The Forsaken Hero

"Dammit," Sorrin spat, raising his sword. "Who are you?"

The man’s sadistic smile widened, and he threw back his cowl.

"Vithrass!" I gasped, a spike of fear stabbing through my heart.

"I told you we’d meet again, though not even I expected it to be so soon. Who’d have thought you’d be so foolish as to walk into such an obvious trap?"

I frantically looked around, my eyes darting from corner to corner, but there was nowhere to run. The only exits were trapdoors, which were now sealed with third-level spells. Given time, we would be able to break out, but time was a luxury we no longer had. The two Shadow Golems loomed over us, each nearly twenty feet tall. Their eyes smoldered with rage and destruction, their claws shining viciously in the dusty light.

"Ah, my dear Starlight," Vithrass crooned, "There’s no need to be afraid. I’ll take good care of you, once these vile humans are dead. The Joys call to you, and no matter how you try, they won’t be ignored."

"No, t-that not true. I’m free!" I cried, backing away from his horrible grin.

Sorrin leveled his sword at the grinning demonkin, eyes flashing dangerously. "Not another word, or I’ll cut your tongue from your mouth. We’ve already beaten you once, and there’s no reason we won’t do it again. This time, we won’t be so foolish as to let you escape."

"Brave words from an unchained slave, but are you truly as strong as you appear?" Vithrass asked. His eyes slid past Sorrin, onto Tana behind him. "Or are there... vulnerabilities?"

"Damn you, lay a finger on her, and I swear I’ll-"

The wind whistled as an arrow flew past him, burying itself in Vithrass’ shoulder. The demonkin grunted, spinning from the force of the blow.