“I will never work for you again.” Lola bellowed, she shed tears. “I will not be your slave. I will continue to taste freedom.”
“I hope you like the taste of steel. Black harlot.” Perim insulted and drove his sword in her gut. Lola screams. Her cry was so great it echoed in the skies and pierced Perim’s ears. Her body shattered into a hundred crows.
“No!” Perim yelled disappointed he could not end her life. The crows flew in circles around him. Black birds of death and their eyes an angry red. They cawed as they would with the moons above during the night. “You will die my dear Lola. Whether if you are a bird or a fiend.” Perim said and raised the black rod. Salamander, he hissed and pounded the ground with the top part of his rod. Flames began to dance around him and swirled. A serpent like creature clad in flames orbited him. It hissed and snapped it fangs. Its flames grew and its body stretched towards the sky. The salamander blew flames at the crows and bit them. One by one they began to fall from the skies. The black birds caught on fire and fell.
Soon the crows flew down. They formed Lola’s body again even those that had caught on fire and bitten by the flame salamander. Her body was restored. She gasped for air and her clothes steamed with smoke. Her long skirt tattered and her corset torn, showing her skin. She coughed and got to her feet. Her arms and legs weak and her mana was low. Her fangs withdrawn and her eyes were green again. I will not be slain by this bastard, she told herself. I will get my father’s rod back and continue my life as a drifter with Dougal. There has to be a way to kill him. I still have mana left in me. I can still summon my black fire.
Perim paced towards her, confidently now with a flame serpent circling his body. He stood a dozen feet from her. Lola clenched her teeth and seethe with anger. Her blood boiled but she knew better than to berserk. She waited for the perfect moment to strike and restore her mana. I am not leaving; I will not back down until you are dead Perim.
“I can sense your mana slipping away.” Perim said, eyes narrow, pointing his sword at Lola. “I am still not sure of what I should do. Should I make you faint and have my way with you. Perhaps lock you in a cage and deliver you to the king. I still have some test I want to do on you my dear. One way or another your powers will be mine.”
Suddenly Perim’s salamander hissed wildly, so loud that it startled him. Perim spun around and realized that the black wolf had shot a bullet of fire. It was Dougal. “Filthy animal!” He yelled.
“Pikan Ray!” Lola shouted. The red beam jetted from her rod and sliced Perim’s right hand off. His salamander vanished and his hand fell from the roof. Perim screamed a cry so loud it echoed in the skies. Lola rapidly cast her spell again. “Pikan Ray!” She sliced his left hand. Perim dropped the black rod; it slide down the slope of the roof. Perim turned to Lola, “Curse you. Harlot!” He cursed and looked at his wrist and was agonized. His arms ended with a stump.
“It ends here.” Lola said voice hoarse and gritted teeth. She used the red beam again and sliced off Perim’s left leg. The man fell to the side. He screams even louder. His cry was loud; birds of the night flew away in fear. It was the scream of a fiend, like a monster being slaughtered. Lola and Dougal stood by him, staring down at the man who for so long had hinder their lives. Now he suffered at their feet and at the mercy of their judgment.
Perim’s screaming subsided. He now moaned and groaned unable to stand or crawl away from Lola. Both his left and right hand sliced off by Lola’s spell. A spell she had to learn on her own since he would not teach it to her. Lola stared down at him solemnly. He was defenseless. She knew she could end his life immediately. There was nothing the bastard could do.
“I knew you would need my help eventually.” Dougal said looking up at Lola.
“Thank you my love. What would I do without you?” She responded with a soft sweet voice.
“Nothing my dear but there is definitely something he can do about my cursed form.” Dougal said and stomped on Perim’s chest growling. “You better start talking. Release me from this wolf form and turn me back into a human.”
Perim did not answer. In fact the man smiled. Then he began to chuckle and then it turned into a laugh. He laughed hysterically and it only made Lola angrier. She stomped between his legs and the man screamed again. The laugher stopped and he moaned in pain.
“What in necros are you laughing at? You better tell us how to release Dougal from his wolf form or you will suffer without meeting death.” Lola insulted and stomped between Perim’s legs again. The bastard shrieked this time, a squeal so loud like a pig being slaughter.
“Why …would I tell…you? Hahaha. I am already dead.” Perim finally spoke. “You cut off my hands so I can’t perform any spells. I can’t even stand on one leg. It is not as if you will let me go if I tell you. Either way I lose. If I tell you I still lose. I rather spit in your face and die with pride?”
“Did you not hear what I said? If you don’t tell me I will torture you and you will suffer without meeting death.” Lola threatens getting inpatient.
“You are already vulnerable. If I were you I would try not to anger her.” Dougal suggested.
“Hahaha! Dougal. I always knew you and Lola were in love.” Perim told the wolf. “I never truly liked you but you were always so useful. I thought of kicking you out of the mansion but your wits always keep you from getting in trouble. I was jealous of how you and Lola had become so close. I always wanted her all to myself. The night when both of you tried to steal the dark rod and escape was the night I decided to unleash my anger on you. So I used a gemstone from the underworld that was given to me by a fiend. Still Lola loved you. I guess you can’t win it all. It was good while it lasted. So go ahead. You can kill me but your boyfriend will forever remain as a wolf. A beast of darkness. Hahaha!”
Dougal and Lola were silent for a moment. It seemed that there was no solution to Dougal’s curse. Lola did not know what to do so she just unleashed her anger on the man she hated for so long. “Pikan Ray!” She shouted and cleaves Perim’s manhood with the red beam. Perim squeals like a thousand pigs. A sound so vile that irritated Dougal’s wolf ears.
“Lola wait!” Dougal alert her.
“What do you suggest we do? The spell he casted on you was not his own.” Lola said, her eyes moist.
“Let me ask him again.” Dougal stood on top of Perim’s body. The wolf growl at the helpless man and stared into his blue eyes. “This gemstone you used on me. You said it was from the underworld. From Necrovania. How did you obtain it?”
“Like I said. A fiend gave it to me.” Perim answered and spat at the wolf and chuckled. “Unless you have any connections with the underworld you won’t be able to get any of those gemstones. Even if you do find a way to the underworld. I wish you good luck trying to find it. You can free yourself from that wolf form but you will be stuck in the underworld for all eternity. Bwahahaha!”
“Please can I just kill him?” Lola urged.
“No wait. There is something else I need to know.” Dougal continued. “We had run into fiends in the misty woods before entering the mansion. How were you able to have fiends working for you.”
“Why don’t you just kill me and end my misery.” Perim said. Dougal growled and bit off a huge chunk of Perim’s flesh from his chest. The man screams so high pitch it sounded like the screech of bats in a cave.
“The grimoire!” Perim screamed and groaned. “The shadow grimoire in the Alexandrian castle. The king studies the arts of darkness. Please no more. No more. Don’t make me hurt anymore.”
“That is all I needed to know.” Dougal then looked up at Lola. “End his misery and let’s get out of here.”
“Pikan Ray!” Lola shouted and pierced Perim’s heart with a red beam of fire. Perim’s life ended and Lola could finally breathe with ease. She then slide down the slope of the roof and lifted her father’s rod that Perim carried. It had his hand gripping the shaft. Lola uncurled the fingers and tossed the hand with disgust. She looked at the rod an
d felt deep satisfaction. The rod was black with bat wings and the top had a black onyx gemstone. It was beautiful in her eyes.
Now she remembers. Her father practiced dark magic. He never got the chance to teach her. Lola’s mother had passed away when she was very young. She remembers her father would work for King Alexander. “Why does the king practice dark magic?” She asked herself. “I believe another quest is to unfold.”
“Indeed.” Dougal said. Lola looked up at him and smiled. There was still hope. There was still a chance for him to return to his human form and to her arms again. “Don’t worry. All we have to do is find that grimoire.” Said the wolf.
“Let’s pray that Omegus will help us find it.” She said with a sweet voice.
Minutes later Lola and Dougal walked out of the mansion. The wolf walked with a crippled leg and Lola was tired and hungry. They heard the front door of the mansion slamming open. Lola spun around startled. She saw Jazelle running out of the mansion. The only brunette girl in the mansion besides Lola. Jazelle ran to her and embraced her. “Oh Lola.” She whispered in her ear. “I am so glad you returned. Forgive me if I ignored you but they would have hurt me if they knew I was on your side.”
“It’s ok I understand. I knew you were not one of them. I could tell when I first entered the mansion.” Lola said to her. “Come with me Jazelle. Come to the capital city with me it will be great. I have rented a small living space with the money I earned.”
“Oh Lola you have no idea how long I’ve been wanting to leave this place.” Jazelle confessed. “Where ever you are going, I will follow. Anywhere but this prison.”
“Then welcome to the team.” Dougal said. Jazelle kneel down and embrace the wolf. She rubbed his head and horns and kissed his black fur.
“Before we leave there is one last thing I must do.” Lola turned to face the mansion. She pointed her new rod. The rod her father had given her. Its bat wings spread and the onyx stone shines with magic and its mana flowing. The top of the rod sparked and a ball of fire began to swell before it. The fire ball ballooned bigger and bigger until its height was half of Lola’s body. “Pikan Explodah!” Lola yelled and the great ball of fire flew towards the mansion. It burst through the front door and within a few seconds the mansion detonated. An explosion so large it created a large cloud of smoke and fire. Pieces of woof flew everywhere and the garden caught on fire. It was the end of Perim’s fire mage agency. What will the king do when he finds out that one girl caused this much damage.
Lola, Dougal and their new friend Jazelle left the mansion and traveled to Centra the capital city.
Theft And Grimoire
Centra Alexandria. The capital city. Lola The Black stood on the rooftop of an Inn gazing at the godly sword that rose from the castle. Yes the godly sword said to have been summoned by the Alexandrian dynasty. The castle sheaths it like a scabbard and the sword cast a colossal shadow upon the city. It never fails to amaze me, Lola thought as she stared mesmerized by the view of the castle. Every morning she woke up and stared at it wishing she could grasp the hilt and draw the blade like the hand of Omegus from the sky.
Centra. The largest city in the Alexandria country. Lola was in the south section of the city where houses were built on a hill with sloping streets. She gazed at the center of the city leagues below where the castle district was always crowded. She always romanticizes the city. She had no house to go to or a family waiting for her. She slept in Inns and drifted willingly, blissfully and ever so venturous in the city and through Alexandria.
The wind blows and billows her long skirt of black bird feathers and leather. She fixed her long raven black hair over her shoulders and closed her eyes at the soothing breeze. “Today I will fly to the top of the castle for the first time.” She said. Lola has wanted to enter the castle for such a long time ever since she first started living in the city.
Very few can enter the castle. Only the high class and those who work for the king have the privilege to enter. Anyone else who wishes to enter must have beneficial reasons or permission from someone of authority. The Alexandrian dynasty resides in the castle and it is heavily guarded with skilled guards of swordplay and advanced magic of every element. Lola felt nervous yet excited. She loved risky situations. I am a step closer to learning the truth. I will learn the secrets of darkness. My darkness.
“What is it with you and high places?” Lola heard a voice from behind her. She turned around and there stood Dougal. The black wolf with ram horns on his head and two tails. Lola smiled at the wolf and said “I love the view. It’s romantic.”
“You never fail to worry me.” Dougal said. He walked to the edge of the roof and gazed with Lola. The two had been living in the capital city and drifting throughout the country for three years now. Three long years of freedom. Taking odd jobs and going with the wind.
“What are we going to tell Jazelle?” Dougal asked.
“She already knows.” Lola answered.”Don’t worry she has our trust but she will remain in the Inn while we are away.”
“Then let’s get ready. I am eager to see this grimoire Perim spoke of.” Dougal said.
“I heard it was ancient.” Lola said with enigma and stared back at the colossal sword sheath in the castle. “I spoke to the librarians of the city yesterday and they said that such grimoire belonged to a magus that was related to Prodigus Kollos. That it is but a myth and such magic manuals are no longer written.”
“I see” Dougal pondered. “Perim told us that the grimoire lies in the castle of the Alexandrian dynasty. Hahaha. It is with no doubt that such powerful tools are kept secret and only used by those with power and authority. Perim did not want anyone to know of the grimoire since he worked for the king.”
“Today we shall find the truth.” Lola stated. “I have a feeling that this grimoire will have more to offer than just a solution to our prayers.”
“You think so.”
“I feel so or at least Omegus is guiding me. Telling me that I must obtain this grimoire regardless of what I must do.” Lola said as if the unknown beyond the realm of light had shown her destiny.
“By the way who is this Prodigus Kollos you mentioned?” Dougal asked as if something had eluded him.
“You have never heard of the myth of Prodigus Kollos?” Lola was surprised Dougal had not heard of the common fairy tale of Alexandria.
“Afraid not. Why don’t you tell me this fairy tale?” Dougal said annoyed scratching his ears with his foot.
“Prodigus Kollos was said to be the pioneer of magic itself. He is the one to have discovered the mystics of mana and how to transform it from one’s body into different physicals forms. He was the first fire magus. In fact it is said that he mastered all four magical elements as well as the three grand attributes of darkness, divine magic and the rare art of twilight. How have you not heard of the myth of Prodigus Kollos. Did you not pay attention in Perim’s classes?”
“Sorry but mythology is just not my thing you see.” Said the wolf and jumped off the roof of the Inn to the second floor’s balcony.
“I hope I didn’t hurt his feelings.” Lola lost sight of Dougal below. “That wolf form has seriously changed him.” Lola felt his pain. Dougal wants to be human again so that he can embrace her like he once did. So that he can love her like he once did and hold her hand as they once did three years ago. Lola has been hunting for answers to Dougal’s curse throughout their travel and it wasn’t until four days ago that they were given a clue to a real cure. Lola prays that she breaks Dougal’s curse and set him free. For three years she had been traveling with him never losing faith.
Lola had many chances to marry someone of high class in Centra. She had many opportunities to settle down and never have to work again or sleep in Inns and hotels but all she wanted was to be with Dougal. The love of her life. She was not going to give up until he stood on two legs and looked at her with blue eyes. She was not going to give up until she could stroke his long blonde hair again and kiss him
like she did the first time under a cherry tree. Pretty soon my love, Lola told herself. She slides down the slope of the roof and with an air spell she spun and fell with ease like a feather and landed gently on the second floor balcony of the Inn.
Lola rushed inside the inn to her room. She pushed opened the first door of the hall to the right. Inside stood Jazelle combing her long black hair in front of a mirror next to the bed. Jazelle looked at Lola in surprise. “I thought you had left me all alone.” Said Jazelle. “I woke up and you and Dougal were gone.”
“My dear.” Lola told her. “I must go to the capital city today. I will return before midnight.”
“Oh I see” Jazelle turned to the bed and lifted Lola’s rod. “You will need this.” She tossed the rod to Lola. The dark magus caught it and spun it playfully. The rod was black with bat wings at the end and an onyx gemstone embed on top. It was the rod she reclaimed from her old master who had stolen it from her. The rod helped Lola control her dark magic and enhanced it.
“Come here my dear.” Lola beckons her friend. Jazelle paces to Lola and she hugs her ever so tightly with each other’s head side to side. They then face each other gently, eyes close and kissed. They pull away, eyes moist and lips wet. Jazelle wipes Lola’s lower lip painted red. “Does he know?” Jazelle asks nervously. “Worry not. He will understand.” Lola says and pulls away giving Jazelle a peck on the lips and rubs her cheek.
Lola exits the room and walks down the hall, frowning and yet no regret. Oh great Omegus, I hope Dougal forgives me for my sins but I must satisfy the needs of my flesh till he can hold me in his arms again. My love I promise I will do everything in my power to break your curse. She goes down the stairs and when she reaches the first floor she notices Dougal waiting for her by the entrance as civilians walk in. As she is walking towards the wolf, he stands up and exits the inn. She runs after him. I feel as though he is avoiding me.
Outside on the sloping streets, people walked by gracefully in wagons and on horsebacks. The streets in the south section are not as crowded as the other parts of the city which is why Lola stays in these areas. Many wealthy people lived in Centra. It is hard to live in the capital without money. Lola was able to afford staying nights and weeks in inns and hotels with the odd jobs that she does for wealthy men and woman. She was paid handsomely since her magic was great as well as Dougal.
Tales Of Lola The Black Page 5