Chapter 152: Red Horns (1/2)

The archeologist fell to her knees. Tears, mucus, and blood mixed with the dirt of the alley. Taly has never thought this will be where she dies: an unknown, damp alley with no one to care.

Her life flashed through her mind as her body became increasingly cold. It was one filled with misery, and she found nothing to cherish in her final moments.

The dark being crouched in front of her, and he searched through her clothes for the tablet until he found it. Taly wondered when she was going to die, but it was soon.

”You need to wake up now,” said the dark being as he looked at her in the eyes. ”Otherwise, you will die for real.”

The words struck her like a thunderbolt, sending her consciousness into a state of hyperactivity. Taly gasped for air as the world in front of her changed, and she was standing up now.

”What... happened...” she muttered with a daze as she looked down. There was no hole in her chest, and she was breathing and well. ”The tablet!” she searched for her storage pouch but found nothing.

”You care about the tablet more than your life?” said a voice in front of her, and Taly snapped her head toward it. A distance away stood the masked young man holding her pouch in one hand and the tablet in another. ”This belongs to you,” he said and threw the bag toward her.

”You killed me,” she said as she caught the item. ”How am I still alive?”

”I only used your fear. You gave me the tablet obediently,” said the dark being as he examined the tablet. ”This tablet reeks,” it said with disgust.

Taly placed a hand on her heart, and she could tell that it was beating. That means what happened a moment earlier was nothing but an illusion, as the dark being said.

'What a terrifying ability,' she felt awe. 'I would have died for real because of my fear toward him. This creature, or human, can use our emotions against us.'

There was a sizzling sound and the smell of burnt flesh. Taly frowned as she looked at the dark being throwing away the tablet as if it was a hot potato.

”A holy item,” hissed the dark being with disgust and repulsion. ”I will protect you for two days, but I need to go back for now.”

”You are giving me the tablet back?” blinked Taly with surprise.

”You don't trust me now because you saw me kill you, but your knowledge is far more valuable than any tablet,” smiled the dark being. ”Give me your dagger.”

Taly did not refuse and handed him her dagger before picking up the tablet. As she held to it, she could tell that her body was growing stronger under the effect of holy power. However, for this dark being, it was nothing but a nuisance.

'As the case with all dark beings, its weakness is holy powers,' Taly began to think of ways to defend herself against this creature. The nightmare of dying was still replaying itself in her mind.

Then, she turned toward the dark being, who was holding her dagger. The darkness left the dark being and covered the blade, making it matt black.

”This weapon will destroy the barriers of the fairies, so they should be easy targets for you. I will come back in the morning, so keep sharing your location with me.”

”I understand,” she nodded. ”Are you... going to kill me once this is all over?” she asked, and the dark being paused. Taly watched as he pondered the matter before shaking his head.

”I have no reason to kill you.”

Then, it disappeared into the darkness.

***

Nikolai stared at the illuminated mansion from a distance. His phone rang again in his pocket, and he saw that it was Taly, sending him her new location.

”She is not trying to run away,” Nikolai was impressed. Dark Echo uses dark emotions to make the victim fulfill his wishes. It so happened that the strongest feeling Taly had toward the world was fear. ”A pitiful person,” he sighed.

As he turned back to look at the mansion, his stomach turned. Nikolai needed an excuse to convince Princess Maria. The archeologist required two days to decipher the tablet, and he needed to find a way that would not raise suspicion.

His feet carried him through the gardens of the mansion. The music reached his ears, and it seems that the worst of the gathering has come: dancing.

'An excuse...'