We raced through the storm, my monstrous horde and I, our eyes fixed on the distant castle that held both Elara and Zulu. As we drew nearer, I could feel the darkness within me growing stronger, as if it was resonating with some unseen force.
When we finally reached the town, the people started to freak out, but that was expected. I told the monsters not to eat them, but if the humans hurt them, they were fair game. These disgusting creatures found us vile, but they didn't understand what true monsters were.
"Why have you brought all these monsters upon our village?!" The elder that had given me shelter pleaded as I hopped down.
"Don't worry; as long as you treat them nicely, they will protect you. Attack them or treat them poorly, and they will think nothing of killing you," I said, walking over and patting the man on his shoulder.
He turned and looked at me, and I could already tell what he was going to say. "I don't think the people around us will be comfortable with them around us," the elder said slowly, and I gave him a wicked smile.
"You see, I just don't care what any humans think of this. As it stands, you have no king, and I am going to go and clean the castle out. This means that, as a king, I can place someone in here and place you all under my protection," I said, and the man looked like he was going to say something, but I put up my hand to stop him. "No up for debate. You are going to get along with the monsters, or you won't, but I will side with them. These creatures are not your enemy, but so help you if you make them," I warned, and the elder swallowed his spit.
I left him and started to head towards the castle, with Gothais following behind.
"Why do you want them to mix? Humans are weak, and they will never understand monsters," Gothais asked as we walked.
"They are not all weak. Some of them can create things that can kill even the strongest monsters. That is why the Council of Verse uses them. I will not let the council have the same advantage this time. I have a castle, and I am a king, so I will use that to my advantage this time," I said as we reached the gate.
"So you hope to have them fight with you?" Gothais asked, but I laughed.
"I could care less if they fight. I just don't want them to fight us. Humans should kill monsters, but so should monsters. My problem is the monsters that want to use them to purify all the rest from existence, just like they did to me and my kind," I said, turning back to Gothais. "This time, things will be different, my old friend. I am getting tired of restarting, but my mistakes have to be fixed, or things will never change. Humans will be the starting place."
Gothais nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of my words. "Very well, my king. I will support you in this journey, as I always have."
We approached the castle, its towering walls casting an imposing shadow over the snow-covered landscape. As we entered the courtyard, the wind howled around us as if protesting our intrusion into this dark and foreboding place.
I was almost excited to see Zulu, or whatever she had become. In my past, she had been killed in a light trap, but she always was reborn just like me, but her form always changed like Melodious. Whatever her form, it would still be my sensual and languid shadow lover that I loved so dearly. Only she and Melodious were constants in every life.
The doors to the throne room opened with a creak, revealing a scene of utter devastation. Broken furniture and shattered ice sculptures littered the floor, evidence of the fierce battle that had been waged here. At the center of it all stood Elara, or rather Zulu, her eyes filled with both relief and sorrow as she beheld my return.
"Zulu," I whispered softly, taking a step towards her. "I'm back."
A tear slid down her cheek, betraying the fierce emotions that must have been raging beneath her stoic facade. "Yes, Azriel... You are stronger than before, and I can feel your resolve burning brighter than ever."
"Aye, it does, but times are changing, just as you are. What is this new form, and who is the spirit that is also residing there with you?" I asked, walking up and then placing a hand on Elara's chest.
Before she could answer, I forced all the magic from my body into Elara, and Zulu and the Ice spirit sucked into me. Elara's mouth opened as light poured from it and her eyes, but she was just being purified.
[Why did you take me out of that body?! You can't forget me like this!] Zulu demanded.
[Where am I] The Ice spirit asked from inside my mind.
"Both of you need to become bonded with me first, and I have to bond with the human that is infected with whatever is locked in the basement. You were going to tell me about that, I am sure, right?" I asked while light still poured out of Elara. "Considering what I knew of the situation, I will assume that her husband isn't dead, and he is locked in the basement, yes? Elara also hasn't been attacking the village because she is trying to protect them from the monster in the basement, right?" I continued and then sighed. "That is what you didn't tell me, right?"
[Wow, he is really smart!] The ice spirit said with awe.
[No, he is not; he is just old! Yes, that is what I would have told you if you had given me five more minutes to explain myself! This little ice hussy merged with the human after her husband trapped her and took her as his slave. He abused both of them, and that is when I showed up. The two were too weak, but with my help, we were able to kill him. Or, that is what we thought.] Zulu explained in a huff.
[I am not a hussy! You are a bitch, is what you are! Elara saved me! I owe that human my life!] The ice spirit shot back.
"Hey! No fighting in my head," I growled and then let out another long sigh. "So, I will assume that he made a deal with something strong and evil, right? What is this thing's name?"