Chapter Nineteen...

Lillian hit the dirt with a grunt, springing right back up and brandishing her katana. She sliced the air, opening up a gaping black split and hopping into it. Elda’s head jerked back when the slit sealed up and the Fae stepped out of another one behind Sypher. She’d never seen anyone fight like Lillian. She was lightning fast, her strikes sharp and accurate. Her kicks and punches were so quick they were hard to follow.

But it was Sypher that astounded her. Even weaponless and free of armour, he was dangerous. He seemed to know where Lillian would appear, predicting her moves before she made them and cutting them off part way through. She barely touched him, every move evaded or countered with a grace that looked effortless.

The Fae hopped out of another tear and swung her katana down towards Sypher’s head. He slapped it aside with the flat of his palm and punched her across the jaw so hard she staggered, barely getting her hands up in time to protect her face from a second right hook. She ducked low, jabbing her elbow towards his stomach. He snarled and slammed a fist down between her shoulder blades, forcing her down to her knees. Lillian chopped at the back of his leg, getting in a lucky shot. His knee buckled and she launched herself at him, dropping her shoulder to slam it into his ribs. The breath rushed from his lungs when she dropped all of her weight onto him, straddling his hips and trying to get her katana at his throat.

“I remember this position,” she grinned. “Fond memories before you upped and left me.” Sypher’s anger ratcheted up enough that he gave up trying to protect his neck and gripped her jaw tightly, ignoring the metal slicing into his skin. She faltered and he slammed his forehead into her nose, yanking the katana from her hand when she toppled backwards. Elda watched him stand over her and lean down so Lillian could see his eyes.

“I don’t know what insane shit is going on inside your head, but if you lie about what you did to me ever again I will kill you,” he hissed, pointing the blade at her while she spat blood into the grass. “The Compulsion is gone, Lillian. I’m not bonded to you. I’m not yours.” He put a boot on her chest and pressed down hard enough to make her uncomfortable. “Don’t forget that.”

“I know you’re not mine,” she forced out, coughing under the weight of him. “Your hers now. Same shit, different owner.”

“You’re right. I am hers.” He brought his face closer, putting more pressure on her lungs. Blood dripped steadily from the cut across his neck, several droplets landing on Lillian’s silver chest plate. “But I’m hers because I choose to be.” Her eyes narrowed when he stepped back and tossed her Soul Blade into the dirt. “Stay out of my way.”

Elda stared, heart beating in her throat. He turned away from the prone Keeper, ignoring Julian’s watchful eyes. The Soul Forge strode across the grass and stopped close enough that she had to tilt her head back to look up at him.

“Are you okay?” she croaked.

“I am,” he nodded. “Thanks to you.”

“You said you were mine.”

“I did.”

“What did it mean?”

“It means that even when your purpose is met, I’ll still be around to protect you. It’s the least I can do in exchange for my freedom.”

“You don’t owe me anything.”

He smiled faintly. “I know. That’s exactly why I’m yours.” He walked inside before she could respond, leaving her gawking after him in stunned silence. Heat flushed her cheeks. I’m yours.

“Jeez, Princess,” Julian muttered. “I think you broke him.”

“...What just happened?” she squeaked.

“You tell me. I’ve never seen him act like that,” the Vampire shrugged. Lillian got up and stormed in the opposite direction, one hand pressed to her face to staunch the blood flowing from her nose. “I’m glad he finally told her to shut her trap though. She’s been lying about him for years.”

“And he let her?”

“Sweetheart, he couldn’t even look at her before you came along. Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it.” He laid a hand on her shoulder for a moment. “And thank you for remembering what I said to you.”

“I couldn’t forget it,” she shrugged. “I might have sealed this world’s fate by refusing the Compulsion, but I think I made the right choice.”

“I think if anyone can find a way to avert whatever chaos is coming, you can. You’re different.” The Vampire grinned. “I can’t wait to see how you turn out.”

“Thanks,” she chuckled. Her mind strayed to the tulpar demon that was usually glued to him. “How’s Syd doing?”

“I don’t know. I sent her off to my brother with a message to let him know I was still alive.”

“You have a brother?”

“I had four before Nova fell. Clover is my surviving sibling.” Julian slipped his hands into the pockets of his leather coat. “I’m sure she’ll be back in a few days with his reply. Until then, you get to see my pretty face some more.”

“Lucky me,” she snorted. “At this rate you’ll be the one training me. Sypher keeps getting sidetracked, Gira’s gone somewhere and I want to punch Lillian every time she opens her mouth.”

“I know how to use a bow if you want some help,” he shrugged. “Can’t help with magic though. Why don’t you ask Irileth?”

“We’re not really talking right now.” Elda sighed, chewing her lip. “Although, it isn’t her fault she had to show me what she did. Maybe I should apologise.”

“That’s up to you.” He leaned round her, brows creeping upwards. “Is that her?” She turned to find Irileth standing a few feet away.

“Yup.”

“Catch you later, pipsqueak,” he winked, stepping into the shadows the same way Sypher did. Elda turned slowly to face the Spirit.

“I’m sorry,” Irileth said immediately, bowing so low that her glowing hair swept the ground. “I didn’t want to push you towards the Compulsion, little friend. I swear to you.” Elda looked her over, taking in the dropped shoulders and the despair on her face. She sighed heavily, walking forwards and taking her frozen hands.

“I know. Sypher told me you didn’t have a choice.” Irileth straightened up, relief making her smile.

“I never wanted to do anything that might risk our bond, Elda. You and I are destined to change this world, I can feel it. I want you to know that I am on your side, and that the lesson on Compulsion is something I have to address.”

“Was that future real?”

“It could be. It depends on the choices you make and how Sypher reacts to them.” She squeezed Elda’s hands gently. “Speaking of, you should go find him. He may have looked calm when he left, but he’d benefit from your company right now.”

“Where is he?”

“In his room. It’s next to yours.” Elda gave Irileth the quickest hug, squeezing her shoulders gently before bounding after the Soul Forge. She knocked on his door as soon as she reached it, pleased that she didn’t get lost in the villa this time.

“I’m coming in,” she announced, pushing the door open to find Sypher sitting on the bed, his back resting against the headboard. His head was in his hands, propped up by his elbows resting on his bent knees. “Are you alright?”

“I will be.” He dropped his hands, closing his eyes and leaning his head back. She saw the faintest tremor in his fingers. “I almost killed her. My demon is angry that I didn’t.”

“Your demon should know that murdering her won’t make what she did go away.”

“Oh, he knows,” the Soul Forge answered darkly.

“I thought you left because you were afraid of her.” Elda dared to approach the bed, perching on the edge of the mattress.

“I left because I was three seconds away from committing a murder.” He opened his eyes and looked at her at last. She saw the red was almost non-existent, making it clear that he was still struggling with himself. “It’s probably not safe for you to be here.”

“I’m not leaving until I know you’re alright,” she shrugged.

“Don’t blame me for tearing your head off if I lose control.”

“You won’t lose control.”

“You sure about that?” She flashed him a trusting smile. Despite his temper, the corners of his lips twitched and a hint of garnet returned to his eyes. “You have an alarming amount of confidence in me.”

“Would you rather I doubted you?” When he didn’t answer, she nodded. “I thought not.” She studied his face, watching how the crimson brightened and faded as he struggled. “How does the demon work?”

“I’m not sure how to answer that.” Sypher sat forwards, crossing his legs and resting his elbows on his knees again. “Are you asking why the demon is different to me?”

“I’m asking how the two halves of you co-exist.”

“We don’t. My whole life has been a constant struggle between my two natures. I’m tired of fighting, and the more tired I get, the harder it is.”

“Can it speak to you?”

“Yes. It’s like having a completely separate creature living in my head.” He scowled. “Which is awkward, considering he hates me.”

“He’s spent the last eight centuries locked away, only being called on when you need something,” Elda answered. “I’d be pretty mad too.”

“I wish it were as simple as sharing the space,” Sypher sighed. “The only reason I’m not permanently enslaved by Aeon is because I’ve been able to control the demon up to now. I was forced to keep him locked away. It was that, or be placed under the permanent Compulsion of a being that hates everything about me.”

“Didn’t he create you?”

“As far as I know, I’m an accident,” Sypher shrugged. “The circumstances surrounding my creation were never explained to me. One thing I’m certain of is that it wasn’t him.”

“Who do you think it was then?”

“I stopped trying to work it out a long time ago.” He rubbed a hand across the back of his neck, his eyes darkening again. “Can we talk about something else?”

“Like what?”

“Anything. Anything at all.”

“Okay,” she agreed, tapping her chin thoughtfully before settling on a topic. “Tell me about Julian. How did you meet him?”

“Also not a positive conversation.”

“Hmm. Maybe avoiding your past altogether is better until you’re calmer,” she suggested. She grasped for the first thing that came to mind. “Julian thinks I’ve broken you.”

“What?”

“You beat Lillian’s ass when yesterday you couldn’t even bear to look at her, and then you told me you were mine.” She chuckled sheepishly. “The second part surprised both of us.”

“I don’t think you’ve broken me.” His head cocked to the side. “I think you’re fixing me.”

“You do?”

“Yes. I’ll never be normal, I know that. But you make me feel less...murderous.” His shoulders were starting to relax.

“You are always angry.”

“Not with you. Even before I trusted you, I wasn’t always angry with you.”

“It didn’t look that way to me.”

“Not even when I taught you how to build a fire?” She thought back to the patience he’d shown and the reluctant smile she’d caught twitching at his lips.

“Okay, maybe not all the time, but you went from irritated with me to the total opposite in no time at all.”

“I told you I was yours because it’s the truth.” Her breath caught in her throat, her eyes rounding at the fervency of his tone. “You have to understand, Elda. You’re the only person to choose me over the Spirits. Even my demon doesn’t want to attack you and he wants to kill everyone.”

“You shouldn’t have to pledge yourself to me because of that. You already married me,” she joked half-heartedly. He reached out and took her hand. She felt the callouses on his palm, put there by years spent grasping the hilt of a sword. He turned her hand to expose the oath rune branded into the inside of her wrist.

“I’m telling you that I’m not just protecting you because you’re my Keeper. You’ve done more for me than anyone else and you barely know me. I’m yours because you deserve it. Those words mean more than love, or friendship, or a false marriage cooked up to save you from an asshole. To me, those words are the most important ones I’ll ever say.” All the colour had returned to his eyes, and he watched her intently. “The only way I can convey my gratitude to you is by giving you the one thing the others tried to force out of me. My loyalty.”

“Sypher, I...” She trailed off, her response dying on her lips. How should anyone respond to such a declaration? Tears pricked at the backs of her eyes, catching her off guard. She’d barely known him a week and he’d made her cry more than any other man she’d ever met.

“You don’t have to say anything,” he chuckled, withdrawing his hand from hers. “Thank you for coming to speak to me. It helped.”

“I’m glad.”

He smiled, the expression filled with warmth.