The Chimera (Legends of the Dark Creatures Book 2)
Chapter Thirty-Two: A Twist Of Fate

Earth...

An hour earlier...

Over two hours had passed since Talya sent Ashley and Ethan’s souls into the Underworld. Richard, with his arms folded and unfolding, paced around the room. He also constantly watched Talya who sat on the floor with her legs crossed and her eyes closed.

“Your annoying movement and breathing aren’t helping me concentrate,” Talya complained and opened her eyes.

Ethan had tasked her with maintaining the portal and Richard wasn’t going to take his eyes off her for one second. He looked at the circles of fire that surrounded Ashley and Ethan’s bodies.

“Hey,” Luke said to Richard while staring at Ashley. “Ethan said that whatever happens to Ashley will happen to him right? So how about him? If something were to happen to him it wouldn’t affect Ashley, would it?”

“It’s not that simple,” Talya interrupted. “The Chimera is a monster that is as conniving as he is deadly. If we did manage to kill Ethan right now we’d lose our only way of bringing back your half-breed friend. Once Ethan dies the magic circle will be rendered inactive and she will be trapped in the Underworld forever. Besides it’s not like he can actually be killed.”

Samantha moved next to Claire. The moment Richard looked at Claire she slowly turned her eyes away from him and stared at the floor, pretending to untangle a lock of her long red hair. Richard had almost lost control of his power some hours ago and revealed a side of him Claire had not seen. Maybe that was why she was avoiding him he thought.

Choosing to distract himself for a while Richard looked around the place they were in. The soft ambient light inside Ethan’s mansion reminded him of the great halls of the palace he grew up in. He always thought of Ethan as not materialistic but the majestic chandeliers, expensive furniture in the living room across and the different ornaments that were orderly placed around the house made him rethink that.

“What did you mean when you said Ethan can’t be killed?” Richard heard Samantha ask.

“Well, since he is physically linked to the half-breed, his life is literally in her hands. He cannot be killed unless she dies.”

Samantha’s dark brown eyes narrowed. “You know... The ‘half-breed’ has a name and it’s Ashley.”

“Does it look like I care, child?” Talya’s black jacket creaked as she folded her arms across her chest.

“Enough,” Richard interjected when he saw Talya’s irises glowing purple. “Talya, you probably want Ethan dead just as much as I do.”

“I want both of you dead, Richard,” Talya smirked. “But, unfortunately, life doesn’t give us all that we want so I will settle for the Chimera’s destruction... for now.”

“And I am sure you’ve already devised a plan on how to break the spell that binds him and Ashley,” Richard said.

“Still overconfident in my powers, I see,” Talya said waving her hand in the air. “You know what? I take back what I said about wanting you dead. And to answer your question yes. However, I do not have the necessary power to both maintain and keep this magic circle open as well as break the link between him and the half—” Talya looked at Samantha whose head was tilted. “Between him and the girl,” Talya said with a sarcastic sigh.

“Human blood?” Richard suggested.

Talya shook her head, “Even if I was to suck dry every human present I wouldn’t even come close to obtaining the power I need to perform the task.” She walked near the magic circles and raised her hands. A disturbing chuckle came out of her mouth. “Ethan clearly had this all worked out. However, there is a way I can have enough power to both keep the portal open and break the link that binds Ethan and your little girlfriend over here.”

“Out of the question,” Richard said, raising his voice.

“Whether you like it or not, even you can’t deny that this is the only way, Richard,” Talya shot.

“What is she talking about?” Samantha asked, standing next to Richard.

Even Richard was a bit hesitant to mention it to her but he had given his word to no longer lie to Ashley or her friends.

“You were unconscious at the time but do you remember when the Dark Trinity attacked us?” Richard asked.

Samantha nodded.

“Well, there was a point when Arius— an Air Element Master— almost killed me,” Richard said. “Ashley came to my aid and offered that I drink some of her blood to gain some more power.”

“Dark creatures obtain great power when they consume the blood of the living,” Luke commented, holding Claire’s hand.

“And Ashley’s blood gave me enough power to hold my own against Arius; even though in the end it wasn’t enough to defeat Arius.”

“So Talya here wants to drink Ashley’s blood to get the power,” Samantha said, intensely looking at Talya.

“You don’t have to make it sound so vile,” Talya said and her lips curved into a smile. “However, I am open to any and all other options... if you have any that is.”

Richard looked away. As much as he hated to admit it, Talya was right. If she drank some of Ashley’s blood she would have the necessary power to break the binding spell Ethan put on her. But then why was he so hesitant?

“Ethan promised that he would make sure Ashley was safe. So I don’t see any point in trying to go behind his back.”

Surprised by what Samantha had just said, Richard turned to face her.

Talya laughed and said, “My goodness! Another of Richard’s allies has fallen prey to the Chimera’s charm.”

Samantha walked to Richard.

“This has nothing to do with feelings,” she said. “Let’s be logical about this. What is the chance that Ethan will allow any harm to come to Ashley?”

“Almost zero,” Richard said with a smile. He always thought of Samantha as a timid and frail girl who would always rely on others but she just stood up to Talya and him without a hint of fear.

“This is indeed a good chance to finally end Ethan,” Richard said to Talya. “However, even if drinking Ashley’s blood will grant you power, it’s no guarantee that it will be enough to break Ethan’s spell; and knowing Ethan, he probably has some contingency should someone attempt to do so. I won’t take that risk, Talya.”

Samantha smiled at him and stood next to him.

“You really have changed, Richard.” Talya’s voice was low and a powerful aura was emanating from her as she stood up. “I honestly didn’t want to resort to this but since there is no changing your mind...”

Richard quickly dove to his left, pushing Samantha and Claire out of the way when Talya blasted a beam of dark power from her hand at them. Luke managed to dodge most of it but his shoulder was hit and he fell to the ground.

“Luke!” Claire screamed as she and Samantha ran to him.

“Talya what is wrong with—” Richard cut his sentence when he saw the purple glow Talya’s eyes and her lips moving; chanting a spell.

A large magic circle with black and red symbols appeared on the ground and red flames began to burn as something emerged from the portal that Talya had just opened. The creature roared and showed off its large blood-stained teeth. It was about twice Richard’s height and had two huge arms and four wings; two of which had sharp-bladed edges.

“Make sure not to harm the Fire Demon,” Talya ordered. “However, you can kill his friends.”

The creature immediately went for Samantha. Richard jumped, grabbed one of its wings, and shot a blast of fire from his feet; propelling them both into the air. He tightened his grip on the creature’s wing and threw it at a distance away from his friends. It crushed into the wall and fell to the floor. Richard conjured a flame sword in his hand and in a blink’s length of time he slashed his sword through the creature’s neck.

“Enough Talya,” Richard said. “I won’t let you harm my friends.”

Talya’s lips formed a smirk. “You sure about that?”

“Richard!”

Richard saw the creature he’d just killed dashing at incredible speed in Claire’s direction. He zoomed ahead of it and once again slashed his sword; this time splitting the creature’s head in half. It fell but suddenly disintegrated into a dark mist and appeared again a few meters away from Richard.

“The only way to kill a demon as powerful as this one is with very high-class magic,” Talya said, walking towards where Ashley lay. “You can slash your sword and blast your flames all you want but you will not be able to destroy it.”

The creature went for Richard’s friends. Instead of using his sword, Richard grabbed one of the demon’s arms and held it on the ground. It was strong but not as strong as him. The demon didn’t even seem to pay attention to him as he held it. Talya squatted next to Ashley and held her palm. A sharp claw then extended from one of her fingers and cut open Ashley’s palm.

“Talya! Hurt any of my friends and I will kill you!” Richard shouted and it was too late for him to realize his mistake.

The creature turned and faced Ashley. It raised its other hand and suddenly three sharp spikes fired out of its three fingers; aiming for Ashley. Talya quickly saw the spikes coming for Ashley and pushed her away. The sharp spikes grazed the side of Ashley’s cheek, leaving three claw-like marks dripping with red blood.

Talya looked at Richard and the Demon. “The moment you declared Ashley as a friend the demon sensed your feelings towards her and attacked her,” Talya said. “I ordered it to attack your friends so it will aim to kill anyone you care for in this room.” Talya licked Ashley’s blood from her finger. “Mm... so this is the power contained within the blood of the half-breed. Richard, I can’t believe you wanted to keep this all to your—”

As Richard watched Talya get pierced by three spikes that penetrated through her back he realized something.

He never really felt any hatred towards her. Despite everything, she was always on his side and was willing to do anything in order to rid the world of Ethan; a goal Richard imposed on her. If he hated anything about her it was that he still felt strong feelings towards her. Unfortunately, the creature she summoned was the only one that sensed those feelings that even Richard refused to accept.

Talya knelt on one knee and blood was coming out of her mouth. The creature roared and raised its free arm again. A sharp spike flew through the air and pierced through Talya's neck; rendering her unable to speak.

Talya fell unconscious on the floor.

“The only witch here is now unable to recite the incantation needed to send me back,” the demon said; in a language that only Richard and Talya could understand. “I was ordered not to harm the Fire Demon but now I can have my fun with his friends.”

Richard found himself holding nothing but thin air when the demon suddenly disappeared. Blood-red dust began to gather near Ashley. It took form and the demon materialized out of it.

“The Fire Demon and the dark witch seem particularly interested in this one,” the demon said.

“Get away from her!” Richard shouted. He dashed at it and stabbed it in the abdomen. The demon disintegrated into mist and Richard felt a powerful blow land on his back. He was sent flying across the room and crashed into something hard.

The demon laughed.

“You cannot kill me, Fire Demon. Not with your power.”

Richard got up. “How about this then?” Thin streams of flames shot out of his hands and bound the demon's body like chains. If he couldn’t defeat it then he could at least hold it until Talya recovered.

“Your efforts are futile Fire-Demon,” the demon growled. It disappeared and this time materialized right in front of Richard. A cloud of thick black smoke came out of its mouth and Richard inhaled most of it.

“The substance that is now in your system should keep you down for a while,” said the demon as Richard felt his body go numb. When he tried to move all he felt was his knees touch the floor. His fingers shook as he desperately tried to move them.

“Don’t bother Fire Demon,” the demon said. “Like the witch, you’ve both been infected with my venom. It will be a while until you can even lift your finger.”

“Hey ugly! Stay away from him!”

Samantha, no

Richard could only think those words as the demon walked towards Samantha; who stood her ground despite her body shaking like a little critter caught in a trap.

“Looks like I will have to start with this one,” the demon said.

Three sharp claws extended from its fingers and it raised its hand in the air.

It was just like when Vladimir was about to kill Ashley. Back then, Richard couldn’t do anything and even now all he could do was watch helplessly. The venom from the demon had spread through his body and he could feel even his consciousness slipping away.

“Fire Demons are rare species Prince Richard and are so powerful that not even Devil’s Venom can kill them”

Why of all the people was Richard remembering him?

“But how do they survive such deadly poisons, Ethan?”

How is it that I can’t forget him? Richard thought.

“Well, it is said that Fire Demons have the ability to burn any poison out of their body.”

A smirk appeared on Richard’s face as he raised his body’s temperature. No matter how much hatred he felt towards Ethan, Richard could never deny the fact that the monster taught him almost everything he knew about the world.

Flames burst out of his body and he felt his body burning from the inside. His body shook and his hand closed into a fist. The demon’s claws were already making their way toward Samantha. Just a little more Richard thought. He didn’t need to burn all the venom away. He only needed to rid himself of enough to do what he did next.

With incredible speed, he moved his legs and went right in front of Samantha, facing her. The demon was ordered not to harm him but even it couldn’t stop the spikes that it had propelled at Samantha. Risking his life to save another.

Talya was right Richard thought with a smirk; he had changed.

But Richard’s eyes flew wide open when he noticed Samantha’s lips moving. One of her hands was raised and her eyes were facing intensely at what was behind him. Slowly he turned and saw the spikes that the demon had projected stagnant in the air; as if suspended by an invisible force.

Samantha gently pushed Richard out of the way and she walked towards the demon.

“Who are you?” the demon asked, in its language; one that Richard could understand.

Samantha tilted her head and suddenly the demon’s wings were severed from its body. Richard stared in astonishment as a thick dark liquid gashed out of the demon’s back. The demon growled even louder when both its arms suddenly flew off.

And that’s when everyone felt it. It was an aura, unlike anything Richard had ever experienced. Luke and Claire’s bodies were shivering and Richard couldn’t even blink.

The aura that was emanating from Samantha disappeared and the demon fell to its knees.

“Please don’t kill me,” it pleaded to Samantha.

Samantha tilted her head and uttered words that not even Richard couldn’t comprehend. The demon beat its forehead on the floor and wailed as Samantha lifted her hand. When she closed her fist, the demon’s body exploded and its body parts scattered around the house. Samantha gestured her right hand and the demon's body parts lit up in bright red flames. The body parts disintegrated and eventually vanished.

Slowly, Richard stood and gathered his thoughts as Samantha came towards him. A devious smile formed across her face. She turned to Talya.

“Who are you?” Talya asked.

Samantha didn’t answer instead she looked at where Ethan and Ashley’s bodies lay and gestured her hand in that direction. The flames began to burn even brighter and she said, “Now you need not worry about maintaining the portal to the Underworld. My consciousness is fading but before I leave I have a message for the Chimera.” She faced Richard. “Tell him his search is finally over and that Aria goes more impatient with each passing second. Fate has been twisted and soon the Chimera will feel my wrath and the humans he cares for so dearly will share his suffering.”

Samantha was about to fall when Richard grabbed her. She struggled to stand but soon got her bearing.

“What happened?” she asked. Her face was covered in the demon’s blood and as she looked around Richard spoke.

“You don’t remember?” he asked.

Talya stood up and went over to the magic circles surrounding Ashley and Ethan.

A chuckle escaped her mouth and she gazed her Samantha.

“I was wrong about you Samantha,” she said. “You do have hatred for the Chimera; intimately so it appears.”

“What are talking about?” Samantha replied, holding on to Richard.

“I don’t what your friend did Richard but she somehow managed to solve our problem of maintaining the portal.”

“How?” Richard asked.

“At first, the magic circle needed to draw power from me to remain open but now it feeds off someone else for sustenance.”

“Ethan,” Richard guessed.

“Indeed,” Talya affirmed. “And right now, only Ashley gets to see how much pain he’s probably in. With the power I have now, I can get started on breaking the binding spell. It should take at least two hours.”

“Wait, stop,” Samantha suddenly interjected. “Is Ethan in pain right now? And what does it have to do with me?”

“I think you might want to sit down first,” Claire said and came to her. “I got her,” she said to Richard, and the two girls— with Luke following behind them— went to the living room.

“Finally Richard,” Talya said, kneeing in between the fiery magic circles that surrounded Ashley and Ethan. “In a few hours, Ethan can finally be destroyed.”

Richard rested his palm on Talya’s shoulder. “But we must make sure Ashley is safely returned to us before we can take any action,” he said.

“I missed that look in those blue eyes of yours,” said Talya. “I am sorry for summoning the demon, Richard. Though I am glad to learn that you still have some feelings for me.” She sat with her legs crossed and closed her eyes. “The demon wouldn’t have attacked me if that wasn’t the case. And don’t worry, I have a plan to get your friend out of the underworld.”

Richard smiled at her. “Just... no more surprises okay?” he joked and she nodded.

“Still,” Talya said. “I wasn’t expecting a new player to appear in our little game.”

“You mean Samantha,” Richard confirmed.

“I have never felt magic power as strong as she has. But I did notice how Ethan acted around her. There has to be a connection.” Talya looked at the living where Samantha and the rest were. “You better keep a close eye on her, Richard.”

Talya was right about everything she’d just said. But more importantly, she was on his side for now, and maybe this alliance— as volatile as it was— would be enough to put an end to Ethan once and for all.

...

I hope you are enjoying the story even as its conclusion draws near.