Chapter 38: Betrayer

Vina forcefully shoved open the doors of the refuge, her steps filled with a storm of determination. An arm grabbed her, but she placed all of her infusions into forceful muscles. She was suddenly able to lift over two-hundred and seventy-five pounds and easily pushed the Professed aside.

"Please, Asharaina. Solyn pleaded, his voice filled with desperation. “Tell me what you're looking for."

"Don't touch me. You already tried lying to me." Vina responded sharply. Pausing for a moment, she rubbed her stomach through her armor, noticing the relief flooding over her as she entered the refuge. The tension she had felt outside dissipated within its walls, but she knew it would return as soon as she stepped back outside. The binding quest’s pain was a constant reminder of her limited time. A mix of dread and anticipation stirred within her as she anticipated leaving the refuge’s protections.

As Vina approached the main hall, a woman wearing a simple head covering emerged from a side room. "Solyn?" she called out gently.

"Prany, stay inside. We have another situation," Solyn instructed, his voice filled with a mix of concern and urgency.

“Oh I know.” Prany's eyes met Vina's, and a knowing smile curved her lips. "Welcome, Asharaina," she greeted with warmth.

Vina's blood sense provided her with all the information she needed. She frowned, recognizing Prany despite the conflicting emotions stirring within her. "But you helped save me," Vina stated, a touch of confusion in her voice.

Prany nodded humbly, acknowledging their shared history of when Vina first arrived in Termily. "Yes, I was tasked to do so when it became clear that you were not meant to die in ignorance."

Vina took a step closer to Prany, her eyes narrowing as she felt the intermingling darkness within the woman's vibrance. The woman existed in a state of both corruption and life. "How are you inside here?"

Prany laughed, a sound filled with both amusement and shared understanding. "Solyn is quite confused. Let's enlighten him together." With a swift movement, Prany pulled back the cloth covering her head, revealing four closed eyes hidden beneath. Solyn gasped, his shock evident on his face. Prany cast a sympathetic glance his way. "I'm sorry, Professed. We have saved many lives together. I hope one day you'll come to understand that The Darkness is not to be feared."

"You're part of the cult... of the six-eyed?" Solyn stuttered, his voice laced with disbelief.

Prany nodded, her gaze unwavering as she met Vina's eyes. "Yes. As you have astutely observed, I serve both The Darkness and Trina.” She turned to Vina. “ I’ve come to know a truth that others deny. Do you know it too?”

Vina nodded slowly, remembering Stine’s lessons, the identity runes Trina had written and Jan’s words. “I’m learning. You deserve protection too.”

Prany's warm smile conveyed gratitude and understanding. “A glimmer in the gloom! An Asharaina who can see.”

Vina held up a hand. “I’m here for something else.”

Prany's eyes gleamed with anticipation. She gestured down the hall behind her. "Amets awaits."

Vina stepped past Prany, but felt the woman quickly step in behind her. Together their footsteps echoed through the long corridor. Her heart raced with anticipation and trepidation, fully aware of the precarious position she was in. Stine's game was once again unfolding, and Vina had seen the pattern before in Prosit. Prany's presence alongside Amets held a deeper meaning, a purpose that Vina was yet to fully comprehend.

As Vina’s mind raced, she put the pieces together. Amets, The Dreamweaver’s poem ran through her head verse by verse. “An ethereal realm…” she thought, “Dreams you can safely reside… weaves a dream to make you feel whole. Sounds like exactly the opposite of Valanire.” But her suspicion only grew as she remembered Norimor’s words.

“She is like me.”

“Someone was trying to turn her into one of the twelve,” Vina realized as she entered the large hall. Alora was kneeling and feeding soup to one of the several people laying on cots.

Seeing the young woman who had ruthlessly toyed with her most painful memories, now tending to another with love, stirred a whirlwind of conflict within her. The core of it was a burning anger that roared to life at the sight of the girl. It was an echo of the rage she had felt when Amets had cruelly manipulated the image of her mother, a violation that felt as fresh now as it did then. It was a white-hot fury that screamed for justice, for retribution.

Yet, interlaced with that was a disconcerting wave of guilt. She remembered the feral desperation in her own actions, the deadly intent that had surged through her as she nearly ended a child's life. It was an uncomfortable acknowledgment, a dark stain on her own history.

And then there was confusion, a swirling maelstrom that made her head spin. The sight of the girl, so earnestly helping the people around her, was jarring. This was not the same malicious puppeteer who had delighted in tormenting her. This was a different person - a helpful, compassionate, even pitiful figure. The transformation was baffling. “How could someone who had caused so much pain be capable of such empathy?” Vina wondered for a moment, but her introspective moment was overridden by more fierce emotions.

Vina's anger simmered beneath the surface as she took a step forward, attempting to find her calm amidst the turbulent sea of emotions. Her voice, tinged with a mix of compassion and determination, broke through the silence. "Amets? Do you know where my mother is?"

The girl slowly turned. The sight of Vina's eyes sent her into a state of terror. She let out a piercing scream, dropping the bowl she held and scrambled away in fear. Vina felt the girl's terror reverberate through her own vibrance, further fueling the tumult within her.

Vina tried to calm herself, moving closer to Amets. "We need to talk. You must tell me where my mother is."

However, the young girl remained unresponsive, consumed by her overwhelming fear. Prany stepped around Vina and gripped Alora's arms firmly, her voice commanding. "Tell her."

Vina inched closer, uncertainty and conflicting emotions swirling within her. Just as she was about to step past the cot where Amets had knelt, a weak hand reached out and grabbed her ankle. "Vina, don't hurt her. We were trying to find you..." a familiar voice pleaded, but Vina shook off the hand's grip, her gaze falling upon the woman who had grabbed her.

"Norimor?" Vina's voice held a mixture of disbelief and distrust.

"There's no reason to fight anymore," Norimor weakly asserted. "Tacey almost killed me and Etana. Alora has been helping me recover. She knows where Priya is. We were looking for you and your sisters to tell you… to get all of you to safety."

Vina's distrust of Norimor flashed to the forefront once more. This woman had forced her to kill sleeping men in the night; she had forced her through a portal to Valanire. But she could see the woman was still weak from an injury. “Tell me where Etana and my mother are.”

Norimor coughed with the effort and shook her head. “Etana left after she learned Ann had died. I don’t know where she went.”

Vina gritted her teeth. “Haco told me Ann isn’t dead. She didn’t get a notification.”

Norimor’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Etana said she failed a quest to keep you both safe.”

Vina’s eyes opened in understanding. When she was shaped, she failed the quest, but neither of her sisters would know why it happened. Ann probably thought one of them was dead as well. “Where’s my mom?”

“The Darkness is always listening. I told Alora to keep it to herself until we found you.” Norimor coughed again, and Vina only groaned in response. “Vina, please…” Norimor begged, but Vina already moved past her to Prany’s side.

She lifted the girl to her feet with one arm. “Tell me where my mother is!” When the girl failed to respond once more, Vina fiercely grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the room, down the hall and out of the refuge building amid Norimor’s weak protests. Solyn tried to stop her once more, but Vina pushed him hard enough to knock him over. Prany followed behind silently, but her vibrance was filled with anticipation.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Outside, her group of companions stared at her in confusion. “Prany, help me.” Vina requested when the girl began to resist by kicking and screaming.

“We’re leaving?” Prany asked as she grabbed the girl’s legs and held them firmly.

“We’re leaving!” Vina said louder so her group could hear. “Your mission stands. Save everyone in this refuge and take them to the portal ring. Solyn will replace me as your healer. I’ll meet you there.”

“Vina!” Anox yelled, but Vina had already left the protections of the barrier with Prany and Alora.

The creatures quickly made room for them, blocking any from following. Vina and Prany dutifully marched away from the refuge until it was far in the distance. Slowly, as she was dragged through the streets away from the refuge, Alora seemed to regain her senses and take in what was happening around her.

“What will you do?” asked Prany.

Vina's gaze settled on Alora, contemplating her options. The tension in her stomach resurfaced, a constant reminder of her binding quest and the urgency it imposed. “How far away is Stine?" she asked, her voice heavy with resignation.

Prany hesitated. “With Haco this close, The Darkness is hesitant to approach. A conflict this soon would be tiring and not decisive.”

A laborious sigh escaped Vina's lips, her gaze shifting back to Alora. “If you just tell me, we won't have to resort to something we'll both regret.”

Prany's eyes widened in understanding, her surprise evident. “You want The Darkness to take her shadow, to force her to reveal your mother's location.”

Vina nodded slowly, her resolve appearing firm. "The thought crossed my mind. But perhaps there's another way..." With a purposeful motion, she retrieved The Dark Spiny Echo from her backpack, holding the alien object in her hand. "I could compel her to abandon Trina's system and embrace The Darkness.”

Prany's face remained unchanged, but Vina sensed the exhilaration emanating from her. She nodded slowly, following Vina's line of reasoning. "She has only been exposed to Trina's system and hasn't been fully initiated into it yet. The Darkness doesn't impose an age restriction on its own. She would recognize its beauty immediately."

Vina nodded slowly. “I suspected darkness would start as soon as it possibly could.” She looked down at Alora, fear reflected in the girl's eyes.

“You’ll have to bond with it. Press it to your shadow.” Prany offered helpfully.

Vina held the spiked ball in front of herself, addressing Amets directly. "Amets! Just tell me where Priya is, and I won't force you to embrace The Darkness!" Her words hung in the air, but the girl remained silent, her mouth quivering but no sound escaping.

Bending down with the spiked ball in her hand, Vina slowly reached toward her feet. Prany's anticipation surged within her, waiting for Amets’ response. However, Vina's grin revealed her true intention. "Yeah, that's not going to happen," she declared, straightening up again. She grabbed Amets’ by her shirt once more, resuming her determination to drag her to the portal ring. Vina had seen enough to recognize Stine's plan, its desire for her voluntary acceptance of its power.

"Wait!" Prany called out, her voice filled with urgency. She stood still in shock. "It's the only way!"

"No, it's not. She will eventually tell me," Vina responded, her resolve unyielding. "I will send Stine's ability through a portal ring once she tells me where Priya is."

“Vina!” Prany shouted, running after her.

Vina swiftly turned, a blood orb materializing between them. "Do you want to die? Because I have plenty of reasons to kill someone today!" she warned, her tone laced with a dangerous edge.

The woman came to an abrupt stop, her hands held out in surrender. She shook her head in resignation.

Vina turned away, ready to proceed once again, her anger barely contained. “Tell Stine you failed in your mission, but our deal is still on.”

Prany let out a loud sigh of frustration. "You still have much to learn, Asharaina. The Darkness cannot fail when it leaves you no path to success."

Vina's attention sharpened as she heard a heavy movement to the north, between two buildings. Suspicion gnawed at her, and her hand moved to place the spiny echo back into her backpack. Suddenly, Prany sprang forward, grabbing at Vina's arm and waist. Hindered by her injury, Vina couldn't immediately fling the woman to the ground while holding on Amets. In a painful movement, she managed to free herself by wrenching her arm away. Prany forcefully flung something away, and darkness enveloped them.

"My lantern!" Vina realized. In the darkness, relying solely on her Blood Sense, she kicked Prany repeatedly until she felt something break in the woman. Wrenching the echo from Prany’s grasp, she fell fully to the ground, groaning in pain.

Amid the distraction that Prany provided, Vina felt Amets break free from her distracted grip and run toward the portal ring. Still holding the spiny echo in her hand, she gave chase only for Blood Sense to warn her of something she had felt once before. The spiked creature had launched itself down from the rooftops directly toward her. She activated mobility, but it didn’t offer a solution to the creature turned projectile. All she managed was “Fuck!” before it landed on top of her. In her log she saw it did no damage and immediately recognized why mobility didn’t activate. It had not attacked her.

The spiked creature that had killed Saryne then forced her to the ground. Vina struggled to push the weight of the creature off of herself, feeling its spikes bite into her body, but its strength was undeniable. It grabbed her wrists with a single large hand, preventing her from touching it. It deftly took the dark spiny echo from her grasp and began to drag her swiftly toward the portal ring. The distant glow of her lantern only grew dimmer as she was dragged away.

Vina desperately tried to use her blood manipulation, but the creature outpaced her, moving faster than she could draw blood to herself. Activating her ruby claws and blood call simultaneously, she concentrated her efforts on forming an orb, preparing to blast it at the creature's face. In response, it growled and slammed her into the ground.

You have been struck with 112 points of blunt damage. You are dazed. You are disoriented for 12 seconds.

Vina's awareness waned as the creature continued dragging her, but a surge of adrenaline coursed through her veins once more when Blood Sense alerted her to Alora's proximity. The young girl shrieked upon realizing a creature was behind her and screamed louder when it grabbed her as well.

Vina found herself pressed to the ground, utterly helpless, while darkness enveloped them. The weight of the creature rested on her back, its arm restraining her hands. Its breath, hot and wet, brushed against the back of her neck, and something dripped into her hair as spikes pierced her armor. Across from her, she heard Alora's cries, sharing in the same indignity.

She attempted to speak, to reassure Alora, but the creature forcefully pushed its knee into her back, stifling her voice and pressing the air from her lungs. Time dragged on agonizingly, until the sound of footsteps and dragging noises reached her ears. Another footstep, followed by more dragging. Slowly, Vina saw Alora's face illuminated by a red light, but Blood Sense informed her that rescue had not arrived.

"I thought I was deserving of protection, Vina," Prany's pained voice broke through the darkness, sounding weary and defeated.

The creature let weight off her body and Vina was able to finally take a deeper breath. "You are," Vina affirmed, her voice still strained beneath the creature's weight. "I didn't say... it would come from me."

The creature grumbled, and Vina felt Prany's silent nod. "The Darkness wishes to settle the agreement between you. Did you deliver the message to its people?" Prany relayed the creature's question to Vina.

"I tried," Vina groaned, struggling to turn her head toward Prany's direction. Momentarily freed from the creature's weight, she saw Prany sprawled on her side, her leg unable to bear her weight. Vina's lantern lay just out of reach, no longer a threat to the creature that held her captive. "But they left. They found a way to escape Palitern."

Prany frowned, her expression filled with confusion. "Are you certain? That shouldn't be possible. Trina has locked the world."

“I’m certain. They left through something called a Zriqen. Their leader left a note within Norfany.”

After Prany relayed Vina's message to the creature, it growled once more. "It wants to know if you found an aspect?"

Vina’s heart leapt into her throat despite the stress of the situation. Stine was aware of the Aspect of Divinity. Her mind raced as she considered her options. Prany was physically weak and her vibrance was weak, but she had doubted her first claim about The Kaliters leaving Palitern. Vina on the other hand, had two different classes worth of levels. She hoped it would add together for what she had in mind. She looked Prany in the eye and lied. “Which aspect? I only have The Aspect of Nature.” She waited for a system notification, and a moment later she received one.

Deception Succeeded. Prany believes you.

Prany relayed Vina's response to the creature, adding, "Her mother probably still possesses it. We know Vina's backpack is not from this world. She most likely activated the Zriqen using that aspect."

The creature growled at Prany, and she nodded slowly. "True, she shouldn’t have been able to leave Palitern while still bonded to it..." Her voice trailed off as the creature growled at Alora once again, spitting out the dark spiny echo between their faces. Terror consumed the girl, causing her to tremble. "Amets, The Darkness offers you a choice. Keep your secret regarding Vina's mother, and you will be brought before The Darkness personally. You will become a shadow, and it will extract every piece of information you possess. Eventually, that knowledge will be shared with Vina."

"Please..." Amets began, her voice quivering.

"Or," Prany interjected, raising her voice above Amets, "you can reveal Priya's location to us all. Vina will be punished for failing to fulfill her part of the bargain, and you will be freed from The Darkness' control for the night."

"Punish..." Vina attempted to protest, but the creature shoved her forcefully into the ground once again, causing her to wince in pain. Struggling beneath its strength was futile.

Vina’s eyes matched Amets while she was crushed beneath the creature’s strength. Amets’ voice was barely audible through her tears. "I'm... I'm sorry, Vina. For everything. I'm trying to survive! Just like you!" She closed her eyes, gathering her resolve. "Your mother locked herself inside your lantern!"

Personal Quest Updated: Find Your Mother has changed to Free Your Mother From The Lantern.