Genre(s): Fantasy, Mystery, Action, Dark, Medieval
[
"No." Daniel's expression was hard and gaunt as he stared at Evander. He had hardly eaten in weeks. The man he once called a friend, now asked him to sacrifice everything for greed.

"Come on, Daniel! Can you see there's more!? They've been lying to us! All of us! Syphoning magic isn't bad. Think about it . . . . What evidence is there against it that hasn't been thrown in our face?" Evander's bloodshot eyes watched Daniel with hunger, a thirst of power he had never dared quench before. He needed him for his plan to work.

"No, Evander."

"Listen to me!" Daniel's head jolted in place. If he had been holding the stone right then, surely it would have fallen to ground as his hands trembled. "That is all I ask of you." Evander's voice became quiet. Quiet was dangerous with Evander.

"All you ask of me? Was our oath to protect so meaningless to you, Evander? Or have you lost your way?" Daniel tucked his right hand into his front pocket where it met cool stone. "We are on the king's guard. I am the general. You are my lieutenant. You follow my orders, not the requests of convicts. I said, no. Be grateful that I don't mention this to the king."

Evander chuckled as he brushed his finger through strands of ebony hair.

"Grateful, Danny? Grateful? You are the sole thing holding me back, holding us back. I have been merciful and obedient and it has gotten me nowhere! Nowhere! I can not and I shall not let you deny me this anymore. Join me, help me, like I have served you so many times before."

"Don't let you confuse your duty to the king with your relationship with me. You have never served me, Evander, and I have never asked anything of you that would warrant your current request. I beg of you . . . put these thoughts to rest and return to your rightful place." Daniel's fingers dug deeper into his pocket, grasping the stone tightly

"And if I don't?"

The words lingered in the air, threatening to choke Daniel as he stood stoically in the center of the stone room, a wide circle that made the perfect prison.

"Then, I will be forced to stop you."

Evander's lips curled into a sickening smile. "I invite you to try. We both know who will win . . . in the end."

"Do we? I think you severely underestimate my loyalties and how far I am willing to go to maintain them."

"I don't think I am. Despite everything, Daniel, I do know you, your tendencies, your . . . weaknesses. Do you really expect for me to believe that you would stop me? Especially when I ask for something so miniscule?" Evander gently lifted his eyebrow like a small child sembling innocence.

A dry, humorless laugh pulled through Daniel's lips as his free hand fumbled with his shirt collar. It was almost liberating, the idea that Evander still had the power to make him laugh, after everything.

"Tell me, Evander, . . . what is it that you ask for that is so miniscule, so insignificant?" Daniel hissed. He already knew the answer and it made him ticked.

"Your help or your magic. Either will do."

"Either will do? Either will do, Evander!?" Daniel clenched the stone tightly between his fist, digging the sharp ridges into his palm and drawing blood. It would be his last physical mark on this earth.

"I will get what I want."

"You will have to kill me for it." He took a long step towards Evander, slow and deliberate, with the stone cupped between his hands.

"I know." A barely audible tremor rang through Evander's voice. It was the only sign of hesitation he had shown Daniel in weeks.

Daniel didn't miss the opportunity.

With all his strength, Daniel launched himself at Evander. The stone was safely tucked beneath his raised fist, when he felt it. It was overwhelming, unbearable. Painful, the words echoed in Daniel's mind.

Evander cut through Daniel's mind like butter with a flick of his hand. The gesture was unnecessary of course, superfluous, a show, when he could so easily rip Daniel's mind to shreds using their bond alone.

"Don't bother, Daniel. You may be stronger than me, but we both know you aren't strong enough to kill me."

Daniel crumpled to the floor with a thud as he desperately clutched the stone with his hands.

"Don't do this, Evander. Please-" The desperation in his voice was potent and rich, an unusual inflection that he didn't use, even in the face of his worst enemies.

"You have given me no other choice, Daniel. I truly am sorry, but I need your magic if I am to build a new world. And since you won't help me-"

Evander slowly raised his palms towards Daniel's body. As he drew the last droplets of strength from their fading bond, he took his time to fully absorb the scene in front of him. Almost, Evander thought to himself, as he felt the surge of power from Daniel.

Daniel's head was faced towards the wall, away from Evander, when he closed his eyes. He squeezed the small, gray stone tightly with both hands as he imagined his power leaving him. It would flow through Evander, making Evander temporarily stronger, temporarily satiated, until the power became too much. In a burst of light, every drop of magic would leave Evander's body, including his own, and be locked in the stone.

Only a blood heir could access a magic-bound object and that would have to be assurance enough. After it was done, only his daughter would have access to the magic: not Evander or Avarice.

"Forgive me, Emily," Daniel whispered, as he felt his magic drain away.

Almost, Evander repeated to himself. The power was like cool air on a summer's eve, pleasant and necessary. He drank in Daniel's magic, thrilled with his newfound strength. He felt the energy spreading through his veins like wildfire, uncontrollable and unstoppable. He felt invincible.

Daniel silently observed Evander as he grew stronger, absorbing his magic like a sponge. It was disconcerting, knowing what Evander could do in that moment with so much power, even though he knew it was only temporary. With satisfaction and a sigh of relief, Daniel watched as Evander's body finally went limp.

For every new drop of magic Daniel had given him, two were taken. Then three, then four, then five . . . drops safely tucked away and transferred in the stone. Within seconds, Evander was just as weak and crippled as Daniel. Powerless.
Indiscreet and small, a gray stone briefly glowed underneath Daniel's palm. Evander glared at the blue light and charged.

"It's too late, Evander. It's gone, now. All of it." Daniel clutched his stomach with his hands, as he pushed himself into a sitting position. "If you want it, come take it."

Evander drew his sword from the sheath that hung at his waist and pointed it at Daniel's throat. "You never could do things my way, could you?" He pressed the blade hard against Daniel's throat. A thin ribbon of blood began to drip down Daniel's neck.

"It wouldn't be right if I did, Evander."

"Liar!" Evander screamed as he dug the sword deeper into Daniel's throat. Rough coughs echoed from Daniel's lips, splattering blood across the dark stone.

"Do-it." Daniel choked out in between spurts of blood. His eyes never wavered as he glared daggers into a stranger's eyes.

"Fine."

Evander drew sword back, away from Daniel's neck, sucking in a mouthful of air, before he thrust the blade through Daniel's heart. Cold, bitter pleasure rang through him as he watched the light finally leave Daniel's eyes. Traitor. The word sounded wrong in Evander's warped mind, yet he couldn't seem to find a suitable replacement. Oh well, he thought, stepping over Daniel's body.

Not caring to be gentle, Evander pried Daniel's cooling fingers away from the glistening stone.

"Finally," Evander said as he rolled the stone between his two fingers.
]