Take Your Place

VOLUME 2: BECOME

If he weren’t Father’s right-hand man, Akaros would be dead. I clenched my fists, felt the nails bite my flesh. Akaros shook with laughter - but instead of retaliating, I pulled ragged, calming breaths through my burning throat.

“Stop holding yourself back, Desolation.” Akaros’ voice boomed through the featureless, black training room. I pressed my toes onto the smooth floor so I wouldn’t topple over. Every part of my body yearned to fight, and I poured all my anger into a fiery gaze. I could have unleashed the heat of a thousand suns upon him, but I didn’t - it would have been nothing to him, anyway.

“Yes, yes,” Akaros soothed, walking around me, sizing me up. “Use that rage, feed me your anger - Become.”

His command threatened to shake my conviction. My shadow-self strained within me, yearning to break free. And yet, I resisted.

Years of training, and still I resisted.