The Eighth Sin - 70 Desire

Riyku did not know what to do. Traveling down the road, he was subconsciously walking along the route he took when he was with Astrid and Astraia. His eyes seemed to drift around each spot, recalling the beautiful memories he had with them, from laughs to promises and other enjoyable times. All the memories continued to fill his mind, filling his body with an emotion of love. A soft smile came across his face. “I see…” Riyku would murmur while placing his hand to his chest. “I had almost forgotten…” He would add, turning on his heel as to prepare to head back towards Safe Haven.

“A man has to be Strong, Brave, and Honest.” Riyku had nearly forgotten these words. He was slowly being consumed by doubt and hate that fear started to dreadful forth. He was being anything but Strong and Brave, and recalling all of those happy times he spent with Astrid and Astraia helped him recall what he was told when he was still alive in MiddleWorld.

Riyku would make his way back towards Safe Haven; the frown he had when he left had been replaced with a soft smile. He may not have realized it, but he was gone for a few hours during his little ‘walk.’ The time it took to make his way back was a lot less considering he had already been near Safe Have, so perhaps about ten, maybe twenty minutes. Riyku would push open the doors of Safe Haven, “Astrid! Astraiaaaaaa….” Riyku’s cheery voice slowly drained as he saw the entire place had been turned upside down. Bloodstains and bodies were everywhere. It looked like a small war of some kind had taken place here, and the strange part was that no one was outside or investigating it.

“Riyku… is that… you?” A weak-willed voice called from behind the counter. Riyku had hastily made his way towards the voice only to notice it was one of the regulars. She had a large hole in her stomach, but that did not seem to stop her from delivering her final message.

“Anything.” He muttered.

“Anything?” He groaned.

“Anything!?” He exclaimed.

When he was starting to lose hope, he had found something. It was a small hair clip. It was Astrid’s. Picking up the hair clip, he would take a look around once more, and there he found a bracelet. He had given Astraia this bracelet as a gift a while back. It was set on the ground near the wall. Upon further examination, he figured that they might have escaped over the wall. The direction was most likely to be where the accessories had been dropped. Riyku would sprout his wings only to kick off the ground to take to the skies.

“Do you think you will find them?” Skeith’s sinister voice echoed within his mind.

“I will,” Riyku replied firmly.

“That so?” Skeith seemed to scoff.

“Do you even know where they are? They could be anywhere. Hell, they could be in another Netherworld.” Skeith would remark.

“Does not matter. I will find them. I will save them.” Riyku would retort, his resolve still firm.

A moment of silence came before Skeith sighed softly. “Look for their energy.” Skeith would comment. Riyku seemed confused by this statement, but Skeith explained. “When you sleep with someone, you brief exchange your energy with them. Your energies link and entwine. All demons are capable of this, but few know about it. The more you sleep with someone, the strong your sensory of their energy becomes. Focus your senses on their energy. Focus your mind on what you feel when you are around them. Focus on them.”

Riyku was taken back a bit by the help Skeith was giving him. Regardless, he would heed his advice do just that. Taking a moment to stop his forward momentum from closing his eyes and focus on Astrid and Astraia. Still, black had encompassed his mind and sight. As he focused further on Astrid and Astraia and his feelings for them, a thin white stream started to form as a wisp. The more he focused, the strong the stream became, and eventually, he could feel their energy. “Found them!” Riyku exclaimed before pushing forward.

Meanwhile, in some castle, Hawk was standing in his room with a wine glass in his hand. Swirling the liquid while in thought. A knock came from his door, followed by someone who entered. “Sir!” It was a guardsman dressed in the same type of armor as the soldiers who attacked Safe Haven. “We have captured Astrid BurningAsh and Astraia BurningAsh. We have them captive in the dungeon. Your orders?” The soldier would give his briefing with an upstanding salute.

An ‘mmmm’ came from Hawk, “I take it; you followed my orders perfectly.” Hawk’s voice was low and cold. “Y-Yes, Sir!” The soldier replied. Hawk would set the wine glass down, “You do not sound confident.” Hawk would remark. The soldier started to tremble. “W-Well… I tried to warn them… but they refused to follow orders.” The soldier would remark. “Tell me, what part of the orders are they dismissing?” Hawk would finger the edge of the wine glass while patiently awaiting an answer. The soldier gulped heavily, “T-They started having their way with them, Sir.” The soldier would reply with fear in his voice.

Hawk would stop fingering the wine glass. “I see…” With those words, the soldier knelt and started to beg for forgiveness. “I tried to stop them, Sir! I did! But they threw me out! I am sorry!” Hawk would turn on his heel and place a hand on the soldier’s shoulder. “Soldiers who can not obey their ruler are useless to me.” Hawk would comment with sheer coldness in his voice. The soldier would gulp heavily, eyes trembling with pure fear. Sweat dripping down his face viciously, and just as he thought his life was over.

Nothing.

Hawk had moved past the soldier and on his way towards the dungeon. The reason the soldier thought he was dead was that he knew. He knew that Hawk spared no one who dismissed his orders. He knew firsthand how those soldiers would die and thought that he was going to one of them. Not out of guilt because he had done nothing wrong, but because he failed to keep the others in check.

Hawk would hear screams and yells coming from one of the dungeon cells, and the closer he got, the louder they became. When he arrived, he saw several of his men standing over Astrid and Astraia, covered in semen. “I see…” Hawk’s voice caused everyone to stop moving. The chill in the air centered their attention on him, but no one made a move. No one made a sound. A flare ignited in his eyes, and all of his men started choking while clawing at their throats. Using Diabolical Energy, he pushed aside the soldiers in his way like pieces of trash while making his way towards Astrid and Astraia. “I am sorry…” He would mutter. He had not been wearing his mask, so both of them, who had dull looks in their eyes, were surprised when they saw his face. “Kro–” Astrid was about to murmur before Hawk plunged a blade into her chest. He would remove the blade only to do the same to Astraia, who had no words to say. She was too surprised by the figure before them to speak another word. “I am sorry…” Hawk would murmur while kneeling to close their eyes. “Astrid, Astraia…” He whispered with pain in his voice and a few tears running down his face.

“Riyku… the energy…” Skeith would comment on how thin the stream was becoming. “Hurry!” Skeith exclaimed. Riyku would grit his teeth, blood covering his face and body. A long sword set within his left hand as he raced down the dungeon corridor. He had already killed countless guards on his way here. Upon reaching the cell where the stream of energy faded out completely, he took note of everything. Dead soldiers with their pants down, Astrid and Astraia, covered in semen with their clothes in tatters, and Hawk standing over them with a blade in his hand.

Riyku’s eyes went wide. His complexion froze white. His mind went blank. Skeith kissed his teeth or well made the sound of it when he noticed they were too late. Hawk would turn around with the blade still in hand that he had called forth from a dimensional portal. “You are too late.” Hawk would comment, a lingering sadness in his voice. If Riyku wasn’t so stunned, he might have noticed it, but his mind was empty. A deep breath escaped Hawk’s lungs as he closed his eyes and shook his head. “The intent was to lure you out here, but not for Astrid and Astraia to be harmed. I do not understand why people refuse to follow orders. For their mistake, you have my apologies.” Hawk would comment. His voice was still cold. Riyku said nothing, still froze with an empty mind.

Hawk would look over Riyku when he did not hear a reply. “It is natural. The emptiness you are feeling. I felt it once, as well. I had to give up everything to be where I am. I had to distance myself from those I cared about to protect them. So, I understand the empty feeling. However… you will not need to suffer much longer. I will relieve you of your pain.” Hawk would remark before making his way towards Riyku.

“Oi, Riyku!” Skeith’s voice called to him when he noticed Riyku was not moving.

“Hey, you need to move! Bring up your weapon!” Skeith called out again when he received no response.

“Riyku!” Skeith shouted as Hawk drew closer.

“Look, I get it. You just lost those you loved. You said you were going to save them and protect them. I get it. But if you do nothing, you will die! We will die!” Skeith shouted when Riyku did not respond.

Hawk was not in front of Riyku. Looking over Riyku, who stared at Astrid and Astraia with such empty eyes. “You will be joining them shortly…” Hawk would bring the blade back in preparation to thrust it into Riyku’s chest. The motion would start-up, and as it did, Skeith shouted Riyku’s name once again; however, the blade bounced off of something. Hawk seemed surprised since his arms were thrown in the air. Skeith, if he could make a facial expression, would be just as surprised.

There was nothing there. Nothing was moving, not even Riyku. The blade just bounced off of thin air. Right? Hawk would try once again, but once more, the blade bounced off just before striking Riyku. “What is going on?” Hawk would grumble as he took a step back.

“I see… Nothing ever changes.” A chill voice echoed around. It sent shivers down Hawk’s spine. “T-That’s not possible…” Skeith’s voice muttered with a bit of fear. “You aren’t the Contracted Entity, so how!? How are you here!?” Skeith exclaimed or more so shouted with the demand for answers.

“Because he desires it.” The chill voice echoed once more; the source was quite clear.

Riyku.