"Bastard!"


    "Monster!"


    "Quiet! He''ll kill us too!"


    "You''ll pay, you fiend!"


    "Come, boy. Stay close."


    Bitter words fell from the impotent villagers'' impotent lips. They had watched as the warlock''s magic cut down their brothers and sisters, fathers, sons, and daughters, their little rebellion crushed, and now they had the gall to complain. Abad-Shai, the greatest of the Seven and the most powerful of the Dark Lord''s successors, felt his ever-present grin fade.


    He was done with this farce.


    "[Kneel]."


    The crowd of forty or fifty villagers were thrown to their knees, their heads pressed into the mud.


    "You seem to misunderstand our relationship. Let me clear the air." He carefully stepped through the many, many fresh corpses bleeding out in the mud, careful to avoid staining his expensive new shoes. "You are mine. You are all mine. You will always be mine. Resist me, and be put down like rabid dogs." He smirked and gestured to the bodies. "Like this lot." A wracking sob shook the body of a woman in the crowd. "Serve well, and be rewarded. Our agreement is simple." The wicked elf stepped through the bodies and stood before his remaining villagers.


    "[Gaze upon your master]."


    Their heads were wrenched upward, their eyes forced to gaze upon his grandeur. He looked into each''s eyes. Some were filled with fear. Others were consumed by sadness, and still others with anger. The warlock ensured each could gaze into his soul and learn the truth. There was no mercy in his black heart. There would never be any. He was power personified, and power had no use for mercy.


    After taking his time, he could see they understood their lot in life. However, just as he went to release them, words sounded behind him. They stopped the wicked, terrible, glorious grey-skinned elf dead in his tracks. He turned to face the disgusting sound.


    "It''s good we got here when we did." A short stout human wrapped in armor was walking down the wide village road flanked by a tall swarthy human man and a thin, short human woman. The speaker smiled a broad toothy grin and reached to his belt, pulling out a large two-handed mace. The others drew their weapons with him.


    So they were doing this, then.


    The warlock frowned, his shaped eyebrows twitching. "What might I call your merry little band, then?" He bowed deeply. "I am Abad-Shai, of many titles of which I''m sure you''re well aware."


    "Of course, Mr. Shai." He bowed much less low. "I''m Darius of the Tower''s Watch." The man grinned wider. "These are my two partners: Landon, Master of the Blade, and Helia, Mage Hunter. I''d introduce our companions Saria and Elaine, but sadly you''ve made that impossible, seeing as you slew them a week ago." The man walked forward, stopping on the other side of the field of bodies the warlock had left in the street.


    "Ah, the adventurers who snuck into my chambers last week? They interrupted a very fine evening I was having with my dear concubines. I offered for them to join, but they refused. A pity, really." He pulled something out of the pocket of his immaculately cut trousers. "However, you are wrong in one small way. I am well-acquainted with both of them now." He purred as he held his hand out, revealing two glowing red gemstones.


    "Darius, those are soul stones!" The woman to his left hissed. "They can be revived!"


    "Then that''s what we''ll do, lass. They deserve better than to be an evil bastard''s tools," the man spoke grimly, the large mace leveling at his foe.


    The elf sighed dramatically. "I ask that you put away your weapon before this escalates." He pocketed the stones again. "I''m truly not in the mood today. I''ve been forced to correct the behavior of my subjects, and that forced me to part with many of my resources." He gestured at the bodies on the ground. "I am far more interested in accumulating than losing, so today is a dark day indeed. I would hate to take out my anger on your three."


    He knew their looks. They wouldn''t comply. At least he''d tried.


    A pity once again.


    "I''ll have to insist that you surrender. Now." The human smiled. "See, you may have had the advantage against our companions, but we''re ready for you now, and you''re in the light of the Great Tower. Monsters like you stand no chance in the Goddess''s light. Against heroes chosen by the Goddess no less, her name be praised!" The man pressed a hand to his forehead. "And with the knights of Saern on the way, all we have to do is keep you pinned down until reinforcements arrive."


    "My, my. You sure do presume much about us terrible, wicked, evil monsters." A golden scepter appeared in the warlock''s grey hand. "Let me show you what happens when mortals presume." The elf lifted his scepter, and his eyes locked onto the human female on the far end of their formation. "Mage Hunter, was it?" He sneered and reached out to the three with his senses. The large man was fairly powerful for a mortal, but the other two weren''t much. However... "You have darkness in your soul, girl. I think I''ll claim you. Unless you wish to share your little secret with your friends?"


    The young woman shifted nervously under his gaze. She gripped her staff tightly. "Darius, Landon. He''s strong. Be care—"


    [Silence of the Grave]


    Her words died on her lips. Twines of magical thread tore through her lips, sealing her mouth shut. Her muffled cries filled the air as she clawed at her lips, trying and failing to rip the threads.


    The girl''s companions whipped their heads around for the instant and closed ranks around her. That was all the grey-skinned man needed.


    [Greater Invisibility]


    The elf vanished.


    ***


    [Dispel Magic]


    The stout man shouted words of power, and a wave of light shot from his outstretched hand. However, the creature was out of the spell''s range.


    "Bastard''s hiding," Darius grumbled. The two men pressed their backs against one another, flanking their ally as her muffled screams filled the air.


    "He''s probably headed for the shadows."


    "No shit. Thanks, buddy. Keep your eyes peeled."


    [Mass Reveal Magic]


    Darius cast his spell, granting his companions the ability to see one another''s system notifications so they could strategize better. If lucky, the Warlock hadn''t had time to block his system commands, giving them an edge. This fight would be difficult, but he believed they''d prevail. The swordsman wasn''t so sure.


    A long pause ensued. Both the paladin and the warrior watched warily as the townspeople shivered in the cold morning air. None had dared stand. Their fear of the wicked mage was palpable. They waited, and waited, and...


    [Devouring Cloud]


    A plume of black mist swarmed around the heroes. They coughed, their faces turning red and swollen. Blood and bile forced their way out of their eyes, ears, and mouths as they breathed in the black mist. A moment later, they fell to their knees.


    "My, my. Some heroes. I almost feel bad. I''ll refrain from using my magic against you." The creature''s voice sounded from all around them. Landon struggled to lift his head. Through watering and bleeding eyes, he could make out a young child clutching her mother, watching from the safety of a nearby doorway as he writhed in the street. Beside him, Darius managed to force out some words.


    [Mass Greater Cleanse]


    The toxins of the spell faded. Darius spat the blood and bile that filled his mouth to the ground, and Landon wiped the viscera from his beard. The peasants had grown completely silent. Every one of them watched. Turning, he could see Helia still clawing at her lips.


    [Purify Curse]


    Her cries softened, and she looked up, her lips bloodied and torn. Streams of bloody tears streaked down her face. Landon helped his lover up, and the three pressed their backs together.


    They heard laughter from nearby. "That''s very good! Stand and fight, noble heroes." The warlock''s disembodied voice sounded from everywhere and nowhere. "While your fellows aren''t much, you are a true servant of the Goddess, my good man. You have earned a measure of my respect." The monster appeared a few feet from the paladin, a wide smirk on his face. "Few have claimed that right. You should be honored."


    The paladin raised his eyes to the sky. "Great Goddess, bestow upon us your blessing, that we may smite this fiend from your golden land!" The man spoke with fervor, spittle spraying from his bloodied lips.


    [Goddess''s Blessing]


    A golden glow surrounded them, and the paladin could feel his strength double in Her divine radiance. He felt tears stream down his face. "Thank you, Goddess. We will not fail!"Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    The trio exploded, their movement faster and sharper than before. In an instant, they were set upon the evil creature, but he was fast. The man laughed as he ducked under a sword strike, weaved around a lance of ice, and leaped clear over the swing of a mace. Each of his movements was deliberate and calculated as if he had done this dance many times before. However, despite his effortless movements, the three adventurers began to gain ground. A lucky sword strike clipped the man''s leg, slowing his movements just enough. He began to backpedal, creating distance from the group, but the mage was too quick.


    [Ice Wall]


    A thick wall of ice appeared behind the monster, causing him to slam into it as he moved backward. He tried to dart to the side, but a well-placed sword strike stopped the movement. The creature glared as he held his scepter out and waited for them against the ice.


    The three advanced on the creature, murder in their eyes. The paladin''s mace swung widely, clipping the creature''s shoulder as he dodged to the other side. A sharp crack sounded from the man''s ruined shoulder, and Landon capitalized on the blow.


    [Perfect Strike]


    He struck before the creature could move again, scoring a long gash across the man''s chest and belly. He could see a brief flash of black blood dribble out of the wound before it stitched closed. The creature was healing! It darted in the other direction.


    [Ice Wall]


    A second wall of ice closed off the direction the monster was trying to flee to, leaving him vulnerable to the paladin''s mace.


    [Holy Smite]


    Darius''s holy mace struck the fiend in the ribs, which shattered under the strike.


    "Get back!" the mage screamed to her companions, who obeyed on instinct. They had trained countless hours for fights just like this.


    An [Ice Lance] exploded from Helia''s staff. The pale blue ice flashed forward and struck the monster directly in the chest just as he turned to escape the other direction, pinning him to the ice wall.


    [Blizzard]


    A hail of ice shards rained down from the sky, obscuring their sight as hundreds of icy needles fell to the ground. They watched as the ice pierced the monster countless times, its black blood spilling to the ground and covering the icy walls. A wave of cold air and mist washed over them, and they stood side by side, panting and waiting, watching for any sign that the creature might survive their attacks. Slowly, the mist retreated, and the broken body of the monster lay on the ground, its body still, wounds open, black blood blowing freely onto the earth.


    "I think we did it." Darius huffed. He was completely drained. He''d had to overcharge every spell just to have an effect. The monster was formidible indeed.


    "Be careful. It may have some fight left," Landon added as he wiped the bloody tears from his face. "That felt too easy."


    "I can''t feel anything. I think we may have won." Helia loosened her grip on her staff, her frozen hands sticking to the metal.


    A few cheers sounded from the crowd of onlookers. Several of the peasants took a few tentative steps forward. One older woman dropped to her knees in prayer to the tower above them, giving thanks for the end of the beast''s reign.


    The heroes watched as the corpse on the ground melted into sludge, oozing away into black ichor, which quickly bled away into the wind.


    "Did we... did we do it?" Landon asked no one.


    "Boy, we''re going to be fam—" Darius''s head jerked back violently as a single choked cry sounded from his throat. His partners spun to him. Helia screamed. His eye had exploded, blood coating an invisible thing jutting out of the gaping socket. A wicked, high-pitched giggle followed as something faded into view. It looked like a small woman, but red and with small bat wings sprouting from her back. The creature''s golden eyes met hers, and it cocked its head to the side and gave her a wicked grin. With a sickening squelch, the tip of its tail pulled free from their friend''s skull.


    [Flash Strike]


    Landon''s sword cut through the air in a breath, but the little creature was too fast. It jumped into the air, kicking Darius''s body to the dirt, and vanished.


    "Shit! Helia, get ba—"


    A ball of black flame shot from a nearby house, striking Landon directly in the face. His skull exploded.


    ***


    Helia screamed as she watched her oldest friend in this world die. They had spent so much time together. They had so many plans. She''d loved him. She felt hot tears fall down her face. She turned toward the house. For an instant, the peasant woman who had been guarding her child grinned, her red eyes gleaming with delight before she vanished.


    [Ice Lance]


    A bolt of ice struck the doorway, shattering half the home, but Helia didn''t feel the spell connect. Her hands shook violently. Tears streamed down her face as her head darted from place to place, trying desperately to find where the monsters had run to. There was a shimmer behind her, but there wasn''t anything when she spun around


    [Dispel Magic]


    She screamed a wave of antimagic shot out of her, and for an instant, she could see the creature before he pulled his cloak around him and faded away again. A noise sounded behind her. As she turned, her head snapped to the side, and her whole world was pain. She fell to her knees and whimpered, the entire side of her face burning. She couldn''t see out of her left eye. Tentatively, she reached up and touched her face with her shaking hands, and her fingers told her that she was missing part of her jaw. The overwhelming pain hit. She vomited.


    She tried to scream. She wanted to scream, but all that came out was a muffled groan and blood. So much blood. She looked up to see the tip of a golden scepter, its raven head inches from her remaining eye. Tears welled up in it.


    "Oh come on. I haven''t even had much fun yet." The man sounded bored. "Heal yourself and fight me! This can''t be all the great Mage Hunter has to offer."


    Helia whimpered and begged, crawling toward the man''s legs. As she reached out to touch him, he stepped back and placed the golden scepter between them.


    "Don''t do that." His voice promised death.


    Helia stopped. Blood poured from her face, soaking the cobblestone street she crawled on. She vomited again.


    "You humans. So emotional. Even though you''re promised a life after this one, you act like cowards. You all say you have a purpose, that you serve some greater cause, but when the moment of your death comes, you wither like flowers in a mild frost." He knelt just out of reach. "Let me ask you, what would you do if faced with the choice? What if you could live on instead of rotting in the ground? What if I could promise you a real life after this one? No risk. No guesswork. Would you take that choice?" His words came out smoothly as he reached the raven head of his scepter down to the woman''s jaw, forcing her ruined face to look up at him.


    She screamed when it touched her and nearly blacked out from the pain, but she knew she''d die if she faded. She sobbed, tears and blood streaking her face. She nodded weakly, struggling to stay upright. "Y..ye.. y-y-yes." The words hurt her so badly.


    "Good girl." The man''s head turned to his side. "Angra, go play with those two for a moment. I have business with this one." Abad-Shai smiled at Helia as the little creature appeared on his shoulder, her face still stretched into a wicked grin. It giggled gleefully at his words and skittered off. Helia watched in the corner of her eye as it jumped onto Darius''s chest. A second later its claws dug into the hole it had created in his skull.


    Her whole body shook as she waited for what came next.


    ***


    The warlock reached forward then and brushed her long brown hair away from the good side of her face. She looked beautiful, in the way a ruin was beautiful. Her brown hair had been tied back tightly when he first saw her, but her hair had fallen loose when he''d struck her, giving her a messy, bloody unkempt look that contrasted strongly with the soft elegance she''d exuded before. Her single remaining blue eye met his gaze. She was filled with fear. He traced his fingers across her jaw, moving from the good side to the ruined side. As he did her whole body shook. The shock was taking her. She groaned as he touched her gaping wound.


    [Essence Transfer]


    ***


    Her world became pain. She screamed, but the sound felt distant. All she should feel was fire as power flowed from his fingers into her face. She heaved as her vision went black. She felt something entering her. It devoured her from the inside and filled her with its dark power. It whispered promises of conquest. Of power. Of vengeance. And it felt good. She didn''t know how long she existed in that place, only that, as the pain dimmed, she felt herself sobbing on the ground, her arms wrapped tightly around her legs.


    Slowly, she gathered herself and looked up, and all she saw was his fangs gleaming in the light of the tower. She reached up and touched her face. It was perfectly healed.


    "My.. my lord... Thank you... for this gift. I will be loyal. I will obey. Thank you, thank you, thank you." The woman bowed her head to the ground, praying to any gods that would listen. None responded. Something on the back of her hand burned. She looked down to find a symbol on her hand. It looked like a raven with chains around its legs.


    "Come now. I am nothing if not merciful, dear woman." The man reached down and placed his arms under her back and legs. He lifted her like she was nothing more than a baby. "And as I said, I prefer to accumulate resources. You will be useful to me."


    As he spoke, she looked at her skin. What had been pale before was now a dark grey. Her head felt heavy. Reaching up, she felt two sharp horns on her head. She was like him now.


    He carried her away from the peasants, but after twenty or so feet, he didn''t feel the correct level of deference emanating behind him. He turned.


    "[Prostrate yourselves before my new servant]."


    The villagers were thrown back to the ground. He continued walking.


    "My dear Helia. I''m glad that you''ve chosen to come with me. I have much need for an accomplished mage such as yourself, especially one with so much darkness in her heart. While the others would have been a pain, you, I believe, will be most useful to me." His words were soft and soothing. They filled her with ease. His aura had frightened her before, but she was filled with comfort now. This man was power itself.


    Behind them, the sound of the imp''s claws plunging into Darius''s corpse filled the air. She looked back... and felt nothing. She had cared about the man before. He was a good friend. Why didn''t she care anymore?


    A voice spoke to her. He was weak. That was why. He deserved what he got. She looked to her former "lover." He was weaker still. Nothing compared to the man carrying her. A small voice in her head cried out at her callousness, but she crushed it. She was more now. She would be more.


    She''d never be powerless again.


    "You''ve had your fun, Angra. Come along now." The imp giggled, then followed. The man lifted his hand away from the mage''s back for a moment and snapped his fingers.


    [Soul Prison]


    Two motes of light escaped from her former companions and floated toward the elf. They floated to his pocket and disappeared. A moment later, he carried her into the carriage, and the door snapped shut. The horseless carriage began to roll away, leading her away from the small village and toward her dark future.


    ***


    Abad watched the events unfold.


    Helia. He''d shaped her early in his dark reign after he had claimed a large swath of land from some Duke. She was the fourth of his Seven, and the first he''d created from his own essence. Unlike the others, who schemed and plotted and resented, she was utterly devoted to him.


    When he transferred his black essence into her, her spirit readily devoured it. When it did, he hadn''t been surprised. In their first meeting, when he reached into her soul, he saw it. It was stained. That darkness allowed his essence to take hold so easily. She hardly even resisted.


    Like so many, her story was tragic. She had killed her family in her original world. She was nineteen when she died. She was abused by her father, beaten for speaking. She wasn''t his. She was neglected by her mother. Helia was the child she never wanted. They kept her isolated. Thrust upon her some book that held power there. The girl had hated them for years and planned her way out. Yet, when she came of age, there was no out. She began plotting. The opportunity came one night. She put some form of alchemy from her world into a dinner she had made them, made them sleep, then left the doors to their home open in the dead of winter. They all died that night. As the cold took her, she felt at peace.


    Then she woke up in Reial. She was to be a tool of the Goddess. Helia came to resent Her too.


    She said many times that she was grateful for the life he gave her. She said he gave her purpose in a way her old life and the Goddess never could. He liked how pliable she was. She took every lesson to heart. She took his black essence in without complaint or resistance. In the end, she was perhaps the greatest of his Seven, not in power but in loyalty. None of the others held her single-minded devotion. Even her form reflected his own better than any other of his creations.


    He had showered her with praise and affection. She was one of the shining gems of his hoard. He wondered what came of her.


    Abad continued to watch as the carriage rolled away. Just as it escaped over the horizon, he heard humming behind him. He turned, but there was only a bright light. He tried to speak, but no words came. He felt black arms surround him.


    He woke up.