Pain awoke in Nial’s skull. He could hear the rain outside, gently drumming against the window pane, no longer below ground then. He opened his eyes. finding himself back in Paedren’s study. Trying to move his limbs, he found he’d been tied to a chair by his wrists and ankles. “Back with us, I see?” He turned to find Paedren leaning against her desk. “Sorry for the precautions, Darling, but you understand.” Her voice was smooth and calm, almost playful.

“Paedren,” Nial shook his head to try and clear away some of the fog “What’s going on? What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing, love.” She replied, coming to stand in front of Nial. “I thought you were dead.”

“I’m hearing that a lot today.” Nial grimaced “What are you doing with all of that magic down there?? You’re going to get people killed.”

“Well, yes.” Paedren smiled, “That’s kind of the point.”

“What?” Nial exclaimed, aghast at what he’d just heard “Why?”

“I thought you of all people would be able to understand that, darling.” Paedren gestured to Nial’s left. In the confusion, he hadn’t noticed that his coat had been removed. His arms and hands lay bare under the rolled cuffs of his shirt. His left appeared blurry to look at. The definition of his flesh gone, replaced instead by a fuzzy approximation, as if viewing his arm through frosted glass. Nial’s gaze moved from his arm to Paedren. He knew the extent of his dissociation went far beyond his arm. In truth, much of his body had now succumb to his power.

“Oh, don’t look at me like that.” Paedren rolled her eyes “You're not so special, you know.” She reached up to the high collar of her shirt, pulling it down to reveal the charred, blackened skin of her neck and shoulder. Nial’s jaw went slack. “So you’re…”

“A Binder, yes. Just like you. Isn’t this fun? We can share stories about how we met our partners and how the magic is slowly destroying our bodies.” Nial laughed mirthlessly “You seem at peace with it.”

“Oh, I am. I have a way out.”

“What do you mean?” Nial narrowed his eyes “Is that what that death pile is for?”

“So clever.” Paedren gave mock applause “I’m sure I’d have known sooner if you were around. It’s quite simple. All that magic is going to cause a huge explosion underneath Verine. The energy from the explosion combined with the sheer number of sacrifices will allow me to ascend and bypass these disgusting weaknesses.” Flames began to curl around Paedren, casting a violent orange glow onto the stonework.

Nial was dumbstruck, he stared in disbelief at the wife he thought he knew so well.

“You can even share it with me.” Paedren stroked the side of Nial’s face “We could be together forever. A Binder as far along as you can’t have much left.” She ran a gloved finger along his blurred flesh. Her finger seemed to sink slightly into the distortion before it found resistance. “Although you’ve certainly burned through it quicker than most. Even assuming you bonded your partner at the same time I did, that’s dangerously fast.”

“This is madness, Paedren.” Nial whispered “You can’t mean to go through with this.” Nial saw only darkness in Paedren's eyes as she stood back from him, the disapproval clear on her face.

“I see you’ll need some more convincing. Wait here, I have just the thing.” With that, she turned and left Nial alone with his racing mind.

The binds on NIal’s wrists were tight. He flexed his hands but could barely move. He grit his teeth as he thought of the thousands that could be killed by Paedren’s insane scheme. “Well, Jewl,” he said out loud “looks like this might be it. Sooner than I was expecting, but I can’t see another way out. Jewl, I…” The door to the study began to creak open. Nial tensed, ready for the return of Paedren. She’d surely enjoy what he was about to do. He was ready to blurt out the rest of his speech when Windle’s head rounded the door. “Windle!” Nial hissed. The anxiety on Windle’s face was evident as he backed into the room, breathing quickly. After closing the door, he scuttled over to Nial and pulled out his dagger. Pausing only slightly to take in the sight of Nial’s left arm, he got to work cutting the bonds on Nial’s wrists “I got worried when you didn’t come back out.” he kept his voice low as he worked.

“How did you get inside?” Nial flexed his fingers as each hand was freed.

“The front door. Easy when they know you.” Windle replied with a wan smile “I’ve seen Paedren, but she doesn’t know I’m here. We need to get out.”

“But why come back at all, Windle? I told you to get out.”

“Consider it a courtesy in respect of our old friendship.” he moved to begin cutting the rope at Nial’s legs.

Nial smiled sadly before becoming more serious “Windle, you need to get back to Verine. There’s a stockpile of magical objects under the city. Paedren wants it to blow and take the city with it. She’s insane and a Binder to boot.”

“What?” Windle asked incredulously “Sure, she’s more intense than she used to be, but she’s not…” He saw the deadpan look on Nial’s face and paused.

“I’ve seen it and she’s admitted it to me herself. You need to go.”

“What are you going to do in the meantime?”

A flash of lightning briefly illuminated the room, followed almost immediately by a crash of thunder. Nial looked out the window and smiled, “We’re going to stop her.”

----------------------------------------

Nial sat waiting inside the study, preparing himself for what lay ahead. No problem, he thought. Just take out another Binder while causing minimal damage and loss of life using the limited power I have left. He glanced out of the window “Nothing to it, right?” He could hear the uncertainty in his own voice. He glanced once more at the rope around his wrists. He’d had Windle replace it to look as if he was still restrained, but he tried to move as little as possible so as not to upset the placement. Minutes later, Paedren returned, carrying a book in one hand and a bottle in the other. “Still comfortable, darling?” She smiled, approaching the chair and holding out the book. “I brought you some reading material to pass the time. It’s by a man called Higertz. Do you know him?”

Nial looked from the book to Paedren “Higertz was a hack whose theories on Binding were disregarded as lunacy decades ago.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that.” Paedren had moved to the desk and was uncorking the bottle. “Maybe he just got too close to the truth people don’t want to hear.”

“Is this where you got your unhinged theory, Pae?”

Paedren turned “You know, keep talking like that and I won’t be able to let you share in the ascension, my love.” Lightning flashed outside once more, Nial’s eyes flicked to the window. “Oh!” Paedren exclaimed, “How rude of me keeping you here. You must get so few opportunities to speak with your partner. Such a shame I can’t let you outside.”

“Quality over quantity.” Nial sniffed “It must be terribly dull for Fire Binders to have access to their partners whenever they wish. It must really make the relationship seem dull.”

Paedren crossed the room and leaned down to be face to face with Nial “Do not speak ill of…” Nial’s arm shot towards her face, emitting a bright flash as it did so. Paedren cried out and stumbled backwards as Nial rose from the chair. Immediately he turned and ran, crashing through the window with a leap into the driving rain and billowing wind. He rolled across the sodden ground, coming to lie face up towards the sky. Lightning forked, tearing across the sky forming, in Nial’s eyes, the face of a woman that smiled down at him. “Nice to see you again, Jewl.” He grinned.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

“Nial, I must say that you are being incredibly reckless.” The flickering, white-blue outline of a woman appeared next to him. “I know, Jewl. As usual.” The wall of the building exploded outwards, Nial dove to avoid the flying shards of masonry. Paedren emerged, positively glowing with rage, flames swirling around her. “Nial!” She shouted “Don’t fight this. Don’t you want to be with me forever?” Nial stood “You expect me to believe that’s what you really want after you abandoned me two years ago?” He shouted to make himself heard over the storm. “You’ve made your intentions perfectly clear, Pae.”

“I couldn’t have known you’d survive my bonding.” she cried “Windle also thinks you’re dead. He’s here, you know. In Verine. I can take you to meet him.”

Nial’s chest tightened. He’d not wanted to believe that the event two years ago was intentional. That she’d deliberately sought this power and disregarded him. “Your words ring hollow, Pae. After what I’ve seen today I can’t let you continue.” Nial fell into a ready stance.

“Fine.” Paedren’s arms began to glow red, thrusting them towards Nial, balls of fire streaked at him leaving him barely enough time to dodge.

She is attacking you Nial. We should fight back.”

“Yes, Jewl. I can see that.” Nial stood with some difficulty, the rain sticking his shirt to him.

“You’re even older and slower than I remember you, Nial.” Paedren taunted, her smirk barely visible in the firelight “Careful not to hurt yourself.” At that moment there was a flash of light and Nial appeared in front of Paedren “Fast enough for you?” The pair moved back and forth exchanging blows, flashes of orange and white lit the night around them. “Why do this, Paedren? Power? Eternal life? Those things are myths!” Nial planted a flat palm firmly into Paedren’s shoulder, causing her to stagger backwards but she unleash torrents of fire from her fingers as she did so. Nial recoiled as the flames licked against his face. “They’re not myths, you just don’t want to see the truth.” She spat back, leaping forwards and driving Nial further to the ground with a kick to his chest “The truth that I wasn’t enough?” Nial could barely be heard over the storm. Paedren froze, the flames swirling around her becoming dimmer in the darkness. Nial could see her face reflected in the flames, straining as if against some great force ”Nial, that’s not what happened. Help me.”

Paedren’s pleading voice was at odds with her aggressive posture and taut features.

Standing, Nial tried to approach her but was pushed back by a blast of heat as the flames renewed and Paedren, after missing only a beat, flew at him once more. “Pae,” he breathed heavily as he struggled to defend against her raging attacks “Pae, what’s going on?” Steam rose from Paedren as she roared, long claws of flame leapt from her hands and she slashed at Nial, who cried out in pain as he was driven backwards, falling once more to his knees. “I am becoming a god, you worthless little man. You have volunteered yourself as my first sacrifice.” Nial looked up, behind the glowing Paedren, a group of staff and customers had begun to form no doubt drawn by the noise. He would have to end this quickly to avoid more casualties.

“Jewl, let’s go.” Nial pushed himself to stand. “Are you certain?” Jewel asked, “This could be the last. The dissociation is already...”

“I know the risk. Do it.”

“Very well.'' The outline of Jewl streaked towards Nial, impacting his chest with a crack of thunder and a flash of light. Nial stood, surrounded by crackling white-blue energy, eyes glowing, his exposed flesh snapping back into hard focus. Paedren scoffed “You think that will save you?” Nial disappeared, arcing from raindrop to raindrop, a ribbon of energy striking Paedren hard before reappearing in his original spot “Not me, no.” Nial growled, his voice now layered with a higher, slightly distorted tone.

Lightning flashed around Paedren accompanied by great peals of thunder. Flailing around her, Padren threw fire in all directions. Screams came from around the den as large sections of it succumbed to the magical flames. The crowd fled, running into the dark, wet forest. NIal reappeared in front of Paedren, breathing heavily. Little sparks of energy flew from his body into the pouring rain. “Pae, this needs to end. Is this why you sought a binding? To cause all of this death?” Paedren, slumped over in the rain, flames dimming, began to laugh “What I sought is irrelevant, my darling.” The leering grin across her face chilled Nial more than the driving rain “Who I was is irrelevant. There is only the future and my ascension.” Paedren straightened, drawing in the flames from around her and seemingly grew in size.

Towering above even the den now, a giant of roaring flames thrust a burning fist towards Nial who blinked a short distance away to avoid it. Nial could feel the intense heat as Paedren turned to him once more, slinging giant fireballs at him and destroying part of the den as he blinked away. He grimaced, the strain of the bond was pulling him apart. Every time he thought. Blinking into the air above Paedren, Nial called on his bond to channel shafts of lightning into the mass of flames, each blast leaving after images in his vision. Paedren stumbled backwards, falling atop the den, crushing the structure and setting it ablaze in full. Nial continued the assault, flashing around the fallen Paedren, seeming to pull lightning from the sky itself as he appeared for a fraction of a second at a time, slamming bolts into her. Paedren roared into the night releasing flames all around her to try and catch the blitzing Binder. Nial stalled, coming to a halt as pain ripped through him, the bond was finally taking its toll. Paedren jumped at the opportunity and plucked Nial from the air as he battled the effects of his exertion. Flames licked along his skin as he struggled, scorching and charring his flesh. “I will not be denied.” Paedren’s words blew over him like an arid desert wind. “Pae, please. '' Nial struggled to free himself “This can’t be you.” Again, Paedren froze. The flames dimmed slightly and as they did Nial could make out her face beneath them. She looked terrified. “I can’t stop him, Nial. You have to.” She dropped Nial to the floor, the impact knocking the wind out of him. At that moment, he and Jewl separated, the sparks around him winking out.

Nial looked up at Paedren standing over him, her smile one of malice and ill intent, marred by the freshly charred skin across her face. “So now you know.” she said. “Poor Paedren hasn’t been herself for quite some time now.” The creature held Paedren’s hand up to her face, fire tracing along her fingers. Nial felt weak, his limbs too heavy to move. “Such a shame that she couldn’t be convinced to cooperate. This would have been so much easier.” The creature sighed theatrically “Never mind. I suppose I’ll just have to give her another lesson in what happens to people who stand in my way.” The creature raised a burning hand, finger tips pointed down at Nial ready to strike. Nial braced himself, he regretted wasting the limited time he had as a Binder. If he’d not frittered away his powers so quickly, perhaps it wouldn’t have come to this. He locked eyes with the monster inhabiting the body of his wife “I’m sorry, Pae.” The creature laughed. “You may have taken me by surprise before, but I won’t let that work this time.” Their body tensed as the creature raised Paedren’s hand to deliver the killing blow that never came. A knife in the dark, plunged into Paedren’s back. The creature opened Paedren’s mouth to shriek, yet no sound came. Stumbling forwards, Paedren’s blood dried and cracked as it flowed freely from the wound. Windle slashed across the creature's throat, it’s surprise evident on its face as fire burst from its fingers, blasting Windle back.

Nial’s eyes flickered open as lightning cracked the sky, forming the pained face of Jewl. He coughed weakly. “Here we are again.” he whispered, smiling. Jewel appeared next to him, a flickering outline of arcing electricity. She knelt beside him, stroking his face though he felt nothing. “Nial, I cannot save you this time.”

“I know.” Nial coughed again “I’m too far gone. I can feel it.” Jewl looked down at Nial, taking in the blurred, fuzzy outline of the skin on his face and arms. Even the colour of his eyes had begun to bleed into the surrounding whites.

“Is that your partner?” Windle’s burned face entered Nial’s field of vision, his thinning hair stuck to his head by the rain.

“Yes,” he replied. “Jewl.” His voice was becoming weaker. “What happened to Paedren?” he asked. Windle looked away, taking a few moments before simply stating “She’s gone.”

Nial took a deep, shuddering breath. His anger at her for abandoning him had evaporated, replaced only with sorrow for her situation. “Did you get the word to Verine?”

“Aye. I sent my men in the coach.” Windle smiled sadly, a pregnant pause between them. “I’ve heard stories of Binders. What happens to their bodies with the power.”

Nial’s chuckle ended in a fit of coughing. “There’s more than one reason people think we’re monsters.” He looked at Jewl “There are some advantages, though. A good partner can change your life.” Windle followed Nial’s gaze to the seemingly empty space beside him. Another long pause followed, Nial’s laboured breathing and the remnants of the fire the only sounds. “Maybe I should be off.” Windle said, groaning as he stood. “Still on for that drink later?” he said calmly, though his smile betrayed his remorse.,

“Of course,” Nial winced as he tried to sit up “Though I might be later than intended.”

Jewl turned to him “Nial, I think it unlikely you will be able to join him” but Nial gave no sign that he heard her.

“I’ll just start without you.” Windle replied.

Nial eyed Windle’s singed clothing and burns. He’d be in pain for some time.

“Thank you for coming back, Windle.” looking down at Nial and then quickly away Windle simply responded “I figured I owed you after last time.” With that he limped into the night without looking back.

Nial coughed violently, covering his mouth with his ill-defined hand. As he pulled it away from his face, he saw his fingers begin to dissociate. “This looks like it.” looking into Jewl’s white-blue eyes he smiled “Goodbye, Jewl. Perhaps next time, partner with someone who isn’t quite so reckless.”

“I have experienced much of this world through you, Nial.” Jewel’s gaze was unreadable as it often was “I believe I made the correct choice.”

“That’s good to hear.” he said, laying back on the scorched earth and closing his eyes. His mind returned to his days on the road, the smiles and excitement of his life with Windle and Paedren and finally his last two years with Jewl. Uncountable memories and emotions span through his mind as little by little, uncountable tiny particles escaped the bonds of his being and scattered into the wind leaving behind only the memory of his passing.