Gravebone channeled their combined powers into the summoning spell. Nishaven was a fool and not worthy to wield the Shadow Crystal he possessed. The choice for this simpleton as prophet to Teroth was further evidence to Gravebone that the Shadow is where true power lies. Who would pick such an untrained, naïve human to carry out your designs? Foolishness, and the proof of it was about to manifest itself in mere moments.

Gravebone held no remorse for what he was about to do to his daughter. Really, he held no love for her any longer. His life had turned to the Shadow years ago while travelling through Nekrha. It had been an academic journey to start, as he had learned that there were some mages there who practiced an ancient art capable of creating an army of unbeatable soldiers. They raised the dead, some said in hushed tones, and they were right. It was a vile, forbidden type of magic, and Gravebone was very good at it.

Iya found him a few months after his true Talent manifested and convinced him of the immeasurable power capable to those who followed Seroth, but it would require some assistance. Seroth was planning something glorious, but he dared not move quite yet. First, they would need a prophet, but training such an individual would take more time than was possible. Instead, Gravebone was to find a way to bring Iya’s soul into that of a mortal. All the knowledge of the demigod would pass into mortality, but the power would be left behind. It therefore became important to find the perfect host. That host, it turned out, would be his oldest daughter.

Now, after all these years, the time had come. Seroth’s will would be brought upon this world as it has been in so many others before it! He would call his Prophet, or in this case his Prophetess, and all of humanity will tremble! His aid in this act would surely grant him the power and authority over all humanity as he desired!

Gravebone focused his spell into the realm of the divine rather than the realm of the dead, as he had done previously. He searched out the soul of Iya, black as night, bold as the blazing stars themselves, and tugged as if to signal to her. A dark portal opened on the opposite side of the bed from Nishaven and Iya stepped through, her wispy, body-less form hanging over Maj’s half-conscious body. Maj’s willingness was no longer an issue now that she had entered the trance-like state necessary for the possession.

Nishaven’s face grew concerned as he watched the events unfold. The time had come. Gravebone needed to act quickly before he grew too suspicious. He grabbed at Iya’s soul and thrust it into Maj’s body and her celestial body dissipated. Nishaven’s Shadow Crystal shattered into pieces and Maj convulsed on the mattress. Maj’s soul fought hard against the invasion, but Gravebone moved swiftly to entrap it within so that Iya could gain control. Maj had to remain inside for the body to continue functioning—separating a soul from its body meant death for certain—but in a possession such as this, only one soul could rule. The spasms subsided and Majiya sat up slowly.

Worry was written all over Nishaven’s face. “Elana?” he asked tentatively.

Gravebone cackled madly and Majiya scowled. She raised a hand and Nishaven was lifted into the air, arms and legs spread out and held by dark, smoking shackles. Gravebone cringed from the memory of his torture as Nishaven screamed loudly in pain.

“Mortality is an awful state,” Majiya said disdainfully. “I only hope that this task can be accomplished quickly so that I can leave the stink of this place behind. It is no wonder that the other demigods would not condescend to this.”

“What shall we do with Teroth’s minion, Prophetess?” Gravebone asked as he stared intently at the still-screaming acolyte.

“He is of no use to us, Gravebone. I suspect that without a Shadow Crystal anymore, he could do little harm. Still, we must…”

At that moment, the door broke open and a figure rolled into the room garbed in black. A blur of motion followed and Majiya screamed in pain as a dagger sliced at her raised arm. Nishaven fell in a heap to the floor and Serena moved to cover him, pulling another dagger from her belt. Gravebone reacted quickly and formed a bolt of lightning to strike out at both of them. As the lightning streaked out towards them, it flashed and disappeared, the smell of energy still in the air. Serena stood with her arms raised and unphased.

Gravebone stood dumbfounded, but only for a moment. Strike after strike of lightning, fire, and ice lashed out at Serena, each one dispelling uselessly. Enraged, Gravebone gathered in energy from as far out as he could reach. He focused the violence of it all into a space in front of him until it reached a critical mass that he could no longer control. The explosion ripped through the room, splintering walls, demolishing the ceiling, and forcing everyone yards back from where they stood. Everyone, but Serena.

Gravebone lay on the ground amidst the rubble of his beautiful mansion laughing at the thought that he had been bested. He stared at his daughter who was checking on Nishaven to see if he had survived the blast, which it unfortunately seemed that he had. Gravebone rose to his feet and scanned the debris for Majiya who seemed to be coming around as well. He looked down at himself and laughed madly again. His clothes hung in tatters around his skeletal frame, the flesh long since departed from his body. The time for disguises had passed, it seemed.

Serena turned to look at him and gasped.
“What are you?” she said, terror filling her voice and tears filling her eyes.

“Oh daughter,” he said, his mood swinging suddenly to soberness. “Can’t you see? I am death itself!”

Gravebone did the only thing he could think there was left for him to do. He focused his powers on the shards of glass window scattered about the area and forced them through the air directly at Serena’s heart. She may stop the magic with whatever power it was she held, but she would not survive the shrapnel. Nishaven suddenly leapt into action, creating a wall of earth that surrounded them on all sides. Infuriated once more, Gravebone launched a fireball at the wall, which exploded in its wake. As the dust settled, Gravebone noticed a portal vanishing into thin air. Serena and Nishaven were nowhere to be found.

Gravebone shrieked in anger at the empty sky. He would bring them pain!

***

Nishaven shoved Serena through the portal, and shards of rock followed them through shortly after. This was so wrong and it was all his fault. He was supposed to be helping people, not getting them possessed by evil demons! He closed the portal and collapsed to his knees. It was his selfishness. He’d been warned to not seek after this kind of unsavory magic. He knew it was wrong, but the thought of seeing his wife one last time…

Serena sobbed on the ground. Did he really think that he had saved her? Death might have been welcomed rather than losing your father and your sister all in the same day. Nishaven shook his head, trying to dispel the days that he wished he were dead instead of those he loved. He walked over to Serena and crouched beside her, laying a comforting hand on her shoulder. She batted his hand away and stood, walking away to collect herself.

“What do we do now?” she asked, keeping her back to him.

“I don’t know,” Nishaven responded truthfully.

“They’ll be going to Mount Aran for more Crystals. You can count on it.”

“Then someone best go warn the King. I have left the charge that Teroth has given me and I must seek forgiveness and guidance.” He thought silently for a moment. “Alone, I think. If I can, I will find you when this is all over.”

Serena nodded and turned. “Well, I guess that leaves me to it then.”

“Will you be alright travelling on your own?”

“Relax,” she said, trying to wipe the worry off her face with a smile, “I know a guy.”