Stone and Unrest II

  Aerix

  Lapis had appeared a few feet behind her, black vapor still poured from him and dissipated near the edge of the dark spotlight, where the ceiling light reached the floor.

  "Rude," he mumbled, still looking at the marks left from the Crystal Shift attempt.

  "Explain yourself, now!" Onyx snarled at him.

  "What are you, their babysitter?"

  "You have no right to say that after what we've been through," she said tightly, her expression annoyed. As if dealing with a fly they knew they couldn't catch but would still keep trying, which wasn't far from the actual scenario.

  Lapis' face lit up in surprise like he had discovered something mildly interesting but had no time to say anything about it. His eyes lingered on the floor before turning back to my fiancée.

  "First off, we haven't gone through all that much. Second, we aren't exactly done going through shit, and as of now I think I found out our issue, there's-"

  "I DON'T CARE," Onyx shouted, "I'M TIRED OF YOU ACTING LIKE NOTHING MATTERS, IF YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT YOURSELF AT LEAST ACT LIKE YOU CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO DO CARE ABOUT YOU!"

  Mildly hypocritical after saying you don’t care, I thought, amused, a smile nearly crept onto my face despite the situation.

  "Look, stupid, I don't have time for this right now, I'm trying to go home," Lapis said, irritated, "If you're done throwing a fit about... whatever, can we finish the task at hand?"

  Onyx stared at him incredulously, I could tell by the set of her jaw that she was clenching her teeth together, hard. I leaned down and scooped up Onyx’s crown, who snatched it from my hands wordlessly and placed it delicately on her head, the vines molded around her head locking it in place. I wasn't used to her breaking her composure, usually, she always appeared to be calm and in control. They were going to fight again if I didn't step in; I was just about to say something when I heard growling behind me.

  I turn around and nearly puke at the sight before me. What I thought was the shadow of a dog at first turned out to be a smoking, contorted human body, with the attributes of a canine forced onto it. It had the back legs of a quadrupedal mammal and moved on all fours with a disjointed gait. Thin, stringy hair, like cobwebs, hung from its dark human head, trailing along the ground as it stepped closer. It was waiting—waiting for something.

  Lapis and Onyx were too busy arguing to notice the creature before them; I called out to them, "Guys, what the hell is that?" I gestured to the dog thing. Onyx looked over and jumped slightly, her eyes nervously trailing over the entity. Lapis had come and stood next to me, not looking particularly concerned but more surprised than anything.

  Unexpectedly, the creature pounced on us, giving Lapis and me little time to react. Onyx tackles both of us, and the dog man goes flying into a wall; her dagger quickly follows into its side, extracting a howl of agony. Onyx rolls over to the monster, tears the knife from its flesh and begins stabbing it repeatedly, inky smoke spraying around her. Lapis cried out, the sound of growling following closely behind, I stood and turned to see him wrestle another monster to the ground, a scratch on his face dripped dark red as if darkness itself flowed through his veins.

  “These are shadlings,” he got out, as he snapped the neck of one, a gleeful look in his eyes. “Animated shadows of people that physically decayed.”

  “Why the hell are there so many?” Onyx complained.

  "Because you and Lapis are loud as shit," I said tiredly.

  Several more shadlings flooded the halls, my hearing was overloaded with the sound of panting. Onyx kicks out at a shadling creeping near me, her foot connects with its side, and it flies into the dark hallway, whining. Not to be outdone by my companions, I toss Onyx her other dagger, snatch two crystals from my hat on the ground, and gather each one in a fist. I crush the crystals and amethyst spread from the opening in my hands, I slam my fists together and it spreads across the entirety of my hands and forearms. I raise a crystal gauntlet as a shadling leaps towards me, I plow it into its head and implode its skull. The corpse drops to the ground and spits blood on my shoes; I kick it away in disgust.

  I hear maniacal laughter to my right and catch a glimpse at Lapis spinning around aimlessly, his rope dart swinging around him and slashing through the enemy, painting the walls in dark ash.

  “You guys wanna tag team this one?” He flicked his hand in the general direction of the horde of monsters.

  “HELL YEAH!” I called out to him.

  “PLEASE?” Onyx chimed in.

  “Alright, Fadabiea you’re up first,” Lapis’ blade pierces the body of a shadling, and he turns and pulls the rope, flinging the violent creature in Onyx’s direction. The shadling soars over my head at Onyx, who lifts her leg, hooking the heel above its body, and planting it into the ground with their foot.

  “Your turn,” Onyx told me before knocking it towards me with a swift kick, smoke and black powder trailing behind it. I swing both of my gauntlets upward with so much force, that the shadling’s head tears from its neck and disappears through a hole in the ceiling tiles.

  “Fun,” I said, as the rush of battle raced through my veins like fire, consuming me wholly, so that any enemy that would dare stand against me be cut down by the blade of chaos and crushed by the hardened fist of the earth.

  Two shadlings raced towards me at full speed; I pounded my gauntlets on the ground causing spires of amethyst to shoot up from the floor, tearing through it with an awful ripping sound. Two spires rose from the ground and pinned the shadlings to the ceiling, I clapped my hands, and the amethyst expanded in the blink of an eye. The demoryns exploded in a spectacle of black fireworks, showering the area with ash and bone.

  I couldn't say how long the fighting went on, the adrenaline inside me pushed me through the battle so fast I thought I might combust. Everything else became distant, all that remained was me and the enemy, the only time my memory was not a severe issue. Nothing held me back now—nothing except for the cry that ripped the breath from my lungs and shredded my calculated, calm thoughts.

  My tunnel vision centers on my fiancée, who was staring at the last of the shadlings with her hand outstretched in what would otherwise be considered an unassuming gesture.

  And it was until she balled her fist and pulled it to her side. “Offensive Concept: Hand of Azrael!”

  I had thought she was in danger for a moment; the only sign of damage to her was the blood in the teeth of one of the shadings and the torn skin on her shoulder. I suppose the babysitter nature is prominent in both of us, I thought resignedly.

  The sound of dying wind blew through my ears after Onyx pulled back her hand; the shadings all fell to the ground, their fragile souls torn straight from their bodies. After being converted to CE, the lives of those creatures were for Onyx to do with as she pleased.

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  Well not quite all of them.

  Only one remained standing, wobbling discordantly until a white outline began to surround it, and it fell to the ground, finally. From the lifeless body emerged a ghost, whose form flickered inconsistently and hovered slightly off the ground. The ghost's form sharpened and revealed a man dressed in simple business wear, just a blazer and slacks. Lapis eyed him cautiously. His feet pointed inward like his legs were broken, his head was bald and translucent; he had milky eyes. His evenly trimmed beard was the same color as the rest of him or lack thereof. Because he was missing arms.

  His arms were torn at the shoulder and elbow and his throat was ripped open and dripped blood. The man fixed his eyes on Onyx and a sorrowful smile appeared on his face. "You," he spoke, his voice scratchy and tired, "I sense the Concept Energy of Hell and Earth on you. A death god."

  "What?" Onyx said blankly, "The old gods are dead, lost to time and stories, they have no place in this world."

  The man nodded, "You remind me of my son. I had forgotten I had one until seeing you three, I am forever in your debt."

  "Quite odd, since I just tried to kill you," she said dryly.

  "Ah, but you did the opposite, you have saved me. You severed me from my host and now allow me to pass on, those who spend enough time down here lose themself, you can become one of these monsters, a shadow of what you once were."

  "Okay, how come none of the other monsters became ghosts?" Onyx questioned, clearly confused with the ghost.

  "Their souls are too corrupt; there was nothing human left in them. I must be dispelled now that I have been separated from my captor," the man explained slowly, "I will give some free advice, for this priceless gift you have given me."

  He rose and looked Onyx in the eye, “When you find the Son of Two Houses, refrain from killing him. He is one of you and will attack you upon finding out who you are.”

  “Why is that?” Onyx asked the ghost.

  “Because by you releasing me, you will have taken his last chance to see his father."

  Onyx's breath caught at that, bringing her hand to her chest, she spoke, "Why, wouldn't we kill him if he attacks us?"

  "The boy will be in grief," he turned and pointed at Lapis, who shot him a defiant look, "You of all people should know how such anguish affects a person.

  "Don't speak to me as if you know me," Lapis growled.

  Onyx jumped in quickly, "Fine, we will show restraint with your son, but how is it you know all this, and what does 'The Son of Two Houses' mean?"

  The ghost’s form flickered. “The Fusionel family comes from a long line of prophets. Mostly scions of Salzzanista, sometimes Loylia or Krystalis.”

  “Fusionel, you say?” Lapis looked intrigued. “I knew someone by that name on Charomenift.”

  Onyx nodded fondly. “Aushen, right?”

  “Correct,” the spirit breathed, its voice grew weaker. “He is the one who deviates from history... the rest, you must find out for yourselves.”

  “I know no more than this, now please, I must be properly dispelled before my essence is scattered to darkness.”

  Onyx stepped forward and touched his ethereal forehead, a ripple spread across his body and Onyx’s hand shot back like they’d been electrocuted. “What was that? It didn’t work. How can I dispel you without my abilities?”

  The ghost blinked at her, “I told you, we become shadows of what we once were, your power alone does not hold enough control over my soul. You need someone who can alter the reflections of life but also the reflections of reality, and what better remnants than shadows of the past; physical and metaphorical?

  Onyx turned to Lapis, and the man said, “Ah, yes, The Aphro-Lunar, I suppose he will do. A god of Love and Darkness”

  They had a visual exchange; it was obvious he did not want any part in Onyx’s plan. He shook his head slowly, “No. I have no affiliation with any gods. There are no gods anymore you delusional old man.”

  “Please, you don’t have to be this big of an ass all the time,” Onyx complained. "He doesn't deserve this end."

  “I don’t see what it has to do with me, or how any of the information he just gave is of any use to me. Plus, you attacked me earlier, why would I help you?” Lapis argued back, “it’s not as if I deserve to be trapped in this overly modernized labyrinth, but do you see me begging higher powers for assistance?”

  “What reason do you have not to?” Onyx asked.

  “The boy is stubborn and driven by rebellion,” the spirit pointed out, “you cannot expect him to agree with you, by only arguing using logic that you agree with, he is too strong-minded.”

  “Shut up!” Onyx and Lapis yelled in unison.

  They both paused momentarily and glared at each other before erupting in laughter.

  The man looks over at me, confusion spread across his face, “Did I miss something, or…”

  “Nope, this is pretty standard,” I confirmed.

  Lapis spoke up, stifling laughter, “Yeah I’ll help, take my hand.”

  Onyx lifted her arm, palm facing up, and Lapis placed his hand delicately in my fiancée’s left hand, showing his evident reluctance to be near her at the moment. Onyx too, moved with suppressed restraint, nonetheless, she moved their other palm over the ghost’s head once more. This time, a ripple of darkness spread across the man’s form, painting him into a faceless silhouette.

  “Thank you,” he breathed, relaxing his body as he dissipated in a flash of light, leaving dark specks in the air that dissolved soon after.

  Lapis almost immediately spun away with disinterest and began walking toward the area where we tested our controlled Crystal Shift and waved us over.

  “I’d like to discuss that,” Onyx said.

  “I don’t discuss weird anomalies, I stab them until they stop bothering me,” he said flippantly, “On another note, I want to discuss something.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh at his snide remarks to Onyx, he was well aware of what he was doing, but it was evident that Onyx was in no mood to argue.

  “So,” I speak up to alleviate the growing tension, “Lapis, what is it? I know the whole thing with the ghost interrupted your plan of escape,” I vocalized, striding over to him and the initial testing spot.

  Onyx sighed and strode over to us, mumbling something about men being useless and clearly expressing her displeasure with not having the reins of the conversation.

  I leaned over her shoulder and whispered into her ear, “We can talk about it later,” I promised the echo.

  “So, here’s the deal,” Lapis began, “I’ve deduced that the main issue with our Crystal shift attempt is the strength of our hold on our destination.”

  “Meaning?” Onyx asked, a tired look on her face.

  “Essentially if I focus my power deeper in the fracture, the shift should work better. It actually did work slightly; if you look at the ground here, you can see it; our entry and exit points are distinct on the floor.” Lapis points at two dark marks that look like circular scorches that slightly overlap.

  “I still want to talk about your attitude Blu; and what the old man said,” Onyx interjected.

  “Fine we’ll discuss it on the next level, Mom, you gonna put me in timeout too?” he relented. “We are going when we wake up, I presume?”

  “Why wait, let’s go now. We can get this over with quickly,” I suggested.

  Within a few moments, we’re arranged by the testing point, and I ready another looking glass, fracturing the air in front of us.

  “Blu, how exactly do you plan to make this work this time around?” Onyx asked.

  “I’m gonna try starting my shift from inside of the fracture. Remember how we found out that light levels change through the fracture?”

  “Yeah, I remember discussing it briefly.”

  “I figure that tearing a rift closer to the destination will allow the jump to be more accurate and effective,” Lapis explained, lifting his hands as shadows thickened around them.

  Similar to last time, Lapis took two of his fingers and held them in front of the looking glass. He touched his finger against the fracture and met some resistance, causing it to ripple like water. Applying more force his finger broke through the barrier in the looking glass and he began tearing a rift from the other side. When he pulled his hand back, darkness flushed out of the cracks surrounding the three of us, shrouding us in a sea of shadows. Lapis pushed his hands in opposite directions and began to pull them inward, molding the black air closer around us, the artificial night sinking itself into our eyes, pores, and minds.

  And the dark took hold.

  Offensive Concept: Hand of Azrael: A high-cost ability that tears the souls from enemy bodies to convert them into Concept Energy. If used on too small a group or a strong willed individual, it can be fatal to Fadabiea.