Eye

Ensismalus

The shapes in front of Gareth rippled; he spun, his grip tightening on the sword–Ensismalus. “Who’s there?”

“This way.” The shapes giggled and merged together, almost forming a complete picture, but still too blurry for Gareth to figure out who it was.

Gareth stabbed at it; the figure dodged and laughed, though the mirth sounded like a scream.

“Gareth!” A voice echoed around him. “What are you doing?”

He wiped sweat off of his face; his fingers came back bloody. Who was a friend? Who was an enemy? He glanced down at his other hand. The sword, that was his ally. He knew that he could trust Ensismalus.

Something grabbed him from behind. The shape moved forward, threatening to consume him, trying to steal his sword. Gareth spun and swung Ensismalus wildly.

“Gareth!”

Who was calling his name?

Gareth rubbed his head; a headache was forming. Objects surrounded him. He couldn’t tell what they were. They all seemed to be laughing at him. He wanted to stab them, make them feel his wrath, his power. They would regret crossing him.

Someone slapped him across the face. The images flickered. An invisible hand forced liquid down his throat. Purifying fire lit in his stomach and heated like a bomb threatening to explode. Gareth dropped Ensismalus and clutched his abdomen.

The picture shattered.

Gareth collapsed on the ground, his whole body shaking with racking coughs. “Jehan? Is that you?”

As his vision cleared, the person standing in front of him also solidified. “Yes.” His weary tone cut through the fog in Gareth’s mind.

“W-what was I doing?”

Jehan sat on his knees. “Do you think you can get to the chair?” Without waiting for an answer he helped Gareth onto the furniture and handed him the glass. “Drink more of this.” He watched Gareth as the boy drank the cup, his eyes fiery with wrath. “You know what you were doing.”

Gareth flexed his right hand, missing the familiar weight of Ensismalus already. “I don’t know why it keeps happening.”

“The sword is too powerful for you!” Jehan threw his arms up in frustration. “It’s consuming your mind because you’re not strong enough to control it. The king should have never gifted you such an object.”

“But I saved his daughter.” Gareth smiled proudly. “I deserved it.”

Jehan shook his head. “It’s questionable whether anyone alive can control it, let alone deserve it.” He bowed his head. “You almost killed your mother this time.”

Gareth stared at him in horror. “W-what? How?”

“She won’t see you until you rid yourself of Ensismalus. Your siblings and her are packing right now. I don’t blame her; her priority is to keep her family safe. You’re going to murder a town unless you recognize that you are not fit for this sword.”

“Am I not her family?”

“This is her way of protecting you too.” Jehan ran his hand through his hair with a rueful smile. “Truth be told, by destroying Ensismalus you’ll be saving my life too. I’m not allowed to return you until we’ve destroyed the thing.”

Gareth stared at him. “You’re serious? She’s serious? Come on; Mom’s irrationally scared right now. When she sees that I just need to learn how to control it and it is easy to do, she’ll be fine.”

“I told her all that and she is not changing her mind. I’m not going to tell her again because I agree with her.”

Gareth leaned against the fireplace, watching the flames dance their choreographed steps. What could he do? He couldn’t destroy Ensismalus; it was a waste of power, a waste of potential. He could do so much with it. There was nothing wrong with it; he just had to figure out how to use it without getting such weird dreams. He shivered. He was almost there, almost strong enough to control the sword. He just had to prove it to Jehan. What if he agreed to destroy Ensismalus? Surely within that time he would be able to control it.

“Okay,” he sighed. “I’ll do it.”

Jehan narrowed his eyes. “Why did you change your mind so quickly?”

“You’re right. Ensismalus grabs me and I can’t untangle myself from its fist.” Gareth laughed nervously. “I don’t know why I was protecting it in the first place. Where can we destroy it?”

“We need to find Oculus.”

“You’re joking.” Gareth could barely breathe.

“Do I look like I am?”

“How are we supposed to find him? He’s, uh, not exactly the easiest person to find. Especially if you’re looking for him.”

“There’s only one person who keeps constant tabs on him.”

Gareth lost the little bit of breath that he had left. “Are you trying to kill us? No one has returned unscarred from an interview with him.”

Jehan scratched his ear. “Well, I’ve already asked him to come. He should be here in a few minutes.”

“So I didn’t have a choice in returning Ensismalus.”

“I thought that if you were still on the fence when he came, a deal with him would motivate you to get rid of it.”

“Any suggestions for surviving this interview? Have you even talked to him before?”

Jehan cracked his knuckles. “Once.”

Gareth waited for a response. “And…”

“He was civil. I got what I wanted. I don’t spew frogs every time I speak or erupt in boils when I drink water so I’d call that a successful meeting.”

The room began to tremble slightly. Gareth grabbed the fireplace for stability. It broke off into clay pieces. “What’s happening?”

“It’s an illusion. He should be containing us in a bubble now.”

“He’s probably trapping us to force obedience in whatever he wants us to do.”

Jehan shook his head. “Consequences of keeping track of Oculus all the time. I wouldn’t recommend it.”

Gareth laughed bitterly. “As if I need the caution.”

A sphere rose around them. Gareth’s fingers rested on the border. With a grunt he pulled them back. “Ouch! That’s colder than Mom’s stare but hotter than anything I’ve ever touched. How does he do that?”

“It’s an art.” The voice crawled up his spine and dug its teeth into his neck.

Gareth jumped and turned to face Abaddon. His teeth tightened in surprise.

The man was falling apart. His ear swung by its earlobe, his lips flopped about, pieces of skin bounced whenever he moved. His fingers wiggled with incredible agility since the bones were completely broken. His teeth rebounded off of each other. Everything was holding on by a thread

Except his eyes. His eyes were a burning sea of lava, roiling, steaming, consuming everything in its path. Cracked and hard, like charcoal. Gareth fought the urge to ignite and combust right there.

“Long time no see.” How could Jehan talk with such calmness? Gareth, however, was thankful as Abaddon’s attention diverted away from him.

“Yes, it has been.” Abaddon’s voice rasped and threatened to die after uttering another word. It somehow managed to continue, though. “I see that your bargain has turned out well. I never expected such success for this man.” His attention returned to Gareth. “But my expectations were overturned.”

Gareth tried to organize his face, confusing clouding his mind. But then the words began to saturate through his clay-like thoughts.

Jehan had made the deal around him! But what was that supposed to mean? Gareth shook his head. He had bigger things to worry about.

“What do you want this time?”

“Where is Oculus?”

Abaddon laughed. “I’m glad you’re in a good mood.” He slammed the table and it withered to ash under his fingers. “But I’m not, so spill the truth.”

Jehan smiled calmly. “That is the truth. I want to know where Oculus is and I know that you know where he is. You tracking?”

Abaddon gritted his teeth. “Yes. You get the award for the most harebrained question I’ve ever been asked. And believe me, that’s impressive. Crazy people amuse themselves by calling me. Usually they receive an early death which is what most of them want.”

“I don’t intend to die and I want to see Oculus.”

“You’re serious.” At Jehan’s look he shrugged. “What do I get out of this deal?”

“The good feeling that you’ve done the right thing by someone for once in your life.”

“I’m told that’s not a great feeling so I think I’ll skip it. Thanks though.” His eyes sharpened and he turned to Gareth. “You know what I want?”

Gareth shook his head frantically.

“To shake your hand.”

Gareth winced. It could have been worse, but still. He shook hands with plenty of odd people although Abaddon definitely topped them all. He reached out his hand—

“Stop!” Jehan somehow managed to jump between them. He stared Abaddon in the eye. Gareth half expected him to become a pillar of flames.“Why do you want this?”

“Come on. Can’t I shake the hand of the boy who I begrudgingly helped bring to life. It’s a sense of fatherly pride, I guess.”

“You’re not my father.”

“Of course not.” Abaddon wrinkled his nose. “It’s a figure of speech. You see, this might be my one flaw: pride. I take pride in the things that I help bring to life. I promise to tell you where Oculus is if the boy shakes my hand.”

Gareth bit his lip and nodded at Jehan. “If you think it’s fine.”

Jehan rubbed his forehead. “Go ahead.”

Gareth reached out his trembling hand. He felt a magnetic pull draw it toward him. He struggled not to fight against it. The sensation felt like he was being dragged to the butcher’s shop to be slaughtered. The dislocated fingers inched nearer.

Suddenly Abaddon lunged forward and grabbed Gareth’s fingers. “No need to be so slow, son.”

Gareth bit his tongue. The man’s hand was wet and slimy, bringing disgusting pictures to his mind. With a few feeble shakes Gareth tried to pull away. Abaddon looked at the boy, his eyes burning his skull. “So quick to get away are we? I’m giving you precious information; humor me.”

Finally Abaddon let go and Gareth held his hand at arm’s length from the rest of his body. He did not want it to touch anything else until he could submit it to a thorough wash.

“There.” Jehan breathed more easily. “Where is Oculus?”

Abaddon passed Jehan a compass. “When you’re done with it, leave it somewhere and it will find its way back to me.” He shivered. “It always does. Why do you want to see him anyway?” His eyes rocketed to Ensismalus at Gareth’s side.

Jehan grunted. “Yeah, that’s it. But no need to broadcast it to the world.”

Abaddon’s lips curled. “I’ve known for a long time. Why would I blab now?”

“You’re a mystery to everyone I know except the Oculus. I’ve never been able to guess your motives.”

“Well, this visit has been a pleasant one but I think it is time for me to bid adieu and go my merry way.” With a wave, the man who was falling to pieces disappeared and with him the massive bubble that had encased the interview.

Gareth breathed fresh air deeply. He didn’t realize how suffocating that bubble had been until it was gone. With a start he ran to the kitchen sink and drowned his hand in water. The slime, however, resisted the water’s touch.

“You’ll need this.” Jehan drowned his hand in a vibrant orange soap. Gareth gritted his teeth as it stung, but the slime began to fall off.

“Thanks.” Gareth leaned against the sink. “When do we leave?”

“Now.”

Gareth laughed. “Do you even know how to use it?”

Jehan flipped the compass over in his hand. “How hard is it to learn?”

“Why don’t you take that approach with me and the sword?”

“Because Ensismalus was never meant for you.”

Gareth grasped the handle, tempted to pull it out.

“Nope, we’re going now.” Jehan grabbed Gareth’s arm and spun the needle of the compass.

“What—”

“Don’t ask me questions; concentration is crucial.”

The room began to fall apart. First the living room faded to pieces, then the floor travelled toward them, rippling like a snake ready to strike. Gareth stumbled backward to avoid falling into the void, only to find that he couldn’t move. “Jehan?”

“Quiet.”

With a whoosh of air Jehan and Gareth fell into darkness.

When Gareth awoke the first thing he did was feel for his sword. It was still there. His vision responded soon after. Lifting his head, he tried to grasp where he was. Before and behind, everything had an orange tinge to it. Almost like a desert but it was the lushest landscape that he had ever looked upon. Flowers waved in the distance, the grass danced happily, orange birds chattered among themselves, getting ready to go to bed. An owl hooted sleepily to itself as it tried to wake up.

The sore thumb in the picture was a chasm in the earth’s surface. Gareth tiptoed to the edge, curious about what lay inside. He stumbled backward, his face on fire. It was a pit of rippling, blazing lava.

“Where are we?” Gareth gasped in amazement.

“How should I know? The Oculus chooses where he wants to stay. We’re lucky that he isn’t staying in the ocean right now. He can breathe underwater.”

Gareth frowned. Jehan didn’t seem to be having any fun in this experience. He was straight to business, intent on returning the sword. And Gareth knew that he would easily handle it now. If he could touch Abaddon’s hand without getting sick he could do anything. “Where is the Oculus?”

Jehan shrugged. “He’ll show up. He knows that we’re here.”

Gareth’s hand fingered the sword. Now would be a good time.

Almost without his bidding the sword jumped from its sheath into his hand.

“Gareth, no!” Jehan lunged toward him.

Something blurred in the distance. Gareth squinted. What was it? Images began to play in his mind. No! He had control over Ensismalus; he could handle this.

“Oculus!” Jehan yelled. “Take it from him.”

A voice echoed behind Gareth. “I can’t unless he wants me too.”

The blur in the distances stiffened and formed.

Abaddon.

And he too now had a sword.

“Am I seeing things?” Gareth’s voice cracked only slightly.

Jehan stared into the distance, his body taunt. He shook his head. “Nope. He brought back Speculi. I should have known.”

“How did he get it?”

“Your touch. Speculi was given to you; the touch of the chosen can bring back the sword’s mirror. It’s the only thing that brings Ensismalus to its knees.”

“But they’re equal, right?”

Jehan shrugged. “I-I think so.”

“Gareth, come and rescue your family!” Abaddon yelled.

Red edged into Gareth’s vision. “What?”

“I have your family.”

The scream of Gareth’s mother echoed through his mind.

Someone grabbed his shoulder. Gareth spun, Ensismalus at the ready.

“Gareth, it’s me!” Jehan blurred in his vision. “Give the sword to the Oculus and he will take care of your family. You can’t control Ensismalus; at worst you’ll—”

“I won’t kill my family!” Gareth pulled away from Jehan and ran toward Abaddon. Stumbling around the blurred objects, he didn’t realize how close he came to impailing himself multiple times.

“You want to fight?” Abaddon gritted his teeth in a weird grin.

“You’re forcing me to.”

“Gareth.” A voice whispered in the back of his head. “Give it to me. You can’t control it.”

Gareth saw the Oculus somehow in his mind’s eye. The old man bent beneath the weight of the air. “Ha, yeah right. If I can’t then what do you think you can do?” His words scratched something in the back of his mind. Should he have said that?

Abaddon swung at him.

Gareth lunged back. A dull clang echoed, bruising his wrist. His eyes widened in terror. This was the first time something had stood up to Ensismalus. What was he supposed to do?

Abaddon launched a parry of attacks. Left, right, right under his nose, a gaping scratch on his hand, a slice into his side.

Gareth stabbed in desperation. A scream ripped the air. “Mom.” He dropped his sword in horror. Her image faded from his eyes, writhing in pain.

“Gareth.” Oculus tried once again.

“Stop it, you’re distracting me.”

“Your siblings are next. “

Gareth’s hands trembled so badly that he worried he would drop Ensismalus. It clung to his hand in a glue-like grip. Abaddon attacked him again. The swords flashed. How could he keep going?

But Ensismalus was most capable in his hand. Gareth’s gaze steeled. He had control. This was his chance to prove his power to Jehan.

His strikes began to burn with fire.

“Good, good.” Abaddon gritted his teeth.

Wait, but why was he happy?

Sweat curled into Gareth’s eyes. Forward, backward, ducking. His moves became more desperate, parrying much too close to death.

A scream. The cry of his brother. A body faded from his sight.

Gareth froze. No, wait, what happened?

“Gareth?”

A blade of pain sliced deep into Gareth’s leg. He stumbled to the ground, blind with confusion and pain. “Oculus, take it!”

Ensismalus clung to his hand. Something began to pull. Gareth gritted his teeth and scurried backward and Abaddon launched toward him. With a wrench Ensismalus pulled away along with a good amount of the skin on Gareth’s hand.

His eyes dimming in fireworks of pain, Gareth watched as Oculus descended on Abaddon, Ensismalus gleaming with subdued power that it had never possessed at Gareth’s side. The last thing he saw was Abaddon’s head rolling into the lake of fire. With a flash of steel, both swords followed suit. Everything went black.

Gareth heard voices but desperately wanted to remain in the clutch of rest a little longer. The bed was so comfortable and his hand throbbed only slightly. Best of all, everything was still. He was still.

“Gareth?”

Gareth cracked an eye open. “What happened?” Gareth jumped up. “My family?”

“They’re fine.” Jehan grinned. “It was only images that Abaddon tried to disarm you with.”

Gareth sank back. “Oh good. And everything else?”

“All is well.”

Gareth heard the familiar delighted shrieks of his sisters, his brother’s quick footsteps, and his mother’s scolding voice come closer. The doorknob turned.

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