Note: Sorry for the delay in bringing you this chapter. But as you can see, this chapter is a BEHEMOTH! I really wanted to make this chapter special. I can't tell you how many drafts I went through until I was happy. So please leave comments or email me and let me know how I am doing. How is my writing? Am I keeping you intrigued? Please, constructive critism is welcome. I need to know my strengths and weaknesses. Thanks again to all my loyal readers!
Jon dove to the side and rolled across the tiles of the roof. He jumped back up and held his Shadow Dagger in front of him. He managed to catch his breath for a few seconds before a bolt of lightning shot across the roof. He grimaced and deflected the lightning with his dagger. The dagger glowed to the 8th rune on the blade. The lightning struck the tiles several feet to his left and exploded pieces of the roof into the air.
A shadow streaked across his field of vision as shattered roof tiles rained down around him. He whirled around with inhuman speed and deflected the dagger thrust from a Magi Victus. His protection shield cackled with energy as another dagger thrust met the shield at his back. He felt a good portion of his magical energy drain away.
Jon snarled viciously and slashed behind him. The Magi Victus was already gone. A fireball evaporated against his shield as he turned around to engage another Magi Victus. The man was hooded but Jon recognized his movements. He was attacking Vance, an older Magi Victus that he greatly respected.
"Damn you, Vance! We were brothers!" Jon spit at him.
Vance said nothing but continued his attack. Jon knocked his thrusts aside with ease but didn't press his advantage. He would kill Magi all day long but he was reluctant to kill his own brethren. His shield flared again as another Shadow Dagger attempted to penetrate his defenses. He turned away from Vance and sprinted across the roof.
Tremors rattled and cracked the tiles beneath his feet. He fought to keep his balance as a Magi attempted to collapse the roof beneath him. He bent down, placed his hand on the shifting roof, and sang his song of creation. The roof stilled as his counter-spell easily overmatched the Magi's. He quickly traced the path of the magic runes and disappeared, his legs taking him across the roof in seconds.
He reached the edge of the roof and didn't hesitate as he cleared the ten foot jump to the next roof. He rolled as he hit the roof and immediately jumped up, his dagger stabbing impossibly fast ahead of him. The Magi didn't have time to blink before Jon's dagger ripped through his shield and buried itself deep into his chest.
Jon kicked him off of his dagger and the Magi's body tumbled off the roof. A strong gust of wind suddenly attempted to push Jon off the roof but his shield held firm against the assault. He took a deep breath and scanned the roof for his assailant. A Magi needed a clear field of vision to attack his foe. He spotted movement behind a tall chimney. He manipulated the magic in his body and darted off toward the Magi.
He whipped past the chimney and lunged forward. A Magi Victus streaked in front of him and deflected his dagger as he attempted to impale the frighten-looking Magi. The Magi yelped and tumbled back, his knees hitting the edge of the roof. Jon snorted in amusement as the Magi flipped over backward and off the roof. The Magi Victus in front of him pressed his attack.
Jon found his opening and launched a swift knee into the man's groin. The breath whooshed out of his lungs. Jon slammed his fist across his temple and dropped him cold. He straightened up in time to see a group of Magi and Magi Victus land on the far side of the roof.
"There he is!" a familiar voice shouted.
Jon gritted his teeth and charged straight for them. He was immediately slammed by fireballs, lightning strikes, arrows, and daggers. He could feel his shield drain more of his energy at every blow. For the first time in many years, Jon was almost completely exhausted. He had more endurance than most Magi but even he had limits. Magic was both physically and mentally exhausting.
The spot of the roof he was standing on suddenly collasped. He used a surge of magic to jump clear and was immediately met by three Magi Victus. He met and parried as many blows as he could, but these were Magi Victus and they were very fast. His shield deflected what blows he couldn't catch.
The Magi Victus suddenly jumped back as a wall of flame shot toward him. He ducked his head and burst through it. His shield bent and almost broke against the powerful attack. He was just about out of energy now.
The Magi Victus jumped back in and pressed the attack. Jon was driven back to the edge of the roof as lightning fast moves came at him from every direction. Jon suddenly felt rage sweep through his body, giving him greater strength. The last time he felt this battle-lust was during the War of Gods. He had been broken then and had used that grief to fuel his fights. Now he was full of anger toward Sanje and what he had turned his brethren into.
"ENOUGH!" Jon finally roared. He felt more magic energy pour into him as he quickly cast the spell in his mind. Hundreds of jagged bolts of energy erupted from around his whole body.
The energy bolts slammed in and through each of the three Magi Victus' bodies. They were lifted into the air by the non-stop barrage of energy bolts that tore through them like paper. Jon panted in exhaustion as the Magi Victus slammed back to the roof, dead. He felt empty at the loss of both his magic and his brethren. The runes of his shield flickered.
Jon looked up in time to see arrows of flame fly right at him. He grimaced and covered his arms in front of his face. The arrows of flame slammed into his shield. He felt the rest of his energy drain away as his shield finally dissolved. A flame arrow shot through his left shoulder and flung him back.
His senses were dizzied as he hung upside down in the air and watched the ground rush up toward him. He stuck out a hand blindly and felt his right hand snag the edge of the roof. The force of his downward momentum tore his shoulder out of its socket as his body slammed into the side of the building. But his fingers held on tight to the edge of the roof.
His left arm hung useless at his side. He looked at his shoulder and had to swallow the bile that suddenly filled his throat. The sick stench of charred flesh assaulted his nostrils. Smoke still rose from the smoldering hole in his shoulder.
I never pictured this happening when I made my plan yesterday.
Jon sighed. His plans always had the habit of not working out.
A shadow appeared above him. Jon squinted into the sun and tried to make out the features beneath the hood. He could sense the man's amusement as he lowered his hood. A boyishly handsome face smiled down at him.
"Sanje," Jon greeted him neutrally.
Sanje's smile turned into a snarl. "My, how the mighty have fallen. I told you I would see you dead, Jon. I believe this is goodbye."
Sanje brought his boot up and slammed it down against Jon's fingers.
***
1 day earlier...
Jon stood in the doorway and watched Evelyn carefully brush her shortened hair. She saw him looking in the mirror and turned around. "I hope you like the hair," Jon said.
Evelyn touched her head. "It's fine. I don't care what my hair looks like, as long as it helps me in my plans."
Jon cocked his head to the side. "And what plans are those?"
Evelyn turned back around and picked up her brush. "Don't play stupid with me," she said angrily, looking at him through the mirror as she resumed combing her hair.
"So you heard everything I told you," he said quietly.
"Your secret is safe with me, if that's what you're worried about." Evelyn sighed and put down her comb again. She turned around and faced him. "I don't know what I'm supposed to feel about you. You killed my husband. I want to kill you," she finished, hanging her head.
Jon nodded. "I will never deny that I killed your husband. And I will never deny your attempt for vengeance"
Evelyn lifted her head and waited for him to elaborate. He knew she was waiting for him to defend himself. He wasn't that stupid. Finally, she continued. "I also heard you blame Raynolt. What was it you said? That you were only the knife?"
Jon walked further into the room and sat on the edge of the bed. "Yes. I was merely the instrument of Raynolt's will." He glanced at her uncertainly. She stared down at her hands and fiddled with her thumbs. "I'm an assassin, Evelyn. You know I speak truth when I say Daminus' death was not personal. But for Raynolt..."
