skill

Part 4

The long-awaited Part 4 of Lore of Dread! Could Erebus’ scheme mean the end of Atromitos? When Dread’s loyalties become questioned, he must decide between safety and honor.

Dread’s anger swelled to what seemed to be a point of no return. His mind was clouded with confusion and frustration.

“I will never lower myself to help a fool like you. Leave the human world untouched. Do not tarnish the name of Creed with the blood of the innocent.”

Just at that exact moment Dread felt a rush of fear strike its way into him. He sensed the fear of the Monarch. In his mind he saw what Erebus feared.

He saw himself.

He saw himself and all the other Hallows that preceded him standing in union, representing solidarity. Behind them were the citizens of Atromitos lined up standing stoic.

Now he knew Erebus Marrow’s only fear: Erebus feared anyone who could oppose him.

This gave Dread the answer to his earlier question. He was the only one who was in this situation because he was the only man in this realm who refused to fear the Monarch.

Erebus spoke again; this time he made no attempt to mask his passion. “Allow me to re-word my question Kyros: will you obey my command, or die by the blade of your ancestor?”

Erebus raised his sword and approached Dread menacingly. The way the setting sun shined into the window gave Erebus a brooding appearance.

“And just so you don’t intend to escape and try your futile effort to stop me, I should inform you that I have convinced Phrix to guard the Spires. I assume you’re familiar with his work, yes?”

Dread nodded slowly in response.

“He seemed to be quite keen on my ideals. I must say, he is much more agreeable than you.”

Phrix, the name struck down whatever courage Dread had maintained. Phrix had a reputation that represented all that is dark in Atromitos. Phrix was infamous in Atromitos for being a vigilante with his own corrupt ideals. He would exterminate anyone who didn’t agree with him and would create gangs to serve him. Some say he was dogmatic, some say he was a terrorist, some say he was a freedom fighter.

Many people formulated ideas that Phrix conspired with the government to eliminate specific suspects for crimes. This was never proven, the government would never lower themselves to work with such a cruel man, would they?

Clearly they would.

Phrix specialized in killing Hallows though, and was greatly responsible for the rapid decline in the Hallow population over the last few decades. He killed Hallows like they were animals. They were endangered like animals. They meant nothing to anyone.

“So what is your decision than?” Life and honor, or death?” The words came out of Erebus’ mouth quickly and hit Dread painfully with a sudden impact, like the sting of a bee.

A rush of adrenaline jolted through Dread’s body. Without thinking, he lunged himself into the belly of the beast, and knocked Erebus to the ground as he clung to the sword. As Dread tried to regain his balance, he felt Erebus’ blade skin his side. Not with enough strength to inflict damage, but enough to inflict pain.

Dread had no choice left. He could not stay after attacking the Monarch. He would be tortured, possibly murdered, or worse, enslaved. Crimes against a Monarch, no matter how heinous the Monarch was, did not go unpunished.

And he could not wait and watch Erebus carry out his nefarious scheme. He must act now.

Dread bolted out of the room through a different entrance at the back of the room as the Monarch was still on the ground. He traveled down a winding staircase he came to a metal door. Dread pushed the door open and an alarm began to sound. Ignoring the incessant wail of the alarm he ran into the street the door led to.

Dread recalled the only thought he had at the time. “Foolish man, you can’t harness the power of the Hallow.”

From here Dread remembered running to Estrid’s home and telling her of the situation. He begged for help, as she was the only one who would be able and willing to show him the way to the Spires.

Estrid lent him an arrow and a bow, and they left to The Spires of Mortal…

Now Dread‘s memory ended, and all he could think of then was the assassin awaiting his next victim.

Another thought came into Dread’s mind. Did Phrix know that if he succeeded at killing Dread, the Hallow race might be completely extinct? Dread could not allow that to happen.

As the duo finally entered The Forest of Zoticus, Dread noticed the change in the landscape around him. The Forest was unaffected by seasons. The trees around him were full of life. He wondered where his new-found love for nature came from.

Maybe it was the knowledge his end might be near…

On a normal night Dread would be able to see the nature around him. He recalled sitting down on a tree stump on a cold autumn day and watching the birds of Zoticus fly from the forest to distant parts of the realm. He would contemplate to himself anything that was on his mind, whether it would be the next journey he would make in the woods of Atromitos, or simply his hunting skills.

But tonight was not like those earlier nights long ago. There was an eerie mist encapsulating the forest. This obscured his vision dramatically, causing him to trip a couple of times as he got deeper into the forest.

Now they were nearing The Spires of Mortal. The fog was becoming thinner, and the oak trees were becoming less common.

They entered a clearing. Oaks still enveloped the glade on all sides.

Just as the mysterious feeling the glade gave him was increasing, Dread heard the snap of an arrow being released.

The excitement is building. Will they make it to the Spires? Will Dread be able to stop the Monarch, or is his effort futile, just as the Monarch predicted it would be. Remember to like, comment, and follow. Let me know what you think!

-D.K. Phoenix

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