Chapter Thirty Two:
Old Grudges
I was surprised Amelia didn’t attack me. She just stared at me with a bemused look before scrambling to Dagan, who was slumped against the sink counter, breathing heavily.
‘What the hell was that?’ he gritted out, teeth clenched together through the pain. ‘Are you trying to turn me into charcoal?’
‘It’s the same as on your hand.’ I said absently, still in shock myself.
‘What? I don’t have a burn on my hand, you crazy freak!’ Dagan growled, trying to smack Amelia’s hand away from the burn. She gave him a stern look in return.
‘I need to get your shirt out of the way…well, what’s left of it.’
I winced, feeling bad about that.
Did I feel bad about burning Dagan? Not one bit.
‘I’ll go get some water.’ I said, leaving her to it. I wasn’t worried though, something told me even if we left the wound alone he’d be fine.
Amelia had moved him into the spare bedroom. His shirt was off and he lay on his back on the bed. Amelia was tentively touching the edge of the burn, frowning.
‘It’s already started to dry and scab over.’ She told me, giving me a suspicious look. ‘What did you do?’
I shrugged, as mystified as she was.
‘Okay.’ She sighed. ‘Then why did you do it?’
‘To change his fate.’
She shook her head at my answer and sighed.
‘Forget I asked.’
Dagan gave me a bitter grin.
‘Change my fate? You should worry more about your own, Firo.’
I rolled my eyes and left.
I won’t let him regain his magic. I promised myself. And I won’t let him waste what he has, including his own life.
The next morning I rose early and went outside, finding Ulmar in wolf form, watching the sun rise over the lake. I sat down near him, enjoying the view.
‘You’re his friend, right?’ I said twenty minutes later. The wolf lifted its head to look at me, but nothing more. ‘Don’t let him become the monster he was.’
A flash of light at my side indicated Ulmar’s transformation. He sat, still staring at the lake.
‘He’s not my responsibility to worry over.’ He said curtly. ‘Besides, it seems you’ve already taken care of the problem. That mark will keep him out of trouble.’
I frowned, but didn’t question him. I didn’t want to look stupid, not knowing what I’d actually done to Dagan.
‘Why are you really helping us?’ I asked instead.
‘My master-’
‘Yeah, yeah. I knew an earth immortal with a master he had to obey, but he still managed to act in his own interests too. Why are you doing this?’
Ulmar stared at me blankly before an admiring smirk broke out on his face.
‘Because things have to change, for all of us.’
Amelia came out with breakfast an hour later. She was upset, trying to hide it with a smile.
‘Enjoying the view I see.’ She said with false cheer. ‘Even after living here so long it soothes my nerves.’
We didn’t bother replying, and she let her smile drop as we began eating. Ulmar picked at his.
‘Do you eat human food?’ I asked, curious. I’d seen him eat fruit the day before, but only small bites.
‘I can.’ He said, ‘But it’s not necessary. I have never found eating meat pleasant.’
A vegetarian immortal. Why not.
‘Um,’ Amelia began nervously, staring at me. ‘Before, you said something about a mark on Dagan’s hand. What did you mean?’
‘Not his hand, your hand. Can’t you see it?’
She glanced down at her right hand, frowning.
‘The other one.’ I said helpfully. After examining it she shook her head, puzzled.
‘I don’t see anything.’
‘It means you’re important.’ I insisted, grabbing her hand in sudden urgency. ‘Don’t throw your life away for Dagan’s sake, understand?’
She stared at me, her face troubled, and didn’t answer.
‘In other words.’ Ulmar broke in. ‘Stay here instead of trying to follow us, which is what you’re planning, right?’
‘No.’ Dagan’s voice interrupted. Amelia winced guiltily, standing to face him. I sighed, turning my head to watch. ‘You’re staying here and having nothing more to do with us.’ His eyes narrowed further, looking her up and down. ‘Taking off your illusion magic isn’t going to make me change my mind.’
‘What? Dagan I haven’t taken anything off. The illusion barrier is built around the town; I can’t switch it off at will.’
‘But you look like your real self now.’ Dagan insisted, voice fading in his confusion.
‘It’s the mark.’ Ulmar said, standing and moving in between Amelia and Dagan. ‘It’s given you some resistance to magic. Because you’re aware of the illusion you can now see through it.’
Dagan’s startled gaze shot to me before he looked down, starting to unbutton his new shirt. The mark looked fully healed now, just a huge burn scar covering his upper chest. It was in the same fire shape as Amelia’s.
‘Well, I guess I shouldn’t complain about being burnt then.’ He said reluctantly.
I expected Amelia to smile at this, but she was gazing off towards the village, frowning.
‘What’s wrong?’ I asked when her concerned face turned to dread.
‘He’s come early.’ She whispered, turning her gaze back to Dagan. ‘Dagan, please don’t over-react.’
‘What are you talking about?’ he asked, turning to look. In the distance a male elf was approaching, humming to himself. His hair was the usual blonde, but cut at different lengths, as though he’d decided to hack off random chunks when he was bored. His eyes held a glazed look to them, like the world wasn’t entirely clear. Like earth immortals, his veins were visible under his skin, but they were black, while his pale skin was almost snow white.
Dagan’s own skin paled at the sight.
‘Amergin?’ he whispered, turning to face the strange elf and backing away a few steps.
The elf Amergin looked up at his name, his carefree smile disappearing at the sight of Dagan, twisting into a look of pure hate.
‘You!’ he spat, charging forward and knocking Dagan to the ground. Dagan scrambled onto his feet, backing away in my direction, making me stand and move further from the lake.
What on earth?
‘Amergin, please calm down!’ Amelia begged as the elf charged into Dagan again, this time falling too, so Dagan was trapped underneath him. Dagan’s head was inches away from the lake.
‘He did this to me!’ Amergin screamed, his hands going around Dagan’s throat. ‘This pain! This poison! He killed me!’
‘Look! Look at him!’ Amelia begged, tugging at Amergin’s arms to loosen his grip. ‘His eartips are gone; his magic is gone! He can’t hurt anyone anymore, and he suffers too.’
‘Not enough!’ Amergin hissed, knocking Amelia away and squeezing harder. ‘I’ll-’
He stopped with a surprised yelp when Ulmar linked either arm under the elf’s armpits and hoisted him up, placing him in an effective lock.
‘Let’s all calm down, shall we?’ His deep voice rumbled, making Amergin go rigid.
Dagan was still wheezing on the ground, pulling himself into a sitting position.
‘W-what’s he doing here?’
‘He lives in Engon.’ Amelia said shakily. ‘He comes to talk sometimes…and to be near the lake.’
‘Why would you-?’
There was a splash as two figures popped up from the lake, their upper bodies visible. Both were water immortals, one a man and the other a woman. The man grabbed hold of Dagan, quickly submerging them both and disappearing.
‘No!’ Both Amelia and Amergin screamed.
Ulmar released his grip in shock as we all crowded around the lake’s edge, searching for Dagan. The woman immortal remained, staring at me with open curiosity.
‘Candence.’ Amelia said, drawing her attention. ‘Don’t do this; give him back!’
Candence’s icy gaze fell on Amelia, who flinched but stood her ground. Candence’s arm grabbed Amelia’s ankle, but did nothing more. They were staring at each other, and I realised Candence must be speaking in Amelia’s mind.
‘I know.’ Amelia said, sounding defeated but desperate. ‘I know he did terrible things, and what he did to you was unforgivable…but he’s different now, please…’
‘Let me kill him!’ Amergin interrupted, tears in his eyes. ‘Let me get revenge.’
‘Do something!’ I hissed at Ulmar, drawing his attention away from the drama. ‘Dagan will die if you don’t!’
‘Me go against Candence?’ Ulmar scoffed. ‘I would be useless.’
I glared at him and did the only thing I could think of.
I pushed him, hard, into the lake.
All heads spun towards me as Ulmar sank like a stone and disappeared from sight. For thirty seconds nothing happened, but then two heads broke the surface.
It was Dagan, unconscious, and the water immortal.
‘Ordoardo.’ Amelia began, but stopped when Candence let go of her ankle and turned to glare at Ordoardo. A silent conversation took place, and Ordoardo pulled Dagan’s shirt back, revealing the burn scar.
Candence frowned, but looked resigned, giving Ordoardo a tense nod.
‘Can I kill him?’ Amergin asked again, an eager smile crossing his lips.
Candence moved towards him and grabbed his ankle. His smile soon fell away.
‘What do you mean?’ he cried out in despair. ‘We have to kill him!’
Candence shook her head, glancing at me. Amergin’s mad gaze turned to me too, seething.
‘And does it matter if this guy has a claim? Who is he?’
Whatever answer she gave made Amergin slump down to the ground in defeat.
‘Thank you! Thank you.’ Amelia said, grabbing the soaked Dagan from Ordoardo and checking his breathing. With a strength I didn’t realise she possessed she lifted him into her arms and walked back to the house.
Ordoardo and Candence nodded at me before disappearing beneath the water. Ulmar was still nowhere to be found.
What an earth was that about?
Watch out! Firo’s voice echoed in my head. Don’t let the dark magic’s poison touch you!
I turned, seeing Amergin had stood and was glaring at me as he coughed violently into his hand. It came away stained with black blood.
‘This is all your fault.’ He hissed, moving with lightning speed and smearing the blood across my face.
Immediately I began to fell weak and dizzy, my body turning numb.
Little one! Firo called out.
I couldn’t answer, sinking into darkness.
Scribbled Thoughts 