Arikh, Part 2

“Arikh!” I cried out with joy and desperation, running as best I could in the dim light of the stars. But the fel beast before me had stolen the form of my beloved. Ice flowed through my veins as I gazed upon the cruel parody of his handsome face. It smiled at me, this phantom, this doppelganger. Its sallow lips pulled away from its gaunt cheeks, exposing a long, foul grin of cracked and pointed teeth. As it stretched out its arms to embrace me I froze. I lost the will to run, the will to live! That's when I heard it—the cruelest sound I shall ever hear. “No!” came Shukri's voice, “Take me! Take me instead!” The creature turned its gaze past me into the dark. I collapsed, pulling my knees to my chest, too frightened even to breathe.