They Called Me FIVE

LANCE

"Lance,"

"Yeah?"

"Should we ask Seven? After all, this is Efta we're talking about."

Magnus detect my confusion. He raise his eyebrows.

"Efta. Seven said she showed her visions of them together right? What if this deity showed her some bits of her past? The part where a half breed girl rise up to become a goddess. If there's someone Efta can confide with this information, I'm sure it's Seven."

My ears were still tingling with this new information Magnus had given us. And the last thing I want is to talk Seven about it. Not because I don't want to know.. In fact I'm dying to...

But Seven... Seven is not well. Seven can't disclose this information - if she really has knowledge about this. I'm positive Efta did something to her to keep her mouth shut.

I'm not sure where is this feeling of dread coming from. There's a twisted knot of horror unfolding in my gut. Telling me I shouldn't dig deeper. That keep on saying it's dangerous. That I'll put someone close to me in danger if I go further.

But I want to know.

I don't think I can sleep if I don't find out.

"Let's not..." I raise my palm tentatively. "Ask her. She's dying man... Did you see how chalk white pale Seven was? When I bandage her it's really difficult to tell if she's still alive or not. And I think...bringing uo this conversation will worsen her condition."

Magnus leans back in his chair, pick up the duffle bag he used to stuff with supplies and food. "You're right." He said.

"What was I thinking? Let's have this conversation in another time. After we find a cure to Seven and Sam's wounds." He throw us a pair of black gloves, and a knot of rope and seat belts.

"What's this for?" Jesper asks.

"That's for carrying Sam and Seven. You'll tie them on your back then we travel."

I look strangely at the equipment. I get the seat belts logic but I don't know what's the rope use for.

"I thought we'll teleport? Just like what happen to Sam's basement that brought us to this place?"

Magnus shake his head.

"Nah, we can't risk my navigating bracelets power. The Dark Elves will detect its presence. And I told you right? We might face the djinns. They can bend reality and twist it into something you want to see."

Magnus go over to the door and twist it open. I almost jump when I see someone's standing over there. Grinning at me. At us.

My face pale. Magnus immediately sheathe his sword and point at the most unexpected person we'll see greeting us on the door.

It's Alpha Beast.

And laying limp on his side....is Seven.

"Let her go!" I sprint right to the door. My shadows at full blast. I throw a wave of darkness in the air. Spinning towards him.

"No!" Magnus scream beside me.

I use that chance to dart to the left and swipe Seven's body. He expected me. He throw her body high in the air and took control of the black wave I throw to kill him.

He change its form. He alter its shape. Now its a giant sword towering over me. I gasp. I stumble. Alpha Beast is wearing my face. My body.

He's wielding my power.

I manage to crawl away before the shadow sword impale me. Jesper ran to my side to help me. But Magnus shove him. Directing him to where Sam is.

Jesper nods. He sprints to the left. Alpha Beast did not pay him any attention.

"That's cruel." Alpha Beast said, his voice sounds the same as mine. Only detached, flat, emotionless, as if he pluck out every anger, every hurt, every pain, every worry I instilled in my voice everytime I speak.

"I copied you. I install one of your genes in me. But why can't I have your blessing that can raise the dead?" He cock his head to the side. His dirty blonde hair crossing strands in his forehead. His eyes have the same color, same intensity, same shade of light that I have.

The only thing that wasn't there... Is emotions. This is not the first time he copied my face. But this is the only time I get the chills. Seeing my face on other people's face. This may have been what doppelganger feels like.

The horror of it. Mask tore off.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

He produce another shadow and made a whip out of it. He lash it at me. I block it with my shadow. Willing it to take form of a sword. So I could fight.

And it did. Alpha Beast did the same. I made two shadow swords. And he also did. I sprint back to the room and use the bed as trampoline to jump high. Attack him from the ceiling.

He expected me. He raise his shadow sword. He made a cross above his head. I clash one against it. While I struck the other to his spine.

It went through him. I get to cut his heart, ribs, arteries open.

I should be.

But then something weird happen.

The part I impaled... There's no blood. Black shadows gush out like bubbling lava exploding at the mouth of volcano.

He twist his head at me. He grin. The other part of his face is melting.

"Now you've done it."

I stifled a yelp when his body.... I mean my... I mean his human form with my face splits right open on the spot.

No blood, no flesh, no bones, no veins just a pure black. And a hideous red figure tore out of his black insides.

The color is like a phoenix, a burning phoenix on flight. In fact that's what he looks like. He has a head of an eagle. No eyes. His body is composed of molten fire.... Like the sun.

His talons are the only thing that is grey on him. Rhe rest are unseen at the blazing fire and scorching heat he's producing.