Everyone falls silent.

Backing away, hiding behind each other. Small whimpers, the kind that Scar always makes.

Terror.

My favourite.

'Don't be shy... I'm just curious.' I let a sculk axe shift into my hands. Behind me, Tilly, my faithful companion returned in my boredom, morphs from the sculk carpeting the ground around, growling. 

'Martyn, Doc, get Ren through the portal.' Grian demands, backing away further.

'Yep... she's about as mad as in Double Life.' Martyn backs away, Ren with him. The one who got away from me. He survived. 'We should try again later...'

'Ren. The one who alluded us for so long.' I interrupt. No reply. 'How did you do it?'

'By being better than you.'

'It would've been fun to watch another magicless hermit die,'

'Another? Who... no...'

Grian realises. Behind, I hear footsteps, fast, fleeing. I don't care. There's still enough here to give me a bit of entertainment. Maybe if one of them is magicless, they can help Scar instead of Ren. Without his injuries as a problem... I might be allowed to continue my fun. My smile grows at every thought. 

And I attack.

'GRIAN!'

My target's shoved out the way as my axe falls, but it still hits. A scream, blood. Gem. No magic. Perfect. She stumbles away. I attack again, hitting wood. A shield, but the sculk shifts, gripping tight enough to drag it away from his grasp.

'Grian, get Gem away, I'll distract.' Another I hadn't detected calls.

Cub.

I change target.

'You. Scar's 'best friend'. The traitor to the sculk.'

'Cub, don't listen to it.' Gem warns. 

'You don't control me, Sculky.'

'Sculky? What a sweet nickname that is. A legacy of your conscious thought.'

I run at him, but before I get there an arrow hits from behind. I scream, pulling it free and letting sculk cover the wound.

'Gem, go. You can't fight.' Grian demands. 

'I'm not abandoning Pearl again!'

'You're hurt! The potions aren't working... join the others back on Hermitcraft. Please.' 

'Can I join the others too?' I ask. 'Imagine how many people I can trap and kill...'

Pain. As I was distracted, I must've have missed Cub creeping close enough to slash straight across my face. I shove him away, sculk tangling around his shoulders, body... a fumble for something, a flare of magic. The sculk breaks. He's free, stumbling back.

But I know my advantage.

'Fight me, Vexling.' I taunt. 'Defeat me and rescue your poor friend Scar. Show you care about him. Maybe prove his constant believe in you right instead of failing to do anything for him.' And his other weakness, if Scar is correct that he cares. 

Another blow. I hit the ground, fire burning around me. Pain. Watcher fire. Dangerous. Able to stop the sculk.

'TILLY GET HIM!' I screech. A scream shows she's obeyed... I sense Grian trip, falling onto his front. Tilly claws his back. Another scream. Louder. Piercing. I stand again, wishing I could see the damage she must be causing.

'CUB HELP ME!' Gem's trying bravely to fight back... I send sculk to her legs, pulling her back, but Tilly's progress is halted still. Vex magic. Cub. I'm still recovering physically, but my powers haven't faded... I pull at the sculk around, bringing it to life in the form of a giant creature, like a warden but armed with sharp claws and fangs, not soundwaves. 

'I'LL DISTRACT, YOU GET GRIAN TO SAFE...'

One blow and Cub's sent flying, crashing to the ground. The warden turn back to Grian, still lying, breathing fast, clearly panicking, and Gem, the only one left to fight. 

'I'm more powerful than you, Gem.' I spit. 'You can't defeat me.'

'Prove it.' She replies, cold. But still scared. Grian's still not moved. I make a note to go for there again in future if he doesn't die or fall under our control now. The warden lumbers closer at my command, first slow, then roaring, charging. A distant yell. Distraction, perhaps, from Cub. I ignore.

'Come on Gem, fight back.' With the little power I have left, I send sculk tangling up her legs... it succeeds in pinning her. Footsteps, sprinting. Cub. Grian's not moved. Still. All he's done is started sobbing. Gem manages a couple slashes at my pet warden, but it isn't enough. One blow and she hits the ground. 

'GEM!' Cub yells again, closer... but he must be hurt, his sprint's faded quickly, breath hoarse, rasping, as he tries to keep going through the pain... he stops. A whistle through the air... I barely dodge the arrow, turning to where I can sense his shuffling through the sculk beneath his feet.

'I can possess you again, Cub.' I threaten. 'Or do you remember the fun trick with Zedaph? I didn't see how it worked, but I'm sure it will be fun to try...' he's stopped, and I can imagine a look of stubbornness set across his stupid face. He's not shooting again. 

'Just let us go.' He pleads. 'Please. Tell Scar I'm sorry, but I'm still coming to save him. No matter what it takes.' 

'Why would I tell him that when I can just say you abandoned him? Again?'

'Because he won't believe you. He's Scar. He trust me far more than I deserve.'

'Cub... s... stop trying to bargain.' Gem tries to persuade him. I laugh. 

'She's got it right. I won't let you go. At least, not all of you.' I need someone to please the Sculk with.'

'Then take me. Take me to Scar. Possess me. Do what you want. But let Grian and Gem go.'

I tilt my head to the side. 

'Self-sacrifice is always nice.' I step closer. 'Does your offered sacrifice mean you agree to my deal? 2 of you go, and 1 stays here.' I glance back at Gem and Grian as I speak, holding out my hand.

Cub shakes it.

'I agree.'

'I'm glad we could come to an agreement... as I said, self-sacrifice is always nice.'

I shove him away, controlling the warden again. 

A scream.

'GEM NO!'

Silence.

'But it's awfully boring to accept.'

:)