“Yea, yea… I know,” Luna confirmed. Iowen didn’t believe her one bit but let it be. She took the upper path; Luna took the downer one.
Iowen would have been disgusted if she hadn’t seen it already. The laboratory area was eerily similar to that of Grimdawn. Tables with chains, dried blood, horrifying looking tools. The guards were passive and the lights were dim so Iowen could stalk through the tunnels and caverns effortlessly. She remembered the paths and got a good idea of the layout. It surprised her how close to surface it actually was. The ceiling was no more than five meters thick by her estimation. She mapped the place in about half an hour. There wasn’t anything that would surprise her much. Prisons, storages, corpse pits… the place had it all. What surprised Iowen was the lack of cages with more or less successful experiments. She couldn’t find the pens though, so she went back to the meeting point. The pens had to be on the down path as she went through the whole top and found nothing like them. She went to the meeting place and waited for Luna.
Luna arrived there soon with a disgusted look on her face.
“How was it?” Iowen asked.
“Shit,” Luna answered.
“There are eight caverns down there, all prisons. Two have regular humans; one has humans bound to tables who are either unconscious or screaming, the rest are the pens Miranda talked about. They are stacked with things I can only describe as strange. The shape is human, pale like a corpse; their fingers are extended into claws and large teeth. They are one like another; there are hundreds of them in there. Maybe even thousands,” she added.
“Those are different than the ones we saw everywhere else. How’s the security?” Iowen remarked.
“Laughable. The guards are lazy and passive. They are overstaffed and know it so they all slack. It’s the shittiest excuse for security I have ever seen. Anyway, let’s move to the caverns with pens, there is a good hiding spot in there.”
“Alright,” Iowen agreed. Luna led the path, which was as was simple as she described. The guards were grouped up and chatting, not patrolling or really paying attention to anything other than the cards they were playing. They snuck into the hiding position Luna suggested; it was a large crack in the wall of the cavern.
“If I understand our mission correctly, we now have over two hours of waiting ahead of us,” Luna tossed up.
“Yea. What do you think these pale things are for?” Luna asked.
“I have no idea. The ones in Grimdawn looked like humans with demonic features. They weren’t too demonic though. I mean, they looked and felt like ones. But they weren’t nearly as fast, strong or tough as normal demons. Plus, they got demolished by the Palai forces when they actually met in battle,” Iowen revealed.
“Did they?”
“Yea. The Palai forces may be pretty much fully elite, but still losing zero men in the cavern operation in Grimdawn means that the power difference was simply too massive,” Iowen added.
“Hmmmh… well, at least we have something to chat about,” Luna concurred.
“Booring, boooring, boooooooriiiiing” Luna exclaimed.
“I know… they are finishing the last checkup. It’s our turn to move soon,” Iowen tried to calm Luna down. They waited for the guards to finish the checkup, then split the bombs and went to put them on the doors as instructed. They put the last two bombs on the two biggest doors and headed to the tunnels.
“Iowen… which one is the left tunnel?” Luna asked suddenly.
“The one to the left, obviously,” Iowen pointed.
“When we come from here. Were we to come from the other entrance, the left tunnel would be this one,” Luna said as she pointed to another one.
“You are overthinking it,” Iowen contested.
“Am I? We originally came from there,” Luna stated.
“Well… fuck,” Iowen evaluated.
BOOOOOOOOOM!
The bombs went off with an earthshaking sound. Thousands of roars followed them.
“RUN!” Iowen shouted and they headed to the nearest tunnel.
“Damn these things are fast!” Iowen shouted as she saw the shadows of the monsters entering the tunnel.
“Get on my back?” Luna ordered.
“WHAT?”
“SHUT UP AND GET ON MY BACK!” Luna shouted. The pale horde of creatures was approaching them with inhuman speed. Luna went in front of Iowen and stopped. Having no better option, Iowen put her hands and legs around Luna in a piggy back ride style.
“Hold on tight!” Luna commanded and stretched her legs.
“RUN! They are almost here!” Iowen screamed as she saw the formless pale mass being a stone throw away from them.
“WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA” Iowen shouted as Luna lifted off into a run. She almost fell off her back from the acceleration alone. She clenched tight around Luna and leaned on her. When she peaked back over her shoulder she saw the formless pale mass getting further and further away.
“You are faster than a horse,” Iowen breathed in amazement into Luna’s ear.
“I am a monster, Ice cream. I am faster than any man or animal in this world,” Luna snickered as she kept running. Iowen didn’t feel like arguing. The head wind was blinding her eyes and made her feel like her neck will break. The turnings in the tunnel made her nauseous. She just held on tight and prayed Luna doesn’t trip over something. She still heard the monsters dashing after them in mad frenzy.
Light!
The light of the fire was visible from beyond turning. Luna dashed through the turning into the light.
“FIRE!”
A loud boom echoed through the air. Luna stopped and Iowen was catapulted over. As she flipped in the air, she saw Luna with seven large arrows sticking through her. It wasn’t the arrows that made Iowens blood freeze. There was just an empty circular hole where Luna’s stomach was supposed to be.
“HOLD FIRE!”
Iowen flew over hundred feet before she hit the wall of shields in a thundering crash. It knocked the air out of her. She stared as Luna collapsed to the ground. The pale horde started appearing in the mouth of the tunnel. Strong hands pushed Iowen over the shields. She tried to say something but couldn’t find voice.
“SHIT! FIRE AT WILL!”
72
Luna
“LUNA IS IN THERE!” Iowen shouted at Merewen when she caught her breath.
“I KNOW!” Merewen replied as she knocked on another arrow. She held a massive fully metal bow shaped into the frame of a symbol of Palai. She drew the bow slowly, then released. As she did, a boom sounded through the air and the arrow disappeared. At the other direction, Iowen saw holes appearing in the bodies of the monsters where she was shooting. She killed a dozen with each arrow.
“WE NEED TO HELP HER!” Iowen screamed.
“SHUT UP AND START SHOOTING!” Merewen commanded as she started drawing the bow again.
The pain was overwhelming. Luna crashed to the ground like a sack of potatoes. It felt like her stomach and middle spine disappeared in an instant. That and seven ballistae arrows pierced through her body. She saw Iowen fly off her back and crash into the wall of shields of Palai soldiers. She couldn’t do anything and just fell down on her back. With horror, she heard the snarling and steps.
What do I do? I can’t move.
Legs ended with claws stepped on her. They crushed her flesh and bones, shred her muscle and skin. They were innumerable.
‘Let me in, kid!’
Can’t, wolfie… if we go all out in here, the Palai soldiers will kill us.
‘So shall these. Let me in!’
Someone might save us before our regeneration starts running out.
‘Not happening. Let me in, so we have enough strength for the fight!’
Doesn’t matter… we will die if we shift. I don’t wanna die. I really, really don’t want to die.
Blood covered her face, but she could see how one of the creatures stopped by her and bit. It bit into her arms, taking out a chunk of meat. Luna wanted to scr
eam. She couldn’t. She could only watch how the creature chewed up her flesh and went for another bite. Another creature joined it and bit off a piece of her thigh.
Someone stop them… please… I don’t want to die.
‘LET ME IN, DAMMIT!’
Sorry, wolfie, can’t. Not yet at least.
‘How long? ‘
Five minutes.
‘We will be dead in one.’
I will manage.
‘You are the worst host I ever had.’
I don’t wanna die. Someone will save us… right?
The third creature joined in and bit off a piece of her second thigh.
Please…
“THEY ARE EATING HER ALIVE!” Iowen shouted in despair as she saw the monsters huddle around Luna.
“I CAN SEE THAT!” Merewen shouted back as she let loose another arrow into the pack of monsters swarming around Luna.
“THIS ISNT ENOUGH!” Iowen shrieked.
“I KNOW,” Merewen confirmed.
They both kept firing there. Dozens of monsters died under their arrows. But there were hundreds of them.
“DO SOMETHING!” Iowen cried.
“I CAN’T!”
A short shriek pierced the air and black flame filled Luna’s vision.
Is this what going to hell feels like? She wondered. The flame scattered as a woman landed above her. She wore black, her red hair shone like flame in the reflection of fire and her bright green eyes pierced through Luna. She held a large metal ball on a chain on one hand and a sharp looking sickle in the other. Luna heard the monsters around snarling and running to them to attack.
Bad idea! You can’t hold them off and I will kill you when I shift!
“Run… leave me behind… run,” Luna squeezed out of herself with what was almost the end of her strength. Miranda peered down on her.
“I don’t need to run!”
The ball from the chain launched from her hand and Luna heard a skull being broken. She lay down and stared. She watched Miranda launch the metal ball countless times. She watched her duck, jump, spin and twist. She watched her shatter bones and crush flesh. She watched her get pierced by claws and teeth. For what felt like an eternity, Luna watched Miranda dance the dance of death straight above her. The world went still. Miranda stood above her covered in blood. Heavy steps ran through them. Miranda launched the metal ball at them. It shattered a shield.
“It’s me! It’s over!” Luna heard a womanly voice shout. Miranda spun and attacked with her weapon once more. Again, again and again. A large armored woman finally reached her and caught her in a hug. Miranda kicked around for a bit before she finally went slack and collapsed atop Luna. Relieved, Luna gave in to the sweet embrace of darkness.
73
Lucas
“Come on, Lucas, why do you keep coming here?” A golden-haired woman sitting by a glass wall looked through at the man coming in. A man dressed in a golden suit with a massive bundle of exotic flowers.
“You know why, Neh,” Lucas smiled sadly as he sat down on the floor made of darkness, leaning to the other side of the glass wall.
“The flowers are pretty, thank you,” Neh smiled wearily.
“How were the books?” Lucas asked.
“Alright. I liked the magic fiction poetry; it was so wonderfully cheerful,” Neh admitted.
“I got you new ones,” Lucas motioned toward a large bag by his side.
“I scooped the old Grimdawn library; the red shelf section had some interestingly-looking stuff.”
“You know I like those,” Neh smirked softly, “when will you finally understand that this is pointless and just stop coming?”
“Never. I will never give up on you, Neh.”
“You should.”
“Why?”
“You just keep destroying yourself. There is no way to set me free. You know it. Stop trying and find yourself a new wife. Just forget about me.”
“I am not leaving you behind.”
“You really should.”
“I can’t. Not for as long as I have single breath within me.”
“What do you want, Lucas? We have great daughters, we have lived together for longer than anyone has a right to. We have lived to the end of our dream. Just give it up.”
“I want you. I want to touch you, kiss you. I want to hold you on the top of the Voidspire while watching our daughters mess around in the courtyard. I want you to feel my dream.”
“You can’t set me free, Lucas. I will be here in this prison of darkness for the rest of time and you can’t stop it. Nobody can.”
“I will.”
“Anyway. How are the girls doing?”
“Messing around carelessly. As usual. They are all so much like you.”
“Stop seeing me everywhere you look.”
“I can’t.”
“Then stop looking.”
“I don’t want to.”
“You are helpless, aren’t you?”
“As always.”
“Did you at least do what I tell you? Did you try to find yourself someone else in the past year?” Neh asked with a sharper tone.
“I did. Or well… I tried.”
“What happened?”
“The usual. All was fine and rosy until I fucked things up,” Lucas smirked.
“What was wrong with her?”
“She wasn’t you.”
“You told me that about the past seventy women as well. How about you start making compromises?”
“I refuse to.”
“What am I supposed to do with you?”
“Just hold on tight until I set you free. Do whatever you want after,” Lucas grinned.
“Have you at least managed to make a semblance of a plan of how to do that?”
“I have a plan.”
“Why don’t you tell me about it?”
“Because you won’t like it.”
“What’s so bad about it?”
“It starts by me killing my brothers. All of them,” Lucas admitted.
“You are right. I don’t like it. Can’t you make another plan?”
“No. They function as beacons for the Red God. I can’t shield him off this world for as long as they exist in it. They need to perish.”
“Please tell me you have the next step as well.”
“I do.”
“Well?”
“It involves a draconic deity. Not an ancient dragon, a real draconic god.”
“There are no draconic gods in this world.”
“I know.”
“So… you plan to kill your brothers and sisters and then go search for something that doesn’t exist? You were right; I really don’t like this plan, Lucas,” Neh exclaimed.
“It’s the best plan I have.”
“Don’t do it, Lucas. It’s not happening and you know it better than I do. You will just end up killing everyone you love and just keep finding over and over again that it’s impossible.”
“You know my answer to that.”
“I do,” Neh conceded sadly.
“At least give your brothers and sisters the honor of killing them yourself. Don’t just send your underlings to butcher them. Do it yourself. If you can’t, give it up.”
“I will.”
“I will keep hoping that you can’t.”
“One day you will be free, Neh. Even if we are the last two of our kind in existence, I will set you free one day.”
“You really are insufferable.”
“It’s one of my best qualities,” Lucas chuckled.
“Before you go, I made you a painting.” Neh rose and went into the room, then took a painting of mountains from a holder and brought it to the glass wall.
“It’s breathtaking,” Lucas exhaled.
“You always say that.”
“So far it was true every time.”
“I got you more painting supplies as well. I met this Alfons Albertti guy, he is trying to make the darkest black color there is. ”
> “Will you please stop trying so hard? I am fine! There is no need to waste so much effort on making my life more comfortable,” Neh protested.
“You know I like to.”
“I also know that the time and effort you spend on this would be better spent on doing something useful, like you finding yourself a new woman and forgetting about me,” Neh cut back.
“I have already found the best one, no need to search for more,” Lucas grinned.
“We are out of time,” Neh suddenly turned serious.
“Can you already hear the whispers?”
“Yes. I am sorry,” she apologized.
“Don’t be, it’s not your fault,” Lucas said as he rose up.
“It is. If only I were stronger.”
“Then you wouldn’t be so gorgeous. I love you, Neh,” Lukes smiled.
“Just… try to not kill their children. Please.”
“I will do what I can,” Lucas promised.
“You know what? Fuck this. Leave and never come back!” Neh shouted at Lucas as he opened the door to leave.
“You don’t get to tell me what to do,” Lucas refused and left, closing the door of darkness behind him.
“I love you too.”
74
Luna
“Please lay still and have no worry. Everyone is alright,” a soft voice of a man spoke to Luna as she started opening her eyes. Her vision was blurry. She saw a frame of an old man above her with a lot of light moving around him. She didn’t feel pain; she felt only warmth.
“I am so sorry,” a woman sitting next to Luna’s bad whispered.
Luna turned to see her. Her face was gentle; she had auburn hair going down to her shoulders.
“For?” Luna asked back.
“I am the one who ordered fire when you came out of the tunnel.”
“It’s alright,” Luna whispered.
“It’s not. I broke your spine, shot out your stomach and bunch of other organs. You almost got eaten alive because of me,” the woman revealed.
“You got a good shot,” Luna snickered.
“I am sorry. I just wanted to tell you that and that if you ever need anything, I am Merewen Methot and I will do what I can when you let me know,” Merewen stated firmly.
Legacy of Dreams: Freedom Page 39
