Setting
The trees are considerably closer together, and grow older the deeper you travel. They are not even an arm's span apart, as if grown together against a common enemy. Here it is somehow darker than the rest of the wood, and the ground it littered with dead foliage.
Is it the wind whispering, or are secrets passed between trees with the brushing of branches?
They are tall, the archaic creatures of this hellish garden. Relentless were their vertical cuts in your vision, trunks bare until ten feet off the ground. Was it a fire that stripped these trees of their branches? Perhaps they chose not to grow low, preferring to never host the ground creatures. What creatures are so horrid to have earned the fear of the trees? Or was it perhaps the perpetual night that left them fearing the ground itself?
Almost invisibly, silently, the Forces Vankoryth and
Army of Dracul patrol the Forbidden Thick. They
strike only against enemies of the Vankoryth Detente
Hellish bats can be found high in the trees
The trees sound as if they are talking to each other
Here it is perpetually dark
Dire rats lurk here
She considered his words carefully before she responded. “I have goals. Goals that were seemingly impossible. Goals for success. Goals for revenge. Goals for…” She hesitated, pursing her lips as she considered how to phrase what she wanted to say. “I wish to feel things… Not just fear. I want to feel it all… all of the things that people feel. And if I can feel, then I can breed more goals.”
Briefly, golden eyes focused on the Castle ahead, before he pressed on towards its gates.
She had packed very little in the way of clothing. The maids had all made sure that she knew how to use everything properly, knew at least how to take care of herself. There was an abundance of fruit within the bags that hung from the saddle upon the massive undead dragon. Catira, in something new today, something she had never worn in the past, wore a pair of pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Not the usual flashy dresses or Victorian skirts. They had even given her a little red hat with ear flaps so she wouldn't get too cold in the mountains.
It was a tearful goodbye for the maids, but it was also a relief on their part, as well. No more hulking, undead dragon for who knew how long. But no more little Catira. Perhaps it was for the best. They all missed Casren quite a bit, as well. Maybe the girl wouldn't die under the dragon's watchful...lack of eyes.
And so, the small girl and the dragon set out, Catira clambering onto Mortuus' back, hanging onto the large spikes there. She strapped herself into the saddle, then kept herself close to the beast's neck. With a running start, and a flap of her wings, Mortuus rocketed into the air, toward the mountains to the north.
"What does a Fairy even look like?" asked one of betas of the pack.
"Let's see.. two inches tall, little green dress, dust trails." chimed another with a snicker.
"Quite the opposite." replied Augustin. He stopped in front of a sudden opening in the thicket of trees, taking a second to sniff the air. Sure that this was the right spot, he reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a small, pear shaped vile. It was filled with what looked like sand. He emptied some of the powder into his hand and waved his hand horizontally in front of him.
As the light-brown particles trickled downward, the space in front of him underwent a ripple-like distortion. Augustin turned his head to look at his fellow pack members, mainly his sister Emlyn. "We go in fast, and clear the place out. We don't kill them, and we do not drink from them." We're only knocking them out, and taking them back to the mansion." He gave a quick nod, and performed an about-face before hurrying into the portal. The fellow Chirons moved forward quickly, their speed allowing them to maneuver at a blur.
It was a short skirmish, the Fairies gathered inside stood no chance against the dozen or so therianthropes that stormed their bar. "I remember them being much better at fighting." A look of disappointment rested on Emlyn's face as she rolled one of theFa unconscious supernaturals over with her foot. She leaned down and grabbed two of them by the collar, then sped out of the portal. Soon the other Chiropterans followed suit with a fairy in hand. Once they were all outside, Augustin quickly conjured a spell that transported them to the mansion that served as their temporary abode. The fledglings were tasked with locking the Fairies in one of the lower levels of the building while Augustin and Emlyn were left to talk.
"What do you think our brother has in store for these creatures?" Emlyn asked.
"No idea, but whatever it is, it's going to be good.
Perhaps it was because of the Golden Tower, with a distinct supernatural air about it. The Golden Tower was miles away now, worlds away, but Ione could feel its will within her, pushing her forward. Why? She did not know, and she did not question it. She only followed it, as she had done since she was young. As she would so until she was old.
Her blonde hair was in a braid over one shoulder, and her faintly violet eyes, half-lidded, darted about the woods as she walked. Her feet were bare, dirty, and lightly scratched from walking through thorn bushes and other such shrubbery.
"Are you hurt?" she asked aloud, her voice deep, but not husky. It was a smooth, powerful tone of voice. "Do you need assistance?"
It was resigned.
He looked drastically different on this, a dark eve. Long, silvered white hair drawn back into a single ponytail, his sapphire eyes gleamed in the shadows with almost an inner light, his hands, encased in worn leather gauntlets going through the habit of checking his weapons. Attired similarly in armor of leather make, studs of engraved steel and the hints of lighter plates of some other metal only barely visible, his cloak at his back shifted as he moved, revealing the hilts of twin sabers sheathed crosswise at his back, hilts tilted down to either hip. A brace of knives went across his chest, the handles of large magnums from under either armpit. A collection of hilts adorned him elsewhere, and indeed, Adam had never seen the master of Judicarius so heavily armed.
Or worse, the Fallen thought as he caught the detached mind in those eyes, dwelling on else but self examination. He'd never seen Jegun so coldly poised as he was. It was as though the soul behind those orbs was not, as Jegun was, human. If he could even consider the man human as it was, for he'd seen the other within the Judicar. Kyriel.
"It's time. Call them." The smaller man's voice was emotionless, void of intent, yet the familiar growl that accented his words brought no comfort the the angel's heart as he nodded solemnly. Flipping his titanic blade, Saiyaku, overhead, he rammed its overlong length into the dead earth at his feet, sending out a wave of calling power to the heaven's above. A challenge, from the hunted fallen.
If the pair were to wait, twas not for long as moments later, blinding bursts of light and thunderclaps roiled the air, figures in shining, glowing platemail, their haloes of light banishing the shadows utterly. Longswords and maces of golden metal were held in salute, reference to the one of their number that sent chills through Adam. Of all those expected, he had not expected a full Seraphim, Revial, to be sent in answer. "Jegu-"
"Quiet." The softly spoken word was neither sharp nor unkind, yet inexplicably Adam ceased his protests, falling silent as Jegun slowly turned to regard each of the angels in turn, purposefully ignoring the Seraphim until at last, they glared at each other, eye to eye. Revial opened his mouth to speak, but the ex-merc held up a gauntleted hand.
"The terms are very simply, Angelo. Adam did not challenge you, I did. My challenge is to you, and whatever retinue you deem fit for this combat, against myself, and I alone. Should I win, you will henceforth and forevermore cease your attempts to claim the blade that is in my companion's possession and never again threaten his life with your presence, as a collective host. Should I lose, you may take possession of the blade, which he will freely yield, and no more. He is free of you all the same. Do I make my challenge perfectly clear?"
Revial sneered, but nodded. His own voice was melodious, but did nothing to hide the contempt and malice in his face. "Agreed, mortal. So you shall face us all then."
Jegun merely nodded, the retinue of angels forming a circle around him, cutting off Adam. The fallen felt fear for the first time, counting his friend's enemies to number seven against him. Yet the man's expression was calm, slowly glancing at each in turn. And then, without a warning, those eyes settled on Revial once again. And it began.
Two angels darted in, holy blades cleaving diagonal arcs on opposing sides at separate heights, so as to prevent evasion, yet their target lightly bounced on his feet, twisting his entire body along the arc of the threatening weapons, slipping past in the gap between them by the narrowest of margins. His cloak sliced clean away, Jegun's hands moved as a blur, even angelic sight only catching sight far too late as two long, wickedly edged knives slid under the chin of full-helms, plunging into soft, yielding flesh in showers of brilliant gold ichor. Attackers reeling in mortal wounds, the man landed on his feet, already leveling the two magnums on the next pair of approaching attackers.
With howling roars did the intricately crafted guns sound, but it was not bullets they fired. Plate armor buckled inwards from the force, as twin bursts of raw glowing power bucked from their barrels, the weapons twisting through the air as the hiss of drawing swords met the charge of the remaining three.
Adam scarcely believed the sight he beheld, within a double heartbeat four of the elite soldiers of his kin were writhing in death knells on the cursed earth of the wood, and of Jegun? The Judicar was a whirlwind of flashing white blades, the twinned ice sabers in his hands lashing with inhuman speed and perfected grace of true form, slamming aside furious strokes, parrying smoothly thrusts, launching short, staccato ripostes with not two, but three attackers. Soft flurries of footsteps, his ever in motion form dancing through the melee with such speed that never once was a flank left unguarded, the sweeps of his swords simply flowing from to offense.
It felt like hours, watching the kaleidoscope of sparks as heavenly gold met soul-forged ice, the disbelief on immortal faces turning to shock, as explosively those sabers twisted out in synchronized harmony. At at the eruption, a burst of frozen power coruscating in arcing moon scythes of ice that blew apart the tri-attack cage.
Stumbling back, struggling to find balance from the sheer power of the unexpected surge, the first survivor of Revial's guard regained sight of Jegun in time to catch a steel plated boot slamming into his visor, his head snapping back, then recoiling into the vicious downward chop of Kan'ya Kiba's bitterly keen edge. Cutting through the armor and into the being within it, the Judicar was already turning, wrenching his sword free of the corpse to whip across its twin, Hyouga Tsume.
The roaring moon wave of ice and freezing water that erupted from that swing intercepted the other guard's charge, blinding and hammering him off balance anew. The balance tipped, Jegun landing with a foot on his victim's chest, having used the other corpse as a springboard, Kan's tip burrowing up and under the helm and slamming into the mind within his skull.
Leaping back and twisting in the air, Jegun watched Revial, twirling both swords in his hands. The Seraphim merely gaped for a moment, taking in the sight of his slain brethren and staring in shock. He opened his mouth.
And not a word came forth, but ichor dribbling down his chin. Adam blinked, unable to perceive how it was the Jegun had moved so fast in that final, blistering charge, only that a few paces behind the Seraphim, the Judicar sheathed his swords. And around him, a pool of ichor, flicked from their surface. Revial crumpled.
"And so it is done. We go home now."
Adam merely nodded, still too stunned to believe what he had just seen.
...or maybe it was just the emotion... the delicious medley of pain and suffering perpetuated in these abysmal forests. There was food here. Such good, strong food. He would find it... he wanted it... needed it... he would find it and consume it...
The monster stalked the woods with tepid patience.
The Faceless stood patiently. He had returned to these parts after feasting heavily upon the churning cacophony of horror he had caused above the planet Antongrad. The Faceless had made these woods his home. He had caused such suffering in and around them, the air was intoxicating with the flavors of agony and madness. If home existed for a nightmare, here was it.
As Cro approached, The Faceless pondered. Perhaps he had found something precious in this stranger. Something valuable.
Cro breathed deep of the musky air. He shoved his hands deeper into the pockets of his grimy jacket, his bloodless lips contorting into a cruel mockery of a grin. Beneath the shadow of his drooping scarecrow's hat, it was difficult to make out his face... though the Callix was willing to bet that whatever this thing was, it could feel him just as much as he could feel it.
"Come on, little birdy..." he whistled out into the woods, his voice like crushed gravel, "...come out and look me in the eye. Gimme' a proper welcome into your little corner of the world."
Gliding in out of the obscurity of shadow, he appeared right before Cro, dragging with him a pungent and intoxicating wave of misery and terror. To someone capable of feeling such raw negative emotion, it would be the most intense of highs. Despite his utterly featureless face, nothing more than bone-white skin stretched over a smooth skull, it was quite clear The Faceless' gaze (or lack thereof) was focused intently on Cro.
He lifted up a ghostly white hand, his fingers long and spindly, flexing and extending them in a gesture almost akin to a wave. For a moment there was silence, and one could even be forgiven for believing the improbably tall being with no mouth was trying to speak. And then, impossibly, there came the softest, lightest voice, as though a gentle breeze had formed a whisper.
"Welcome."
"I must say..." he began, his cackling voice a stern contrast from the Faceless' gentle coo, "...you have quite the little getup here. The atmosphere... the decor..." He looked back over his shoulder, grinning gleefully. "It's perrrrfect. Ab-so-loot-lee peeerrrffecct." He breathed deep of the forest air, letting the scrumptious medley of emotions seep into his pores, tasting of the terror like a fine wine. The place was drenched in the Faceless' incomprehensible, Lovecraftian horror to be sure... but there was other sorts of fear at work in these woods besides his. Fear and pain of various different shapes and types. Cro was curious... what sort of monsters could wreak despair of THIS magnitude?"
"There are others who live here?" he turned and asked the Faceless, "others like you? Like me?"
"But, we can have more," the pale shade emphasized. "So much more. You consume fear, breath it in. I am born of it. I can give you as much as you would ever need simply by appearing before you. But this world," continued The Faceless, "It is so ripe. So many lives. So much cattle. We could make their every exhale one of agony and terror. We could go wherever we want, do as we please with no need to hunt or to plot. There are so many. And they are so weak."
The Faceless lifted an ivory hand before Cro's face and spread his slender fingers. A fresh wave of misery and pain seemed to rush forth from the white skin.
"I have... family," continued The Faceless. At these words, a shambling figure sauntered in from the darkness. It was skinny and hunched over, with craggy grey skin and an almost canine face. It's right hand ended in enourmous bladed claws, which glinted wetly with the redness of fresh blood. Beside the new creature, another figure appeared. It was the shape of a young woman, but slightly translucent and seemingly drained of all color. The spiderweb stains of blood trickling from her eyes, however were contrastingly vibrant. She floated several feet off the ground.
"And we all wish for the same thing. We will achieve this, for how could we not? But I sense kinship in you."
"With us you'll never ache for a meal again, no matter what desolate corner of this world you find yourself on," spoke The Maiden. "And a family protects each other." The bladed grey creature shrieked a hideous cry, something akin to a dying cat and a terrified young woman trapped in a room together. Despite this, it was grinning.
The Faceless opened his arms wide, an improbable span in itself, though now, seemingly from nowhere, entire new arms spread forth, so that he gave the look of an outstretched spider.
"Well Brother?" he asked gently. "Arn't you hungry?"
...but then again, who said anything about trust? Cro looked about himself at the legion of abominations and realized what a remarkable opportunity this was. No longer would he have to hide himself, resting in gutters and alleyways, scraping meals from stragglers and unfortunate mendicants. With the help of these people, these things, Cro could at last achieve the power he had so long desired. Pain. Suffering. Misery. All of it... ALL of it could be his... it would be the greatest feast he'd ever known...
"Well Brother?" he asked gently. "Aren't you hungry?"
Cro snapped up to attention, his grin wide and malicious.
"...famished."