FortuneCraft in Apocalypse

Betrayal

Draven peered at the sky. He realized then that evening had come, but because of Elena’s power. She was able to manipulate the elements just a little more than what it was. Now darkness panned over them, starless and close. It felt as though he would be able to reach it if he just stood just a bit.

“What are you doing?” Leo asked.

Draven looked down from the sky to her. Yes, what was she doing? Her smile was maniacal, almost like she had these whole things planned inside her head and she couldn’t wait for them to hear it.

“My friend would be required to speak with Draven alone,” Elena said and looked pointedly at Leo. ‘If you can just give us a moment.”

Leo peered around her shoulders and saw only the dark woods behind her, which seemed to turn darker each second. “I don’t see any friends of yours.”

Draven felt wrong, but he didn’t exactly know where the feeling came from, or its purpose. Naturally, seeing Elena’s powers were not exactly charming, yet it felt as though there was something more he couldn’t just pinpoint. Plus, he didn’t see her arriving with any friend whatsoever.

“Where is this friend of yours?” he asked.

“She would like to speak with you alone,” Elena answered. “Leo, excuse us.”

Leo frowned. He wanted to argue, but Elena glared at him so much that he backed up. He laughed nervously and raised a hand to the sky.

“Okay, okay. I think I need to ease myself or something.”

“Great.”

“Is it about the map?” Draven asked just before Leo could leave. “Does she have it? How did you meet her so fast? Didn’t you say it would take us an hour? And why is she hiding her face by the way?”

Leo paused in his movement. Elena was obviously annoyed by these questions, and Draven felt bad for a moment. It looked as though he didn’t trust her and was treating her like a stranger, but at the same time he didn’t exactly understand why she was sending Leo away.

“My friend is a sort of sorceress,” Elena deadpanned. “She has a prophecy about your life for your ears alone, so if you want Leo to stay and listen, that’s on you.”

Draven was stunned. Leo laughed nervously again. “What’s the fuss about? I just need to ease myself, that’s all.” He winked at Draven. “Make it fast, man.” And with that, he bounced out and into the forest.

Elena took a step towards Draven and he straightened. He expected the friend of hers to come out any time soon, now that Leo was gone. Instead it was just Elena approaching him with a serious look on her face.

“Where is this friend of yours?” Draven asked again.

Elena stopped moving. “There is no friend.”

“What?”

“There is no friend, Draven, don’t be stupid.” She heaved a sigh. “I sent Leo away because I needed to speak with you alone.”

He coughed self consciously. “Okay, okay. What do you want to talk about?”

She scoffed a laugh, one side of her brows raised. “Talk? Oh no I don’t want to talk with you, Draven. I want to erase you.”

In a flash, she reached for the hilt of her sword and pulled it from its scabbard. Its blue colour was dull in the dark. Draven stared at it, numb. He hadn’t been able to fully acknowledge what he was seeing. He raised his eyes from the sword and into Elena’s face, realising then that she was fast enough to truly kill him. What would happen to him if he was killed in the game?

“What are you doing?” he asked finally.

She still had that annoying smile on her face. “What am I doing? What am I doing, Draven?”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t it obvious? I like Leo and I sent him away so I could do away with you.”

“And what will be your excuse if he asks, huh? What will you tell him if he notices that I am gone?”

She shrugged. “I’m sure he will ask after you. I will simply say that my friend took you away for more prophesying.”

“He isn’t going to believe that.”

“Who cares what he believes I certainly don’t.” She laughed a short laugh. “I will tell him what I must and he will come with him. When I have his piece of the map, I will do away with him.”

Draven glanced down at Leo’s bag that he left behind. He knew the map was in there; Leo didn’t exactly like carrying anything on his body so he kept it in the bag. Elena followed his eyes to the bag and smiled. Before he could snatch it, she drew him closer with the effect of her power, and away from the bag.

“You are too smart, Draven, too competitive,” she studied his features. “If you were half as dumb as Leo, then this would all go very smoothly and I won’t have to kill any one of us.”

His voice was filled with hope when he spoke next. “So you won’t kill us?”

“I have to,” she said, shocked that he asked such a question. “How else am I going to increase my XP? You would have to die, Draven.”

She raised her hand, now tired of the questions and ready to execute him. The stronghold of her power kept him in a chokehold, and Draven could only watch helplessly as she raised her hand towards him. 

“Elena!” Leo yelled. He had just come into the scene to see her readying to strike down Draven.

Elena turned, startled. Draven felt the hold of her power leave him as she focused entirely on Leo. It all happened in a flash of a moment. She turned, mistakenly directing her power to him. The full brunt of it hit Leo straight in the chest, and he disappeared in a puff of smoke.

He was dead, Draven suddenly realized. She had killed him.

Elena turned back towards Draven, then saw that he was gone.