Chapter 33        

 I teleported to Sania, eager to see her again and to meet with the ex-Chosen of Light. To my surprise, I wasn’t in Holse at all, but deep within the forests of Cethain. A mild flare of irritation struck. Why hadn’t I noticed Sania had moved out of Holse? After everything we’d been through, I really shouldn’t have missed that she’d moved into Life’s former domain. Being preoccupied wasn’t a good enough excuse.

As our sphere didn’t cover any of the southernmost country, most of the sentient races living there had moved to the north, leaving the place oddly deserted. Apart from this precise forest location where Jurien, three other ex-Chosen of Light and a small army from Holse faced off against my three friends. Of Kai, there was no sign, but that made sense as it had been over a full day since they left.

Jurien’s presence here did explain how he’d managed to stay out of Hakan’s grasp, though. A shrewd move though one destined to fail. If we could find him, then Hakan would have eventually and the journey clearly hadn’t been kind to them. The followers of Light looked as though they’d been through the ringer. Their normally pristine white cloaks and shining armor was now dirty and battered. Their eyes were hollow and apart from the Chosen, they looked malnourished and bone-weary. Despite being on guard, they also didn’t look like they were about to attack my friends any time soon.

Jurien’s eyes latched on to me immediately, a feral scowl marring his usually handsome face. “What is this about?” He snapped out in clipped tones.

“Good to see you, Jurien old pal! How’ve you been?”

“I…” he stammered, his face flushed red. “How do you think, Clive! The world is in ruins. We’ve been hunted like game by Creation’s people and now you have finally tracked us down. I expected death, but Sania has told me you wish to speak with me first?”

“Sure do. Shall we grab a seat?”

“A seat?” He asked as confused as if I’d asked him to solve a complex algebra equation. As he looked around at the forest clearing, I formed two wooden chairs with the Nature Neuma that was so abundant here in Cethain.

He looked at them dubiously, then squared his shoulders. “What could you possibly have to speak with me about?”

I walked over and took a seat before speaking. “Simple, I need your help.”

Jurien didn’t take a seat. He gawked. It wasn’t a pretty sight. “Help? You? Are you out of your mind? You Killed Light!”

“Not yet,” I replied calmly. “She’s in my Void Storage just like you were.”

The sound of surprised gasps all around was like the forest was drawing a breath at the conversation to come.

“And… are you here to return her to us?”

“Not a fucking chance, sunshine. She ain't going nowhere. You of all people know what she's done to me.”

He suddenly regained the dangerous glint in his eyes. I could see him trying to work out if it was worth attacking me.

“Don’t even think about it. You might be close with Sania and Grigor with the powers bestowed from Light. Without them, you’re useless. In your present state, the three of them,” I said  pointing to my friends. “Could take out you and your army in a few minutes, which I’m sure you already know. Then of course there’s me and a lot has changed since we last met.” I stood again as he didn’t seem to be taking my offer of comfort very well.

He stepped back and I shook my head sadly. “One thing that hasn’t changed however, is that I’m trying to save the goddamn universe and you could help with that immensely.”

“How?” Was all he managed to growl out. His fellow Chosen all risked glances at him. I smiled.

“Glad you asked. Your people, the people of Holse, they love you. You’re the Champion of Erangral, after all. The Protector of the Heart. If I was to sever the bond that Hakan has over your people, will you talk with them and have them follow me. I’ll make you a Chosen and give you power to protect them all. I’ll leave them entirely to your rule. All I want is a friendly force occupying the land, so Hakan can’t extend his growing claim over it. Join forces with us and let’s get that bastard off Falritas for good. Let’s make this a stronghold for the lesser races, as Hakan likes to call us.”

Jurien made a noise. It took a moment to work out that it was a laugh of sorts. Dry, rasping, humorless, but a laugh, nonetheless. “You want us to fight for you?”

“Now I never said that did I? For fuck’s sake Jurien, I want to put my Sphere over Holse so everyone’s safe and I can’t do that when it’s contested land. If I don’t, then the millions of people who live in Holse are going to end up dead.”

“Because they’ll fight for Hakan, so you’ll kill them?”

I paused for a moment, gathering my thoughts. Finally I nodded. “Yeah. I will. I’ll kill every last one of them. But if it eases your conscience, they won’t be the people they were. Hakan is altering all of his followers. Making them monstrous versions of themselves. Stronger, but completely at his whim. They’re throwing themselves at my Sphere now and dying in their thousands, yet still they come. And that’s the future for Holse unless you help us. And just so we’re clear, despite everything, I still think you’re a good dude and I actually trust you. If I didn’t, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.  

His head dropped like he’d just heard some awful news. When he spoke, it was barely audible, but I heard it. “I really wish my goddess could have worked it out with you, Clive.” He glanced up. Anger in his eyes. “But I cannot accept an allegiance with you. Not while you hold her prisoner. Free her and we can speak again. I will sway her to your side. I believe I can. There was always doubt in her over you. I could see it.”

 “Yeah… Not gonna happen. I don’t really care what her reasoning was any more and I’m really sorry, but if that’s your stance, I’m left with two choices.”

His scowl deepened. “You would really kill all of the people of Holse?”

“We just covered that I would if I had to.”

“And the other option?” the next strongest Chosen, Malinor, asked. I vaguely recognized him and from what I saw I didn’t particularly like, but I was as easy pleased as I was upset.  

“I really didn’t want to have to go this route but, if you don’t take a Soulmate bond with me, I’ll kill Light.”

Swords whistled from sheaths and curse were spat.

I held up my hands to placate them. “If you do help me, I will…” a spasm stuck my jaw as I tried to say the words. They didn’t come easy, but in the end I forced them out. “If you help, then… once Hakan is defeated I’ll let her out.”

“You would blackmail us so?” Jurien snapped

I gave him my best, do I really have to answer that fucking question look. Thankfully I didn’t.

“If we could get her to agree to help, would you let her out before then?”

I shook my head. “She already has agreed. She’d let me bond her, even as a follower.”

There was stunned silence from that.

“Then do so! All of your problems will be solved!”

“I’d rather eat a hand full of Hakan’s shit.”

“You are insane, Clive! How could we help someone who throws such a valuable asset away in the defense of the universe?”

“Because I’ll kill her if you don’t. And I don’t see her as a valuable asset. I see you as a valuable asset. I don’t trust Light. Not one little bit. She had her chances to help me and lest we forget, the only reason we’re in this situation because the gods kept pushing and pushing me.”

His mouth opened and closed wordlessly a few times. I forged on rather than wait for more excuses and demands. Either with or without your help I’m going to win this thing, Jurien. All you have to decide is how many of your own people have to die before I do. And I do include your goddess in that. I’m looking for an excuse, and this seems like a pretty good one.”

He looked to the other Chosen, one after the other. The two I didn’t recognize were silent and sour. Malinor, however, was vocal. Thrusting a finger he shouted. “He is the enemy of our people, Jurien! How can we trust him? Why would we want to. Death would be better.”

“Would it?” Jurien replied coldly. “Clive is brutal and unbending. That much is true. But he is not the enemy of our people. Just our Goddess. Since we met, I have never had cause to doubt his words. In all of my dealings from the very beginning, he has been honest and direct and I believe what he says. The only thing that stays my acceptance is that he is the enemy of our goddess. But to refuse him will see her dead.”

“He’s bluffing. He can’t kill a goddess! Especially one as powerful as Light. If he could have, he would have!”

Jurien spun and growled at Malinor. “Where have you been you fool? He killed Desolation and Justice single handedly. He is holding our Goddess as prisoner. He hasn’t killed her because he has a heart, but that heart is hard.”

Malinor was unbothered by Jurien’s scolding and replied quickly. “Then if there is no other way, at the very least we should be allowed to see her.”

Jurien side eyed me. “He is right. Let us speak with her before any decisions are made. She is our goddess and if what you say is true about her willing to side with you, then this should be straight forward. If she says yes, we are yours.”

Thankfully, I'd left the light Everlasting on this time, so I wouldn't look like a total asshole. “No problem at all .Though I’ll warn you, she’s getting similar treatment to you, so don’t be expecting the penthouse suite in there.”

Jurien’s face darkened, but he nodded. “I understand.”

In you go then,” I said opening the Voids Storage.

Malinor moved to enter. “Nah. I said stopping him with a shield of air. Just Jurien.”

“All of us, or none of us,” Malinor snapped. 

"Fair enough,” I said and snapped the portal closed. “If you speak for all of your people, then I’ll let them all know why they’re dying when they attack us in their mutated forms.”

Malinor fish mouthed, but never did come up with a response. Jurien found it for him. “I will come alone. You have had more than an opportunity to kill me in the past. This would be an odd way to go about it now.”

“Good. Let's go and see Mother then, hey?” He frowned at my choice of words, which made it even funnier. With an amazing amount of self-discipline, I suppressed the laugh.

We approached the Goddess of Light, still hanging suspended with power. Jurien let out a wrecked sob and fell at her knees. “My goddess,” he said, taking her hand.

If I was a betting man I’d have said she’d been a sleep and her response suggested the same. “Jurien! You have come to save me?”

Her bleary eyes soon cleared and I saw the moment reality snapped back in. Though Jurien still spelled it out for her. “I'm afraid not. Not quite. Clive has come to me with a proposition.”

Her eyes met mine. “Has he indeed?”

“He has asked me to create a Soulmate bond with him. If I do so, he has promised to free our people from Hakan’s control and he will extend his Sphere of Influence to incorporate Holse. He has also stated in no uncertain terms that if I don’t agree he will kill you.”

“That sounds very Clive like,” she replied with a soft smile. “I fear my fate is to die in here, but you should still accept his offer. Continue our line.”

Jurien was completely caught off guard by her words and glanced very briefly back at me. “No. If I agree, he’s promised to set you free once Creation is dealt with.”

Her smooth forehead wrinkled in surprise. “Is this true? Clive, would you really set me free if Jurien agrees to this? Do you really intend to protect my people?”

I grimaced at having to speak with her again. “That is my agreement with Jurien.”

“You would genuinely kill me if he said no?”

I shrugged. “I don’t really have a choice.”

Another soft, almost pitying smile played on her lips. It irritated the evolving fuckery out me. “Of course you do, but… then no… I suppose you don’t .”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I spat.

“I’d really rather you could come to trust me, and make the Soulmate bond with me.”

“Never ever happening. We already had one. Can you remember, Light? It didn't work out too well, did it?”

“A bond you tricked me into,” she replied with a little more heat. “They are supposed to be mutual, but you held it in position.

“Yeah, to prove to you that I was being honest the entire time. An even knowing that I was, you still ignored me and screwed me over!”

Her irritating smile dropped, and she nodded. “I did. And I have apologized, and I will continue to apologize until you believe me. But I accept your position.” She turned to Jurien. “Honorable Champion, beloved descendant, you have my blessing to take the Soulmate bond with Clive. Serve our people well, as you always have, and help Lord Clive in any way you can. Make sure that he is victorious against Creation.”

To say I was shocked at the strength of her conviction was an understatement though I remained impassive. Jurien, however, teared up a little at her words, but he nodded. "As you wish, my goddess. I will do everything in my power to ensure we are victorious, and you will be free once again.”

“I look forward to that day,” she replied with a sorrow-filled smile that suggested she didn’t believe it. For the first time since holding her, I had a mild pang of guilt. If she was willing to do this, perhaps she genuinely had changed.

I still wasn’t letting her go until Hakan was dead or gone. Not a chance. I’d read enough books, seen enough shows and been double crossed enough times to know acts of kindness to assholes seldom ended well, and we were so close to the crunch time.  

I allowed the two of them to talk for a good while uninterrupted, but after around twenty minutes and no sign of them letting up, I called the little Void Storage soiree to an end.

“Come on Jurien, I’ve still got shit to do.”

He turned to face me, the pain of leaving clear in every line of his face. “I will fully agree to everything you have asked. But can I ask one more thing in return? And I understand that you owe us nothing.”

“Ask away. No promises, though.”

“While my goddess remains imprisoned here, will you treat her with a little more respect and dignity?”

I scratched my chin and looked at Light thoughtfully, then sighed again. “I suppose we can do something about her situation. I need her out of here anyway, as I'm going to need this space for other things very soon. I'll put her in one of the Admin hub prisons where her quality of life should improve dramatically.”

“Will I be able to go and see her there?"  

“We’ll see.”