The mage reeled under the blow and staggered back against the wall with her eyes rolling back in her head before sliding slowly down to the floor.
With a snarl Zoelyn shook her stinging hand and turned back to the fight in time to see Hemlock’s dagger sink deeply into Seth’s side. The demon shuddered and one of his swords fell from his limp grasp. As he turned toward her she could see the damage Kali’s spells had wrought and her throat tightened at the sight of his blackened skin. She hadn’t seen any fire light the hallway but his entire right side looked burnt and she could see he was barely managing to keep his feet.
“Seth!” Zoelyn screamed as Hemlock casually slashed the dagger across Seth’s face splitting his cheek open to the bone.
“Just like old times eh, Seth?” Hemlock murmured as he took as step back and smiled widely.
“With the exception of one thing.” Finn’s voice rose over Seth’s rasping breaths as his sword plunged through Hemlock just under the Assassin’s ribcage. “He serves a Master who cares about his well-being now.” Finn added coolly as he withdrew the sword slowly.
Blood bubbled on Hemlock’s lips as he staggered forward wheezing in an attempt to regain his balance. The look on his face was one of absolute incredulity as Finn stepped casually around the Assassin slowly wiping a cloth down his sword blade and studying the blood covered cloth with a faint smirk.
Finn raised his eyebrows at Hemlock and his smirk widened to a grin. “My sword was rather well poisoned by the way. It was not quite the same mixture you used on me in Sanctuary though. I’d say Havoc has a much better chance at living than you do unless you can somehow manage to stumble over to Kali and rouse her quickly. I’d highly suggest you leave here before you attempt to wake her though. Zoelyn looks ready to kill you and I know Seth would like nothing more than to bury his knife in your throat.” Finn spoke calmly as he replaced his sword in its scabbard and made a point of tucking the blood soaked cloth into an inside pocket of his cloak.
“You are a Divine.” Hemlock coughed and shook his head at Finn in disbelief. “You can’t involve yourself personally in this.” He said with accusation thick in his voice.
Finn raised one eyebrow and cocked his head at Hemlock. “I can’t?” he asked in mock innocence then gave an exaggerated frown. “But I just did.” He pointed out calmly and motioned toward Hemlock’s blood soaked tunic. “And if you don’t get that tended soon you are going to be the first victim of the Elder pox in over two thousand years. That particular disease died out a while back you know, but I do so hate to let fascinating things fall by the wayside. I’ve heard it’s a rather gruesome way to die. What happened to the Veirasha is supposed to be a pale facsimile of the true pox.”
Hemlock’s already pale face seemed to lose another shade or two as he stumbled toward Kali and slid down to the floor beside her leaving a bloody smear across the stone wall in his wake. “The Divine may not interfere in the actions of the mortal world.” Hemlock insisted as his hand locked around Kali’s wrist.
“Don’t just let him go.” Seth snarled, but even as he spoke Hemlock was beginning the casting of a teleportation spell with more than a little panic showing in his expression. Apparently Finn’s mention of the pox was more than enough incentive to get him to leave.
“I have your blood Hemlock. Remember that before you think to move against Zoelyn again.” Finn warned as the Assassin finished his spell and faded from the room with Kali. Finn gave a weary sigh and looked at Seth’s ragged form. “I’d explain why I let him live, but in your current state I think you’d be dead before I got to the second sentence. We need to get you back to the Darklands where you can heal.” Glancing up he offered a hand to Zoelyn and smiled. “Come along Zoey. Let’s get you some place safer.”
Zoelyn started to move forward then shook her head slowly and stepped away from both of them. “I’m not going with you Finn. I only came back to help Seth, but I know he will be fine in your hands.” She murmured as she took another step back and turned to go.
“Zoey, the others won’t realize you are here. You will be left in Rivana.” Finn called after her with a hint of concern lacing his voice.
“I can’t go with you, Finn.” Zoelyn returned as she quickened her pace. She couldn’t allow herself to look back at them. She didn’t want to see Seth in such a pitiful state, and it was taking all of her willpower to walk away from him. She knew if she went with them to the Darklands that she would lose all desire to turn away from Seth, and she didn’t want to be caught by his Charm again. Being tricked once was bad enough. She wouldn’t allow it to happen a second time.
“Zoelyn wait!” Seth called after her in a pain filled voice and her walk turned to a run as her willpower crumbled. She had to get far away from him before it faded completely or she knew she was lost.
*
The sound of faint footsteps drew her gaze upward and Zoelyn stared listlessly toward the doorway. She had no idea what part of the ruined keep she was in, and she knew her friends were long gone by now. Whoever was approaching was most likely Rivasan, and she knew she should get to her feet, but she couldn’t muster the energy for it. She had run until her tears blurred her vision too much to continue then collapsed by one of the walls and hadn’t bothered to move again.