How Gods Bleed

by Shane Porteous

  It was truly a chaotic conflict with traps being set off all around them as the two sides fought each other viscously. It came to an end just like it had started, quickly and suddenly. In total the group had been attacked by no more than 20 of the damn things, many of who had fallen prey to the traps. By the light green of their armor they were troops of Metamok, which would explain why they attacked. They had not been the ones to set these traps; those responsible wouldn’t have attacked the group. It had been a violent but brief encounter and as all enemies lay dead the group did what they always did after an enemy encounter. One by one they called out their names, Imbaka spoke first followed by Gokkus followed by Cada Varl who was followed by silence, that awful soundless thing.

  A chill greater that anything the strongest of winter’s could produced filled all three of them as they looked across the clearing and saw Zova. Blood that was unmistakably hers soaked her arm as it gushed forth from her torso. She was standing with hollowed eyes staring at her hand as her legs struggled to keep her upright.

  “No!” Gokkus bellowed, a cry that even the heavens were shaken by. Without care for any traps or other dangers Gokkus ran to her dropping his weapon like it was worthless as he did so. To see a Helluvan do such a thing was absolutely shocking to the Immortal, but he would soon known why. Even before he had reached her the eyes of the man dressed in black were filled with dreaded water. He was able to place his arms around her before she began to fall, making the act as peaceful as possible. She continuously swallowed but air was not getting into her lungs as her lips trembled softly. Gokkus held her tightly as he forced his eyes to look upon where the blood was coming from. Greatly shaken he tried simply to pull her armor off as if he had forgotten everything he knew about his own people’s armory.

  On instinct Cada Varl took a step forward but instantly felt something cold and wet upon his chest. He looked down and saw the sword of Imbaka blocking his way. He looked over to her but she did not return his gaze, her eyes forced to remain upon the sight of Zova and Gokkus. With a voice as hollow as her eyes she said simply, “Let the man be with his wife, one last time.”

  This revelation made Cada Varl snap his head back to Gokkus and Zova as a great shock filled him. Not once had he seen any sign that the two had romantic affection for one another let alone that they were husband and wife. He then remembered who these people were and how the greater good of Helluv came before everything else.

  Gokkus was able to gather enough of his sense to remove the chest plate of Zova, tossing it to the side as soon as he was able to. Her undershirt was now soaked in her blood, leaving not so much as a spot untarnished with the disturbing red. He could see the source of the wound, the blade of a Gortanik glove had broken off inside of her, striking deeply through a number of organs. Gokkus quickly wrapped his hand around what he could of the blade but before he could remove it Zova’s hand gently grasped his. Instantly he looked back into her eyes and could see she was looking right him.

  “No,” she whispered, no longer capable of talking in any other way. “Do not blind me with pain…I want to see your beautiful face….”