Beneath the violent pounding of his heart, Theo barely heard the breaths whistling in his throat, the cautious click of Darian's footsteps as she approached Zenith with her saber drawn.
When the telltale creak of armor echoed through the room, Theo's heart froze. He could only watch, dread trickling through his veins, as Zenith dug his elbows into the floor and hauled himself upright.
With each twitching movement, electricity crackled around his joints. His cape was tattered, armor covered with scorch marks. But he didn't stop moving, and soon he had risen to his feet. Gripping his sword and shield tight, he shook back his tangled hair and lifted his head.
Darian fell still, though she didn't lower her saber. Meanwhile some detached part of Theo's mind took in the scene, picking out details. The suits of armor spread as far as the eye could see, reminding him of terracotta soldiers in an emperor's tomb. The only open space was a corridor running the length of the room, about wide enough for two people standing abreast, and the only exit point aside from the door was a tall window at the end of the corridor.
Neither fighter would have much room to maneuver here. Whether that put Theo and Darian at an advantage or disadvantage, he didn't know yet.
Zenith glared at them with eyes like shards of ice. "You made a mistake. Now you can no longer depend on the demon's trickery."
"We don't need it," Darian said, confident as ever.
"Why have you come? I made it clear that I wanted nothing to do with any of you again." His eyes narrowed. "Well. It wouldn't be the first time you disregarded my wishes."
The bitterness in his voice squeezed Theo's heart like a fist. Fighting back the stinging in his eyes, Theo made himself speak. "Zenith, I...I couldn't just leave you. To all of us, you're...a precious friend."
Zenith scoffed quietly. "There is that weak-hearted sentiment of yours again."
"It isn't weakness." Darian's firm voice startled Theo. "You couldn't see it – and for the longest time, I couldn't either. But now I understand. It's Theo's greatest strength."
Surprise wiped all thought from Theo's head. He had never expected to hear something like that from Darian.
Zenith didn't seem nearly as impressed. Scoffing again, he said, "If you find him that admirable, then by all means continue serving as his familiar. I no longer need either of you."
He lifted his sword and shield, adopting an alert stance that struck a painfully familiar chord in Theo's heart. All his nerves prickling, he reached for his Levia, and Darian raised her saber as well.
"I have a new liege now." Zenith kept talking, quiet and deadly. "My true liege. Now I can finally fulfill my purpose. I can be what I was always meant to be."
"This new liege of yours," Darian said. "It's Emperor Astraeon, isn't it?"
"You believed that he was unworthy, but that is because you are unworthy. Those lies kept me chained to your side. But no longer."
"Lies." Darian's mouth twisted. "If we're talking about lies, then let me ask you this. Did he ever tell you that he's the Infernal Lord?"
Just like that, all the discipline fled Zenith's stance. He lurched backward, the sword and shield trembling in his hands. His eyes were huge, his face nearly chalk-white.
But his shock didn't last long before giving way to rage. His smooth features contorted into a snarling mask, and his Levia flared so hot and savage it felt more like a wildfire than light.
"You dare," Zenith hissed, taking a threatening step toward Darian. "You dare continue spewing such brazen lies. Have you no shame at all?"
"It isn't a lie!" Theo yelled, stepping forward too. "Why would we lie about something like that?"
When Zenith laughed, sharp and humorless, Theo's blood turned to ice. "Do you have to ask that? You who have lied to me endlessly, ceaselessly, for years upon years – "
"Zenith, please, you have to believe us!" Theo burst out, his panic overflowing. "We were captured by the Infernal Legion, brought before the Infernal Lord. He was trying to attack us with his Levia but I managed to break through and, and I saw his true form, it really was Emperor Astraeon – "
"Shut your insolent mouth!" With that, Zenith lunged.
Darian leaped to intercept. Sparks flew as their blades crashed, then Darian disengaged and jumped back. Zenith stood in place, breathing hard, sword still held in front of him.
"Very well," he said, slowly and deliberately drawing back his sword arm. "If you want to end this, then I will gladly oblige. With this, I will sever it all. All the useless detritus that has held me back for far too long."
Swift as a striking snake, he thrust the sword forward. "I know who I am now. Never again will I allow you to deceive me. I am Sir Zenith of Miria, leader of the Knights of the Firmament, sworn to the service of Emperor Astraeon."
His Levia swelled, sharp as a blade made of diamond. Its mounting pressure stole the breath from Theo's lungs, made his knees tremble. Except, wait...this wasn't just Zenith's power he was feeling, was it?
No, this power had a brilliant golden edge, like sunlight pouring through clouds. As it intensified, it shrouded Zenith in a hazy halo that made him seem like a fading memory, or half-forgotten dream.
But the clank of his footsteps on the marble floor was terrifyingly solid. As was the Levia surging through his body. His heart stuttering, Theo reached for his own Levia – but not quickly enough.
Bellowing, Zenith slashed his sword in front of him. Light arced in its wake and blasted outward in a blinding wave. Racing straight toward Darian.
No time to counterattack. Acting on instinct, Theo flung up a shield diagram in front of Darian. The wave of light slammed into the shield with an impact that jolted every one of Theo's bones. His heart wrenched when the shield went up into feeble pink sparks beneath the brilliant onslaught.
The light struck Darian square in the chest, knocking her off her feet. Before Theo could move a muscle, she crashed into him so hard both of them hit the floor and skidded back several yards.
Stars burst in Theo's vision when his head cracked against the marble. Beneath Darian's crushing weight, he could barely draw a single breath – and what little air he did manage to gulp down prickled his throat like dozens of needles.
Then the pressure atop him shifted, and lessened. Darian was trying to rise. Her movements were slow and trembling, her breaths shallow, but she didn't stop moving. When she finally eased off Theo, the sight of her tattered clothing and the bruises blooming across her skin made guilt wrench through Theo's chest.
Fighting against his stiff limbs, he clambered upright as well. "Darian! Are you okay?"
Darian brushed back her rumpled hair and flashed him a rueful smile. "I've...been better. But worse too. If you hadn't protected me, Theo...."
A loud clang of metal cut her off. Theo's heart rocketed into his throat when he saw Zenith approaching, step by deliberate step. When his Levia deepened, Theo realized he was preparing another one of those attacks.
Theo reacted without thinking, grabbing Darian's arm and yanking her into the thicket of armor suits. Just in time. White light seared down the corridor, so bright it almost blinded Theo. Gripping Darian tight, he crouched down low behind a suit of armor.
When the light faded, Zenith's harsh laugh sent his panic racing again. "Trying to hide? Foolish."
The next wave of light blasted only a few feet from where Theo and Darian were hiding. A cacophony of screeching and clanging pierced the air as suits of armor slammed into each other, crashed to the floor, and shattered to pieces.When a gauntlet landed in front of Theo, still sizzling with sparks, he pulled Darian deeper into the maze.
The waves of light kept chasing them, a relentless volley. Theo's world was reduced to blazing light and chaotically flying pieces of armor. Only when a solid marble wall loomed before him did he come to a stop – and that was when Darian gave his arm a firm tug.
"Theo," she shouted. "We can't keep running. We have to fight back."
"I know, but – "
Zenith's power surged again, but it felt different – more concentrated and controlled. Theo braced himself, but no wall of light came rushing at them. Instead, harsh rays fell down on them from above, rippling across the suits of armor.
His heart trembling, Theo turned his eyes to the ceiling. A ring of blades had appeared above Zenith, revolving a slow, deadly circle. Each one blazed with an intensity that brought tears to Theo's eyes.
"Theo." When Darian tugged on his arm again, he looked back down. Her eyes pierced his, stark and serious. "No holding back. Give me everything you've got."
Her meaning hit him in an instant. Everything. The old doubts fluttered through him, but he savagely forced them back. Now was not the time.
Darian believed in him, so he needed to believe in himself. No, not just himself, but the power Mom had entrusted to him.
He nodded, just as grim as Darian, and began to sketch the elemental dream-spell across his mind.