The Opportunity to Rebel

Mordred

I sat in this small quiet house, away from the noise of the city. It was kind of serene in a sense. There was a small library in the bedroom. For hours, I browsed the tiny selection and read. There was precious little to do here.

Dracoth remained silent. With my newfound optimism, I thought I had won and Dracoth had left me. But, the realist in me said otherwise. I still had that nagging uneasiness burning in the background of my mind. I still had the unnatural powers that a Dracoth had.

From what Astaroth said, Dracoth would be back. So, I prepared. I drew every single mental protection magic circle and rune I knew. The hideout soon become like my jail cell. Covered with symbols and drawings. But this time, there was purpose behind them.

Night came down during this time. The Hunter slipped while my nose was buried in a book.

"Hello." His back was turned towards me. He had taken off his cloak, folding it over his arm. He turned around and I got my first good look at him. Beyond his weathered and aged features, I could see the almost unnatural features a half elf. The round features juxtaposed against angular features of an elf.

"Emmyth is my brother. Half-brother." He continued getting ready for the night, treating those words like leaves on the wind.

"Say what?" I jumped up in confusion.

"I was an illegitimate child of Emmyth's father. Half elves are treated like dirt in the family. Emmyth was the only one who saw me as family, a person." He paused. "He left to study under Ash Tarot. He walked right into that demon's clutches. Forced to host C'Dor because it was convenient. I was a hunter for the family, a servant, until I finally got fed up. I made my way here from the Elven Kingdoms to find out Emmyth was already C'Dor."

"Shouldn't you be against the Three Kings then?"

"I fell for the oldest trick in the book. Work for me and I will help you." The Hunter chuckled quietly. "I was so desperate."

He began pouring a glass of water, before sitting one the couch and resting his eyes. He stopped talking. Even my prodding had little effect. Taking the hint, I left, entering the bedroom. Before the doors closed, the Hunter called out something.

"Don't go back to your friends yet."

"Why?"

He was as frank as ever. "I am using you as a bargaining chip to join with them. It would be best if we both work together. Don't worry, I am making my move soon."

Standing still and considering the options, I decided to go along with it.

Persephone

"You have been cursed." Time had paused. I knew what happened next. My mother and Crono die. But for now, they stood in the doorway frozen in time.

Thanatos was staring at the It. HIs back towards, he was pondering something.

"I assume you have noticed what happens when you touch something?"

"Yes. What is it?"

"We took a soul from the underworld. It wants something to replace it. A soul for a soul."

"So, I have to take a life?" There very thought appalled me. As a priestess of Thanatos, I prevented unnatural deaths. I thought I was doing my duty trying to save Solskin and Mordred.

"Yes, those deaths were not planned. But, the natural laws does not care." Thanatos read my mind. He turned to me. "It made you the claimer."

"What?" Shock made my arms go numb.

"Your soul is bound to the underworld now. Anyone you touch will have their soul dragged to Hades."

"Is there anyway to stop it?" Desperation clawed at my throat.

"Sadly no. I can only prevent souls from escaping, not prevent them from entering." Thanatos stated bluntly.

Then it hit me. A demon functions like a soul. "What if I claim a demon?"

Thanatos's eyes opened wide. "Yes. You could. It would certainly banish them, if not kill them permanently. But, it doubt it would lift the curse. The demon soul would not enter the underworld."

"But, I can you this to fight them?" I was onto something.

"Again, yes. But you felt that tremendous pain. You might die in the process."

"But it is only a chance, not guaranteed." I began to become excited. Finally, we can fight back.