A Crimson Tale

by K. L. O Johnson

  “I could have taken him.” I suggest but my tone wasn’t bitter, his eyes lighten as he knows that’s the only “thank you” he’ll get from me. He nods.

  “Keep close. There’s more.” he admits. His horse is now being used by a man and women but he doesn’t seem to care, not that it’s his horse any way. With the brace around its neck, of the Order’s insignia, the horse definitely belonged to the Order. So the people had access to it in times of crisis like now. They mount the horse, nodding their heads to me they turn and gallop away far from the danger zone. Just protect your child, I think as I eye the light brown skin scrawny girl in between them, her eyes black as mine in my human form. She reminded me of me. Just protect her. A luxury I was never able to have when I was her age. Even then I was fighting to survive.

  “Let’s go.” I suggest and he nods. We were on the move and I hear the same thundering steps and Altair stops, he hears them too and we both look at each other, a silent glance, an unspoken voice echoed my head. ’Take the one on the right. I’ll be here if you get in trouble.’ I hear his voice in my head, one of the many abilities of the Nephalem. I nod.

  ‘You too.’

  Altair turns his back on me and I on him. The thundering footsteps approach and we are in the presence of beings like the monster I fought before, this time they have armor that I’m surprised didn’t melt than I see similar engravings on it like what we have. It than hits me, like us, they were protected but instead from the demons they were protected from the flames that engulfed their bodies. The one I face, our eyes meet and I hear it grunt in disgust. It points its large black clawed nail at me. “Spawn of Krylancello.” he says dropping his hand he growls. “You will die!” He charges at me and I brace myself.

  His bare sharp nailed feet stomp towards me at a fast pace and I run towards him, sprinting hard as I could, in that moment I slide through his legs, pulling out my blade prior to my man oeuvre, I slice his leg. He cries out in pain blood oozes down from where he stands, his legs still carry him firmly and I stand on my feet focusing on that foot while keeping my eye out for those hands which will snap my neck instantly should he get a hold of me. I would never let that happen, even if Altair was only a few feet from me, fiercely battling the blazing man. I would hold out my own, I chose to continue to carry my blade and shield, I continued to carry my title as a Knight and I would continue to do so. Not even this largely built man before me could stop me, nothing would.

  I plunge my blade into his exposed foot his hands reach down for me and I avoid them easily, he is large and slow, I am nimble and quick. I roll around and flip like a monkey which didn’t make his job of killing me, any easier. I slice his leg again and this time my blade is embedded much deeper into his calf. He cries out in pain and I muster as much strength as I can gather and slice my blade through the marrow with a hard crackling sound that made my very core shudder, I had no choice, there his lower leg is removed as he falls to the ground. Taking the opportunity of his exposed position, I crawl upon him and lunge my blade into his thick skull. He ceases to move and I pull myself from him. He’s tough but not invincible.

  I hear the sound of slicing flesh and a splash of oil I turn to see that Altair stands over the body of his enemy, his clean and stands tall like a real Knight in shining armor and I can’t help but respect him; for his strength and his compassion. He is different from other men I’ve come across, his exterior strong as steel but heart as gentle as a butterfly, he is much like me in that sense but I have more of a mouth to make up for the strength I’m lacking hoping to throw off my enemy.

  He moves over to me and sheathes his bloodied sword into his metal sheath on his back like mine. The blood is a bitch to get out and will attract demons if we don’t clean it but then again we didn’t have time to worry about that and his silver cloak is sprawled in blood from where he attempted to clean his blade. His gaze turns to the flaming monster at my feet. “You know why he was after you?” I shake my head.

  “Maybe my father pissed them off somehow?” I wonder out loud, I never knew my father all that well and when I did meet him it was for a brief time before he was killed trying to protect me from the enemies that flooded our armory. He gave his life so I can live and he is the reason why I refuse to be a liability, I won’t be the cause of my husbands or sons’ death like my father was. I won’t be so helpless to protect those I hold precious. My eyes immediately fall to the man at my feet before I turn back to Altair.

  “Maybe…” he trails off and turns his attention to the Order. His eyes narrowing on the sight, I than understand why his gaze is there. I hear them, the cries of the children. My heart sinks and I flee towards them, barely hearing Altair calling after me. All I knew as I sprint down the streets of scorched buildings and motionless bodies that didn’t make it alive. I knew when this is all over; we’ll have to bury these bodies and hold a massive ceremony to ensure their souls rest.

  The last thing we want was more demons at our doors. By the time I reach the gates of the Order, the iron bars that normally are guarded by the Security Barb, are now distorted and forced open, the large doors behind the gates are open and I run through, it’s eerie silent as I see bodies of Knights, Security Barbs, Enforcers and Rangers at my feet. The sight of how many have died, made me take a few steps back in shock before I close my jaw I didn’t realize hung open. It didn’t matter, men, women, children, the elderly who would travel to the Order on a regular basis to trade are now dead.

  They were innocent and they suffered. Hearing a snapping sound my head snaps into that direction and I see a man dressed in black, his arm cradling his torso and I smell blood pouring off of him, a leaky trail behind him and he appears to collapse. I run and catch him before he has a chance to fall down, it wasn’t anyone I knew but still he is a brother, a brother of the Order—my comrade.

  “It’s okay, you’ll be okay.” I say my voice coming out a pitch higher than I expected, it trembles, sounding the fear, I didn’t show. Even though I didn’t know him or anyone much in the Central Order I thought of them as my family, I thought of this place as my home, it was my sanctuary and I allowed them to suffer.

  “The Chief.” he barely manages and Altair drops beside him, I glance at him, his eyes reflecting the worry, the pain and the fear I felt his face to devoid of emotion. The man grasps my arm, desperate, to hold my attention. I turn back to him. “The Chief…find and protect…the Chief.” he says slowly his voice dry and desperate and like that his body becomes limp in my form and I fight back the tears that threaten to fall down my face. I wouldn’t show them my pain, I wouldn’t show the enemy my weakness.

  ‘They’ll pay for what they’ve done.’ I hear Altair whisper in my mind I turn to him once more, he stands on his feet, eyes locked on the direction ahead. “We should get a move on.” he says and I gently place the man on the ground, his black eyes staring at the sky behind me, placing a hand over his eyes I close them as a silent “goodbye” and prey that his soul finds peace. He died with honor and no one will deny that. “Do you know where he is?” I ask. He shakes his head.

  “We better find him and fast. I fear the worst, with this silence.” he says as he scans the surroundings. He pulls out the large crossbow on his back and carries it arming it before him. I unfold my crossbow that was placed on my leg; I received a larger one from Max for my run in with the Priests. However, the crossbow was slightly too heavy, I wasn’t complaining but it weighed too much, if I were to be tackled carrying the thing I wouldn’t have the strength to fight off my attacker.

  Naturally women of our world have hand held crossbows, ones they can carry like a small pistol but large enough to do damage from a distance while the men carried larger crossbows with knives which were detachable from where they protrude from the sides should they every need to stab their enemy. They can fold their crossbow and place it on their leg but some choose to carry it on their back where it is held in place by their energy bonds.

  “Oh my god,” I say
, shocked, I can’t believe I forgot. Altair gives me an alarmed look. “Varden,” I say with fear, I turn to him and his face is twisted into an expression of anger, disgust and confusion. I don’t blame him.

  “Who in the Underworld is Varden?”

  “The potential next King,” I say and his eyes narrow down on me. “We need to find him and the other men. There were four from what the Chief told me.”

  “Alright but we have to figure out what to do, we can’t split up since I’m not sure if demons have infested this place which I have no doubt they have.” he says and I watch as he turns his back on me and walks down the corridor, his arrow aiming at the nooks, crannies and around corners for surprise attacks. “So what do you think we should do, find the next Kings or the Chief?” he asks finally after a long pause as we enter the large halls of the old castle. I scan both, directions, east and west. Rechecking the places he had checked in case something jumped out on me or him when his back is turned.

  “The next Kings I’m sure the Chief would want that.”

  “Alright” he trails off and stops to realize the coast is clear still I don’t drop my guard and I’m sure he didn’t either. His eyes still falls to the shadows of the halls, bodies surround the halls that branch off into the different parts of the massive castle, used for classes, training, intelligence and many more. “Do you have any idea where we start?” he questions after some time.

  “Yes, the Guest Wing.” I say and he nods.

  We trail up the stone stairs of the Guest Wing and I walk backwards up the stairs my back only a few centimeters from his and he doesn’t seem to mind. I’m sure he would have preferred me falling on him, over than a demon. My footing seems to stop when it touches the firm stone under my feet, a stable bearing. I turn over my shoulder to see that we made it at the Guest Quarters.

  There were many rooms and a large common room at the center where a fire had recently burnt out. I can smell the scent of fresh warm wood and I know Altair can smell it too. Blood and lots of it. I fear the worst, its silent—too quiet, the screams and cries I heard earlier, are gone. ’Are the children…is everyone dead?’ I think with fear.

  “We don’t know that.” Altair peers, and I regard him, the line of his face is only slightly exposed. The side of his face is exposed by the fluttering light from the stained glass window high above the black scorched lifeless fireplace. “Let’s try not to jump to any conclusions, the last thing we need is to worry ourselves sick.” He is right; I can’t keep focusing on something else when we need to protect each other. I nod. A cluttering sound echoes; stone—against—stone, I snap my head into the direction of the sound and I see a man, his blond hair is off to the side; soot covers his face as his eyes train on me with worry. “Who are you?”

  “My name’s Vedric.” he says and I look him over. He appears similar to Varden I wonder if they are related but then I notice that his jaw line isn’t as strong but more narrow with higher more prominent cheekbones.

  “Have you seen Varden?” I demand. He shakes his head.

  “I haven’t seen him since the questioning.” he says.

  “Questioning?” asks Altair as he looks at me over his shoulder for an explanation and I place a hand on his arm to lower his weapon as Vedric appears to be eyeing the weapon with fear. Altair obeys and lowers the crossbow.

  “The Chief wasn’t too sure if these men were the rightful Heir or not and questioned them. Since you would know, isn’t that why he called you here?” I question and he remains quiet. I take it as a yes. They would need someone with sharp ears and access to the mind to verify the truth from the tales.

  “It wasn’t me that did it. It was Dante.” he utters and I glance at him with a quick intake of air. His lips turn up into a small smile and my mask drops. Only for a second before I return it to normal. He knew how much Dante meant to me he was the other person who protected and guided me in the world after my father had died, teaching me, showing me, training me to be the better swordswomen than my other female counter—parts as I had no access to my powers than. They thought I was a human but disregarded that fact when they found out who my father was. According to Dante, he was a very powerful man and very well—respected.

  “Dante’s here?” I ask.

  “Yes but I have a feeling we’ll have to hold off on the reunion.” He smirks and I fight to roll my eyes. He can be really conceited when he feels like showing it that is one thing I want to wipe from his personality if I could. Still it made him who he was in a way I know that it’s his way of comforting me in the disaster all around us, I see the hidden message: “he’ll be alive, don’t worry” Altair was always good a comforting me like that. Even though if he doesn’t know it. I figured one day I should tell him—when I get the chance to.

  The children peer up at me; their black eyes are large on their hollow faces. I fight the urge to tell them everything will be alright when I know it’s not true, they see me a women in armor—a rare sight. Yet, they don’t fear me, I guess it’s because I’m no man. Still, the sight of them, sickens me. I want to reach down into my satchel and pull out my food that I’ve neglected since the attack at the Order. I haven’t been able to eat and Altair doesn’t force me to. I don’t hand them anything. I just glance, keeping a cautious eye on a man in the far back of the crowd, he eyes me with a dark glaze, and I know he is desperate and will pull me from my horse and steal what valuables I have.

  So, I keep my eye on him.

  It wouldn’t be the first, not to mention one of the same very men touched me inappropriately. Regardless if it was a joke or not, I forced my blade to his throat and threatened. “Touch me like that again…and I’ll slice you where you stand, Man!” I spat every word of that sentence at him with even—toned venom. Every time since then I’ve been more wary of men.

  I know that some can be trusted others are just far too sick, they I believe, should be put down like the dogs they are. Then again I’ve been like this ever since I can remember; I grew up in the system on Earth. Unsure of what type of house I would run into but now that I was old enough and strong enough to stand on my own two feet I will kill any man or woman that dares threaten my life—I am a warrior after all—by blood.

  I move my horse through the crowd, ignoring the helpless looks thrown to me. I need to meet up with the General. He would shed some light on why our Order was attacked and if he doesn’t, I may walk right out of their hands. I knew they needed me, they knew I am just as good—if not better than their men. I have no choice. War is a blood bath, one way or another everyone is desperate. We had left immediately; still we couldn’t have left soon enough.

  I wanted to turn around and search the old castle once more but then I realize, this is may be for the best, Varden may be in the tent and I kick myself for even caring. I’m attracted to him, I state to myself not in thought, the last thing I want is for Altair to kill him. I don’t fear for myself, it’s Varden I fear for. I’ve known Altair my whole life and he was never the one to be violent or controlling with people he loved. I glance over my shoulder and notice Altair’s gaze is on me, I smile and he returns the gesture. Turning back to face the tent, I suddenly feel tense. Why is that?

  As we urge our horses through the crowd of people who slowly but gradually part—way for us. Our horses mount the uneven terrain that leads to the large red tent. There I knew is where the Security Barbs were and several survivors. I demount my horse and stalk towards the tent, two men stand on either side of the red and gold entrance. The colors stand out against the snow, covering the ground. I pull out my badge, they nod their heads and we enter. “About time you came.” grumbles a deep voice. I turn to the sound to see General Gareth staring at me. His dark brown eyes are small on his, large, sharp, face.

  He is not as young as he used to be. “Thought you’d be glad we came.” I remark. His grey short but thick bearded moves, I know from the twinkle in his eyes he is smiling at my words and my impassive expression.

  “I see
you haven’t changed.”

  “Why would I change?” I quirk a brow only to have him, gently bubble with laughter it had been sometime since I’ve seen him laugh let alone smile—in a way it’s good to see a spread of happiness through him even if it only temporary.

  “Because it isn’t easy for a woman in this world.” he comments his face returning to a frown, his brows are furrowed in concentration, his eyes are dark with intimidation. I know that all too well not that it concerns me.

  “It isn’t easy for a woman anywhere.” I retort. We are nothing but objects of favor. I despise what they believe to be weak and useless when it is the very thing that keeps their race well going. What use is a species without reproduction? What use is a man without a woman? What is a use of it all without respect? I enter the large tent where wooden tables and benches are filled with men who watch me with possessive desire and I scowl at them. Then again…I know not all men are bad, just these idiots before me.

  Several look away while others shake their heads and continue to gaze at me, forgetting—I could dice them where they sit. I feel Altair move beside me, several or should I say most turn away instantly. It is at times like this I am happy to have Altair or Dante around. “Men, would normally take what they please without any disregard for the pernicious consequences.” I say not in reference to this man but those of Earth and their world—Climate Change.

  Meeting gazes of all the men who appear stoic at my words before I rest my gaze of Gareth. He meets my gaze with a threatening glance that I brush off with no problem, Altair shifts between us and I hold him back. I would not have him shield me in front of a General I will not be given that security. Some men still have a lot to learn. I think. Altair returns beside me close enough to push me aside or pull me if the need be. “The Castle was attacked because we had recently acquired a new possession.” he says turning the matter before away.