Villain's Oath

The battlefield burned, fire and run in every direction.

Eryndor Kaelen cut through the chaos, his sword flashing sliver and red under the blood soaked sky, his breath hard, his lungs full of smoke and fury.

“ Left flank, Eryndor! Now!” Elias Thorne's voice called out, it was sharp and clear.

Without hesitation, Eryndor turned and charged. He didn't question Elias, never had.

They had grown up together and best friends, fought side by side since they were boys.

Where one went, the other followed. It have always been like that.

“ Behind you!” Elias shouted again.

Eryndor turned back and sliced down a soldier in a dark armor.

“Thanks” He called back, panting.

Elias grinned across the battlefield “ Don't slow down on me now”

Eryndor gave a small, tired laugh “ Wouldn't dare” 

Their sword moved in rhythm, back to back, striking down foe after foe.

They were a force of nature, unstoppable.

Victory hummed in Eryndor's bones as he drove his blade deep into the last solder's chest twisting hard before yanking it out, the man dropped lifeless.

Eryndor turned toward Elias breathless, sweat on his brow.

“ We have won, Elias” He grinned.

Elias stood a few feet away, sword in hand.

He smiled but it wasn't the smile Eryndor knew, it was calm, cold and wrong.

Before Eryndor could react, pain exploded in his chest.

He looked down, Elias's sword burned deep inside him.

Eryndor staggered, gasping.

His eyes locked onto Elias's, wide with shock

“ Why?” He rasped “ Why, of all people... You?”

Elias stepped closer, twisting the blade before pulling it free

“ You were always meant to fall, Eryndor ” He said softly “ You just never saw it coming ”

“ Elias, you...” he tries to speak but his words drowned in blood.

His knees hit the ground 

From the corner of his fading vision, he saw her

Elira Valea 

Her dark hair streamed behind her as she ran, her eyes wide, her face pale with horror.

“ Eryndor ” she screamed, her voice breaking 

He lifted a trembling hand toward her, just once, then everything went black.

Eryndor woke up to cold, darkness, no ground beneath him and no sky above.

“ I was betrayed!” he roared , the sound tearing through the void, it was of fury not of pain.

“ Eryndor Kaelen” A whisper, soft as wind 

His body tensed as he turned quickly “ Who's there?” he asked.

“ Nyxir” the voice said, it was a voice of an ancient woman “ Queen of the Abyss”

“ Where am i” he demanded 

“ Between life and death” Nyxir replied calmly.

“ What do you want from me ” he asked as he tightened his jaw.

A soft laugh echoed around him

“ Nothing ” Nyxir said “ Only to give you what you want” 

“ What I want?” he asked, confused.

“ Oh yes.... You were betrayed” Nyxir's voice coiled around him like smoke. “ You crave vengeance, don't you?”

“ Yes” Eryndor growled, no hesitation in his voice.

“ I was loyal ” he said louder, sounding raw “ I bled for them, and he...” his words cracked with hurt and fury “ he stabbed me like a dog!”

“ Will you trade your honour.... For vengeance, Eryndor?” Nyxir asked, sounding soft and sharp.

Silence fell

Elias's golden eyes flashed in his mind, Elira's scream, the feeling of the cold steel in his chest, the taste of betrayal ”

His breath turned ragged, he clenched his fist as he slowly lifted his head, his eyes burned through the dark.

“ Name your price” Eryndor said, his voice steady

From the darkness, a shape emerged , wings like shadow , no face but her eyes were a deep, glowing violet with flickers of black in the middle.

Darkenes curled at the edge of her mouth, like she just smiled .

“ I will give you life” she said, her voice like silk.

“ but not as you were” her eyes glowed in the void.

Eryndor swallowed, confused 

“ What do you mean?” he asked 

“ You were once a hero, loved and honored’ she said drifting closer, her wings curling behind her like a torn sails.

“ But vengeance stains the soul, you cannot return as a savior..only as a curse”

He clenched his fist tight “ If it means I can destroy Elias, then I'll take it”

He slowly opened his eyes , blinking at the unfamiliar room around him.

Stone walls rose high, silk curtains swayed gently and a grand bed with a golden carvings stood behind him.

His chest rose and fall, his hands trembling slightly. He was alive

A soft gasp came from the doorway.

“ My Lord Lucien, you have awakened ” A servant called out eyes wide with relief.

Lucien?

He sat up carefully and glanced up at the polish mirror nearby, his reflection stared back.

The man staring black wasn't him, his hair was dark, his eye, icy gray, sharp and cold and his face cruelty handsome.

“ This isn't me” he whispered voice barely steady.

The servant bowed deeply, her hand trembling “ Forgive me, my Lord, should I call for the physician? ”

He turned to her, ignoring her question he watched the fear in her shaking hands, he knows it was not of respect but of pure tremor.

“ What kind of man was I?” he muttered, his voice low and heavy with doubt

The door creaked open .

A guard rushed in, breathing hard. “ My Lord, your brother, Lord Aric, has come to see you”

A tall man entered wearing a smooth smile.

“ Lucien Ardent, you've survived ” Aric said , his voice sounding calm. “ You gave us quite a fright, especially selene ”

Lucien studies him carefully, his icy gray eyes hato and cold.

But all he could of was that he wasn't Eryndor Kaelen anymore 

But Lucien Ardent.