Into the Abyss полностью

Actually, he also felt rather pleased. He hadn’t been sure he could maintain both the Edwyrd form and do anything demonic. It had been for that very reason that he hadn’t done anything against the pirates for a long time. He was afraid if he tried anything, he’d pop back into his true form. Lose his true form, he corrected himself mentally, the Edwyrd form was his original form. However, when that wizard had hit him with the lightning bolt...

That had hurt. Not as much as the original formation of his body, no, nothing was that bad, but certainly it had hurt more than anything since, including the dragon. Part of that may have been due to Edwyrd’s intrinsically flimsy shape, even so, it had hurt. He had lost the Edwyrd shape then. He’d transformed back into the demon form during the attack. That was what had destroyed his clothes. He’d reverted as quickly as he could, he hoped no one had noticed.

However, the lightning had pissed him off. He’d decided to try something, anything. Allowing himself to become one with the flame, was something he’d tried before when he was plane shifting, this time he just carried it all the way through to its logical conclusion. The form had come easily enough, as had the ability to stretch himself to attack the other ship. Unfortunately, the wizard had proved more powerful than he’d thought.

It had taken more and more energy to try and penetrate that shield. Then when the second lightning bolt had flew at him... Rupert! My God! Tom came to a halt in mid-thought. What had he been thinking of? Relaxing here in the water, when for all he knew Rupert was lying dead! Rupert getting struck had unhinged him. He’d reverted to his demon form then, but somehow kept the flame. At that point all hell had broken loose, and he didn’t care anymore. He’d fried the damn wizard and his entire ship. This was one killing he didn’t regret. If Rupert was dead then he’d do his best to see that that wizard’s soul rotted in the Abyss. He’d personally torture the bastard for a thousand years!

Oh God! Rupert! Tom thought again. He had to get back. He had to get to Rupert. He’d sworn to protect the kid, and here he was, having a jacuzzi while Rupert lay dying. He couldn’t go up in demon form though. He would have to switch back. Mustering what little of his wits as he could, he willed the switch. As he was doing so, his still demon eyes caught a glowing light over by the burning ship, beneath the level of the sea. Some form of life? a survivor? he didn’t know, at the moment he didn’t care he had to see to Rupert. He quickly began to swim to the surface, as he did he felt a strange tugging, as if invisible hands were pulling him up.

His head broke the surface of the water and he looked around for the ship. There it was off in the distance. He started swimming for it as fast as he could. He’d worry about that survivor later. Rupert was the important one now. He only hoped Jenn or this Maelen fellow had gotten to Rupert fast enough.

As he reached the side of the ship, a rope ladder descended the side. He grabbed it. He had a little difficulty at first, it was a bit tricky making it up the swinging ladder. Eventually however, he made it to the top. Maelen was there, reaching out a hand to help lift him aboard. As he came over the rail, he sucked air into his lungs so he could croak, “Rupert?” He ignored the awed stares coming from the sailors on deck.

Maelen frowned and shook his head sadly. “I’m sorry, Edwyrd. There was nothing I could do.” He pointed up the ladder to the stern castle deck.

Tom let out a small cry of despair, “No!” He ran up the deck. Maelen stayed behind, at the rail, simply shaking his head. After a moment he walked to the forecastle to see to Jenn and Gastropé.

As Edwyrd reached the top of the ladder, he spied Rupert’s melted body, a little way from the wheel. The captain was still hovering in the distance, near the rear rail, he was giving Edwyrd a fearful gaze. Edwyrd ran to the body of the little boy. On his knees he bent over the form.

“God, why?” Even Tom could see there was no hope. Rupert’s body was worse than anything he’d ever seen in a horror movie. Worse than any of the messes he’d made out of people as a demon. Everywhere, Rupert’s body was either charred black, or swelled with blistered burns. The skin a bright red in other patches. Worst of all, were the places where the flesh had been burnt away to the bone. “Why Rupert?” Tom moaned as he rested his tear streaked cheeks lightly on the boy’s chest.