Chapter 53: The ones they threw away

Michael's hazel eyes fluttered in deep thought, "Suppose I went to Silthus' side. What exactly is he trying to do?"

"You were born in the greatest Empire this world has ever seen," Cora went on, "The world has since been overcome by disparity, poverty and godlessness. If you come with us, we will return this world to a time when things made sense. Silthus will unite the world in peace and equality,"

Michael turned to Cora with a blank expression, "Are you an idiot?"

"Excuse me?" Cora's brow furrowed.

"The Empire was fucking stain on this world. There are no gods worth praying to. There will always be poverty because the human soul the gods created is disgustingly impoverished. Peace is an illusion and so is equality. I don't need some filthy self-entitled warlord to give me a purpose," Michael said unflinchingly, "I will do what I have always done. Trust in myself and anyone who gets in my way will regret it,"

Cora's ruby lips stretched into a wide smile, "Oh! You are not what I expected at all. It's just as Silthus said. I see why Ace called you master. Your viciousness exceeds even his. I love savage men,"

"Well, I hate weak-willed women. Go back to your master," Michael turned his gaze away, "you heard my answer,"

"Just to confirm," Cora smirked with a hum, "your answer is no?"

"What are you deaf as well as dumb?" Michael said cuttingly, "NO, is that clear enough? Now, fuck off before I lose my temper...again,"

"The thing is," Cora giggled, "Silthus doesn't know the meaning of no. That is why he is Silthus,"

She threw out her hand towards Michael's neck. He instantly countered and grabbed hold of her wrist. His eyes widened as he stared down at the metal ring in her hand.

"Where did you get that?" he breathed.

"Surprised?" Cora grinned ecstatically, "I heard you made it. Silthus found it for you. Aren't you grateful?"

Michael's face drew up in abhorrence. Cora pounced upon him pushing him back against the sand, forcing the ring to his neck. Michael struggled against her grip, but it began to draw closer and closer. Suddenly, the water jumped up from the surrounding river and ripped Cora off of him. Michael sat up straight in a cold sweat and unsheathed his sword. Never had he seen a human with such ungodly strength.

Cora landed at the other side of the embankment with a slam. However, without much effort, she came to her feet. She looked down at her soaking wet clothes and let out a giggle.

"Are you trying to get me to undress?" she flew across the river in a single bound.

She came down with her bare fist first. Michael countered with his sword, but to his surprise, Cora met the blade with her fist alone. Not only that but he could feel the pressure of her attack driving him back.

"What are you?" he glared at her wildly.

"I'm not a demon if that's what you're wondering," she smiled.

Her fist broke through Michael's guard and knocked him to the ground. He brought a hand to his nose which was pooling with blood and a look of unmitigated rage took hold. Upon rising, he threw up his hands and a tidal wave encased Cora crushing her in a vicious vortex.

"Is this that unruly temper I've heard so much about?" came Cora's voice within.

She stepped through the wall of water as it cut through her flesh. She emerged covered from head to foot in blood staring at Michael with an almost inhumane smile. Michael's eyes twitched. He immediately threw his hands up to attack once more.

In the same instant, Cora flew at him. Her fist met a block of solid ice. Michael let out an unhinged breath from behind it. It had barely formed in time to block the blow. As he stood behind the slick blue surface, he saw Cora's shadow recede. Then suddenly her fist flew straight through the ice, shattering it. Her hand reached through the cold shards and marked Michael's face with blood. He jumped back surprised. From the other side, he heard Cora giggling sickeningly.

She stepped through the crumbling ice and began to walk towards him. To Michael's own surprise, he became rigidly still. He was summoning all his strength, but his body wasn't responding. As Cora grew close, the effect seemed to solidify. Malevolent energy tightened around his whole body rendering him unable to move.

"Why can't I move?" Michael gasped, "what kind of magic is this?"

Cora gave a wide smile, "The wizards on this continent think they know everything. There are magics far older than your delicate elemental magic,"

"Demonic magic?" Michael vicious yellow eyes went to Cora furiously.

"No," Cora shook her head, "if you're curious I'll tell you all about it on the way back to Silthus,"

"If you bring me to Silthus, I will die," Michael uttered, "tell me what he has on you. I can give you something better,"

Cora titled her head to one side looking at him curiously. She took a bloody finger to his lips and marked them in blood. She then leaned in and kissed him. Michael let out a stifled grunt.

"Aren't you cute?" Cora grinned, "but you know, unless you fix that disgusted look in your eyes, I don't think I can believe you,"

Cora slapped him to the ground with one hit and stared down with a smile.

*********

It was several hours before Michael regained consciousness again. He felt intense pain searing across his face. She had probably shattered his jaw. Within a moment, the pain only intensified as a blood-curdling scream forced his eyes open.

"Please! Please!! I beg of you Silthus. It was a mistake! Please just spare us, if not me, but at least my son!"

Michael's hazel eyes opened watery and disorientated. He has immediately inundated with the sound of another scream then a splash of warm blood across his face. He pulled back in shock startled to find his arms and leg bound to a decrepit chair. In the dark cell, his eyes adjusted to the light of a small brick fireplace just beyond which was illuminating the figures standing beside it.

Michael's eyes panned down and he saw two dead bodies upon the stone floor. The splatter of their blood was sprayed across them. Michael inhaled sharply and met the dark blue eyes appraising him from the other side of the room.

"You're awake. Excellent," Silthus came before him. He stared down with a small smile, in his hand, his sword was still wet with blood. He outstretched his hand and turned Michael's face to his. It was blue and purpling. Michael begrudgingly let out a grunt.

"Looks like it hurts," Silthus observed, "You should have just accepted. We could have done this the easy way,"

Michael said nothing but his golden eyes glowered with a mixture of rage and resentment. SIlthus gave another satisfied grin and gave a wave. A woman dressed in black appeared by his side and began to heal Michael.

Silthus sat back at a table across from them, resting his feet on the bodies of the dead below, with a smug grin. When the woman had finished her work, she disappeared into the shadows, once more leaving them alone.

"There," Silthus chuckled, "you look much better. Your pretty face is almost back to normal. You should be able to speak now,"

"What do you want from me?" Michael said in a low feral voice.

Silthus gave a shrug, "I haven't decided yet. All I know is I wanted you."

"I'm just old and reclusive wizard," Michael scoffed, "You can't throw a stone without finding a wizard like me. I can't give you what you want. Find someone else,"

"Don't sell yourself short," Silthus smiled, "You're the black wizard, after all,"

"You're mistaken," Michael said coldly.

"I don't think so," Silthus countered, "I know my history. You served my ancestor. Of course, I know who you are,"

"Your ancestor?" Michael frowned.

"Didn't Ace tell you?" Silthus sighed, "I am a direct descendent of the Empire of Rotan. That is the Emperor you served,"

"I knew there was a reason I instantly dislike you," Michael replied cuttingly, "you know I killed him in cold blood? I'll kill you too,"

"Come on," Silthus laughed, "we both know that's not true. You didn't kill the emperor. The family record indicates he renounced his throne and disappeared into obscurity somewhere. You were just the scapegoat so the royal court could save face. Or more accurately, you were already dead so it didn't matter either way,"

"Ah, you've done your homework," Michael said bemused, "Do all warlords have so much time to waste?"

Silthus smiled undeterred, "I was so curious as to why Ace hid you from me and the more I learned about you, the more intrigued I became, but there's still something I don't understand. A wizard like you is once in a generation. I read in the record you spent your life killing demons for the empire, but they just threw you away. You were a loyal soldier and you fought for the empire - why? I can't understand it,"

"You don't understand why they threw me away?" Michael scoffed, "isn't it obvious? Your pathetic backstabbing ancestor hated me from the start. They all did because I was just like my predecessor and they were afraid of me,"

"Your predecessor - The Cirillean wizard?" Silthus smiled, "the first grand wizard, yes, I read about him. He was your mentor in some accounts. In others, they say he was your father. Is it true he was killed by a demon?"

Michael's jaw clenched and he lunged forward, but once again was barred by his restraints. He opened his palm and tried to draw magic, but to no avail.

"What have you done to my magic?" Michael demanded.

"Answer my question first," Silthus said unmoved, "they say you hated demons. If that's true, why are you helping Ace?"

"He's my student," Michael retorted with irritation.

"But there's no record of a demon such as him during the time you were a wizard," Silthus' eyes narrowed, "which means either they had reason to hide his presence there or...he was not a demon when he was your student?"

"Who can say?" Michael grinned unrepentantly.

"You don't want to betray him," Silthus gave a nod, "that's very noble of you. See again, I can't quite understand it. What makes you so wicked?"

"Why don't you take this necklace off my throat and I'll show you," Michael's eyes lit up furiously.

"Ah, you noticed?" Silthus chuckled. He tilted Michael's face up to inspect the metal band around his neck, "I was actually saving this for Ace, but it came in handy. I wasn't sure it was real. I mean, a necklace that can seal magic. How did you invent such a thing?"

"Where there's a will, there's a way," Michael answered through gritted teeth as Silthus pulled back his hand.

"Indeed," Silthus chuckled.

"If you think you can use me to get to Ace, you're sadly mistaken," Michael added with a sneer, "magic or no magic, this necklace changes nothing. You'll have to kill me first, Silthus,"

"Why would I kill you?" Silthus shook his head, "I like you, Michael. At first, I thought you were just someone Ace was hiding from me, but you and I are not so different,"

"How do you figure?" Michael gave a derisive snort.

"We were both thrown away. You by the Empire and me by the people I trusted. I thought Ace would never leave me, but I guess I was wrong. It's fine. We're survivors, you and I. We fight till we get what we want," Silthus said solemnly, "So, Michael let's be friends. We can help each other."