Sorrow of loss

Sorrow of loss
Chapter 181

Ruby’s POV

That was not even the worst of it as I watched, completely powerless, while Zefer’s massive hand stretched forward. Shadows came springing up from the muddy ground like black roots, and before I could even find my voice to react, they went digging straight through my dad’s body while I watched in total horror.

‘’Nooooooo!!!!’’

My dad’s body shook under the force of the shadows with his eyes opened wide in a silent, agonizing scream as his blood slowly began to form a dark pool around him. He was being ground into a puddle of blood right there before my very eyes, the life being squeezed out of him by those black tendrils.

‘’Noooo…’’ My cry of pain got even weaker as I watched his body finally go stiff on the floor. He took one last breath, and then he was just gone. My sight got blurry as hot tears streaked down my cheeks, and my chest felt so heavy it was like a mountain was sitting on me. It got harder and harder to even pull in my next breath as the reality of it started to sink in.

‘’Finally, the treasure of the vampire realm! You know, your mother was actually very clever to hide the key to using your rainbow core in your human father. Haha!’’ Zefer laughed out loud as I remained perfectly still in his hold, not even trying to struggle out of his iron grasp anymore. I was hollowed out, just staring at the spot where my dad lay dead.

But just then, there was a loud bang that sounded through the air. My head raised up weakly to see that it was Thane. He looked like he had been through a meat grinder with his sword was raised in front of him even with the gaping wounds that filled up his body. They were healing but they were moving so slowly. He was completely drenched in blood with his clothes barely hanging off his frame.

‘’Arrrrrhhhh!!!’’ He let out a loud, raw war cry as he rushed hard at Zefer. The giant hissed under his breath as he tossed me to the side like a piece of used tissue. I went stumbling to the ground, landing hard right next to my father’s body. 

My whole body shook from the mere power of my sobbing as the tears blinded me. I weakly crawled over to him while Thane and Zefer clashed with a violent force right behind me. The world seemed to have gotten silent again as I slowly cradled my dad's head in my hold, completely ignoring the glowing black gem that was now floating on top of his unmoving body.

‘’Dad…’’ I whispered with my voice cracking. I pushed his now overgrown red hair out of his face, but I was met with that blank, dead look in his eyes that made me suddenly feel cold all over. He didn't respond to my call. He didn't even blink. The denial was strong, but the rage that began to boil through my system was even stronger. I started to vibrate in place, not even trying to stop the outburst that was slowly steaming inside me as I laid my dad back down. My hand flew over his eyes as I gently closed them.

‘’I’m sorry, Dad… I’m so sorry,’’ I murmured, feeling my heart break into a million pieces as I stood back to my feet. I turned back around just in time to watch Zefer’s massive sword go right through Thane’s chest. It stopped him in his tracks as he stumbled in place, blood slipping past his lips. His shadows whipped around him in a frantic frenzy, and the rage that had been building in me finally came pouring out in a blinding blast of energy.

A strange calmness washed over me then, and I didn't make another sound. With just a single thought, I was standing right next to Zefer. The power was boiling in my veins like fire as my hand went up and then went straight through his chest. My hand, filled with my red hot flames, pierced through his skin like a hot iron through butter. I jerked my hand backward with a sharp movement, pulling his still-beating heart right out of his chest and holding it there.

‘’Uggghhhm.’’ A weak, shocked growl left Zefer's lips. He stumbled to his knees, his sword falling to the ground next to him as he finally fell over.

I ignored him as he died. I rushed over to Thane, quickly pulling him into my hold as he collapsed. I looked down at the gaping hole in his chest and saw the flesh beginning to knit itself back together.

‘’You are healing… thank heavens…’’ I whispered, holding him tight as the hole slowly started to close up. 

‘’We need to get the glowing stone and destroy it,’’ Thane hurriedly said, his voice strained and tight as he struggled to keep himself upright.

I didn’t question him for a second hearing the urgency in his tone was enough. I immediately rushed to my feet, leaving him there to recover his strength, and ran back toward my father’s dead body. I took a deep, shaky breath, trying to force some kind of control over the whirlwind of emotions crashing inside my chest. 

I reached out and plucked the floating black crystal right out of the air, feeling it vibrate violently against my palm like it was a living thing. I turned back around to hurry over to Thane, but I was suddenly met with the feeling of a thick, heavy shadow falling over me like a suffocating cloak. It wrapped around my limbs in an instant, pinning my arms to my sides. I stumbled unable to catch my balance, and my head hit the hard ground with a loud bang that made my sight swim in circles.

‘’How was my acting? Great, right? You seem to forget in a hurry that shadow wielders don’t possess a heart, as this is not our true form. Ahahaha! Now let’s dig your beautiful core out, and that of your child’s too. It would even make the portal opening a lot more easy,’’ I heard Zefer say. His voice loud with pride as he took heavy, slow steps towards me before stopping in his tracks and looking over his shoulder. ‘’But first, time to end this annoying vampire king for good.’’ He snickered as he turned back around toward Thane, who was still trying to stand.