Finley knew it down to his bones. The others would not be able to break through the mass of Leviathans before this one was done with him. He imagined Declan’s anguished face as he cradled Finley’s broken form in his arms, calling his name. Glom would curl around Declan protectively. Snaglak would be on his haunches moaning.
Rhalyf would be staring down at his hands, wishing he had cast yet one more protective spell on Finley. Helgrom would be leaning heavily on the hilt of his hammer with tears in his eyes. Golden light would pour out of Aquilan as the Sun King tried to bring him back, but his soul would have left this paltry form. He even imagined Elasha with a hand covering her lips in grief.
Yes, that’s how it would be.
Poor, stupid, weak human Finley. Dead because humans didn’t have magic and this brave new world killed those who didn’t.
The Leviathan was at the mouth of the hallway. He sensed its eagerness. He had always known that the Leviathan weren’t dumb creatures. They were malevolent. And in the shushing sound of the scales, he also heard a tittering. It was pleased he was frightened. His fear delighted it.
Finley’s back hit the wall.
There was nowhere else he could crawl.
The Leviathan slithered forward eagerly. It had its first meal of the night in him. He turned his head and closed his eyes tightly.
I’m so sorry, he thought to no one and everyone.
Even with his shut eyelids, the flare of blue-white light of a rift pierced the darkness he had sought to hide in. The Leviathan let out a startled rattle and hiss. The wall at his back was suddenly not there. He felt cold air curl around his neck and the scent of stone and water and magic surrounded him.
Finley’s eyelids flew open.
He turned his head. A rift had opened directly behind him. The fingers of his right hand were actually touching the Under Dark. And not just any place in the Under Dark.
Illithor!
Finley recognized its soaring purple towers. The Leviathan hissed menacingly as it realized there was suddenly someplace for its prey to retreat. Even if it was the Under Dark. And Illithor. Neither of which were safe at the best of times and it was not the best of times.
But it's a chance I’m willing to take. Besides, I’ll get to see Illithor once more before I die.
Finley scrambled through the rift. He clawed his way from tile to stone and he kept dragging himself even as he heard the dry slithering sound of the Leviathan growing as it surged towards him. But then there was a flash of purple light and a shriek that was cut off short.
Finley was blinded again. He couldn’t move. He had bumped into something. Was the Leviathan behind him? No, no, the slithering sound was gone. He blinked rapidly and saw a pair of… bare feet?
Bare feet. Bare ankles. Bare calves. With tattoos on them. So many tattoos. And a long purple and black section of cloth that hung between those strong legs like flowy pants, but these were cut up the sides.
A hand was suddenly in Finley’s face. Long fingered. Nails slightly pointed. More tattoos even on the palm. He was being offered a hand up. Finley took that hand and was helped to his feet. The skin was cool and silky smooth. It released him almost immediately.
He swayed a little once he was up, his mind and body disconnected due to his belief that he was about to die. But he wasn’t dead. He wasn’t dying. Not yet. Not then. His eyes focused on the bare chest–also covered with tattoos–and then the long length of silvery white hair, shaved short on one side.
Red eyes like fires in the dark.
A smiling mouth.
Beautiful.
And terrible.
Finley’s lips parted. “So it’s true.” His voice sounded rusty as if he had been screaming for hours. He cleared his throat. “And that means it must be you. It could only be you.” He swallowed again. “Bare feet. Who else would walk in bare feet and practically no clothes in the Under Dark, but you, King Vex.”
The smile grew. “I’ve been so looking forward to meeting you properly, Finley.”
The Night King
“You’re staring, Finley.” Vex reached over and pushed Finley’s lower jaw up. There was an audible click. “Open-mouthed.”
Finley blinked rapidly. “Oh, I… it’s just… it’s you.”
Vex’s smile was brilliant. Like the flash of a dying star. “Yes. It is me.”
