark blood dripping from her sword.
"I only killed one," she sheathed the sword, "to restore order."
"I see order has been restored," Derkno said, looking at the Garluts. "I supposed something like this would happen."
The Garluts fell to the ground, convulsing in terrible agony. Derkno, Komram, and Vyrkon watched them writhe in pain without showing any reaction. The final part of the plan was now complete.
When the convulsions ended, the Garluts stood up one by one, a deformed red mark appearing on their necks.
"The curse of eternal obedience," that was the meaning of the red mark on their necks. As Derkno predicted, they would now obey him without opposition.
Isayri emerged from the shadows along with the other prisoners and guards who had been enchanted with the curse of eternal obedience to stand beside Derkno. Komram glanced at her sideways.
"You took too long," she said in a venomous voice.
"I worked as fast as I could on the spell. Being without magic for ten years and then recovering it isn't easy," she explained, annoyance in her voice.
"Your excuses don't interest me. You're slow, you always have been."
"Oh, really?" the sorceress said, raising one of her hands. Derkno stopped her.
"I don't want unnecessary arguments," he said.
Both women nodded their heads and said nothing more. Derkno took a few steps forward and ordered the Garluts and the other prisoners to divide into eight groups, with each group taking a ship. Four of the groups were led by Derkno, Komram, Isayri, and Vyrkon.
When the anti-magic field was triggered, it alerted all the ships. The new guard shift was on its way when the field stopped functioning. They knew what it meant—that the prisoners had escaped their cells, and they were more than ready to stop them and prevent their escape.
When the attack happened, the soldiers were at a disadvantage. One by one, they fell to Isayri's curse. The prisoners facing the ship led by Vyrkon found it easy to take control. The soldiers, prepared to attack the prisoners with Blora(4) cannons, didn't notice the intruders boarding the ship and were taken by surprise, ultimately defeated. There were casualties among the former prisoners, but in the end, they emerged victorious.
Once they had seized the eight ships and set sail, all that remained was the anticipation of vengeance—sweet revenge for being imprisoned and left to rot on that cursed island.
***
"Begin," Derkno said to Isayri in a hoarse voice.
He had summoned her, along with Vyrkon and Komram, to his cabin for the sorceress to perform a premonition. The four sat in a circle. Only seers could predict the future, and if a sorcerer broke this natural law, they would suffer a considerable loss of mana and could even lose their life. But Isayri used Derkno's mana as a catalyst. Holding his hand, she closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. For two minutes, she recited an incantation, then extended her right hand in front of her, forming circles that became a small mass of dark clouds. These clouds then transformed into a pool of water, and in its reflection, images of Derkno and his brother fighting appeared.
"Your brother will fall before you," she said softly, and the images showed Derkno piercing Satír's chest with his sword. "And with him, all his allies will fall," she continued as the images reflected her words.
Derkno and the others smiled. Frowning, Isayri continued her premonition. "There is a small light..." she paused, showing a small light shining in deep darkness. "... she has silver eyes..."
"Explain," Derkno demanded.
"A baby," she replied without opening her eyes. "Your brother's daughter."
"Daughter?" he frowned. "Satír has a daughter?... There has never been a girl in the family... And her silver eyes, to whom do they belong?" A trace of fear was born within him.
"You know who I'm talking about..." he gasped breathlessly. "You must kill her, or she will kill you," his breathing grew heavier.
"Are you talking about that prophecy?" he said almost in a whisper, clenching his hands tightly.
In his family, there was a prophecy that foretold the birth of a Kums with the same eyes as the first king. This Kums would bring peace to Ekhros again, which would be lost due to a powerful enemy who would also be a Kums.
He was sure that part of the prophecy referred to him, but until now, he never believed the other part would come true.
"Yes. She will be your death... unless you kill her while she is still harmless," Isayri said, opening her eyes and releasing his strong grip, her breath still heavy as her mana had significantly depleted.
"Why is the prophecy coming to pass?" Komram asked.
"As the prophecy says; when Ekhros falls into darkness by a Kums and all hope is lost... from the past, a new Kums with silver eyes will emerge to restore the light," Vyrkon replied, crossing his arms over his chest. "It's obvious why the prophecy has come to pass. The silver-eyed Kums had not yet been born. Until now."
"Don't tell me," she grumbled softly.
"Ten years planning my revenge... I won't let that stupid prophecy ruin everything," Derkno emphasized. "Komram, you will make sure that girl never breathes again."
"It's better if you leave that task to Vyrkon," Isayri intervened. Komram turned to her, ready to verbally attack, but Isayri continued, "He isn't as impulsive, and I'm sure he'll reach the palace faster than Komram."
Derkno looked at Komram and Vyrkon, weighing their skills, and when he spoke again, he said, "Then Vyrkon will take on this task."
"Are you sure about that? Do you intend to entrust such an important task to Vyrkon, who couldn't fully complete the last one you gave him?"
Bringing up the past didn't sit well with Vyrkon. He turned to her, directing his worst glare at her, wishing he could end her life at that moment.
"I completed my last task," he muttered, clenching his teeth.
"I wouldn't call it complete if you left your brother alive," she mocked, looking him in the eyes. "Your mission was to kill your entire family, but you chose to spare your little brother."
Vyrkon drew his knife and placed the sharp tip under Komram's throat. Though he wished to scare her, he knew it was impossible; Komram wasn't easily frightened. Instead, she curved her lips into a satisfied smile, increasing his anger. He pressed the knife tip harder against her throat, causing a line of blood to ooze from the small wound. Komram leaned forward, pushing the blade deeper into her skin.
Derkno watched the scene with fascination. He loved seeing the girl behave that way, her murderous and demented instinct always present, something not everyone had.
"Enough," he said softly, making the three react. He looked at Komram and continued, "I've made my decision. Vyrkon will handle this important task," he now looked at Vyrkon, "and since we'll all be reunited with old friends, I suggest you finish the last task you left incomplete." Vyrkon lowered his knife and nodded slightly.
"I suppose the meeting is over," Komram said, standing up with a frown.
"Yes," Derkno said, standing up along with the others. "You may leave, except for Komram. You stay."
Vyrkon and Isayri left Derkno's cabin, both with satisfied smiles on their faces. The disdain among the three was evident, but Isayri preferred Vyrkon over Komram. The only thing they agreed on was serving Derkno, even if they had to restrain themselves from killing each other.
"Do you need anything, my lord?" Komram asked, crossing her arms over her chest, her gaze filled with resentment.
Unlike Komram, Derkno looked at her with a half-smile on his lips. He crossed his arms behind his back and approached her slowly.
"I know my decision doesn't please you," he stopped, mere inches from her face, "but I have a special mission for you, which is why I changed my mind."
"And what is that mission?" she said softly, maintaining her angry expression.
"One that guarantees you the revenge you always desired," he leaned in and kissed her, a kiss filled with pent-up need. Years without feeling each other's closeness made Komram's anger dissipate. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he around her waist, pressing tightly and enjoying the wild kiss. When they parted for a moment, he took her right hand and lifted it in front of them. He looked at the bracelet she had always kept, except when in prison, which she had regained after destroying the anti-magic field. It was the bracelet her father had given her. Komram didn't need to say anything. Her face now showed a satisfaction she only displayed in intimacy, her eyes shining with the excitement of finally getting the revenge she had desired since her father's murder.
"It will be a pleasure to carry out this mission," she said as they both shed their clothes, their desire for each other's pleasure growing stronger.
"Take me as hard as always," she whispered excitedly.
And so he did, entering her with a thrust, each thrust stronger than the last. Their moans fused, becoming one.
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4. Blora is a crystal ball that contains accumulated powerful energy.
- Writer
