Chương 14: The Unbearable Truth
Solskin
I stopped training and headed towards the inn after a while. I really needed to sleep. Sweat covered my face, blurring my vision. Wiping it away, I stumbled back, not really seeing anything in front of me. There was a splash and warm liquid trickled down my leg. I stopped, bringing up my sleeve to wipe of the last bit of sweat off my eyes. The sight was horrendous. The dirt was stained red. It was fresh, still spreading out, soaking the earth. There was so much blood. Too much. A coffee mug lay nearby. A horrible thought flashed through my mind. "In the name of Odin, no. Please don't let it be
true!"
I collapsed to the ground, shocked, my thoughts racing. Persephone rushed out, hearing my cry. I didn't care. Mordred couldn't be dead, right? He knew magic, he was powerful. He couldn't be dead. The more I thought, the more I despaired. Mordred was dead. He was dead. Gone. I sat, crying, my tears dripping into the blood. The blood soaked into my sleeves and pants. I didn't care. It was my fault. I couldn't protect him.
"He… I'm sorry." Persephone said, her voice was solemn. She knew. Her connection with death gave her a definitive answer. But I didn't hear her, I didn't hear anything, I was too lost in my thoughts. How could I have missed it? I was right there. Right there. 10 years and still powerless. Useless.
Utterly useless. What did I do wrong? Why was I so helpless? My powers were nothing. I was nothing.
Persephone
Blood was everywhere. He was dead. I knew that. I didn't even need to bring out my pocket watch to check. He was dead because of my curse. I shouldn't have gotten close to him. Death was irreversible. So why was I glaring at the clock's hands, willing them to change?
I knelt next to Solskin in the blood. Placing my hand on his shoulder, I looked at the watch again. Midnight. The final hour. I stood up. Pressing the pocket watch to my chest, I prayed.
"Oh, Lord Hermes, your feet are swift and domain vast. I ask thee to arrive swiftly and guide this soul to the River Styx and to Charon."
I took a long breath. Continuing, "Hades, your judgement is swift and just. This is a worthy soul. Worthy of the joys of Elysium. Spare him from the Forgotten Fields. Protect him from the fires of punishment. Be proud of this soul."
I dropped a coin to the floor. It splashed into the pool of blood. Drops of blood covered it, giving it a sinister appearance.
"That's odd. The coin should have passed through the ground." I stood up, wiping the blood off the coin. I checked for scratches and dents. I found nothing. It was a pure, perfect, smooth gold coin.
"Why won't Charon accept this?" I mused aloud. "The fare is a gold coin."
I tried many more times, dropping the coin over and over. Nothing, it didn't pass through. I grew more worried with every passing attempt.
"Charon! Answer me! Is Mordred damned to wander endlessly?"
I received no answer. I touched blood with my hand, searching for his presence. I found Mordred. He sat on the banks of Styx. I saw Charon leaning over him, pulling at his hand. He wouldn't budge. The souls on the boat began to wail. Charon sighed, rubbing his fiery beard.
"I am sorry, but you are stuck here. There is not much I can do."
He let go, and instantly, Mordred's soul was wrapped in black shadows. Charon stepped onto the boat, and without another word, sailed away.
I opened my eyes. Something was wrong with Mordred's soul. I ambled my way back to the inn. Solskin refused to leave.
After a while, during the night, I realized Xavier never came out of his room. I cursed him for not caring. I cursed him for not comforting Solskin, who locked himself in his room.
In a fit of anger, I kicked open Xavier's door, to find an empty room. Everything was knocked over and blood was splattered over the bed. One of his swords was left behind, dried blood covered the entire blade. I searched the room and I found something scratched onto the door. "Stay away." Inside the scratch marks was black residue.
"C'Dor." I spat out.
I took at my watch again, and pointed it at the blood. It spun out of control. "What is going on?"
Solskin
I sat in my room. Defeated. I had run out of tears to cry. The spartan room became bleaker with each moment.
"Naive little child!" I cried out. I stared at my sword strapped my hip in disgust. "What use is training if we all die!"
"Oh look at me! I'm a country hick trying save the world" I hissed in a bitter, mocking tone. "I couldn't even save my friend!"
Someone knocked on my door. I opened it, hoping to find Xavier. Persephone. She was staring at me with a concerned look.
"Are you alr-" I slammed the door in her face, but she continued to speak. "You should know that Xavier is missing. What do you want to do?" I felt something cold run through me with that, and something started to pound in my ears. Dimly, I heard Xavier's voice: Mordred's death is tragic, but let that drive you to never let it happen again. We'll find his killer.
I started to shake: Mordred's. Tragic. Death. Killer.
I sank my to knees, covering my ears: Mordred's Killer.
I stared at my hands in horror. They were stained red with blood. The blood of my friend. The blood of Mordred.
When I was eight, I became special. I gained abilities that allowed me to fight. At first, I thought it was Loki taking pity on me. It dawned on me, it came with a price. It wasn't a gift, it was a curse. Floating into the air. Trees crying blood. People hearing strange voices. People choking around me.
I laughed. My first laugh in a long while. It felt good. Loki had given me this power. I naively trusted the Trickster. It wasn't a gift of fortune. It was a charm of bad luck. I was the source of all of their troubles. I was the monster. I was It. I felt right, realizing who I truly was. Evil incarnate. The wolf in sheep's clothing.
I felt my very soul lift with joy. I knew the truth now. It wasn't the Three Kings, it was me. Mordred's blood was on my hands. Then, I remembered what Xavier told me.
"Time to let this never happen again." I whispered softly, repeating Xavier's words to the empty room.
I drew my sword. The sword's sharp edge gleamed from the sunlight. I ran my finger along the sharp blade. A twinge of pain. Blood welled up from the wound. It mixed with Mordred's. "Forgive me, Persephone, Mordred, Xavier. This is all my fault."
I slowly turned the tip towards my stomach. Someone started to knock at the door, and with each moment, it became louder, louder, and louder. Probably Persephone again, I thought. The knocking stopped and I smiled. I would die in blissful silence. I plunged the sword into my stomach. It was icy cold.
"This is probably what Mordred felt like when I killed him," I laughed, a trickle of blood oozing out of my mouth.
There was large crash as the door was blown to bits, and I saw Persephone's horrified face.
SUY NGHĨ CỦA NGƯỜI SÁNG TẠO 
Infurno
Infurno And down the rabbit hole we gone. The dark story line continues. Hope the story in enjoyable so far. If you did, vote a power stone, its free and it shows us that you like our book and we will try to get longer chapters to you!
Tình trạng nguồn điện hàng tuần
-- Xếp hạng
Quyền lực 
-- Đá
Quyền lực