Lillith

by Jaeger Mitchells

  “I have to ask,” I said, as he ran past me. “How come you’re so strong? I thought you were an ordinary soldier.”

  I was running next to him and flashed him a wicked grin. It wasn’t meant as an insult, I was just surprised.

  “There’s a lot about me that you don’t know. I hope to keep it that way, if at all possible,” he replied, and kicked it up a notch.

  “Whatever. At least we’ll have a chance to evacuate the guild, at least.”

  “And what about the others? You would let them all die, just like that?” the captain snapped back and fixed his glare on me.

  I shrugged. I’d prefer not having to do so, but I valued the guild much more than the other civilians. At least the Ithice people were very hard working in comparison to the ‘good establishments’ of Homitage.

  “We’ll do what we can, captain. But I’m not letting any of mine die to save the rich people. If we were to beat them, that would be a much better outcome, if you ask me.”

  The captain sighed and shook his head slowly. He seemed resigned to everything, but there was still a glint in his eye that said he’d die trying rather than accept it.

  “For twenty years have I served the guild and Homitage. And now someone comes and thinks they have the right to walk all over us? It’s not the rich people, Kane, it’s our blood and sweat, everything we’ve worked for. Don’t tell me your island can sustain itself without the help of outsiders?”

  I shrugged, hoping he’d still consider joining us.

  “More or less. We were about to figure things out, when we realized that we had to go see the master.”

  “Hmph. Took his resources, did you?”

  “Some of it, but not--”

  I was cut off as a high pitched noise assaulted what felt like our very minds. Without a way to stop it, I fell over and tumbled across the plain, slamming my head and wrists against rock after rock. A beam of black energy came straight at us. I had no way to evade, and neither did the captain. It struck his shoulder and ripped clean through it. He dropped like a sack of potatoes. My eyes traced the beam’s path and froze halfway. High in the air, a figure hovered. They were no more than a black dot in the distance, but I recognized her. My accursed mother was back.

  29

  She remained floating in mid-air as I stared back at her. She was too far away for me to see the expression on her face, but I knew she was staring right back at me. A rage was stirred up inside me from the helplessness I felt. She could finish us off from a mile, and she was letting us know that.

  “Are you… alive?” the captain asked as he tried to roll over to his side. He wasn’t making any progress, that much I could see. He’d been badly wounded, and I had no idea if he would make it.

  “Yeah. Let me help you up. My friends should be here soon, so hang in there,” I replied, trying to comfort the man.

  He coughed twice, and with the third, he spat blood out. His eyes were half vacant already. No, I wouldn’t let him just die like that. I pulled him up into a sitting position and positioned his bigger frame over my shoulder. It was touch and go, however. The shards from his armor kept stabbing at my shoulders and arm as I kept him steady.

  “T-Thanks, you rat. I’ve never… thought much of you, but… you’re decent, after all,” he barely wheezed.

  “Same goes for you,” I replied and tried to run as fast as I could with his weight slowing me down. “Say, how strong is that sword of yours?”

  The captain mumbled something incoherent and passed out. His breathing was shallow, and his heartbeat had slowed, but he was still alive. I prayed to whoever was listening that it would stay like that for a while longer.

  Homitage came quickly into view, as did the army we’d been fighting, the Kravnians not even three miles or so from the city. Archers and slingers lined the top of the wall. There were easily hundreds of them. It would seem that on top of the enemy mages, we would have to beat the legion as well. There were at least some nine or ten thousand of them left. Not even we could handle that much without dying in the process.

  I stopped just shy of the gate. The cogs and wheels slowly turned and opened the massive wooden doors. Behind them, I was amazed to see hundreds of armed men and women standing in lines. They weren't battle-hardened soldiers, but a civilian militia. I sighed and stepped forward, knowing very well how this was going to end for them if we failed.

  “Bring the captain to the healers!” I ordered and handed him off. Two particularly large men that looked almost identical nodded and carried him off. One gave him a piggyback ride, while the other cleared the way for his twin.

  “Kane!” Katya’s voice rang out from above. “What the hell was that black beam?”

  I looked up, only to catch myself grinning. She had put on a studded leather vest and something akin to short pants. The soldiers must have been peeking up under her dress and someone had complained about it. Ugh, so many eyes enjoying what was mine. I could have killed them then and there. Or maybe I was just making the problem worse than it was.

  “That was something very dangerous and nasty. It’s almost killed me once already,” I called back. “Any sign of Al and Lilith?”

  “Yep, they arrived a couple of minutes ago and went to check in with the guild master. They should be-- Oh wait, there they are,” she interrupted herself and pointed down the road. Alpha stormed down the street with Lilith atop him and Mathi behind them. The Harken looked even larger than I’d remembered seeing after he’d been turned.

  “Good,” I replied and walked past the throng of militia. They moved to the side instinctively to let me pass. Maybe it was because of the blood that covered me, or maybe it was because of the majestic scythe I held. Whatever the reason, I didn’t care.

  “Idiot. You could have gotten yourself killed,” Lilith said as she got off my wolf. “That was a high precision spell that focused energy in a tight line.”

  “Where were you to protect me, my queen?”

  She snorted and shook her head. It was unsightly, but cute in its own way.

  “Carrying your dog. He’s much heavier than he looks, I’d even say he weighs a ton after carrying him.”

  “Yeah, yeah. Thank you, my queen,” I replied and waved her off. She frowned and placed both hands on her hips. I knew I’d screwed up, so to make it up before she could throw a fit, I leaned in and pressed my lips against hers. They were cold and tasted like death. But I loved them anyway.

  “Don’t. We’ve got more important things to take care of. Once we’re done, though,” she said and leaned in to whisper, “I expect you to punish me hard if we survive today. I mean, if you survive today. I’m basically immortal, you see.”

  I stared coldly into her eyes and cupped her chin with my right hand.

  “Immortal, huh? No wonder you wanted me to make you gag, instead of Sophia. Very well. Once we’re done here, I’ll do just that.”

  Lilith’s eyes lit up as if I'd promised her the world. Was she really that wicked, to enjoy torture and pain more than anything else?

  “Thank you, master,” she purred and licked my lips before she unfurled her wings and floated up into the sky. I could see that something was off with her, but had no idea what it was. The way she looked at the crowd below was different, yet dangerous.

  “No funny business, you--”

  I wasn’t even able to finish my sentence before she pointed her palms at the militia. Tendrils shot out from her hands and slammed right into the crowd below. Over thirty of the thin, living things sucked the blood from their victims and sent it right up to Lilith. The situation became perilous very quickly, archers and slingers taking aim.

  “No! Don’t shoot!” I yelled. Alpha let out a deafening howl that made everyone think twice. “Lilith! Don’t drain anyone more than you need to. You understand me?” I ordered. She looked at me and winked before she withdrew the tendrils and started glowing with a bright red aura.

  “Don’t lag behind, master. Meet you at the front line,” sh
e said over our mental connection and took off toward the Kravnians.

  “Demons!”

  “It’s the end of the world!”

  “They’re here to eat our souls!”

  A chorus of screams and shouts rang out as Lilith disappeared from view. Who was I to blame them? I was her master, but they were… merely cattle to her. It was only logical that they were afraid of her. Of me.

  “Shit. I’m so tired of all this conflict and chaos. I haven’t even tested out my bed, for crying out loud!” I growled and scratched my head as I stormed over to Katya.

  “Kane?” she asked. “Don’t you think it would be a better idea if I went with you two? These people don’t look so friendly anymore.”

  I leaned in and put my arm around her, then whispered into her right ear.

  “My thoughts exactly. Hop on Al’s back. We’ll leave you somewhere you won’t be hurt.”

  Neither of the two protested. Before long, we exited the same gates I’d entered through not even twenty minutes ago. Then I stopped and noticed Mathi walking behind us. I’d totally forgotten about the oath he’d sworn.

  “How strong are you compared to Lilith?”

  Mathi stopped beside me and looked at his hands, then back to me.

  “Roughly speaking, if Lilith’s power is these two hands and ten fingers, then I’m about as strong as one of my nails.”

  “And how do you become stronger?” I asked, curiously. I knew time was pressing, but having this information could prove useful.

  “By drinking blood. She--Her highness told me that by drinking blood I’ll get stronger. There’s no end to the amount I can absorb. So the more blood I drain, the stronger I become.”

  “Hmm. I see. All right, then. Your duty today is to drain as many Kravnians of blood as possible.”

  Mathi looked at me strangely at first, but then his face broke out into a broad grin.

  “Yes, my lord!”

  “Lilith’s fighting alone up there. And losing badly from the look of it.”

  “Go,” Katya whispered and planted a kiss on my lips. “I’ll hide somewhere around here.”

  Al and I were there in less than a minute, and the sight that awaited us was gruesome, to say the least. Lilith’s torn wings were barely managing to keep her airborne. A multitude of arrows and the stubs of short throwing spears stuck out from her body as she lashed out with her whips at the crowd below.

  Hundreds lay dead, strewn around her. She really had done a number on the soldiers, and herself.

  “We’re here, my queen. Fall back and heal up,” I sent mentally as we crashed into the mass of soldiers.

  Lilith glanced my way, and let out a bloodcurdling scream. I fell off Al as my brain threatened to melt. All of the soldiers around me were either dead or unmoving. I crawled up and leaned against my wolf. He shrugged the effects of the scream off and got up to his feet lazily.

  “I’m sorry,” Lilith’s sweet, seductive voice whispered in my head. “The hundreds of years in my dormant state have whittled down my power. Don’t count on me returning any time soon.”

  I cursed under my breath and got to my feet. Thousands of soldiers did the same and then shook off their grogginess. Cassandra was floating high above them.

  30

  “Homitage will fall regardless,” Cassandra spoke, her voice loud and carrying far. "We can either destroy it or let it be as is it is now, under our rule. How we go about it, is up to you.” Her voice was as alluring as a snake’s hiss. It rubbed me the wrong way.

  “Soul Forge,” I replied and imagined the brutal battle scythe appearing in front of me. The now familiar shape calmed me enough that I was able to meet her eyes without trembling in fear. Kravnian soldiers backed away from us and created a half circle, afraid of provoking either of us.

  “I see. So you wish it to do the hard way?” she called.

  “And what’s the easy way?” I asked.

  “Give the town up, along with its supplies. Stop killing these men and women. They have families back home, waiting for them, you know?”

  I grit my teeth angrily. She dared to mock me about having a family? I breathed deeply, in and out, then shot my other half a glance.

  “What do you think?” I asked him mentally.

  “I doubt we have a real fighting chance against an army this vast, even with our power. We’re still mortal, after all.”

  “Yeah, I figured you’d be okay with whatever I chose.”

  “Then tell her our decision. I need rest.”

  I snorted at the wolf and shook my head. He sounded more and more human by the day. Not that I minded. It was good to have a loyal companion.

  “You’re one to talk about families. However, I know that you could kill me here and now, but how would that affect your plans? Homitage stays a colony of… my own kingdom. No one is to touch it or--”

  “What?” she asked, her face twisted in disgust. “Your kingdom? Don’t make me laugh!”

  I stood there, mouth wide open as she cut me off, but I remained silent. Something told me that I wouldn’t be disappointed if I did.

  “I don’t like her one bit,” Al said.

  “I’m glad we’re on the same page, then. Too bad she’s your relative as well.”

  Al gave me a flat stare, at which I couldn’t help but laugh.

  “You two really aren’t taking this situation seriously, are you? Very well then. Orobos! Rise!”

  Before any of us had the chance to even comprehend what she’d just said, the earth shook lightly. Within seconds, it turned into a tremor. The Kravnian soldiers scattered in all directions, but it was too late for them, as a monstrously large claw darted out of the earth and slammed down on a score of the soldiers. A second claw shot out moments after the first before a horse-like creature appeared out of the rent in the earth.

  Two pupil-less eyes found me without any difficulty. Pitch black skin, or something looking like armor, covered the fifty-foot creature’s body. It had two long legs which ended in massive hooves. Atop the head sat a horned crown. It looked like Astaroth had when I had seen him in my dreams, both hideous and dangerous.

  “If you beat Orobos, I will leave Homitage to you, my dear Kane!” she called out from afar. The creature called Orobos turned its head and looked for the origin of the voice, but since there was no one to be found around here, beside us and the dead soldiers, it was very obvious that we were its intended target.

  “Really?!” I almost shrieked. The thing looked absurdly dangerous and strong, while we… looked pitiful in comparison to a creature of its stature.

  “Duke Astaroth! Reveal yourself!” Orobos yelled and slammed his meaty fists together. A shockwave sent the Kravnian corpses flying. “It is me, Prince Orobos!”

  “At last. I’ve waited a long time for this moment, Orobos,” I heard myself saying. And with that, Astaroth took over. I was a passenger in my own body once more. I cursed, but it amounted to nothing.

  A pain, unlike any I’d ever felt in my life, shot through my body. Both inside, and out. My skin stretched and tore, bones broke, and blood showered the ground around me. Was I dying? No, it couldn’t end like this. Not until I’d made sure my queens were safe.

  “What are you doing?” I asked. The question was bounced back at me as if there were a wall that separated Astaroth from me. “Answer me!” Again, nothing. The pain became infinitely worse, as bone and meat were torn asunder. With a final scream, I felt, and ultimately saw through his eyes, my body explode as a black mass grew from it rapidly in all directions. Slowly, it took the shape of the nightmarish creature I had seen in my dreams.

  “My prince, how kind of you to visit,” Astaroth replied, his body gradually taking shape. It was easily as tall as Orobos’ monstrous frame, with longer and thicker arms, bigger claws and an elongated head. Three horns graced its crown. The black turned into a dark green, metallic skin.

  “Astaroth. So it’s true, after all. You’re still alive,” the prince replied, with a
thundering roar. “Too bad you’ll die by my hand. The legions that were once under your command have been beaten and broken. They’re a mere shadow of their former selves, now.”

  I could feel the anger washing over him. So, he could still feel.

  “And my generals?” he growled angrily, five-foot teeth bared at the prince.

  “There’s no need for that kind of animosity, my old friend. But to answer your question, there’s only one left, I think. She ran with what remained of your legions,” Orobos’ said with a smirk. He was confident, and that wasn’t a good thing. Though seeing Astaroth, and feeling this wonderful power creep through his body, I shuddered in ecstasy.

  "I see," was all he replied before his massive legs propelled him forward. Seeing him leap, Orobos stepped back and put his hands up in defense. Astaroth's blow sent another shockwave out from the point of impact. I looked around frantically, trying to find Al, but he was already gone. I sighed in relief. At least one of us was going to survive this.

  Orobos struck out with his right hoof and caught Astaroth in the knee. The monster buckled and fell atop Orobos, who wasn’t yet strong enough to hold him upright. The two colossi dropped against the cracked soil and created an earthquake. The half of the cohort that was closest to the monstrosities toppled over into the rupture created by the blow.

  I didn’t have any love for them, but they had retreated, so in a way, they’d shown that they didn’t want to fight. There was no stopping it now, though.

  Astaroth pushed himself off Orobos and slammed his fists against the prince’s face. With each blow, the earth beneath them cracked open even further. Black goo sprayed the soil with each blow. Orobos brought up his arms in defense and slapped away Astaroth’s last blow. An explosion of black ichor shot forth from his open mouth, blowing Astaroth away with a half-melted face.

  “Fucking Orobos! I’ll destroy you!” he bellowed and spread his arms apart. A ball of black energy appeared in front of his open mouth. Orobos got up and closed in, grabbing for Astaroth’s neck. The energy exploded against the prince’s left shoulder, evaporating part of his left side.