Rupture: Rise of the Demon King (28 page)

25: Lighthouse

2 Seek, 112 AV: Day 191

The lighthouse looked to be made of the same green stone as the city they’d come from. The structure seemed huge for a lighthouse, with a base of over fifty feet wide and reaching hundreds of feet into the sky, tapering at the top. Ivy invaded the sides of the ancient building, threatening to one day crumple it. The tower stood on a large promontory with dark, steep cliffs dropping into the sea. The stormy ocean sent tall waves into the rock wall, while salty mist floated around the base of the lighthouse.

“I’ve been in there hundreds of times, but never have I been so scared of it,” Mori said.

Seeko pulled out his blade. “We have to seal it. I mean, we’ve already walked into an erupting volcano; how bad can this be?”

Slowly, warily, they approached the arched entryway. Mori opened the door, and they walked in, weapons ready. Finding nothing but silence waiting for them, they lowered their weapons.

The tower was hollow all the way to the beacon room. A thin spiral staircase slowly wrapped around the side of the building, reaching the top nearly three hundred feet above their heads. They could hear the wind howl from the small windows periodically cut into the side of the lighthouse. There were no lights, so except for the windows, the lighthouse interior was cast in shadow. Keith shut the door to the lighthouse, making it even darker.

Mori reached for Seeko’s hand. “You really came in here as a kid? Alone?” Seeko asked her. “You were very brave.”

“Yeah, I loved the danger of the whole thing.”

Seeko looked around. “That staircase doesn’t even have a railing.”

Keith fearlessly moved up the staircase, once more brandishing his blade. “Quicker we do this, quicker we get back,” he said without stopping.

With that Seeko and Mori climbed upward, hand in hand.

They were maybe a hundred feet up the perilous staircase when Mori said, “This staircase was much wider when I was little.”

“Please don’t talk about the narrow, unsafe staircase right now,” Seeko responded. “I don’t want to look down.”

“I already have. You can’t see the ground; it’s just black, so …”

Seeko spared a glance, and froze. “Oh man.”

Mori squeezed his hand tighter.

“Just watch Keith’s ugly yellow scarf, just watch Keith’s ugly yellow scarf …” Seeko muttered.

They had no accidents along their climb and soon were at the top. The staircase ended at another arched doorway, facing toward the center of the lighthouse. They raised their weapons, and once more Mori opened the door, quieter this time. The heroes entered after a moment of catching their breath and gathering bravery.

The room was large, maybe forty feet across. It was open to the outside in almost every direction, except the direction the heroes approached from. The open balcony was wet from the pouring rain, and the wind howled through the room. The portal stood where the beacon fire was supposed to be, in the center, swirling with shadows. A woman stood on the balcony, opposite the doorway. She turned and faced the intruders.

Seeko knew who she was. He had already asked the Voice and told the others what he had learned:
“Danuski. Guardian of the aquamarine necklace. An Akeni who guards the portal near Merina. She is a trickster; be ready for anything.”

Danuski wore a low-cut white dress that fit tightly around her curves; she also wore long white gloves that went past her elbows. Around her neck hung an aquamarine necklace, presumably powering the portal. In her right hand, she held a wicked-looking whip featuring myriad barbs. Her face looked round and soft, framed with shoulder-length black hair, and her body appeared to be supple. Her eyes, of course, were a bright red.
If she wasn’t a demon,
Seeko thought,
she’d be beautiful.

She turned away from the doorway, facing the ocean again. “Hero. I’ve been expecting you.”

The trio held their weapons ready and reached for their sparks. “You know why I’m here, demon,” Seeko said. “Give me the necklace and you won’t have to die like Vishoni and Hatsuko.”

She sighed. “Please, let me continue. I want to offer my services to the Hero of Endetia.”

The three fanned out around the portal, approaching cautiously. “How could you possibly help us?” Seeko asked.

“I have information. I will exchange it for freedom from this portal.”

“Information? I learn everything I need to know from the Voice. What could you tell me?” He lit up his blade with orange flame.

Her grip tightened on her whip. “Put that toy away. You could hurt someone.” She faced him. “I could tell you about Yoshino,” she said. “About what he plans to do tonight.”

“That utaru!”
Kerodesis cried within.
“Take her offer. It could reveal a weakness.”

“Shut up, idiot! She’s just trying to trick us!” Still, he was tempted to accept. Then he pointed his burning blade at her. “Give me the necklace. Then we’ll talk.”

The rain bombarded the roof even harder, the wind grew louder.

She placed a palm above her chest. “Guarantee my protection from this place.”

Seeko thought for a moment. “Sure. Give me the necklace.”

Her head cocked to the side, and a smile crossed her face. “I don’t trust you. Prove you won’t hurt me.”

“I promise.”
At least until I get the necklace,
he thought. “That’s as good as it gets.”

She took the necklace off and placed it in her palm. “Come get it, hero,” she said seductively.

Seeko took a step forward, keeping his burning sword nearby. Satisfied, he walked the rest of the way and reached for the necklace.

/ / / / /

A loud thunderclap invaded the monotony of the rain. Lorissa sat near Hannet, who lay on the nearby bed, fast asleep. A single candle fought the darkness, allowing enough light for Lorissa to write in her journal.
It’s about time I turn in too,
she thought, reflecting on a tiring day of healing Hannet. Finishing her entry for the day, she yawned and blew out the candle.

But at that moment, another noise intruded in the rain; this one was not natural. It came from outside. Lorissa moved to the window and pulled back the curtains, only to see that the gate had been blown off its hinges. Guards were fighting people who threatened to invade the manor grounds, but were being overwhelmed. One of the attackers looked up to the window where she stood on the second floor, and Lorissa jumped back, then pulled the curtains shut.

What am I going to do?
she thought. She couldn’t run because she couldn’t leave Hannet, but she wasn’t a fighter. She entered the mind-space of Hannet, willing her to wake up. Screams of battle now were growing nearer, screams of death.
“Wake up, Hannet!”

It didn’t work. She reached for her crimson spark, ready to protect the girl, to the death if she had to. Again.

The situation pulled her back, into the past …

The man who once claimed to be my father is calling for me. “Lorissa … come out. I’m not going to hurt you.” I know he has a drawn bow in his hands. I move to the door to protect Varina. “Varina,” he says softly. “Where is your sister?” Little Varina screams. I run to silence her, but it is too late … He opens the door and I hear the snap of the bow string …

Lorissa took a deep breath to calm the tears, to calm the fear. She reached for her spark and readied herself.

The door handle jiggled.

/ / / / /

Danuski smiled. Her grip tightened on Seeko’s hand and then her whip lashed out, clutching Seeko’s sword. She flicked her wrist and his sword went flying. At the same time, she channeled the rain and shot it into the room like bullets, pelting the heroes. She took more water from outside and rammed it into Seeko, sending him skidding across the floor.

“You won’t get it that easily.” She winked as she placed it back around her neck.

Keith recovered and rushed the demon. Sword raised high, he roared and jumped toward her. Danuski snapped her whip in front of him, and a fiery explosion burst from the tip, flinging Keith onto the slippery balcony.

Mori channeled the rain herself while Danuski was fighting Keith, coalescing it into large spheres. As soon as Keith went flying, she fired the orbs of water at the demon, and Seeko followed up with dark orbs of energy. Danuski waved her hand, and the orbs stopped a foot from her. She pushed them back to their origins, which once more sent the heroes to the ground.

She took a step forward, taunting Seeko. “I thought you were better than this.”

Seeko reached into Kerodesis’s spark. He grinned. “Boom.”

An orange explosion expanded behind Danuski, sending her to her hands and knees. Seeko teleported behind her, sword ready to chop her head off. He brought the blade down in a smooth arc …

… but Danuski converted herself into water at the last moment. Another moment, and she was lashing out at Seeko with both her whip and whips of water, beating Seeko back to the open balcony. Seeko’s hand fell to the railing, and Danuski raised her whip once more. At that second, her own water whips turned on her and lashed her in the back, tearing her white dress. Enraged, she shifted from Seeko to face Mori. She rushed toward her, malice in her eyes.

Then Keith rammed into the demon. Danuski expertly flipped and landed back on her feet while Keith tumbled less gracefully. Danuski moved to kill him with her whip, but couldn’t move, for a black hand was holding her. She looked to Seeko, who nodded. From below, a hundred black hands exploded underneath her, grabbing her and holding her still. The darkness surrounded her, hid her. Then it hastily pulled her into the ground.

Seeko was breathing hard, watching for her to reappear.
She’s not dead, not that easily.
Mori grabbed more water, ready to use as whips. Her ropes of water reformed into a woman, and a second later Danuski was behind Mori, holding her hostage. Mori struggled, but the small woman was stronger than she looked.

“Hero. I will kill this one, if you do not do what I say.” A sharp shard of the green stone floated an inch from Mori’s neck.

“Getting desperate?” Seeko taunted. He moved closer. “Running out of magic or something?”

“Don’t take another step!” The shard moved, now touching Mori’s skin. It drew blood.

Mori winked at Seeko. “Come now …” Seeko said. “I thought you were better than this.” He took another step forward.

“That’s it! I will not be insulted by a human!”

The shard pierced Mori’s skin—but Mori became water, falling to the ground as a puddle. A second, then Keith was there, swinging madly at the demon woman, giving Mori time to reform near Seeko.

/ / / / /

An explosion blew the door open. Lorissa saw it was the bandit from before. He wore brown leather armor and a dark leather coif. Lorissa looked to the face of her attacker, petrified. Red eyes.

Yoshino.

“The girl from the temple,” he said, then flashed a smile. “What a pleasant surprise.”

She fought her fear. “What do you want?” she said.

Yoshino ignored her, taking a deep breath. “This used to be my room, you know. The seer sleeps in the same place I did not too long ago.”

She gulped. “Why are you here?”

“I’m simply helping the rebels supply their cause, and who better than to rob the richest person in the city?” He laughed. “It is personal, though. He was rather ruthless.”

He took a few steps forward and Lorissa backed up in response.

“So you’re going to kill him? Like you did Kazuma?”

“Oh no! No, these bandits will do much worse than simply kill him.” A flash and thunder. Yoshino moved to the window, turning his back to the girls. “The titan?” He placed a finger on his temple, then twisted to face Lorissa. “You know how crazy the Voice can be,” he said, pressing firmly on his skull.

She was shaking. He was just like her insane father. “Wh-What do you want with me and her?”

“Nothing. Not really.” He paused. “Well … that’s a lie.” He flashed his grin again. “I still cannot control the Voice. Not completely. Your Mother must know about it, since she created a smaller version of it …” He took a step toward her.

“No! Stay away from me!”

Lorissa fired a beam of light at Yoshino, who raised his hands in defense. She fell backward, crawling to get away. Yoshino teleported in front of her and pulled her up by an arm.

“So you can fight!” Yoshino laughed. “You’re not really passing my test here, though, girl. Plus …” He formed a ball of darkness in one hand. “… I need to speak to your Mother. You shouldn’t treat people like this.”

He pushed the darkness into Lorissa’s mind, who screamed, then fell limp.

/ / / / /

Suddenly, a horrible noise, a high-pitched scream, rumbled through the Kikoeru. Seeko clasped his hands to his ears, and Danuski herself screamed from the noise. The scream was followed by incoherent mumbling by a deep voice, drowning out the barking violence of the utaru. The chorus of mumbling grew louder, then cut off abruptly.

The four stood for a moment, confused.