For days on end, Angel’s Daughter seemed to float through the forest, always waiting for the next danger lurking around the corner. Her limbs ached with countless scars and battle wounds, and her heart was heavier than the battered armor she had traded away. Her life had become one endless battlefield—death never hers but suffering always was. She wrapped the cloak tighter around herself, trying not to be seen by anyone, though nowadays someone was always trying to kill her, and she almost wished they would succeed. Always alone. Always hunted. Always hated. The light that once shone in her heart had been extinguished by the murder of Devil’s Son. She felt the ring on her finger—the ring she had taken from Devil’s Son as he lay motionless on the battlefield. Her spell hadn’t worked, her strength hadn’t been enough, and because of their love, he had died.

  What was left to live for but more death and suffering? Angel’s Daughter let this question echo in her mind over and over until she heard a rustling in the bushes. She turned to see an old comrade from the army, someone who, she realized, knew she was still alive. Not good.

  “Chief, there you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” Brick said. Angel’s Daughter hesitated—the past had taught her not to trust anyone, even those she once called friends.

  “What are you doing out here, Brick? You should be back with the guard,” Angel’s Daughter said, never taking her eyes off the invictus sword, he carried. How did he get his hands on such a weapon? Only the most honored guards received even a dagger, let alone a full invictus sword. She knew she had been the most honored guard of all, the only one in history to have received a set of invictus armor from the king himself.

  “I was told to lead a search party—the king and queen are worried sick since you disappeared.”

  Angel’s Daughter suspected something. “I told the king and queen I was going into hiding.”

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  “Well, they want you back.” Brick seemed to stumble over his words. Angel’s Daughter kept one hand on her dagger.

  “What did you do?”

  Brick realized there was no use continuing to trick her, and an evil smile spread across his face. “I sold you out. I am the Thief Clan’s inside man.”

  For a fleeting moment, Angel’s Daughter saw the Brick she once trusted—a shadow of camaraderie dimmed by treachery. Then his blade flashed in the moonlight, slicing the night into shards of threat. She gripped her dagger with both hands, knuckles white, every muscle tight. Her movements smart and correct but Brick had something that fatigue had robed her of strength she was tired to the very bone every time she struck, he blocked faster when ever she blocked he countered quicker “Slash!” Blood poured down her face and her arm “Stab!” Blood now poured down her leg wait why was it shivering “you are weak” Brick taunted her “you can’t fight” She new that it was true but she still fought she had to she couldn’t die now every time she tried to conjure a spell he would stab and stop her mid sentence she was loosing her strength and slowly she could feel her wounds getting more severe and her blood seemed to be killing the grass what could that mean. Brick laughed “your week just like Devil’s Son he was so week he couldn’t even defend himself pathetic absolutely pathetic” those where the wrong words

  Suddenly, Angel’s Daughter experienced a surge of strength. Her eyes shone intensely, which caused Brick to hesitate. Angel’s Daughter extended her hands towards her opponent and spoke a word in an ancient language. This unsettled Brick, not because of her demeanor, but due to his awareness of what would follow. Suddenly fire burst out of her hand burning Brick the fire was scorching and blistering his skin he shouted out in pain as Angel’s Daughter continued to torment him with the fire she watched as he crumbled and died before her eyes she stood took the sword from his dead body and with all her strength drove it through her dead enemy she left the scene stained with her blood and the blood of her enemy “One is dead but I am not finished many more will fall and pay for their wrong against me” she pledged this to herself and to her dead comrade who she hoped was looking down on her still loving her even in death.