by Jason Wilcox
“Nah, that’s okay. They would’ve been on the top of your desk, so don’t worry about it.” Matt stood and paced the room.
“Well, I’ll just take a quick look,” Caden said while he started to sift through his little piles of papers.
“By the way, what are you doing here at this time of night?” Matt asked while turning off his vibrating cell phone.
A picture of Bridget sat next to Caden’s computer. Her smile sparkled and her silky brown hair blew in the wind. Caden sighed and turned his attention back to Matt. “Bridget and I had a fight about us leaving, which turned into an argument about marriage. Needless to say, I left and came here because my condo just didn’t sound inviting.” He revealed a little more information than he normally would, but it was late and he needed to vent a little.
“Women. I’m telling you. They’re not worth keeping around for very long. They lose their purpose after about two months,” Matt spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.
Caden didn’t say anything. He sat in his chair staring at Bridget’s picture, thinking back on his first two months with her. They had so much excitement and passion in the beginning. The relationship wasn’t bogged down by so much complexity. He could still remember the first time he met her. She had been taking care of wounded soldiers in the army hospital. He was there after being shot twice on the battlefield. It had happened during the last war, back when he was in the military.
Matt cut off Caden’s thoughts. “Listen, take some advice from a very old friend and just leave her alone for a while. Let her cool down and realize what a great thing she has. She’ll chill out and let the issue go. Marriage will only lead to hurt and anguish, take my word for it.”
Silence filled the room for a moment. Caden didn’t know what to say. He did remember Matt telling him about his marriage years ago, and how devastating it turned out to be after his wife cheated on him. Shortly after that, Matt divorced her.
Mags broke the awkward silence with a whimper and kicked her feet from a bad dream. Caden stood and rubbed his neck. “Well, I think I’m going to kick you out and get some rest.” Caden started making his way over to the couch.
Matt hopped off the windowsill and made his way for the door. “Enjoy the couch.”
“I will. Talk to you tomorrow.” Caden’s words faded as Matt left the room, not worrying about finishing his statement. Matt had shut off the lights when he left. Caden laid his head on one of the couch pillows.
The next thing he knew, Sally called his name, and the sun shone through the large windows. He blinked a couple of times to clear his vision and sat up. She held a cup of hot chocolate in a black mug and smiled.
“Girl troubles, huh?” Sally asked as she sat down next to Caden.
Lifting his left eyebrow, Caden didn’t respond. He looked down at his watch and fidgeted uncomfortably. The plan had been to wake up before Sally got there.
“Still afraid to marry her?” She stopped for a second and looked at Caden with a look that made him a little uncomfortable, as if she could read him like a book. “You know, from an outsider’s perspective, the two of you already act like you’re married. The only difference is you haven’t gone through the ceremony.”
“Now what business is it of yours to be snooping and analyzing my relationship?” he spoke sharply, but not as sharply as he had planned. A part of him wanted to let go and talk with Sally about Bridget. He ran his hands through his messed up hair and cleared his throat.
“I’m a woman, snooping and analyzing is part of my nature,” she spoke with a strong voice, surprising Caden, since she hadn’t really talked to him like that before. She tightened her lips for a second and went on. “Fire me if you need to, but if I was that girl, I would’ve left you by now if you were dragging your feet like this.” Sally glanced at her wedding ring. “I mean, there are so many people that know one another a whole lot less than you and Bridget, and they get married. They do it because they love and trust each other.”
Caden drank his hot chocolate to give him a second to think. She was right, but she didn’t know all that he had been through. He thought back to the many times he had one-on-one conversations with his adopted mother, pleading with her to leave his adopted father. She would always say no, that he was a good man inside. That he just had some bad spots in him that needed to be worked out. She truly loved and trusted him, because he was a ‘good man’. It was almost as if she was always trying to convince herself that he was a ‘good man’. And then that one line she would always add, “You’ll be a ‘good man’ someday, too.”
Sally took Caden’s empty cup and stood staring him in the eyes. “Look, she’s got more patience than I do, but that patience won’t last forever.” She went to turn away but stopped short and placed the mug on his desk. “Where is Bridget right now? If I were you, I’d go fix whatever’s going on between you two before you leave. It’s not good to leave this festering.”
Caden looked up with bloodshot eyes. She’s at work. He got off the couch and snapped his fingers for Mags to follow him. Now would be the perfect time to run Mags over to her place and leave her there. He looked back at Sally, who was folding the blanket. “Thanks for the advice.” The words somewhat surprised him.
“You should just let your fears go,” she said, laying the blanket on the back of the couch.
The smooth, dark oak of his door under his fingers reminded him of last night. “Sally, did you leave my door unlocked last night?”
“No, sir. I make sure it’s locked every night.”
CHAPTER 5
FIRST RECORD OF TAGEN
Myree Date 14-3-23.2
Dead soldiers and their horses lined the ground appearing as lumps scattered across the trampled grass under the moonlight. Their simple weapons of swords, shields, and archery equipment seemed laughable at best to Tagen, especially when they were fighting against Azgiel. He wasn’t certain why a batch of humans would fight him in the first place. To the East, he could see where they had come from, down a large hill. From where he stood, he could see a small village. The warriors must’ve been an accumulation of peasants.
The flesh on the fallen was still warm, and some of them groaned. Azgiel and his army couldn’t be far off. Tagen’s master and creator, Triaad, had given him direct orders to find Azgiel, see what was left of his army, and watch it be destroyed without being seen. After his tasks were accomplished, Tagen was to report back.
Tagen had watched while Triaad worked long and hard to get to his prestigious status. Triaad had been Azgiel’s top advisor. All of his power had been given to him by Azgiel, separating him from the human race. Without Azgiel knowing, Triaad had refined those powers as well as creating what he called the Dark Souls, Tagen’s race. And Tagen loved making his master happy.
Triaad rewards me well when I do what he asks.
Tagen looked across the uneventful battlefield. A soldier, who was dressed in leather armor, with different colored stitching on the fringes, got to his feet. Part of the leather on his left arm was melted away along with some of his flesh. He looked in poor shape. Tagen stared at him for a minute. Humans, such curious creatures.
Being in shadow form, the human couldn’t see him. A horse pulling a wooden cart, with spears and swords in it caught Tagen’s attention, not necessarily the cart, but what was beyond it. A light glow could be seen through the trees. Azgiel’s camp! Only he would be arrogant enough to camp this close to his victorious slaughter.
A dog came to the injured human, its fur matted with blood. The animal looked at Tagen and began to growl.
“What is it, boy?” the warrior asked still on one knee.
Tagen chuckled at the planet’s lack of technology. The population still used swords and spears to protect itself. It wasn’t like his home planet, where the humans were much further advanced.
The dog kept barking, so Tagen showed himself and hissed, scaring the man to the point he fell back and sent the dog yelping. Wasting no more time, he went back to sh
adow form. He moved across the field with skillful speed. His feet ran over corpses and dying soldiers with ease. Keeping at the same pace, he flew through the cart as if it weren’t there, as if it were an illusion. He kept his speed up until he finally heard the gruff tones of demons. Sure enough, it was Azgiel’s camp. He had to be there somewhere.
Large demons that looked like mounds, some with horns, sat around campfires. Azgiel always kept the big ones with him. Some had wings and some didn’t. Being as quiet as possible, Tagen began to circle the camp to get an idea of how many were left.
Footsteps came towards Tagen. He moved to a bush and froze. A dark blue demon with a massive sword walked past him. He hadn’t been seen, and as the demon disappeared into the camp, Tagen let out a breath he had been holding. A few demons had the ability to see dark souls even when they were in shadow form. Each demon had strengths and weaknesses. Unfortunately, Tagen could never sort out which demons could spot him and which ones couldn’t.
Moving rapidly, Tagen circled the camp continuing his count of demons. With each step, he took precautions not to make noise or do anything that might give his position away. A strong wind whistled through the trees blowing against his back as he came to the end where a large tent stood with demons around it. The tent had to be Azgiel’s, since it was bigger and had many guards around it.
He was in shock. Triaad’s calculations of possibly an army over a thousand were way off. There were only about two hundred demons and creatures combined. It was time to hide out, stay out of sight, and watch. Excitement surged through him. He couldn’t wait to see a good fight.
Getting out of the wind, Tagen pranced over and crouched down in several large bushes that surrounded some trees. He snuggled down in the softened ground layered with years of fallen pine needles. There’s no telling how long I’m going to have to camp out before Azgiel’s army is finally eliminated, so I’ll need to stay in the shadows- Tagen’s thoughts were disrupted. Something gripped his shoulder and slammed him into the tree. Blackness followed.
Tagen’s vision was fuzzy when he regained consciousness. “Azgiel.” The large man stood in front of him, his face showed the signs of war since the last time Tagen had spied on him. That had been back when he still lived in the kingdom, before the war. Dark bags hung under his eyes, and his unshaven face bore a grimace. A large scar split his upper forehead, which was purple in the cool night air.
“At least this one acknowledges knowing my name.” Azgiel’s deep voice echoed. He looked at Tagen, moving closer. “Let’s see if you’ll die like the others, or if you’ll make the choice to talk before we torture you to death.” A sickening smile grew across his face before he turned and walked away.
Others? What others? Triaad hadn’t mentioned others. Was he bluffing? Two demons held him tightly. A number of others stood around. A greenish hued one, taller than the others, came forward with a spiked wooden club. Tagen wasn’t going to stick around. Time to leave.
Changing quickly, he went into shadow form and slipped out of the demon’s hands. One step was all he got. The greenish demon clawed into his neck and slammed him to the ground. Sticks and rocks poked into his back, and he was unable to keep shadow form.
“You try that again, and I’ll cut your legs off like I did to the others when they tried to escape,” the demon said gruffly, spitting in Tagen’s face as he spoke.
After three hours, Tagen couldn’t take anymore. The extensive torture was too much. It can’t hurt to tell them, since they will be dead soon. “I’ll talk.” Tagen sputtered, black blood dripped down his chin.
Grinning, the green demon gripped his cheeks and squeezed. “What are you? Who sent you?”
Tagen shook off the demon’s grip. Azgiel still didn’t know anything about them? Triaad was able to keep all of this a secret? Tagen felt both shocked and amazed. “Triaad calls us…” Tagen swallowed the oozing blood down his throat. “…Dark souls. He sent me.”
The demon got into Tagen’s face and squinted at him for a moment, trying to read him. Finally, he stood up and looked at the group of demons that encircled them. “Take him to Azgiel and report what he said.” Two demons grabbed him on both sides and carried him towards the large tent.
The morning light was dawning when the demons pierced a sword through his right shoulder, pinning him to a tree. His dark shadowy body tensed from the searing pain, and black oily blood ran down his chest, giving off a rancid odor.
Tagen looked around at the different demons and creatures in the camp, intermixed with a few humans. A large, dark, silver demon stepped in front of him and pierced another sword through his left thigh, which made a hollow thud as it hit the trunk of the tree. Both of his legs dangled from being broken in several of places. He could feel the throbbing of his muscles and bones trying to rapidly heal themselves, but after so much damage, his normal speedy healing process would take much longer.
“Tha’ should hold ya,” the older demon spat with a raspy voice. Tagen wanted to prove him wrong and transform into shadow form, which would allow him to move through the metal, but he knew the second he did, they would kill him. In his state, he wouldn’t be able to escape fast enough.
Four demons stood around him, all large and as broad as an old tree, waiting for anything that would warrant a reason to kill him. Only ten feet away stood the large tent with heavily armored demons who gave Tagen a shiver. The old demon that stuck him to the tree entered the tent only to come back out followed by their king, Azgiel.
“I’m told you’re ready to talk. And that you’re sent by Triaad,” Azgiel spoke with perfect calmness.
“Yesss,” Tagen sputtered.
“Get on with it. I don’t have much time.” Azgiel rubbed his hands up and down his arms from a cool breeze, his broad muscles tightening then relaxing.
“Triaad…” Tagen took a breath to ward off the sharp pain in his shoulder. “He sent me to…spy.” Another breath. “Triaad…expects you to fall…soon. He decimated your reinforcements. They’re not coming…I’m…just here…to see your fall and report back to him of when it happens…so he can…be the new ruler.”
Azgiel analyzed Tagen with his cold dark eyes. “Triaad has betrayed me, has he? My most trusted advisor? And my reinforcements are dead?" A smile grew on Azgiel’s face. “Triaad might’ve betrayed me, but there’s no way he could’ve depleted my reinforcements. You’re lying. I don’t believe you or the other black creatures that serve Triaad. He’s not clever enough to gather followers.” Stepping closer to one of the guards, Azgiel gripped the handle of the demon’s sword closest to Tagen and began to draw it. Tagen knew he was dead.
A large, burly creature covered in thick brown hair charged into the camp as Azgiel drew the sword. Blood dripped from his arm. “We’re under attack!” the creature yelled. Azgiel gave the sword back to the demon to see what the commotion was. Tagen exhaled.
Moving back towards his tent, Azgiel spoke to the silver demon who had stabbed Tagen with the sword, “My armor!” Azgiel then turned his attention to the new creature. “How close are they?” Azgiel demanded while strapping on his chest plate. The armor was dark plated metal with three diagonal red lines on the chest piece.
“They’re right behind me, only minutes away,” the creature blurted. “Mauldrin’s army annihilated our front lines during the night.”
“Mauldrin’s army?” Azgiel furled his brow with befuddlement as he peered through the forest. “His whole army?” The creature nodded. “And Mauldrin himself is leading them?”
Azgiel didn’t wait to hear any more. “My sword.” Azgiel ordered and then turned to his small army. “To arms. Now is the time to give everything you have, it’s the moment we’ve been waiting for. Mauldrin is here.” Azgiel peered over at Tagen with anger. “So fight hard. Your lives depend on it,” he yelled to his small army while the silver demon got Azgiel’s sword from the tent.
Trampling hoof beats were heard in the distance as Azgiel took hold of his sword. The ground s
hook, inflicting more pain in Tagen’s shoulder and leg.
An army could be seen through the trees. A man, large in stature, with light gray armor, led the army. As the man approached the camp with an enormous army, a light glowed from him that hurt Tagen’s eyes. Tagen knew it had to be Mauldrin. He had never seen him before, only heard stories.
Demons and strange creatures came out of the woodwork, charging Mauldrin from all sides. He lifted a hand, producing a bright light followed by a strange vibrating sound, and then the creatures and demons were gone as a wave of light engulfed them. Tagen witnessed a power he’d never seen before as Mauldrin annihilated Azgiel’s army. A wave of a hand or a pointing of a finger sent powerful waves of light smashing through trees and engulfing demons. Nothing was left alive in its path.
As Azgiel drew his sword preparing to fight, Tagen felt a wave of energy hit him from the sword. The black blade appeared to eat the light that touched it. Tagen could tell from Mauldrin’s fierce stare that he was intent on reaching Azgiel. He slammed through another wave of demons as he persisted towards his target. None of them was left standing.
Mauldrin jumped off his horse as he reached Azgiel, rolled once and came to his feet, kicking Azgiel back with the heel of his foot. Azgiel regained balance and swung his sword, which seemed to tear through the air with black flames, but missed. He followed with a hand outstretched and spoke one word, “Ptarion.” Mauldrin uncontrollably flew backwards and smashed into a large boulder.
Not wanting to be around to be dealt with by either victor, Tagen tried to shift into shadow form. Too weak. He couldn’t change.
Azgiel ran at Mauldrin who slowly got up. The sword flew at Mauldrin’s head, but he backed up and flung his hand out with white energy at his fingertips. Sparks flew as the sword slowed, but didn’t stop.
Mauldrin screamed as two fingers were severed. He jumped back, almost appearing to fly. While tucking his bleeding right hand against his leg, he lifted his other hand in the air. Large flat boulders sprang out of the ground and imprisoned Azgiel. Demons were in the distance fighting Mauldrin’s army. Surprisingly, there were more demons now than what he had counted in camp the night before. Tagen had no idea where they all came from.
