Bonus Chapter 2: Ebony's Memories (II)

Trigger Warning: Gore, Violence and Blackmail.

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Crackling and flaming, the forest between us spouts great flames eviscerating everything in its path. The weakened Hassan is in the ground, weakly telling me to run away.

In the middle of the fire, a great, evil silhouette walks towards it. Grinning, he continues to stride towards us, full of malice.

"Hmm? If it isn't my younger brother? What's your new name? OH RIGHT! Hassan I-Sabbah. You're just like me, gladly taking up new names from gods.", The Inquisitor mocks the man. "Though, unlike you, I won't settle for less."

" *coughs* W-what are you doing here, Hektor?!", Hassan said weakly.

Furiously, the Inquisitor kicked his face and held his bleeding head, "I told you to not call me that anymore, Ariel! We both took name from our gods but unlike you, I am still faithful to ours. You...disgrace me. My new name is Nikola Jeanne D'Monteau and I pledged towards my god to reborn this world and make it prosperous."

He then let go of his brother and focused his attention to me. Observing me like a snake, he walks towards me smiling.

"What's an elf doing here? Wait, I saw you before. BWHAHAHA, yes, I saw you with my own two eyes while I 'free' your lands.", Nikola woefully said.

"Where is my sister?", the first words that I uttered.

"Pardon? Do I look like someone who keeps kids?", He jokingly said. "Yes, yes I do keep kids for slavery. I got a lot of elf slaves so you got to specify which one."

I swiftly took out one of my blades and tried to stab him but he stopped it with two fingers only. With a gruffy voice, he scoffed. His eyes are full of dread and misery and those very eyes carefully observes me.

"sigh, Hassan, you should teach your younglings not to take up weapons, it's dangerous.", He swiftly grabbed my arm and lifted me up. "I guess you are useful, little elf, but you are definitely not strong enough. Let's...make a deal."

Hassan tried to stand up and protect me but he was kept shackled by a mysterious magic. With a wave of his hand, The Inquisitor even managed to shut up Hassan's mouth.

"Before I disclose the deal, I would tell you two my purpose here. You see, it's been a long time I heard about this settlement of yours, brother. Quite nice, quite nice. I was thinking of how you did this so I...researched a bit. I managed to know that you've been helped by that Goddess Lunala. I guess you're lucky because if it isn't for her, you would all die a cold death.", Smirking with disgust, he tightened his grasp while I squealed little bit.

"How could you betray me, my brother? Our one and only god is the God Nikola. He's malevolent, a shining beacon of ours, how dare you step onto betrayal? He gave me my power, a new name the same as his surname and yet you failed to realize that all I'm doing is by his will. Life and Prosperity, this is our job. I don't care how many lives I will trample, this is prosperous. These other races, malignant, full of sins, how dare you ally with them?", The calmed expression of the Inquisitor was overthrown with craziness and anger.

"These, elves and dwarves, they don't believe that everything I do is to make my people feel...alive. They are drawn to the obsession of being perfect. they are grasped by greed. Don't you see, brother? Everything I do, I do it for you and for every human out there.", He looked at me with disgust and threw me towards Hassan. Scared, I hugged Hassan. "Oh, you care for this particular elf it seems. Never mind that, my true purpose here is to bear you some great news."

THE GOD IGNIS IS DEAD! KILLED BY HER WIFE, THE GODDESS LUNALA. THE SAME GOD YOU CHERISH AND PRAISE. SHE RAN AWAY. SHE LEFT ALL OF YOU. PEACE WAS NEVER AN OPTION IT SEEMS. EVEN THE MAN WITH THE RAVEN HAD A PROPHECY. WHAT PROPHECY? I'LL LET YOU GUYS KNOW BY YOURSELF.

"Y-you're lying...Y-you are..", My mouth shakes in fear and uncertainty. My whole body trembles in disbelief. "My goddess is pure. She would never do such a thing."

"I guess, she's not as pure as you thought. Sometimes, people are wrong. You just got to accept it.", Nikola said with woeful sympathy. "Well, my purpose here is to give you this news only. It's so good that I decided to spare your lives for now...except you, ELF.", With a mysterious magic, he grabbed me by the neck while Hassan continues to let out muffled screams and shouts.

My body floated erratically towards the Inquisitor as he starts chanting illegible words. My whole mind started to fill up with haze and my body started to willfully obey towards him. I could feel that he stopped grabbing me in the neck, though, I cannot control my whole body now. I could feel, hear and see everything but I cannot control anything no matter how hard I tried.

He whispered, "This is a contract. You will now work for me and I would let you see your sister."

My head unconsciously nodded as he materialized a parchment paper from the air. The contents consist of the conditions of the contract with both our names. He took out a small knife and slit his thumb. Fearing the worst, I tried to regain control over my body but to no avail. In my mind, I am continuously screaming. At last, he did the same as mine and we both left our blood mark. No doubt about it - this is...a blood contract. I am now bound to it...against my will.

Hence, he continued to whisper, "You cannot break this pact unless you don't want your sister to be hurt. Although, I will let you in on one secret, you could only break it after you kill me."

In my mind, I could feel the haze slowly dissipating. Slowly, I came control over my body. After I had a full control over it, I immediately tried to punch him but with a flick of his hand, my entire body just froze and I cannot move a muscle. He looked at me and shook his head in dismay.

"I know you remember what happened, little elf. You are now mine. You're in my control. You cannot kill me, I literally own you. You cannot disobey me. What I want, you will always do. No matter how...fucked up it is.", he grinned widely. After he flicked his hand again, my whole body just plopped down the ground while I take a big gasp. "I've had enough with you two, I am leaving this dreadful town."

With another flick of his hand, the flames of the forest instantly disappears. He also took the shackles of Hassan and the latter immediately took me and ran away. The Inquisitor walked towards the other direction but not before facing towards me, mouthing "We'll meet each other shortly again, little elf."

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With a wounded and broken body, Hassan still tried to carry my shocked body with all his remaining strength. Even though I am aware of what's happening, all my strength faded trying to resist the control of the Inquisitor. The harsh, cold wind blows heavily against us yet he didn't stop. I could hear him breathing heavily yet faintly and his eyes are full of regret - they are blank. He noticed me looking at him and just smiled weakly.

When we arrived in the town, battered and defeated, the townsfolk instantly surrounded us. Heaving wearily, they insisted to treat us but I've decided to just stay with Hassan's family.

"Take care of them for now, Ebony. I'll be back.", Hassan uttered before being dragged to the infirmary.

After a few moments, I saw Ybrahim and Emilia rush to me with worry in their faces. She thoroughly checked every nook and cranny of my body. She also touched my face and smiled at me before hugging me tightly.

"I'm glad you're both safe. Don't ever make us worry like that ever again. Please, promise me. I don't want you or my husband get hurt. Please, stop being reckless and hard-headed.", she said with tears in her eyes.

"Yeah, Big Sis, we were worried sick. Who knows what those guys would do to you?", I was confused. I asked Ybrahim what guys and he told me that several hooded men came to the town and stopped the people from following the both of us.

"Don't worry, they did nothing to us...", I was forced to lie in front of them. I can't just say that I've been in a blood contract with the man who wants to conquer all. I don't want to say that I've become a tool for war.

After we arrived back in the house, Emilia immediately prepared a new batch of clothes and a bowl of hot broth. I totally forgot the cold of the winter with all that happened - maybe because my blood is boiling towards him. After changing clothes and thanking Emilia for the food, I immediately went towards my room.

"Uh, goodnight, Ebony. Have a good sleep and rest well. We love you.", Emilia said to me before I locked my door. I greeted her back and hugged her before telling her that I need to rest. "Understood. Go regain your energy, I will protect you."

When I locked the door, I could still feel the haze in my mind. It's still clouding up my senses. I heard the doors of Ybrahim and Emilia close, signalling that they are also going to sleep. I also went to my bed, thinking about all that happened. I looked at the fresh wound in my hand - flashbacks of the misery brought upon by that man came to me.

"Are you still fuming in rage, little elf?", a mysterious yet familiar voice broke the silence of my room. I looked for the source of the voice to no avail. "Hopeless, I'm not in your room. Instead, I'm in you. I told you we'll meet again shortly."

"Get out of my head! Leave me alone! Ahhh!!!", I screamed all over the room. Emilia and Ybrahim heard me and knocked on the door repeatedly.

"Are you okay?! What's happening?! EBONY?!", their voices is shrouded with fear, knocking the door harder. "Please open the door."

"What a nuisance. This was supposed to just be between us yet you garnered unnecessary attention. Be quiet, wench.", I came back to the place where the thick haze surrounded me. I cannot control my body again. The Inquisitor activated the contract and control my body freely again. "There, quieter. Now, I want you to do your first mission and you got no choice but to obey me. I want you to make my brother suffer. I want you to...kill his family."

"NO!NO!NO!STOP! DON'T MAKE DO THIS. I WILL DO ANYTHING EXCEPT HURT MY FAMILY! AAAAHHHH!!", With all the strength I can garner, I forcefully tried the control of the contract. "I'M BEGGING YOU, ANYTHING BUT THAT!"

"Begging doesn't suit you, little elf. You will obey and follow me, you're mine. My property. My tool to ends. If you still try to resist me, I would be forced to kill your little sister - in the most grueling way possible. Gutted, fed to the dogs, her skull would become a lantern in my room. What is your choice? Sacrifice the lives of the one who saved you or sacrifice your sister to me?", he laughed menacingly while I tremble with fear. With all the regret and pain, I decided to let go of my partial control of my body. "Splendid! Since you've accepted the terms of our agreement, I would upheld my promise. I won't hurt your precious sister."

His voice echoes throughout the dark haze. Deep inside this dark hole, I tried to shout for help. Red aura surrounded the inner clench of my consciousness as The Inquisitor regained full control of my body. I could see, hear and feel everything. My heart and mind quiver in fear as I tried to shout, "Run! Emilia! Ybrahim!" over and over again to no avail.

"I know you can see this. Feast your eyes with the blood in your hands. You did this, Ebony. You cannot ever tell to Hassan that I was the one who did this. Instead, you will take the blame. Remember, I have your sister by her neck.", The Inquisitor's mocking laughs surrounded my mind. He then fully controlled my body and started walking erratically towards the door.

Hearing the continuous knocks in my door, he grabbed my blades and opened the door. My emotionless body, used at his own expense.

"Ebony! What happened?! Are you o--", Blood flows from Emilia's neck as he stabbed him in her throat. She gurgles in pain as Ybrahim stood there in shock.

"B-Big Sis...Wh--", A blade pierced through his head, killing Ybrahim immediately. Even with blood flowing from her throat, Emilia reached out her hands to his son and tried to crawl to him. Horror unfolds in my very eyes as death looms towards the mother and son. With tears in her eyes and her final gasps for air, Emilia hugged her dead son, tightly and sat in the wall.

With his normal voice, he talked arrogantly through my body, "Emilia, it's been a long time since I saw your pretty face. You could have been mine yet you chose my loathsome brother. I could've given you everything."

Figuring out that the one she's talking to is not me, Emilia, gasping for the last bit of air, tried to talk towards The Inquisitor, "N-Nikola...Y-You...c-could not g-give...me ev-vrything."

"And what is it that you seek the most that isn't in me?", He asked furiously.

"L...ove.", Emilia's breathing finally stopped as the gruesome scene came to a close. Floor filled with blood, a dead mother hugging her dead, innocent son, a pungent smell looms within the air. The Inquisitor has finally brought upon death.

Now forever etched in my memory, the quick scene of death and horror becomes the focal point of mine, to have revenge against the Inquisitor. Without saying a word, he left my consciousness and I regained full control over my body.

"I'M SORRY! EMILIA! YBRAHIM! THIS IS ALL MY FAULT! I-I SHOULDN'T HAVE RAN OFF. I SHOULD'VE LISTENED TO YOU. I LOVE YOU TOO, I SHOULD HAVE SAID IT TO THE BOTH OF YOU. YOU FED ME, TOOK CARE OF ME AND TREATED ME LIKE YOUR OWN DAUGHTER IN SUCH A SHORT TIME, YET I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO STOP HIM! AAAAHHHH!!!", Tears continued to flow within my face. I hit the floor with my head continuously, apologizing to the both of them with all the strength I have. I held their cold hands tightly and hugged the two of them. Draining all my energy, I eventually fell asleep along my loved ones.

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A cold, gloomy morning came. I was woken up by the angry screams of Hassan, his eyes full of wrath and his teeth clenching in fury. He rushed towards his dead family - pushing me aside. He weeps and screams while holding their carcasses.

Full of fury, he walked towards me, clenching his fist, "What did you do, Ebony? WHAT DID YOU DO?! WHO DID THIS?! I TOLD YOU TO PROTECT THEM?! WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED, YOU FUCKING ELF?!"

With the ravaging presence of Hassan, I went to a loss of words. I tried to explain and talk to him yet no words came out of my mouth. I just cried and walked towards him, in a hugging manner. In return, he just slapped my hands away and in a fit of rage, he threw all the furniture in the living room.

"W-WHY DID YOU KILL THEM?! I KNOW YOU'RE THE ONE WHO KILLED THEM! YOUR BLADES, THEY WERE BESIDES MY WIFE AND SON! WHAT DID MY FUCKING BROTHER PROMISED YOU THAT YOU WOULD DO THIS TO ME?!", He held me by the collar of my clothes and asked me furiously with tears rolling down his eyes. "I-I told you to protect them. W-why?"

"I--He--The Inquisitor--He tried to...", My voice just went out faintly and weakly. Even though I want to explain everything, I cannot. All the courage and will to do so just vanished within me. In the end, I just admitted that I was the one who killed them because The Inquisitor would do the same to my sister.

"Get out! GET OUT OF HERE RIGHT NOW BEFORE I KILL YOU MYSELF. I GAVE YOU EVERYTHING I HAD YET THIS BETRAYAL IS WHAT YOU REPAY ME? GO!! I DO NOT WANT TO SEE YOUR FACE EVER AGAIN! UNDERSTOOD?!", He continues to throw a fit of rage, destroying everything he sees. Trembling in fear, I grabbed a piece of cloak and ran outside. I saw people is starting to flock towards Hassan's house. That was the last time I saw him. I just ran and ran into the white forest until I finally ran out of breath and arrived in a road.

There, someone was waiting for me. The very man who made all this sadistic pain. Wearing a black cloak, a black umbrella and a wide smile, he approached me.

"My condolences. Now, let's go home, my little elf.", he grabbed me towards a carriage. "From now on, you are mine. Do your work and I will guarantee both the safety of you and your sister. For your first mission, good work - Ebony the Fallen."