Chương 30: 030

Maya took a step back, fear overtaking her as Silas's words settled into the silence.

"My life… for Adan's?" Her voice trembled.

"You're going to kill me?" Silas shook his head, almost indulgent.

"Oh no. Nothing so crude." He squeezed her shoulder, his grip possessive.

"I'll bring your Adan back. And you will serve me. Anything I command, you will do. Without hesitation." I thrashed against the invisible force pinning me down, muscles screaming. Maya looked at me, torn, eyes searching my face for answers I couldn't give. I shook my head desperately, willing her to understand. After a long, awful moment, she turned back to Silas.

"Adan will be back?" she asked quietly. Silas smiled.

"Yes. Better than before. Unkillable." His voice softened, honeyed.

"Nothing will ever take him from you again." The truth slammed into me like ice water. Undead. He was going to hollow her father out and wear his body like armor. I tried to scream a warning, but the pressure on my chest surged, crushing the air from my lungs. Darkness crowded the edges of my vision. Through the narrowing tunnel, I watched Maya straighten her spine. She nodded.

"I promise," she said, voice small but steady.

"Just… please bring my Adan back." Silas clicked his tongue.

"Ah-ah. That's not how oaths are made." He took her hand. Before she could pull away, his sword flashed. Steel kissed skin. Maya flinched, a soft whimper escaping as blood welled in her palm.

"Now," Silas instructed calmly, "repeat after me. By this pact, my life is yours." Maya stared at her father's body. Then she whispered, "By this pact, my life is yours." The air snapped. Power surged, invisible chains locking into place with a force I felt in my bones. My body shuddered as if the oath had brushed against me in passing. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Silas smiled and waved a hand.

"Good girl. Now, for my end of the bargain." Instead of casting a spell, he called casually, "Dominicus." I'd forgotten the batfolk was still here. Silas hadn't. Dominicus unfurled his wings and glided down from the wall, landing without a sound. Silas didn't bother looking at him.

"Use your ability," he ordered.

"On her Adan." I could only watch. Dominicus raised a hand over the corpse. Power poured out, threads of magic weaving through dead flesh. His eyes stayed empty as the spell took hold. The body jerked, lifted, and rose like a marionette on unseen strings. Magic sank into the skin, and changed it. When Dominicus cut the flow, the body dropped to one knee, catching itself with stiff precision. Maya lunged forward, throwing her arms around it.

"Adan!" she cried.

"You're okay!" She pressed her face into its shoulder. Nothing. Her joy faltered. She pulled back slowly, confusion creasing her brow.

"Adan?" She nudged him. No response. The corpse stared past her, eyes fixed on Dominicus, waiting. Silas chuckled.

"He can't answer you, girl." Maya turned, horror dawning.

"You said you'd bring him back!" Silas's hand snapped out. The blow sent her sprawling into the grass. She curled around her cheek, shaking violently. Silas wiped his palm against his robes, disgust flickering briefly across his face.

"Mind your tone. I am the rightful king of Nexus and you will respect me as such." Maya scrambled back until she pressed against the undead's knee. Then, looking at the unfeeling husk wearing her father's skin, she curled in on herself and sobbed. Silas advanced, already bored.

"Yes, yes. I tricked you. Now, stand." She shook her head, clutching her knees.

"No. I want my Adan." Silas's lips curled.

"He's out of your reach, brat. No one can bring back a soul once it's left this plane. Not even Death himself. Now, get. Up." The command struck like a whip. Maya jerked upright, limbs snapping into motion against her will. Terror flooded her face.

"What did you do to me?!" Exactly what I'd feared. With the oath she'd given him, he had control over every aspect of her life, including her will. Silas beamed.

"I did nothing. This is all thanks to the oath you took. Remember, your life is mine." Maya paled, a sheen of sweat coating her forehead as she struggled against his hold. It didn't budge, and after another futile attempt, she looked at me. Desperation and pleading melded in her expression, silently begging me to do something. The look hollowed me out. I'd come to Nexus to help people like Maya, yet the only thing I succeeded in doing was tearing apart the world's only hope. Damn it, was I the catalyst all along?

Karma's confident smile flashed behind my eyes, and it felt like a punch to the gut Fat lot of good I'd done. I hadn't even found any information about the apocalypse, just a few suspicions with little evidence to back them. I'd failed in my purpose and gotten good, innocent people killed in the process. Before the weight could crush me completely, Silas snapped his fingers. The pressure vanished. I gasped, staggering upright.

"You won't get away with this." Silas raised a brow.

"Won't I?" He stepped closer.

"With your power, I'll rule Nexus." His hand lifted.

"And now," he said lightly, "let's finish this."