“And how is it that you plan on killing me?”
His sinister laugh echoed off the cavern walls, the few flickering torches casting shadows that seemed to whither and jump at the sound. But I held still, unwilling to give up ground or let my frustration break me; I wasn’t a hero for nothing, after all, and there were those who depended on my success.
But immortality, now that was a tough one.
“I do applaud your efforts thus far, however wasted they are. No human has ever made it past all my defenses entirely intact. Most lose limbs, if not their hearts or heads. Though, you’re not entirely whole, are you?”
I gritted my teeth together, but his raspy voice had already done its damage. It was as if every wound I had sustained had been ripped open once more, the pain feeling terribly real even though I knew that it was only actually in my head. Every cut and scratch felt as if it had been freshly carved into my skin, and my chest stung from the wound that I knew should have been fatal.
“Your answer, Hero?”
I felt a cold touch on my shoulder and I swung around reflexively, my sword cutting open the empty air. Another laugh, louder this time, bounced around me and made my head throb; I had been tricked. A slight tremor worked its way into my heart and my grip on my sword shook ever so slightly. He was playing with me; he didn’t even consider me a real threat.
“You’re not going to let me down, right, Ryou? Don’t forget our contract. I’m only with you so long as you ease my boredom. And don’t think I’ll let anyone else kill you either.”
Aine’s voice brought me back to my senses and all the false pain clouding my mind melted away. She was, after all, the one who had healed my wounds. And in exchange for that and so much more I couldn’t let her down, either.
“I’ve got a plan, Aine, will you lend me your strength?”
Aine materialized to my left, her long hair fanning out behind her and her bare feet hovering nearly a foot above the ground.
“Don’t disappoint me.”
With that, she disappeared once more, no other dialogue necessary. Her appearance was enough; it was a vow promising aid. While nearly everything about Aine was still a mystery to me, I was anything but a mystery to her. She could read my every thought, and while that usually annoyed me to no end, now I felt reassured knowing that she found some merit in my hastily construed plan.
Time resumed its natural flow around me, but now I felt ready to fight once more, courage swelling inside me. Since Aine existed outside the normal flow of time, her appearance always corresponded with a pause in my time, although by now I was more than accustomed to it.
Things might just work out after all.
“Do you want to know why I’m going to defeat you? I’ll tell you, but you have to show yourself to me first.”
No quiver marred my voice; my challenge was full of arrogance. An arrogance I knew would irk the Shapeshifter into making a mistake.
“Very well then.”
His raspy voice became clearer, as if a layer of static had been removed from it. My information had been right on the mark; he couldn’t resist a challenge. And as the first human to ever face him head on, he was willing to let his guard down slightly to see what I had to offer before he would end me. That worked in my favor.
Turning around, I saw my enemy for the first time.
Perhaps to accommodate me he had taken the form of a human, but I didn’t bother dwelling on the details before charging, sword in hand, and intent on bringing about an end.
My sword slammed into his chest and with my speed and weight I forced the blade in deeper, using all my strength to make sure the wound I inflicted was extensive.
Of course as an immortal, he had no need to dodge.
“I’m going to win because I’m the protagonist!”
My shout filled the cavern, echoing down the corridors and filling every corner of the cavern with sound. Screeching bats high above took flight, their cries adding to the building cacophony, and the Shapeshifter’s amused smirk melted away to something much more deadly.
Five talons ripped into my chest and my triumph was cut short, my voice suddenly catching in my throat. Then the claws yanked backwards and an unbearable pain ripped through me.
All at once my grip on my sword gave out and I fell to my knees, my hands clutching at my chest as if holding back my blood would be enough to make up for the absence of my heart. The taste of copper filled my mouth and I coughed as I sunk lower to the ground.
Against the overwhelming pain, it was all I could do to grimace much less manage a smile. But I managed it somehow, feeling a rivulet of blood trickle out of the corner of my mouth as I did so.
“Thanks.”
It was all I could manage to say before I blacked out.
ns 15.158.61.48da2
