As the white glow consumed his eyes his muscles bulged. Without looking away, he tightened his grip around the sword. It's surface began to crack under the weight.
The action surprised her. Not because he was able to break the sword, but because of the type of sword he threatened to break.
Without any hesitation she dismissed the sword. With her hand now free, she swiftly grasped the side of his head, releasing the effects she had on him.
"Careful there. You never know what will happen if you break something that doesn't belong to you."
She smiled as she spoke through bated breathe. But he was not amused, instead his grip tightened.
"I'm not your enemy, Frost."
"That's not my name."
He looked from the corner of his eye to see her standing a few steps away watching him. Looking back to the woman in his hands, her eyes darkened as her smile grew to wide for her face. Then she turned into darkness; escaping his hands and flowing into the woman's left eye.
"Forgive me then. My name is Eris."
"So we're friends now, Eris."
His eyes continued to glow brightly as he looked at her. His body still faced away from her, and his body remained tense; showing his dis-trust in her.
She couldn't blame him, after what just happened. You appear in some unknown space with a sinister looking woman watching you from afar. Just to attack you and attempt to take over your mind and body. He had every right not to trust her, even still, she needed him to understand that every action taken was for his benefit.
"No we don't have to be friends. But I do want you to know I'm on your side."
"Right. After failing to control me of course."
She sighed and attempted to take a step closer, but the moment she tried she noticed the slightest shift in his body, so she remained still.
"Look, if I wanted to control you, I could've. I'm much, much stronger than you. I can admit it would've been hard considering your... ability, but not impossible."
"And what do you know of my ability?"
He looked at her trying to study her. She could feel his eyes searching for anything it could use against her.
"Not much more than you do. Only that it is similar to mine, in some way."
"And what makes you think that?"
"Look around you, do you know where you are? This is the soul realm, the space between the divine and mortal realms. And I brought you here."
He turned towards her. He kept his guard up just incase but her words peaked his interest.
She took a step forward, he shifted a little but didn't make a move. Taking this as the ok, she continued walking forward. As she did the world around them began to shift. Large walls began to surround them, pillars began to take shape; holding up the ceiling above.
He twisted and turned stunned by the sudden changes. As he did, she walked right passed him heading down the great hall. Following her movements, he watched as a beautiful throne appeared at the end; before her.
As she touched the first step, the atmosphere in the hall began to change. A chill ran through his body as his sense heightened. He could feel the shadows behind the pillars shift. Stepping out from them dozens of men and women appeared, all brandishing their lightless eyes. They all swayed back and forth perfectly mimicking the shadows.
As if reacting to their presence, his incandescent shined brightly. His aura began to shift uncontrollably in his body. Without warning, it burst out from him, covering the entire hall. But as soon as she sat down, it quickly receded back into him.
She looked down at him, with her piercing black eyes. Her presence filled the entirety of the room. Looking up at her, he started to hear small whispering entering his ear from all around. He could feel his body slowly begin to falter under the weight of her gaze.
"Welcome to my soul domain."
Under her voice, the weight disappeared along with the voices.
"The only way possible to bring someone here is through a connection, in which you and I share."
"What are you talking about, what connection?"
She rested her head in her hand, and crossed her legs. She looked down at him from above as she spoke.
"Like I said you and I share similarities in abilities. We are related Fro-... Michael, not by human means but by the bonds of our daemon ancestors."
"Abilities, ancestors? I don't even know my own ability yet, let alone that I was related to some "god". "
She shifted in her seat, and smiled at him.
"Then open your domain. In it holds the key to who you are, what you hold. Who you're meant to be."
He looked around at his surroundings, admiring everything. It all appeared so suddenly, forming itself around her every step. He wondered if he too would be able to create something so vast.
He closed his eyes trying to concentrate, searching within himself for any sign of what could activate it.
"After all you've been through, you're far more entwined with your soul than anyone. Feel that connection, give it life and call it forth. You know who you are, now find who you need to be."
After a few minutes of nothing but silence, he was ready to give up. He opened his eyes looking at her with a bit of sadness and doubt. She just watched him silently, seeing him on the verge of giving up, she smiled and urged him to try once more.
He nodded. Closing his eyes once more, he tried to concentrate as hard as he could, until he could no longer hear the world around him.
The movements of the shadows became still, those standing in them became worrisome. The dancing flames on the pillars, flickered wildly, threatening to go out.
Soon it felt like the only thing filling the hall was him and her. And for a moment she too disappeared, consumed by the echoing laughter of a small child.
When he opened his eyes he could see Eris sitting up in her seat looking around for the source.
As he watched her, he noticed a small head appear from behind her throne. It was a young boy, he was smiling brightly at him. He looked back to Eris whom had yet to notice his presence. The boy waved at him, then pressed his finger against his lips.
He placed his little palm against the throne, then smiled at him brightly. As he disappeared behind the chair, it began to crumble and decay under her.
She quickly stood up; catching herself. She looked around trying to find the source of the small giggles. The sudden collapse of her throne shocked her, but the childish giggles that followed concerned her more. Somewhere, somehow something had infiltrated her domain. Such things were impossible without an invite or connection, but she couldn't think of any other cause for the sudden shift. That is until the realization hit her.
She slowly turned her head towards Michael; confusion and annoyance covered her face. But those were quickly wiped away when she turned to him.
He noticed her sudden shift when looking in his direction, the sudden hint of fear hidden behind her eyes. His heart began to beat loudly in his ears, he could feel his breath begin to stagnate. The beating slowly became so lound that it was the only his mind could focus on.
That is, until he felt something small grab his hand. That one small touch washed away all the fear he felt. He realized that he did even know why he was afraid, only that the small shift in Eris' demeanor affected his mind.
A small voice began to whisper in the back of his mind. It reminded him of what she did..., that she could affect his mind, control it.
As these thoughts entered his mind the little boy looked at Eris with a playful smile. As she watched him standing beside Michael she instantly knew who and what he was, and how he appeared.
She wasn't fooled by his smile, not one bit. She could see the darkness hidden beneath, no matter how you mask it, it always seeps through, one way or another.
A shiver was sent down her spine as she looked at him, and he could see it. He could feel her doubt, the emotions flowing through her. She took a step back, not taking her eyes off him. As soon as she move though, a voice entered her ears.
"Don't move."
Her eyes widened. There was a strange sensation taking over her body, it took hold of it. She pushed and pushed against it, but it wouldn't go away. Somehow she had lost control of her own body.
Her eyes darted to the boy, his smile ever wider. But it wasn't his voice that spoke. Looking at Michael, he had a serious look on his face, a cold look.
He looked at her for a while, his eyes were glowing dimly, but this time he knew why. He could feel his power this time, control it. For the first time he felt in control. Even after freeing himself from her, it felt like there was something blocking him, holding him back. But now for some reason he couldn't feel it anymore.
He looked down at the young boy holding his hand. The boy looked at him still hold his smile. He spoke to him.
"You trying to control me too. The voices in my head. They belong to you. They've always belonged to you. Since the day I was born. My thoughts my memories, all yours. The book. That was Your dream."
His smile began to fade. The mask began to fall.
"That was your goal not mine. Freedom... Control. But now we're both free."
The boys brow furrowed. He could feel it too, he truly was free, but so was he. The person he used to be and the one he became, standing side by side.
"You led us here, got what you wanted. But now I can breathe, I can see. For the first time, I think I know what I want. What I really want. And it seems you may be the cause for it."
The boy opened his mouth but a strange sensation hit his body. Looking at himself he noticed his body beginning to disappear. He was being sent away. He looked up at him, his eyes filled with anger. But it changed when he saw the smile on his face. His eyes were glowing brightly as he looked at him. There was no anger, no longing, no sadness, only... Joy.
"Thank you.... Frost."