Chapter Five.

  What had I done? The monster that followed me around had finally found a way to kill me without leaving a tiny scratch on my body. How can he take away my last remain of happiness? What then will I do from henceforth? How would I live when a big part of my heart had stopped breathing? This was really the end. I lost.

Fenrel had asked me to marry my sister off to him,and I had rudely turned down his offer. Again. I wasn't going to give up my sister to a beast like that. Besides I could never marry Tara to any man. That had to be her choice. 

  Although I left the keepers territory in one piece,watching Fenrel with a big smile on his face. I knew it just wouldn't end there. More was to be expected. Reaching home I immediately warned Tara and Ragnila who was with us at the moment, suggested that we quickly packed a few things and moved out of the city for a few while. Luckily they didn't even argued. After a while we were done packing. We headed for the haven across the border. Hopefully we can find a boat leaving town. It was a beautiful plan. Little did I know that I was being followed the moment I stepped out of the keeper's dwelling. It all happened in the blink of an eye. One moment we were running from the devil and the next moment some men appeared right in front of us carrying Tara away,then vanishing in thin air. The strange part was not even about the men who had suddenly disappeared. It was the fact that I could only watch and not do anything. Hearing Tara screaming and fighting  for her life and yet the only pleasure I took was to just stand still like log of wood,being totally useless. Of course not intentionally. Something strange was behind it. Soon after witnessing the whole disturbing scene the will to move returned back to me. Like I was paused and finally resuming back to life. Ragnila too definitely felt what I felt judging from the perplexed expression that was written on her face. Millions of emotions took hold of me. I didn't even know what to feel anymore. Anger? Confusion? Or perhaps fear!

What had they done with her?

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  Sending final goodbyes to Ragnila after persuading her to run for her dear life I trotted down the devil's den. Again. Unlike the last time, creeping back here only sent a chill down my spine. This time I was scared. What if something bad had happened to her. I could never forgive myself. Fenrel really had no heart. He was more cold than an ice. He killed for fun,destroys lives mainly because he could. I was starting to know him better now. If only I had known more from the beginning. He was already waiting for me at the entrance, smiling mischievously. The last time I didn't have any plan. Now, there was just one goal. To kill him!

Spreading his arms widely as one does to greet one's beloved."Welcome back my dear Kerik" he teased,coming closer to me.

He really wanted to die." Where's she? "

"Who?" He asked, only for him to immediately reply himself with a satisfied grin"Oh you mean the future bride. I fear she isn't home at the moment. I suggest you come back later dear. Though I promise-"

Letting out an ominous battle cry I pounced on him depriving him of a complete sentence as I forcefully pushed him down, making him lie completely flat on his back and I on top of him. I grabbed his neck strangling the life out of him. "WHERE DID YOU TAKE HER TO? WHERE IS SHE!" 

He could only yelp in misery,wheezing as he made up words only loud enough for just him to hear. His eyelids were bulging already,hoarseness in his voice as he struggled to breath,veins running through his forehead and red marks around his eyes. He was struggling to live. It wasn't until then that I knew I had almost killed a man. How did that felt so soothing. No. I wasn't a killer. Slowly letting my guards down I stood up, watching him gasp for air. I could have killed him. The powerful lord Fenrel on the floor,cowardly sitting on the floor breathing loudly as he tried to catch his breath. Sadly with no one around to witness his fall. 

He deserved to die,but then how would I ever find Tara.

"Clever thoughts my dear" he staggered as he tried standing up. Adjusting his robe as he wiped out the sand on him. He wasn't on his uniform this time. "If you kill me now you'll never know where she is. Of course she isn't here."

"Where is she?"

He threw his hands up to surrender sighting the dagger I brought close up to his throat."Now dear, no killing today."

Was he always this fearful? This wasn't making much of a sense to me anymore.

"Alright. The master has her,that's all I can tell you. He's back,and for some reason he has been smitten by you. He chose you Kerik and until he gets what he wants,Tara remains in deep danger. H-he,You need to find him. The world is in danger"he was looking left and right now,sweating profusely.

What rubbish was he chanting on about?

"The world,it. Be careful. You need to meet him Kerik. You need to,you need to-"He froze.

Then his parts started disintegrating. His legs disappeared,letting out a hissing sound. Crumbling to dust,no it was like ash. He was drying up,his waist were gone now. His shoulder,neck. Only his frightened eye balls were remaining now. Then after a few seconds,they vanished too.

You'd think weird was observing some men vanish in thin air, or the Almighty Lord Fenrel crumbling up in fear. But this,this was the worst. It was then I knew that we weren't alone in this mysterious world. Some superior divine beings were above us. And presently,they were watching me. Waiting for me. Waiting!