by Avery Tingle
free and raised it high overhead. After one final strike into its midsection, the creature stopped moving.
Reginald panted. He hadn’t worked that hard in a long time.
He turned to see Lillian staring at him as though he was a stranger. The Heimdall officer she carried nodded. “Impressive.” She conceded, “Unfortunately, I just watched you take two lives.”
He then walked up to the officer and looked down at her. “Listen to me very carefully, young lady.” He began in a low tone. “I came here for my sister. I don’t want to hurt you, but I will if I must.”
The woman blinked.
Reginald nodded at the other officer, who was beginning to stir. “Take your comrade and go. Tell Yang that your mission was successful.”
The woman smirked coldly. “You really think Lord Yang will believe that? You think he’s unaware of what’s transpired here?”
Reginald knew she spoke the truth. Since neither Yang, nor any other Heimdall arrived, he had to believe that there was still time.
The woman looked at Lillian. “Reginald, do you even know why your sister was exiled?”
Reginald nodded at Lillian, and she set the officer down. “I don’t care.” Reginald replied flatly, “You’re not taking the last of my family--”
“Well. Isn’t that an interesting position to take.”
Reginald whirled, holding his axe up defensively. The deep, feminine voice had come from the Southern Lands.
A tall, slender woman was dismounting a thing the likes of which had never been seen before. The first thing Reginald wondered was how in Amen’s name something so massive had arrived without any of them hearing.
The woman was a little shorter than he was, with sickly pale skin. Her eyes were marble white and without pupils, her fingers too long. She was dressed in a one-piece, deep green outfit that matched her long hair. Skin-like antennae jutted from the sides of her forehead.
Her smile was cold.
Her mount was impossible. Triple the size of Heaven’s largest horse, it rode on six massive, bulging arms, the first four of which were high on the creature. Its fur was silver, almost white, which offset its deep grey skin. Two rows of three black eyes lined its elongated face, which ended in three flaring nostrils. Its jaw was long, flat, and dozens of menacing teeth protruded from the sides.
“Don’t mind him.” The woman said as she approached, “He’s harmless, for now.”
Reginald stood in front of everyone and remained silent.
The woman smiled, feigning politeness. “Well, I suppose there truly is a first time for everything.”
She was quiet, looking at the two Heimdall officers, Reginald, and Lillian. “Isn’t anyone going to say anything?” She finally asked.
“What do you want?” Reginald spoke up.
“Finally. Someone with a little courage.” She looked at Reginald and placed a hand on her chest, “My name is Augra, and I’m a…hunter. Enforcer. I don’t really know. I’m not much for titles.”
She looked at Lillian. “The point is; she was supposed to accompany the Ravenous into the Southern Lands, and instead the Ravenous have been killed. Obviously, the Heimdall didn’t do it, but I doubt the Heimdall possess the wherewithal to dress themselves in the morning, much less spill blood.”
Her eyes drifted back towards Reginald, and she smiled curiously. “So that just leaves you. You’re an Angel? Were you born here? Or did you transcend?”
“It’s none of your business.” Reginald replied after a moment, keeping a peripheral, wary eye on Augra’s mount. The second officer had since gotten to his, or her feet and joined the group at Reginald’s left.
“No, I suppose it isn’t.” Augra replied, “But I have to say; I admire your dedication. Your sister is one sick little lady and you’re down here risking everything to save her.”
Reginald frowned, wishing he’d known exactly what Lillian had been convicted of.
“Oh, that’s cute; you have no idea what she did, do you? I thought my family was dysfunctional. At least we can admit that we can’t stand each other. But you guys…nice little delusion you’ve created for yourself.”
“Shut your mouth.” Reginald barked, almost involuntarily. He didn’t like the idea of this abrasive woman forcing him to admit the truth about his family.
“Okay…” Augra chuffed, shaking her head as her patience waned, “…the point is, your sister is supposed to come with me. I’m here to make sure that happens. Yin and Yang? They have an agreement on this sort of thing. If you don’t relinquish her to me, I have Yang’s permission to enter your lands and do whatever I think is necessary to retrieve the exile.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Do you have any idea what I can find necessary to do my job?”
A cold silence set in.
“Just let me take her.” Augra finished, nodding at Lillian, “And we can all get back to our little routines.”
Reginald shook his head. “Perhaps you didn’t hear me, Augra. Neither you, nor anyone else, is laying hands on my family.”
He nodded at the mount. “Take your mount and go.”
Again, she was silent. When she next spoke, her voice rumbled like thunder. “Are you sure that this is how you’d like this to go?”
“Lillian,” Reginald nodded at her without taking his eyes from Augra, “Leave here, now.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Lillian declared, “Not without you.”
“I stand with you too, Reginald.” The female officer declared, “If your sister means this much to you, then I’ll stand by your actions. My name’s Mia.”
“As will I. I’m Seth.” The second officer removed his hood, revealing a young man slightly older than Reginald’s son, tanned-skin with coarse, black hair.
“Charming.” Augra hissed, “Well then, I have my orders.” She took a step back, folding her arms and turning away. “Kurag, kill them all.”
Reginald barely had time to breathe. The mount, Kurag, instantaneously rose up onto its hind legs, turning its front four legs into arms. The beast was towered over them by several feet and dove with its jaws open.
“Everyone scatter!” It was the last command Reginald ushered before throwing himself towards Lillian, tackling her and taking them both to the ground. Kurag’s jaw struck the ground and closed, empty.
“Get out of here, now.” Reginald whispered as he rose off of Lillian, “Go home.”
“I’m not leaving you here!” Lillian fired back, looking up at him fiercely.
“Then stay out of the way!” He roared, springing to his feet.
In the distance, Augra folded her arms and smiled as she watched the battle unfold. “This should be interesting.” She mused.
Reginald dashed, moving away from Lillian and hoping she was smart enough to hide. The Heimdall officers had flown in opposite directions, literally. Careful to remain in the safety of Heaven, the female officer raised her hands and then fired them downward towards Kurag. A column of white energy exploded from her palms, spiraling down towards her target.
Kurag raised its two front hands before its face and leaned forward. The beam of energy pushed the monster backwards, but didn’t appear to hurt it. “Seth, help me!” The officer called out as she realized the inefficiency of her attack.
“I’m right here, Mia!” The boy stepped forward and put his palms out towards Kurag, shooting the same energy. It struck Kurag in the midsection like a hurricane, and he roared, absorbing the blow.
Reginald sprinted, raising his axe and aiming for Kurag’s exposed legs--
Kurag swung two arms out towards Reginald, which caught him cleanly in the chest and face. The wind knocked from him, his brain feeling like it was bouncing around his head, Reginald was sent flying backwards several feet before crashing to the ground and rolling twice.
He landed on his stomach. His chest felt like it was on fire, his head was ringing. Still, he’d managed to hold onto his axe, and he clutched it as he staggered to his feet.
“T
his isn’t working!” Seth announced as the beast pushed through the energy assault. “Stay on him! I’m going in!”
Mia frowned down to him, her brow glistening as the assault began to take its toll on her. “What? Seth, don’t!”
Seth lowered his hands and used his aura to accelerate his dash, moving towards the Kurag. The moment the energy left its midsection, the Kurag was given just enough space to knock away Mia’s blast, roaring as it knocked the beam away like an oncoming boulder. Freed, its full focus was now on Seth, who was too close to change direction.
Reginald blocked out the pain in his midsection and threw caution to the wind, racing for the kurag with his axe raised in a desperate gambit to save the boy.
Too late.
Seth realized what was about to happen just before the end. The Kurag lunged and descended upon him, opening its gigantic mouth and taking the boy in one bite. Blessedly, there was no pain or anguish as the Kurag chewed twice and swallowed.
Reginald’s axe landed true this time, and he buried half of the blade in the rear of the creature’s neck. As Reginald landed on the creature’s back, it bellowed in agony, reaching in vain to reach Reginald, who yanked his axe free. Before he could strike again, black blood exploded from the rupture, catching Reginald by surprise. Unable to maintain his footing on the thrashing monster, he slid and fell to the ground.
He immediately rolled to his back, prepared for what was coming.
He held his axe up horizontally, and the kurag’s mouth crunched down on the handle, instead of his head. The kurag continued to press downward, trying to