"Oh what a surprise to see you here, cousin." The boy who had cast the fire spell said. "I see you found yourself a few pawns to use."
Rena's face developed a deep scowl. "I just met up with these people. And they are not pawns."
"Oh right, my bad."
"Rena…who is this guy?" Lucius asked. He was very confused, but after hearing they were related, figured things couldn't be too bad.
However…there was a sense of unease among them. The talkative one continued to speak with Rena, but after a short while, started to stare at him. The boy's eyes were glued on the glowing sword.
Lucius probably could have deactivated it since they were around people Rena knew…but again…that strange sense of unease was there, tingling in the back of his mind.
"Well…what kind of magic is that…oh wait…your hand…you used your mark…well we know what this means, right Vik; Peter?"
"Right you are, Thomas…using your mark in the trial is grounds for death." One of the two other boys, either Vik or Peter smiled.
The main boy, identified now as Thomas, turned his smile towards Rena and Lucius. Rena had stepped in front of him and placed a hand on Lucius' chest to keep him from attacking. It seemed she had noticed he was preparing to jump at her cousins.
"[Ventus: Wind Blade]"
There was a small yelp and then a sickening, wet thud that emanated from behind Thomas, Vik, and Peter. One of the other party members tossed a limp body in the direction where Edra and Maribel were standing. When it landed, the body's hand landed palm down, with the back showing an unknown mark.
"Eugh…thought it was time to take out the trash. We had it following us as potential bait if we ran into anything that we needed to distract…but now that I've found you Rena, I can just leave. No need to carry it around anymore." Thomas laughed.
Lucius felt his hands tighten around his machete. Grimm whispered into his mind, 'Oh? Did that make you mad? Interesting…'
Lucius knew that Luz was weakened still, so he had no input to offer. Though he could feel the kinder voice give off a feeling of unease at Grimm's observation.
"Now, surrender yourselves vermin. Rena…you know why we are here, so you come along too."
"You bastards…" Maribel who hadn't talked much up to now looked up at the red-headed boys with a glare that could kill.
"[Aqua: Water Ball]"
"[Ventus: Wind Blade]"
Two spells rapidly shot from Vik and Peter's hands. Maribel was able to move, but Edra was not. Noticing the terrified girl couldn't move, Maribel shielded her body with her own. Both spells connected, and instantly ended the girl's life.
Edra began screaming again and was rewarded with an arrow in center of her head. She collapsed, unmoving and not breathing.
"So annoying…" Thomas muttered while shaking his head and shrugging his shoulders. "Well that leaves two. Oh hey! Nate! I couldn't recognize you with your whole…face thing going on. Help me take out this last one will you?"
Nate looked at the bodies of Edra, Maribel, and the unknown child that was with Thomas' group. He then looked at Lucius, who returned his glance with a fierce glare.
"I…think I will sit this one out. I believe this to be a family issue…so if you will allow me to take my leave with my friends…"
Thomas began to laugh harder. Lucius knew all too well after what his father showed him so long ago, that this world was cruel to people like him. But even he could not fathom how a mere nine-year-old child could harbor such…hatred and cruelty.
"You're sick."
Those two words escaped the lips of the crimson-haired girl Lucius had fought with. He didn't expect those to come from someone like her…someone unmarked by demons…and nobility.
All Lucius could do was tilt his head quizzically.
'Oh come on! It was getting good…oh I know!' Grimm whined. He found himself taken aback by what the voice was saying since it made no sense.
Suddenly images of the trial he observed so long ago flashed before his eyes. Faster than what he could comprehend, the visuals, smells, sounds of screaming filled his senses. The scenes of the murder of the three Marked Ones in this clearing replayed again.
Lucius looked at the three bodies laying near each other…not even fifteen feet from him. His blood began to boil.
"Why?"
"What?" Thomas asked. He pointed the question at Lucius, who had subconsciously let lose the question in his mind.
'Why do they hate us…what did we do…I couldn't leave my home except for joining mother at work. I could not train with father properly…I could not buy bread…make friends…my life was that of a garden and the inside of a hut…and yet…and YET…' Lucius thought to himself. His left-hand, which didn't hold his weapon began to bleed from the force of him pressing his nails into his own skin.
'It's their fault you know.'
A voice burst through his cloudy thoughts. It was deep…dark…and terrifying. He only barely recognized it as Grimm. It lacked the signature rasp and instead took on a growl.
'Those boys killed them. People just like you…you know its because of people like them you can't be normal…that will stop you from ever being normal…it is because of them that you will live…and die like a dog. A mere beast.'
Grimm laughed evilly causing Lucius' blood to turn to ice. He opened his eyes, but what he saw caused a primeval fear set into his soul. It was as if his entire being gazed into an unending abyss of darkness.
Then the abyss spoke…with Grimm's voice. 'Nice to finally meet you face to face, kid…I think you are ready to borrow a taste…of what I can offer you. It come's with a price of course, since you aren't really fully ready for it…for now.'
"Again with the price?"
'Power beyond your means always comes with a cost, boy. And thankfully I already paid up our debt, so I can exact a new price…'
"What abilities will I lose out on in the future…what parts of my future self, will I lose to you?"
Grimm laughed. 'Ha! No…I'm not so kind as Luz to trade potential for power…no…my prize is so. Much. Sweeter.'
"What is it?"
Lucius obviously couldn't see anything from the yawning chasm of darkness in front of him, but he couldn't help but think that it…smiled?
'Pain.'
"Fine. Do it. Make me hurt, I don't care."
'No takebacks boy…I hope it was worth it… try not to borrow more than you can handle too much…I might gain weight!' The voice continued to laugh, until it faded away into nothingness.
Lucius regained his sight, the first thing he saw was his machete still glowing with the radiant blue light from Luz's ability. Rena was looking at Thomas who was grinning at the two, waiting for their decision. Nate and the others had backed off, but they didn't really leave.
"Well? What'll it be you two? Gonna try and fight me? Or going to give up and accept the inevitable."
"The gods reside in Celestia." Lucius said. He locked eyes with Thomas.
The leader, boy stared back with a slightly confused look. "Yea and?"
"Mortals reside on the earthen plane."
Thomas continued to stare back at him, but did not say anything.
"But…what resides in the Abyss?"
"The what now?" Vik scoffed. He and Peter stepped forward and began to walk towards Rena and Lucius. "That's enough time. Time for you both to kick it."
Lucius smiled. "Since you don't know…why don't we find out together…[Abyss Break: Cloak of Darkness]"
Rena, Vik, Peter, and even Thomas all subconsciously took several steps away from him. The very shadows themselves seemed to dance and move before they tore themselves away and surrounded Lucius' small frame.
His one Silver Eye began to glow. The gray one began to turn black…and then slowly took on a golden hue. Darkness completely enveloped him, but piercing through it all, were those two glowing eyes.
Lucius raised his weapon and pointed at the remaining boy standing behind Vik, Peter, and Thomas. It was the one that had killed the Marked One they brought with them.
Black Tendrils shot out of the weapon and flew towards the boy. They wrapped around his legs, arms, and throat before yanking him into the darkness. He screamed and begged, clawing at the dirt as he was dragged towards Lucius.
A second later, the screaming stopped and Lucius advanced. Rena and the rest of Lucius' group stared in awe and fear at the mass. Every cell in their body screamed at them to run, but fear froze them in place.
"Where are your strong words now, Thomas? Are you ready to give up?" Lucius' voice took on a raspy quality, not unlike Grimm. Though, the other children had never heard Grimm's voice.
"[Flamma: Firebolt], [Aqua: Water Ball]!" Thomas shouted in rapid succession.
The two spells sped towards Lucius, but before they could reach him, an enormous blade erupted from the shadows and sliced both spells in half, forcing them to dissipate.