Heart of Darkness

Chapter 37

Kessary was gone. Destroyed by a wisp of a redhead that could not only command the Power of Chaos, but she’d managed to snare the attentions of three high-ranking Mazoku without even trying. It was almost inconceivable that a mere mortal could have destroyed Kessary that simply, but destroy her she had. She probably considered it all in a day’s work.

Cassandra considered killing Lina Inverse Greywords for her impudence, but then quickly changed her mind. The thought of having to justify herself to Jedah or Zelgadis… no, best to swiftly withdraw, to remove herself completely from the scene.

She’d lay low, wait until all was said and done, and then she’d create a new game with new rules and new players. Kessary would have to be replaced, but that was relatively easy, all things considered. Humans were always willing to give heart and soul for power. She shouldn’t have too much difficulty finding one suitable to her needs. She even had time to wait, to sculpt one from birth. Yes, that’s what she’d do. She’d find an infant and begin by influencing dreams. What were a few handful of years? Once the girl came of age, she’d have a most willing servant.

She began to think, pacing to and from across the dusty stone floor of an ancient ruin she’d hidden within. She’d find some half-talented family somewhere that lived on the edge of nothing. She’d change their luck, arrange a few… conveniences. Gift them with material wealth in exchange for the honor of teaching… no, that sounded too much like a fairy tale.

Waving her hand to dismiss that plan, she started over. She’d do what she did before, set herself up as a local witch-woman. She’d live my mortal standards, weave the illusion tightly around her. She’d have to be careful, though. Another kid like that little blonde brat asking questions… she paused. Blonde kid. With blue eyes and a singular lack of ability to comprehend even the simplest of concepts? No, couldn’t have been him. She was being paranoid again. Just like she was now. No-one was nearby, she’d found a decent bolt-hole, and there weren’t many who could trace her to here.

Except, she wasn’t alone.

She spun to see him, to see the brat son of the Beastmaster standing there in a rare display of power, unmitigated fury glittering a strange light in his eyes. His power crackled around him, a lazy ripple of bluish violet tinted as dark as the deep night sky.

“You. You dared to make a bid. You saw him, with his heart, and you thought you could twist him to your use. But you didn’t realize what he truly was until it was too late.” Jedah was furious, his voice low and velvet-soft with danger. She was the reason; she had single-handedly undone all of his work with Zelgadis and nearly endangered them all with her blatant desire for power.

Jedah wanted her dead. Better, he could conceptualize almost a thousand different ways to go about it without giving it much thought at all. There was no need to be anything but casual about it, no need for secrecy or underhanded methods. He was what he was, and she’d likely learn it before it was over.

And it would be over. He couldn’t let her live, not after this. Not after what she’d done, and what he planned to do. It just wouldn’t… do. Half a thought sent his power aflame, plan beginning to take action and come into being. She wouldn’t feel it coming, not until he let her. There were times that he reveled in the power at his command, times where he could be one with his power and not give a single remote thought to consequences, other than to damn them and do as he pleased. This was one of those times. He was enjoying it. He’d enjoy it all the more when she realized the truth.

She couldn’t move. His power had flowed silently around her, catching her without her being aware of it. She looked at him, uncomprehending. How could he do that? Unless… her eyes widened. Jedah. He… he was… “You’re!” Her throat closed on her, voice cut off into a squeak by a sudden rush of powerful force.

His winter-blue eyes glittered with power unconcealed. “Yes. I am,” Jedah replied, the haughty smirk of Mazoku the world over coming to his lips. “And now you know.” He grinned darkly, looking to her in his own twisted amusement. “But you won’t get to tell anyone because you’re done. And unlike Garv or Phibrizzo, no-one will ever know you’re gone.” The last half of the last sentence was pronounced just so, as if to use each word individually as one more nail in the coffin that was building itself around her. He was the snake in the grass, the poisonous adder that had laid the trap and was prepared to spring. She was already dead and didn’t yet know it.

“Wait, please!” Cassandra could feel that power rising, feel him preparing to tear her apart. She’d misjudged, thought Zelgadis to be the one. How wrong she’d been! It was him, Jedah, the innocent-seeming little brat. He was the one with the power, with the command and title. “I’ll swear Pact to you. Like Xellos. My will is yours.”

It was hardly any difficulty for Jedah to remove Cassandra from the Four Worlds. He was. After all, the son of Juuou. He could even do it without upsetting the balance of power. The smile that lit the winter blue eyes was dark, a sickeningly twisted parody of absolute glee. “Ah, but you see, my beautiful Cassandra, your will already is mine.”

Then she realized it. It wasn’t that she couldn’t move. Her own magic was against her. He was in her mind, using her own powers from within to destroy her. She’d never felt fear, at least, not until just then. As her power rose against her, she lifted her head and cried out in sheer desperation. “Hel—“

She never finished the word.