by Erik Weir
Victor backed off as his cousin took on a hulking wolf monster shape, flaming hammer still in hand.
“Vala’s power is nothing compared to Baaldir’s War Wolves,” Luis snarled.
Victor let the elemental sword slide into his hand again as the sphere of Nano faded from his body. “Luis, please stop this. Don’t let them control you.”
The wolfish snout leered, “Like how Vala is controlling you? We are pawns in this game but I will be the one who becomes a king!”
The War Wolf burst forward with impossible speed. Victor turned his sword sideways as the flaming hammer rose up and came down hard. The Blade parried the blow but the strength behind it sent him down to one knee. Arms shaking, he barely could keep the hammer back as it inched closer, flames nearly licking his face.
Luis stared with intense red eyes and ears folded back, “Your death is worth it to keep the realms in war and hate!”
A flame burned at Victor’s cheek as he struggled to keep the hammer back. The power in his muscles could barely keep the War Wolf’s power at bay as Victor’s mind raced with ideas. Desperation surged up his spine as blood pumped in his ears. Seeing his stats, he pumped another point into strength. A wave of power streamed into his muscles and the trembling lessened. Victor growled as he pushed back, the flaming hammer head pushing away.
“Strength for strength,” Luis growled as his eyes flashed.
Victor noticed he couldn’t push back any farther, the War Wolf’s strength matching his own. Thinking to his sword, an answer struck him like a bullet.
“I have to charge it,” Victor said through gritted teeth as he spent a point of wisdom.
The elemental sword cooled as ice surged along the gray blade. Victor slid the parried sword up, the frost blasting cold at the flames. Luis kept his stance, driving his strength into the hammer. Victor spent a third point of strength and power surged. With a defiant shout, Victor pushed with his entire body. Luis growled as he was forced back and the connection between their weapons was broken. The War Wolf slid back in the water as Victor huffed, ice sword in hand.
“I’m guessing you haven’t been in the realms longer than I have or you would have used your influence to counter my own. I would say our strength and speed are about the same now but I’ve had a chance to grow my power. This is your last chance to run, cousin,” Victor said with cold eyes.
Luis stalked forward, “Not without your head.”
The War Wolf roared into a charge. Victor braced himself as the brute of a wolf came barreling down on him, flaming hammer raised. Sword and hammer clashed as magical sparks flew. Bodies moved in a blur, clashing and pushing to gain an edge. Victor moved like a dancer while Luis brought his hammer down and across like a bulldozer. Warp spawn watched from the outer circle, black eyes drinking in the display of powers as sparks lit up the area.
Victor moved, ice sword slashing at the flaming hammer, knocking or blocking it away. Energy swelled as hammer and sword clashed again, flames and ice splintering into the air and falling to the submerged street. Victor spent a will point and with divine might pushed against the War Wolf’s power. The strength and power blasted the War Wolf into the air, his back slamming into a wall across the street, creating a spider web of cracks. The War Wolf pushed off the wall with his back muscles when pain stabbed into his leg. Luis looked down, the ice blade several inches deep in his thigh, cold numbing the flesh and muscle.
Victor looked up into Luis’s feral gaze, “I’m sorry.”
Luis reared back his arm and brought it across. Victor pulled the blade from the War Wolf’s thigh but couldn’t dodge the monster’s reach. Lights stunned his senses as his body was thrown back and he crashed down into the water. The ice sword spread out under the water, forming larger spikes before Victor pushed himself back to his feet, elemental sword with long thick spikes along the blade.
Luis took a step forward and his injured leg gave out. The War Wolf fell to one knee, blood oozing out of the wound, streaming down his leg and mixing with the street water. Heat touched Victor’s cheek as he could feel the bruise forming. The Blade stood in the street, sword at the ready as Luis huffed, eyes filled with fire.
Luis howled as light flashed in his eyes once again. The War Wolf slowly stood up, the bleeding slowing and the wound closing up a little.
“You’re fucking dead,” the War Wolf growled.
Victor let the ice sword slip into his arm. Raising his fists and bending at the knees, the Blade kept his gaze steady. “I think it’s time we end this.”
The Blade spent his last point of strength influence. Muscles bulged with power, body coiling like a snake ready to strike. Luis brought his hammer up, flames lighting the area. Victor watched as he didn’t see a light flash in his cousins’ eyes, tilted his head toward the feral monster and exploded forward. Luis brought his hammer straight up and down. Victor’s hand reached up and caught the hammer by the handle, stopping it in mid-downward swing. Luis’s eyes bulged in his head as Victor pulled the monster closer and slammed his left fist into the War Wolf’s ribs. Bone cracked as Luis’s growls turned into a whine.
Victor raised a boot and planted it hard into Luis’s stomach, sending the furry brute into the wall once again while his hammer was wrenched from his hand. Victor tossed the hammer aside as the flames went out. Before it could touch the watery street, Victor was on Luis, fists flashing in a blur and pummeling the War Wolf in the chest and stomach. The War Wolf cried out as bones cracked and muscles took a beating. Victor’s eyes remained cold until Luis slumped down, the Blade catching the big brute and holding him to the wall.
“Luis,” Victor whispered, afraid he had gone too far.
Wolf eyes looked up as blood spilled from his mouth, “You’re…weak…”
The War Wolf’s massive fist flashed forward, striking Victor in the ribs. Bones cracked as the Blade spun from the strike and landed in the water. Luis slumped down until he was sitting, the water up to his stomach. Blood streamed into the water as the brute lifted a hand, his hammer flying to his hand.
Victor lifted himself up from the water, coughing and spitting out blood. The Blade knew his strength and speed were greater than his cousins but that didn’t mean he was invulnerable. The pain surged as the Blade struggled to stand up. Spending his last point of constitution, the pain ebbed away and he was able to stand on his own.
The influence won’t last. Finish him!
Victor raised his fists but did not advance. Luis took a shaky step through the water and then another. A red leer shined from the War Wolf as the warp spawn moved closer to witness.
“Your tough…I’ll give you that. But I can see you barely holding on. I know that look when we used to fight. One more good punch and then I’ll drag you by the hair and lay you down before Baaldir as an offering.”
“Luis…you may be an asshole…but your family. Don’t let them use you,” Victor said and coughed up more blood.
Luis’s ears bent back as he slowly stalked through the water. “Oaths were made. Our blood will not save either of us. If you truly care, you will let me end your life for the greater good of the realms.”
“You know I can’t do that,” Victor said with tight fists.
The War Wolf lifted his hammer, fire blazing from it again. “Goodbye cousin.”
Victor looked up as the hammer was raised to its zenith. The Blade took a deep breath and blasted his entire body forward. Fists pulling back, he let his inner power consume him as he surged toward the towering War Wolf. The area glowed with power as they reached each other. A figure leapt off a roof and landed in the water between them. a large clawed hand caught Victor’s fist while another hand whipped hard across, sending Luis into the water. Energy exploded from the strikes.
Victor looked up as a giant War Wolf with gray in his mane stared down at the Blade. Fist in the War Wolf’s hand, the monster squeezed, bones cracking and breaking in his hand. The Blade grunted as his influence kept the pain at bay. The War Wolf
lifted Victor by the broken hand and whipped him away. The Blade flew through the air and splashed into the flooded street. Victor lifted himself from the water, eyes on the War Wolf as he moved to Luis’s side.
“Idiot, he would have killed you,” the War Wolf growled to Luis.
“I give my life for the pack,” Luis growled back.
The War Wolf opened his hand and smacked Luis against the head. “You’re not some low-level foot soldier. Baaldir has invested his power in you and you would squander it?”
Luis was silent as he lay half submerged in water. The War Wolf turned his attention to Victor, ears back.
“I have been watching you two. It seems you have grown since we first met,” the War Wolf leered.
“Flint Bonekeeper,” Victor coughed.
“I’m glad I made an impression,” the War Wolf chuckled.
“You better run…before I get mad,” Victor said as he struggled to his feet, the influence from his constitution slipping away. Pain roared against his senses.
Flint nodded, “It’s that fiery spirit Vala is attracted to. How much sorrow will she feel as you become Baaldir’s play thing before the pack devours you.”
“I’m…still…standing…take your…chance,” Victor coughed.
Flint nodded, “That’s right, fight to the end. It will make the kill that much sweeter.”
Pain pulsed as Victor looked to his ruined hand. The torment from his broken ribs ached as he tried to keep it together. Maybe it was a bad idea for Lily to leave. Thoughts flowed to the succubus, her image chasing away the pain but only for a moment. Warp spawn crowded around as the giant War Wolf stepped closer, peering down his snout at the Blade where he stood.
We are still strong and fast. Run!
Victor knew he could will his body to move despite the pain but the damage could be too much for him. Without Lily, he could bleed internally from moving at full speed. Options began to close as Victor saw no way to escape or fight on without permanent damage. He still had three points in Charisma but he doubted it would cause the War Wolf to fall in love with him. Body growing colder, he had to take the chance he would survive running away.
“Thief,” shouted a garbled voice from the warp spawn crowd.
A whip lashed out and coiled around Victor’s neck. The Blade grabbed the leather whip with his left hand just as the line went taut.
Blurgg moved from the crowd, whip in hand and neboo on his shoulder. Tentacles moved through the water as he moved a few feet closer.
“You stole my book and my slaves! You will pay as I make a book from your skin,” Blurgg shouted, froth spilling from his fish lips.
“His life belongs to Baaldir and me,” Luis roared as he lifted his hammer and threw it with full force.
Flint’s eyes widened, “Luis, you fool!”
For a second, Blurgg turned to see the massive hammer fly through the air before it crashed into his chest and face. The neboo on his shoulder leapt away as the warp spawn’s chest and face caved in. Victor stared with horror in his eyes as Blurgg fell back, scaly hand letting go of the whip. Body crashing into the watery street, a pulse blasted out in all directions.
The warp spawn turned their collective attention to the fallen War Wolf. Black eyes glowed with pale power as tentacles, claws and sharp teeth shined in the low street light. Flint turned and charged to the fallen War Wolf. Victor took one step back and then another as the warp spawn surged. The Blade turned and hobble ran to an alley, glancing back as the spawn closed in on the two War Wolves.
Flint grabbed Luis by the scruff of his neck while his other hand clawed at the very fabric of reality. A black portal opened before them. Luis called back his hammer just as Flint dragged the War Wolf into the portal. The pair disappeared and the portal sealed shut behind them just as the warp spawn reached them, missing them by a second. The neboo crawled onto Blurgg’s ruined body, snuggling at his neck as he floated on the flooded street.
Victor fought through the spasms and pain. Water sloshed around his legs as he barreled down any alley, turned and followed another alley. The Blade wasn’t sure if the warp spawn would come for him next and he didn’t want to stick around to find out. The watery pathways began to blur together. Vision grew blurry as Victor fought through the haze. The throbbing pain from his ribs and hand caused him to stumble as he made his way along. Energy waned as his steps grew slower. Left hand on a wall, he huffed, trying to catch his breath.
“Lily…I could use your healing touch now…,” Victor exhaled as he pushed off the wall and continued on.
The area began to look the same and the Blade soon found himself lost. The alien city towered over him as he slowed again, hand to wall for support. Darkness writhed at the edge of his vision as he shook it off, trying to focus. The sounds of water splashing echoed off walls.
Victor looked up to see a succubus appear down an alley. Red eyes widened as Lily rushed through the water toward him.
“We…have to…stop…meeting like this…,” Victor said with a weak grin.
Lily reached him, one hand under his shoulder while the other one touched his chest. Warmth and energy spilled into the broken Blade as the pair made their way through the water. Bones knitted together but the process was painful, Victor gritting his teeth.
“I made sure they were safe before coming back to you.” Lily looked down as Victor’s right hand as he flexed it and winced, “How bad is it?”
“You should see the other guy,” Victor coughed as pain continued to bleed into his senses as Lily healed him. The process was slower than he thought and the Blade spent his last remaining will to keep up the pace.
“We’re not far from Vonn’s home,” Lily said with concern.
“The healing is helping. I just need to lie down for a moment,” Victor managed as weakness crawled into his beaten muscles.
The succubus held her Blade close, helping him along. The pair made several turns before reaching a familiar doorway above some stairs. They climbed the stairs to the top, the door opening a familiar pale face seeing them.
“Quickly,” Vonn said as she moved aside.
The couple stepped in, the warp spawn closing the door behind them. Reality moved in flashes and Victor couldn’t keep up. They were in the hallway, turned off to the side and then they were in a room. Yimer and Caasa was there, taking hold of the Blade from Lily and helping him into a waiting bed. The Blade sank down onto his back as the two spawn looked at him with wide black eyes. Lily pushed through, crawling into bed and pressing her hand to Victor’s chest once again. Warmth pooled in his chest before spreading out to his limbs. Body relaxing, he laid still as Lily healed him.
Vonn hovered over them, her pale hand touching Victor’s head. “Maybe I can help with the pain.”
Victor let out a relieved sigh and the pain evaporated.
“It’s okay to pass out,” Lily said with a soft tone.
Victor smiled. “Not with so many beautiful women around me.”
Lily and Vonn smiled as the Blade winked at them. The Blade stifled a laugh as bones, muscle, and blood returned to working order, the air in the room tasting sweeter than he ever imagined.
***
The room was quiet for the most part. Vonn brought out tea and placed it at the table. Victor sat, hugging his side, ribs still tender. Yimer and Caasa sat in their own chairs across from the Blade. Lily stepped to Victor’s side and sat down in a seat next to him. Vonn poured steamy tea into each cup, tentacles rising up and pushing each cup to everyone at the table. Victor picked up a cup, not sure what kind of tea would be served by warp spawn from a dark realm but since his life was crazy enough, he sipped it. The Blade smiled as he found the tea delicious, tasting a mixture of light coffee, something akin to hazelnut and jasmine.
Vonn took a seat with the other two warp spawn across from the Blade and Shield. “We can’t thank you enough. Vala’s connection has brought us all together and defined a purpose. We are but a small gathering, the beginning
to something grander.”
Yimer nodded. “We never would have escaped Blurgg if it wasn’t for you. Our love for Vala made us outcasts, slaves to be used and worked. You showed us that she truly is trying to return to the realms.”
“Our faith will improve our gifts so we may aid in Vala’s return,” Caasa smiled.
Victor and Lily nodded.
“Come with us to Vala’s realm. There you will be safe as we continue to resurrect her,” Victor smiled.
Yimer and Caasa looked to Vonn. The beautifully pale warp spawn looked down, shadows covering her black eyes.
“We cannot leave yet. As far as we know, we are the only ones in Koth, maybe across the Dark Spire realm that have come together for our love of Vala. We must be ready to find others, be a beacon, showing her love has a place, even here in Dark Spire,” Vonn said.
Yimer and Caasa looked to Vonn.
“She has so much to teach us. We only know Vala from dreams and whispers but Vonn knows Vala’s teachings well. We wish to learn more,” Yimer said with stars in her eyes.
“We wish to spread Vala’s word to those who allow her into their hearts,” Caasa smiled.
Lily nodded. “Know that Vala’s realm will always be open to you, should you decide to leave or need a respite from your realm.”
The three warp spawn nodded in unison.
Victor leaned back in his chair, “Well I think I’m about ready to go if our work is done here?”
The three warp spawns centered their gaze on the Blade.
“We haven’t thanked you both properly for everything you have done,” Vonn said with a mischievous smile.
“We have such pleasure to show you,” Yimer licked her lips.
“A true thanks from Vala’s teachings,” Caasa grinned.
Victor and Lily both smiled. The three warp spawn rose up from their seats and flowed around the table. Hands and tentacles took hold of the Blade and Shield, lifting them to their feet and pulling them to a large bedroom. Victor and Lily glanced at each other, feeling the love and warmth around them as they were guided to a large bed. Hands pulled at clothes as tentacles removed black dresses. Naked bodies closed in and the group crawled into bed together.