14 Chapter 14: Your revenge awaits

Veretta struggled against his hand but she could not break free. Her eyes closed instinctively just as the blade glinted under the grey light. Suddenly there was quiet. The tight grip around her wrist disappeared. Veretta opened her eyes at once. She found a wall of ice in front of her.

She glanced back, finding Errik appearing from behind. Veretta's inhaled sharply.

"Errik," she said with a trembling voice, "he's a magic user. I don't know what kind of magic it is. It steals mana somehow,"

Errik stared down at Veretta and nodded. "Stay here,"

He turned swiftly and went around the wall of ice. Veretta held back a sob, but she forced herself to compose. However the anger was almost unbearable. In spite of Errik's words, she followed after him. How could she just leave Charlotte there? She had to get to her. Errik could handle the boy.

However upon turning the corner, Veretta was instantly at once set upon. The young man appeared out of no where once more. His blade hurtled towards her with alacrity. She had no time to dodge. Errik's steel met his and sparks flew as the blade was averted just in time.

"I told you to stay back," Errik uttered.

"Reinforcements?" the young man smiled.

Errik swung his blade without hestation. However, once more the young man dodged. The next time however, Errik was even quicker. The blade skimmed the young man cheek. The look of glee in his eyes abated and he brought a hand to his cheek. He stared down at the blood with a grave expression.

"Hmm what's this? You actually hit me?" he muttered.

Errik clenched his fist and a wall of ice encased the young man at the same time. Still, the young man seemed more preoccupied with the blood. Slowly his eyes panned up exceedingly dark.

"Who are you?" he stared at Errik. A flicker of recognition came over the man's face as he inspected Errik more closely, "you..."

Before he could finish the sentence, Errik brought down a wave of ice covering him completely. The silence once more returned.

"Is he dead?" Veretta stared up apprehensively.

"Doubtful," Errik replied soberly.

At that moment, the thick wall of ice began to crack. Suddenly a fist went through the wall. It shattered entirely. With another few punches the man emerged from the tomb of ice. He clicked his head to one side.

"Ouch," he said flatly.

The next thing Veretta knew, Errik was pushing her to one side as the young man lurched forward at intense speed. She hit the snow just as Errik took a punch to the face. He flew back into a tree with a slam. The young man followed with an intense glare. He grabbed Errik by the collar dragging his face up and scrutinising it closely. Errik slapped his hand away and brought ice jetting out of the time.

The young man jumped back. Errik rose to counter the next attack but the young man stopped in his tracks.

"It is you," he said quietly, "where have you been?"

"Dead," Errik grinned and flew forward.

This time the young man did not attack, he simply dodged the blows. Nevertheless, Errik caught him by the jaw and the young man fell back. Errik brought his blade to his throat. To Veretta's surprise, the young man threw up his hand with a smile.

"I give up,"

"Oh really?" Errik said in a low voice, "And?"

He pulled back his hand to deal the finishing blow.

"Are you really going to kill me even after I give up?" the young man grinned, "that's not like you,"

"And what would you know about me?" Errik replied.

"A lot of things," the young man replied.

"I find that hard to believe," Errik smiled coldly.

"You don't recognise me?" the young man's brow furrowed.

"Should I?" Errik returned unmoved.

"You lie so often it's hard to tell if you're joking or not," the young man returned flatly. "Well kill me then whoever you are,"

"Well since you asked so nicely," Errik thrust the blade down.

At once the young man ducked to one side. He caught the blade in his bare hand with a smile.

"Just kidding," he chuckled ,"but you were really going to kill me? That hurts my feelings,"

He launched a punch directly at Errik's gut. Although there was contact, Errik didn't react. He grabbed the young man's wrist and threw him roughly into the tree behind. Then he took his blade and launched directly at him.

However, once more the young man dodged. He leapt back a short distance away still without drawing his blade.

"We're pretty evenly matched it seems," the young man remarked, "feel like calling it quits?"

"You tell me. Feel like calling it quits on capturing this village?" Errik rejoined.

The young man tilted his head back thoughtfully, "Mmm, okay,"

"Okay?" Errik stared at him incredulously.

"We'll skip this village for now. How about that?" the young man went on, "but in exchange, you have to answer my questions,"

"I thought Silthus never gave up on any territory?" Veretta enjoined.

"I'm not Silthus," the young man answered.

"No, who are you then?" Errik responded still with his blade in hand.

"I'm a little offended you can't remember. You really are an impressive witch," the young man turned to Veretta who was standing a bit behind Errik. " What have you done to him?"

"She brought me back to life," Errik interceded. "That's all you need to know,"

"I gathered that much, old friend," the young man.

"You can't possibly know Errik," Veretta said sharply, " you're only a kid..."

"No," Errik interrupted, "he's no child."

The young man smiled indifferently. The clouds above closed over the sun by chance and the quiet snowfall turned dark. As if an illusion of the light, the young mans' dark eyes turned a glowing shade of red.

"You got me,"

Veretta stared wide eyed and apprehensively, "what are you?"

"He's a demon," Errik stated.

"I haven't been outed in at least a hundred years," the young man returned, "Humans are so stupid these days. It seems you remember that much, but you don't remember my name or the others? Well, it's been a long time...I could forgive you. That said, I haven't missed your crazy outburst. Still to this day, I've never seen a temper like yours. If you've really forgotten, I'll let you go but you have to answer one question first,"

Verreta glanced at Errik anxiously. "it's up to you," she said.

"Don't worry, it's nothing too hard," the young man's eyes returned to their unearthly black, "You just have to answer. Do you know where they are?"

"Where who are?" Errik returned.

"You know, silver hair. Red eyes. Always smiling...The demon lord who you spent your entire life trying to get revenge on. Ring any bells?"

Veretta glanced up at Errik. As usual his expression was unreadable.

"I don't know who you're talking about,"Errik said at length, "And if I did before, I don't remember now,"

"Incredible" the young man scoffed, "no matter how much you lied before, there was always one thing you could never hide - Your passion for getting revenge. You really forgot everything. I don't know if you've blessed him or cursed him, little witch but I suppose we'll find out,"

Veretta's eyes twitched, she almost stepped forward but Errik shot her a reproachful glance. The young man watched amused.

"Well as they say, a deal is a deal," he grinned. He glanced back over his shoulder and called, "Yona, c'mere,"

Out of nowhere, a girl suddenly appeared. She was dressed from head to toe all in black apart from her short white hair and emotionless red eyes. Her clothes didn't match the stark winter weather. She wore only a laced dress. Upon appearing she gave a low bow to the young man.

"Yes Master?" she said in a low voice.

"Go tell the others to go around this village," the young man instructed.

"Go around?" the girl glanced up suspiciously.

"Yeah," the young man smiled, "go all the way around. Tell them not to even look at the place. Don't touch one brick, not one piece of this shitty village or i'm going to be very upset,"

"But they will tell Silthus,"she said in a low voice.

"How will they tell him if they are dead?" the young man replied sharply.

"Understood," the girl gave another bow and disappeared once more.

"You're really letting us go?" Veretta stared at him in disbelief.

"Little witch," he turned back to her, "you have to understand. If not me, the others will come eventually and they don't have my laid back approach to conquering. I suggest you prepare yourself. This isn't over. It's just getting started,"

"Then why are you doing this?" Errik interrogated.

"Why?" the young man repeated thoughtfully, "that's a good question... you'll have to wait to find out," he burst out laughing.

Veretta let out an unsteady breath. Her wrist was turning purple and her shoulder was searing with pain. Charlotte was already dead. And Silthus wasn't even here. He was right. She was too naive to think this could all be over in one battle. Errik wouldn't be able to fight everyone. They needed a better plan. If this was the only way then...

"We will accept your offer then," Veretta said flatly.

"Oh will you?" the young man said sarcastically, "You better use this time wisely. You have a decision to make. Do you want this village or do you want Silthus? I guarantee you, you can't have both,"

"Why are you telling me this?" Veretta responded.

"It doesn't matter if I tell you," he turned with a grin, "because we'll win anyway. Well, that's something to look forward to. I'll see you around!"

Then he set off through the snow with a wave, disappearing beyond the trees out of sight. Veretta fell to her knees the moment he was gone. She let out an unsteady breath. Her eyes went to Charlotte, glassy and vacant.

"Where is Tomas?" she exhaled with difficulty.

"I left him a bit away. He should be fine. There weren't many left," Errik answered.

Veretta stared at the snow covered in blood and mud. The pure white felt as though it would never return in that moment. She felt a lump in her throat and tears cascaded down her cheeks without permission.

"This is all my fault," Veretta said in a low voice, "Charlotte is dead...because of me and Silthus...he's not even here!!"

She threw her head down with a scream that was lost under her wild raven hair. The tears kept falling as she sobbed miserably. Errik said nothing for a time. Nor did he offer her any comfort. Finally in a low voice he said:

"So what are you going to do about it? Keep crying?"

"No!" Veretta spat. She flew from the ground with wild resolute eyes, "I'm going to tear Silthus apart with my bare hands!"

"Then let's go," Errik said calmly, "your revenge awaits."