Chronicles of Eden - Act 2

by Alexander Gordon

  “Wait, please,” Forrus pleaded as she tried to crawl after them, her legs feeling weak while she still felt lightheaded from being strangled earlier. Daemon stopped and kept looking ahead while Sasha and Rulo glanced back to the lycan.

  “I beg of you, please help me,” Forrus said weakly as she tried to stand again.

  “We already saved your life when we were not obligated to, yet you ask for more?” Sasha inquired.

  “Yeah, and we didn’t even plan on saving you, you were just lucky we came by when we did,” Rulo mentioned.

  “Please, I need your help,” Forrus begged softly.

  “We are not mercenaries, we are not missionaries, seek aid for yourself elsewhere,” Daemon said while still looking ahead. Forrus shook her head with a small smile at him.

  “I cannot, I would not find another like you even if I searched all of Eden. You, a human, managing to not only save my life but also fend off a witch and a Darker One, are the one I seek in this world,” she said gratefully, then took another step towards him before Sasha quickly held her blade out towards the lycan with a stern expression.

  “Did you not hear him? We are not here to help you. It was by good fortune he dispatched that creature before it could kill you, but make no mistake, us being here was purely to stop that Darker One, not to save you,” Sasha stated firmly.

  “Take another step towards him and it will be your last,” Rulo warned. Forrus looked to each of them then dropped to her knees, with Sasha then pointing the blade down at her neck.

  “I beg of you. My sisters, my entire pack, were brutally slain, eaten alive, by two monsters. Monsters that could not be killed,” she pleaded. Daemon slowly glanced back to her while Sasha raised an eyebrow at her.

  “Could not be killed?” Sasha repeated.

  “Yes, they would not die. No matter what we did to them, we could not kill them, they simply would not die. All my sisters were killed, tortured and eaten alive by these two monsters, leaving me the only survivor of my pack. I cannot kill them on my own, I know not if they can even be killed, but I must avenge them however I can. Please, I implore you, human who stands against even Darker Ones and prevails, I need your help,” Forrus begged desperately. Daemon watched her for a moment then looked back ahead.

  “We have heard of the two you seek, however they are not our concern, we have a more important task ahead of us. That is the only thing we are out here to do, nothing else matters,” he stated. Forrus trembled then bowed humbly on the ground to him, with Sasha and Rulo watching her carefully as the lycan closed her eyes and tried to steady her voice.

  “Please, I have nothing else to live for; I am but a lone lycan who has lost everything. I beg of you, if you’ll help me with my quest for revenge, I swear I’ll do anything you ask, I’ll surrender all that I have left in me to you,” she said urgently. Daemon glanced back to the lycan as she looked up to him with pleading eyes.

  “You seek the succubus, wishing to stop her from finding something of grave importance to you. I understand, and I’ll gladly help you in return. I’m a skilled huntress of the land, and will dedicate all my soul and being to aid you with your cause. I will help you seek out the succubus, and anything else you wish, just please, help me avenge my sisters and send those two horrible demons that slew them back to hell,” she begged desperately. Sasha and Rulo watched the lycan with dull glares while Daemon just glanced back at her out of the corner of his eye. After a while of silence Forrus looked down with despair.

  “You fended off a Darker One, you are both skilled with magic and your blade, and you show no fear in the face of pure evil, if there would be anyone in this world who could help me it would be you. Please, I’ll do anything you ask, anything,” she implored. Sasha and Rulo scowled at the girl then looked to Daemon as the boy just kept watching the lycan without saying anything. Forrus held her hands together in front of herself and waited to hear his response, praying that he would answer her call.

  “And what makes you think you could help me at all?” Daemon asked dryly. Forrus looked to him with a focused expression.

  “I have their scent, the succubus and witch; I’ll never forget it after what they tried to do to me. No matter where they run, no matter where they may try to hide, I will be able to find them again. I swear to you, I can help you find them,” she declared assuredly.

  “I can track them just fine on my own; I have been doing so all this time without a hunting dog. So, I ask you, what other use could you possibly offer me that would justify you coming with us?” Daemon questioned. Forrus glanced to Sasha and Rulo then back to him.

  “I offer you my life,” she said softly.

  “Doesn’t seem like much,” Rulo scoffed. Forrus glanced to her with a scowl.

  “It’s all I have to pay with, and I’ll gladly do so if it means my sisters can be avenged. He may use me for anything he so wishes, he may order me to do whatever he needs done, as long as my pack is allowed to rest in peace I care not what happens to me,” she said sternly, then looked to Daemon with hopeful eyes.

  “Please, allow me to help you however I can. Another set of eyes to seek what you wish, another fighter to help you in battle, another vessel in which to violate should you so choose,” she offered.

  “What?” Sasha and Rulo yelled out as they brought their weapons at the ready to strike the lycan. Forrus glanced to each of them curiously.

  “Are you not engaging in such behavior with him? You both seem dedicated to him thoroughly, are you not offering your bodies to him at all?” she asked. Sasha and Rulo showed frustrated expressions as they growled at the girl. Forrus nodded slowly then looked at Daemon with a solemn expression.

  “I will be yours, to command as you see fit, to do with-”

  “Stop,” Daemon ordered shaking his head. Forrus looked at him curiously as the boy turned to face her with a cold stare.

  “If you bring up the notion of these two being used as ‘vessels to violate’ again I will skin you alive, do you hear me?” he said coldly. Forrus trembled and nodded with a fearful expression as the boy walked towards her. He was only human, yet the lycan felt more intimidated by him than the succubus by far.

  “I meant no disrespect, I was only-” she started before the boy held his gloved hand out and grabbed her by the jaw, the lycan halting with a squeak as Sasha and Rulo watched her with dull glares.

  “What I seek, the only thing I seek, is what that succubus stole, what that demon is after, nothing more,” he stated firmly, with Forrus gulping as she stared at him with a trembling tail. The boy eyed her for a moment then let her go and backed up a step. Forrus closed her eyes and bowed her head to the boy.

  “Please, let me aid you,” she said softly.

  “You can’t help us, get lost!” Rulo yelled out.

  “Find someone else to help you, we have more important matters to attend to,” Sasha hissed.

  Daemon watched Forrus as the lycan whimpered and looked down away then rolled his eyes and turned around again.

  “Get up,” he ordered. Forrus looked up to him with wonder as he motioned for Sasha and Rulo to back off, the two monster girls slowly backing up a step and lowering their weapons while watching him curiously.

  “Master?” Forrus asked softly.

  “Don’t call me that, my name is Daemon. Now get up,” the boy replied. Forrus looked at him curiously as she slowly stood up, with Daemon then drumming his fingers lightly on his sword’s handle.

  “We will not be looking for your two killers, we will not be searching the lands for them in any way, my mission remains the same, that will never be changed,” he declared, with Forrus watching him worriedly before he glanced back to her.

  “However, should we come across them by chance, we’ll find out if they are indeed immortal, if they can remain standing after greeting my blade. Your wish will be granted if luck remains on your side, and we meet these two monsters face to face. Until then, if this is what you want to do with your life, then so b
e it. Your new purpose is the same as ours, that is your only true priority now, understand?” he questioned. Forrus looked at him curiously as Sasha and Rulo watched her with dull stares.

  “My new… purpose?” Forrus asked.

  “Do you understand?” Daemon repeated sharply. Forrus jumped a bit then nodded quickly.

  “Yes, I do. I will take to heart your goal above all else, I swear, and I shall hope that we do come across my pack’s killers again, so that they may finally be slain for their horrendous deeds,” she agreed. Daemon glanced to her as the wolf bowed gratefully at him.

  “Thank you, Daemon,” she said softly. The boy just looked at her for a moment then back ahead.

  “You listen well, that’s a plus. Now, let’s go,” he said dryly as he started walking forward.

  “But, master, are we really bringing-” Sasha asked worriedly before the boy stopped and glanced back to her, the reptile girl halting then shaking her head quickly.

  “I mean, Daemon, we’re bringing her with us? Are you sure-”

  “Are you questioning him?” Forrus asked. Sasha and Rulo looked to her with glares as the lycan smiled curiously at Daemon.

  “I don’t believe it is our place to question him. He does know best, right?” she mused. Daemon glanced to her as the lycan set a hand at her hip while she hooked her bolas to her belt with the other.

  “I for one will never doubt him or his commands, he’s certainly proved himself as a worthy leader to me,” she reasoned. Daemon watched her for a moment then looked back ahead while Sasha and Rulo glared at the girl.

  “What is your name?” Daemon asked.

  “Forrus,” the lycan replied with a bow. Daemon started walking again while Forrus kept her eyes on him and not on the two other monster girls who were giving her harsh looks. Although it could not be seen with her fur, a faint blush formed on her cheeks as she stared at the human that captured her eye.

  ‘I never thought such humans existed in this world, he’s truly remarkable. I must do whatever it takes to gain his favor, there’s no doubt that his seed would provide me with only the strongest and noblest of daughters.’

  Sasha growled and held her sword towards the lycan while Rulo gripped her hammer tightly.

  “Now listen up, I don’t know who you think you are , but let’s get something straight right now, nobody will come between me and my-” Sasha threatened before Forrus hurried past them towards Daemon, the lycan then glancing back to the girls with a smirk.

  “You need to listen, Daemon said we’re going, so we’re going,” she said with a chuckle before quickly moving up to follow behind the boy as he walked off into the woods. Sasha and Rulo growled as they watched the lycan walking behind Daemon with a gently wagging tail, her hips swaying slightly with each step she took as she remained light on her feet.

  “That’s master to you!” Sasha and Rulo both shouted out.

  “No it isn’t,” Daemon called back flatly. The two girls flinched then showed nervous expressions.

  “Sorry, Daemon,” they said together before quickly following after.

  The four made their way through the woods together, with Daemon leading the monster girls who kept watching him while remaining silent. Sasha and Rulo glanced to each other then to the lycan who had joined their ranks, neither liking how close she was getting to Daemon. Not to mention she was completely naked, the wolf only having her fur which did very little to hide her features from the boy.

  After a short walk Forrus showed a puzzled expression and tilted her head slightly.

  “Um, Daemon? If I may ask, what exactly is our goal? What is my new purpose you’ve given me?” she asked. Daemon kept walking with a cold look in his eyes, remaining focused on his quest that he knew was of the highest importance.

  “To prevent the end of the world.”

  Chapter 10

  The Two Strangers

  In the world of Eden, tragedy could strike at any moment. Many who traveled the world would unfortunately come across such misfortune, either to themselves or others who have lost so much. Bandits would take the opportunity to raid and kill those who were down on their luck, monsters would use the moment to strike and steal away men to breed with, and the world around them would do nothing but watch in silence as the unlucky ones coped with their loss, if they lived to do so. However, sometimes those with kind and noble hearts would lend a hand to those who were lost, afraid, and alone. Those who chose to aid the unfortunate were chivalrous indeed, but would need to exercise caution, even if the ones they wished to help appeared completely defenseless.

  After all, you never knew for sure who, or what, you were saving.

  *****

  Alyssa was standing next to a large tree while having a dull expression on her face, her fingers drumming on her staff she held at her side impatiently while watching something with growing ire. Next to her Daniel was leaning back against the tree with a hand over his eyes while he was looking down tiredly, a stance and appearance that was starting to become common for him during his travels with the girls. Standing beside him Falla was eating an apple with a bored expression, antennae twitching slightly while she slowly shook her head chewing the fruit, while next to her Triska had her arms crossed and drumming her fingers on her arm with a dull expression on her face.

  “Where did you learn to drive anyway?” Falla asked flatly before taking another bite.

  “Just be quiet, Falla! It was an honest mistake!” Specca yelled out as she was sitting at the front of the caravan at the reins with a flustered expression. Lucky was trying to move forward with frustrated grunts while the caravan was tipped over on an angle, tilting to the side away from the others and leaning against a small bent tree which was keeping it from sliding down a steep incline. The group had traveled up along a winding path that was alongside a large hill before the caravan slid off the narrow trail and wedged itself against a tree, the lumber both keeping the ride in place as the rear wheel couldn’t get over it while at the same time kept the caravan from falling off the overhang. On the other side of the caravan Squeak was pushing with all her might against the ride while standing on a small boulder sticking out of the ground, having her pickaxe slung behind her while she squeaked with a stern expression as she tried to get the ride off of the tree.

  “That’s it, you’re done driving for the rest of the day, Specca,” Alyssa said shaking her head.

  “What? Why? This isn’t my fault!” Specca frantically defended.

  “You steered Lucky towards this path when we should have just kept on the trail in the direction we came from before, we shouldn’t have even come this way!” Alyssa argued.

  “But Triska said we should take the left turn!” Specca whined.

  “No, I said don’t take the left turn! Don’t!” Triska yelled out. Alyssa scoffed and walked over to the ride, hopping up onto the seat and leaning over the other side to seeing the steep drop-off that led down towards a rocky gorge. She then watched Squeak pushing with her hands and all her might, budging the caravan slightly yet not enough to get it away from the trunk of the tree.

  “Don’t worry, Luna, help is on the way,” Falla said dryly before taking another bite of her apple.

  “Oh shut up, Falla. If it wasn’t for you we wouldn’t even be in this mess,” Triska barked out at her.

  “Yeah, that’s right, this is all her fault!” Specca shouted out as she watched Lucky trying in vain to pull the caravan forward, his feet digging up the dirt and grass below him as the ride rocked slightly back and forth.

  “My fault? I wasn’t the one driving that thing, don’t blame me!” Falla shouted back with a full mouth. Specca huffed with a flustered expression then looked to Alyssa who was watching Squeak with worried eyes.

  “Alyssa, can’t you lift the caravan up and back onto the trail with your magic?” Specca asked quickly. The tree budged a bit more, with Squeak letting out a high squeak as she kept trying to push with the little footing she had. Alyssa quickly grabbed o
nto the side of the ride as it rocked more while the tree cracked slightly.

  “Are you kidding me? I can’t lift the whole thing with my magic, let alone pull it away from here. Why do you think we use Lucky to pull the caravan for us in the first place?” Alyssa barked out at the nixie. Again the tree moved with a cracking sound, the ground under it shifting slightly with a few roots popping up through the dirt. The others watched the ride slowly slide more off the edge while Alyssa and Specca quickly grabbed hold of the front seat.

  “Hey, get off of there, right now,” Triska called out. Daniel ran over behind the caravan and saw Squeak straining herself to push the wagon back, her boots sliding on the boulder as she kept trying to keep the ride from going over the edge.

  “Squeak, get over here, it’s going to fall,” he called out urgently. Again the tree budged again, with the caravan sliding more before the two side wheels dropped down suddenly as the ground under them gave away. Specca and Alyssa looked to each other then over to the side as they saw the gorge far down below slowly coming into view over the seat.

  “Oh my god, it’s going to go over,” Specca said nervously.

  “Cut Lucky loose, now!” Alyssa cried out. Triska yanked her sword out and ran over to the horse while Falla watched the scene with caution, seeing the caravan rocking as the tree holding it cracked apart more. Squeak started to slip on the boulder before she quickly grabbed onto a wheel for support, the girl looking back to seeing the steep incline the caravan would be going down soon right behind her.

  “Squeak!” Daniel called out as he held his out towards her while holding onto the corner of the wagon, trying to reach for the ant girl as she stumbled with her footing.

  Triska swung her blade and hacked the leather straps at the front of the caravan, the girl then quickly jumping onto the front seat near the other two girls and hacking off the other straps holding the horse. Lucky scampered ahead with a neigh before Triska quickly tossed her sword over onto the trail and grabbed Specca and Alyssa, the girl then throwing them over onto the grass as well. The two tumbled onto the ground while Falla watched with wonder as the caravan started to budge even more with rocks and dirt giving away at the edge of the drop-off. Triska wavered from the shaking ride then quickly looked over the side while holding onto the frame tightly, watching as Squeak was still on the edge and about to be knocked off of her small footing.