by K R Leikvoll
His words amused me. I chuckled and asked, “And what do you have to offer for such a tremendous request?”
He struggled to think for a second and lowered his head.
“All I have to offer is myself,” he whispered, clearly humiliated. “I will do whatever you want, but leave Praetis and my people alone to perish.”
I crouched down slightly, watching his silver eyes widen with fear. It was empowering to finally be faced with someone who saw me for what I was – someone who saw the end times I was set to bring. I could not help myself; I held his face in my hands and studied him. He felt like a lost child of mine that had wandered far too close to the flames.
“Such a selfless desire! A pity… the truth is, I care not for this world or any world. I won’t stop until the last drop of blood is shed in the name of our Gods.” His shaking grasp held my hands against his skin so he could inhale my scent. It must have been a surreal experience to be so near his Gods’ holy chosen one. “You are strong, Maundrell. It would be a shame to waste your gifts on people that will never truly accept you. We could see Azotl’s work finished, you and me.” I stood and waited for his answer, already knowing very well how he would respond.
“I will never join you. I will fight you until my last breath, even through Treachery itself.”
“Then I shall see you at the end.” I flourished my wings and prepared to take flight. “And, Maundrell? It’s an open-ended offer. If rationality returns to you, you know where to find me.”
As I leapt into the air, I spied Devith making her way toward him. He was alarmed to see her and he clearly remembered her, drawing his weapon once again. As much as he looked like he would hardly last a minute in a fight, I knew that it was probably the last time I would see Devith alive. I gave her a silent blessing before I left. I was sure she would be content with being reunited with her family either way.
By the time I arrived on the eastern side of the Capitol, they were more than aware we were situated out on their waters with a fleet. I discovered that when I was almost shot out of the air by metal arrows on the ramparts with little warning. I was so deep in thought about my encounter with Maundrell that I hardly dodged a mass of them sent sailing my direction. Dropping out of sight into the twisted, sapphire colored trees was my only chance of reclaiming my stealth.
After I pulled myself out of my thoughts, I focused on my bonds. The worm was breathing on expired time. He should have been the focus of the spell, I told myself repeatedly, for I would kill him regardless of the hell that awaited afterward. Damaging my relationship with Varnoc was more of a thorn in my side than it was helpful. I felt remorse, but at the same time, I was forced to bury it. I needed to transcend my ego so I could properly serve as a vessel for Lord Nakarius. It was not what I wanted that mattered – it was Azotl.
I had been selfish… but those days were over.
There were three I could sense immediately: Raven, Lydris and my Master. Raven was waiting by the eastern entrance for some reason. My Master had returned to the command ship. And the worm? He was hidden in the northwestern section of the city, likely hiding from more than just Luxian officials.
It was hard not to tear off in his direction the moment I located him. I had to follow the minimal amount of our plan so Vincent did not make me a target as well, as I was positive he wanted to get ahold of Lydris before me. I inhaled the passing breeze and peeked at the city walls around the tree I was using to conceal myself. There were guards awaiting me once I made it close to the entrance. It would have been risky to fly over the walls with how many archers were already wary.
I made my way back to the walls of the city on foot, crouched and in the shadows of the forest. Once I was near enough to Raven, he snuck to the southeastern tower to meet me. His face was covered in his usual war paint and he already had Pestilence drawn. I did not expect to see Varnoc trailing behind him. I was alarmed, as our bond was so damaged, I hardly sensed him at all. It was something I would have regarded as blissful before we were bound, but now it was just uncomfortable and wrong.
“What are you doing here?” I whispered to both of them.
Varnoc looked sickly with foggy eyes and drained skin. He had to retch, giving him no opportunity to speak. Raven merely glanced at him and shook his head. If I had to guess what he was thinking, it was probably that it would have been less torturous for Varnoc to simply die instead of slowly withering into a lesser.
“The northeastern tunnel entrance has been sealed. I will have to go in the loud way… not that it won’t be more fun,” he said with an evil smile. He never grew tired of spilling blood.
“Varnoc, you cannot fight this way.” I approached him hesitantly and examined him closer. His hands were turning into claws already.
“No,” he replied clearly. “Let me prove to you I’m worth more than the worm.”
How could I say no? Was it not his right to redeem himself?
The walls of the Capitol were of a strange, foreign design I wasn’t used to. White stone was abundant in Naadea; it was where Ambryss received shipments from to design the noble housing district. The tops of the towers blossomed in the shape of flowers. It gave those on duty plenty of cover from overhead attacks, like Levia’s fire. Plain slats of roofing covered the ramparts between the towers, which could give us more time unnoticed if we worked quickly.
Raven seized Varnoc’s arm and hoisted him with us as we flew up the titan-sized enclosure to an opening. I wished to leave him there on the ground, away from harm, but clearly Raven felt Varnoc needed to do much the same as Devith and die trying. With Lydris so near on the horizon, I once more regretted my manipulated actions with my bond. Varnoc was sure to perish because of my shortcomings. I knew it was the plan, but I loathed it at that moment.
The forces gathered on that section of the wall were quick to fight back once we joined them. It was my fault they were mildly prepared, though it mattered little as we collectively threw them from the ramparts. The full potential of my weapon was growing easier to maintain. I killed each soldier that dared to cross my path, lest it be too starved by the time I reached a foe of value. There would be many: the Divinus, the Luxian Emperor’s guard and quite possibly Alexandra. Vince knew better than to take them on himself as they were sure to gang up on us to dispose of us quickly.
The repeating sound of a shrill note played on some sort of wind instrument drew our attention. The Capitol was starting its lockdown. It was done swiftly, but nothing could prepare them for the flames of Levia. She swooped down from the sooty veil and began to unleash her fury on the forces of the western seawall. The black sails of Duskwraith grew gradually closer, taking the serpent’s actions as a sign to begin the assault.
“I need to find a way into the central cathedral. That’s where they would take dangerous artifacts – in the vaults beneath the earth,” Raven told me while he scanned the city below.
The alarms drew the residents out of their hiding places and toward the central cathedral. It appeared to be the most guarded spot in the city (though it was hardly that way with hundreds, if not thousands, rushing its gates). It would be difficult for Raven to get in and out, regardless.
“You will have to find a way underground. There has to be a passage somewhere,” I replied, surveying the layout. There were four buildings with massive domed roofs, matching the cathedral, in each quadrant of the city. What I could see with my demonic sight suggested they were all connected in some way. I was not sure if there were any tunnels connecting them to each other, but that was Raven’s problem to solve as I had one far greater.
Levia had started to torch the northwestern sect of the city, where I still sensed Lydris dwelling. I was paranoid immediately; had Vincent specifically ordered her to destroy where he was hiding? I let out my rage with a line of fire from War’s edge. It obliterated the next wave of soldiers climbing the tower stairs. I gave both Raven and Varnoc a parting nod before I leapt off the edge of the ramparts. I could not afford to wast
e time.
I weaved through the clustered buildings, flying lower than normal to use them as cover. The Naadeans flocked for any structure that could protect them from the dragon fire. Their screams as she demolished their city from the heavens echoed that of the destruction in A’roha. The deadliest weapon in our coven’s arsenal was an alien creature rather than a member of my demon masses. I envied her ability to wipe out waves of foes with little effort. After I landed in front of the inferno consuming everything it touched, I cursed her talents.
Obviously, nobody enjoys walking through dragon fire, not even demons, but it was not fatal. Nor was the smell of burning flesh pleasant, or the number of structures collapsing around me. Despite all of that, Lydris remained firmly settled in a building in the back of the quarter.
Bloodlust overwhelmed all that I was as I got closer. I thought not of Sendrys, whom he had helped kill – Fevith and Devith’s suffrage was insignificant to me. Even the loss of Famine did not matter. Those were all situations that could be remedied somehow.
First, Lydris needed to die.
He could read my mind through my blood. What had he told my Master of my deeds? Surely he gave Vince insight to the depth of my demonic forces, but had he witnessed my secret meetings with Raven? Had he heard the words I dare not utter out loud – that I was to kill Vince for his crimes? All of it was a liability. Whatever I could gain from him was less than what I could lose if I kept him alive.
I should have cast the spell on Lydris before the battle, I scorned myself repeatedly while I approached the heavy stone door the fire had not managed to pass through. One of my wings stabbed at the rock as I channeled my emotions for that wretched worm. The door exploded in a cloud of rubble.
Lydris was on the floor above where I entered. It was a noble’s house; I could tell not only by the architecture but by the deceased that lie on the ground. There were at least ten including some serfs that had perished to smoke inhalation. The house was mostly fireproof, but there was nothing they could do to prevent their fate. Death awaited them on the streets, or in their home. It seemed they chose something familiar for their last horrible moments.
“Worm!” I screeched as I climbed the twisted staircase to the next floor. “Did you really believe you could hide from me?”
The door to the left was barricaded with everything he could find. It hardly mattered as I struck the wood with War and kicked the debris out of my way. I caught sight of him leaping from the window to the ground, away from reach. I wanted to kill him so deeply, I threw myself across the room to the open window after him without thought.
A sharp pain blossomed in my ankle as the snap of a metal trap encased itself around my leg. I tried to pry it out and fly from the building, but a powerful tremor shook the foundation and knocked me off balance.
“Worm!” I screamed out the window as loud as I could. It was a poor decision, as the building began to crumble down on top of me from the force.
I fought with the stone walls pinning me, alongside my trapped ankle. My wings were the strongest, pounding on the framework to release me. As I struggled to get myself free, Lydris’ form approached through the thick smog. No, the worm could not harm me through our bond, could he? Why did I fear his touch? Another wave of flame was released closer to the center of the city. Levia’s attention was on much more important matters.
“You don’t seem happy to see me,” he said with his usual disgusting smile I hated so much.
I moved to strike him with my closest wing, but I was just out of reach. My struggle intensified. I was never going to give him the upper hand again. I would place his skull with the others on my throne in Duskwraith after I stripped every bit of flesh he had from his bones.
“I’m never going back; you hear me?” he yelled forcefully. He turned and fled as the rubble finally began to give way.
“Lydris!” I pulled myself up and took a step forward into the smog.
I could see his form tearing off down the flame-covered boulevard at top speed. No matter how nimble he was, he was no match against my ability to fly. I shook the debris from my wings and prepared to chase after him. As I crouched to jump, I was pelted in the face with a heavy stone. It brought me to my knees while it was forcibly healed with a loud hiss.
Atop the ramparts to the north, I spotted a gleam of dark red among the flames. I knew immediately who it was, and she wanted my attention as if I were stupid enough to follow her around mindlessly in a city she was familiar with.
Lydris had escaped into the sewer system by the time I was able to bring myself to look away from Alexandra. That stupid Luxian whore always distracted me! I cursed more under my breath and followed Lydris as far as I could with demonic sight. He was headed toward the domed structure to the southwest. At least it answered my question; I was sure Raven had figured out some way to get in by then.
“I am going to skin you alive!” I screamed into the open sewer hole when I reached it. “Then you’ll regrow it and flay yourself again while I watch!”
I was going to excuse myself from the battle and make good on my word, but I was knocked through the air and into a damaged, burning building without warning. It was such a surprise, I was dazed out of being able to stand again. I wiped my eyes, irritated by the smog, and strained on the being that stood in the distance on the towering western seawall, alone.
It was a woman dressed in billowing navy robes. White hair cascaded around her unburnt, despite the flames she stood within. She raised her hand into the air. Before I could prepare myself, a burst of light exploded from her hand brighter than anything I had ever seen. It physically burned me – horribly so. I covered my face, though it still felt as if it were frying me through my armor. The light pulsed out in the form of shimmering, translucent waves, sailing across the city every few seconds. There was nothing I could do beyond throwing myself down the sewer hole as I originally intended. If I spent any more time taking the full force of it, it would have killed me undoubtedly.
Enough of these Ash pests!
I gasped in pain as I pried my armor off where my worst burns were located. My skin was practically melting – it was both horrifying and agonizing. I closed my eyes and tried to channel a heal, but did nothing but drain me. My wings ceased to stay present, as did my horns. War tugged on me with its desire for blood. The ringing in my skull was so dreadfully intense, I had to stick my head between my knees and reel for a moment.
“Blood… blood… kill,” War recited.
“You are the prophet; such weakness to see you crumble to Vynir’s holy light.” The booming voice of Lord Nakarius did not make the sensations any better.
“Kill them… more… sacrifice.”
“Perhaps we were wrong to think you could kill Vincent–”
“BLOOD. BLOOD. BLOOD.”
“– when you cannot even stand in the presence of the pathetic Divinus without perishing.”
“No! Stop! Enough of this!” I moaned, feeling myself physically weaken more with each second that passed.
“I SAID, ‘BLOOD’.”
A sharp, stabbing pain impaled my heart. I tried to scream, but I was unable to find my voice.
“TAKE.”
I felt immediately chill, like a rush of frigid air was being let in from outside the sewers. My body started to spasm beyond my ability to control. I was finally able to wail, but it was not aiding my situation any. I was failing Naazvaba, right before their very eyes, as I sat there and succumbed to the flames of sacrifice. War was going to take its debts whether it came from me, its host, or another.
“Master, I’m sorry!” I begged for Lord Nakarius to hear. Between my burns and having my soul eaten, it took several moments before I had the ability to speak again. “Master, I know I’ve been selfish!”
“GIVE MORE.”
Though I did so with shrieking and agony, I used the rock wall of the sewer to pull myself up. It was not lessening and I knew I had to find someone, anyone, to sacrifice before all of
my efforts were wasted. I only made it to the first turn, barely ten feet away, before I collapsed again in a series of trembles.
The hint of a red form – a citizen fleeing the chaos above the northwestern quadrant of the city – was struggling to find their way through the dark sewer system. I did not have the strength to chase them, but I could not let the only chance I had at catching Lydris and redeeming myself get away.
“Help!” I yelled in a normal tone of voice, so I was not threatening. The figure paused for a moment, debating on if they should turn down the nearest passage to me, just around the corner.
“Someone please help me!” I whined slightly louder, feigning the weakest, most hopeless voice I could. The figure took another step and paused. “I’m injured, please!” I added before lowering my face to the cobblestone to suppress a scream.
An armored Luxian guard ran around the corner to reveal who it was. Obviously, my Evyan was likely foreign, but Evyans were the closest allies to the Luxians so it was not unheard of in Naadea. He ran a few paces toward me once he realized my state.
“Stay awake!” he ordered in his harsh sounding language and crouched by my side. I kept my eyes closed and my mouth firmly pursed so I would not scream. “My lady!” He shook me by my shoulder, but I still remained limp. “Don’t die! We can find you help! The priestesses will know what to do.”
When he threw me over his shoulder, I had to fight every urge I had not to devour him. I mulled over my options. I could sacrifice him, and hopefully, gain enough strength back to find more… or I could allow him to willingly take me to these priestesses he spoke of. I decided on the latter, letting groans of pain escape my lips since he was more focused on where we were going. Those Luxians smelled worse to me than rotting flesh.
The soldier was swift once he found a torch to better light his way. I kept my face concealed and stayed still, despite the ever-gnashing and howling of War. Nakarius was losing his patience – I could tell by the fury that was building inside me so tremendously I almost couldn’t contain it. My nails clenched the man’s armor, almost ripping it off before I consciously stopped.
