Something was slowly dripping onto Fel’s head. Drip. Drip. Drip. What was it they were trying to do again? There was something important. Their eyes opened with a start as they tried to get their bearings. They were laying on top of the remains of a roof they had crashed through. The question was which building had they landed in?

  Turning their head they felt something sharp dig into their cheek. Craning their head Fel saw a sharp candelabra beside their head, if it had been a few inches to the right they would have been impaled on the stupid thing. With a start they realized where they were. “That bastard saw this coming, typical.”

  Thoren’s aim had been true. Fel had come crashing down right inside the church of the Old Gods.

  Rolling over slowly, Fel stood up on uneasy legs. A familiar voice greeted them. “A pleasure to meet you again, and so soon after your last visit. What brings you here so late?” Fel didn’t need to turn to know that it was the host of Fate.

  “You know exactly what I’m here for.” Fel said with a tired tone as they reached up and grabbed the mask of the Nightfather. “I need to use my full strength against this thing. How long can I go all out before the angel’s purge me?”

  “Normally, they would purge you within ten seconds. But, I can buy you a bit of time.” Fate said, deep in thought.

  Fel scowled. “How long exactly?”

  Fate was counting on his hands. “Fourty, no sixty seconds. Probably.” He said with a smile.

  “Some God of Fate you are.”

  Shrugging, Fate said. “I can usually hide behind vague riddles. This being honest thing comes with its downsides.”

  Fel stared at the mask for a long time.

  “Fear is nothing to be ashamed of child. It is merely a part of being human.” It was odd to hear a host for an eldritch God show sympathy.

  Lifting the mask to their face, Fel murmured to themselves. “I wouldn’t know, I was never human.” The mask sank into their flesh like melted wax, opening the seals on half of their true self. Their body twisted and transformed. Three additional arms sprouted from their body, each one had two separate elbow joints as they felt their fingers split, revealing seven fingers on each hand. From their back burst their coral bone wings, feathers of multicolored kelp danced on the ethereal winds. They floated into the air, their hair extending to three times their height as it glowed, while their legs fused together into a long tail. Their segmented armor returned to its proper place as their real skin. Black tendrils burst forth from their body in every direction. The Nightfather’s mask warped to form their own true mask, it depicted all of their previous faces etched into the world serpents bone, tears of midnight streamed down their closed eyes as they let out a breath for the first time in centuries. Lastly a perfect circle opened in their chest, straight through to their back. In the center of this empty space sat their star, inert and cold as it had been for so long.

  The nameless thing struggled to recall what it had been called a moment ago. With a sudden clarity it remembered. We are now Fel. Fel turned to the host of Fate. We must go, until we meet again.

  Fate nodded. “Remember, three minutes, starting. Now.” He said as he looked at his pocket watch.

  Fel took off, launching themselves through the air with ease. There was a high pitched whine as reality fought to expunge them like a virus. They slowed their perception to make out the words of the world.

  -Warning. Void corruption imminent, preparing countermeasures-

  -ADMIN LOGIN DETECTED-

  SYS.ADMIN.OMEGA1 HAS REQUESTED A DEFRAGMENTATION OF THE ANGEL.PURITY SYSTEM.

  -COMMENCING DEFRAGMENTATION-

  -0.001% COMPLETE-

  -0.135% COMPLETE-

  -ESTIMATED TIME TILL COMPLETION, 56 SECONDS.-

  With a thought they tuned out the words of the world. Fate had been accurate in his estimation. Now they merely needed to make the most of their time. As they flew over the city they spotted the Dragoon, it had changed to a new compact form. A dangerous development. Or it would have been, if they had not taken the steps to awaken.

  The entity that was and was not Fel watched the Dragoon fly towards one of the ships in the bay. Using their soul sight they saw that two of the mortals on board were familiar to this host. It compelled them to save their lives. A curious request, but there was no reason to deny the one known as Fel.

  But first, they would need a weapon.

  ◆◆◆

  Thoren looked up at the Dragoon’s new form as it hovered just above the ship. The thing looked strangely humanoid, aside from the four arms, backwards jointed legs, and the red glowing eye in the middle of its elongated head. He couldn’t help but notice that it seemed to be hesitating. With a strange look it met Thoren’s gaze. Calling out in a voice that was more conscious than before. “What is your name?” It asked calmly.

  If answering this thing’s questions bought Fel more time, then so be it. “My name is Thoren. Do you have a name?” Thoren asked, his voice hoarse.

  The Dragoon tilted its head. “I gave up my name when I took up the duties of a Dragoon.” looking over the city it continued. “Your kind has built much since I entered the long dream.” It almost sounded proud as it regarded the city. “Do you believe you could destroy this core Thoren?” The Dragoon sounded genuinely sorrowful as it asked.

  “Well. One of our friends might be able to, but I’ll be honest. You have kicked our asses thoroughly. What’s this all about? Do you want us to kill you?”

  With a sigh the Dragoon turned to regard Thoren again. “The humans who found this core etched their profane code into its systems. I am bound to this form and its code until this core is destroyed. If I may be honest. I do not wish to bring you and your kind harm. I was hoping that you would be strong enough to free me from this prison.”

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Phi was trying to speak, but he was in a rough shape. Thoren tried to summon his spear, but all that remained of his once great weapon were a few melted and broken pieces of metal. “I wish I could help you, I really do.”

  The Dragoon closed its eye. “I am sorry to hear that. I hope that you do not resent me, Thoren, from one warrior to another.” It said as it raised its arm up. A ghostly green blade of energy extended outwards from its wrist as it prepared to finish its job.

  Thoren offered a prayer to the Gods. Even if his faith had been shaken, he still wanted to believe in these last moments that he would be seen as worthy. The Dragoon started flying towards the vessel, faster than Thoren could follow with his eyes. Right as the blade was coming down a hand came to rest on the Dragoon’s arm, stopping it in its tracks. It turned in shock to regard the horrifying visage that had come to rest beside it.

  Before them stood an angel of the void in all of its horrible glory. It radiated a sickly power that was as enrapturing as it was disgusting. Wings of porous bone, hair that wrapped around itself like a cloth, and a mask that wept liquid antimatter. Before the Dragoon could react the voidspawn delivered a back hand that sent the unstoppable machine flying across the bay with enough force to split the ocean wide.

  The angel turned to face Thoren and Phi. The both of whom were shaking in fear at the sight of such a being. It reached one of its multisegmented arms down and plucked the fragments of Thoren’s spear from the ground. Regarding the melted remains of the golden spear with wonder. It sang a cursed song in the tongue of the void as the spear was reformed into a long spindly polearm.

  In the sky above hung a crescent moon, directly above the creature. It took the polearm in one of its arms, slowly stretching it in a circular motion above its head. As the polearm reached the moon, Thoren watched in horror as the moon was pulled along the arc of the polearm, attaching itself to the end of the metal pole like a blade of a crescent glaive. The world was cast into darkness as the only source of light was plucked from the sky.

  A fine weapon indeed. I shall return it in a moment's time. The sickly sweet voice of the angel forced itself into Thoren’s mind like a worm burrowing into his skin. He turned and vomited from the sensation.

  The angel turned just as the Dragoon was bringing down its ghostly blade at them. The flow of time turned rancid as it slowed lethargically. The angel cocked its head as it stopped the ethereal blade with a hand. Snapping it in half with a flick of its wrist. The Dragoon looked shocked as the angel struck it with the moon blade. The force was enough to displace a huge swath of water from the bay, revealing the sea bed below for a moment before the ocean churned to fill the negative space.

  The Dragoon’s body was torn to shreds as it tried to land a last ditch attack. The blow struck the angel's insect-like skin, reducing the Dragoon’s hand to dust. The angel brought the moon above their head for one final strike as Phi cried out. “Wait! Please, don’t destroy its soul! It’s being controlled!”

  The moon came to halt an inch before the Dragoon’s head. The angel turned to regard Phi. You would show your enemy mercy? Is this wise? It asked. There was no judgment to its tone, just curiosity.

  Phi struggled to one knee. “Please. There has been enough loss of life tonight. Break its core so it can be free, but spare its soul.” He pleaded.

  Cocking its head the angel turned to face the Dragoon. With a light tap of the moon the Dragoon’s outer shell was blown apart, revealing the shining core inside. The angel tossed the core to Phi. Our time is up. Until we meet again. Please watch over our slumbering selves. With a flick of their wrist the angel returned the moon to the sky above, bathing the world in its glow once more. Another of its seven fingered hands reached up and pulled its weeping mask from its face. Their body twisted and convulsed, falling to the deck in a heap.

  Wasting no time, Phi plunged a hook into the core, shattering the occult energy that powered it. The glow from within poured out from the hole in the core, hanging in the air as if to give its thanks before soaring away to whatever new body awaited it. Phi slumped to the deck as the last of his strength gave out.

  Thoren was only half paying attention, his bigger concern was that the angel’s body had reverted to its original form.

  That being Fel.

  Darkness swallowed his consciousness as he finally fell into a deep slumber.

  ◆◆◆

  The pair made their way onto the king's ship, escorted by three dozen guards, all of whom had their weapons trained on their backs for any sign of trouble. Fel and Phi had to lean on each other to walk. The king made his way up the ramp to face them, he looked like he had aged a few years in the span of a couple hours. “You claim that that Phorebearer machine was sent by an assassin. If what you say is true then the city owes you a great debt for leading it away from the more densely populated areas. I’m afraid that we cannot publicly offer you our thanks. But on behalf of my people, I can offer you mine.” He said with a deep bow. “Should you learn the name of this employer that the assassin worked for, I would very much like the opportunity to bring them to justice.” There was a fire in the man’s eyes as he spoke.

  Fel nodded. “I don’t think tonight will be the last we see of these mercenaries, I will send word if we learn more of their organization.”

  Phi stepped forward, causing many of the guards to tense up. “Your highness. Would you please check on the family that lived next door to us? The children were subjected to torture by the assassin, and I fear they may need help in the coming months to cope with what has happened. Their mother is named Gail, she works down by the harbor.” His voice was raw and hoarse, barely more than a whisper.

  The king nodded. “I will personally see to their wellbeing. You have a noble heart master Phi.” The king reached a hand out to shake Phi’s who bashfully accepted with a bow of his head. Turning to look away the king continued. “Are you sure you don’t want to wait for your friend to wake?”

  Fel sighed. “He’s in no condition to travel. He’ll need time to rest, time we simply don’t have.”

  The king nodded. “I’ll be sure to give him the letter you prepared. I can’t imagine he’ll be thrilled at being left behind.”

  “Our mission cannot wait.” Phi said as he clasped his hands together in prayer.

  Dropping to one knee the king bowed his head. “On behalf of Fulcrest. I thank you both.”

  Phi offered his hands to help the king stand. “Please, there is no need for that. We are simply glad we could help.”

  The pair said their farewells and made their way onto the king's personal ship. They wasted no time going below deck to their personal cabins. Pausing as they reached for the door handle, Fel turned to Phi. “About what happened…” They said nervously. “With the creature.”

  “I wish I had been able to witness where it had gone.” Phi said. “Though perhaps it’s better that I don’t know. The workings of the archenemy are mysterious and dangerous.”

  Fel clenched their fists. “Yeah. You’re probably right.”

  Phi put a hand on their shoulder. “It’s alright, there’s no need to apologize. I know you’re upset that you didn’t make it in time, but the All Mother saw fit to grant us a miracle.”

  He didn’t wait for a response as Phi retired to his room. Fel opened the door to their cabin as they sat on the bed with a thump. The night had gone terribly, but at least they were on their way to where they would find the All Mother’s new host. Fel felt oddly guilty about lying to Phi, they had finally managed to be honest with their companions and now they were right back at square one. Though there were limits to being honest.

  They looked up at the pair of shades that stood by the door. The pair cast their eternal judgement as Fel held their head in their hands. Whoever was trying to kill the All Mother was a fool, Fel knew all too well the price one had to pay for spilling divine blood.

  The dead gods watched in silent rage as Fel tried to finally fall asleep.

  From his seat Fate watched the whole weave of possibility unfurl before him. With a raised eyebrow he watched the three would-be heroes through the golden threads of fate. “Not bad. You all beat the odds and survived the night. I only wish the future wasn’t so bleak for you all.” He crunched the numbers in his mind. There was only a zero point zero one percent chance that the three of them would make it through the rest of their journey with their lives.

  Reaching for his tea he took a sip and smiled. “I’ll take those odds.” He lifted his cup to toast the group. “The alternative is the destruction of our whole world. So, good night, and good luck.”

  END OF ACT 2

  Thank you to anyone who has made it this far, it means a lot to me.