Ghost Monkey

by Paul R. Davis

  Then Sugriva landed on the demon's head. He hit another shoulder hard, repeatedly, then put a hand into Ravasha's mouth, pulling up on the teeth. He ripped several teeth out, and when Ravasha bit down, Sugriva howled. He took his staff and struck at the monster's sinew connecting his jaw, until it snapped, causing the left side of Ravasha's maw to hang limply. "You will not take what is mine," Sugriva cried. "You will kill no more, and your army will die with you."

  Ravasha's jaw moved awkwardly, but the words came out clearly. "I will pollute the Well of Ghuma. Once I do, it will spawn as many thralls as I need. Then I can claim the gate to heaven, and this world will be consumed by chaos."

  "What?" Despite the struggle, Sugriva's mouth slowly opened. The demon was delirious. Monkey called on the fire in his fist, thrust it down Ravasha's throat, and tried to stoke it until it exploded. But nothing happened. "No. Give me one more shot," he whispered. "Ishva, if you can hear me, I need this."

  The fire burst in his hand, though barely. There was a small burn, but the fire on Sugriva's hand went out. The demon gurgled.

  Then a fire immolated his hand, crawled up his arm, and it consumed him, eating away at his hair and making his skin red. Ravasha tossed the burning monkey aside.

  THE WORLD WAS BLACK when Sugriva came to. Heavy weights crushed down on his chest and legs, and he could feel them shift as people—or creatures—walked over it. He could make out slimy scraping above, and realized definitely creatures. Jaya was overrun, which would make sense. It wasn't in great condition before he passed out from being set on fire.

  He used the earth staff to jettison himself up into the air. He surveyed the city and found a mostly intact building to land on. The demons frenzied seeing him and clamored up the siding. Sugriva launched himself away repeatedly. The demons picked up their pace at the scent of fresh and active blood. As Sugriva continued, he watched as abominations burst into houses, then dragged out victims who couldn't get to the city center. He wanted to intervene—to save them all—but he knew he couldn't. He also knew they were unimportant in comparison to stopping Ravasha from reaching the Well. At best, when possible, Sugriva used his staff to snuff out the victims.

  In view of the Well of Ghuma, Sugriva climbed up a tree to avoid the demons below. They looked up briefly as the tree shook, but it didn't keep their interest with all the warriors and monks ahead.

  Ravasha limped up the path. Several warriors fought him, and he dispatched each in kind, gaining more ground with every kill. The path was slick with their blood, every stone touched either in crimson or the ruddiness of dried blood.

  Divyan was there fighting. Humbari was nowhere to be seen. He likely went off to the palace to make sure Prince Anka remained safe. Meanwhile, warrior priests fended off Ravasha from the irreplaceable Well. Sugriva cursed the short term thinking of General Humbari.

  Sugriva launched off and up toward the Well. He dropped in the water and called the liquid to coat his bare skin, soothing burned flesh. The priests were astounded, tripping over themselves from monkey's sudden appearance, but Sugriva ignored them. "Divyan," he said. "I need you to fight Ravasha with me."

  The hawk smirked. "They said you were dead. I said you're a ghost and death has no hold on you. Here you are. The Ghost of Sankive." He took out a spear with a jade tip and intricate designs. "Lead the way."

  The two men charged down among the priests, moving past the final three gates keeping Ravasha from the Well.

  Sugriva spat water and guided it into Ravasha's eyes. He swept for the demon lord's knees. The demon swung down two swords, and Sugriva shifted into a monkey and let his inertia pull him behind the demon's legs. Then he cut up and caught a hamstring. Ravasha dropped to a knee, howling, then swung back, knocking Sugriva off the path. A second pause reattached the severed hamstring. Ravasha charged through the priests and Divyan, then shouldered through another gate. Wood shattered and iron twisted, clanging as it was thrown to the ground. Several monks were killed by splinters and the doors falling. Then Ravasha kicked down the supports, and stone fell and crushed more people.

  Sugriva thrust down his staff, steadying himself, then jumped back into the battle, taking a crack at the demon's skull. His aim was off with the flying debris distracting him, and he missed. Divyan flurried, but the jade-tipped spear was rebuffed. Ravasha grabbed the spear during one of the thrusts and dragged Divyan toward him.

  Monkey launched a side shot to the skull, which reverberated up the staff and stung in Sugriva's hands. Ravasha struck against a rock wall, and Sugriva struck again and again until Divyan lodged the spear in the demon's torso. Divyan snapped the spear and thrust the broken tip in with his palm, making sure it was deep as the wound sealed over it.

  Ravasha threw Divyan, and the hawk shifted to fly, keeping an eye on the monstrosity. Another gate shattered, and Ravasha took one of the pillars and threw it at Divyan. The hawk dodged lazily.

  Sugriva poured out water, and let it run over his hand. The stream felt like it pulsed, and he called to it, creating a tendril. The tendril struck, rushing down the demon's throat, filling his lungs. Ravasha waved his hand through the stream, and Sugriva lost his connection. The monkey had a small amount of water left, but certainly not enough to drown the demon.

  With a single cough, Ravasha cleared his lungs. "One more gate. These priests can't do anything. You can't do anything. Give up. Flee."

  He speaks the truth. Kneel before him. He will still take you. The voice racked his head, but he pushed it down, and it hurt his chest. He parried an attack, then thrust, but Ravasha moved aside. The opening was a grave mistake, and multiple swords came down. Skin and bone shrunk as Sugriva became a monkey, thwarting the attacks with some contortion.

  When Ravasha put the fifth weapon into the ground, Sugriva willed his staff to grow, striking Ravasha in his scorched throat hard enough to lift him from the path. The demon rolled onto his back. The skull shifted through the skin, and his legs shifted so he landed on them.

  Ravasha, back on his feet, slammed Sugriva into the final gate. Air pressed out of Sugriva, and the monkey couldn't breathe. The gate came down, and Sugriva did his best to dodge as he fell.

  "This is futility, monkey. Move aside. Let me plunge into the pool. Why would you want to defend the people who call you outcaste? Even now the priests look at you with disdain, yet you and Divyan are the only two capable of slowing me down."

  On cue, Divyan swooped down and kicked Ravasha in the chest. The demon didn't even stumble. He grabbed Divyan by the ankle and slammed him repeatedly into the ground. After the third strike, Divyan's eyes rolled back and his body went limp. Sugriva grabbed a sword, rolled under the rag doll body, and thrust up into Ravasha's armpit. The general flew off the platform.

  Black blood bathed Sugriva. The warmth soaked into his skin. Soon, everything turned red. The Master blesses you with great power. Use it!

  Ravasha's arm went limp, but another palm struck Sugriva's chest, sending the janaav reeling. "You felt it," he said, grinning. "You felt the darkness."

  The fight fell away, and instead Sugriva saw himself sitting on the throne, the corpses of those who made him feel lesser strewn across the floor. A twisted army of demons, his brood, waited to serve him. Prisha was by his side, a pleasing sight, a chain around her neck fastened her to the floor, and her wings were torn off.

  A messenger said, "Ji-Wei is yours, demon lord. The other lords bow to you and your whim."

  Women attended him, and young men eagerly trained to serve him. He ate as he pleased, though mostly human flesh, and the thought snapped him from the vision, disgust making him wretch.

  Ichor blinded him, and he wiped it from his eyes. Where the blood touched, Sugriva noted, the flesh turned like coal with red lines crackling through. "I will not give into your visions.”

  Ravasha picked up a priest and crushed his throat, tossing him aside. He stabbed another through the chest. The third he ripped in two. "How will you stop me? I just need to reach the Well.
You need to kill me within a few steps."

  Sugriva grabbed a sword, slid between Ravasha's legs, and thrust up. The sword caught the demon's crotch, and it howled. Then Sugriva placed his staff against the hilt and made it grow, the sword flying up until it shattered through the top of Ravasha's skull.

  "I lose," the demon gurgled, with a grin. Then he laughed. "But so do you." His form turned into a large worm, writhing toward the Well. A priest cut the slithering flesh, and as the worm went over the edge, it had enough weight to fall in.

  Once the flesh touched, the Well of Ghuma turned black, spreading out from the appendage. The worm went limp. Once the well turned black, the plants withered and died, and the dirt turned into a putrid smelling muck. "No," Sugriva howled. "We need to run."

  The muck touched a priest, and the priest's veins turned black, his skin ashen, until it reached his head. His eyes were red, then he fell to the ground and died. Ichor expelled from his mouth.

  As panic hit, the Ashtadash appeared. Wuzi contained the water, Taro Taro lifted the corrupted earth into the sky, and Ishva caused it all to incinerate into nothing, sweating from the exertion.

  Hope lifted in Sugriva's chest, and was swiftly replaced by anger. "You were here the whole time?"

  "And we saved your people in the end," Ishva said, brow furrowed. "They cannot stay here, and that was the truth from the beginning."

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Yosheket: The City of Three Nations

  Age of Finality

  "Taro led us to Bahimatt. My son is still in Sankive, or wherever the Asthadash went." He shrugged, wiping away tears.

  Dameneh touched his shoulder. "You lost a lot and gave a lot. You sound like a good man, and one day you will be a great leader."

  Sugriva laughed. "Leader? I'm hardly a warrior."

  "The little black boy is right," Divyan said. "You will make a great leader. Not while General Humbari is alive, but we live in rapidly changing times."

  The city came into view, and a horn blared in the distance. Divyan said, "I will go ahead and let Anka know they come in peace."

  The little boy held Sugriva's hand. "You survived another attempt on your life, but this time Humbari was willing to sacrifice Divyan to see it happen."

  "I know." He stared at his feet. "I will be executed when we get into the city."

  "No. Volden has plans for you. Great plans."

  DIAN XIAO LED THE ARMY and refugees into Bahimatt. His two guards were beside him, and Dameneh and Sugriva stood behind them. It was a position of honor, something Sugriva felt he hadn't earned. While Dameneh displayed the miracle of understanding languages, Sugriva only showed he could shift into a monkey and monkey-man. When Sugriva went to show off his elemental powers, they were cheap tricks compared to what the foreign warriors could conjure. It made Sugriva feel sick.

  The massive gates of Bahimatt opened, and Sugriva felt like he was entering with the large army, not returning home. Horns blew and soldiers lined the streets at attention. Prince Anka and General Humbari waited at the nearest square. Prince Anka smiled, though it was reserved. His arms were behind his back, and he wore his finest jewels and silk. General Humbari was in his janaav form, arms crossed, teeth bared. He wanted battle, and his advice to Prince Anka was definitely not heeded: close the gates and slaughter them before they can usurp the city.

  Once they reached the square, Dameneh's eyes rolled back, and he looked blank. Sugriva looked around, then back to the little boy. "Are you okay? Please don't die, little one, you are the only one who can speak to all of us."

  The rest of the assembly was also watching, fascinated with all the strange miracles the boy had already done.

  Then Dameneh mentally returned, his eyes focused. He walked up to the leader of the Dian clan, then tapped the man's forehead with his staff. The warriors fidgeted, though they stood still. "You will understand," he said, then returned to his place.

  Prince Anka said, "Welcome to our city, Bahimatt. I am Prince Anka. We were the first here, followed by that boy's people. You are the third nation to enter these walls. The city is far larger than even all three of us, and we marked an area for your people."

  There was a moment of silence. Dian Xiao looked confused, then glanced at Dameneh. Dameneh just smirked and nodded toward Prince Anka, then muttered something in a foreign tongue.

  Xiao said, "I am Dian Xiao, daimyo of the Dian clan. This is all that is left of us. We do not come to be told where to go, but we will sit down and work with you so we may survive what is to come. In dreams, I see a city with several people mingled, not three people separated by fear of each other. It would seem Prince Anka, the little prophet Dameneh, and myself would be the heads of this city. We will make a council and discuss the future. If you would, though, show us to our temporary quarters so we can sleep. I will meet with you in the morning to discuss our future quarters."

  The city looked dumbstruck. Everyone could understand Xiao's words.

  Prince Anka's body quivered, his jaw set. "We will meet, and my generals will be there. You can bring whatever council you already have—"

  Xiao raised his hand, cutting off the prince. Prince Anka was taken aback enough to actually stop talking. Xiao said, "I understand you were here first. I understand you have honor and expectations. I am here to tell you, we have our own traditions and ways. Your general is not my equal, just as mine are not yours. They will not be present. Should your generals sit in on our council, I will consider it an intentional stain on my honor. I will cut you and your men down and work only with Dameneh, since your people will suddenly be without leadership. They will be as a snake without a head, a corpse flailing about as if with purpose, but it will not know where to go. We will pick it up, skin it of that which clings to you, and consume those who will join our ranks." He paused. Humbari's rage was barely contained. Then Xiao said, "You will go to the council, without your generals, correct?"

  Prince Anka was shaking, a growl emanating from the back of his throat. Then the tremors subsided, and the prince squeaked out, "We have an understanding." Regaining his composure, he announced more assertively, "But we will have Sugriva, and he will be executed by the end of the day. He is dangerous, touched by chaos, and we have endured his violent temperament long enough."

  Xiao looked back to Sugriva, then to Damaneh. He looked to Prince Anka, then let out a belly laugh. "You send a man meant for death to greet us? Do you send your grandmother's corpse to great foreign dignitaries? You threaten to slight me. If the monkey-shifting-thing is struck down, you slight me and we will slaughter you where you stand. The consequences of bloodshed are preferable to the shame of dishonor. If you let him live, then you have not slighted us. Make your decision, little prince."

  Prince Anka took a step back. General Humbari took a step forward. Sugriva prepared for a battle, but Dameneh put a hand on his leg and shook his head. "It'll be okay." He smiled that boyish smile.

  "The monkey will live," Prince Anka said between gritted teeth. "He will remain with you or Dameneh, and he is not allowed into our sectors on pain of death. He is a nuisance, and you will want to be rid of him soon enough."

  Xiao bowed. "Thank you for this consideration. We look forward to settling this city together for the coming war."

  "War?" Prince Anka asked.

  "The demons follow you. The gods follow us. You don't think there will be war? Perhaps you're not fit to be on the council at all." He laughed and his two guards chuckled with him, including the one without an arm. Sugriva wanted to laugh at the repeated embarrassment heaped on Anka, but he held back.

  Humbari roared, "You will not talk to the prince that way. He is good and wise, and you are a speck in comparison."

  Xiao nodded, and the one-armed warrior known as Kotoji stepped forward. He held a long, studded club in his left hand. Xiao said, "My samurai challenges your bodyguard on my behalf. Your servant speaks out of line and should learn his place."

  General Humbari roared, "He is missi
ng an arm! How can this be a fair fight? You speak of slights, and this is the warrior you will have me kill?"

  Kotoji snickered and said something. Xiao translated. "He believes you will die at his hands.” There was a pause. “I mean hand. Will you take his insult?"

  General Humbari growled.

  The two walked to each other, and in the blink of the eye Kotoji conjured the earth to his club and slammed a hammer into the bear's gut, sending him flying back. When Humbari was about to land, Kotoji clacked his wood sandals against the ground and a pillar of earth came up to meet the bear in the back. Humbari spat blood and rolled on the floor.

  "Up," Prince Anka commanded.

  The bear tried, and even shifted into a man. "I can't," he bellowed. "I can't feel my legs." Tears slipped down his cheeks.

  Xiao said, "I look forward to our negotiations tomorrow. Please tell your men to know their place." Xiao bowed and walked off.

  Find out the origin story of Kotoji, the one-armed samurai, in the War of Chaos and Order Volume 4!

  About the Author

  Paul lives with his lovely family, a son, two girls, and a fantastically talented wife, in the Milwaukee area. When he isn’t writing, he plays with his children, teaching them creativity. He and his wife both enjoy fantasy. For fun, he plays video games. A love of mythology led him to write this series, and the world which will stretch from it.

  Help shape the future of the world in Volden’s Travelers, a Facebook group dedicated to the world Ji-Wei and Sankive exists within.