Curseborn Saga - Fade to Black Read Online Free Page B

tried to make sense of Ronin’s escape. He had no idea what was going on, or how to keep up with how Storm was acting, but he knew one thing. They had come close, but in their confidence they had become overzealous, not realizing that Storm would have to release one of Ronin’s arms in order to grasp the bell. Caim lowered his hands before him, shaking tremendously, and a great anger came over him just as he felt a devastating blow strike the back of his head.
    “A valiant effort …” were the last words he heard as all faded to black.

II – The End of the World

    A lthough Caim could not see or move, he could feel. A great cold lay beneath him, yet he was surrounded by warmth. Hazily he opened his eyes. A few feet before him something black and crumpled lay on the ice. Fire rose around the figure and Caim realized it was Storm on the ground.
    He crawled toward his brother. The world around him was crumbling as meteors struck the ice around them, crushing the stability of the ground and his spirit with it.
    “Storm …” Caim thought he screamed but he heard only a whisper. Lifting himself up, he found that Storm’s eyes were wide open, staring up into the sky, and for a moment, he thought his brother had died. Placing his palm down, Caim felt a sudden liquid warmth and turned his eyes to the ice, realizing that his brother lay in a deep puddle of blood.
    “Sorry … Caim … I messed up our chance”
    “We have to go, Storm … you’ll die if we stay here any longer.”
    Storm was quiet while he lifted himself up. Blood spilled forth from the sword still notched into his ribs and his muscles contracted violently as he tried to stand. Yet he did not falter. One finger at a time, one hand first and then the next, Storm stood to his feet, his body trembling. Caim gazed upon his brother, standing in a coat of blood, with a long silver blade protruding from his stomach. A memento of their grandfather’s victory.
    “No, Caim …” said Storm. “We’ve … lost this fight too many times. I’m so tired of losing to him … our entire childhood we spilt blood in this world, and never once have we been this close. We must fight on, no matter what. I don’t care if it looks hopeless.” Deep down, Storm couldn’t decide if he really believed they could win or not. Is this all that am? Storm thought. Is this my limit?
    A booming voice broke their concentration as a figure came before them in the sky. “A shame to have come so far, only to grow impatient in the final moment.” The long black cloak of Ronin blew fiercely in the wind as Caim’s eyes locked on the blade in his hand. It was his own Fallblade. He quickly searched the ground around him. Sure enough, he had lost his sword. Everything seemed to be crumbling around them. Defeat was closing in around them as night on dusk.
    “Hey!” screamed Caim. “Give that back, you thief!”
    Caim clenched his fists tightly and Storm spit on the ground at their grandfather’s words.
    “It would seem that I have underestimated you two,” Ronin said. “Although I should have been keener to the signs. No matter. Storm can no longer fight, and I think we both understand what happens when one of you attempts to fight one whose strength lies in a different realm than your own. It would seem you have reached the pinnacle of your strength as swordsmen.”
    “Curse you, old man,” Storm spit. “Good thing you reached your pinnacle like a thousand cycles ago!”
    Ronin grinned. “Curse me as much as you like – although I am already cursed as you two are. Caim, Storm, you will never have the true Soul of the Swordsman. Now is the time for you to retreat. That is, if you value your lives, for if you stay and attempt to fight me as you are now, Death is the only thing you will find.”
    “Maybe Death is what we seek,” answered Storm. “Maybe Death is better than losing to you again.” A blast of fire and ice erupted behind him, bringing forth strong winds.
    Caim’s