"No, you... you died. In the forest... Your father,  no...", she staggers back in complete shock. 

"I don't want to believe it either, but look at the prophecy", I say, touching the engraved letters on the wall beside me. Looking over to a door hidden among the decoration, it opens slightly ajar and a terrified child with skin of blue looks out at me innocently. The last Saokag, the origin of the Pacifidores, what Firestone said was true. I turn back to the still stunned Zena, but keep those huge grey, child-like eyes in my mind. "'Where the mother's love destroys, the daughter's hatred will mend'"

"You wouldn't dare bring back the Saokags. My Pacifidores will kill you before you even try, daughter or not, you bring those Savages back, I assure you, you will all die at my hand", she hisses.

"Not my plan, mother", I sneer. "Those beloved Pacifidores of yours, they're all run by a Saokag and once that's gone they're all gone". 

"What Saokag? I would never bring one of those viruses into my home", she bellows. I walk up to the place I saw him and viciously pull the decorative wall away. He shrinks from the moonlight and hides in the corner like a terrified rabbit. 

"What's this then?" I laugh. Blinking machinery lines the tiny hollow he resides in and I pull out my sword. Promptly, not looking at the people staring through me, I slice my sword through the hardware. The lights switch off, one by one, and a deafening sound of falling armour rings around the temple. 

"You just killed over two thousand people. People I cared abut, who I trusted. You have my murderous touch. But that's probably the only thing you get from me", Zena growls. "The question is though, your brother. He's too cowardly to be of my kin, so who is he?"

"Ilik is one of the Saokags, left to die after your extermination and my father saved him. He had no powers because he was so touched by Shade's natives, he lost them. I guess - ", I start.

"Enough!" yells La Muerte with a terrifying glower on her face. "You took my life away from me. I was six years old when you shoved me into the forest and now I can't even touch anything without it dying beneath my fingertips. Now its time for revenge".

"Killing me will not change anything", Zena pleads. I hold back La Muerte and stare into her deep crimson eyes. 

"I know, but one day you will die at our hands, but not today, so run... Before we catch you first", I say with a kind tone.

"I will NEVER be a coward, and, as my daughter, I order you to not show mercy to me. So kill me. I'd rather die than run like a deserter", Zena frowns. 

"That I will not follow", I answer and turn to leave with the rest of the Saokags.

"Such a disappointment, such an imbecile. Your father would be so ashamed of you", she sniggers, rising from the cracked floor and threading dark energy among her fingers. I breathe, but its all too much. I pull back my shoulders and push an enormous amount of energy towards her. She flies backwards, falling through the window, but desperately clings to the edge. 

"It's yours if you want it La Muerte", I tell her and she graciously nods. Following her to the edge, I see Zena frenzied face. 

"Please, have mercy", she pleads.

"Ahh, but you said for me to never have mercy", I respond as La Muerte confidently pushes her fingers from the edge. She falls further, further to the floor and lands with a thump on the temple steps. 

"It's over", I say and we head down the steps. But a new feeling hits me, so strange, but so empowering. I look up to see the sun in all its beautiful glory rising above our heads, bringing light to this dark planet. 

And at that moment I finally realise something, this new feeling I'm experiencing, it's freedom. I am finally free...