Something changed in Vral's expression. Her eyes went wide, and she was looking at me completely differently. Pulling her hand off her forehead, she looked at her trembling finger and stared at her blood as it dripped down her arm. "You..." she started, then stopped. Swallowed hard. "You actually beat me."

"Yeah. And I'll do it again if you keep this shit up. I'll do it as many times as I have to." Shaking the dizziness from my head, I added, "Someone needs to." Sheathing my sword, I stepped forward and held my hand out to her.

Her eyes locked on my hand. Something passed behind her eyes. Then, without warning, she started laughing. Not mocking this time. Something else. Joy? Wiping the blood from her forehead with the back of her hand, she said, "You really think you could hold my leash?"

"I can do anything."

From above, someone whispered, "Did he just?..."

"...Anyone bet on him?"

"...Not me..."

"...Me neither..."

Grinning, she said, "Cocky."

"Why wouldn't I be? Nothing's stopped me yet."

Chuckling, Vral tore a strip of her shirt off and wrapped it around her head. "Maybe you aren't such a loser after all."

"High praise, coming from you."

Her grin widened. " I'm glad you realize it. Not many have been praised by Vral the Slasher. And not once has a single man." She swatted my hand away and teetered to her feet. Eyes locked on my still outstretched hand, she whispered, "Maybe next time."

"Sure." I didn't exactly know what she meant by "next time," but I was happy she was coming around. Tearing her dagger out of my bracer, I threw it at her feet as blood began dripping down my fingers. "I'm honored."

"You should be." Picking up her dagger, she sheathed it and stretched. "That was fun. You're fun."

"What, you all tuckered out? I can keep going."

"We're cut to shit, and you're bleeding worse than me. Let's do this again in a few days." Looking up at the bleachers, she shouted at the guards. "Hey, take me back to my cell. I'm done."

The guards murmured to one another, but none of them moved.

"Did you hear me?

Wanting to continue our sparring, I lunged forward, aiming my sword at her back.

Her form blurred, and she was gone. Then, I heard something behind me.

"Nice try."

Something hit the back of my knee, and I fell into the dirt. This time, she was on top of me in an instant, her legs pressing tightly around my chest and her dagger tight against my throat. "Don't get cocky." Unlike the first time she'd knocked me down, she had a light smile on her face, and her voice was bright. "I underestimated you, and you landed a couple of hits. That doesn't make you my equal. When I say we're done, we're done." Moving closer, she whispered, "I like your enthusiasm, though. You might just end up being a great training dummy for me, assuming you can make good on your promise and we both make it out of here."

I tried to push her off, but she wouldn't budge. "Might?"

"Yeah. Might."

Nodding, I said, "Just wait and see what I become. I just need time."

"Time?" She laughed. "You think you can actually keep up with me one day?"

"No."

Her lips turned down, and her eyes flashed. "Fucker. I knew you weren't worth a damn—"

"I'll surpass you."

Her red eyes stared at me for a long moment. "You're serious."

"Dead serious."

"Huh." She sheathed her dagger, crawled off me, and walked away.

"Gonna offer me a hand?"

"Fuck no."

"Rude." Standing, I said, "Gotta say, this was fun."

"That's the right attitude." She wiped sweat from her forehead, smearing the blood as she did. "Because if you're not enjoying the fight, you're already dead."

"Words to live by." I sheathed my sword. The leather wrap was slick with sweat and blood.

"Damn right."

I laughed. "Look at us bonding."

"Bonding?" She pretended to be taken aback, but I could see the smile on her face. "Is that what you call this?"

"Sure. I mean, what would you call it?"

"Pity." Vral grinned at me. She opened her mouth to say something else, but her eyes looked past me, and all that came out was a groan.

"Dog!" A familiar, disgusting voice sounded behind me. Turning, I saw Aerell stomping out of the far grate, her face red and eyes wild.

"Shit."

"Let's see whether you were being real or not." Vral was looking at me critically.

Speaking quietly so that only she could hear, "Don't mind the show." As soon as the words left my lips, I spun on my heels and rushed to Aerell, dropped to my knees, and grabbed her boots. "Mistress! I've done well today! I beat her!"

She didn't speak. Looking up, I saw that her face was fury itself. Holding up her hand, she pointed to a ring circling her middle finger. "Look what I found."

It was Arden's [Ring of Detect Lies].

I'd hidden it the first week I'd arrived in the Pit, right after I'd managed to pry one of the stones out of the wall. And now, it was on her finger.

Fuck.

"What is that, mistr—"

She kicked me in the face. It stung, but only a little, and I barely budged. She wasn't strong enough to hurt me now. "You know exactly what it is."

Pretending to be the fawning sycophant she wanted me to be, I scrambled closer to her and wrapped my arms around her knees. "I'm sorry! Forgive me!"

Vral clicked her tongue, and several of the guards started laughing up above.

"... talked a big game..."

"... pathetic..."

"... think he's faking after all that?..."

Good. Think twice about me. Doubt everything. I knew I'd talked too much when I fought Vral. Gave away too much. I'd been so frustrated at everything and furious at Vral's taunts, I couldn't help myself. Now was the opportunity to cover for myself... if I could only find a way to trick the ring... but how?

"Get the fuck up, you worthless maggot."

"Yes, mistress." I stood as fast as I could. "How can I serve?"

She slapped me. "Speak plainly. No bullshit." Her lips turned down. "Who do you serve?"

Behind her, a glowstone winked, flickered, then went out. I'd never seen that happen before.

"You." It was a lie. I knew it. She knew it. And the ring would definitely know it. But what else could I do?

Her eyes fell to the ring. She waited, and I waited.

My heart pounded in my ears with every second that went by. What was she waiting for? Maybe she didn't know how it worked? My mind reeled. If she knew how it worked, this was it. All my plans were shot. "Aerell?"

My handler's eyes tore away from the ring to glare at me. "Mistress."

"Yes, mistress. Sorry, mistress."

A few more moments went by. In the end, her eyes pulled away from the ring and gazed at me. "And do you intend to betray me?"

"Of course not, mistress." Another lie.

Again, her eyes took in Arden's ring. Still, nothing.

What was happening?

"I don't understand."

"Understand what, mistress?"

She shook her head. "What do you feel for that goblin over there? Do you still want to save her? Or have you given that foolish fantasy up?"

This time, when I spoke, my voice was resolute and confident. I had no idea why this was working, but it was. And if that was the case, all I could do was lean into it. "She means nothing to me. Nothing at all."

"Fucker..." Vral started pacing behind me.

"Silence." Aerell waved her hand, and black tendrils snaked from her fingers and into Vral's collar.

Vral took a step toward us. Her movements weren't as smooth as they were, but she hardly seemed affected. "How many times you going to try that? We both know it doesn't do shit to me."

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The crunching of boots behind us pulled my attention away. Turning, I saw two hooded figures approaching, tendrils of black energy snaking from their fingers. They reached for Vral, touched her collar, and the goblin was frozen to the spot.

"Do you really think I'm stupid?" Aerell sneered at the goblin. "Kneel."

Vral's entire body shook. "Fuck you."

"That can be arranged." Aerell cackled.

Vral took another step forward, then another, but her daggers fell from her fingers, and she struggled to stay upright. "Damn it..."

Looking satisfied with herself, my handler turned back to me. "Now, where were we?"

"You were asking me questions."

"Ah, yes." For a time, Aerell stood stone still, simply looking at me, the wheels turning behind her eyes. Then, finally, she began to nod. "Do you accept that you will serve me until the end of your days?"

No. Until the end of yours, bitch. "Yes. I do."

A wide, self-satisfied smile spread across her face. "I'm honestly shocked. I thought some part of you would still resist me, but I guess I'm better than I thought." She stepped forward and placed her hand on my shoulder. Whispering in my ear, she said, "We'll go far, you and me."

"We will, mistress."

"Swear it."

I took a deep breath. I thought of how to word it so I didn't promise what she wanted me to. "I swear to the Goddess that I'll fulfill my promises."

She laughed. "No. Not her. Her light doesn't reach here. Swear to the Dark Lord. His essence will hear your vow."

My blood froze. The Dark Lord? "But..." What did it mean to swear something to the Dark Lord? How could someone even do that? I thought he was dead? "I..."

Her smile grew. "Swear to him." And make sure he knows you're giving yourself to his faithful servant. Then, you'll belong to me, Alex. Body and soul."

Could I really do this? Did I have a choice? I looked at Vral.

Her red eyes were fixed on mine, her body shaking as she resisted their magic. She snarled. "Do it, loser. Make your vows. Be a lapdog... Instead of the—" Her knees shook, then one of her legs buckled. "Instead of the black wolf you could have been..."

I knew what I had to do. I looked at Aerell and smiled. "Okay."

I'd never seen someone's face split in half like hers did just then. She looked like the Joker minus the clown paint. "Then do it."

Nodding, I turned back to Vral. Locking eyes with her, I winked. "To the one whose spirit is shrouded in shadow, I promise I'll do everything to protect you, until my dying breath."

Vral's face froze. Her red eyes glimmered in the dim light. "You..." before she could say anything else, her head dropped into the dirt and was still.

Turning, I watched Aerell's face transform through emotions. Joy. Elation. Triumpth. Satisfaction. Happiness.

Sick, disgusting happiness.

The arena grew silent. Slowly, a faint wind stirred around us.

"He heard your vow."

As the wind picked up, dozens of the glowstones set into the ceiling and walls winked out. Strands of shadow began to snake out of the floor, slithering through the air, curling around the pit like smoke, slowly making their way to me. When they reached me, they brushed along my frame. Caressed my wounds. Everywhere they touched, they wormed their way into my skin.

As the shadows entered me, awful promises imaginable filled my mind. With them, desire. For vengeance. For domination. For power. At first, they were whispers, but those grew louder and louder, until they became shouts, then screams. I began to shake as the shadows sank into me, forcing themselves inside. The world grew dim, dark, until, all at once, the noise vanished. All I could hear was my breath echoing around me. Then, even that was gone. Vral was gone. Aerell was gone. The Pit was gone.

I was in an endless black void.

I ACCEPT YOUR OATH, GODDESS'S PAWN.

My mind reeled. What was happening? "Who... who are you?"

I HAVE MANY NAMES, BUT NONE ARE MY TRUE NAME. I HAVE COUNTLESS FORMS, BUT NONE ARE MY TRUE FORM. NAMELESS. FORMLESS. I AM THAT I AM.

Despite its words, my heart knew what it was. "Are you... are you the Dark Lord?"

THAT WAS ONE OF MY NAMES, LONG AGO, THOUGH I DID NOT CHOOSE IT.

My vision swam, and my head pounded. I thought it might split in two. "I thought..." Wracked pain filled my body. "... I thought you were dead..."

MY FORM MAY BE SHATTERED. MY VESSELS SEALED OR ASLEEP. THE FRAGMENTS OF MY WILL MAY BE SCATTERED TO THE EDGES OF HER LIGHT. BUT I WILL ALWAYS BE. ONE DAY, I WILL RETURN, AND ON THAT DAY, THIS WORLD WILL END. UNTIL THEN, I WILL ENACT MY WILL THROUGH YOUR KIND. WHETHER YOU CHOOSE IT OR NOT, YOU ARE MY HANDS IN HER WORLD.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I've never served you."

EVERYTHING YOU DO SERVES MY GOALS.

I laughed. "You don't know what you're talking about.

YOU THINK YOURSELF CLEVER, LITTLE MORTAL, BUT YOU ARE NOT. I SEE THE TRUTHS I SHIELDED FROM THAT WOMAN, THE ONE WHO CALLS HERSELF MY SERVANT.

"I don't understand..."

THOUGH SHE PREPARED YOUR BODY AND SOUL FOR ME, SHE COULD NEVER CLAIM YOU, NOR COULD SHE FORCE YOU TO COME TO ME. YOU, WHO WOULD BE STRONG, ARE GREATER THAN SHE. YOU, WHO WOULD DO MUCH WITH THE POWER I WOULD PROVIDE, WOULD DO MORE IN MY NAME. THUS, THOUGH SHE WISHED TO KNOW YOUR TRUTHS, I WHISPERED TO HER ONLY WHAT SHE WANTED TO HEAR.

"Why?"

YOU WOULD BE A FAR GREATER TREASURE THAN SHE, AND YOUR OATH IS TO ONE OF VALUE TO ME.

"I lied..." I could barely get the words out. "I didn't make a vow to Aerell."

I ACCEPT THE OATH YOU SPOKE IN YOUR HEART, NOT THE ONE YOU SPOKE WITH YOUR WORDS.

"Why...?" It felt like my skull would split in two. I couldn't speak. Couldn't think. As I tried to form more sounds, the Dark Lord's presence pressed into my mind again.

KNOW, MORTAL, THAT I HAVE WATCHED YOU. SINCE THE DAY YOU CAME TO THIS WORLD, I HAVE WATCHED, AND I HAVE WAITED.

That caused resentment to bubble up in me. If I really did have the eye of some god or whatever on me, why the hell didn't he help me? "Some help you've been, asshole!"

I SHIELDED YOU WHEN YOU HAD FALLEN. I CRADLED YOU WHEN YOU WOULD DIE. YOU LIVE BECAUSE OF MY WILL.

"That's... that can't be true..."

Images filled my mind. I was lying in a heap at the side of a dirt road. My clothes were scorched. My skin was bruised and broken. My chest was barely moving. As my chest rattled, life leaving my body, a single dot of black energy floated up from the earth and entered my mouth. All at once, my chest rose, and I moved. Minutes later, a familiar face walked into view. Her sapphire eyes bright and filled with concern, she rushed to my side, pulled out a vial, and began rubbing a familiar liquid into my skin. As she worked, the vision faded.

"I..." I tried to speak, but my mind refused to cooperate. "Thank you."

I GAVE YOU LIFE. THE GREATEST OF ALL BLESSINGS. FROM THAT POINT, YOUR PATH HAS LED YOU BACK TO ME. YOU WISH FOR POWER. I WILL GIVE THIS TO YOU. YOU NEED ONLY ASK.

"I..." I thought of Tristan. What would she think? She'd be disgusted that I'd even consider it. What about Vral? Wouldn't she hate me for cheating? Shouldn't I be strong on my own?

YOUR VOW IS TO ONE WHO IS ALREADY MINE, AND THROUGH MY WILL, YOU HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TOGETHER. ASK, AND YOU WILL HAVE THE STRENGTH TO PROTECT THEM BOTH.

"Vral isn't yours..." I whispered.

HER KIND WERE CREATED BY ME.

"That doesn't make her yours..."

MANY YEARS AGO, SHE REACHED OUT TO ME. SHE HAS LONG BEEN MINE.

The void around me began to shift, showing me new images. Vral, as a child. Her face. Innocent and bright. Then, fire. Blood. Hands grabbing her wrists. Chains. A cart. A market. They called her a monster. She was sold as one. Followed by... a delicate face... A girl's. Golden hair. A wide smile. The images flashed again. For a time, there was peace. Love. Mutual and full. The images shifted again. Vral's hands were torn away from the blonde girl's. The girl cried. Vral cried. Then, she was in rags. Sitting in a dirty alley. Cold. Alone. The images shifted once again. Vral was older. Her red eyes blazed with fury. Another shift. Around her, countless men. They looked like knights. She drew her daggers, and they attacked. The image flashed. She sat alone. Bleeding. Dying. Her heart filled with betrayal. Endless betrayal. Then, she spoke black words, and her spirit was touched by shadow. The images faded.

"If she reached out to you, why didn't you help her?"

IT WAS MY WILL THAT FED HER RAGE. THAT RAGE KEPT HER ALIVE.

I took a breath. "What do you want from me?"

BECOME MY HAND.

"Like Vral?"

NO. SHE HAS NOT YET ASKED. SHE HAS RECEIVED ONLY THE FIRST BLESSING.

"Then why me?"

YOU WOULD DO MORE. AND YOU WILL LEAD THE OTHERS TO ME.

"And what would I get for my service?"

EVERYTHING.

The darkness pressed closer, and I felt tendrils of shadow wrapping around my thoughts. There were new images.

Me, weapon in hand, standing over a sea of riches. Vral and Tristan were beside me. With them, another person, too, but I can't make them out. We lived in a vast manor. In the distance, the temple. We lived in abundance. Peace. Security. We were happy. Safe.

The image shifted.

Me, wielding shadows like weapons. With them, I'm able to force Aerell to her knees. No... Not just Aerell. All of them. Every single one of these people. All who hurt me. Who hurt us. With my power, I made them all kneel.

The images shifted.

Me, on a throne, a golden crown on my head. Before me, Istaera stretched out in every direction. Every mortal kneeling before me. My will, law.

My chest tightened, and I tried to push back the waves of pressure surging through my mind. "I... don't want to rule... I don't want to be rich... and I want to have fun... explore... I want to protect people..."

The images vanished. In their place, silence. Then...

YOU HAVE TASTED HELPLESSNESS, MORTAL. YOU HAVE WATCHED THOSE YOU CARE FOR SUFFER WHILE YOU COULD DO NOTHING. I OFFER YOU THE POWER TO MAKE YOUR WILL REALITY.

The visions returned, stronger now. I saw myself protecting not just Tristan, not just Vral, but everyone. Everyone, everywhere. I stood as an unstoppable guardian against all threats. With more power, I could save everyone. None would ever needlessly die again. I would decide when and why... "I..." The power was intoxicating. I could make the world a better place.

ACCEPT ME, AND YOU MAY HAVE THIS DREAM.

Something didn't settle right with me. I didn't know why, but it didn't. "How is this different from what the Goddess wants for me?"

THE GODDESS WOULD HAVE YOU BECOME HER HERO. YOU, WHO WAS CALLED HERE AGAINST YOUR WILL. YOU, WHO WAS NOT CHOSEN. YOU, WHO HAVE BEEN TASKED WITH REPLACING ANOTHER. SHE WOULD HAVE YOU BE NOBLE. HAVE YOU SUFFER. HAVE YOU SACRIFICE. SHE WOULD WATCH YOU DIE FOR HER CAUSE AND CALL IT GOOD.

"And what would you want for me?"

I WILL MAKE YOU STRONG ENOUGH THAT NO ONE YOU LOVE WILL EVER DIE AGAIN. GIVE YOURSELF TO ME, AND YOU WILL BE FREE.

The images shifted again, and my breath was taken away. In front of me, more real than anything I'd ever seen, was a person.

"Hi, Alex." Her voice was bright. Her face was beautiful. Her eyes shone.

My heart quivered.

I was face-to-face with my sister.

She smiled. "It's been a while." She stood beside Tristan. Vral. The person I couldn't make out. They were all smiling. Hand in hand, smiling.

I felt tears fall down my face. "Stella's dead."

SHE NEED NOT BE.

"That's impossible. Even the Goddess can't return a soul once it's left the body."

NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE IN THE WORLD I WILL ONE DAY CREATE.

The images shifted.

Me, at the end of days, the Orb of Light dim and black. As I watched, someone stood atop the Great Tower, and the world began to crumble beneath my feet. Then, there was nothing. For ages, nothing. Eons. Then, after an eternity, like a light piercing the clouds, something emerged. And on that something, I stood at the age of everything, watching a new world being born. And from the new world, everything taken from me returned to my side. Forever.

"And, to have this, what? Would I have to become a monster?"

A MONSTER? NO. ONE OF MY HANDS. DIRECTLY WORK TO ENACT MY WILL. BECOME A KING, NOT A PAWN.

Something felt wrong. I didn't know why, but it didn't feel right. It wasn't the way forward. "Why? Why would I accept that?"

BECAUSE I SEEK TO END ALL PAIN. ALL LOSS. ALL DEATH. IS THAT NOT WHAT YOU WANT?

I did. I did want that. But this wasn't the way. "Not from you. Not that way."

THERE IS NO OTHER WAY.

The darkness began to recede, and I could feel myself being pulled back toward the arena.

THINK ON MY WORDS, MORTAL. WHEN YOU GROW TIRED OF WATCHING THOSE YOU LOVE SUFFER IN THE GODDESS'S LIGHT, WHEN YOU LONG TO SAVE THEM FROM THEIR FATES, REMEMBER THAT I OFFER ANOTHER PATH.

"I'll never call on you. I'll never be yours. You can't have me."

I AM PATIENT. I WILL NOT TAKE WHAT YOU WOULD FREELY GIVE.

The shadows around me grew thin.

"You'll have to wait forever, then."

WE WILL SEE. FOREVER IS NOT SO LONG, LITTLE MORTAL.

Something in me said this wasn't the end. We'd meet again.

UNTIL THE DAY WE SPEAK AGAIN, REJOICE, FOR YOU RECEIVE THE FIRST OF MY BLESSINGS. TASTE OF IT, AND DECIDE. AND KNOW THAT, WHETHER OR NOT YOU CHOOSE TO SERVE, YOU ENACT MY WILL ALL THE SAME.

Words began to appear in my mind, but they were different than usual. Instead of white, they were a splotchy, inky black and looked almost like they were staining their way onto my status page. As the words began to clarify, I was able to read them:

You gain the quest [A Black Oath: The Sword's Shield].

You gain the talent [Touched by the Dark Lord].

The world around me shattered like glass, and suddenly I was back in the arena, gasping and shaking. Aerell was squatting next to me, her face twisted with joy. As our eyes met, my stomach roiled, and I vomited.

"Welcome to the winning side, Alex," she purred. "I can already sense His mark upon you. You're mine now. Body and soul."

When everything inside of my stomach was outside of me and on the ground, I looked up. There, in front of me, her face covered in dirt and blood, was Vral. Her eyes, wide and shocked, were locked on mine. Her eyes asked the question.

I gave her a soft nod.

With a shake of her head, her head fell into the dirt, and she was still.

Spitting the taste of bile out of my mouth. "You're right." Looking up at Aerell, I felt more hate than I'd ever felt before. I supposed that was what it felt like to be [Touched of the Dark Lord].

But as I looked toward where Vral lay unconscious, I felt the weight of my true vow settle into my bones. I'd keep on doing what I had to do. Whether or not that helped him, fuck it. I had things I needed to do, and nothing was going to stop me.

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