Chapter 2

“Must you really go to him?” Shen said to Akali as she emerged from the bed, twining her fingers through her long hair. “He is a madman. He is not one to be negotiated with.”

Akali stopped for a moment as she began to get changed into her regular attire, before saying softly. “I do what I must. This is very important to me, Shen…I know you’re worried about me, but…”

She hesitated for a moment, thinking about what to say next. Why did she feel compelled to go Thresh in the first place? Because she heard silly rumors from the other champions that you’re able to talk to any soul within his lantern for a certain price? Was she really that stubborn and foolhardy to go through whatever Thresh wished, just to speak with her mother again?

But there were so many answers left unsaid, Akali thought to herself. So many questions that only she can answer.

“But you feel that it is worth sacrificing more than just your soul to get the answers you seek,” Shen said.

“Shen, you’re getting awfully emotional about this,” Akali said, before smiling a bit teasingly to him. “Isn’t the Eye of Twilight supposed to be impartial to all matters?”

“Akali…” Shen said, giving her a rather stern look that meant he didn’t prefer to be crossed today. “You know why I’m concerned about this matter.”

“I know. I’m sorry that I have to put you through such pain, but…” Akali said before she looked down at the floor. “I haven’t spoken with her for such a long time. And the last time I did…I defied her will.”

“I understand that certain matters being unresolved makes you feel…uncomfortable, restless, but I don’t believe it’s very prudent for you to ask Thresh to see your mother’s soul.”

“I can’t have it weighing on my mind,” Akali said softly. “If I have this weighing on my mind every time I’m fighting in the League, it’s going to eventually get me killed. I can’t have that happen. I need this, Shen. Please.”

“Must you really stain your hands for his own dark purposes?”

“Please Shen…I’m the Pruning of the Tree. When I took this responsibility, I knew what it was that I must do.”

Shen said nothing to that, though she could still sense his lingering disapproval.

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“I wish you would rethink your decision,” Shen said. “Though if that’s what you truly desire, then I suppose that there’s no stopping you.

--x--

As he expected, the Fist of Shadow arrived once more into his realm, his territory. She was as good as her word, though Thresh believed that the Fist of Shadow refused to have her pride shattered by declining a challenge, even if it was from someone of dubious reputation such as himself. Well, actually, it was pretty well known amongst the League that Thresh was a complete and utter madman who went by his own whims and rules. He was a capricious creature of change, who could shift from one mood to another in a matter of minutes, or he could tauntingly give his victims a last minute hope, perhaps, before he changed his mind and slaughtered them anyway. But Akali, this one was special. He wanted to see how long the Fist of Shadow would endure his ‘program’.

“I’ve harvested your souls, just as you asked,” Akali said as she took off her mask and licked her lips in anticipation. Thresh could see the eager light in her eyes of wanting to talk with her mother, who died at such a very young age. How unfortunate.

“Yes you did,” Thresh replied. “I’m actually impressed by your handiwork. Though did you think I would just have you stop here? No, there are more things that I require of you.”

Akali looked like she wanted to protest against this, though Thresh merely put a gauntleted finger against her lips and said, “Ssh. You’re in my territory now. These are where my rules and conditions are laid.”

Thresh then went to absorb the souls that Akali gathered into his lantern, relishing the delightful screams that came from the tormented. Ah yes, these souls would do, they would do well in sustaining him and his spectral being. The wonderful thing about his lantern is that the souls were all confined into one space, which meant that the soul trapped within heard the thoughts of everyone and their own thoughts could be heard to the others as well. There was no escaping your sins in there, which Thresh delighted in.

“Now,” Thresh said as he turned to look at Akali. “If you wish to see a glimpse of your mother, I would like for you to do another important task for me.”

Akali’s face, which glimmered with hope at the prospect of seeing her mother, now suddenly turned into its usual stony façade. “What do you want?”

“I want you to continue gathering souls for me,” Thresh said.”I believe that our goals are aligned in this matter. You wish to get revenge against Zed, yes?”

“After all that he’s done…” Akali said while clenching her hands into fists, before closing her eyes and sighing. The tension removed from her body, loosening her shoulders and spine from it’s rigid position before. “But why should I require your assistance to get revenge against Zed? It’s not like we can permanently kill anyone as long as the Summoners are around. As much as I’d like to get my hands around his neck and strangle him, I…”

Akali’s gaze dropped. The momentary bloodlust that flared up within her soul disappeared as soon as it came. Though oh, it was still there, and Thresh thrived on it. Violence and catastrophe were Thresh’s bread and butter, of course, if he required such sustenance in the first place. He was a specter, after all.

“I will do as you say,” Akali said, before she disappeared.

Thresh would’ve grinned if his visage allowed him to do so. He had her hook, line, and sinker.