by Jason Wilcox
One of the dark souls close to him had claws outstretched and headed right for him. He moved slowly, but Mauldrin didn’t have the time to waste. With a kick, he knocked the dark soul backwards and ran towards James. Hermue had already made an exit, seeing Smitty and Mauldrin coming his way. Mauldrin didn’t pay attention to where he had gone, since his focus was on James.
Dark souls gave no care or respect as they moved towards Mauldrin, stepping on James. He pushed harder to go faster, desiring to get to his friend. He slammed into dark souls, knocking them backwards. Pulling the trigger, he sent bullets of light floating towards the dark souls.
Kneeling down, Mauldrin felt for a pulse. There was a soft heartbeat, which shocked him. Life began to speed up again, and Mauldrin put a hand under James’s head.
“Mauldrin,” James spoke softly, as he opened his eyes. His breathing was raspy and restricted, and his muscles stayed limp in Mauldrin’s hands. A dark soul charged but became dust as Smitty joined them, keeping Mauldrin safe.
“I’m sorry James,” Mauldrin said, trying to ignore the lump in his throat. “I’m sorry I didn’t get to you in time.”
James gave a broken smile, the best he could manage. “It’s okay.” There was a sense of peace that Mauldrin could see in his eyes. “Don’t worry.” He gave a weak cough and started to close his eyes. His words were becoming quieter and his breathing grew slower. “I finally get to join my wife…” A smile grew on his face and his eyes closed. The effort he gave to stabilize his head stopped and he went limp. The raspy breathing ended.
Pulling him in close, Mauldrin hugged his friend. “Goodbye, James. I’m sorry.”
Slowly lowering James, Mauldrin clenched his teeth and fought back tears. Something moved through his body, taking hold of him. The feeling came with such force, he felt as if he was losing control of his motor functions. It was a power unlike anything he had ever experienced before.
Energy tore through his muscles and skin, causing his arms to stretch out. He floated up and everything close to him was sucked towards him. Pressure built inside, and he could feel tremors developing in his hands and head.
Finally, everything stopped moving towards him. A pile of dark souls below were growling and screaming. Many of them began to run except one, a large dark soul, frothing at the mouth. It let out a terrible scream, but Mauldrin barely heard it. His muscles shook with energy. His eyes felt as if they were going to burn out of their sockets. Unclenching his fists and opening his eyes, he saw the large dark soul dive at him, but it was too late.
A strange dark blast thundered out of him, exploding in all directions. The ground shook and groaned. Everyone was knocked down, throwing those closest to him back a number of feet, including the large dark soul.
Mauldrin collapsed to the ground, hitting hard. His body was completely drained, each muscle spent. A few screams of pain rang out. He looked at the dark soul that dove at him, flopping on the ground screaming and groaning as his skin smoldered. A few other large ones were doing the same. All the other dark souls lay silent, their skin melting away.
About five feet away, Mauldrin saw Smitty buried under a pile of dark souls. He pushed up, struggling to fight his weakened muscles. Limping, Mauldrin made his way towards the Knuckle Dragger.
“What have I done?” Mauldrin whispered. The large dark soul was finally silent and showed he was dying by his chest expanding, like a fish out of water.
Bones were all that was left of the dark souls around them and on Smitty. He brushed off the bones with his foot and knelt down by his self-designated bodyguard.
“Please tell me I didn’t kill you,” Mauldrin spoke under his breath. His muscles ached as he moved closer. Under the armor, there was a breath; Mauldrin could barely make it out. You’re okay, Mauldrin thought while tapping the metal that covered him.
A little red light blinked on the side of the helmet. Mauldrin reached up, wanting to take the helmet off, but stopped. Across the field of dead dark souls, he spotted Hermue running from the battle, straight into the woods. He reached back and touched the sheath to the sword.
“I’m sorry Smitty, but I need to leave you.” Mauldrin never took his eyes off the possessed human. The creature darted into the trees and disappeared into the shadows. Spitting blood from his mouth, Mauldrin ran as fast as he could.
CHAPTER 41
Soft bones crushed under Mauldrin’s feet as he ran towards the break in the dome. Some of the humans that had been fighting for Hermue were moaning on the ground, but most were still knocked out. There was a terrible stench in the air, which Mauldrin tried to ignore, but the smell of rotting flesh pushed into his nostrils.
A light wind provided relief from the odor as Mauldrin exited the dome. He could hear rustling of leaves and branches as he kept his pursuit into the trees.
Shadows spotted the ground under the broken forest. Markings and clues kept Mauldrin heading up the hill, as he followed Hermue’s tracks. As he passed a large tree into dense woods, Hermue came out of nowhere swinging a stick. The end splintered as it hit Mauldrin in the gut. He was flung back before he hit the ground hard and rolled a couple of times. His lungs begged for air as he gasped for breath.
Even with armor on, Mauldrin felt the blow. He winced as he rolled to his side. He was still weak from the explosion of energy. He pushed to get up but before he could, Hermue hit him on the back, knocking him down. He turned his head to try to prepare for the next attack, but it was futile. The stick smashed into his face, causing his vision to go black for a moment. He could feel blood flow onto his nose, dripping to the ground.
“You know,” Hermue said. “When I capture you, it clear to me, you no same as utters.”
Using his hand, Mauldrin wiped the blood and slowly got up. Hermue gave a sadistic smile and swung the stick at him. Mauldrin backed up as the frayed tip came centimeters from his nose. He could feel wind blow past his face. The dodge was slow and sloppy, he felt drained.
“Good.” Hermue chuckled and held the stick ready. “The sword.” He pointed with his right hand, as some of the pale human skin on his finger fell off. “Give me back!”
“You’ll have to take it from me,” Mauldrin spoke as he wiped remaining blood off his face. The cuts had already healed, but he could feel indentations from where the wounds were still trying to heal.
“Yes, good.” Hermue charged forward, holding his stick up.
Showing no fear, Mauldrin reached for the sword with a fluid movement. Hermue stopped in his tracks. His eyes grew inquisitive and his face lost emotion.
“You bluff.” Hermue took a step back. Mauldrin could tell he was waiting to see if he was going to draw the sword. Staying collected, Mauldrin kept his hand at the sword and both eyes on Hermue.
Letting out a chuckle, Hermue began to circle Mauldrin. “Matt tell me about Caden. Maybe you? No?”
There was no way Mauldrin was going to answer the question. He just wanted to kill the creature before him, the one that had killed James. He narrowed his eyes and closed his still open hand to see if he could take hold of the sword. His heart dropped. Nothing. He couldn’t grab it.
As if Hermue could read his mind, he threw the stick at him like a spear. It flew through the air. Not ready for the attack, Mauldrin threw his hands up, but found there was no need.
Unknown to him, Kaz had been watching, and jumped out, slicing the stick in half. Hermue let out an odd sounding roar, but even that was cut short as Kaz kept his sword in motion, bringing it upwards, gouging a deep cut into the side of Hermue’s face. Not letting up, Kaz spun his sword around to kill Hermue.
Lunging forward, Hermue caught Kaz by the wrist, and slammed an elbow into the large red demon’s face. More pale skin fell off his elbow. While Kaz tried to collect himself from the blow, Hermue twisted his arm and brought his knee up into Kaz’s elbow, causing Kaz to drop the sword and yell out in pain.
Kaz took a swing, clipping his nose, and knocking off more of the disgusting skin. Hermue
stayed in motion, bringing a knee into Kaz’s ribs and dropping down, he grabbed the sword. Before Kaz was ready, the point of the blade was at his neck.
“You get slow over years.” Hermue kept the sword at Kaz’s neck, ready to plunge it in.
“I see your language skills are getting better.” Kaz swallowed causing the tip of the sword to move a little. “You must’ve been practicing since we visited you the other day.” Mauldrin couldn’t believe Kaz was antagonizing him, he didn’t want Kaz dead yet, he had questions for the demon. Bending down quietly, Mauldrin picked up a sharp piece of the splintered stick.
“You sell you soul,” Hermue sounded hurt. “You kill you own people.”
Kaz’s black eyes seemed to grow darker. “Talk about selling your soul. Have you looked in the mirror lately?” he snorted as he spoke. His sarcasm was now replaced by anger.
“You die now.” The muscles in Hermue’s arm flexed as he prepared to stab the sword through Kaz, but he hadn’t paid attention to Mauldrin’s quiet advancements, and before he could act, Mauldrin stabbed the piece of wood into his hand.
Grabbing his hand, Hermue dropped the sword and screamed in pain. Kaz went for the blade but found a knee to the face. Mauldrin followed suit but was quickly hoisted up by his hair and thrown into Kaz who had been coming in for another attack.
Growling violently, Kaz pushed Mauldrin out of the way and headed back into the action, lowering a hand to pick up the sword. Hermue quickly produced a large rock and slammed it into Kaz’s head, chipping his horn. With a thud that Mauldrin could feel, Kaz fell to the ground. Mauldrin couldn’t tell if the demon was dead or alive.
Chuckling, Hermue walked over and picked the sword up. “Bridget,” he spoke and looked over at Mauldrin. “Matt say her name Bridget.”
At first Mauldrin felt confused. He didn’t understand what Hermue was trying to get at, or why he was saying Bridget’s name.
“Matt mad at me, after first arrive. Tell me he no like me actions.” Hermue once again began to circle Mauldrin, this time he didn’t seem as cautious, as if he knew Mauldrin couldn’t draw the sword. “He tell me I kill friend Caden wife, Bridget. I toss him in prison.”
Mauldrin could feel his face go blank, the muscles let go of all emotion as shock set in.
Hermue smiled. “You is Matt’s Caden.” He pointed a finger at him. “I begin to think you is Matt’s Caden when you save him from prison.”
Feelings and thoughts flooded Mauldrin’s mind. He didn’t know how to take the news. All this time he believed it had been Domblin, Triaad, the dark souls, or someone other than Matt’s team that had killed Bridget. He had not seen it coming. But the very person that sent the orders to kill Bridget had been Justin, who Hermue took over, Matt’s ‘right hand man’.
Images flashed through his mind. He could see and hear Bridget in his arms as she died. Her voice was pleading as she begged him not to let her die. In the moment that he should’ve been the hero and protected her, he had failed. Instead, he had held her, not knowing what to tell her as she slipped away and died in his arms.
Anger raged though Mauldrin and his right eye began to twitch. Hermue’s smile disappeared and he swung his sword at Mauldrin. The green lettered blade passed over him as he ducked and reached back, feeling the sword on his back calling for him. As he took hold of the worn handle, he could feel pure power flow through him as before. His mind quickened, and he could feel the sword’s dark desires.
A strong pulse beat as he pulled the sword and sent an unseen force outward, like a strong gust of wind. Hermue’s eyes narrowed as he bore his teeth. Mauldrin knew Hermue wasn’t going to chitchat anymore.
Mauldrin held the black blade in front of him. It seemed to swallow the darkness around it, pulling it in and bending light around the edges.
Hermue threw his sword at Mauldrin, and with a fluid movement, Mauldrin swung his sword through the blade. It shattered, exploding outward.
Through the pieces, Hermue dove on Mauldrin, pinning his arm so he couldn’t swing the sword. The skin around his nose, where it had been torn off, cracked and split. Claws dug into his neck and the hand that held the sword. He tried to move, but his limbs were pinned.
The piercing claws made their way deeper into his throat, making it difficult to breath. He squirmed, but it only caused Hermue to dig deeper.
“Sword.” Spit spattered Mauldrin’s face.
“Not…a…” Mauldrin coughed, finding it hard to speak with claws in his neck, “…chance.”
“Toopid human.” He ripped through the flesh on Mauldrin’s hand so he couldn’t hold the sword. “I giff you chance and mo chance.” He pushed Mauldrin’s hand away from the sword. “You mad for Bridget.” He smiled, showing his rotting teeth. “Be happy. They do you favor. If I been here I would kept her for mine own and done much funner tings. She be my slave.”
The words tore into Mauldrin’s emotions. He couldn’t handle hearing Hermue talking about his deceased wife in those words. Something deep inside of Mauldrin moved. All at once, he felt interconnected to everything around him. He could feel a pulse from the ground as if he was feeling the planet’s heartbeat. His mind was flooded with communication to all that was near. He became aware of the darkness in him as if it were alive moving through his veins and body. There was power with the darkness, and for the first time he accepted it, desired it. He needed the power for revenge.
“Get Off!” Mauldrin commanded. His wounds instantly healed, pushing Hermue’s claws out of him. He took hold of the sword, getting a firm grip. Hermue’s eyes widened, and he tried to attack Mauldrin, but was thrown backwards.
Floating to his feet, Mauldrin stared at Hermue. He felt a deep hatred for the creature, an intense lust to have him dead. The ground began to quiver around them and the trees moaned. Mauldrin felt power flowing through him that seemed to come from everywhere.
Black tears would briefly appear in midair and instantly vanish leaving behind a deafening thunderclap. They seemed to follow Mauldrin’s movements.
Still on the ground, Hermue backed up. “Who you are?” Hermue sounded nervous, unsure of what stood before him. One of the trees that was closest to Mauldrin groaned and literally moved away from him, digging through the ground with its roots.
“My name is Mauldrin,” as he spoke the name, a horrified look crossed Hermue’s face. His eyes darted around, searching for the best exit. Another black tear ripped next to him with a crackling noise. A loud thunderclap followed causing Hermue to jump.
“I sorry.” Hermue threw himself on the ground and began to grovel. “I know not. I thunk you toopid human.” Mauldrin lowered back to the ground and began walking towards him. With each step, the ground shook harder. Gusts of wind blew around them.
“I sorry. Please forgib,” Hermue kept begging. More black tears ripped around them. Each thunderous clap caused the creature to jump.
As Mauldrin stopped in front of him, the ground silenced. “You’re sorry?” Mauldrin’s voice seemed to project from everywhere, as a part of everything.
“Yes.” Hermue kept himself sprawled on the ground.
Lifting the sword, Mauldrin brought it down with as much force as he could, stabbing straight through Hermue’s chest. Blackness moved from the stab wound, eating away the body. The half demon, half man, screamed in pain as he was destroyed. Once the screams stopped and he was a pile of dust on the ground, Mauldrin pulled the sword out. Everything around him finally calmed down.
“I’m not sorry!” He spat into the black soot that marked the spot where Hermue had been. “No one talks about Bridget like that!” A loud thunderous clap followed his words.
A moan came from behind him. He held up a hand, and for once, he had control of his ability to go into shadow form. Everything around him listened to his commands. Color became muted and time seemed to slow down. Sounds became muffled. Turning, he kept his sword in hand ready to fight. Kaz rubbed his bleeding head with his good arm. His movements were slow, and his b
roken arm hung to his side. Kaz stared at the pile of ash on the ground.
Raising his hand once again, Mauldrin came out of shadow form and everything returned to normal. Kaz looked at him with surprise as Mauldrin appeared in front of him.
“Are you a part of all this?” Mauldrin demanded. He wasn’t in the mood to play around. Kaz had been someone he trusted and even looked up to, only to find he lied to Mauldrin about everything. Now was the time to get quick answers.
“Of what?” Kaz tried to push himself up, but fell back to the ground. He groaned as he hit.
“I’m told that Azgiel and you used me and were planning to kill me in the end.” Mauldrin began to slowly move towards him with the sword in hand, ready for anything.
Kaz began to shake his head as Mauldrin kept stepping towards him. “There’s more to it than that. I can explain. Azgiel has changed. He’s becoming more like his old self. I can take you to him. We can work this out.” His eyes darted to the sword and back to Mauldrin. He pushed with his leg to create more distance. Blood still dripped down his head from where the rock had hit him.
“At least tell me this,” Mauldrin began. “You had nothing to do with my wife’s death, correct?” He tightened his grip on the sword. He wasn’t sure if he could kill Kaz because of all he had done for him. Mauldrin had grown to like the demon, but if he had been part of his wife’s death, he would have to die.
There was a look of relief on Kaz’s face. “Mauldrin,” he said with a soft voice. “Bridget’s still alive.”
The twitch in Mauldrin’s eye worsened. “She’s alive? You want me to believe you, when I held her as she died!” Mauldrin kicked dirt at him as he yelled. Dark, black storm clouds circled overhead and large bolts of lightning scorched the ground followed by loud thunder.
“Yes, yes,” Kaz spoke quickly. “Azgiel, with the Witch’s help, brought her back. She is still alive; she helped you get out of the cave with the dark matter. But we lost you after that. We didn’t know what happened to you.” He swallowed and slowly got to his feet. “We thought you went through the gate. We sent her along with a team of demons to bring you back.”
