The room was dimly lit, with only a few flickering candles illuminating the space. The air was thick with the scent of incense and something else, something earthy and primal. Shelves lined the walls, overflowing with strange and exotic objects: bones, feathers, shells, and strange, glowing orbs. In the center of the room, a large, ornate throne sat atop a dais, and on that throne sat A Wizard.
"Are you certain he is dead?" he asked, his voice low and menacing.
Another figure nodded, its voice dripping with confidence. "Yes, I crushed and pierced him. He is no more."
The Wizard's gaze narrowed. "And the spirit? Did it flee?"
The figure hesitated, and for a moment, a flicker of uncertainty crossed its face. "It was hovering around him, but I'm certain the boy is dead so it can."
The Wizards eyes flashed with anger. "Fool! You do not understand the consequences of failure. If he survives, all our plans will be for naught."
The figure bowed its head, cowed. "I will not fail you, High One."
The Wizards gaze seemed to bore into the figure's very soul. "See that you don't fail. Leave no trace. No trace at all."
At that the figure turned to leave.
"Vode... now that you have seen, you will begin to understand."
Vode, lying in his hospital bed, felt a shiver run down his spine as he heard the whisper in his ear. He sat up, looking around the room frantically, but there was no one there apart from his sleeping ward mate. The voice seemed to come from all around him, echoing off the walls.
"Who are you?" he demanded, trying to keep his voice steady.
The response was immediate. "Your dark friend."
Vode's eyes widened as he saw glowing green eyes in the darkness. He tried to speak, but his voice caught in his throat. The eyes drew closer, and Vode felt a cold, dark presence envelop him.
Suddenly, his arms began to emit a strange, dark energy, like fumes or smoke. Vode's heart raced as he stared at his arms in horror.
"What is this?" he whispered, his voice shaking.
The voice laughed, a low, diabolic sound. "It is the darkness I harness which I now share with you as to sustain you. I am an entity that moves through the void, a guardian of this realm. But I was trapped, sealed away by those who sought to use my power for their own gain. Your father freed me, and I swore to protect you, to keep you from harm."
Vode's mind reeled as he tried to process what he was being told. "My father... The vision
The voice's tone turned somber. "He was killed by one of those people, a human that has mythical powers. I made a promise, an oath, to protect you. And I will keep it."
Vode's anger and grief boiled over. "So Then tell me how do we make them pay?"
The voice laughed again, a sound that sent shivers down Vode's spine. "Hehehe... we will make them pay, Vode. Oh, yes. We will make them pay dearly."
Vode's darkness-filled arms seemed to pulse with energy, and just then a grin cracked up through his chin.