Chapter 44: Michael

"How many years have passed?" the black wizard sauntered down the hall with an inspecting air.

"300," Ace answered.

The wizard's sharp hazel eyes looked up at Ace shrewdly, "and you haven't changed at all,"

"That's where you're wrong," Ace smiled, "but I'll fill you in on the rest once I return from the college,"

"The tower still stands?" the wizard smirked.

"Yes," Ace answered.

"Interesting," the wizard continued his inspection of the hall. "And these children following us, are they from the tower?" he said without looking back at Yona and Tomas who were trailing behind.

"Tomas is a student and Yona is my charge," Ace replied.

"She is a demon," the wizard remarked coldly.

"As am I," Ace smiled.

The wizard gave a derisive grunt and continued to walk ahead. Ace opened a door into the study and the wizard went straight in unceremoniously. It was still dark inside. The candles were flowing over their holders. The fireplace was dead and the curtains were drawn. The wizard marched up to them and drew them back with surprise.

"This isn't the capital?" he turned back to Ace.

"It is, but the Empire is dead," Ace replied.

The wizard threw back his head laughing disparagingly.

"I thought you would find that amusing," Ace grinned.

He went to the shelves and pulled the book down as he did before. The latch came down and he opened the backroom from behind it. He unlocked the door and pulled it back.

"Ahh," Ace let out a sigh, "she's gone,"

"What?" Tomas went quickly over to see for himself, "where is she?"

"Where is who?" the black wizard glanced back at them.

"A little friend of a friend," Ace chuckled, "I'm sure she's wandering around here somewhere. Find her Tomas. I have to go,"

"Okay," Tomas nodded and he and Yona set out.

Ace turned back to the wizard, "It's good to see you, old friend,"

The wizard looked at him with a cold smile, "We're not friends. We never were,"

Ace gave a small smile and then departed the room.

The wizard went back to surveying the garden below. He pushed back the latch and leant across the frame with a smile. He was about to venture outside when the door rattled slightly and he looked back. Veretta quickly entered the room and closed the door behind her. She looked up the wizard startled.

"There you are," she breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank goodness I found you,"

The wizard titled his head to the side looking at her curiously.

Veretta hastily grabbed his hand and started towards the door. However, before she could reach it, she felt a sharp tug back.

"What are you doing?" she gazed up at him in surprise, "We have to go before they do the spell,"

"What spell?" he stared down with an unreadable expression.

Veretta's brow furrowed, "Ace and the others. We have to leave quickly before they find us. We'll grab Tomas and go,"

She started again towards the door. However, this time she pulled back with such force that she stumbled backwards. The wizard caught her in his arms and stared down with a smile.

"Where are you taking me?" he asked with a smirk.

"What do you mean?" Veretta looked at him confused for a moment then drew in a breath, "Errik, listen. You don't have to do the spell. We can escape. You aren't the one that's been holding me back. I was lost in my own sadness and anger and I didn't realise all this time how you really felt. I love you too. We can think of something. We can go ahead with the original plan. We'll find a way. I don't want you to die either,"

The wizard gave an amused chuckle, "When did I say that I love you?"

"What are you talking about?" Veretta stared at him uncomprehendingly.

"It's pathetic, really. You must have snuck in here to rescue me. You stupid little girl. Who asked you to? Love you? Impossible. I don't love you nor any other contriving wench who tries to garner my favour with paltry declarations of love,"

"Errik," Veretta faltered, "No..."

"You keep calling me that, but that's not my name," he stared at her coldly, "my name is Michael. Shouldn't you at least know that if you're supposed to be in love with me? I must say, you look familiar though. Are you the one they've been searching for?"

Suddenly, Veretta stepped back from him. "I was too late," she breathed.

"Errik?" the wizard tilted his head to one side, "What is he the god of again? Was it rain?"

Veretta began to slowly step backwards towards the door.

The wizard gave a dark smile, "I wouldn't do that if I were you,"

Veretta spun round quickly and threw open the door. She raced down the hallway. The was a terrible rumbling below her feet. She glanced back apprehensively as a great wave of water came crashing down on her. She was viciously slammed against the wall. The wizard strolled down the wall after her. With a flick of his wrist, a whip of water slapped her to the ground. Veretta let out a splutter as she struggled to rise.

The wizard knelt down beside her laughing, "Oh, my. What a mess you are," he pulled back a strand of her black hair.

Veretta stared up with trembling eyes. She inhaled sharply and a spark of electricity whizzed out from her hand. The wizard simply dodged his head to one side.

"You're a mage," he observed with a smile, "I shouldn't go easy on you then,"

He pulled back his hand another wave of magic crashed down on Veretta. He rose leisurely as the water continued to whirl around her on its own. Veretta was pulled up from the ground and enshrined in water. She reached out painfully as the water wrapped around her throat. The wizard turned back.

"So are you done yet? Want to surrender?" he glanced up at her, then mockingly placed a hand to his ear, "I'm sorry, I don't seem to be able to hear you. I guess that means your answer is no,"

Veretta felt the water flooding her lungs. As she choked back painful mouthfuls of water. Her vision started to blur and her consciousness fade. Suddenly, a blast of sharp wind rocketed through the hallway. The wizard immediately put up his hand to shield himself with water and Veretta was dropped to the floor.

She collapsed on the ground spluttering water and gasping for breath. Tomas came running towards her with Yona behind him.

"Veretta, are you okay?" he cried.

However, her eyes were not on him. She was staring up at the wizard with a look of disbelief and dismay. He looked down at her coldly. Tomas's eyes came up furiously.

"You could have killed her!" he exclaimed.

The wizard raised an eyebrow, "I think that was rather a light punishment for an intruder,"

Tomas' eyes widened with anger, but he forced himself to turn back to Veretta and helped her to her feet.

"Yona, can you take her back to the study?" Tomas asked.

She complied and helped Veretta back to the study. Tomas watched them go then turned back to the wizard who was staring down with an amused smile.

"Don't you ever lay a hand on her again," Tomas said fiercely.

"Or what?" the wizard leaned in with a grin, "what are you going to do?"

"Just stay away from her," Tomas returned.

"I don't answer to you," the wizard chuckled.

"The general never said you could hurt her," Tomas responded with agitation.

"The general?" the wizard sneered, "Don't tell me you're talking about Ace?"

"That's right," Tomas enjoined, "so keep your hands to yourself,"

"I don't answer to him either," the wizard grinned darkly, "Are you his student? You seem awfully confident in him. You do know he's a demon, don't you?"

"I know he's a demon," Tomas scoffed, "but I'm not his student,"

"Well, he was quite terrible a magic so I wouldn't recommend it," the wizard gave a self-satisfied smile, "but you're clearly someone's student. Who is your master?"

"I have no master," Tomas answered, "not anymore,"

"What a shame," the wizard tutted, "you have such potential. Perhaps I could teach you a thing or two,"

"Why would you offer me that?" Tomas glared at him suspiciously.

"I'm just being polite," the wizard smiled, "we've never met before. I wonder you're so hostile? I'm just curious about this new era. Won't you enlighten me?"

"Enlighten yourself," Tomas snapped. "And while you're at it, stay away from my friend,"

He marched off to the office. The wizard gave a chuckle and continued to investigate the house.

In the study, Tomas found Veretta sitting very still in a chair by the fire. Yona was kneeling down lighting it. He immediately went to Veretta. She looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

"What have you done to him?" she breathed uneasily.

"The spell seems to have brought back all his memories of his old life," Tomas answered hesitantly, "but..."

"He doesn't remember me," Veretta said quietly.

"We didn't know it would happen!" Tomas shook his head in dismay.

"He did," Veretta let out a short gasp, "Errik knew. That's why he came to say goodbye. He's really gone...forever,"

"Veretta...I.." Tomas's brow creased.

Veretta doubled over in her seat with her face in her hands crying.

Tomas turned to Yona, "I'm sorry but can you leave us for a second?"

Yona looked up at him and gave a nod. She quietly left the room and closed the door behind. Tomas pulled Veretta into his arms as she sobbed against his chest.

"Why did you do this to me, Tomas?" she gripped him tightly.

"You left me no choice," he answered solemnly, "if you had gone after Silthus a lot of people would have been killed. You would have been killed,"

"It just hurts so bad, Tomas. I feel like I can't breathe. It's like this darkness inside is just tearing me apart and I can't control it. I don't know what's wrong with me!" Veretta shook terribly, "now Errik's gone and I'm all alone again. I can't stand it. I can't stand it!"

"You're not alone," Tomas hugged her warmly, "do you hear me? You are not alone. You have me and we will always be friends,"