Marked Souls

Hatchling

The black mists continued billowing out of Kaleb's body and sprawling across the ground in no particular direction. When the mists stopped, Kaleb started gagging doubled over like he was going to puke. To everyone's horror, a fist sized, pitch black crystal emerged from his throat with a squelching noise.

"Ugh! Never exit my body like that again! Do you know how painful that was?!" Kaleb spoke to the crystal that had floated off the ground into the center of the thin cloud of mist. A thin, yet resonate and evil voice came from the cloud saying,

"Wakaka, do you think I would pay back trickery with kindness?...is this the meal you promised me?"

Those who were on the cliff were petrified with fear and confusion. Just as they realized that they should be running, Kaleb ordered the fog with an evil glint in his eyes saying,

"KILL THEM!"

"Kyahaha, of course...'master'!"

The evil looking cloud said sarcastically, but from the sound of its voice, you could tell it enjoyed getting orders to be ruthless.

The cloud suddenly lurched toward the crowd and enveloped them. Berk was holding his son in front of everyone else, so he was surrounded by the deathly mists first. He started screaming as he watched his son be touched by the mist and immediately corrode into black sludge that slid out of his arms. A few seconds later the chunks of sludge disappeared into ashes and melded with the fog, making it slightly darker. Berk looked to the others, desperation filling his gaze, but many of those he was looking to for help had already started liquefying into a black puddle! Just as half the crowd was absorbed into the cloud, Berk heard a voice whisper into his ear,

"Ah, it seems we have something a little harder to digest."

Most of the people left from the crowd were talented and older people. This showed that the higher ones attunement, the harder it was for the mists to kill you. Just as they thought they could escape, the crystal shot through the torso of Berk followed by a green tail of light. They watched as the complicated characters and geometric shapes lifted off his body and followed the tail of light into the crystal. The mist immediately became darker and the crystal flew straight at the next closest mage. The mist and crystal flew around impaling all who were left. A few breaths was all the time it took for the entire cliff crowded with people, to be reduced to a pile of mummified bodies that were also slowly turning into mist and blending with the cloud. The cloud was much thicker, and the crystal now seemed to absorb even the light that once reflected on its glassy body. The voice seemed deep, overbearing and extremely evil now when he spoke to Kaleb and said,

"Good meal! Soft appetizers well aged main course... As agreed, even though I can't eat you, if you need out of a jam and there is food nearby...just summon me. We can't make a true soul contract until you reach the next realm, but at least I'm not being knawed on by an immortal anymore. I thought was a goner when you started eating on me too..."

"AAAHHRG!" A strange scream echoed from the near city.

"Do you have space for more in there?" Kaleb anxiously asked eyeing the half eroded mummies still lying about.

"Not really, it would take me more than a day to absorb the bodies here now...I only formed sentience a century ago, you can't expect miracles! Why do you ask?" The fog spoke.

"Then you better hurry up and take what you can, we are about to have uninvited company." Kaleb said.

He darted around and pulled important items out of the cloth tatters and pouches of the corpses. On Berk they came across a wonderful thing. On Berk's right middle finger, there was an enchanted ring, and when Kaleb forced natural energy into it, he found that there was space inside enough to fit a small house inside! This was a super rare treasure for the Harlequin Clan and the only one who could have one this big was definitely the head of the clan. Though Kaleb had his azure dragon ring, he figured it would look better to have a normal one to attract less attention. An explosion sounded off in the distance causing Kaleb to jump. He shoved everything he could get his hands on into the ring, shoved it on his child-like thumb, and dashed for the cliff.