The Villain and Villainess

Song recommendation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3Qzzggn--s

Inside the temple was unfathomably dark. Michael could hear a low whispering.

"Veretta? "He called into the darkness.

His voice echoed out, seemingly rippling out endlessly. He could hear the sound of moaning and crying. Beginning in a whimpering then concaving all around him, deafening his ears. He closed his eyes in deep concentration trying to detect Veretta's magic.

He caught hold of an ever so slight glimmer of magic and went towards it. A small light appeared guiding him forward. Suddenly, it grew blindly bright. A small familiar cottage materialized in front of him. The sun was shining just behind a horizon of hills and trees.

Michael glimpsed a black-haired woman hanging clothes on a line and chased after her. He grabbed her by the shoulder, pulling her face to his.

"Veretta?" Michael exhaled breathlessly.

She turned back startled. Michael suddenly realised that in spite of her dark hair, she was older. Her hazel contained only a glimmer of green.

"Are you a friend of Veretta?" She smiled kindly, " Darling, look a friend of Verettas has come,"

A man emerged behind them. He had the same bright green eyes as Veretta's under his glasses. He swept a hand through his brown hair.

"Oh, she has gone to fetch some mushrooms for mother's dinner," he said, "She went to the forest," He pointed just beyond.

"Thank you," Michael said slowly. He was about to take off but paused. He glanced at the pair once more and gave a low bow.

" Oh, what a polite boy, "They smiled, "Please find our daughter and join us for dinner,"

"I will," Michael returned resolutely. He took off running in the direction of the forest. As he mounted the hillside the air grew sharply cold. A blast of snow and ice pelted him. The sun vanished from sight and the ground was coated with snow. Michael continued on, he found the site of a battle. Soldiers were strewn left and right. The trees were blackened and charred. It all seemed uncannily familiar.

Then in front of him, he saw two figures kneeling down in the snow. A woman lay dead in Veretta's arms as she sobbed loudly.

"Charlotte! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" She howled with a keening cry.

Michael knelt down beside her.

" She's dead, Errik! She's dead. I've killed her," Veretta looked up, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Veretta it's me, Michael," he said softly.

"Michael?" She stared at him incomprehensibly. A sudden fit of recognition took hold. Charlotte's body was gone. Veretta stared at him wide-eyed and shaken.

"You have to come back with me," Michael reached to her.

"No!" She flinched, moving back, " Leave me alone,"

"Veretta, you can't stay here," Michael smiled sadly.

"... I can. I can! I want to stay here," Veretta turned and marched away.

This time, Michael caught hold of her, " This is the place where we first met, isn't it?"

Veretta paused, staring down, "You remember?"

"Being here, it feels familiar. Like a dream, I once had," Michael said quietly, " I remember standing on the balcony, music was playing..."

As he said the words, the snowy forest was transformed. He was dressed in a black suit and Veretta was draped in a blue silk dress. A warm evening breeze passed between them.

"You told me you loved me and asked for my reply," Michael glanced around surprised. Then turned back resolutely, " I do. I do love you,"

"How can you say that? "Veretta shook her head, " It's another lie, it isn't true!"

" It is true!" Michael cried," I knew it at that moment and I know it now!"

He feverishly kissed her lips," I love you! I love you! I love you more than I've ever loved anything!" he breathed.

" No," Veretta exhaled a shallow trembling breath.

"Yes, and you know it's true!" Michael pulled her close in his embrace, " You make me want to live. You make me want to die, if it meant I could be with you. I love your darkness. I love your light. I love everything! Look into my mind, can't you see it's true?"

Veretta felt an overwhelming wash of Michael's emotions. She had never seen anyone so vividly. It was as though all the lies and deceptions were swept away in that instant. They could see each other clearly for the first time.

In an instant, they were both back in the trenches of the battlefield embroiled in each other's arms. The black scales fell from Veretta's eyes and she was staring into Michael's flaming golden eyes.

The black pool disappeared and all the dead along with it. The dragon gave one last bellowing roar, then its bones fell to the ground, turning to dust.

It was suddenly calm.

Veretta and Michael were still lost in each other's eyes. A thousand words were said in that one exchange.

"It's over," Michael said softly.

"What's going to happen now?" Veretta asked quietly," they will kill me for what I have done. I am no better than Silthus. A villainess..."

"Then let us be the villains, a necromancer and a black wizard," Michael grinned," the villains don't have to ask for forgiveness. We don't care what the world thinks and we make no apologies. We trample on everyone who gets in our way without remorse. Because we have each other, we don't have to be afraid,"

Veretta's eyes widened and steadied, "Then, let's fulfil our deal. Even if it destroys us and the world?"

"We'll watch it burn together,"

They turned back to the destruction of the castle. Darius and Tomas appeared behind the plethora of smoke. They rushed towards the pair

"Where is Yona?" Michael asked Tomas.

"Still in the castle," Tomas answered.

"Take Darius and bring her to the portal altar. We will meet you there," Michael instructed.

"What about the stones?" Darius questioned, "they'll never let you leave with them,"

"I have a remedy for that," Michael grinned.

As Darius and Tomas set off, Leva Veral's men surrounded Veretta and Michael. Leva come to the front with her soldiers. Estelle marched forward with her blade raised.

"Going Somewhere?"

"Look down," Michael smirked.

Leva Veral was standing on the opposite side of the white lines.

"I suppose the match is over," Michael shrugged.

"She nearly killed Us all!" Estelle snapped.

"But look, you are all alive. We've only followed the rules the grandmaster set us,"

"There is no way such a match can be counted!" exclaimed the crowd.

"TWO in. One out," Michael dismissed," Did we follow your rules or not, Leva Veral?"

"Even If we concede this match to you, we are still evenly tied. One draw. One win by you and one by us," Leva returned coldly.

'Mmm, so it seems," Michael smiled, " then we must settle this fairly. How is this? I will give you two stones. And I will take the rest,"

"Preposterous!" Estelle roared.

'Well let us take account. The Grand wizard is injured. You have already lost one man. We have four,"

"You are still outnumbered," Leva replied cuttingly.

"Are we?" Michael smirked. With a flick of his hand, a tidal wave of water cut through half of Leva Veral's soldiers," they say a grand wizard is worth a dozen men. How many more do you think a necromancer is worth, Veretta?"

"Perhaps a hundred?" She smiled.

"Oh, then I think that leaves us quite evenly matched," Michael smiled darkly.

"Very well," Leva said flatly, "but you have made many powerful enemies today. All of you, "

" That is unfortunate," Veretta replied unflinchingly," because so have you,"

The exchange took place under the glares of the Western woman and Leva's men. Nevertheless, the stones were turned over and the groups parted. Michael and Veretta hastened to the lower level of the castle where the others were waiting.

Tomas was carrying Yona in his arms.

"How did it go?" Darius asked hesitantly.

"Well I believe we have just made on enemy out of the entire continent," Michael grinned, "So a success, I think,"

"What?" Darius gasped.

However, Michael was already working on the portal. The black pathway opened up.

"You're joking, right? Tell me you're joking," Darius murdered.

"No time to delay!" Michael pushed him through.

The others followed quickly behind. They emerged out in a green forest clearing.

"Where are we?" Tomas questioned.

"No Idea," Michael shrugged. He marched forward indifferently.

"So what now?" Darius frowned.

"Now we find that ungrateful disciple of mine," Michael declared.

"But how?!" Darius protested, "Silthus could be anywhere,"

"He's in the North," Veretta said calmly.

"How do you know that?" Tomas asked.

"I can sense Ace's connection to Michael," she explained," I have been maintaining the connection so Michael didn't lose his magic again,"

"You can do that?" Darius questioned surprised.

"Such is our connection," Michael smirked arrogantly.

"So we know where AceiIs, " Darius said thoughtfully," What is our plan?"

"We break in, wreak havoc and drag Ace out," Michael shrugged.

"That's NOT a plan!" Darius scoffed, "that is a suicide mission. Silthus is protected by hundreds of wizards. Surely, you two can't agree with this plan?" He entreated Veretta and Tomas.

" I agree with Michael," Varela answered nonplus.

"Tomas, you must be against this?" Darius turned to him pleadingly.

Tomas glanced down at Yona solemnly," It's time for the world to be rid of Silthus," His eyes panned up seriously," I'm in,"

"Then Darius, it's just you" Michael grinned," What's it going to be?"

"It seems like I don't have any other choice," Darius sighed," Fine, I'm in! But if this goes horribly wrong, which it will - I reserve the right to tell you l told you so,"

"Then Darius is in, so there's only one thing left to do," Michael smiled.

"Let's save Ace."