Chrysalis

by Kayne Sampson

  CHRYSALIS

  BOOK II OF THE LEGEND OF SANCTION

  By Kayne Sampson

  Cover art by Andrew Hughesman

  This book is dedicated to everyone who has ever gathered around to listen to my stories. You are the real heroes. Remember that somewhere out there, devils may cry.

  This is an independant book. Your reviews and comments are worth gold to me. Please consider leaving one on www.amazon.com when you are through. That would be fabulous.

  PROLOGUE

  MORTALITY

  Thirty Years Ago

  Michalis held his sister tightly as he ran through the streets. Buildings burned in the distance; screams of terror filled the night sky. Why was this happening? They were supposed to be safe. But he knew. He’d known all along.

  They were never safe from the Humans.

  Michalis shook red hair from his face before ducking down an alleyway, leading the small girl with him. He had to keep Magiran safe. She was only four years old and had no business being anywhere near this carnage.

  The clan leader had always told everyone that the Humans would not bother them so long as they did nothing to provoke hostility. Michalis and his sister had been orphaned when the last clan leader had advocated for war.

  They had not been treated well. Magiran was a very subdued child. She didn’t talk much since their parents died. Much of the clan believed that the event had left her unresponsive. The only person who she opened up to was Michalis.

  Michalis wasn’t good around people. He had the blood of a warrior, and so these times of peace did not sit well with him. Most of the clan’s warriors died before the treaty had been signed and the survivors avoided their true calling.

  And look what that got them, Michalis thought to himself. Looking around, he saw all the carnage the night had wrought. Something swirled inside him, a feeling that he had always been forced to push down. The urge to fight.

  No...get Magiran to safety, Michalis thought, shaking his head. He knew all about the brutality of Humans. He didn’t care about the rest of the clan; they had all but abandoned the two of them. But his sister...he couldn’t let her get hurt.

  A Demon man stepped into the alley, falling to the ground. He had been the baker in the village. He was a bit of a jerk, so it didn’t bother Michalis. However, he immediately felt great shame. This man was still one of the Demon clans. His father had always instilled in him the importance of looking out for their people.

  It was the reason why he hadn’t left the village with Magiran. Who would take them,? His father and mother had been great warriors. But they had joined a reckless fight and now the clan was suffering.

  Michalis knelt down to inspect the man, but the amount of blood already informed him that the man was dead. Fury welled within Michalis. He heard footsteps behind him, realizing that he had let his senses lapse. A careless move, one he would not repeat. He whirled around to face the newcomer.

  It was one of the women from the clan. Michalis didn’t bother remembering the names and faces of most of the villagers anyways. She saw them, and ran towards the pair. The two were pulled close as the woman started guiding them away. Why was she being nice to them now? It didn’t matter, he was miles away mentally. The battle was calling him.

  A thought occurred to Michalis. If this woman takes Magiran, I can join the fighting. Though he entertained it for a moment, he realized that he was trying to make excuses. And he couldn’t do that. Magiran was his responsibility. Get her out of here first.

  The woman began leading him and Magiran. He let her, mostly because he had no idea where everyone had gone. Eventually, they came to a clearing. Instincts kicked in and his Demon eyes began to flash signs of danger. He pulled himself and his sister aside just as a hail of gunfire erupted, ending the life of their guide. Michalis cursed his inability to prevent her death.

  Michalis moved behind a crate and forced Magiran to sit against it. “Stay here!” He commanded, and the girl looked up at him with vacant eyes and smiled. She would listen to him. She always did.

  He stepped out into the open, eyes on the Human soldiers who had weapons raised and pointed towards him. He wanted them to make the first move, to see the fear in their eyes for what happened next.

  “Perhaps I really am as crazy as they say,” Michalis muttered to himself. His blood was pumping, his body eager. But the Humans weren’t engaging him. They were pointing and talking amongst themselves. What was the hold up? Were they apprehensive about killing someone so young? They didn’t seem to have had that problem earlier.

  His eyes saw their movements, and he knew they were about to open fire. Michalis smiled, and he let himself ignite. Flames began to form as his skin caught fire, his clothes burning away as the inferno engulfed him.

  When the soldiers fired, Michalis waved a hand in the air and a wave of flames incinerated the bullets as they neared him. He smiled and began to walk forward. The look on the face of the soldiers was priceless.

  This power was his to control. He had known for years that he was descended from a Greater Demon. But the power only ever surfaced rarely through their bloodline. It had surfaced within Michalis, too late to save his parents. But it was not too late to save Magiran.

  “You idiots had a treaty to protect yourselves before. Know that you were the ones who brought this upon yourselves,” Michalis said. The clan leader had forbidden him from fighting, but the leader had been the first to die. There was nothing to hold him back anymore.

  A few of the soldiers at the front dropped their weapons and turned to flee at the sight of Michalis coated in flames. One of the braver soldiers waved to the others, and they began to move forward, spreading out to flank him.

  They had swords in their hands and they attacked him head on. Michalis saw the attacks coming and evaded backwards, though not before flinging a jet of flames at the two soldiers unfortunate enough to be closest.

  The sight of fire always pleased Michalis. Being around flames always made him feel safer. To the soldiers, it was a death sentence. They screamed, and then flailed about. This caused a few of their companions to flee as well.

  Michalis sighed. If he wanted, he could push himself to burn hotter. The swords the Humans held weren’t very impressive. He could melt them easily if he could get a hold of them. But he needed a challenge.

  “Is that the best you can do, Humans?” Michalis asked, spreading his hands in a taunting manner. The Humans didn’t react by charging at him. They were cowards. They just stood and pointed. What were they…

  He looked around and saw that Magiran had wandered out from her hiding spot, watching the flames with a vacant look. She started walking towards him, recognizing him even though he was engulfed in the fire.

  “Magiran, no! Get away!” Michalis roared, and he was forced to put out his flames as the girl got closer, lest he burn her. She rushed up to him and Michalis threw himself in front to shield the girl. This was not good.

  The soldiers had been watching the whole thing, reacting slowly as they realized that luck had just turned in their favor. Grinning, one of the soldiers sheathed his sword and pulled free his rifle.

  Michalis was trapped. If he used his power to protect himself, his little sister would be caught in the flames and perish. If he did nothing, the two of them would die in a hail of gunfire. No matter what option he chose, he would lose the one closest to him. And yet, could he live in a world where he lived by sacrificing Magiran.

  Instead, he chose another option, one that curdled his warrior’s pride. He tried to reason with them. “Why? Why are you doing this?” Michalis screamed as the rest of the soldiers followed suit and began to aim at him. The village burned all around him. The fires would normally calm him down. Today, they marked the end of everythin
g he ever knew.

  The lead soldier stepped forward. “Isn’t it obvious? To rid this world of abominations like you. How can normal, decent folk live in peace when monsters like you run around with the power to destroy us all.”

  The power to destroy them all. Was that what he had? Could he have stopped this all? “I hate you Humans. But it is because of what you do to us. I never wanted to destroy any of you!” Michalis said. It was true, in a sense. He wanted to fight, but he had no desire to do so in malice. Why could the Humans not see this? That the warrior’s spirit flowed in the veins of the Demon people.

  This provoked a laugh from the man. “As if anyone would believe that from you savages. No, better to just be rid of you all here. For a pure world, free of Demons.” And with a gesture, all the soldiers raised their weapons at Michalis and his sister.

  He turned his back to them, looking down at his sister. She was smiling, looking at him with bright eyes. How he envied her. She was such a simple soul, she did not even realize that they were about to be sent to the great abyss of death. Well, at least they would die together.

  And then the cries of pain began. Not Michalis, not even Magiran. It was the Humans who had yelled. Michalis whirled around and saw the Humans on the ground, wincing in pain. And standing between all of them was a man, who turned and looked his way.

  He was a giant, more than a head taller then the largest Human amongst them. This newcomer possessed a face of sharp features, with short black hair. His body was a mass of well toned muscles, the type a warrior would possess. And yet, those eyes had a regal look to them.

  Their eyes remained locked only for a moment, before he turned away and looked to the soldiers on the ground. “What is going on here? Xalphora has been neglecting her duty. This brutality cannot continue. You...Human,” he said, reaching down and lifting one of the soldiers by his uniform, “Who ordered this attack.”

  The soldier was clearly too spooked to speak properly, and Michalis saw that he had a gash across his chest, fresh blood staining his clothes. Sighing, the giant put the man down and walked to another, who was trying to shuffle away in fear.

  “You won’t have any more trouble from me if you tell me what you know and then get out of here. I’ve no wish to spill blood. But I will not allow you to harm any more innocents. Now speak. Who ordered this attack?” He demanded.

  The Human muttered something, too quietly at first. When the giant man growled, the soldier was quick to respond. “Sorry...General Gadson...he sent us here to deal with the clan of Demons he viewed a threat.”

  “General Gadson...I don’t know that one. I must have slept for too long this time. I will have to pay this man a visit. Go, tell him I will be there to have a word shortly,” the man said, and the soldier nodded fearfully and got to his feet. “Oh and Human? I have committed your face to memory. Give up your warmongering ways and do something productive with your life. If I find you causing harm again, I will end your life.” The soldier’s eyes went wide and he ran off in a panic.

  There was a loud bang and a bullet hit the newcomer. Then another and another. One of the Humans had used the distraction to get to his feet and recover his weapon. Though he was bloodied too (in the exact same spot, Michalis noted), he had managed to stand and attack while his assailant was occupied.

  Michalis was shocked when the giant walked towards the soldier, rubbing his chest. There were several holes in his clothing where the bullets had struck, but nothing else. “Human, are you insane? Your crude weapons cannot puncture my scales!” He roared, and ran forward with speed Michalis had not expected for a man of his bulk. He swiped at the Human and blood sprayed into the air.

  It was only then that Michalis noticed this man had claws, like that of a beast. The Human fell to the ground in a heap. This man sighed and turned on the rest of the soldiers. “There will be no further warnings. If you continue down this path, I will have no choice but to destroy you. Leave now.”

  The remaining soldiers cast one glance at their fallen comrade and ran off immediately, not even bothering to retrieve their weapons, as if fearful that such an act might incur this stranger’s wrath. He waited until they were out of sight before turning to walk towards Michalis and Magiran.

  He tossed something at Michalis, who caught it in surprise. It was some sort of cloak. Michalis looked at it, then back up at the stranger, who grunted. “Cover yourself up boy,” he said.

  Michalis blushed. Every time he lit himself on fire, his clothes burned away, leaving him completely exposed. As he quickly wrapped the cloth around himself, the man said, “I do so hate when I am forced to bloody my hands. But men like that will seldom change, even when you offer them mercy. They must learn the hard way. Still, I should not have reacted so harshly. I often forget how fragile mortals are.”

  Michalis lifted his head. What was this man talking about mortals for? “They deserved it,” he said.

  The clawed man eyed him carefully. “Be careful with that line of thinking. That is how hate begins to build. And once you give into it, you will stop at nothing to destroy that which you hate.”

  Michalis’ jaw dropped. What was this person talking about? “I just saw you kill that man in cold blood. How can you stand there and lecture me about hate?” He demanded.

  The stranger moved forward quickly, and Michalis flinched as the man stood towering before him, finally noticing Magiran. “You are just a child? I did not realize that. That one is not dead. He will recover, in time. I do not enjoy killing. Neither will I let others kill as they please. Something is not right. The world was supposed to be under the watch of Xalphora. That is why I slept. Was this a mistake?”

  Michalis dared to ask a question. “Who are you?”

  “Xehemoth. I believe I had a title. Yes, Xehemoth the Eternal.”

  Michalis looked Xehemoth up and down. “Are you a Demon?”

  A grunt was the reply. Xehemoth looked around and saw the state of the village. “It’s not safe here. It is unfortunate, but we can do nothing to save this place from destruction. Where are the rest of your people?”

  Michalis had heard screaming before, when he and his sister had been running. Now there was nothing, save for the crackling sounds coming from the flames. He knew what that meant. There was a chance they could have gotten away, but the way those soldiers had hit the village, it was unlikely.

  Xehemoth had read his expression and guessed the answer. He nodded grimly and reached down unexpectedly, picking up the wounded Human. He had retracted his claws in the aftermath. Xehemoth then extended his hand to Michalis. “Come, you should not be here. I will take you from this place.”

  Michalis hesitated, but Magiran shuddered beside him. The flames were his to command and control, but to his sister, it would mean death. He needed to get her out of here. He took Xehemoth’s hand and the man led him and his sister away.

  A few minutes later, Xehemoth let them stop to rest. They had made it to the fields out past the village, and Michalis watched the flames take his home. It was mesmerizing. But it reminded him that because of the Humans, his old life was over.

  Michalis looked over at Xehemoth. He was watching Magiran play with some plants on the ground. The Human soldier lay nearby, still unconscious. “Xehemoth, what are you? Those soldiers shot you and you didn’t get hurt. You took down all those soldiers by yourself. How is that possible?”

  Xehemoth grunted again. “Why do you want to know? It would be easier for you if you just forget that you saw me and get on with your life.”

  Though it was the dead of night, Michalis could see this man clearly. His Demon eyes let him see in the darkest of all conditions. He studied this man, who wore clothing he had never seen before. Some sort of loose red robes that hung off his body, unlike the leather hides of the Demon clans or the wools and linens of the Humans.

  There was something off about Xehemoth. “It’s too late for me to try and forget...that,” Michalis said, pointing towards the pyre engulfing the vill
age. “But you took care of those soldiers pretty handedly. I want to know why.”

  Xehemoth looked away from Magiran, turning to Michalis. “Why do you look like this? Your face? You are a child, and yet you have the face of one who is a warrior. If you answer my question, I will answer yours.”

  Michalis regarded the older person, and nodded. He moved away from his sister and tossed aside the cloak he was using for modesty. He didn’t want to waste it. He let the flames ignite and consume him once more. He held it for but a moment, before letting it die down, simply meant as a display for Xehemoth. He retrieved the clothes he used to cover himself.

  Xehemoth rubbed his chin, deep in thought. “So, you are one of Xalphora’s champions then. Curious. In that case, it would be best if you accompanied me for the time being. That girl, she belongs to you?”

  “Belongs to...she’s my sister, if that’s what you mean,” Michalis said. This conversation was quite odd.

  Xehemoth nodded. “Indeed. Bring her along, but we must consider finding her a nice place to stay before long,” Xehemoth got to his feet and began walking, motioning for the two to follow.

  “What? What do you mean? Why would we need to leave her?” Michalis demanded.

  Xehemoth stopped, and turned to him, fixing Michalis with a look of confusion. “So she will be safe, of course. You will need to begin your training as one of Xalphora’s champions. I am one of the heralds of the goddess. This world has become distorted. We must correct this.”

  Xalphora? Distorted world? Just what was happening? Until recently, his life had been mundane. Now all of this was happening. It was too much.

  This man Xehemoth knew more about his abilities than anyone in the village ever had. If this man was a herald of a god as he claimed, then what did that make Michalis? And what about the other part? Was he to be a champion, as Xehemoth claimed?

  Looking at Magiran, he knew that he needed to take that chance. The Humans needed to be stopped. And if he needed to be the one to do so, so be it.