The Butterfly Girl: A Star is Born

#123 Where Darkness Dwells

[Sophia]

The next thing I notice is my own breathing. Suddenly gasping and opening my eyes only to remain blind within the darkness. I felt my heart racing inside me as I noticed my arms were bound behind my back and both my wings were extended and fully exposed. But I wasn't bound by any rope or chain. Something tight, cold and... sticky. I could only assume that it was that black, inky substance we've seen so much of before that had me hanging from somewhere and left me completely immobile. No matter where I looked, I really couldn't see a thing. My eyes couldn't adjust to this kind of darkness. I began to struggle and try to pull my arms out, but this stuff was thick. I couldn't even shrug my own shoulders. Bending my wings and curling my feathers were no use either. The inky residue had me trapped like a fly in a sticky trap. I sighed in frustration and told myself not to panic. I had to get out of this.

I felt something move in the darkness and I froze. Something shifting before my eyes, even though I was still blind. I lightly gasped when I saw the Demon's eyes blink before me. I wanted to avoid its glaring eyes, but it was the only thing I could see. There wasn't anything else around to focus my sights upon to distract my fear.
"Oh please, don't mind me. Return to your dreams if you find that more comfortable, I was merely pondering what my next move should be." the Demon spoke to me in a low tone, his eyes turning and paying little attention to me. I felt something rise up within my chest and I stared at it with a heavy glare.
"What do you want from me?"
"If you were any smarter than your companions, you would know that I would never reveal such information to you. However I am curious as to what you'll do next to escape me again. I doubt that you will, but your actions intrigue me..."
I heard it shift somewhere else as the eyes disappeared. I knew that it hadn't left me but I refused to focus on it. I glanced back at its eyes every so often because it was the only thing I could see within the darkness. I hated to see them, but I had to focus my eyes on something.
"Your friend's attempt at rescue was braver than anything you've done. I admit I... underestimated their strength. But if you hoped they would take you back to the light, I can assure you that you won't see it for a long time."
Something swept around me, making me flinch and I shut my eyes tight. I know I've said this before, but the darkness within me wasn't as bad as the darkness around me. I just couldn't seem to open them again. I couldn't think of anything to say and I debated whether I should say something. If I couldn't find a way out of this, then I doubted my words could be much of a key to escape.
"Your friend is gone, your companions are scattered, and you... are all that's left. And there is nothing you can do to flee from me this time."

Yeah, that's what they all say. I know better though, the Twins are probably on their way right now with Apollo and Teri and with their combined power, we'll be outta here before the first star appears in the sky.
As I thought about that, I quietly scoffed. Thinking that the Demon couldn't hear my invisible plotting.
"You really think there is a reason for you to be saved? There's no point in anyone trying to save you if you can't even save yourself. All you've ever done is get yourself into trouble, not even standing up to assist your companions when they're in very clear danger. If you can't even get yourself out of danger as easily as you find it, then the title of defective paladin would be more fitting than a 'good friend'."
I listened to it as its voice circled around my head. I wish I could tune out its voice as easily as I can in any conversation. But I couldn't help understanding each and every word. I saw nothing but everything I heard was just so loud. Its very tone making my ears ring painfully and I wished for it to stop, or at least politely take it down a couple of notches. I'm not sure what I would rather have fail me first, my hearing or my sight.
And yet... its words somehow protruded into my mind. Did I dare begin to think that it was... right in some way?
Memories of brief moments from my past flashed before me. As much as I would rather focus upon something instead of being lost in nothing, I couldn't let it get to me now.
"Then... if you really think no one's coming to save me, then what are you gonna do to me?" I boldly asked. The Demon's eyes flashed at me and I averted my gaze as best as I could.
"If all you want is me, then why are you even talking about them? If you're expecting me to be rescued, then what's the point in trying to escape? Why are you trying to kill them all and spare me? What makes me so special?"
I glanced back a few times to see the eyes slowly backing away from me. Had I backed it into a corner with my words? Or was it surprised that I managed to utter a sentence with more than ten words? Something rushed towards me and my gaze was filled with nothing but black and red.
"Because you and your so called 'friends' are all that remains of something very ancient from a lifetime I had once witnessed. You are the only thing strong enough to even witness myself. The ancient beings of that previous lifetime possessed a power that I have been searching for and my discoveries have shown that there are remnants of that power hidden somewhere here in this maze of an old and lost civilization. Finding it wasn't as difficult as you may think. Searching for a key to unlock that power... was the more challenging part."
Something began to illuminate from below the Demon's eyes and it held the light right in front of mine.
My crystal gem.
Glowing faintly blue within the surrounding black and red. My eyes widened at the sight of it and something within me sank.
"And you... a defective paladin of all things... have been wielding this key the entire time. This has the capability to do so much more than simply become a weapon of defense. And how lucky you are to be the first and only being to witness it."

Everything returned to silent black and I began to breathe heavily. Shivering as the cold ink wrapped around me and continued to keep me stuck. I was blind once again. I was afraid to move. I was afraid to think. The only thing I thought... the one thing I hoped for... was for something else to come find me.