It felt like my heart was being ruptured to shreds as I started to head for Vincent. I forced down the bile in my throat, forcing air into my lungs. I didn't want to leave Amyr and Byron Flynn. Not after what happened to Rosario. But Vincent was the only thing that made me want to cling to life. He was my master and the reason for my existence.

This way of thinking made me realize I was becoming more and more of a familiar and less of a person.

Right now, the only thing that mattered most was to keep him as far away from his brothers as possible. It was a tough choice but it was that or die.

I spotted Vincent exchanging attacks with Baldy and another familiar. Baldy went behind him and took him by the arms. Like a wild animal, Vincent jostled the enemy, heaving the black guy in front like a shield just as the other familiar lunged at him with claws extended.

The dark-skinned familiar fell onto his knees. His eyes were wide when he saw the gaping wound on the left of his chest where his partner had just yanked out the Cataclyst that was supposedly aimed at Vincent.

There was no sign of remorse on Vincent's face when he let go of the familiar's body. Then, while the remaining familiar was still too shocked to retaliate, he grabbed him by the neck and twisted it. The familiar's head was facing the wrong way when it dropped face down to the dirt.

Another enemy suddenly appeared behind Vincent.

Screaming at the top of my lungs, I rushed to the enemy, dragging my scythe against the ground. I swung at him with all the force I could muster. The blade slashed his back.

The enemy cried out in pain then turned around to face me. He was about to attack me instead when in the middle of charging, he suddenly stopped. Blankly, he looked down on his chest. His eyes widened and when he opened his mouth, only blood came out. Suddenly, his upper torso slid down cleanly from the rest of his body. The upper half of him tumbled to the ground while the other amputated half kept staggering to me. It was shocking how he could still move when all that was left of him was only half of his body. A few seconds later, it collapsed too, drenching the forest floor with blood.

An involuntary gasp pushed its way out of my throat. My fingers, my hands, my whole body were trembling. All of a sudden, I couldn't breathe.

I had just killed someone. The thought made me dry-heave.

Vincent suddenly appeared in front of me. Frantically, he pulled me to him and looped an arm around my nape, forcing me to turn away from the slaughter.

For a second I wondered if my victim had family or friends who would mourn his death. Another part of my brain insisted that he probably deserved it because he was evil. But maybe he was just following orders.

"Hey! Am I interrupting something?!" Amyr yelled from the other side of the ring of fire. He waved at us frantically before dodging a Cataclyst that was about to bust his head off. "Now if you're done, can you please get the hell out of here?!"

Vincent gave Amyr a polite nod-something he didn't usually do. "I owe you one!"

Together, Vincent and I skirted the walls of fire. We kept going around until we found a small opening that led to the edge of the cliff. We jumped over and out wildfire, rolling as we hit the ground.

Vincent was quick to get up, ripping away the scorched seam of his robe as he did. Part of my hair was singed too, but self-image didn't seem to be the priority at the moment.

The smell of sulfur and smoke filled the air, making me gag. Vincent helped me up, then he dragged us both uphill.

"Where's the Glitch?" he asked.

"There! Inside the gondola."

He suddenly grabbed my arm before pulling me up the stone stairs. "Hurry!"

I took a chance to glance over my shoulder and saw Cairo and Irvine pick up pace. Byron Flynn was forced to leave Conrad and intercept them. First, the dog gave the two a growl of warning. When that didn't seem effective, the dog barreled and pounced wildly, nearly gnawing off Cairo's arm.

Cairo looked just about intimidated, barely moving a muscle as he gave Byron Flynn a cold, sinister stare. The dog didn't let go, wrenching the boy's arm and lashing his blazing tail towards Conrad at the same time. Conrad began to strike Byron Flynn from behind. The only thing that kept him from attacking full-force were the walls of fire the dog struggled to summon for his temporary protection.

Seeing the dog's predicament, Amyr head-butted the big hairy guy he was fighting. The guy stumbled back. Hurriedly, Amyr knocked him again with the pommel of his broadsword before pivoting and making the kill. The blade pierced effortlessly into the enemy's stomach.

Amyr's once kind eyes were deadpan now. He stepped on the dead man's chest, jerking his weapon's blade free. He didn't even blink when blood splattered onto his cheek.

Without further ado, he rushed to Byron Flynn's side. He succeeded deflecting Conrad's Cataclyst with the flat of his sword. Back to back, they held the enemies at bay.

Byron Flynn's legs wobbled while trying to yank Cairo back. The fires were slowly dying. It must have taken him a lot of life-force conjuring an Elemental attack that intense.

"We don't have much time!" Vincent said, tugging on my arm.

I heard Amyr shout "Flynn!"

Byron Flynn was already on the ground whining as he strained to get to his feet. Unsteadily, the dog lunged at Cairo again but this time, the boy swatted him as though he was but an insect. Byron Flynn could barely lift his head after hurtling several yards to the stream.

"No!" I screamed, stopping dead in my tracks.

As Conrad deliberately engaged Amyr in battle, Cairo and Irvine advanced.

"Get back here! Aramis!" Vincent yelled.

I paid no attention to them and did a mad dash to Byron Flynn's side. Carefully, I placed a hand on the side of his neck and felt for the carotid pulse. His heart was still beating, but weakly.

The dog made a pathetic attempt to open his amber eyes and lift his big furry head, only to slosh back down in the shallow waters.

"Hang on. I'm not going to lose you too," I murmured, stroking his fur.

He answered me with a soft whine.

Slowly, I hauled the huge dog over my shoulder. He was a lot heavier than I imagined. I nearly collapsed just as we reached the bank. He must weigh about a couple of hundred pounds. If I wasn't an immortal, there would be no way I could lift him up.

I took a good look at Byron Flynn. Still breathing.

Without Vlad anywhere near, it would be hard for Byron Flynn to heal. Still, I could only hope that he would live. Now, all I could do was to make sure that he wouldn't sustain any more injuries. He had to live.

Carefully, I lugged Byron Flynn away from the battlefield. I set him behind a large boulder not too far away where I was sure Amyr could still see him.

"I'll be back for you, okay?" I said to him.

Byron Flynn seemed to have understood. He closed his soulful eyes and stayed still.

I raced to the foot of the stairway that led to gondola. I found Vincent there, waiting for me. Before we could climb up, Vincent pulled me behind him. He raised his Cataclyst, his face overwrought.

Cairo and Irvine had caught up with us. Their faces were unreadable as they approached us.

"Go ahead," Vincent whispered through the corner of his mouth. "I'll be there in a bit."

I shook my head. I could not bring myself to trust him after all. Or maybe I was just worried something would happen to him.

"N-no," I said.

"Why can't you just do what I tell you just for once?" he muttered through his teeth.

Vincent stepped forward. His face gave nothing away of the sinister rage radiating from him. I couldn't help but cringe behind him.

Crimson wisps of smoke began to waft from his Cataclyst. Its talons slowly turned a deeper hue of red, like glowing embers.

I didn't know if it was just me but I thought I saw minute particles accumulate at the tip of his talons. The same was happening to my scythe. The glass-like blade was becoming more and more transparent with the energy build-up until I could almost see through it.

Whatever was happening with my weapon, I wasn't doing it. It was all Vincent. He was controlling my scythe. I could feel that it was accumulating energy in resonance to Vincent's Cataclyst.

I started to raise my scythe, but Vincent gave me a furtive glance and calmly shook his head.

Not just yet. His voice echoed inside my head.

"I beg you to surrender, brother," Cairo announced. He said it almost kindly if not for his cruel features-a slightly protruding forehead with thick arched brows, square jaws, the long straight line of his proud nose, and the deep set silver eyes that always seemed to be staring down anyone and anything. "We only want the girl. Father promises to forgive you if you swear fealty to him. Otherwise, we will be forced to dispatch you for good."

His accent was thick and muddled, although I could not point it out. Kind of like Count Dracula's.

Irvine just watched wordlessly.

Vincent ground his teeth. "Father wants Alessandra's soul, not Aramis."

The mention of Alessandra's name appeared to faze Cairo a bit. After all, Alessandra was his familiar. Alessandra, whose soul was Death's means to get back to the Realm of Immortals. Whose soul was now mine. The soul which could tilt the balance between the living and the dead. The key to the world's destruction.

"Orders are orders, brother," Cairo replied coolly. "Anyhow, Alessandra's soul was borrowed from Father's own and thus, this girl is his possession."

I felt my forehead crumple. "What?! What do you mean I'm his possession?"

Vincent seized my arm. "Don't listen to a word he says!"

And because I was too stubborn for my own good, I struggled away from Vincent's grip and stepped closer to Cairo. "What do you mean!?" I demanded.

"I am stunned that you still did not realize this until now, girl." A conceited smirk painted on the boy's face. He got just the right effect he wanted.

"Talk."

"When Alessandra borrowed two souls from Father, you did not think he would give away just any soul, did you? He loaned her a diminutive portion of his own soul to ensure that it goes back to him-Alessandra's memories and skills included- following the expiration of the thirteenth generation." Hatred and contempt leaked out of his expression in equal parts. "Which just so happened to be you. That way, he could assimilate Alessandra's ability to open Gates and pass through Nirvana."

"And you'd let that happen?!" Vincent retorted. "Don't you have a brain, Cairo? Once he gets to the Realm of Immortals, all of us-including you and me and all our brothers and their familiars-will perish."

The smile on Cairo's face wavered for a while. Nonetheless, he was able to compose himself all too quickly. With a spiteful grunt, he waved the thought away.

"Don't you see, Cairo?" Vincent reasoned out. "The moment Pilgrim takes a hold of Aramis, it's going to be hell on earth!!!"

"We have served the mortals for too long. Let them clean up after themselves for once." Ponderously, Cairo turned to me, offering a hand. "This is the truth, Aramis Rayne. Your soul is my Father's. You are part of him. A very important piece of his magnificent whole. You are destined to bring him back to the immortal world. Now come, so we can fulfill your fate."

"Never!!!" Vincent roared, raging toward his brothers.

His Cataclyst collided with Cairo's, which was white and small but looked wickedly sharper with long sender talons that curved a bit at the tips. The impact of the collision shoved Vincent backward, his loafers digging through the dirt. He dodged a blow to the head before lashing his leg out at Cairo's feet. The First tripped, momentarily on all fours as he got up.

Vincent sprung at Cairo but the boy was able to dodge and ram his Cataclyst into Vincent's stomach. Vincent reeled back, coughing.

When it was Cairo's turn to attack, Vincent could only deflect and jump out of the way. Vincent wasn't fighting anymore. He was simply trying to stay alive.

Irvine didn't move a muscle. He just watched the fight with a vacant stare.

I stayed on the alert, taking no chances.

Down the stream, Amyr was leaping from one boulder to another as he parried Conrad's rapid attacks. It looked like his sword was too heavy to keep up with his opponent's. Or maybe he was getting slow.

"You go first! I'll see you there!" Vincent commanded, rolling away from Cairo's Cataclyst.

I shook my head. I wasn't going to leave him alone.

Irvine gave me a questioning look. Nonetheless, he didn't make a move. "You can flee if that is what you wish. Are you well aware of this?"

Warily, I nodded, backing half a step away from him.

"I intend not to pursue you. As I have said before, I do not condone, nor support Cairo's actions. I am here merely to watch."

I wasn't sure if Cairo was hearing this. Or if he even cared what his brother was doing. It didn't make sense. I couldn't get Irvine at all. I was here in front of him. Defenseless. An easy picking. But he was giving me a chance to escape and it was tempting.

"I'm not going anywhere without Vincent," I answered firmly.

Vincent could only growl in frustration. He had no choice but to escape with me. Abruptly, he leaped away from Cairo and hurried to my side. He readied his Cataclyst. It was glowing fiercely because of energy build-up.

My scythe was glowing too. Seeing this, Cairo cautiously approached us.

Slowly back away. Vincent instructed through the link.

Wearily, I stepped backwards. I noticed that we were nearing the barrier at the edge of the cliff-the same barrier that was the only thing holding off the several millions of tainted souls that lingered for too long in the abyss.

In the darkness of the abyss, I could see thousands of faces, wailing soundlessly in agony. Just the plain sight of them was daunting.

We'll hit the barrier at the same time then make a run for the gondola. Vincent said, still keeping an eye on the enemies.

Gripping the snath of my scythe, I lowered my stance. I was ready to strike.

Cairo began to rush to our direction.

I remembered a familiar hitting the barrier earlier and he got fried on spot. I just hoped we wouldn't end up like him.

On three.

Okay. Got it.

THREE!!!

I swung my scythe at the barrier like there's no tomorrow. Vincent clobbered it with his Cataclyst, claws raking forcefully into the force-field. My scythe grew hotter, scorching my palms. I winced at the pain.

"Hang in there! J-just a... little... more!" Vincent dug his monstrous claws harder into the barrier. It sizzled red, shooting sparks.

My hands felt like they were buried in red hot coals. A moan escaped my mouth, but I didn't let go of my scythe. I didn't think I could uncurl my fingers from the handle even if I wanted to.

For a second, nothing happened. But then a crack appeared on the barrier's surface.

Screaming, I drew my scythe from the barrier and raised it over my head. I hit the barrier again. The small crack grew bigger, slowly creeping up like veins running through the barrier.

Vincent pulled back his Cataclyst and said "Run!"

Pulsing lights flashed from the cracks. Then there was a small blast, creating an opening the size of a manhole through the barrier.

We dived away from the opening.

Right away, the pool of souls inside the abyss stirred, sensing the disturbance. As they raced up to the hole, I realized that they weren't individual souls anymore but a single monstrosity that wanted only one thing: out.

While fleeing, I lost concentration. My scythe faltered, but before it did, I thought I saw a five-inch crack in the blade. That couldn't be good. The collision with the barrier must have damaged it.

I willed my trembling legs to move faster. At this rate I didn't know if we could make it.

Behind us was a black shape-shifting entity. It slowly poured out of the hole like thick, gooey crude oil that writhed and bubbled. Soon enough, the black stuff started to form into some creature. It had no head or a face. All it had were gigantic tentacles and a jelly-ish body that sort of creep-slithered toward us.

One of the limbs took a hold of Cairo, taking him up in the air. It effortlessly flailed him like a rag doll.

That was when Irvine was forced to intervene. He summoned his Cataclyst to aid his brother, only to be swiped off his feet by the creature's tentacles.

Although its limbs could not reach them, Amyr and Conrad could only stop and stare in awe at the sight of the abomination.

The creature constantly changed form, thousands of wailing human faces appearing trapped beneath the creature's outer membrane.

The abyss monster lashed at us blindly, its feelers sweeping the ground for any sign of life. We vaulted over its limbs and ran like hell.

To my left, there was another blast of gravel and dirt. I shielded my eyes, groping for the flowery vines that crawled on the wrought bronze posts that supported the roof of the gondola. Several more explosions followed.

I spotted the Glitch at the very center of the gondola and started working.

"Hurry!" he yelled, momentarily distracting me.

"I'm trying!" I hissed at him. Feverishly, I peeled off the flaps of the Glitch until it was big enough to fit the two of us.

Vincent removed the stopper from the vial of SirenSoul.

All of a sudden, the ground began to quake vehemently. The floor began to tilt. I slammed on Vincent's back and we both lurched to the balustrades.

"Where's the Glitch?" he asked.

It was just behind him, but it was already starting to move towards the abyss. A few more seconds and we wouldn't be able to reach it.

"There!" I pointed at the Glitch. "Hurry!"

Vincent faced me with a sullen look. I realized why when I saw that the vial of SirenSoul in his hand was nearly empty; barely enough for one person. One of us had to make the sacrifice and go to Nirvana without any painkillers.

"Take it!" I said firmly.

"But," he started to object.

I shoved the vial back to him. "Drink it now! I don't want it," I insisted, my skin crawling with fear of pain.

"Please..." He held my hand and closed my fingers around the vial.

I looked away, steeling my face. I opened my hand, about to let go of the vial. "If you don't take it, I'll throw it away."

"Fine! Damn it!"

Darkly, he turned around, tilted the contents of the vial into his mouth and took my hand without a word. He hurriedly towed me to the Door and when we were just in front of it, he suddenly grabbed my shoulders. Then, he closed his eyes and leaned in until his face was just an inch away from me. Before I could get away, his lips crashed into mine. They were forceful, wanting to get in.

Panic made me try to push him away with no success. My whole body just turned limp, my arms weak against his chest. In retreat, I let him have his way, allowing him to kiss me. I didn't know how to react so I just froze, knees buckling, heart ramming violently. My lungs ran out air. It was like I just stopped breathing, which of course, was the case.

I did not know how to react.

Unexpectedly, while I was battling with my internal conflicts, I tasted something sweet and bitter-a silky liquid from his mouth into mine.

My eyes widened. I pushed hard and finally managed to shove him away but it was just a little too late.

"You..." My voice shook with disdain. "You tricked me!"

My hands automatically searched for my throat, which was now burning as the SirenSoul was soon absorbed in my system. Haze soon filled my sight. I couldn't see clearly.

I fumbled about for Vincent and when I did, hung on his shoulders so my knees would not collapse. "No..."

I caught a blurred glimpse of Cairo and Irvine heading to our direction. Behind them, a group of ten or more familiars-reinforcements-weaved their way through the tangle of the monstrous limbs, some of them suffering a terrifying fate in the creature's clutches.

"Go inside," he said. "I'll hold them off."

"No!" I kept holding his hand and tried to pull him back, but the SirenSoul was starting to muddle my thinking and numb my body. What little remainder of my strength slowly escaped from me.

I couldn't breathe. I couldn't move. And before I knew it Vincent had already scooped me up from the ground. He gently lay me down inside the confines of the Door. He touched the Helcium's pendant on my chest, whispering a spell as he did. Immediately, the crystal started to glow weakly.

There was that distant look about his eyes as he gave me a fleeting glance before he pried my fingers off his arm and walked out the Door, back to the chaos. And just like that, I lost him.

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Bitter ending, you say? hmmm... Let's see about that! And please don't forget to follow me on Twitter at Simply_shim and like my Facebook page Shim Simplina. TIA!!!