Chapter 10: "I'm more myself than I've ever been"

Song recommendation: "In the dark" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rju0pbdm4z4)

"Are you ready?" Michael said calmly.

Bird and Ace stood behind him. Both answered with a nod. Michael led them through the portal. The warmth of the tower was overcome by the vigorous mountain air. The burnt shadow of the temples were covered with layers of snow.

The entire mountain was transformed into a white scape merging with the sky. A sharp wind blitz in from the upper realms of the chalky canvas. It took an hour's walk through the piercing cold before they reached the foot of a large structure.

It sat menacingly dark and ominous against the white blanket of snow. It was a towering door diffusing a malevolent aura, unlike anything Ace had felt before. He had heard of demonic doors but he had never seen one in person. The face of the stone threshold was riveted with carvings spiralling into a dizzying array of ruins.

Michael began to set up the altar and instruments with Bird's help. Ace stood staring up at the door. A rush of his worst memories reverberated sinisterly from the door. He could practically feel the pull of the demon world just looking at it.

Finally, Michael started the incantation. He cut his hand and smeared the blood against the stone ridges. Gradually, the door began to slowly creep open. A wave of dark energy leaked from it noxiously.

"I can't keep it open for long," Michael faltered.

Ace stepped towards the door. An unfathomable darkness stared back at him. It was a malevolent void existing between the two worlds.

Bird grabbed Ace by the hand, "Please come back, Ace!"

Ace smiled as well as he could. As he turned, he met eyes with Michael. There was a reluctant admiration and hesitant ambivalence in his eyes.

"It will take you to the palace of swords," he explained, "but Ace, we don't have much time. I give it a week at most. After that..."

"I got it," Ace said.

No more hesitation.

He stepped into a pool of shadows behind the door. It was cold. Colder than the bitter mountain wind. It ran all the way to the core, wet and dark. The dazzling white of the mountain faded from view.

In its place, a burnt red sky filled Ace's sight. Black clouds revolved around the gothic spires. There it was. Only a year ago, Ace had wandered the desserts alone and empty, slowly trudging toward a light he barely understood.

Once more the great dark walls of the Palace of swords greeted him hungrily and unsympathetically. Ace walked under the patchwork of shadows falling from the ancient stone supports. The pained outstretched hands of a forgotten beast carved in stone leant out bitterly over the edges of the masonry.

Ace could feel it. The eyes are everywhere. The bloodthirsty eyes watching his every step. He kept walking. How had he done this so confidently before? Finally, he came to the stark courtyard. Within moments he reached the doors to the great hall.

"Another challenger!" announced the guards.

Ace didn't correct them this time. He stepped into the hall. The heads of new challengers were mounted on even more pikes than the first time. There was fresh blood dripping from their severed heads. Ace walked down the ensanguined hall. His eyes slowly found their way to the throne.

He didn't expect what he found. Clover wasn't lying back as always. There was no smile to greet him this time. It was worse than he feared. The demon lord stared back at him, their face covered in blood. They were hunched over the throne with the look of a feral beast. Their eyes showed an exquisitely ruthless red. It was as if Clover didn't see him at all. There was only a predatory gaze in their eye.

"Clover," Ace said softly.

The words came out a whisper. He could feel their bloodthirst from across the room. There was no answer. Suddenly, the demon lord disappeared. The throne was empty. Ace swallowed hard. Then a figure hurtled into view. A shadow loomed over him darkly. The demon lord's hand came over his throat with a ferocious grip.

Ace didn't draw his sword. He grabbed the hand with all his strength. He could barely get the words out. When they did, they came out raw and pained.

"Clover!" Ace rasped.

There was a flicker of recognition in Clover's eyes. The intense red subsided. They threw their hand from Ace's throat as though they wanted to tear it from themselves. Ace fell to his knees, gasping for breath. Clover let out an unsteady breath and staggered back.

"What are you doing here?" Clover breathed horsley.

Ace fought against the pain and forced his eyes up. They fluttered up watery with barely contained emotion.

"I came...for you," Ace croaked.

"Then you just wasted a journey," Clover recoiled. "Go home,"

They stumbled forward toward the throne, gripping their heads. Ace came to his feet with a start. He grabbed onto Clover as they reeled back unsteadily. Clover's eyes widened wildly. They slapped Ace's hand away. Their white hair fell over their eyes as they barely remained standing.

"I SAID GO!" Clover screamed.

Ace flinched, he stepped back in surprise. He observed Clover hesitantly.

"What's wrong with you?" he questioned.

"Nothing," Clover inhaled sharply.

"You're not yourself," Ace remarked.

Clover steadied, pulling themselves up with a cold restrained stare.

"Oh, I'm more myself than I've ever been," Clover said calmly. "I want you to go right now,"

"Clover, tell me what it is," Ace said slowly.

He barely took a step towards Clover, but their arms flew up. Suddenly Clover doubled over again, turning their back to Ace. They began to bash their head with their fists. Ace rushed forward and grabbed Clover's arms.

"Clover!" Ace cried

Clover struggled against him frustratedly. They were muttering some unintelligible words under their breath.

"Clover!" Ace called again.

A pained expression came over Clover's face and they shut their eyes tightly and threw their head back.

"Why now?!" Clover breathed roughly. They thrust their arms from Ace grip and turned to the door.

"Guards!" Clover yelled fiercely.

Two demons rushed into the hall. They could barely meet the demon lord's eye. They both stared down fearfully.

"Throw him out," Clover instructed. "Don't let anyone else in,"

As the two guards looked at each other in surprise, the demon lord turned abruptly to the throne. The two demons immediately ran up the length of the hall and grabbed Ace by the arms.

"Clover?" Ace uttered in disbelief.

The guards began to pull him to the door. Ace kept his eyes on Clover. They were slumped against the throne with their face in one hand.

"Clover?!" Ace called.

The next thing he knew, he was thrown roughly against the gritty hard earth. Ace stared up in disbelief. He was in the courtyard with the two demons standing over him. He couldn't believe it? Was that even Clover?

"What do you think?" One of the demons said with a smile.

"This is the first one to come out alive all day," the other laughed, "Does this mean we can't kill him?"

"How long has the Demon Lord been like that?" Ace asked, ignoring them. He was used to demon's threats. He could differentiate between intimidation and genuine bloodthirst.

They both stared down, disinterested.

"What do you mean?" said one with a shrug.

"He's not from the west," said the other with a smirk, "It's usually these types that get killed first. I wonder why the demon lord let him out alive,"

"It hasn't been this bad for a while," the first remarked. "You should consider yourself lucky and scram,"

"TELL ME!" Ace insisted.

The first grabbed him by the collar dragging him up, "Who do you think you're talking to?"

Ace unsheathed his sword and held it to their throat. "I said tell me," he breathed viciously.

"Whatever," the demon shrugged indifferently, "Everyone already knows in these parts. It ain't a secret. The lord's been on a rampage for days. Anyone who steps into the halls will be killed - usually,"

"How long has it been like this?" Ace dropped his sword.

"What is this kid saying?" the demon scoffed, "Who knows? I don't keep track of every time it happens,"

"It's happened before?"

"It's always been like this since they killed the demon king. They go out of control for days. Just wrecking the place and killing anyone that comes near like some kind of trance. It's funny because then the next day they'll just be smiling like normal. That's our lord. That's the reason why the house of swords will never fall like the others," he added proudly.

Ace let out an incredulous breath. Was that who Clover really was? He couldn't believe it. Every time he had seen Clover kill, he saw the torment in their eyes. Clover never killed without reason. All those days spent together he had never seen this in Clover at all. What did it all mean?

"Well, you got your answer. Piss off," the demon glared. "You heard. No more challengers for today,"

Ace met their eyes unwavering, "I'm not going anywhere."