Marcus/Rocco
Every second the tear remained opened, it grew. Buildings
groaned beneath the strain. Reality itself was beginning to tear apart. Snow
drifted through the chaos like ash.
Zephon rested his spear across one shoulder. "Well,
who's next?"
Silence.
Then, Seraphina stepped forward. Her sword settled
calmly into her hand. "The tear," she never looked away from Zephon. "It comes
first."
I frowned. "Sera-"
"You'll close it."
I stared at her. "No." she finally turned toward me.
Those calm eyes that looked exactly like my fathers,
"You heard me."
"We can fight together." A faint smile crossed her
face."
"We always do, Rocco. But not today."
I shook my head. "You'll need my help."
She chuckled lightly, "I was the best fighter our
family had, even more than my brother."
"I'm not leaving you." Seraphina sighed then walked
over. She rested a hand against my shoulder.
"Marcus." She never used that name. "You've listened
to me since the day we met."
A tiny smile. "Don't be stubborn now."
Behind us, I could feel the tear getting worse. The
demons on the other side ready to wreak havoc on this side.
Valen stood slightly behind me. "Rocky, she's made her
choice." I didn't answer and just looked away.
Zephon sighed dramatically. "This is getting boring."
He lowered the spear. "I'll make the choice for you."
Seraphina intercepted, not holding anything back.
Steel exploded against steel. The shockwave threw snow into the air.
She didn't move an inch. "Go!"
I hated that she was right. But… she had never once
led us wrong. I looked at Noah. He already understood.
"We'll be back, Sera." She just smiled.
"I know, Rocco."
I ran toward the tear. With Riley and Noah covering my
back with the demon attacks. Callie followed despite the pain.
Behind us…
The battle began. The first clash shook the entire
district. Even from hundreds of metres away, I felt it.
Another impact, then another. The air itself seemed to
vibrate. Noah glanced back. "She's pushing him."
We reached the edge of the tear. Reality twisted
around us. I reached for the bracelet and felt the familiar pulse. Light spread
through the tear.
But the tear resisted. Violently.
Another explosion echoed behind us. Louder than
before. I turned. Far across the ruined city.
Noah whispered. "I've never seen her fight like that."
Neither had I.
Zephon laughed, even from this distance we heard him.
"YES! THIS IS WHAT I WANTED!" his voice rolled across the city.
I focused back on the tear, as it tried to fight back.
I gritted my teeth. Then finally, the tear stopped resisting and started to
close.
Every where was suddenly silent. Almost like all
battle had seized. I looked down. "Sera?"
I couldn't move. My eyes remained fixed on the
battlefield. Smoke slowly drifted away and two figures stood.
One…
Remained standing.
The other…
Was on one knee. My heart stopped. "No…"
The tear sealed with a deafening crack. The sky
returned to normal. I was already running.
"Marcus." Noah called after me. I barely heard him. My
legs burned and the world blurred.
Please… please… please…
I reach the battlefield.
The snow… was
red and black.
Zephon was down to one knee and motionless. His
breathing was ragged. Deeps wounds covered his body. His smile, was long gone.
Seraphina stood before him. Barely. Her sword still
pointed toward him. Her breathing came in shallow, painful gasps.
A black claw mark protruded through her side. Blood
dripped steadily onto the snow. She had trapped his arm beneath her own blade.
She hadn't let go. Even after he struck her. She
turned to look at me. Those calm, expressionless eyes I was used to softened.
She smiled a real, peaceful, smile.
"Rocco…" her voice barely above a whisper. "You made it."