The Coming Of The Light (Guardian Series)

by JW Baccaro

Talvenya had noticed—it but wasn’t concerned, thinking of the thing like some hideous sidekick of Ormehthone’s.

  An enormous creature, about ten feet tall, a humanoid figure fashioned from earthen materials. Its chest, torso and shoulder blades consisted of metal. Its upper arms-and-legs were made of wood and the forearms, wrists and hands, as well as from the knees down were thick gray stone. It wore a silver helm, shielding its face—or perhaps that was its face?

  Studying the thing and noticing Ormehthone’s necklace, a bronze human skull connected to a large iron chain, gave away its identity, a Soul Guardian, a being that is bound to its master’s essence, what the master feels, it feels, what the master desires—good or evil, it desires. Talvenya was no stranger to them, creatures created by master sorcerers said to know the most ancient and deepest of black magic…powers almost entirely forgotten.

  Ormehthone is such a master. After arranging the right materials, proper spells and blood sacrifices the Guardians were ‘brought to life’ and controlled by their master with an amulet having been bathed in sacrificial blood, along with the master’s own blood sixty days and sixty nights and then purged by Elvish fire. The amulet becomes the source of their existence. The mere strength alone a Soul Guardian possesses, with fists of stone is unsurpassable, so they say.

  “What types of horror did you commit in order to create that…thing?”

  “Ah, even you with a blackened heart could not bear it.”

  "Oddly enough, you speak the truth. I may serve on the side of the Dark, but no one I know, not even the Demon Lord comes close to having a heart like yours…Madman!"

  Ormehthone laughed. “I take that as a complement.”

  For a few minutes, they did nothing except stare at one another. Ormehthone’s stupid grin drove Talvenya insane. No doubt he was studying her, combing every inch of her body with his eyes, probably fantasizing about what he wished he could do. Talvenya knew she looked beautiful, and often used that as one of her most efficient weapons—seduction. Long ago it took him well. But his crazed expression sickened her and she wanted to wipe it from his face, permanently. He’d lived alone long enough; perhaps killing him now would not be such a bad idea. To feel his lifeless corpse beneath her feet. Oh yes, kill him she would, the thought began to excite her and she hadn’t felt excitement in a long while. It felt so good.

  “Rumor has it you have been sloppy my dear,” he taunted, “Worst of all, leaning toward the Light. Come on, I taught you better than that.”

  “Let us make things clear, I may wish to separate myself from Asgoth, but I am no disciple of the Light. And I know Tanarokai sent you to slay me, I only ask how one as yourself, after all these years of silence, has come to Asgoth? Was it the loneliness?” she asked, curving her lips into a sarcastic smile.

  Showing little emotion he responded, “I came to kill the Dark Queen whom I made. From what I have heard Asgoth is supposed to be ruthless and unconquerable, a land that knows no mercy. But after conversation with your King I see you are trying to change things starting with the slaves. Mercy? Oh precious one, what has gotten into you? What infection?”

  “What goes on in my mind is none of your concern.” She clenched her fists.

  “I know your mind better than any, my love. After all, I molded it…now I am going to vanquish it. Yes, Tanarokai sent me to destroy the Queen of Asgoth, becoming such an embarrassment to the country that from now on all Rule will be given for the King to decide, even after he takes another Queen.”

  “I stand curious, what did Tanarokai give you for this?”

  “Ah, I was offered a share of Asgoth, to dominate the clan of Dark Elves and all their possessions. Not my breed of course, but still, they are ancestors. However I turned it down, living in a city is not my thing you know. He seemed quite surprised when I said I would do you for nothing.”

  “Well, you two really seem to have bonded, maybe you should be his Queen, share his bed.”

  This came as no insult to Ormehthone. When it came to sexual relations he did not care the gender, male or female. Only, he would not succumb to a ‘Queen.’ He’d always been the alpha in bed, dominating both males and females. The only individual who drove him to submission, strangely, was Talvenya, becoming his mistress for a night—the same night she ended his race.

  “Oh, that is right, you cannot. How ridiculous of me to forget I took away your most cherished ‘precious.’ Best not get too excited anyhow Ormehthone, because after I slaughter you…I am going for him.”

  “Still a dreamer I see.” He shook a finger at her. “Talvenya Talvenya, when are you going to learn, the student does not defeat the teacher.”

  “I did well last time,” she boasted, placing both hands on her hips, giving him an attractive, dominant stare. Perhaps it would work again? After all, having the desire to be dominated goes beyond mere sexual fetishes.

  “Spoken truly, precious one. You did exceptionally well, my little girl. But seduction has its limits and shall not work a second time.”

  There goes that idea.

  “When I am finished with you I will be joining Tanarokai’s army to march off to war with Ashhaven.”

  This sparked an interest. “…Ashhaven?”

  “No more talk. I want to see you in pain. Ingor, break her bones, tear them limb from limb, and set the pieces before my feet.”

  The bronze skull amulet hanging from Ormehthone’s neck lit up a bright green, as did the shadowy slit upon the Soul Guardian’s helm. It walked forward, the ground trembling from its pounding steps.

  Talvenya steadied herself, preparing to strike. Then just as Ingor came only a few feet in distance, she jumped up and threw a lightning fast kick, striking the thing in its head, the silver helm never budging, not an inch. Talvenya tried again, this time wailing it in the chest with a spin kick but the only thing she accomplished was bruising her heel.

  “All your martial arts against my Guardian are in vain,” Ormehthone gloated.

  Ingor smacked her across the face with its stone hand, sending her flying through the air like debris and tumbling to the ground.

  Blood gushed from her cheek and Talvenya’s head felt split open.

  The Soul Guardian brought down its mighty fists, this time striking the ground causing it to open like an earthquake. Trees, boulders and small rocks came crashing down.

  Talvenya also lost her balance and fell, catching the top ledge of the opening. She tried pulling herself up but her strength seemed to be failing.

  Then the green light shining out of Ingors’ helm became brighter; a reverse spell was cast upon the ground. The hole began to seal, crushing to pieces whatever fell in. The trees, the boulders and in a few moments—her!

  Come on woman, do not give in! Finding enough strength, she managed to climb to the surface just as the earth reformed entirely, leaving behind a line of energy bursting into green sparks. The next moment, a kick to the stomach greeted her, the blow hard, possibly damaging her innards. Rolling on the ground, she spat out a mouthful of blood.

  Ingor grabbed Talvenya by the throat and lifted her high into the air.

  "How easy it would be to command him to tear off your head this very instant," Ormehthone taunted. "But I want to see you riving in pain a little longer. And my pet still wants to play. Ingor, toss her."

  Obeying, the thing sent her hurling through the air a good twenty-five or thirty feet.

  She crashed landed beside Ormehthone and lie there as though dead.

  “My dearest love,” he whispered, setting his mouth beside her ear. “I know you are no match for my Guardian, but come on. Surely, you can do better than this. Where is that brutal strength and power I taught you? Where is the Talvenya I once knew?” He grabbed her hair and yanked it up to see her face. “If you would come back to me, be mine as you once were, I am willing to forgive your past crimes.”

  “I would rather—rather die heathen! Rather die!!” She screamed, then tried grabbing his amulet but he caught her wr
ist.

  “Why, that is exactly what is happening my dear.” He laughed. “But before the end comes, I wish to give you this.” He pushed his lips tightly against hers, staring into her near lifeless eyes, and kissed her deeply, sliding his slimy tongue into her mouth and then slowly back out and across her right cheek. “I shall never forget you, my love.” He let go and she fell like a rock, face first to the ground. “Finish her, Ingor.”

  Talvenya could hear the thing coming; with each passing step a vibration followed, slightly tickling her body. She could not end it this way. Finding enough strength, she managed to stand and face the opponent. “I’ve had enough of this,” she growled. With a flashing of her eyes, followed by a violet flow of energy swirling her presence she gathered an unusual amount of power—unusual indeed for a sorceress not wielding a staff. She created a wall of violet flame and cast it at the oncoming Soul Guardian.

  Delightfully smiling, Ormehthone stood still, arms crossed, watching as she continuously unleashed flames.

  Not even a mere inconvenience to the monster, not so much as a singe landed on him.

  Ingor walked directly through the flames and punched her in the face.

  Feeling like a boulder dropped from heaven and struck her, Talvenya fell like a dead woman, broken nose and jaw, who knows what else? Spilling blood to no end. This seemed to be it—her fate. How can it be so? She thought while lying still. To die in this state, miserable, heart broken, full of anger!

  Those words Ormehthone had spoken, my dear, my love and precious one—with that seductive tone, made things all the more worse as they resurrected memories she didn’t wish to retain. Memories of how Sicarius was always gifted at taking away. But not this time. She remembered all of it, all which made her turn to the Dark…

  Within the course of two years since the Samaeltho took Talvenya, or ‘Aurora’ from the Elves of Ashhaven, she witnessed many terrible deeds committed by them. Raiding villages for the taking of treasures, killing any who showed resistance. Attacking those who spoke out against them, even if just rumor, their entire tribe would be wiped out, man, woman, child—animals! it wasn’t even as if the Samaeltho dwelt in one place, instead they were nomads, forever wandering the wilderness, always invading other creatures…mainly Human territory.

  Wherever they went they took, killed, raped—yes raped! Talvenya could remember the sons of Ormehthone, ‘sharing’ a woman they stole from a tribe, passing her around like a piece of worthless material. The Lord of the Samaeltho forced her to watch, as he always did, bent on breaking her spirit. For two years, she’d been resisting Ormehthone’s will, vowing to never commit such folly. Though it became harder and harder. She’d seen so much cruelty, death and violence.

  Ormehthone took the poor little soul to every onslaught. He would tell her life among nature was no different, and ‘proved’ it by dragging her across country to witness carnivores tear apart their victims, watch birds, bears and the great cats invade the territory of other animals and take it for themselves; to gaze upon lions as they dominated other male lions, chase them away, ‘steal’ their lioness’ and mercilessly kill the cubs in order to have heirs of their own with them, to see that everything in nature constantly struggled for survival, always in competition. The most fit for the environment not only won the benefits but ‘deserved’ them. There was no good or evil, right or wrong, only one’s desired path. It perhaps was the hardest lesson, the most difficult truth for her to learn. And the Samaeltho, as well as Humans Beings, were also animals, fashioned to a higher more complex state of mind.

  Was Lord Ormehthone right? Are they just proceeding with what nature gave to them? No, it cannot be true! Not what they did. Killing to be a delightful thing…Cruelty a desirable trait? Unwilling to bend, she tried escaping one night but was captured, brought back and Ormehthone taught her a lesson she would never forget, one that destroyed the innocent girl forever. He commanded every male Elf, one after another, to rape her. Being she was so young she bled harshly, and this did not stop them, only inspired their evil further; some would even beat the child before and after taking his ‘piece.’

  She constantly screamed to Ormehthone, who joyfully sat back and watched; she begged him to stop them, he would not. Toward the last few, Talvenya’s body and mind fell numb, empty.

  Then for twelve months locked in a dark and cold cave that is how she remained, mindless, insane.

  From time to time, Ormehthone would drop in, always beginning a conversation with, “Hello my dear,” “greetings my love,” or “precious child.” He would tell her how his people desired more of her but he would not allow it. In this way, he evolved to be her protector and falling victim to such deceit, she clung to his side like a daughter and eventually became won over.

  Pleased by her submissiveness, Ormehthone began teaching her forbidden forms of ruthless martial arts and of course the Blackened Arts of sorcery. To his and everyone’s surprise, even fear, she mastered them quickly, becoming a Goddess among the Samaeltho, for no one except Ormehthone stood a challenge against the woman.

  Every ‘sparring’ match he set her up with, she always killed the opponent, breaking nearly every bone in his body or incinerating him to ashes—and that she loved! When over, she would gather the ashes into her palm and blow them into the faces of the former opponent's closest friends. Mockery is what it was—mockery plus vengeance.

  Ormehthone knew it…even suspected Talvenya might have desired to kill each and every one of his children for what they did to her. He needed to take those memories away—to protect his people. From then on, she would never ‘spar’ against any member of the Samaeltho. Rather, she would be given a prisoner from another tribe to ‘play’ with—always a Human.

  Then soon it became clear, she showed no mercy to anyone, not even another helpless female. She slaughtered any opponent just the same and grew an attraction for domination, lusting after the feeling of others begging at her feet, begging to live, especially the male gender. Of course none of them ever did, not even the ones she temporarily spared to take into bed. The finest males would be brought to her chambers. She would toy with them, dominate them, indulge herself into sexual games with them, but never intercourse, rather, she felt released by the mere act of dominating, then killing.

  Pleased by such wickedness, Ormehthone's ‘precious’ had adapted, he no longer feared for his people and elevated her to the status of a Goddess, the Goddess of the Samaeltho, where all were in submission to her, all except Ormehthone of course. She was even given a throne, and all this power drove her to a state of ecstasy.

  From the constant use of the Blackened Arts some of her bodily features changed, her strawberry-blond hair became exotic with long dark raven locks and those once adorable light-blue eyes became a fierce violet. The gifts and memories she once possessed back in Ashhaven, gradually disappeared until they were forgotten entirely. But her pain from the Elves who took her virginity, and perhaps soul, as to the unawareness of the Lord of the Samaeltho, never decreased. They remained constantly, were always on her mind, and as the days—months went by, vengeance burned hotter every passing moment. Rage sparked every time she looked at one of the scum who touched her, or witnessed them touching a Human captive female or even male, the hatred building up more and more until one day she finally snapped and with a burst of unmatched sorcery—set the majority of them on fire—some while they slept, others while awake.

  Those escaping the flames challenged her, though were quickly laid to waste by dismemberment, or turned to stone, to dust—her power shook the land, opened the ground and swallowed up the Samaeltho race forever. All except Ormehthone, whom she earlier that night seduced, dominated, tied to a tree, and castrated before this all began, leaving him to helplessly watch while she brought his people into extinction. Then, she walked out of his life forever, until now…

  Lying there on the ground, listening to the approaching Soul Guardian, the memories were too much for her to bear. Ormehthone took he
r soul and dignity away, now he wanted her life? No, it could not end this way. It would not end this way. And only one phrase stuck in her mind, spoken by the strange lady in white from her dream, “Release the Goddess from within.”

  In that moment, Talvenya felt a terrible—at the same time wonderful power rising deep, flowing through every vein, surging through every part of her body, healing her wounds. Fires spontaneously sprung up around the area, encircling them all—fueled by her rage.

  Ormehthone didn’t know what to think or what might be happening, but felt this strange phenomenon was a product of the Dark Queen.

  The ground shook; trees fell over catching fire, winds picked up and violet, pink, red, yellow and orange lights streamed Talvenya’s presence. Streaks of white ran in between layers of her raven hair, even the clothes she wore seemed to become empowered as her black dress and boots, sparking with lightning, tightened against her body as if they were a part of it, like some sort of naked supernatural animal, or entity.

  “Ingor, kill her now!” Ormehthone commanded, sensing the threat.

  When he approached, Talvenya turned around and the Guardian suddenly stopped, afraid, perhaps from the empowering gaze of this changed woman, after all, the Guardian only mimics the feelings of its master.

  “I said kill her!” Ormehthone shouted, desperate.

  “Yes, kill me,” Talvenya challenged with an eerie tone, raising both arms. “I am ready.”

  Ingor took a swing.

  She ducked, then amazingly leapt over the Soul Guardian, reaching a height of at least twelve feet, flipping in the air and landing parallel to her opponent.

  Turning around, it took another swing.

  Talvenya easily avoided it again, leaping back over a second time, effortlessly landing where she stood only ten seconds ago. Glancing at Ormehthone she mocked, “Is this the best your toy can do?”

  Enraged by the emotion of its master the Guardian uprooted one of the trees Talvenya earlier set aflame, about fifteen feet long and three feet thick—more than enough to crush the woman, and tossed it at her.