18. Cassia

18

CASSIA

I can't believe my eyes. Gorthak is here, in the flesh, standing before me like a warrior from a dream. He's even more terrifying and magnificent than I remember, his muscles rippling with every movement, his battle-axe gleaming with fresh blood.

The dark elves who were tormenting me only moments ago are now lying in a heap on the floor, their bodies twisted and broken. Gorthak's eyes are blazing with fury as he delivers a warning to the remaining elves.

"Leave now, and I may let you live," he growls, his voice deep and menacing.

But the elves only laugh, their eyes glinting with malice. They think they can take on Gorthak and his fellow orcs, but they have no idea what they're up against.

With a roar, Gorthak charges at the elves, his axe slicing through the air with deadly precision. The elves try to fight back, but they're no match for Gorthak's strength and skill. Within moments, they're lying on the ground, their bodies mangled and lifeless.

Gorthak strides over to me, his eyes softening as he takes in my battered and bruised form. He reaches out a hand, and I take it, feeling a surge of warmth and safety wash over me.

"Cassia," he murmurs, his voice barely above a whisper.

I throw my arms around him, sobbing with relief and joy. He's real. He's here. He's my person.

"I can die happy now," I whisper, my voice muffled against his chest.

Gorthak growls, his arms tightening around me. "You will not be dying," he says fiercely.

But before we can savor the moment, the Master appears, his eyes glowing with dark magic. He begins raising the dead to fight against Gorthak and the other orcs.

Gorthak sets me down gently, cupping my chin and gazing into my eyes. Eyes that once I might have said were black. But they are so much more than that. They are deep with warmth, the hints of brown lighting up as he looks at me in a way only he ever has.

With that, he joins the other orcs, his axe swinging in a deadly arc as he fights against the corpses and dark elves that pour into the room. I watch in awe, my heart swelling with pride and love.

The undead dark elves advance, their eyes burning with a sickening, unnatural light. I let out a bloodcurdling scream, my heart racing as adrenaline surges through my veins. There's no time to process what's happening, no time to think.

But then, in an instant, Gorthak appears. He roars ferociously, his voice echoing through the room as he intercepts the elves. With a strength that seems almost superhuman, he grabs them by the throat and hurls them towards the window overlooking the shore. I watch in horror as they writhe and twist in his grasp, their bodies contorting in ways that defy logic.

More rush over, climbing him like he's the trunk of a tree. Their bodies latch onto him as he tries to force them off. There are too many. It's too late.

Gorthak's eyes meet mine for a brief moment before he pushes them out of the window. His expression is fierce, determined, and filled with an intensity that takes my breath away. He falls with them, his body crashing through the glass and sending shards flying in every direction.

I scream in agony, my knees buckling beneath me as I watch him plummet towards the jagged rocks below. The undead dark elves follow him, their bodies disintegrating as they hit the water. My heart feels like it's being ripped out of my chest.

"Gorthak!" I cry out, the sound nearly splitting my own eardrums.

I hear footsteps behind me and turn to see the Master approaching, his eyes glowing with dark magic. "You foolish girl," he sneers. "You think you can defeat me with brute force? I am the Master of this realm, and I will not be defeated so easily."

I look around the room, seeing the carnage, taking it all in. The orcs that came in with Gorthak look nearly as defeated as I am, brought to their knees.

Gorthak… my love, my future…

The Master's grip on my arm tightens as he yanks me to my feet. "You should have known better than to defy me, Cassia," he hisses, his voice low and menacing. "I can forgive you if you return to your cage and stop fighting against this."

I stare up at him, my heart pounding in my chest. I know what he's saying is true. I should have known better. But I can't go back to that cage. I won't let him put me in a cage again.

My eyes flicker to the side, and I see one of the orcs lying on the ground. His hair is dark and cut short, and there's a dagger sticking out of the meat of his side. Without thinking, I lunge forward and grab the knife.

The Master's eyes widen in shock as I turn back to him, the blade glinting in my hand. "No, Cassia!" he cries out, but it's too late. I plunge the knife into my stomach, feeling a searing pain as it slices through my flesh.

I fall to the floor, my vision blurring as I close my eyes. I can hear the Master screaming, but it sounds far away, like he's underwater. I hope that I'll be able to find Gorthak in the Abyss.

I hope that he'll be waiting for me.