The Death Bridge

Gehèfna gasped in disbelief, horror appearing on her face. "What?", she asked weakly, not wanting to believe the painful words.

Raven's legs threatened to buckle beneath her. A shadow appeared in her vision, a figure outside the scene in front of her.

"Why, Gezina, why?", Gehèfna's broken voice echoed in Raven's ears.

"Mother and father wanted to make us both heirs to the throne. To have us both rule, together. They wanted to deprive me of my right to be the queen. After all these years, after everything I've done to make them proud…"

The figure came closer, circling Raven silently.

"They prided themselves on being just, fair and kind. But they were willing to treat their firstborn unfairly, to do such injustice to their own daughter! They had to pay," Gezina's eyes captured the tear-filled ones.

"Yet you had to spill more blood?" Gehèfna whispered, clutching the cold, lifeless hand in hers.

Gezina crouched beside the lifeless body. A smile tugged at her lips. "Your new husband had unwittingly stepped in your place. I was going to stage a sad, sad ending for you, dear sister. The whole kingdom would've mourned the death of their beloved princess. They would've pitied me, the only surviving heir. I would've hidden a scar on my face. A scar I earned whilst trying to save you, a painful reminder of the horror-filled night in which my dear sister was so violently murdered by ȧssassins. They would never have suspected me, their golden princess. Their child of the sun, of the light."

A soft, cold voice reached Raven's ears. "What do you see, Ljosauki?"

"A madwoman," Raven managed to say.

The figure suddenly stood before her, her face mere inches away from the others. "What you see, is a monster," the figure whispered through clenched teeth.

Gehèfna glared up into Gezina's eyes. "What becomes of me now? How will you talk your way out of this, sister?"

"There is no need to concern yourself with that, dear sister. As for you…" The figure's voice suddenly harmonized with Gezina's. "I will reunite you with your beloved!"

The blade glinted briefly before disappearing beneath the white folds of fabric.

Raven slowly sank to her knees, feeling the weakness sinking into her soul.

The figure crouched. "What is the matter, Ljosauki? Are you feeling unwell?"

Gehèfna gasped for air, her hand clasped around the dagger. She stared at her own blood on her hands. Gezina laughed softly.

"Is it the power, Ljosauki? The power that you are too weak to wield? Or the memory? Does it hold too much pain?" the figure asked.

Raven breathed heavily, her ċhėst heavy and her muscles weak.

Gehèfna forced herself to stand, the pain in her stomach pulsing with every movement. Her gaze rested on the window at the end of the hall.

"Your efforts are in vain, sister. You can do nothing to me and nothing will save you. Nothing can save you." .

Gehèfna's gaze met her sister's. "I will have my revenge, Gezina. Whatever the cost, I'll have it," she hissed before rushing past Gezina. She stumbled towards the window and with her last strength, she pushed herself over the edge and into the endless night.

Raven could no longer keep herself upright and tumbled down on her back. The figure only stared at her in silence.

The wind tickled Gehèfna's tear stricken face, wrapping the soft fabric of her dress around her. Her pain faded, replaced by emptiness. And a spark of darkness took root, blooming in the emptiness of her heart; rushing power through her veins. Her eyes glowed with dark fire, her body burned by the flames of this power.

"Can you see, Ljosauki? The light couldn't save me. And it won't save you. It is weak. It can be manipulated, corrupted. Soon, you will discover this for yourself."

Raven struggled to breathe.

The figure stood up. "If your precious Sword of Light doesn't finish you off before then…"

For a brief moment, Raven's vision cleared and her eyes widened. The dark-haired woman glanced at her one last time, her eyes - dark and empty. Her jet black hair painted waves in the air as she turned around and walked away.

Suddenly, searing pain ripped through Gehèfna's mind, burning. She screamed and grabbed her head between her hands. The dagger in her stomach burned to a crisp and the red stains on her dress melted away into the black fabric.

Raven felt the pain echo in her own mind. She felt the dark flames burning her skin and a hoarse scream flooded over her lips.

Gehèfna's screams turned into laughter. Humourless, emotionless laughter. Bitter anger settled in her heart, the power coursing through her veins. Her feet touched the ground, dark mist surrounding her. Fire erupted from her hands, its dark flames gliding up her arms. She glanced upwards, her gaze meeting Gezina's. She stretched her arms out to her sister, a longing expression on her face.

Raven knew she had to let go of the sword but, she couldn't. She could feel the darkness tickling her skin; taunting. She heard someone calling out to her as if from afar.

Gehèfna suddenly laughed, stretching her arms out to the sides. "I'm not dead yet, sister!" she said, smiling up at her sister. She lifted her arm and held her hand out to Gezina.

The latter choked and clutched her throat.

"No," Raven gasped weakly.

Gehèfna felt the power in her veins grow with every drop of life she absorbed. "I will hunt the light, sister! I will hunt your kind until the light and its children are no more!"

Raven felt a large hand close around hers, trying to loosen her grip around the sword.

The life slowly left Gezina's eyes until they were dull; her body tumbled out the window. Gehèfna laughed humorlessly before entering the castle once more. She reached the hall and approached the limp body on the floor. She knelt, gently cupping the man's face between her hands.

"You will be by my side again. I promise you…" she whispered. Dark mist slowly surrounded them. "No matter the cost!"

Raven's grasp around the sword faltered and the scene faded. She glanced around.

"Can ye hear me, lassie?"

Raven's eye focused on the figure beside her. "B-brongr?"

"Aye, lass. Axil too," he said and gestured to the white-haired man.

"Why did y-you follow me?" Raven asked as she sat upright.

"Why do you think? Whether you want to accept it or not, you cannot do this alone, Raven. You need us and we need you."

Raven's eyes met the silver ones.

"Whit happened, lass?"

Raven turned her face away and stared into the direction where the woman disappeared. "I saw…I think I saw the forest's history."

Axil crouched beside Brongr as Raven explained what she had seen.

"And when Gehèfna absorbed Gezina's life force, it felt as if she was doing the same to me. And…oh it all felt so real. I could feel the darkness."

"Perhaps ye shouldn't use the sword."

Raven's head snapped to Brongr. "What?"

"Brongr is right, Raven. You shouldn't touch the sword. We don't know what the sword could do to you if you tried to wield it."

"But I must! Beastie is waiting for the sword."

A small smile touched Axil's lips. "So you weren't going to give him the sword, were you."

"Obviously not. But he thinks I am, so does that other creature. That is going to give me the chance I need to destroy him."

Brongr chuckled. "Well, 'at is certainly the oldest trick in th' book."

"Yes, and a very effective one," Raven smiled.

"Perhaps, but you are still going to have to wield the sword. And there is no telling what could happen to you if you tried it. That sword is dangerous."

"Yes, Axil. I know. But what choice do I have?"

"Yes, Ljòsauki, what choice do you have," a different voice said.

Three pairs of eyes instantly snapped to the creature standing in the doorway.

"You may have had a trick up your sleeve, Ljòsauki. But so did I. You see, you are weak and defenceless. I'm not."

Axil stood up and balled his fists. "I wouldn't say defenceless."

The creature laughed. "Oh of course. The brave Lohiörneth will protect you, Ljòsauki."

"What are you talking about?"

The creature gasped. "Oh no. Don't tell me you don't know, Ljòsauki."

"Know what?"

The creature laughed loudly.

Brongr sighed. "That Axil is a Lohiörneth." He glanced at the white-haired man. "He's th' last one ay them. An ancient race ay warriors-"

"That protected those born of the light, yes yes," the creature cut him off. It walked closer, it's sharp nails dragging across the stone floor. "But not even a Lohiörneth can save you from me, Ljòsauki."

Axil gave a step closer, his hands glowing softly. "Do you want to bet on it?"

The creature smiled wickedly. "Certainly…"

Tension filled the air.

Raven glanced between the creature and the two men. Each of them waiting for the other to move first.

"Well, Lohiörneth? Why are you hesitating? Were your bold words spoken too hurriedly?" the creature asked as he moved closer.

Axil smirked. "No, I merely waited for you to get distracted." A swift kick to the ċhėst sent the creature stumbling backwards.

A flash of silver soon followed and the creature cried out in pain as the blade of Brongr's sword grazed its skin. The creature growled and blocked another kick by grabbing Axil's foot firmly. Brongr stabbed at the creature but it swiftly dodged the sharp blade, pulling Axil along and tossing him onto the rotten bed. The creature grabbed the big man and hurled him towards the wall.

A ball of silver mist struck the creature and it crashed against the wall. The creature roared as it stood up. It charged at the white-haired man and slammed into him and send him crashing into Brongr. The two men tumbled to the ground.

"Is this the famous Lohiörneth strength that I've heard so much about? It's hardly a proper fight," the creature taunted.

Axil stood up from the ground and growled. His appearance started changing as he glared at the creature. The scales on his forehead returned and the wings sprouted from his back.

The creature smirked. "That's it. Reveal yourself, Lohiörneth."

Axil lunged at the creature with a grunt. His powerful claw closed around the creature's neck as he slammed it against the wall. The creature chuckled and with the swish of its tail, knocked Axil's feet out from beneath him.

"Now, Brongr!" Axil yelled.

The sword pierced the creature's side and sank into its flesh. It screeched in pain and swirled around, slamming its sharp claws into the big man's ċhėst sending him flying.

"No!" Raven cried, trying to get up.

The creature pinned Axil to the floor with its claws. A dark light glowed from its hands and soon after a red scale appeared in its claws.

Raven stumbled to her feet and charged at the creature weakly. The latter slammed its reptilian tail into her and Raven felt the cold floor beneath her as she made hard contact with it.

"Don't strain yourself, Ljòsauki."

Through blurry vision, Raven watched as the creature picked Axil up in its arms.

"Come to the old ruins south of here when you are ready to trade the Sword of Light for his life. But don't take too long or your friend here will become part of the bridge's collection," Raven heard the creature say as it left.

After a few moments, Raven crawled over to the big man. "Brongr. Are you alright?"

The big man ġrȯȧnėd. "Aye. Jist catchin' my breath, lassie."

"That thing's got Axil. We must go after it. I must trade the sword for him."

"Nae like thes yer not. An' yer nae tradin' 'at sword. Were savin' him and destroyin' that Beast."

"How? Beastie no doubt knew my plans. He knew you two would come after me. He knew that I wouldn't give the sword up. And he's made sure I am left without a choice."

"Aye. We'll find a way, lassie. We'll find a way."

***

The man reached the archway. He knelt and lowered his head. "My lady," he greeted.

The woman walked out from the shadows. "Well?"

"It is done, my lady. She is weak and cannot wield the sword, much less her magic."

"And the Lohiörneth?"

"Caught, weak, and ready for you, my lady. "

The woman laughed. "Well done, my loyal servant.. Soon enough, we will be free from this cursed forest. And together we will hunt the light!"