Darkness swallowed Rezak whole. For a fleeting moment, he braced for the end, but as the light dissipated, leaving swirling stars in his vision, he realized Delena had shifted them. With the back of his hand, he rubbed his eyes, clearing the lingering afterimages.
The clearing materialized, familiar and ominous, the misty wall a chilling confirmation of their location. And there, at its center, stood the Creator. No turning back now.
Gritting his teeth, he tightened his grip on the blade and charged, a primal roar ripping from his throat. The knife sang its deadly song as it arced through the air, but the Creator, a wisp of smoke and shadow, danced just out of reach.
"For Xenaz! For Hewar!" Rezak bellowed with each attack, his fury fueled by every dodged blow. But then, he saw it – the Creator's eyes, flitting to the blade with an unsettling scrutiny. Fear? It was a flicker, but enough to ignite a spark of hope within him.
Then, a lump on the ground caught his eye. A guttural growl escaped his throat as primal rage surged through him, a storm brewing in his veins. He rained blows upon the Creator, each one fueled by a desperate desire to protect, but the blade met only empty air. Fighting him was like battling the wind, frustrating and futile.
"Kill her," the Creator's voice echoed, cold and calculating. "Kill the woman, break the bargain, and be free."
Rezak faltered, his gaze shifting to Delena. She was kneeling beside the figure, cradling its head in her lap. Sera, alive, but… He clenched his jaw. He still had purpose.
"Never!" he roared, spinning back to the Creator, the blade flashing in a desperate lunge.
A deafening crack. Pain erupted in Rezak's skull as he was sent flying, the knife clattering away. He landed hard, the world tilting on its axis. His vision blurred, but through the haze, he saw Delena's face etched with fear, her eyes pleading with him.
**********************
A choked sob escaped Delena's lips, echoing through the misty clearing. "Mother," she pleaded, her voice trembling with fear and heartbreak.
Sera's eyes fluttered open, heavy and pained. "Delena," she rasped, her voice barely above a whisper. "Go, child. Run."
Delena shook her head, tears streaming down her soot-stained cheeks. "I won't leave you," she whispered fiercely.
Sera gritted her teeth, the agony a constant companion. A metallic tang filled her mouth, and she coughed, spitting out a crimson spray. "Run, Delena! Before…"
"Before what?" Delena's voice was a desperate sob. "I'll kill him, Mother. I heard it all. I wasn't asleep in the hut that night."
Sera's breath hitched. "You're too young… too innocent to understand," she choked out. "Please, leave."
Her eyes darted to where Rezak and the Creator clashed, blades flashing in the fading light. "He needs me, Mother," Delena said, her voice gaining a steely resolve.
"No!" Sera cried out, a surge of terror overcoming the pain. "Don't!"
Ignoring her pleas, Delena gently lowered Sera's head onto the ground and stood. The fallen knife glinted in the waning light, and with a newfound determination, Delena picked it up. Her small figure, silhouetted against the hazy backdrop, faced the imposing figure of the Creator.
**********************
"You hurt my mother!" Delena roared, her voice echoing through the clearing like a wounded animal's cry.
The Creator spun, his eyes widening in surprise. The rusted circlet on his brow pulsed black, a flicker of fear cracking his facade.
Delena gripped the long knife with both hands, wielding it like a seasoned warrior. A faint, ethereal glow emanated from her, her eyes turning pure white, like twin moons reflecting the dying sun. With a cry that pierced the air, she swung the blade.
The Creator lunged back, but an invisible force seemed to hold him rooted to the spot. His voice, when it came, was laced with desperation. "No!"
The knife met its mark, burying itself deep into his chest. The Creator crumpled to his knees, a scream tearing from his throat. The mist swirling around them turned crimson, painting the world in a bloody tableau.
Delena, fueled by a righteous fury, didn't hesitate. She raised the knife once more, her aim unwavering – the Creator's heart.
A defiant screech, raw and primal, shook the very ground beneath them, sending tremors through the sky. Light and smoke erupted from the Creator, obscuring him from view. But Delena, her eyes blazing with white fire, pressed on.
**********************
Rezak grimaced, feeling the sharp sting of pain. Disoriented, he struggled to his feet, his fingers brushing against a dampness on his forehead—blood. With a monumental effort, he managed to sit up.
Not far from him, he caught sight of The Creator and Delena. The young girl was attacking the divine being.
Then, in an instant, The Creator vanished into thin air.
Time seemed to halt. The crimson mist that had filled the air began to fade, its red hues giving way to white, and then to nothing at all. Gentle beams of sunlight pierced through from above.
With shaky steps, Rezak approached the young girl. "Let's go, girl."
Delena's ephemeral glow dimmed. Tears filled her eyes as she met his gaze. "I killed him. I've done something terrible."
"No," he assured her. "You've done nothing of the sort. You've saved us." He gently took the knife from her hand, and together, they made their way to Sera.
Delena tenderly placed her mother's head on her lap. "Mother."
A pang of guilt shot through Rezak. "I'm sorry. I couldn't protect you."
"You've done all that you could," Sera whispered with difficulty. "But there's one last thing needed."
"Quiet, mother." Delena trembled. "We're going to save you."
Rezak felt a sinking realization. Sera was gravely injured, her time running short. He knelt before her. "What would you have me do?"
"The Creator cannot be truly destroyed," she explained. "You've only weakened him, delayed the inevitable. But he remains. End my life and free yourself from his bargain."
A shiver ran down Rezak's spine. "I can't do that."
"It's my final wish," Sera gasped.
"Don't speak like that!" Delena laid her head on her mother's, her voice desperate. "You won't die."
"Please."
The knife grew heavy in Rezak's grasp. He pulled Delena close, her face pressed against his chest as she struck out in a futile protest, her tears soaking his shirt. "Stop! You can't do this. Please."
"You were always the brave one, Delena," Sera managed, blood speckling her lips. "And you always will be."
With a heart heavy with reluctance, Rezak drove the knife into her chest.