by Edison G. S.
But that would be selfish. He needed to know his true lifeblood, especially since it would be carried on to his children. Besides, the day might come when he needed to protect his family, as had happened to her. She knew she still had some time before Omar’s powers awakened completely. She would feel a unique burst of energy when the day came; she just hoped they would be safe under her sister’s protection when the demons came chasing after him. At least, humans did not chase and burn witches and wizards anymore, so he would be safe in one aspect.
Andreas
Oftentimes he dreamed about the old woman, Melantha; she was mysterious, but he did not feel the evil characteristic of witches in her. Months passed since he saw her; he told her he would discuss it with his soldiers, but he knew they would be against his wild idea, thus he internalized it.
Shortly after the event he was certain there would be an immense confrontation with Anthony, but Anthony has remained quiet. He was against Andreas’ decisions, but he was not ready to challenge him again.
Andreas was taking out his coat and searching for his sleepwear. She is truly strong, he thought while gazing at Marie. She was changing her clothes into comfortable sleepwear. Her belly was swollen, but she had no problem changing and moving. Andreas was fascinated at how women could move at all while carrying another human being inside. As if alerted by his reflections, she tripped and almost fell to the ground, but she instinctively grabbed the wall. He stirred, worried, but she waved him away to show she was fine.
His eyes saddened to realize she was not as strong as he wished. Without his support, it was uncertain if she could make it in the world. Her current status made her fragile and the demon strikes could one day kill her. In times of worry, he imagined her trying to run, but her weight would slow her down. In the end, she would lie dead on the hard ground, two lifeless hearts in one body. He held back tears and tried to imagine a better situation. I will protect her, always. If one day I am gone, her brother will take care of her and our baby.
“What are you thinking about my wild wolf?” she smiled while lying on bed and biting her lower lip seductively. Her coquette smile accentuated her dimples.
He sat next to her still dressed. “It’s nothing,” he replied while massaging her mature womb.
“But you seem distant tonight. Is there a problem?”
“Not at all, it is just that…” he could not come up with an excuse for his far away thoughts.
“You can tell me your thoughts; being pregnant does not make me as weak as you think,” she said while turning to the other direction. .
“You know I trust you,” he finally articulated while surrounding her waist with his arms and cupping her swollen breast. He kissed her back softly, but she turned abruptly, her eyes sharp.
“Then why do I need to find out things through my brother?” She turned to face him again, her eyes relaxed, yet desperately looking for his. “He told me you are having trouble commanding. He said you are running out of options and resources.”
“Anthony should not disperse information about my duties. Being my brother-in-law does not give him the right to do so.” He swiftly left the warm bed and paced the room shaking his hands in the air. “I sometimes regret I enlisted him as one of my generals. His stubbornness and lack of prudence will one day cause tribulations. You will see,” he grumbled while shaking his fist in the air. Andreas’ priority was Marie’s safety, but Anthony had been careless to worry a pregnant woman.
“My love. He did not mean to reveal any confidential information. He is just…worried… about you and the troops.”
“Worried?” he laughed sarcastically. “He does not respect my decisions and believes he could do better. If he is better then why did Commander Winterton choose me instead? Your brother is jealous,” he stopped for a second when he realized he was talking to his pregnant wife about her brother and one of his most trusted men. True, the demons brought the worse out in Anthony, but one time in the past, he had been a brother for him.
In a sense, Andreas understood how betrayed Anthony probably felt. Andreas had trusted a witch, and that was something that could upset Anthony, or anyone for that matter. He looked at the drawer where the dagger and the potion were hidden. Did I make the wrong decision? He opened the drawer and grabbed the dagger. He looked at it carefully and decided he probably was making fallacious decisions. Have I lost my mind? And I too weak to defeat Kazar by myself? Maybe someone stronger should take my role, someone younger.
He sat on the edge of the bed and stared at the wall, deep in thought. Marie sat in the bed and came from behind to hug him tightly. Single-handed, he grabbed her hands on his chest and kissed them softly. “I am sorry,” he said. With the other hand he held the dagger firmly and decided the time had come to trust his closest allies. He would dispose of the dagger and the potion first thing in the morning.
But a screaming boy interrupted the thought.
* * *
“You jerk!” the boy screamed and soon Andreas realized Aaron was outside the house. It is dark outside, he thought. He is not supposed to be outside this late. He sheathed the dagger in his belt and ran to the window; the young boy was standing in the open picking up toys covered in white snow.
Rolando stood in front of him near the door. The rooms of the house were on the upper level of the building, while everything else was on the lower floor. Andreas looked through the wide window down to the ground and his eyes were blinded for a second. Behind the boy, a figure approached from a considerable distance, walking between the empty streets of the town. He felt chills running up and down his spine as he heard the loud sound of bells.
“Demons,” he said and ran downstairs while Marie lagged behind him. “Stay here!” he commanded and closed the door behind him. The last thing he heard was Marie’s crying.
Outside the door, Andreas pushed Rolando back through the entryway and carried Aaron inside while the boy stretched his hands to grab the toys on the ground.
“He threw my toys away!” the smaller one wailed.
“You had it coming! Get them out of my way. You will never stop being a baby, will you?” asked the eldest.
“Stop, you two—now!” It was Sub-Commander Andreas talking, not their father. The boys kept silent, knowing something was amiss. Andreas closed the door and prepared for a fight. “Run to your rooms and go to sleep now. Make sure Jeremiah does the same.”
He grabbed his sword and covered his body with the thick cloak and put on his gorget. That was one thing his soldiers and the soldiers of the Desert had in abundance. They had received them as donations long ago and they had proven useful since demons usually aimed to bite the neck.
Rolando knew what it meant and blew the flames of the candles out while the younger boy fell to the ground shivering. Andreas was ready to open the door when a loud banging on the door made the boys jump.
“Andreas,” Anthony roared while entering, dank in sweat from running.
Andreas noticed blood dripping from his injured arm. “What is happening?” Concern and fear filled Andreas’ voice.
“They are here,” he muttered, his voice darker than usual.
“I saw them,” he assured.
Together they went outside while Aaron cried, “Please, stay.”
The crying was soon quieted by the shrieks of women, children, and men fearing for their lives, and of being taken prisoners. A few houses were turned to pieces and the survivors sprinted away looking for shelter. Some had built underground shelters in which they stowed away safely.
Andreas and Anthony ran around looking for the demons when they encountered a scene unlike any they imagined or planned for. Demons were galloping, using their arms and legs like beasts and throwing themselves against soldiers that did not stand a chance. Andreas was not well covered, yet felt no cold. The heat inside of him was a mixture of anger and fear—fear for those he swore to protect.
Quickly he realized this attack was different than the previous ones. One o
f Kazar’s sons, Alar, was directing the attack. He stood tall in the middle of the snow—his sterling hair flowed down his back, his face smooth and young. Hundreds of superhuman demons followed his orders and slaughtered soldiers in the blink of an eye.
Andreas remembered seeing the demon a few years back The demon had not aged. They truly belong to the Underworld if they have the power to remain young forever. He saw soldiers risking their lives to save others; most of them had already lost everything and only lived to avenge their lost ones.
Andreas started running toward the scene with Anthony next to him. Though he had disagreed with most of Andreas’ choices, he stood humbly next to him in battle. Most villagers followed the escape procedures and hid in the small underground refuges. The stark cold of the shelters shut the demons out since they could not search for signs of heat. Some demons were smart enough to turn houses to pieces and then move the debris away to reach the underground spaces, but the underground refuges where covered by a flat door. Even if they broke the doors open, they could not infiltrate the sacred space that belonged to the living.. However, some villagers were too careless and looked at the demons; their powers of compulsion forced the villagers to invite the demons in, allowing them to continue the killing.
Swords shined and clanked here and there to the light of the moon as the men fought braver than ever before. Anthony stood by Andreas’ side while he made his way towards the leading demon. A demon reached towards Anthony, but he moved his sword with such agility the demon was sliced throughout its body. Nonetheless, the creature kept moving and jumped on top of Anthony, grabbing his gorget with both hands and ripping it open, revealing Anthony’s sweaty neck. The demon savored the blood rushing through Anthony’s veins. Just as he was about to bite down on him, Anthony managed to put his sword through the creature’s belly and split him open from the belly to the chest, reaching its heart.
Anthony yanked his sword from the creature, the juices of its insides still clinging and dripping from his blade. He ran towards the pack, wielding his sword toward another demon standing within feet of him surrounded by a dozen of his own kind. Anthony charged them, slicing the monsters in half while Andreas approached others. Once again, the two were a team in battle.
The demons swiftly recognized Andreas’ intentions and lunged with all their strength toward him. Back to back, Andreas and Anthony fought the demons around them. Andreas opened his way to reach Alar. One of the superhuman demons managed to cut flesh out of Andreas face with his long nails. Andreas retreated, but the demon stretched its long arm, gauging a wound on Andreas’ bicep. Andreas yelled, both in anger and pain, as he was ready to attack the creature when suddenly an arrow came out of the sky and struck the demon in the head, killing it.
Andreas looked around; everywhere soldiers and demons fought and began to fall—mounds of death within a former tranquil town. Other soldiers appeared and fought the demons, leaving Andreas free to fight Alar while Anthony helped him to open the way.
Andreas walked over corpses and mounds of snow until he came upon Alar, smugly awaiting the leader of The Frozen Land.
“Do not dare come any closer human trash!” the demon groaned, looking at him with reproaching silver eyes.
“Your own kind is the trash of the Underworld,” he screamed, “you have been thrown on our lands as a curse from the king of the Underworld and the witches!”
“You humans become more ignorant with each slaughtering,” the demon said with a wry smile. He moved with such speed Andreas barely saw him coming.
Suddenly, his cold, slender, bonny fingers snatched Andreas’ broken gorget off. Andreas felt the piece of metal scratching his nape. Alar lifted droplets of blood from the wound and sucked them off his digit; Andreas shivered.
Alar smiled at him, “Good quality. Should I kill you now?” the demon baited while lifting Andreas up from his neck, “Or should I keep you suffering a bit more?” he smirked. He was so strong he could easily break Andreas’ neck, but that was not his intention; the creature was playing a game, savoring his suffering.
Andreas thought he could hear Rolando’s voice, but remembered he was safe at home; he had probably lost too much air and was hallucinating.
Except the shadow of his son came bounding in, striking a sword against the demon, “Let go of my father!” he commanded.
The demon became distracted and released Andreas enough so he could breathe again. Andreas feared for Rolando; it was foolish of him to appear in a fight this dangerous without anyone nearby to help him; Anthony and some of the other soldiers were fighting just beyond them.
Barely touching Rolando, Alar threw him ten feet in the air. Andreas had been clasping one of the demon’s hands to try to lift his weight a bit; releasing the demon’s hand, he grabbed his sword from his belt. The pain was stronger now, but Andreas managed to direct the sword toward the demon. The monster chortled brashly and snatched the sword, breaking it to pieces with one hand. Far away, Rolando was unconscious on the ground.
“I should kill your son first,” the demon fixed his eyes on Andreas, “and let you watch as I sink my teeth into his neck.”
Even though he felt his life abandoning his body, he still fought to stay alive. His son’s life was at stake and Jeremiah, Aaron, Marie, and even the baby would die one-by-one if he let Alar kill him at that very moment. The images started fading away. With his last ounce of strength, he reached for the dagger hidden in the backside of his belt. He had not intended to use it, but he had to give it a try; it was his last option. Grabbing it by the blade behind his back, he cut himself, but he dared to attempt the witch’s trick. He felt numbness in his limbs, yet he managed to raise the dagger and direct it to the demon’s heart.
He opened his eyes and saw indiscernible shades, but something was certain. The demon had grabbed the dagger with his hand stopping Andreas from reaching his only vital organ. Then everything was a blur; Andreas fell to the ground gasping for air and looking around as his eyes began to clear.
All around, demons were dying and turning to dust. Alar, right in front of him, was putrefying. The demonic being collapsed and with his death his spawn were dying helplessly. The remaining soldiers broke the rancid figures to ash. What is happening?
“I said you would use it soon,” Melantha said appearing next to him with her warm smile. “You cut his hand.”
He stared at her with confused eyes trying to understand where she appeared from and how she survived the attack. Then he looked down at the dagger with the same confusion. He looked back at the aging witch and ran to Rolando’s side. The young man was waking up, unharmed. Andreas sighed in relief and looked back at the witch, but she vanished.
Sunlight started peeking over the horizon and the wind whisked away a dark cloud of demon ashes. The men celebrated and once again hope was reflected in their faces.
Was it an illusion? Was it witchcraft? He did not know, nor did he care to know.
Only one thing mattered—he had a powerful ally.
Holga
Caira was well known for trading; hundreds of embarkations came and went daily to the other three territories. The city was rich in building, which Holga and the boys had been admiring for a couple of months. . In the center of the city, arouse like a colossus, a massive building honoring the king. The Sub-Commander of the Desert had done an amazing job making sure her natal city was prosperous; however, living in Caira would be unaffordable. Thousands could pass through the city, but few had the privilege of staying.
There were all types of products in the markets from every city in The Land of The Men. The wagoner had brought Holga and her boys far; all they needed now was ship tickets, something that they could not afford. Holga thought about offering her services in the kitchen in exchange for the journey ticket, but the men were rough merchants and fishermen whom did not need the kids there. The women they were used to carrying were of a different kind. She had tried to get decent work in hostels, and everywhere, but nobody wanted t
o hire her. Most merchants brought their servants with them and those that came without servitude just used women for personal satisfaction.
She knew she was left without an option. At first, Holga blushed and walked away when merchants confessed what kind of uses they could give her, but now she had grown numb to the offenses and eventually saw no other choice than selling her dignity. Her boys had something in their bellies, which was all that mattered. At least that is what she told herself when dirty strangers penetrated her body. Afterward, they usually gave her a few coins and left her there staring at the roof. She always said she would do anything for her children; now it was true.
Since they arrived at Caira, she had been humiliated every day at the brothel. First, the owner did not want her because of her age, but a customer requested her service and the owner had no choice. The few coins she received were barely enough for some bread; everything else was too unaffordable.
This night, they were lucky enough to eat rice and beans though they used their dirty, bare hands to eat. They ate in silence; the exhaustion was obvious. Even Neil, whom had been all his life very active and energetic, had been very quiet and sleepy lately. Their clothes were almost in pieces and they barely could shower. Holga struggled to hold her tears. It was heartbreaking to see her boys in such state.
They were hiding, behind a palace, protected by sand walls; they sat down to ingest what they could while the dark of the sky surrounded them. They could not afford a place for the night, but they had entered the place climbing the wall. They have been hiding in different locations every week. This time they were concealed in a courtyard between the main building and the wall surrounding it. The demons could not attack them there and the owner would not see them, but they were still exposed to the cold night. Holga felt relieved to know they were so close to the Forest.
