“You won’t stop me from unlocking it. In fact I doubt you’ll live long enough to see me obtain it should you continue to get in my way.”
“Over our dead bodies you’ll unlock it!” Sasha yelled out.
“You’ll never even get close to it, we won’t allow it!” Rulo shouted.
Katie chuckled bitterly at them while Tora tried to hold back her scowl.
“Please, mistress,” Tora implored. “Allow me the chance to feed them to my pets.”
Daemon held his blade across in front of him, the markings on the sword giving off a blue light as a small torrent of wind seemed to circle him. Forrus watched with awe as the human geared back then swung his sword around once, creating a flash of light that streaked in front of him and remained in place, then swung around again, forming a cross of the bright light that then shot out towards the airborne monsters. Tora aimed her palm down towards the boy, creating several flashing circles of black light with markings around them, the barriers shattering instantly as Daemon’s magical attack plowed through them. Katie grunted with annoyance then held her hand towards the attack, the magical cross of light hitting against her palm and halting as smoke and fire flared up from the touch. Her eyes glowed crimson as her hand wavered from stopping the attack, the woman then throwing the spell off to the side where it spiraled into the air before exploding with a flash. Katie held her hand with a scowl, the skin having been burned from the magical touch, and looked down to Daemon with a cold glare.
“You… are testing my patience,” she warned with malice. “For your own sake, as well as your pets, do not do so again.”
Daemon got ready to strike again before Katie clapped her hands together, forming a bright green and purple light that swirled around them. She then swung the light down towards the group, with Daemon swinging his sword and launching out a wave of bright light at it. The two forces struck each other and exploded with a blinding flash, with Daemon and the girls on the ground shielding their eyes from the bloom before it slowly faded, revealing the succubus and witch to be gone.
“Dammit, she got away again,” Sasha cursed.
“That bitch needs to go down, hard,” Rulo grunted with an oink.
Daemon watched as the leaves and branches up above swayed slightly in the wind before slowly looking back towards Forrus, the lycan still bound on the ground and watching him with wonder. Sasha and Rulo glanced over to her as Daemon slowly approached the wolf, with Forrus trembling bit as the boy held his sword down towards her. She shook her head with a whimper, trying to plead for her life around her gag as Daemon geared back with his sword.
‘Wait, please! Have mercy!’
With a precise swing of his sword Daemon sliced through the vines holding her, the lycan trembling a bit then looking to see she was able to move again. She quickly reached up and yanked the apple out of her mouth, gasping for air as she started to unravel her bolas from around her neck. Daemon watched her for a moment then started walking away while sheathing his sword, his cold blue eyes looking ahead as he focused on finding the succubus once again.
“Sasha, Rulo, we’re leaving,” he said, with Sasha nodding and holding her sword down at her side while Rulo rested her hammer over her shoulder.
“Yes, master,” they both replied formally. Daemon stopped and glanced back to them, the two girls then jumping a bit before smiling nervously at him.
“I mean, Daemon,” they quickly corrected with.
The human looked at them for a moment then glanced past them, with the girls looking back to seeing Forrus coughing on the ground as she had gotten her weapon freed from around her neck. The lycan took a few deep breaths then looked to Daemon with wonder.
“Who… who are you?”
Daemon just looked at her in silence before turning and walking away, with Sasha and Rulo then following after him.
“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,” Rulo added with an oink. “And we didn’t even plan on saving you, you were just lucky we came by when we did.”
“Please, I need your help,” Forrus begged softly.
“We are not mercenaries,” Daemon said while still looking ahead. “We are not missionaries, we are not for hire for any, seek aid for yourself elsewhere.”
“I cannot,” Forrus said shaking her head. “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 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?” Sasha demanded. “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.”
“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 pointing the blade down at her neck.
“I beg of you,” Forrus pleaded. “My sisters, my entire pack, were brutally slain, eaten alive, by two monsters. Monsters that could not be killed.”
Daemon slowly glanced back to her while Sasha raised an eyebrow at her.
“Could not be killed?” Sasha repeated.
“Yes, they would not die,” Forrus desperately said. “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.”
Daemon watched her for a moment then looked back ahead.
“We have heard of the two you seek,” he stated. “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.”
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,” she begged. “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.” Daemon glanced back to the lycan as she looked up to him with pleading eyes.
“You seek the succubus,” Forrus empathized. “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.”
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,” she commended. “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 that could help me it would be you. Please, I’ll do anything you ask, anything.”
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 thin
k you could help me at all?” Daemon asked dryly.
“I have their scent,” Forrus replied with a focused expression at him. “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.”
“I can track them just fine on my own,” Daemon stated. “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?”
Forrus glanced to Sasha and Rulo then back to him.
“I offer you my life.”
“Doesn’t seem like much,” Rulo scoffed.
“It’s all I have to pay with!” Forrus snapped at her. “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 took a steady breath 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.”
“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?” she asked. “You both seem dedicated to him thoroughly, are you not offering your bodies to him at all?”
Sasha and Rulo showed frustrated expressions as they growled at the girl yet did not speak back. 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?”
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,” he stated firmly. “The only thing I seek is what that succubus stole, what that demon is after. Nothing more.”
Forrus gulped 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.”
“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,” he replied. “My name is Daemon. Now get up, I will not tell you so again.”
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,” he declared, with Forrus watching him worriedly before he glanced back to her. “We will not be searching the lands for them in any way. My mission remains the same, that will never change. 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 be it. Your new purpose is the same as ours, that is your only true priority now, understand?”
Forrus looked at him curiously as Sasha and Rulo watched her with harsh glares.
“My new… purpose?” Forrus asked.
“Do you understand?” Daemon repeated sharply.
Forrus jumped a bit then nodded quickly while holding her hands behind her.
“Yes, I do,” she replied. “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.”
Daemon glanced to her as the wolf then bowed gratefully to 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 before 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?”
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,” she proudly said. “He’s certainly proved himself as a worthy leader to me after all. And the pack leader is never to be questioned.”
Daemon watched her for a moment then looked back ahead while Sasha and Rulo glared at the girl, his fingers lightly drumming on his sword’s handle as he seemed to be thinking something.
“What is your name?”
“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,” Sasha threatened. “I don’t know who you think you are, but let’s get something straight right now. Nobody will come between me and my-”
Before she could continue Forrus quickly scurried around the reptile girl’s sword and darted behind them, trotting after Daemon before glancing back to the two girls.
“You need to listen,” she mocked. “Daemon said we’re going, so we’re going.”
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?” she asked curiously. “If I may ask, what exactly is our goal? What is my new purpose you’ve given me?”
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 irritation.
“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.
Chronicles of Eden - Act III Page 30