Odder The Demon Hunter - The Blood Curse

Once outside the granite walls, the group searched through the lifeless crowds of half-dead townsfolk for Aimma.

They spotted Corbin standing alone.

“Corbin, where’s Aimma?” Odder asked.

“I do not know.”

“This is where we left her,” said Serra.

“She left or maybe taken,” Finkle said.

Karzan looked up at the Eye of Adeit. “We haven’t much time.”

“How long?” asked Odder.

Karzan adjusted his spectacles. “Ah, Mid-morning but we still need to find transportation to Skyger.”

“Let’s split up. We can cover more ground.” Odder pointed to Finkle and Corbin. “You two check west. Karzan and I will check north, and Serra…”

“… I’m fine on my own. I’ll check south then track up north to meet you.”

“Perfect,” said Odder. He searched for a landmark and found a giant fallen statue of a dragon to the north. “There. We’ll meet at the statue in an hour.”

“I haven’t had an opportunity to ask how you are doing,” said Karzan as he walked with Odder.

“As well as expected, I suppose.”

“And your magic?”

“What I know is almost second nature.” He paused. “I can see traces of magic similar to when I looked through your spectacles.”

Karzan raised a brow. “Really?”

“Yet I still have doubts.”

“It’s a natural feeling, but you have become very powerful.”

“Powerful enough to guard the portal from an army of goblins and kill their scorpion Queen?”

“As mortals, we have an endless number of future possibilities. Too many to know every outcome. All we can control is what we do right now.” He gripped Odder’s shoulder. “Trust the future to the Celestines but do what you need to do at this moment.”

A small fire brewed in Odder’s heart. “The Celestines.” He shook his head. “I still have my…”

“… Doubts?” Karzan interrupted.

“Yes.”

“So seeing is believing even after all you’ve been through?”

Odder sighed and relaxed his shoulders, then started to chuckle. “You are a good teacher.”

Karzan laughed. “Indeed lad, the best. Now let’s find Aimma.”

They search the northern village until they came to the woods.

“We should head back,” Odder said. “The other’s may have found her.”

Karzan nodded. “One more thing. Remember the Maha’De is powerful but not yet complete. You will need a Skyger high wizard to bless the sword with celestial energy.”

“You’re a high wizard. Can’t you do it?”

Karzan tilted his head and looked up. “I suppose I could If I knew the spell.”

“I know the spell,” interrupted a voice from behind.

Odder and Karzan turned.

“The Mask of Vasul.” Karzan pulled his wand from his tunic. “Stand behind me Odder.”

Odder’s voice trembled. “Prince Destin is that you?”

Dressed in black studded leather armor and wearing a matching cape and hood, Destin answered through his mask, “Yes Odder.”

“The last time I saw you, you were lying face down on the ground with a scorpion digging into your back. The Queen told me you were alive, but I didn’t believe her.”

“Oh I’m alive and yes, I still have my friend.” A golden scorpion tail with stinger rose behind Destin’s back.

“Why are you here?” demanded Karzan.

“For the sword of course. Hand it over and I will spare your lives.”

“I doubt that,” said Karzan. He whispered back to Odder. “Do you see any goblins hiding in the forest?”

“Don’t worry potion master. I’ve come alone. You see, the Queen had other plans.”

“In that case, you cannot defeat me. I am older, wiser, and much more powerful than you.”

Destin laughed. “Yes I agree you are older, wiser perhaps, but I am the most powerful wizard in Arcaina. A red glow encircled around him.

Karzan stepped back, shielding Odder, and gripping his wand. He shot a magic bolt at Destin who in turn deflected it.

Karzan created a fireball and launched it. Destin caught it and flung it back, hitting Karzan in the leg. He fell to his knee.

Odder unsheathed his sword causing a massive burst of light. Destin shielded his eyes for a moment.

“Yes.” He looked back. “It’s magnificent.”

“I don’t want to hurt you,” warned Odder. “Whatever spell the evil Queen has you under, we can break.”

“Oh Odder, always the faithful servant.” Destin stepped forward, his stinger snapping in the air. “There is no spell. I wanted this!”

“Odder!” Serra shouted, running from behind. She jumped and landed in front of Destin, striking him in the chest several times with her dagger. Sparks flew.

Destin stumbled back but then vanished, reappearing behind Serra. He kicked the back of her legs, knocking her to the ground. He pulled out Serra’s missing dagger and prepared to stab her when Karzan summoned a wind twister around him and launched him into the air.

Destin landed on his feet and dusted himself off. “Your magic is useless against me. I can see your every conjure. And Odder, the rumors are true, I see your magic aura. All these years detached from magic, how does it feel?”

Odder launched a massive fireball. Destin knocked it into a tree making it burst into flames. “Does that answer your question?”

“Impressive. Wielding magic with your thoughts. Very high-level wizardry.”

Serra threw two stilettos into Destin’s shin. He yelled and bent down. Karzan fired bolts of lightning, one right after the other. A think bluish haze shrouded Destin, hiding him.

“Odder, run back and find Aimma and the others,” Karzan commanded. “Then head to Skyger.”

“I won’t leave you.”

Serra stood holding her dagger and stiletto and keeping her eyes fixed on the haze.

“Just go!” Karzan yelled.

Odder stepped back slowly until he was far behind them.

The haze cleared revealing Destin crouched to the ground with his cloak covering him. A sinister laugh emanated, then the ground shook and split like linen ripping. Karzan made a circular motion with his wand and chanted a spell. A purple ball of magic formed around him and lifted him in the air.

Serra flipped back several times and jumped just before the ground crumbled under her.

Destin stood and flung back his cloak. He pulled the stilettos from his shin and launched them at Serra while she jumped. She blocked one, but the other landed in her side and knocked her back to the ground.

Odder had seen enough and charged back with the Maha’De drawn.

Destin’s cloak turned into giant demon wings, and he flew toward Karzan.

Karzan fired a web of electricity at Destin but with no effect.

Destin reached through Karzan’s magic bubble, gripped his wand, and snapped it. He glanced at Odder, then lashed his stinger, striking Karzan in the neck. Karzan fell to the ground.

“No!” Odder jumped twenty feet into the air and sliced off one of Destin’s wings.

Destin fell, landing on the ground on all fours like a feline.

Odder landed behind him and charged.

Just before Odder could hit Destin, he turned and blasted Odder in the chest with an energy ball, knocking him ten feet back.

Odder laid on the ground, his chest smoking. It felt like his bones were crushed, and the air knocked out of his lungs. He gasped for air and rolled to his side looking for Destin. He saw Karzan laying on the ground with his fingers twisted and black poison splintering through the veins on his neck. “No! No!”

“Serra pulled the stiletto from her side. Blood shot out like the black blood of a decapitated onyx snake. She held her palm over her wound to keep her blood from spilling.

She marched toward Destin, one hand on her side and the other holding her dagger. She passed Karzan and glanced at the pain frozen on his face. Her jaw tightened, and she growled. “I’m going to kill you!”

“Look at you,” Destin said. “You wasted your whole youth trying to find and kill me.”

“It’s only a waste if I fail,” Serra said, spitting blood.

“You’re weak, but you can be so much more. You are clueless to your true potential.”

She marched closer. Her white knuckles tightened on her dagger.

“Watch Odder. See the Xenduri’s true nature.” Destin held up his palms and chanted. A fog left his hands and surrounded Serra. It then absorbed into her side wound and sealed the hole.

Geometric marks formed and moved on her skin. She struggled to move her legs and fought to take the next step.

“You have darkness running through your veins, and I control the darkness.”

A dark film covered her piercing blue eyes making them black as tar. She cried out, dropped her dagger, and fell to her knees.

Rage fumed in Odder. He focused on healing in hopes that the magic would mend his wounds in time.

“Xenduri, take off your skin and let me taste your evil.” Destin motioned for Serra to come. “You are bound to me.”

She stood and walked toward him.

“Come closer and see the truth. Then you will understand, and you will no longer be alone.” He held his hands out as if to embrace her.

Odder felt his strength return. “Serra, no,” he cried out.

“She looked over to him and stopped.

“No. I control you,” commanded Destin.

Serra fell to her knees and screamed. Her markings danced as if trying to tear out of her skin. She ripped at her eyes and tried to pull the blackness from them.

Destin roared then jumped, landing his knee into Odder’s chest. He grabbed him by the collar. “You do not oppose my authority. I am the true Champion.” He pushed his head back into the ground.

Odder coughed and fought to put air back into his lungs. He held up his forearm, showing Destin.

“Do you think the Celestines chose you to be the Champion?”

“I know, I am,” Odder said, squeezing the words out of his mouth.

Destin lifted his head and laughed. “Where do you think you got that demon blood from?”

Odder shook his head.

“From Bahl-xolus. They tried to hide you, but I found you. Remember the potion your trusty gnome gave you? Well, I was the wizard that gave it to him. It was needed to reveal your curse and set in motion the plan for you to break the curse.”

“I don’t believe you. You’re possessed.”

Destin laughed. “As we speak Bahl-Xolus, or the Divine Oracle as you know him, is preparing to possess the basalt dragon, and preparing the arrival of his demon minion through the Great Tetrad.”

Destin pulled back his sleeve revealing the same marking but without the three demon curse. “I have the markings of the true Champion, not a false savior created from demon’s blood.”

Odder’s heart jumped. How did he know about the demon blood and could he be right? Am I not the true Champion? He shook his head. But I have the Maha’De. He gripped his sword and swung.

Destin seized his arm. “I am not a fool. I can see your every move.” He squeezed, forcing Odder to drop the sword. He picked it up swaying the Maha’De in front of him. “Its magic is captivating.”

“Destin, why? You said we were like brothers.”

“For the power.” Destin held the Maha’De over Odder. “Its temptation was too great, so I let down my defenses, and gave into the darkness.”

Odder held up his hand to shield himself from the blade.

“I will command over this new world, and all will be my slaves.”

“Serra, I need you,” Odder mind whispered. “And what of the Bahl-xolus and Queen Sorren? Won’t they be the rulers?”

Destin inched the sword closer. “Their plan is flawed. The Queen expects you will join her, but I know you, Odder the vekart. You are good and won’t be turned.”

Serra cried out.

Destin glanced back. “Appears your friend is almost free. No matter. He lifted his sword to his side. “There can be only one savior.”

Odder gathered his strength and summoned a fireball, “I won’t give up,” but before he could launch it, Destin severed Odder’s arm just above his markings.

Odder watched, in disbelief, as his arm twisted in the air. He came to his senses and cried out.

Destin grabbed the arm, its fingers twitching. “This is all that is needed to open the portal to the demon realm.”

Odder rolled on the ground, waves of pain pulsating in his arm. Blood gushed between his fingers as he tried to stop the hemorrhaging.

Destin backed into the forest, a red cloud formed around him. “I may have your arm and the demon blood, but you still have the poison. Goodbye, my faithful servant.” He vanished into the cloud.

Serra finally freed herself and ran to Odder’s side. “Odder, I’m so sorry.”

She attempted to heal him but failed. Even her healing potion had no effect. She cauterized the cut. Odder screamed. “You won’t bleed out now.”

“Still poisoned…,” Odder mumbled, his words faded.

“We have to find Aimma.” Serra lifted him into her arms and started running. “Magic don’t fail me now.” She conjured her haste spell and cut through the village. She looked down at Odder and mind whispered, “Odder, you and I were meant to die but today is not that day. Stay with me.” She then mind whispered Aimma’s name over and over.

He stared at Serra’s red hair flying back like clouds in a menacing storm. Her piercing blue eyes brightened as she pushed forward. He could see the strain on her face from the burden of using her magic while carrying him.

His eyelids became heavy. Each blink taking longer to open until all he could see was darkness.

“Stay with me.” Were the last words he heard.