A dark energy snapped me awake, Jameson stirring next to me.  Swinging my feet over the bed, I slid on a pair of black leather pants and a black chain mail dress.  The black leather creaked as I pulled it over my head, my staff and sword banging against my leg as my footfalls echoed in the empty halls.  The chilly night air nipped my skin, the twenty people who agreed to be my knights stopping me. 

“Vixen, where are you going?” Jameson demanded groggily, pulling on his white imperial armor. “You shouldn’t go anywhere alone.”  Ignoring them, I tied my hair into a ponytail.  Leaping over them, dirt crunched underneath my boots as I sprinted towards the villain dorms.  A sudden wave of nausea hit me, cold sweat soaking my skin.  Shaking my head, everyone chased after me.  A red light shooting into the sky caught my eyes, the dorm building in shambles.  A loud whirring sound hummed,  level one demon creatures flying at us.  Unsheathing my sword, black blood rained down on me as the sword sliced them in half.  Erant was running towards me, his body all busted up.  A horn was missing, his missing horn sitting in his stomach. 

“The Priest of Darkness killed everyone.” He wheezed, coughing up blood. “I have some-”  Rushing past him, a large black portal swirled at my feet.  Leaping into the hole, the black landscape of the badlands surrounded me.  Jameson tried to jump in, an invisible force keeping him out. 

“You can’t come in because you aren’t a demon.” I explained over the thundering storm clouds gathering above me. “Throw Erant down, and keep the demon creatures from getting to the rest of the campus.  I promise to be back, ‘kay.”  His lips parted in protest, dust flying around me as Erant landed at my feet.  Ripping out his horn, his wound sealed shut. 

“I tried to save everyone, but all of the other demons are gone.  We are the only ones left.” He blurted out, raising his large black sword. “We have to kill the only level five you couldn’t kill.  Maybe we can do it together, but first I need you to make me your slave.”  My eyebrow twitched, confusion twisting my face.  

“Come again.” I stammered oddly, slicing up another bat like creature. “Give me a minute. Purify.”  White flames spread out like the ocean, all the demon creatures getting devoured in flames.  Turning towards my brother, a deep sigh tumbled from my lips.  His hand was already hovering in my face.  

“I need you to do it, so no one can claim me.  That is why our grandmother did it to you.” He explained urgently, the white flames sputtering.  Taking a deep breath, I didn’t have time for this.  Shaking my head, his palm was already cut.  Slicing my palm, he grabbed my hand.  

“Goddess of Light, grant me the power to make him my knight.” I chanted irritably, rolling my eyes. “Kill him if he betrays me once.”  A white light blinded us, a circle with a phoenix appearing on his neck.  The ground quaked, a three headed lizard creature towered over us.  Groaning to myself, hot spit drenched me as it roared inches from my face.  Black lightning crackled around his blade, blood oozing from where his horn used to be.  Charging at the creature, I put my blade away.  My fingers snatched my staff, Erant landed inches away from me.  It doubled in size, and white flames devoured the top.  Pulling it apart, my dual blades illuminated the darkness of the storm clouds. 

“Do you mind giving me a boost?” I asked politely, looking over at Erant who was twitching on the ground. “After getting rid of this thing, we can go to the castle and heal you up.  Then I can close up the portal.  Can you create a stronger storm?”  Nodding his head, he mouthed some words, stumbling to his feet.  The creature screeched shrilly, blood dripping from my ears.  His giant hand tossed me into the air, the smell of brimstone churning my stomach as the wind picked up.  Groaning in pain, he charged at its feet.  Our blades swung down at him at the same time, a blast of white flames and black lighting throwing us back.  Tucking my legs in, my body rolled over and over again.  Rotten guts rained down, covering me in the damn rotting meat.  Erant shot me a thumbs up, and winked.  Grabbing his hand, I snapped my fingers.  The black desert faded away to the decaying black iron castle, orange flames licking the drawbridge.  Dashing across, a hot breeze blew my ponytail around.  He leaned on my shoulder more, his nose and eyes bleeding.  Turning down the maze of falling halls, the medic hall was the only standing.  Scooping up the biggest bag, I shoved all of the potions and supplies into the bag.  One last stop, the treasure room that held my armor.  I know, selfish of me but what the hell.  Tossing him a purple potion, he drank it one swig. 

“I am sorry, little sister.” He apologized sheepishly, looking away in shame. “I should have been by your side like the old times.” Smiling warmly in his direction, his face brightened.  Our footfalls echoed down the hall as bat creatures screeched above us, the black vault the only thing standing.  Embracing him tightly, his heartbeat settled down.  The door swung open, my body collapsing to its knees.  My father stood in front of me, his seven foot towering over both of us.  An evil glint shimmered in his mismatched red and black eye.  His black robes fluttered in the hot breeze, his red snakeskin boots irritating me.   

“I, Helios, demand that you just die already.” He growled darkly, a cruel grin sending chills up my spine. “I am still alive, and I never loved you.”  Tears welled up in my eyes, rage seething in Erant’s eyes.  My hands gripped my handles like my life depended on it, a snarl curling on my lips. 

“Don’t lie.” I screamed bitterly, my voice cracking. “You don’t mean that.”  Teardrops crashed to the cracking floors, my hands gripping the hem of my dress. Maniacal laughter rumbled around us, my quivering eyes not meeting his.  His next words broke me, my beserk level boiling away.  

“I pretended to love your mother and you.” He gloated gleefully, a devilish smile on his face. “I created you as an experiment, and I am disappointed in how you turned out.  You ruined my life, and how I was going to run my kingdom.  Your mother was a piece of crap who didn’t deserve me.  The sad part is all you had to do was say yes to being evil.”  Cocking my brow, I stumbled to my feet. Raising my blades, he took his out.  White flames grew from my eyes, pure rage radiating through me.  Erant tried to hold me back, his efforts failing.  A strand of hair fell from my father’s slicked back hair, mixed emotions blurring my vision with tears.  

“Just get my armor, and carry me out.” I ordered through gritted teeth, his face telling me that he knew that there was no other way. “I am going to get seriously hurt, and I won’t defeat him today.  I just need a way out.  Do you understand?” Biting his lips, the reverse damage blade in my hands.  Charging at my father, his hand smashed me into the ground.  A determined smile lit up my defiant face, the dagger was quivering in his side.  Black ice crept underneath my feet, my white flames deflecting his attacks.  Sighing to myself, I prepared myself for a world of hurt.  The wet sound of his blade sliding into my shoulder made my dinner want to visit again.  A fever burned on my cheeks, the morning sickness getting worse.  His smile fell, blood pouring from his shoulder.  My brother’s horn sat in my palm, the venom oozing from the jagged edge.  Flicking my wrists, the horn landed in the center of his stomach.  His veins went inky black, blood pouring from my shoulder as he ripped out his blade.  Swinging down his blade, sparks drifted around as our blades clashed violently.  Erant had the bag of medicines and my armor, shooting me a thumbs up.  A giant boot smashed into my chest, the crack of my ribs breaking shattering the still air.  One of my lungs popped, air becoming harder to breathe.  Wheezing, my body floated into Erant’s arms.  Hot air blew around me, his big hands locking him in the vault.  Snapping his fingers, we were back in the destroyed remains of the villain dorms.  Coughing up blood, white flames licked my hands.  Touching the ground, the portal sealed shut.  Exhaustion  weighed heavily on my eyelids, Jameson rushing to my side.  Unable to contain myself, everything flew up my throat.  Shivering with the fever, Jameson rushed me to the medic wing.  Touching my head, his lips whispered the words sleep.