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The Realm of Nightmares spent the next week planning. The spies had reported weaknesses. Hawks oversaw the plans for the assault. Hawks had one more person to consult for support.
Twisted black trees sat in a circle. A small village sat between it. Glowing white mushrooms dotted the black grass. Hawks appeared downtown. His shadows dissipated.
A small smile formed on his lips as he approached a two story town house that sat in the center of the circle. Banners with a white owl against a silver background dangled from the sides of the building.
The inside of the house looked like a potion shop. He saw people sparring with each other in a ring. This was home to the Sisters of the Night. A deadly group of assassins and rangers.
A knife landed between his feet. His spine tingled. He slapped a black wing away from him. He then spirals away. He laughed. He looked at who was trying to attack him.
A black owl with a white face stared at him. Her dark purple eyes had stars in them. “Senses as sharp as usual, Hawks.” she sneered.
“The thing could be said about you, Ares.” He jabbed.
Her eyes narrowed. “You’ve come seeking a favor haven’t you?”
Hawks grinned cheekily. “You know me so well, don’t you?”
Ares rolled her eyes. She picked up her dagger. She put it back on her belt. “What head are asking us to hunt this time?”
Hawks leaned against a pole. “I’ve actually come with an invite. We are launching an assault on The Rift. We could use the help of some very clever assassins to help..quell the numbers as it were.”
Ares put her wings behind her back. She loomed over Hawks. “You have the funds for my organization?”
“You have access to his lordship’s coffer. All the funds there are at your disposal.”
“Very good. I assume you have battle plans, no?” she asked.
“Yes, provided you are willing to help us. We just need to stomp out some troublesome rebels. The rift has decided that it wants to go to war with us.” explained Hawks.
“I shall see who I can spare. You forget a lot of my numbers are still low from the last purge campaign your…king implemented.” she scoffed.
“I shall help replenish the ranks once we are down with this purge. Valkyrie’s honor.” Hawks then bowed but held up one hand.
He watched Ares head then turn towards the door. It was like she could sense somebody. “I sense an ear outside.”
Hawks smelled the faint scent of phoenix outside. “Well isn’t this a surprise? I’ll deal with it.” he said coldly.
Hawks disappeared into the shadows. Iggy was moving around outside. He began scrambling as soon as the owl made eye contact with him.
A pair of hands grabbed him. Iggy was thrown down the stairs. He rolled out onto the cobblestone. He grunted. Hawks loomed over him. He began laughing. “Well. Well. Well. If it isn’t the little traitor?”
Iggy tried to get up but Hawks put a boot in his back. “I was wondering when you would pop by. You are probably looking for that demi-god woman, aren’t you?”
Iggy growled. “Yeah. What did you do to her, bastard?!”
“Me?! Why do you assume it was my doing?” He then kicked Iggy further into the street. He drew his shortsword.
Iggy quickly got to his feet. He summoned his Rapier. Pisonic energy wrapped around it. Hawks readied his weapon. “Let’s see if you still hold up, kid. Who knows? Maybe I’ll send your corpse to that werewolf monster instead!”
Hawks slashed the air. He sent a wave of shadows. That blow was enough to send Iggy back a few feet. It left kind of a nice cut on him as well.
Iggy grunted. He lunged at Hawks. His form faded a bit. Hawks danced out of the way. He smiled. He slashed the air in front of Iggy.
Iggy wailed as he got blasted across the ground by the shadows. He weakly got back on his feet. Hawks held his blade in front of him. “I’m giving you a chance to stand down or else I’ll cut you down.”
Iggy let out a battle cry. He lunged at Hawks. He cut him. His blade then burst with Pisonic energy. Hawks yelped as psychic energy blasted him. It sent him spiraling back as well.
Hawks caught himself. He coughed up white blood. He then wiped it away with his thumb. “Not bad.” He readied his blade again. “But let’s see how you tolerate this!”
He sent out another wave of shadows. Iggy danced slightly to the side. He felt it graze his shoulder. Iggy laced his blade with psychic energy again. He lunged at Hawks.
The tip of his blade made contact. He hovered in the air for a moment before a clap of purple energy sent Hawks crashing into the porch. Wood splintered underneath him. He coughed up even more white blood.
Hawks weakly got back on his feet. Shadows started to fade from him. He snarled. His eyes then turned orange. “You think you are so special?” he thundered.
Hawk’s form then began to shift and change. Shadows covered his blade again. He slices at Iggy with the shadows again. Iggy’s wings popped out. He flew out of the way.
Iggy then rushed Hawks. He was going to cut at least one of the Hands down. Hawks caught Iggy’s blade. He smiled wickedly at him.
Shadows bellowed out of Hawks’ hand. The shadows shattered Iggy’s blade sending him spiraling backwards. He landed inside of a building.
Iggy coughed up blue blood. He grunted as he tried to stand. He looked at his shattered blade. He chucked it aside. He then summoned his spear. He watched as Hawks trudged toward him.
Psychic energy laced the spear. Iggy chucked it with all his might. Hawks caught the spear. He sent it off in a different direction.
Hawks used the shadows around Iggy. He held him in place. “I’m getting really tired of your bullshit.”
Hawks then raised Iggy up. He smashed Iggy as hard as he could into the ground before picking him up again and shooting him through the chest with a shadowy arrow.
Blue blood sprayed against the wall. Iggy fell down onto his knees. He grunted and coughed.
Hawks raised his blade. He went to deal a death blow to Iggy. Iggy’s blade suddenly reformed in his hand. He thrusted it forward. He used his own life force for one last attempt at bringing Hawks down.
The blade's tip exploded as soon as it touched Hawk’s chest. It blew a hole through Hawks sending out a spray of black blood. Shadows and black lightning sparked.
Hawks sank to his knees. He twitched. Blood leaked out the side of his mouth. Iggy weakly stood up. His rapier began to glow. It radiated with a weird energy.
Hawks began laughing. “Look at you. You managed to bring down one of us hands.” He looked up at Iggy.
“You know..we used to be like you. Seeing. Feeling. Having a heart. What was your cause really?” with that Hawks faded into shadows.
The blade hummed again, drinking in the shadows. The blade hungrily took them in. Iggy then felt a strange power hit him.
The blade stopped glowing after a while. He then put it back on his belt. Iggy felt the pain of his wounds hit him. He held his chest blood leaking between his finger tips.
He knew he had to warn Chris and the others. He felt the shadows hum within him. Something told him to tap into them.
He snapped his fingers. The shadows obeyed his command. His form was consumed and then he moved through the air. Everything became dark for a while.
***
It was the night hours in the Rift. Chris was sitting at one of the tables. He hadn’t slept real well the past several nights. He stared at the half empty mug of mead he had in front of him. At least the drink was keeping his troubles away.
Crag approached Chris. He tsked out of sympathy. He walked over to the man. He sat with him. “Still can’t sleep?”
Chris shook his head. “I see her death each time I close my eyes. No point in entertaining it further.” He then took a drink.
They both heard a commotion outside. Crag got to his paws. He saw two of his men with a wounded teen between them. “By the gods!”
Chris went wide eyed. He rushed over to them. “Move! I’ve got him!”
He helped Iggy stand. “Iggy? The hell are you doing here? What happened?!”
Iggy grunted. “Spy…took out hand…must warn of siege.” he rasped.
Iggy then blacked out in Chris’ arms. Chris called for a medic.
***
Dr. Ho managed to stabilize Iggy. Iggy slowly opened his eyes. Both Chris and Crag were staring at him. Chris exhaled. “What happened, son?”
“I was spying on the Hands. Figuring that’s where Marsha went. That she probably had been taken. They’re planning a full scale attack on the Rift. They’re mad at you lot for joining the rebellion.” rasped Iggy. “I took care of Hawks. He’s dead. Though I wasn’t able to cut anyone else down.”
Chris swallowed dryly. Crag had a serious gaze. He placed a paw on Chris’ shoulder. “Leave the preparation for the siege to me. I think you and the others should leave at once.”
“I’ll ask Roary and Del Rose about it once they wake. I don’t think we can move Iggy now. Not in his state.” countered Chris.
Crag sighed. “You’re right. I’ll go round up my men at once.”
Crag then waddled off. Chris turned his gaze back to Iggy. Sadness flickered in Chris’ eyes. “Marsha, she’s dead. I held her in her final moments.”
Iggy coughed. “You are wrong. I sensed a bit of her life thread down here. There is a chance she’s still alive.”
Chris looked doubtful. “I wished I believed that. For now, just rest. I’ll go talk to your brothers.”
“Brothers?”
“Hootsie and Roary. I suppose Del Rose now too. It’s a long story. Just get some rest.” Chris then left the medical wing.
***
Lord Darcel was on his throne. He had a table before him. The table had a map and some pawn pieces. He looked up upon hearing the shadows shift.
An armored owl appeared before him. He was grey and white. His eyes were a ruby red color. He had something hanging from one of his claws.
Lord Darcel extended a hand toward him. The owlin placed the artifact in his hand. “My condolences, your highness.”
Lord Darcel looked down at the amulet. It was in the shape of a red angel wing. A symbol that his Hand of the Night had fallen.
“Do you know how they died?” questioned Lord Darcel.
“An intruder, your majesty. One of your own grunts killed him.” The owlin then reached into a pouch on their belt. They pulled out a shard belonging to a blade. The shard still hummed with energy.
Lord Darcel exhaled sharply through his nose. “I should have known that phoenix was going to be trouble.” He then looked at the Owlin. “I guess it’s time we pay the rebels a visit. Tell all three factions that we are ready to go.”
The owlin bowed. “Of course, your majesty.”
The owlin then vanished into the shadows.
***
The void between the Rift and the Slumbering Weald seemed quiet. A watcher in the tower leaned back in his chair. He didn’t see anything for a mere second before something came on the radar.
He frowned. He looked down at the radar. Ninety-Three smaller vessels and eight massive ones were heading right for the rift.
The watcher got to his feet. He grabbed his hammer. He banged it against the gong.
The gong reverberated throughout the rift. It warned people that intruders were coming.
Crag snarled. He turned to his men. “Battle stations!” He then looked to Chris and the others who had run out to see what was going on.
Crag gave him a look which confirmed Chris’ fear. Chris looked to Roary and Del Rose. “You boys get to safety. I’ll see if I can’t help Ol’ Crag out!”
Del Rose nodded. He motioned for Roary to follow him. Both boys darted off.
Chris joined up with Crag. “What do we do now?”
“Do you know how to man a turret? We could use those to take some of the army down.”
Just then an explosion rocked through the air. Crag saw a fireball rise into the sky. One of the turrets got knocked out. Crag cursed loudly.
Chris placed a hand on Crag’s shoulder. “You and your men go do what you have to. I’ll go sort out the attackers near the turret!”
Crag nodded. He waddled off. Chris ran through the crowd toward where the turret had exploded.
***
Fire spewed from the first turret. A small vessel pulled up alongside the second one. There were three Dying Angel Grunts and three of the owl assassins.
Chris knew he had to do this carefully. He exhaled. Part of him knew throwing himself into combat was a bad idea.
He reached onto his belt. His blade hummed with energy. He lunged at one of the owl assassins.
The other foes around him took aim at him. Chris winced as bullets grazed him from every direction. He began bleeding heavily. Good. He needed them distracted.
Magic surged through his fingers. He snapped them. Red magic danced between his fingers. He whispered something rather angrily. He watched the eyes of two of them get wide.
He then slammed his palm down on the ground. A giant shield formed over him deflecting bullets. He grunted a bit as they kept firing at him.
Cracks began to form in the shield. He then felt somebody stand by him. “I’m not letting you face them alone, Big Chris.”
Chris looked up to see Roary right by his side. Roary readied his attack. The core in the center of him shined brightly. He put his paws together creating green and black mist.
He then hurled that mist at one of the angel grunts. Tentacles shot up through the ground impaling the grunt through the chest. The grunt was then picked up off its feet and flung back.
Chris smiled. That left only five of them to go. The shield was then lowered. Chris readied his blade. He needed to defend this turret. “Alright you sorry sods.” He twirled his blade around. “Let’s tango!”
Hootsie then ran up to the group. It let out a fierce growl.
He lunges at the third nightshade assassin. They dodge rolls out of the way.
Hootsie lets out a growl. It pecks at one of the dying angel grunts with its beak. The grunt yelps as its beak digs into his thigh.
One of the nightshades tries to attack Roary. Roary dodge rolls out of the way of its attack. He gets blind sided by a crossbow bolt from the other one.
Both of the dying angel grunts try to attack Roary with their rifles. They open fire only for Roary to jump back away from the bullets. He grins at them.
One of the nightshades aims at Chris. They shoot a crossbow bolt into his side. He grunts against the pain.
Roary’s core whirs to life once again. Black shadows form in one of his palms. He rushes the grunt that Hootsie has held by her beak. Roary places his hand on the grunt’s chest.
Blood shoots out through his backside. The grunt coughs up blood. It leaks out of their jaws.
Chris claps his hands together. A bright light surrounds the area. It manages to daze all except one of the grunts. He then tries to slash at them with his blade but they move back.
Hootsie pulls her beak out. She then claws the grunt across the neck. The grunt sinks to their knees before falling over dead.
Both of the nightshade assassins open fire at Roary. Roary manages to deflect one of the crossbow bolts but one does leave a dent in his metalwork.
The Dying Angel Grunt whips around to Roary. Roary feels bullets pierce into his side. He yelps in pain. He hears a faint buzzing sound. He sees his wounds suddenly begin to heal.
The other nightshade tries to go for Chris but misses. Roary lets out a growl. Green and black shadows form in his paws once more. He hurls them at the grunt who hurt Chris.
The assassin feels the tentacles stab them through their stomach. They then disappear.
Chris waves his hand. Red energy dances across it again. The Dying Angel Grunt hears whispers all around him. It sends shivers down his spine. He drops his weapon in panic. He then flees.
Hootsie goes for one of the nightshade assassins. They slash at them with their claws leaving impressive wounds on them.
Two of the assassins split up. They try to fire at Roary from either side with their crossbows. Roary backflips away. He gets into a combat pose.
Shadows fill his paws. He smiles at the two assassins near him. He spun once hurling the shadows at them. The shadows both blew them away. They dropped their crossbows.
Chris smiled. “Good job, son! Let’s finish these guys off.” He lunged at the assassin that was critically wounded.
The owl rolled out of his way. Hootsie reared back aiming at them with its claws. The assassin screamed as it got mauled to death.
Roary felt a couple of crossbow bolts in his backside. One of them manages to pierce him. He pulled it out, tossing it aside. He covered his paws with shadows.
His core went into overdrive. It hummed rather loudly in his chest. He hurled them at the assassins.
The tentacles pierced and reduced one of the assassin’s to ash. The other assassin stumbled backwards. They barely held onto their crossbow.
They turned to see Chris already in front of them. He gored them across the belly. The assassin then fell to the ground.
Chris panted. He looked to Roary. “That’s the turrets defended.” He then saw a turret but it looked to be offline.
“Let’s get these turrets online,” said Chris.
Roary nodded. The both of them went to a turret to see if they couldn’t turn it on.
Chris checked his. The technology looked way different from a race car. He noticed a rather peculiar touch pad. It was in the shape of a hand. He placed his hand on it. The touchpad then hummed to life. The turret clicked and whirred.
Chris heard the thunderous boom as it started shooting down the enemy vessels.
He heard the other turret come to life too. He rushed to meet with Roary. “We should check on Crag and the others!” shouted Chris.
***
Chris looked around for Crag. He could see the various pirate gangs fighting against some of the goons. He looked past them.
Roary caught a glimpse of a familiar large cat. He rushed past Chris. Chris picked up the rear with Hootsie behind them.
Crag was fighting against dark armored figures. He had Silverwhisker fighting beside him. The both of them appeared to be overwhelmed.
Roary held his pocketwatch. It then turned into a blade. He nodded to Chris. Both of them stepped in.
Silverwhisker lunges at one of the grunts. He manages to give them a rather nasty cut across the shoulders while Crag pulls out his gun. He fired, sending the other grunt back a few feet.
Roary rushes one of the grunts. He takes a swing with Azeban. They hold up one of their bracers making the blade bounce off of it.
Silverwhisker moves after Roary. The grunt manages to deflect his attack as well. Silverwhisker snarls softly.
Crag pulls a rapier off his belt. He swings at the other grunt. He manages to cut them back.
Chris looked at his blade. “Let’s try swinging again.” He then went for one of the grunts. They held up their bracers deflecting the attack.
Both of the grunts pulled out their axes. They plowed into Roary from the various sides. Roary yelped in pain.
Roary then danced back. Green and black shadows formed in his paws. He then thrusted his paws forward. Tentacles sprouted out from the ground.
The tentacles impaled both of the grunts. Their armor splinters a little bit from the impact. Blackish blood leaks onto the ground.
Silverwhisker tries to follow up Roary’s attack with his rapier only for the grunt to catch it.
Crag took out his gun. He saw one of the grunts struggling to swing their axe. He shot them point black. The grunt then fell backwards dead. Black blood pooled under them.
Chris followed up that attack with a strike from his blade. His blade hummed with energy. He struck the wounded grunt still standing. He managed to cut through their armor with ease. Black blood smeared on his blade.
The grunt then swings at Roary. It manages to barely cut him. Roary grunts against the motion. He swings at them with Azeban.
He cuts them across their mid-section. Black blood sprays onto the ground. They look really roughed up.
Silverwhisker then thrusts his blade forward. He stabs them in the chest and cuts them down a little.
Crag aims his gun again. He manages to shoot down the grunt as well. He puts his gun back on his belt.
Silverwhisker wipes his blade clean. He turns to Roary and Chris. “Thank the stars you two showed up.”
Chris nodded. “Figured you lot could use a hand.”
Just as Crag opened his maw, they heard the gong within the rest start to go off. Crag felt a chill go down his spine. He looked toward the horizon.
A fairly large battle cruiser had shown up. It had the black banners belonging to the Realm of Nightmares. Crag went wide eyed. “By the hells-”
He then turned to Chris and Roary. “You really need to move!”
“But what about you guys?!” shouted Roary.
Crag hummed in thought. “We will be fine but if Lord Darcel is aboard that vessel. You lot might be in for a world of pain.”
***
Lord Darcel was down below the deck. He was in the process of getting his armor on. He could see the dark aura belonging to Roary in the Rift. He smiled to himself.
He had glowing red gems on parts of his armor. He then put his helmet on. He turned to Ares who was standing next to him. “Give our rebel friends some hell. I’ll be right behind you.” he ordered.
Ares nodded. She disappeared into a cloud of shadows. She landed on the dock. She spotted some of her assassins. She waved them over with her wing. “Sisters! With me!”
***
Chris and Roary were running towards the docks. They heard a familiar voice shouting for them. Chris stopped for a mere moment to see Del Rose running towards them.
Del Rose cut down several enemies on the way towards him. He then paused right in front of Chris. “Where are you going?” he panted.
“We were told to get out of here.” urged Chris.
Del Rose nodded. He put his rapier away. “With me.” he motioned for them to follow him.
The group went running along the docks. Shadows flickered from the top of the buildings. They watched the small group head for a vessel.
Chris motioned for Roary and Del Rose to get aboard. Just then shadows appeared on the vessel. A black owlin woman stood before them. She drew a couple of blades. They glew with moonlight.
“I’m afraid your adventure stops here.” She cooed coldly. “I cannot allow you to get much further.”
Chris drew his blade. “You made a big mistake going up against us.”
She laughed darkly. “We shall see.”
Del Rose drew his rapier. He went for a slash at the owl. He managed to cut her just enough for her to lose a feather.
Ares smiled. “Very good but let’s see how one of you stands against me.”
She tries to return the blow at Del Rose. Del Rose does some fancy footwork away from her. She growls.
Chris feels magic surging within him. He holds out his hand. A cloud of daggers forms right in front of Ares. The daggers swirl and dance.
The daggers then all point toward Ares. They then sink into her flesh. She grunts against the pain. Chris keeps the cloud focused on her.
Black and green shadows form in Roary’s palm. He hurls them forward. They barely make a mark on Ares.
Del Rose manages to sneak past the cloud of daggers. He throws his rapier forward landing a nice cut on her.
Ares stumbles backwards. She laughs quietly. “You guys are a lot better than I thought you would be.”
She then returned the blow at Del Rose. Del Rose was forced back some. He gritted his teeth against the incoming pain.
The cloud of daggers swirled. They dug into her again. She yelped in pain.
Chris lunged at Ares with his blade. He manages to land a nasty cut on her as well.
Roary tries to do a follow up attack. She deflects his attack with her wing.
Del Rose cuts just underneath her exposed wing. She grinds her beak together. She tries to swing at Del Rose only to miss.
The daggers dig into her once more. She looks to see Chris rushing at her with his blade.
He manages to cut her across the bridge of her nose. He drew a bit of grey blood.
She barely had time to recover before Roary followed up with an attack. He stabs her in the eye. She bellows in pain.
She reeled back. She gripped the deck. It was very clear to her that she was out manned. Del Rose put the force of the gods behind his blow to her. Grey blood leaked from his blade.
Ares panted softly. She grinded her beak. “There’s no way the three of you are stronger than me!”
She swung her blade. White light appeared in front of her. She cut Del Rose back. Del Rose yelped.
Del Rose had some nasty wounds. Chris placed a hand on his backside. Del Rose felt the rush of healing magic courses through him.
The daggers swirled. They embedded themselves into Ares again forcing her onto her knees.
Roary went to strike her down. She deflected him with her wing. She quickly backflipped away.
Del Rose ran up to her. He managed to land a blow on her. Ares grunted.
She smiled. She held her wings together. Water suddenly welled up from below the decks. It wrapped around Del Rose. It then grew tight creating a sphere around him.
She then froze it. Del Rose’s ice sphere then landed in front of the group. She laughed. “I’m not without tricks.”
Chris felt a hidden rage course through him. His eyes turned black for a moment. Ares heard monsters talk in her head. A weird pink mark appeared behind her head.
The daggers then dug in once more. They managed to draw quite a bit of blood.
Roary then made the wound worse with Azeban. Ares was sent backwards again.
Del Rose tried to free himself. He grunted as the pain worsened. He was running out of air.
Ice spewed from her wings. She then hurled a wall of ice. It blasted both Chris and Roary. They grunted as an ice storm appeared in front of them.
The sphere around Del Rose suddenly became a puddle on the ground. Ares was laughing. “You aren’t gonna take me out that easily.”
Chris tried to attack with his blade only to get repulsed by the wall of blowing ice.
The daggers then dug into Ares once more. They drew a lot of blood. She sank to her knees. She knew she couldn’t keep this up forever.
Green and black energy formed in Roary’s palm again. He slammed it into the deck of the vessel. Tentacles break through the floor in front of Ares. They then cut through her.
Grey blood leaked onto the ground. She panted. She looked at Del Rose who was reading his next attack. He rushed her.
She managed to deflect him with her wing. She sent him backwards. She looked at Roary and Chris. “Time to crush some worms.”
The ice storm whipped up. It blew past Chris and Roary. Chris grunted as the cold ripped into him. He fell onto his knees. Roary was blown back a bit.
Chris could barely move. His wounds were so bad. He looked at the daggers. He willed them to attack Ares.
Chris looked to Roary. He summoned a power within them. “LIGHT EM UP SON!”
Roary felt inspired. He rushed Ares with bane. He dodged her ice wall. He then raised his blade before bringing it down on her skull. His blade cut into it. Ares fell over dead. The ice wall ended.
Roary rushed over to Chris. He helped him stand up. Chris leaned on Roary.
***
Lord Darcel had watched the fight from his vessel. An impressed look sat on his face. He held up his hand commanding the armies down below him to stop. He looked at Roary and the others. “Perhaps I misjudged you.”
Roary looked up at him. He felt a deep chill down his spine. Azeban stirred within him.
Lord Darcel had a neutral and indifferent look on his face. His wings snap out. He flies through the air before landing on the vessel that Roary was on.
Lord Darcel cracked his knuckles. “You sure are strong, construct. I must say cutting down the head of the Sisters of the Night is no easy task.”
Roary snarled. “You must be the King of Nightmares.”
Lord Darcel laughed. “Oh? So you have heard of me? Very good.” He drew a long katana out from its sheath.
Roary could feel a tug on his core. Dark fingers had wrapped itself around it. Lord Darcel notices the change on Roary’s face. “You sense the black blood on this blade don’t you boy?”
Roary let out a growl in reply. He heard Azeban’s voice. He too also has a dark side. Much like you. You get your powers from me. He gets his powers from something else. I just can’t tell what.
Lord Darcel stands before him. “How about we make this interesting? A duel of might if you will. Consider it your first official trial from me. After all, let’s see what a lord killer can really do.” shadows gathered around Lord Darcel.
He tapped the tip of his blade into the wooden planks. Green fire makes a ring around Roary separating him from his family. Lord Darcel then aimed his blade at Roary. “Let me taste you boy. Let me see if your blood is ripe enough for me to feast!”
Roary summoned Azeban’s blade. He took his defense stance. Fear did course through him but that soon faded to determination.
Green fire sparked in Lord Darcel’s palm. He hurled them at Roary. The fireball made contact with Roary’s feet. It then exploded sending him spiraling back.
Roary weakly got back on his feet. He rushed Lord Darcel. He tried to swing at him. Lord Darcel’s form flickered, letting the blade pass through him.
Lord Darcel smiled. “Such anger. Your anger will be your downfall.”
Lord Darcel then makes shadows rise around them. It makes the battlefield rather hard to fight in. Roary looks around.
All Roary heard was laughing around him. He readied Azeban in his paws. He listened out for him. He felt something hovering close by. He then swung at it.
Roary heard Lord Darcel grunt as his blade made contact. The blade hummed. He laughed softly. “Hello Azeban.”
Green fire sparked in his hand. He then snapped his fingers and a brilliant blaze burned around Roary. Roary screamed in pain. Lord Darcel then smacked him back.
Roary landed painfully on his side. He panted coughing up blue blood. Shadows filled his wound. He groaned as he tried to heal himself.
He stood up weakly. He wasn’t going to go down that easily. He held Azeban in his paws. His vision blurred in and out. He lunged at Lord Darcel.
Lord Darcel manages to dance back a bit. He smiled. He looked over at Chris. “Let's make this interesting.” His glowing green eyes locked with Chris’
Chris heard his voice. He fought against it. He shook his head. “You aren’t going to get me to do your bidding.”
Lord Darcel frowns. “Very well.” He held up his hand. Green fire sparked from it.
Roary and Chris were both blown back with flames. Roary caught himself. He was sparking. He looked over his shoulder. He went pale. Chris was laying burned badly.
Roary felt anger suddenly surge within him. Shadows and mist wafted off of him. He dragged his claws along the exposed wound. He pulled threads of blue blood. His eyes began to glow.
“AZEBAN! TO MY SIDE! LEND ME YOUR STRENGTH!” yelled Roary. He then cut the threads.
Shadows whirled around Roary. They enclosed around Roary. They then broke away revealing a figure in a plague doctor’s outfit with four wings. They held their blade out. They stood behind Roary.
Lord Darcel smiled. “Now it’s gotten interesting.” Shadows then formed around Lord Darcel. “Too bad it’s a lost cause!” He then lunged at Roary.
Roary tried to deflect the blade but it broke against Darcel’s. Darcel struck Roary down.
Azeban disappeared. Roary sank to his knees. He looked up at Lord Darcel. He looked to see the metal and organic bits reforming. He chuckled at Lord Darcel as he stood up.
“You thought you could cut me down?” rasped Roary. All of his wounds suddenly healed. He aimed his blade at Lord Darcel. “You’ve got another thing coming.”
Lord Darcel growled. He slashed Roary away. Roary caught himself. Greenlight formed on his paw. He put it on himself. He felt energy surrounding himself.
He then swatted at Lord Darcel who dodged out of the way of his attack. He growled. “Why won’t you die?!” he bellowed.
He slashed at Roary again. He managed to give him a really bad wound. Roary was laughing. It was sort of a deranged laugh.
Shadows surrounded Azeban. His power ignited. He swung at Lord Darcel, cutting him across his mid section. Lord Darcel felt more shadows burning him.
He had to cut Roary down. He readied another attack. He tries to attack Roary. Roary dodges out of the way. Roary lunges at him with Azeban.
He cuts Lord Darcel again. Lord Darcel felt shadowy poison enter his body. Lord Darcel swung back at Roary. He puts his full power into the swing.
The blade barely did anything to Roary. Roary smiled. He thrusted Azeban forward.
Lord Darcel grunted. How was this mortal standing so strong against him? Chris laughed. “Light 'em up, son.” he rasped.
Green fire covered Lord Darcel’s blade. He swung at Roary. He sent the youngster spiraling backwards. Roary catches himself. His legs weakly shake. He is barely able to stay upright. Determination still in his eyes.
He lunges at Lord Darcel. He was going to give the lord a wound to remember him from. Roary let out a battle cry. Lord Darcel went to intercept him with his black blood blade.
The blade shatters to pieces in his face. Roary thrusts his blade forward, absolutely injuring his chest. He mauls Lord Darcel.
Lord Darcel then stumbles back, dropping the hilt. Roary lands on his feet panting.
Lord Darcel pants holding his chest. He looked at his hand which was stained in his blood. He then looked at Roary. “This isn’t over. The dance between you and I will never end.”
Shadows then disappeared around Lord Darcel. “I look forward to the next time you and I clash.” He then faded away.
***
Roary rushed over to Chris. Chris looked to be in so much agony. He looked up at Roary who knelt by him. Roary put his paws on Chris. Green magic fills Chris’ wounds.
Chris winced. He slowly sat upright. He could see Roary barely able to stand. “Roary?”
Roary then swayed. Chris caught him before he could hit the ground. Roary’s vision then went dark.
***
Chris stayed by Roary’s side. He had taken the kid to his room. He figured Roary needed the space right now. He watched tiny creatures steadily repair Roary. He let out a sigh.
Hootsie sat by Chris. She hoo’d worriedly at Roary. Chris gave her a soft pat on the head. “He’ll be okay.”
He heard a knock at the door. Del Rose walked in. “Anything I can do?” he asked.
“No. Just let him rest. He used up all his energy coming to help us today.” whispered Chris.
Del Rose nodded. “He was so close to ending Lord Darcel. Here I stand having doubted his abilities before.”
Chris huffed. “Well the last time he went toe to toe with a lord, he lost more than nearly his life. He lost his friends in the process.”
Del Rose’s face fell. “Oh. I see.”
Chris sighed. He leaned back in his chair. “Your dad is starting repair work I take it?”
“Yeah. It’s all hands on deck. I figured I would pop by and see if you needed a hand before I head off to do labor.”
Chris chuckled. “We are fine here. I’ll page you if something else comes up.”
Del Rose nodded. He then stepped out. He closed the door behind him cascading Chris into darkness.
Chris’ hand drifted to his neck. He felt that amulet around his neck. Silent grief sunk its talons into him again. Just when he was about to let go, he felt the amulet suddenly get warm.
He tilted his head. He gently squeezed the amulet. He caught a faint glimpse of something glowing. The image lasted moments before fading from view.
Chris let his hand rest in his lap. What was that? Gods only knew…
The End