《The Shattered Realms: Rise of Zulguarde》


 Chapter 1 The Mothers Resolve

    Hello, everyone this is a story I have been working on for  while. It is currently on the back burner due to my other story Vesper Walda Vasska, The Vespidian. However, I have a fair amount done on it and the chapters are long.  Drakar is pronounced Dra khar, in case you are wondering. Also, you may notice that the Goddess of Death is called Sintress, no, I did not name her after myself. In fact, it is the opposite, I liked the name so much I adopted it as a handle.


    Well tell me what you think, hope you enjoy ^^


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    Chapter 1 The Mother''s Resolve


    The shadows of the forest squirmed and there stood a small creature. Scales of dark magenta covered its arms and the hands each had five sharp looking talons. Horns jutted from his head, there were four of them. Two curled back along the crest like a ram and the final two reached up five inches from behind his pointed ears. They parted his shoulder length white hair that was caked with mud and ragged due to neglect. The serpent eyes were pitch, but in the center crimson slashed down. The feet were clawed and scales covered his legs. His chest and abdomen were soft and supple like his face. Upon his forehead was a hoary purple scale.


    He crept along a fallen log, basking in the lazy afternoon sun. Birds and insects mocked from the foliage, but it was a peaceful day. The breeze swam through the trees and leaves danced all around. The fragrance of the forest was earthen and pollen wafted from the abundant undergrowth. His scales shuddered and shifted before returning to their flat state. Blood red flowers bloomed in the darkness and drifted closer, through the shade. He sat up as a form emerged into the light of the clearing. It was a tall woman. Her skin was ebony and twisting antlers sprouted from her head. Vines encased her form growing from her flesh. Vibrant blooms dotted the surface, but all were red. She smiled as she whimsically approached him.


    ¡°I was wondering where you were, Drakar,¡± said the strange woman.


    ¡°Just getting some sun. Are we hunting again today?¡± toothily grinned the boy.


    She nodded with a mischievous smile. He stretched with a tired yawn and sprung to his feet. A buzzing sound rose and a tiny creature emerged from the underbrush. It was maybe six inches tall and its skin was just as pitch as the woman. Long, delicate butterfly wings hung from her back and her eyes  reflected the sky. Two antenna sprouted from her glistening azure hairline, drooping before her face. Gracefully she landed on her much larger counterpart''s shoulder where a large flower obscured her hiding place. She peeked out from a petal and said meekly. ¡°Did I miss anything?¡±


    The two looked at the new arrival, then resumed their conversation. ¡°So what are we hunting today, Bel?¡± asked Drakar.


    The woman in full bloom scratched her moss covered silver hair, thinking things over. ¡°We could hunt worgs or perhaps some nymphs I would love to make some new sisters. Although lately there have been a strange number of humans coming through the forest.¡±


    ¡°Stop ignoring me!¡± cried the tiny sprite, flailing her arms to get their attention.


    ¡°Well then what do you think Ciara?¡± Asked Bel not particularly caring.


    The pixie guffawed, ¡°Humans are always so troublesome, last time I got trapped in a jar, remember. You were just laughing, so cruel! Besides, there aren''t that many nymphs either, since they always hide when we come to play.¡±


    ¡°Well of course they hide,¡± sneered Bel. ¡°They fear their predator after all. Besides, after I partake in their nectar and give them my pollen they become dryads like me. Much the same as the fairies. Remember, when I ate you and turned you into a pixie, Ciara? You were so fun. Crying and screaming, calling me a monster. Nothing tastes like a fairy, but Drakar you can''t eat them, they are poisonous. I have an immunity, so to me they are simply delicious.¡±


    ¡°Well of course I cried. You ate me, remember!? The slimy, wet walls of your innards crushing me. I remember everything,¡± replied Ciara convulsing in disgust. ¡°Melting in your stomach. Watching my very being dissolved before my eyes. I still get that awful acid taste sometimes.¡± Her face twisted up at remembering the taste and looked like she would be sick. ¡°No matter how much I screamed. And clawed. It did nothing! The terror of dying is not something I wish to experience again! Although the bliss of taking that first breath after being reborn is beyond compare.¡± A look of utter pleasure rippled across her face.


    ¡°Oh, you little rascal. You bit my tongue and wrestled around with it in my mouth,¡± said Bel dreamily. A wide evil grin spread across her face. ¡°Then when I swallowed you, you lodged yourself in my throat. Oh, my first little daughter. So tenacious and cunning, clogging my windpipe. You almost had the better of me, but then I drank some water and down you went. It was so delightful, feeling you wriggle and squirm inside of me. Then you were born from my flower, a beautiful, ripe new pixie.¡±


    ¡°Is that how it is? I was wondering how pixies were made,¡± said Drakar.


    ¡°Yup, remember fairies turn into nymphs and elves, but pixies turn into dryads and dark elves, once they mature. I wonder which Ciara will be? A dryad or a dark elf? If you want to be a dryad then think happy thoughts like me. Although if you want to be a dark elf be serious and brooding. Not that I mind, of course I would love you no matter what you turned into. After all, we are all children of Mother Shewolf. I told you about her before did I not, Drakar?¡±


    ¡°Vaguely, I don''t remember exactly what you were going on about,¡± replied the boy, sitting on the stump.


    ¡°Well, get comfortable my boy, it''s story time. Many years ago, there were no Dryads or Dark Elves or Pixies. Instead, there were snooty Elves, Nymphs, and Fairies, a bunch of sticks in the mud who ruled the Earth Realm; we are in the Material Realm at the moment. I was a nymph back then. The realms were at war and the Humans, Naga, and Elementals had invaded the Earth realm. Luckily we had the Ascended, Devils, and Dragons helping us fight them off. Then in the middle of the fighting, one of the seven moons exploded. It was a truly a sight of woe. The devils who served the Moon Goddess, Luna, rallied to their Queen Camelia. Their despair could be felt and they fled from the fight, returning to the Shadow Realm to soothe their Goddess.


    ¡°The war was over fairly quickly after that. The moon, which had been shattered was the Humans¡¯, which stopped their endless flow of reinforcements. They were forced to retreat and with them so did their allies. Several years passed while we picked up the pieces, but then the Devils returned, they were changed. They once were like silver-winged angels, but now they had sprouted horns and their wings were black as night. Camelia was no more, the despair and hatred that had corrupted the entire race, had defiled her and she had become the mighty Shewolf that we know her as today. She attacked us without provocation, slaughtering us like dogs. I remember it so clearly. Mother''s pitch blade sheered me in half. It happened so fast there was no pain, only shock. My life blood spilled out and the twilight of my life came to pass. I saw the Goddess of Death, Sintress. She smirked and waved goodbye, then the agony returned. It was a good pain, the suffering of life.


    ¡°We were no match for her powers and prowess. Only our Queen Faye could fight her toe to toe. It ended in a draw, but the corruption from her blade tainted our hearts, warped our bodies and we were born again. As the Dark Elves and Dryads. Our children were the Pixies, but we could corrupt those who were not. War spread eternal in the Realm of Earth. Our enemies are the Elves who do not see the glory of death and darkness. For years we fought tooth and nail, but I grew weary, so I left that Realm to come here.¡±


    ¡°But then the elves and nymphs are the good people?¡± asked Drakar.


    ¡°Well, technically I suppose. We simply have differing natures. We were born of death; they of life. So it is not unreasonable that we fight. Besides, it is so much fun to toy with them. Elves are snooty and look down at us. So, of course, we get angry at them. If they simply left us alone we would leave them alone. At the least, I would, but the Elves of this forest are a bunch of no good bullies. I just wanted a nice quiet place to live. Do you know what they did to me the first time I found them?¡±


    Drakar shook his head, ¡°No, what happened?¡±


    ¡°Those terrible elves, they called me evil and burned me at the stake. That is why I hunt them. I just wanted to play nice with my former sisters, but they drove me away. They cornered me and hunted me like an animal. They brought it upon themselves. The fools! I am a daughter of Shewolf! Brought into this world by her blade, it is not so simple to kill me! Did you know there were ten Elf villages when I arrived? Now there are, but two. It was so lonely, no one to talk to, no one to play with, only those who wanted to hurt me. Then I remembered that I could make friends. I eat their children and so they become my own. Honestly, I never wanted any of this, but those elves are just so mean, they won''t even play with the pixies. They kill the poor little things. Good thing I made the Heart Tree in the middle of the forest my home.¡±


    ¡°That is cruel. You are the nicest person I have ever met.¡± Scoffed Drakar.


    ¡°Dwaah. So kind of you, to worry about me,¡± teased Bel, pulling on Drakar''s cheeks. ¡°We should eat some tasty meat today. But what kind?¡±


    ¡°Worg?¡± wondered Drakar aloud.


    ¡°Too stringy, no good at all,¡± said Ciara, scrubbing her tongue as though something foul had been stuck in there. She washed away the look after sipping from a nearby flower. ¡°Elf, though, is delicious and you would get stronger by eating their flesh.¡±


    Bel contemplated for a moment ¡°But it is no fun to eat them all, so maybe human? No too gamey. Ah, I know Lizardman, yes, yes there is a village nearby too. I know how much you like their meat.¡±


    ¡°Their meat is tough and chewy, just the way I like it. Alright, let¡¯s go hunting,¡± grinned Drakar.


    He rang his hands together in delight and Bel smiled, ruffling his dirty, matted hair with her hand. Ciara spied out from her flower. The trio left the small clearing through the twisted branches. The primordial forest shifted untouched by outside influences. Creatures scurried through the underbrush. Howls and squawks echoed in the distance. Bel led the way and the path opened before them. The trees squirmed at her approach, uprooting themselves and moving to the side. Though such a thing should be tremendously loud, they made only whispers, voices of the forest talking amongst one another. Faces appeared in the bark, revealing more dryads and pixies. The blackened trees blotted out the sun, but their vibrant flowers glowed in the darkness, a sickly red color. The deeper they traversed, the darker it became. The crimson wings of pixies fluttered all about, tiny torches in the inky abyss. The ground grew soggy and a marsh lay before them. Fireflies circled in clouds, frogs and toads croaked to one another, but they fell silent at their approach.


    A brilliant blue loomed in the distance. The gentle glimmer held back the dank darkness. Giant mushrooms capped in translucent umbrellas ascended from the muck all around. They towered high above, illuminating their surroundings like street lights. Within the gloom, a massive trunk stood. Red strings of flowers dangled from the dry, cracked bark of the ancient tree. Smaller green toadstools dotted the ground like stepping stones. The red sap oozed from the roots of the mighty tree like blood from wounds. The pools bubbled and churned to the sides. Laughter echoed and frolicked from all around. Splashes shuddered through the pools while the other dryads played. They danced with one another, spinning their partners around. It looked very much like a ball, except they waltzed in the blue spotlights.


    A sordid play, echoed through the vale. The pairs tangoed and tried to outdo one another. Dryads flaunted their ebon skin, only covered by their twisted vines and crimson roses. Dark elves were among the pairs as well. Their skin was smoky blue. Their silver or white hair flowed in the stagnant air. Their ears were long and bounced with every move. They wore soot-covered leather tunics and breeches, but some were as bare as the day they were born. The dark elves were just as nimble as their pitch counterparts and would certainly not be out done. Their red eyes gazed at their partners, while their hands gripped one another in passionate embraces. The pixies swirled above, red stars in the oily sky.


    Bel continued on, stopping at the trunk of the Heart Tree, a gaping cavern in the side led deep into it. A sickly sweet aroma emanated from the entrance to the dryad queen''s lair. Bel, however merely stopped outside, leaning against the trunk of the gnarled tree. The murmurs of those gathered followed her. She reminisced, smiling in an uncouth manner.


    ¡°Time sure flies, when you are having fun. I remember back when I was the only dryad in this whole forest, fresh from the Earth Realm.¡±


    ¡°How long ago was that?¡± Pondered Drakar.


    The dryad seemed to lose her concentration for a moment then replied. ¡°Five years before I found your egg, so about fifteen years ago. I will never forget the day your egg just dropped out of the sky and hit me on the head. That hurt, you know. I mean your egg was harder than metal. I had a terrible bump for three days after that. But I mean really, who just drops eggs from so high up? Stupid dragons, they should really pay attention. It was lucky you did not get scrambled. I was so tempted to eat you, you know? At first, I thought you did not survive, so I tried to crack it open, but I broke a nail, so I gave up. Lucky for you, my tree is so warm otherwise, you never would have hatched. Come to think of it, it did take roughly two years for the egg to hatch. I was surprised to see it shake and squirm, then crack. I pried it open and there you were and you made that adorable little squeak. So cute! You made my heart all warm and fuzzy.¡±


    Drakar''s face turned red and his raised voice cracked, ¡°I... I don''t squeak.¡±


    ¡°Let mommy give you a big hug and we will see,¡± she spread her arms wide and he retreated.


    The pixies and dryads and dark elves giggled at the boy. They sniggered between one another while he pouted. Drakar puffed up his cheeks and Bel gently tugged on them. She wore the most wondrous of smiles, a truly blissful face. This place was his home. The fellow inhabitants his brothers and sisters. They had played with him since he could walk, watching over him in times of danger. Teaching him to talk and write. It was an innocent time. Together they would cook whatever had been caught that day over the bonfires. Bel had always been there watching over him. They brought joy to one another. She was wise from her extensive life, cruel to her enemies, compassionate to her followers and protective of those within her domain. She was what a leader should be.


    If the elves were not constantly conspiring her demise the forest would be at peace. Though originally they did not fear her, however, they made a fatal mistake and incurred her wrath. The former capital city was reduced to ruins and the heart tree of the forest stolen from them. She had butchered the inhabitants and they were reborn as her children. The surviving outer villages and towns marshaled their forces and led attempts to retake the tree. Drakar had seen several of these attacks, but they were insignificant in the recent years. The elves were growing desperate, with each failed attack Bel''s forces grew and their own depleted. In the past, there were far more elves that laid siege to the marsh surrounding the heart tree. They were broken at every attempt, but Bel saw no sport in hunting them down. Instead, she laid waste to a village after every failed attack to exact retribution. Now the elves had grown fearful, they dared not attack. This was her benevolent nature, she never bothered those who avoided confrontation, instead taking the fight to those that looked for it. This was the one reason that the elves had not been mercilessly hounded out of the forest or butchered like pigs. She understood that it was their home too and that it was more than big enough for the two of them to inhabit it.


    ¡°Drakar, you have grown so much over these past eight years,¡± said Bel, her face was filled with love. ¡°That adorable little ball of scales that I once held in my hands has grown so big. I am proud of you. My beautiful son, the Moon of my life. Before I met you my heart was black and empty, shriveled and cold, but now it is so swollen with pride and affection. I love you more than you could ever imagine. But I know one day you will leave us, you will leave your home in search of something. When that time comes we will send you off with smiles and tears in our eyes.¡±


    ¡°What are you saying? I would never leave all of you.¡± Scoffed Drakar, looking unsettled.


    The dark elves and dryads smiled towards him, Bel continued, her eyes were large and wet, beginning to trickle. ¡°You will one day. The Goddess has sent me a vision of fire and blood and darkness. You will leave this place, but you will return one day. A day, years from now after you have grown even bigger, even more magnificent, stronger and wiser than I could have ever dreamed. When I saw this my heart sank, yet it also burned with pride that my boy would become such a powerful man. I shall give you my blessing. Our hearts will always be with you and when you find yourself broken and filled with despair, think of us and allow us to raise your spirits once more. This place will always be your home and we will always welcome you with open arms. The Goddess has seen past the veil of time and showed me flashes of your future, it will be hard. You will cry and you will scream, you will hate and you will despair, you will be betrayed and you will beg for mercy, but-¡±


    Bel could no longer continue. The dam of her resolve had broken and tears flooded from her eyes. She hugged him desperately as though he might be torn away at any moment. She wailed in anguish and stroked his wondrous hair. The other dryads were sniveling, the dark elves were silent, but the glint of their tears and pained expressions said it all, and the pixies were bawling and wailing like babies. His mind was blank his families'' sorrow was filling the grove. None of it seemed real to him. Drakar had never seen any of them cry, let alone blubber like children. A feeling of dread descended over him. Bel, though she seemed to only play around did everything for a reason. So why now? Why today? It was as though something terrible was about to occur.


    Bel regained her composure. Her eyes became steel and across her face a smile spread. ¡°But you will find happiness, you will love and you will play, you will feel fulfilled and you will be compassionate, you will work hard and you will grow so strong and big, your broad shoulders will cast a shadow the likes of which have never been seen before. You will make many friends and you will earn the respect of so many more, your enemies will shudder at your name and your allies will roar your name with undying faith, and you will have a new home, a place where all the pain and misery will go away. A new family. You, my beautiful little boy, I will always love you. You are Drakar, Drakar Zulguarde, and this world will tremble in terror of you. I could never be more proud of you.¡±


    His eyes filled with tears, ¡°Why are you telling me all this. I just want to stay here with you, with everyone. I don''t want to go anywhere. Why? Why can''t I stay here with everyone?¡±


    She shook her head with a bitter grin. ¡°Fate cannot be changed Drakar. The Goddess of Death, Sintress, she has never lied to me. I have lived for five thousand years, but the happiest time of my entire life has been these past eight years together with you and the rest of my children. A mere blink to my life as a whole. However, nothing could compare to them and I will always keep them in my heart, even when I have turned to dust and left this world behind. There is no use fighting destiny instead you should embrace it wholeheartedly. You are a good boy, more than I ever deserved, more than I could have ever hoped for. But I am afraid I have kept something from you, you are not a full dragon, but a half. The other half is filled with such darkness, it could only be one race, a Devil. It is such a nostalgic feeling. It reminds me so much of Lady Shewolf.¡±


    Drakar hugged her tightly. The warm flower petals pulsed with her heart beat and the weeping boy held onto her leg. ¡°Why are you saying this? It sounds like you are going to die. I am not ready. Promise me that you won''t die. I still need you. I love you Mother don''t make me go. Please!¡±


    ¡°I won''t die that easy, silly boy. I promise, I will not die,¡± Bel smiled, but her eyes were wet again. ¡°Did I not say you would return one day? Poor little thing, makes me want to just pull your little cheeks forever and never let go. Shush now boy, for now, we should eat. Those lizard men are not going to kill themselves, you know.¡±


    ¡°You are right.¡± sniffled Drakar.


    ¡°Come now, let us feast! So we can send our dark prince off to his destiny!¡± roared Bel.


    Cheers rose from all around and the excited murmurs drowned out the noises of the forest. The hundreds of dryads and dark elves marched through the forest rank and file like an army. The woods themselves bowed before them and allowed passage. They traversed the soggy ground for an hour before they had reached their destination. The land rose up onto a hill. A valley was before them, phalanx pines had been cleared within it, but it was encircled by the silent sentinels. Their needles pressing out like spears against the world. Huts dotted the depression, smoke rose gently from camp fires and the green scaled figures walked about. Drakar looked from side to side at the assembled war host. The dryads peeked shyly out at the setting sun while the dark elves stood resolute, gleaming in their polished armor. Their curved swords and spears at the ready. He looked back at Bel. She was taller and more glamorous than the rest by far. He barely came up to her knee. With a single motion from her hand death had come for the lizard men.


    Thick mist rolled out of the forest, cascading down towards the unsuspecting creatures. The dryads lunged into motion, bursting from the fog. Their bodies plumed the water vapors into the air around them. They waltzed in pairs, trailing the clouds behind them. The dark elves marched in unison, picking up speed as they went downhill before breaking into a full charge. Their war cries shattered the silence and screams pierced the veil. Metal beat against metal. Fires raged through the village. Orange balls of heat exploded with flashes beyond the cover of mist. The sun descended behind the mountain and light vanished all around, leaving the shadows under the moons. The six moons danced high above. Each a crescent grin from the Moon Goddess. The shattered moon was more distorted than the others, it was jagged and a trail of crumbs chased it across the night sky. The pixie sat upon his shoulder, gazing up at the night sky.


    ¡°So wondrous. Luna is smiling at us, Drakar,¡± grinned Ciara. He nodded in agreement.


    The fight was not long and nor was it worth assembling so many warriors. Fifty would have sufficed or simply Bel alone would have been more than enough if she felt like doing it herself. When the trio descended the stench of blood was thick. Bonfires raged and meat was being hung up to cook. The dark elves had pilfered alcohol from the huts and were enjoying the spoils of their battle. They drank and laughed, dancing merrily around the fires. Pixies fluttered about the rising smoke enjoying the smell. The dryads played games, as usual, chasing one another or hiding from their pursuers. At last the fat was drooling off of the meat and it was ready. A large flank was presented to Drakar by a dark elf with a tasseled full helmet. He took it eagerly and bit down. Flavor exploded in his mouth and juices spurted down the sides of his face. His lips smacked loudly before he swallowed with glee and took another juicy bite.


    He could feel all of their soft eyes upon him. They looked at him with adoration and care. It was obvious that none of them wanted him to leave, but a feeling in his gut was telling him that it would be soon. The fires swam and the shadows danced. The revelry continued long into the night, but Drakar never left Bel''s side. He held her supple hand while the woman who raised him could only smile with tears in her eyes.


    ¡°How strange,¡± said Bel with a gentle, relaxed face. ¡°No matter what I do my thoughts come back to you. Drakar, I can''t help, but reminisce. I remember your entire life so clearly, so vividly, yet all those years before seem so empty and dark. I remember when you cried and cried every time you were hungry. Where have the years gone? Is this all just a dream? That little wailing ball of scales can''t possibly grow so big. It seems like only yesterday you were clawing at my breasts for nectar. Kneading my flesh while I scratched your chin. Crying when the pixies didn''t let you play with them. Oh, my little boy the years just snuck on by, didn''t they? I feel we should have done more. Though I knew the time would come I dared not accept it. I told myself we still have time, we can make so many more memories.¡±


    ¡°Of course, we can,¡± smiled Drakar hugging her side.


    ¡°Do me a favor and let this old lady indulge a little.¡±


    ¡°You are not old,¡± he replied with a smile.


    A wry smile crossed her face. ¡°Oh, you sweet boy, but I am ancient. The time is soon coming where our paths will part. Let me just remember all of the good times and the bad.¡±


    Bel closed her eyes, remembering years before. The egg cracking open. The tiny purple creature, screaming for her attention. It suckled from her and never let her sleep. She hated it at that time and considered eating it or smashing it, but she never could bring herself to. Before she knew it that little thing had taken up so much of her heart. She rushed to its side every time she heard it cry. He loved her smell and would cry whenever separated for long. She coddled it, giving it everything it could want, and took it everywhere with her. That little thing, that little boy. His first steps, she was so proud. His first words, it was Mommy. Bel''s grin grew and grew while all the years came flooding back.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    Drakar''s first squabble and friends. The pixies didn''t know what to think of their scaly brother. So they pranked him and he got lost. After an hour he was crying and they felt so bad about it that they showed him home. He was all smiles after that and they played with him from then on. The dryads would watch over him while he explored the forest. She remembered his first hunt. He was so shy to the bunny. He set it free and it scampered away. He made so many friends with the animals. They loved him and he loved them. The badgers would let him ride them. The nekomar, oh how he loved them. They were his best friends, they were inseparable. She remembered the night when they stole the honey out of the vespidian hive. The buzzing wasp women chased those little cat girls all over, stinging them and making them cry. She had to drive them off and they fled the forest from her wrath. He came home covered in bruises and cuts and welts from their stings, but he grinned with those thieving cats. They shared a chunk of honeycomb with her. She never could stay mad at them.


    Bel smirked, thinking of all the trouble those cats dragged Drakar into. They were so happy back then. Not even those snooty elves would try to harm them. They would steal fruit from the villages and dash away when the guards chased after them. But they were never serious about their pursuit, seeing the little gang as a mere nuisance. They would nap in the sun together. Those furry little fiends brought a smile to her face every time she saw them snuggled up around Drakar. Then she recalled that night, when he came home screaming and crying. The nekomar had been trapped outside of the forest. By the time he had returned, they had already been hauled off and Bel could do nothing. She was bound to the forest and hated herself for her limitations. She would have chased down the humans, butchered them all and brought back her son''s little friends, but she could not. She sent the dark elves, but it was far too late and just like that Drakar''s heart had been broken for the first time. He stayed by her side and rarely smiled for the next two years. He had become fearful of the world. Bel cursed herself for her powerlessness to return the smile to her boy''s face.


    Those two years were so painful to her. No matter what she did, he refused to smile. She brought him new friends, strange animals, rare objects pilfered from the human caravans, but nothing appeased him. Every night he would cry himself to sleep in her arms. Her heart felt like it would rip apart from not being able to help him. She could only give him her chest to cry against. He was gloomy and no matter what the dryads or pixies or dark elves tried he would isolate himself, wallowing in his own despair. That was when he met a human, who had wandered into the forest and became lost. She was the daughter of a merchant. She cried and cried over her predicament. She was scared of the dryads and pixies who found her. She ran away from them and bumbled into Drakar''s resting place. They saw the fear in each others eyes and laughed. She explained that she was lost and he showed her out. His smile had returned while he waved  farewell to the human. The two became the best of friends and she would visit every time her family¡¯s caravan would pass through. For Drakar, Bel allowed them to pass through the forest without being ravaged. As a result, however, the family grew rich and greedy. Their caravans became longer and fuller, they traded with the elves. Then they betrayed her trust.


    Drakar was lured by the girl''s family and captured like some beast. They were going to sell him. In her rage, Bel massacred every human in the forest. They escaped with Drakar, however, and her legions of dark elves pursued them, cornering them in their mansion. It burned, she could see it from the forest and since that day no humans dared enter the Black Leaf Forest. He was brought back mostly unharmed, he cried over the loss of his friend. The girl had survived. She returned to the forest, but Bel could not forgive her. She was overcome by such rage. Yet it was not the girl''s fault she had helped him escape the mansion. She was chased from the forest and never allowed to see Drakar again. Eventually, she gave up and left. Now Bel and her children hated the world around them. They became over protective of Drakar. He was never allowed to wander out of sight or leave the forest. If humans or elves approached him, they were butchered mercilessly. They loved him more than anything and would never let anything hurt him again.


    Bel knew this dream was impossible. She had seen the visions of his future, but she was not in them. At first, she cursed Sintress for showing it to her, for taunting her with his life that she would never be able to see. Then she came to accept it, for being gifted to see what life held in store for her little boy. His ups and downs, pains and sorrows, joys and bliss, his rage and grief. He would become so big and she looked on in disbelief. That little thing she picked up on a whim would one day be bigger than her. He would have lovers of all shapes and sizes and from them, he would have many children. He would be a man but she would never see it. His expression of young love. His awkward attempts at courting. The new friends he would make. She wanted so desperately to be a part of it all. It was unfair. Why should she not be able to be there for him? She wanted to hold each and every one of her grandchildren. Snuggle with them and tell them that she loved them, but she never would.


    ¡®Why? Why can I not?¡¯ Thought Bel, the notion ate away at her. ¡®Who said I could not? What is destiny? Who made it up and chose what would happen? He is my boy I should be there for him. I will be there for him. I will take the whole damned forest with me, he¡¯s my boy and I will be with him till the end!¡¯


    As the hours passed, something was different about everyone around Drakar. They slowed their games, ceased their drinking and a feeling of blood thirst was washing over all of the gathered warriors. Even Bel was being affected her. She clenched his hand more readily, her grip on him grew stronger. Something was terribly wrong.


    ¡°Why is everyone so tense?¡± asked Drakar.


    She looked down at him a resolve so strong what looked like hatred filled her face. ¡°We will leave tonight.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean leave?¡±


    ¡°You will learn soon enough,¡± replied Bel, scratching her chin, then she had made up her mind. ¡°Fuck Sintress!¡±


    Those words echoed out and those gathered suddenly became still as death. ¡°You heard me, fuck Sintress. If that vile whore wants my boy, she is going to have to come and get him. How dare she weave such a fate for us! I will not hand him over to slavery so easily!¡±


    ¡°Slavery? What are you talking about.¡±


    ¡°The humans are coming prepare yourselves, my children. I will not give him to those pigs. We shall keep him from the world!¡±


    A roar of agreement exploded through the night air. The dark elves formed their battalions. The dryads were oddly quiet and no longer playful. Pixies swarmed about with fork sized spears. Bel stood and Ciara nodded from Drakar''s shoulder. The army marched but Drakar''s questions were not answered. Why would humans come? What would they do? Where are we going? His thoughts were jumbled, but he had never before seen everyone with such unrelenting bloodlust. After a short hour, they had returned to the heart tree. It was here Drakar saw a strange sight. The elves were here, the normal ones. They wore faces of discourtesy, but there was also distress as well.


    The elves had pure white skin their eyes were blue and their hair was blond, brown or black. They wore golden armor and had the same curved swords. There were roughly two hundred of them at the opposite side of the bog. Their weapons were not at the ready. Their leader stood out from the rest. She was beautiful with long hair of spun gold. Her armor was more intricate than the others, showing a face surrounded by leaves.


    She raised her hand in greeting, but her words were icy, ¡°The humans are coming, we need your help.¡±


    Her brow furrowed as though it was incredibly painful to ask. Bel was not surprised. She nodded her assent. The two began to discuss the battle tactics.


    ¡°My forces are better at range,¡± said the Elf.


    ¡°Well then, my dark elves will form the front line and the dryads will support with their dark magics. Where will you be in all of this?¡±


    She gruffly looked at the surroundings, trying to decipher where they were going to be. ¡°My archers and mages will be on the hill behind the second line. Me and my vanguard will be here in the center of the front line.¡±


    ¡°Seems odd. Usually, your kind likes to hide in the back. Why do you want to be in the front?¡± said Bel with a skeptical look.


    ¡°What? You think we can''t fight?¡±


    ¡°Well, I suppose. If it is like that after we figure out where their archers and mages are, the pixies will descend from above and stab out their eyes.¡±


    ¡°Ah, that tactic. As I recall you used it to overrun Fort Steel Leaf.¡±


    ¡°Indeed. Let''s get everything set up before they arrive. Would you happen to know the extent of their forces?¡± asked Bel.


    ¡°From what our scouts said, it looked like a full subjugation force. Three thousand strong. Two hundred Paladins, three hundred Templar, and likely two to three hundred clerics. The rest is a mix between fodder and archers.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like they are going all out. I wonder how long it took them to get this army down here.¡±


    ¡°They have been planning this for a while, most likely. All that is left to do is wait.¡±


    Bel nodded and the elf commander left. She returned to her own forces. The battle formations lined up and stood on standby. The pixies vanished into the darkness above. Everything seemed ready, but Bel was exceedingly nervous.


    ¡°Maybe I should have taken everybody and fled. Though the tree would never be able to outrun them.¡± She said slowly.


    ¡°Why, is it that bad?¡± Asked Drakar.


    ¡°I did not think they had so many paladins or templars. We can deal with archers and clerics just fine, but this is going to be tough. Causalities will be incredibly high. My children''s blood will flow like water. If only those snooty elves had brought some nymphs to attack the assailants with the trees. When dryads try that it is really obvious since the trees turn black and have red flowers,¡± Bel shook her head.


    She glanced over at the formations, squinting at them as though to see something that is not there. She made a worried face, as though just now realizing something. A pained smile rose it was not a happy face. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and muttered, ¡°So be it.¡±


    ¡°What is the matter?¡±


    ¡°Sintress was right. Don''t trust the elves here. They will betray us. Fate really can''t be sidestepped. No matter how this plays out I know that you will be safe. Don''t hate that commander after all this is over, she is just too stupid to realize that she has brought death to this forest. I saw that she was useful to you later.¡±


    ¡°Oh, but she is a traitor. Why do we not just kill them now?¡±


    ¡°Destiny my dear. We are already on the path, it can no longer be changed no matter what we do. Well, just stand back and watch Mommy rage against her fate.¡±


    ¡°But if we know what is going to happen then why do we still rush headlong into it?¡±


    ¡°Because of what will happen after this. You will meet a strange fellow after this. Once you are with her nothing can stop your destiny from unfolding. But be diligent and work hard to get stronger you cannot rely on others forever.¡±


    ¡°When will I see you again?¡± cried Drakar.


    ¡°When you are a grown man you will return here. We will meet again then.¡±


    ¡°I will be all alone then.¡±


    ¡°No, Ciara will be with you. Don''t get separated from her. Also, Daemyn guard him with your life. Take nine others with you and flee when the elves turn cloak. I wish I could tell you more, but our time together is nearly done.¡± said Bel with a sad smile.


    ¡°Yes, Mother my life for Lord Drakar,¡± said a tall dark elf. His helmet had a crimson tassel and the armor was silvery. He had a kite shield and a slim curved sword with an obsidian blade.


    Drakar held her hand for a moment, but then she pulled away. Her face seemed forlorn. She did not smile, not even a fake to try and make him feel better. It was as though she was simply going through the motions and no longer cared to try. He thought that as she walked away, but then he could feel it. A boiling rage was, seeping from every pore of Bel. Her fists were tightly clenched and he knew that she would not let this end quietly.


    Another hour passed and preparations were complete. Bel was on the right flank, the furthest away from Drakar. The elves were in the middle and their archers were in the back. The dark elves were everywhere they formed the meat of the army and then there were the dryads. They were between the elves, forming the second line. The waiting game had come to an end when fire lit up the forest in front of them. Thousands of torches flickered in the wind. It was as though the dawn had arrived. They marched forward, making the ground rumble and the animals flee. The humans had taken the stage at last. Their armor was white and silvered with images of the twisted sun upon their carapaces. The front line held tower shields and flails. Foot soldiers flanked the sides of the main column. They were much lighter equipped. They wore leather jerkins and had short swords. These were all gruff, dirty men. They did not look especially skilled but there were so many that it did not seem to matter.


    Drakar watched from the safety of the heart tree. Daemyn carefully observed the battle beside him. Then, with a roar of shouts it began. The human wave surged forward. The dark elves held fast, beating them back. Their blades red with blood. Arrows flew. A wall of death descended upon the humans, many fell, but for every one that did another four took his place. Bolts of darkness lashed out from the dryads they blasted through the human lines to the sides. Leaving gaping holes in their forces. The paladins rushed the center collapsing in on the elves. What should have been a ferocious whirlwind of gore did not occur. Instead, the line ripped open, allowing the humans through. The elves had already betrayed them within the first wave of attack. They turned on the dark elves attacking them from the sides. The bulwark fell almost instantly.


    Drakar felt Daemyn''s hand, grasping his own. He was being pulled away. He could hear his families screams of death. He stared as they were butchered. Then an arm the size of a tree descended from above. The ground quaked from the force that it exerted. Drakar knew that hand very well. It was Bel. She had grown taller than the trees and her body radiated dark power. She swung and the wind screamed. Lines of humans were torn asunder in an instant. Paladins and Templar rushed towards her legs. Their glowing weapons, stabbing into her black flesh. Her blood poured, but she continued her assault. Every earth shattering step she took crushed tens of humans. She leapt into the air and crashed down in a belly flop. In a moment hundreds of screams were silenced. Bel did not stop there, however she rolled left, smashing everything that got in her way. Then she changed course and surged to the right. She steamrolled over the puny humans, crushing them like insects.


    ¡°I can do this.¡± Said Bel laughing at the tiny humans below her. ¡°How can something so weak as this end my happiness? I will not let it. Feel my wrath!¡±


    Her arms came down, shattering the ground and the earth split.  Death was all around her. Her children, her enemies, they were all so weak, so insignificant. She lashed out at the world. For a brief moment Drakar felt hope, but it was instantly crushed.


    Fire erupted all across Bel. Her form became an inferno. She rushed headlong into the foe''s forces. A low buzz rose from above and the cloud of pixies descended from the branches. The elves fired arrows into the horde and shot magic at the tiny beings. Many fell, but they gushed forward. Blood-curdling screams filled the air as the vicious pixies started their attack. The magic and arrows stopped as the cloud of crimson death moved through the human ranks, leaving men wishing they had died. Chaos flowed and panicked cries were all around. It was only then that Drakar realized the paladins were heading straight for him. Daemyn pulled his sword, stepping between them. There were five heavily armored, glowing soldiers. Light magic was dripping from their weapons.


    ¡°Not like this!¡± Screamed Drakar.


    ¡°Just run!¡± Yelled back Daemyn, rushing towards his death.


    The other nine, followed suit forming a desperate wall. Light blared and each of them collapsed, their flesh smoking. The paladins were not even serious. They laughed at the pitiful resistance that they met.


    ¡°Oh, what is this thing?¡± complained the humans, staring down at him. Their helmets covered their faces, but their tones of voice were clearly of disappointment.


    ¡°It looks like a lizard man. It does not have a tail though.¡±


    ¡°Idiot it is clearly a dragon. Look at the horns on that thing, it will fetch a fortune.¡±


    They were conversing when a shadow overtook them. The massive hand smashed down, crushing all five of them in an instant. Blood and gore seeped out from below the black flesh. Slowly it lifted and Drakar stared into Bel''s eyes. She smiled as she stood before him. Her hands scraped the sky and tore the canopy off of the forest. The moons were high above, shining their light down. She raised her arms into the sky above. Red covered the sky. The moons had turned blood red.


    ¡°How dare you! I will not let the world take him from me!¡± Screamed Bel. Her eyes were filled with hatred.


    ¡°LUNAR FLARE!¡± Roared her voice. The wind shuddered and the earth cracked beneath her.


    The sound seemed to be sucked into a void for a moment. It felt like an eternity, then the light vanished from the sky. A pillar of silver erupted in the midst of the humans. It expanded outward growing more and more until finally it was almost all that Drakar could see. Suddenly a dark sliver silently passed through the middle of Bel''s abdomen. She did not seem to notice it, laughing at the top of her lungs. The blast made the wind wail in agony and world buckled around the impact point. Fissures split through the earth, swallowing all that were in its way. The towering black form of Bel toppled over, sheared in half. A look of utter surprise and horror filled her face.


    ¡°Noooooooo!¡± She wailed as the world spiraled away from her. ¡°How, could this be!? I was so close. Just a little more and it would have been different. No, NO! ¡±


    The top flailed and her onyx blood gushed out like a tidal wave. The legs wobbled and collapsed, crushing those around it. The wave washed over the red sea of blood and stained it perpetually black. Drakar nearly drowned as it swept over him. He clambered for air, clawing at the warm viscous fluid before finally breaching the surface. What met his eyes was despair. Bel lay with her hand outstretched towards him. It was close. He swam as hard as he could, fighting the current of life blood flowing out of her. He grappled onto her massive pinky finger and climbed into her hand. It shifted around him before closing. The light returned when she opened her palm over her chest, dumping him into a massive flower.


    He still could not accept it, didn''t want to believe that Bel could be dying. It was far too surreal. Just a moment ago she was laughing and now she was slowly slipping away. Drakar held back his tears. ¡°Something like this. No, this can''t be. You are so strong, how can something like this happen?¡±


    ¡°Drakar, I am sorry. I wasn''t strong enough. Fate could not be changed. A god cannot be opposed,¡± said Bel her eyes blankly, staring at the moons above, despair flowed down her face and blood boiled out of her grin. ¡°I lied to you. About seeing you again... we never see each other again. But I was able to see your life... to see you grow up. I won''t be there for you. That is my regret... No, I can''t just lay down and die he needs me!¡±


    ¡°No! You can''t die not like this!¡± Wailed the poor boy, watching his mother fade away before him.


    ¡°Damn you Sintress... I don''t want to die yet, he still needs me... He''s just a boy. He''s my boy. I won''t let anyone take him from me! There is so much more I wanted to do. I wanted to be at his wedding... Don''t taunt me with his future like this. Stop showing me these things! You cruel bitch. I wanted to walk him down the isle. I wanted to hold him when he cries his heart out. Why? Why would you do this to me?¡±


    Her breathing was slowing. Her eyes were unfocused, her hands lost their strength and fell cracking the earth. ¡°He¡¯s just a boy! You can''t do that to him I... I won''t let you. Grant me a second chance, please, don''t forsake me. Forgive me. He needs me, please, not like this. You lied to me! It wasn''t supposed to be like this. How can his heart take so much sorrow? I have hurt him so much, how could he ever forgive me? Why do this to him? So much darkness... it is all so black. So cold.... Drakar are you there? Can you hear me?¡±


    ¡°I am here! I hear you mother! Don''t go, please don''t go, please!¡± Yelled Drakar his face flooded with sorrow and snot ran from his nose.


    Bel choked and her chest heaved. Her tears could no longer flow. The blood was slowing and there was nearly none left. ¡°I wanted to see my grandchildren. To hold them, hug them..... Tell them everything would fine. So many, he looks so happy. I wish, I could be there. Thank you Sintress. I see now, so that is how it ends. With this, everything is as it is meant to be... If you ever feel like giving up look... look to the moons and know that I will be watching over you. I am so proud of you, Drakar. I love you. You will always be in my heart.¡±


    She shuddered violently and Drakar could not speak, only sobbing. Her eyes gently closed. Her breathing slowed as she took a large breath. Her chest swelled and hers eye ripped back open. Bel mustered the strength to lift her hand and lay it over Drakar. ¡°Oh, so small,¡± she said meekly. She gulped down her blood and her smile was stained black. ¡°You still fit in my hand just like so long ago. We can go back... just the two of us. We can start over, can''t we? We can be free of this cruel fate. Drakar, my sweet little prince it seems I will be leaving first. You filled my life with light, but all I can  leave you is darkness.... I am sorry, I am a terrible mother, burdening you like this.¡±


    She said the final farewell and all the strength left her. A blood-soaked smile filled her face. The last of her life blood flowed out. Bel no longer drew breath. Her eyes were vacant. Drakar screamed and cried burying his face in her soft flower. Her body was withering, it felt like dried out bark. The flowers wilted. Her body shook as though life, yet remained. The center of her chest cracked and shattered like a frail molting. A gigantic ebony orb shot out. The sphere lingered as though forlorn to leave. It glowed with warmth, but it tilted to the sky. Countless smaller orbs rose up from all around, leaving the dead. Magic crashed and assaulted Bel''s soul, bouncing off harmlessly, as it ascended to the sky, chasing after the moons. The parade of lights filled the sky following their mother into the silvery light of the moons, leaving only darkness in their wake.


    Slowly and gradually her immense form shrank until finally, it was back to its normal size. He would not let her go even when the paladins pulled at him. They ripped him from her. He watched in horror, when they cut off her head. A thin smile covered her face. His tears welled up and he wailed. They lifted the head of his mother up and cheers rose all around him. His chest felt tight. He could hardly breathe. His stomach emptied again and again. His heart felt like somebody was crushing it, twisting it. It was unbearable. They dragged him away.


    He dimly heard a voice, it was that elf commander. ¡°Thank you for your help. We could not have done it without you.¡±


    ¡°Thanks to you we were able to gather all the filth in this forest together.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, for freeing us of Bel''s tyran-¡± started the elf before the wind got knocked out of her lungs. She gasped and struggled, falling to her knees.


    ¡°Know your place elf!¡± Yelled the man, kicking her while she was down. ¡°Put her with the rest. I am sure somebody will pay for such a slave.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± she wailed, struggling against her attackers. She was quickly overpowered.


    ¡°This is Lord Solar''s Realm. Stupid elf bitch, thanks to you we just cleaned out the whole damned forest. Now we can cut it down without being attacked.¡±


    ¡°Traitor!¡± She cried.


    ¡°Says the one who stabbed her allies in the back. Those dryads were the only thing keeping us out of this forest. If you think about it, they were the ones protecting this place. If it was not for them, all you elves would have been slaves years ago. I am sure we can find a buyer for that body of yours since your head is clearly not worth anything.¡±


    She fell into despair, sobbing while they dragged her and the others off. Drakar stared at the humans. His chest felt like it was on fire. He had felt this feeling before it was hatred but he had never felt it this powerfully. It was amplified by his sorrow, his feelings of helplessness, his despair. His heart felt empty, it was black, cold, and dead. All the love that he held for Bel it was boiling, writhing, twisting and rotting. The anger was swirling. It hurt so much. He wanted to rip his heart out and throw it away. He wanted to hit something, anything to divert his attention from his remorse. He clenched his teeth, grinding them back and forth. The darkness was bubbling up. He wanted to kill them, slaughter them, butcher them, rip them limb from limb, and then he would kill their wretched spawn. The misery filled him.


    ¡°Human scum, I will kill them all!¡±

 Chapter 2 The Ebon Heart

    Chapter 2 The Ebonheart


    ¡°Hey, can you hear me? Drakar, I am scared,¡± whispered a voice in his ear.


    Lightly he came to, staring at his clawed hands. His scales were still coated in his mother''s blood. It was sticky between his fingers. The black goo was congealed and thick. He shifted his head, but there was no one beside him.


    ¡°What are they going to do to us?¡± asked Ciara, hiding beneath his hair. He could feel her shivering against his neck.


    ¡°Sell us,¡± he said without emotion. He was burnt out. No longer able to feel anything, not even rage.


    He stared out of the metal bars. Gently the prison rocked back and forth with the turning of the wheels. The cart was wooden beneath him and ahead was a horse pulling them. Though he could claw his way out there was no point, there was nowhere to run. Behind them, more cages were being pulled in a long procession. Further ahead were still more metal bars and crying creatures. The elves had all been captured, betrayed after their own treachery. Drakar could only think that they got what they deserved. Some of the dark elves had been captured, as well as the dryads. Pixies and fairies were trapped within bottles that rattled against poles high overhead. Then his eyes landed on a pike at the lead of the procession. There was a head. He knew that face so well. It was Bel''s. They had decapitated her and taken her head as a trophy. It sickened him to even think about it. The tears would return whenever he looked at the gentle smile etched in black wood, looking back at him.


    The Heart Tree was burning and with it, the forest had lost its soul. Those that were not captured could never hope to oppose the humans now. He could see the smoke, billowing up high into the sky. Drakar''s home was gone, destroyed by the humans. His family slaughtered like animals. Very few of the dryads had survived, many were withering and would soon die after leaving their home trees. The only ones that even had a chance to survive were the ones who had not yet chosen a tree to bond with but even then only if they could be sheltered from the sun. The sun glared harshly down upon them. This was the first time he had ever hated the sun and the one who made it. Lord Solar, god of the Material Realm and master of the humans. He could hear the sobbing of the dryads. The laughter and boasting of the humans. He felt powerless. The trust and pride that Bel had for him only made him feel even more miserable. What could he do? So small and weak he had betrayed all of their expectations.


    The men all around him marched and chatted about their daily lives. Names of surrounding towns began to appear. Sil, Mar, and Tar, those were the places these men had come from. They had been plotting the attack for months. Rallying their forces and gathering their resources before they learned the layout of the land. To their surprise, the elves were more than willing to cooperate since they despised the dryads. They were under the impression that the enemy of my enemy was my friend, which as they soon discovered was a terrible mistake. Now they were both to be sold as slaves. Of this matter, Drakar had some knowledge he had heard about such things from Bel on occasion. She had told him about how humans have evil items called Collar of Slavery. Once put on the individual can''t remove it and the magic within it clouds their minds until the point that they can only obey the one whose blood was used to make it. How or why it worked he could not understand, only that it was magic and very soon one of those things would be clasped around his neck. The thought of it made his spine tingle and his scales stand on end.


    The plains extended into the horizon. The sun blazed down, baking those under its sweltering heat. The dryads begged for water and shade, but their pleas fell on deaf ears. Their skin writhed and turned purple, their flowers were dyed azure. They cried in agony, languishing below the brutal sun. Not a cloud was in the sky, there would be no respite for the dark sisters. Drakar could do nothing for them. All that he could do was tune out their woe.


    The grasses rippled with a warm breeze and the dust swirled up in a spiral. The dust devil raced down the dry road before them. The whirlwind soon faded into nothing and in its absence, a glimmer appeared in the distance. Drakar gazed, then realized what it was, the city of Tar. He had been to this place once before. Caged like a beast just as he was now, betrayed by his own friend. It dragged terrible memories to his mind. He crushed them before they could form and they were scattered into the darkness once more. He frowned, knowing what filth awaited in that place.


    The hours trickled by excruciatingly slow, but at last the city gates were before them. The walls overshadowed the trail of tears. There was no relief for the Dryads'' pain, so many had already died. Their bodies petrified with distorted faces and those that had not yet succumbed wished the suffering to end. The Dryads have always been very simple creatures. Children lost in the woods and playing their games. They are easily misunderstood and their innocent pranks often had them branded as evil. Their fascination with death and the life that would grow from it seemed morbid to those looking at it from afar but Drakar knew better. He knew that they were kind, whimsical, and wondrous beings. They were linked to one another like roots in the forest, intertwining and mixing their experiences below the surface. He could only regret watching them die, withering away, their faces twisted in horror and misery.


    The Dark Elves seldom spoke, but you would be hard pressed to find more honorable creatures. They had always watched over their playful sisters now, though, they were powerless to defend them. Their failure was eating away at their hearts, eroding their sense of purpose. Drakar could hardly watch their pitiful faces. Though they were caring there was a deep darkness implanted within them, it was the cursed power of Shewolf. The Dark Elves fell prey to it from time to time and lost themselves in the revelry of slaughter, during these times the blood must flow that was all that could sate their burning desires. He looked forlornly at them, their eyes filled with sorrow and rage, he knew full well that many of them would lose their sanity soon and try to escape. Drakar knew however that they were doomed to failure and all that awaited them was death. They had no weapons, nor armor, it was impossible to defeat their foe, but they would try regardless. One by one they would fall and with them, his family would shatter even more. He would be alone by the end of it all, he could feel it. Drakar dreaded this for the first time in his life he would be isolated and there would be no place to return to. The smiles and laughter, soon they would all be gone completely. He could feel the suffering, gnawing at his heart, sucking at the warmth and tenderness deep within like marrow from a broken bone.


    The gates swung open and they were led through the streets. The gazes of the humans fell upon them and murmurs spread through the crowd. Cheers of triumph rose all around. Flowers rained down from the rooftops. Their eyes were filled with disgust. Their voices mocked and laughed at those they had ruined. Drakar felt his chest tighten and his hatred rekindled.


    The procession carried on to the town square. A fountain adorned the circle of flat land like a sapphire. Water flowed down the sides of a towering monument of an armored knight. His face was hidden by a curved helmet. His shoulders were wide and spiked. A cape of stone, frozen in the air. In his hand was a maul as tall as himself, it gleamed in the light of the sun, it was made of crystal. Images of the twisted sun were etched into his chest, shoulders, and his cape. Drakar stared at the statue as water flooded out of a crack in the visor as though the man was weeping. A stage had been erected beside the stone basin at his feet. Several vile looking men sat atop the dais, fat and colorful. They smirked down at the captives with pointed beards and twirled mustaches.


    The cages were lined up and left under the scowling sun. Children darted about excited over the new sights. They poked into the cages with sticks, tormenting those within. The Elves shuddered and wailed at the prodding, but the Dark Elves brooded with malice. Not a single Dryad had survived the journey. They were all dried out, warped and dead. Their twisted forms were black and burned, empty and hollow. A boy stabbed his stick into Drakar''s back, it shattered upon his scales. He turned and the children fled with glee. He scowled at the onlookers. The wooden forms of the Dryads were dumped out of the cages. Humans gathered around, inspecting their catch. Music began to flutter on the wind. It grew louder and louder before finally, the crowd parted for the strangest person Drakar had ever seen.


    Puppets of unimaginable quality danced before the masked performer. The dolls were alive to the touch of the strings and the white-gloved hands orchestrated a ballet of eight. Each dancer was different from the last. One was a black knight covered completely in full plate armor. A blue tinted princess wore a crimson dress with emerald eyes and sanguine hair. A white and gold plated knight had her head of platinum hair glimmering in the sun. She scowled. A Nekomar with black and white striped fur, long fluffy tail and pointed ears bounded about, glee covered its face. An Elf covered in leather gracefully waltzed with his black hair and blue eyes. A maid of glass pranced with the others, her hair was coal and her eyes wicked. A beggar in scraps of old clothing moved beside the others, her brown hair had dirt in it. A fairy with a strange mask covering her face was with the others. Her hair was green like her wings. The wooden mask changed its expression from smiles to frowns and back again.


    The presumptuous figure moved like the wind and the dolls led the way. The crimson cape flowed and the ebon back flicked at the sky. A top hat adorned the head like a crown, tilted to one side. The mask was white with wide black pits where the eyes should be and a smile that twisted into a frown halfway across the face. The puppeteer controlled the marionettes with one hand while the other held a large metal box on the left shoulder. The music came from this contraption. This person wore a suit of black and red. Drakar stared, realizing it was a woman. Her bust bulged against the vest below her coat. Her skin was white as snow. She stood before them bowing and her hat rolled into her hand. Long azure hair fell forward, scraping the ground before being whipped back behind her in an exaggerated move. The box was set to the side. The crowd had grown silent at the appearance of this individual.


    The gaudy men on the stage were wide-eyed and excitedly talking amongst themselves. ¡°Why is the Sanguine Puppeteer here? Is she going to tell a story?¡±


    ¡°What a pleasant treat. I thought she was still in Dawn Spire performing for royalty.¡±


    ¡°How strange. But none the less what a pleasant surprise. Tell us a story puppeteer.¡±


    She curtsied and made her cloak billow in the air. The puppets grinned with glee spinning in circles. ¡°Welcome,¡± shouted a tiny man wrapped in pitch metal armor, ¡°We are so pleased to meet you. Come, come gather round and hear our tale. Which to hear, which to tell, the choices oh so many to choose from. Shall we tell you of the lost kitten? The princess made of ice? The knight and the pearl? The broken doll, perhaps? The story of the beggar? The Steel Bride? The fairy who lost her wings? A love so great not even death could stand in between them. Or perhaps you wish to hear of the phantom fencer? Oh my I sense a new tale just ready to be sprung, it just needs a little nudge in the right direction. Such a wonderful tale it will be.¡±


    The minuscule knight pointed and there was Drakar right before the eyes of the gaggle of dolls. A murmur spread through the unruly crowd. Their eyes turned to him as well.


    ¡°Did you see?¡± Remarked a woman marionette.


    ¡°A new friend.¡± Flapped the little knight.


    ¡°Shall we start a new tale?¡± Asked the two looking up into the mask that bore such a grin.


    The puppeteer walked much like a cat, pawing at the ground as it approached the metal bars. The dolls'' stare bore through him as though their empty eyes could see and feel. The puppeteer gazed at him, as though appraising him. She gave a queer look at the dolls and they nodded enthusiastically. She seemed to pause for a moment, then shook her head. Withdrawing back to her box.


    ¡°Light and dark, life and death, chaos and order each coexist; for without good there could be no evil. The candle flickers brightest all alone in the night. Why are these things so you might ask little ones. It is the nature of things. Now then, let me weave a tale before your eyes. A story of longing to fit in yet never being understood. It all began so long ago here in the realms, the Material realm in fact among the humans who spurned all that was different.¡± Smiled the emerald eyed princess adorned in crimson.


    ¡°There was a boy who cried and cried, but mommy was never there, without a care. Then one day the boy wandered through woods there he met a woman who was kind and cruel. She danced in the moonlight and soon fell for the boy. She hid him away from prying eyes. She kept him from the world and every day they played with the children of the forest. Pixies and elves, they all had so much fun. The boy forgot his home and stayed with her. Then one day all his friends were dead and gone. The woman had been ruined by her greed and the boy was all alone. He cried and cried once more. Then he met a strange fellow who promised the boy his dreams. He took the hand and together they left his despair behind. This was only the beginning, however, the start of his travels. He would cross the land and the see the wonders of the Realms. He would make enemies and friends at every turn. The boy would grow bigger and stronger. He would crush the world that despised him. A day, then came when he looked back and saw only his shadow. The fellow had long since been crushed beneath the boy¡¯s ambitions. He had grown so monumental that all the light in the world had been extinguished. There was silence and emptiness, he was all alone once more.¡± The red doll said twirling about the cobbled stones of the street.


    The puppets'' eyes were glued to him. He felt their cold gazes and shivers ran through him. Drakar looked away from the creepy dolls. This seemed to make them mad. The story had stopped and the little figures were scoffing and scowling at him. He was taken aback at their demeanor, it was as though they were actually alive. He looked back at them and the Puppeteer had closed the gap between them. The dolls wormed their way into the cage and stood before him.


    The gloved hands moved the mask up, revealing crimson lips. A melody played out through the whistle, a lullaby. ¡°Can you hear? Can you see? Above the sky, below the moons. The whistling of the grass. Come with me over mountains tall and delve gorges deep. Across the meadows long and upon the sea unending. I will be by your side forever and ever. So shall we prance through the woods? Where pixies flutter and magic lives? We will dance in the night, for it is alright, I am by your side. Below the gaze of Luna we dream of a brighter tomorrow,¡± sung the chorus of dolls.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± scowled Drakar though he hated the humans every fiber of his being was screaming that something was wrong with this person, that they absolutely should not be trusted.


    Slowly a gentle hand pat him. His pearl hair was parted by four twisting ebon horns that reached towards the back of his head. His forehead bore a purple scale. Smiles rose all around among the crowd of dolls.


    ¡°What is your name?¡± asked the soft voice of the crimson-lipped puppet.


    ¡°Drakar,¡± he replied, not believing a word from the red lips. ¡°Who are you anyway? Another person to mock me?¡±


    ¡°You may call me Sin,¡± smiled the many dolls, though the puppeteer said nothing, ¡°What a wonderful name.¡±


    One of the nobles stood up. ¡°Oh, grand puppeteer do not associate with that terrible little creature.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s right Puppeteer that thing is a monster,¡± said many others in the crowd.


    ¡°You poor, poor thing, won''t you come with me? Humans can be so cruel. I will not call you names nor will these people. Come with me there are so many things to see out there in the realms.¡±


    ¡°Just leave me alone.¡±


    ¡°Very well, but if you need me just call my name. I will be in town for another day or two. Drakar, see you around.¡± said the puppet upon her shoulder, Sin tipped her hat to him.


    The Puppeteer hefted the box onto her shoulder, music fluttered from its confines. The wind rustled through the crowd, making the black and red cape dance behind the strange woman. Her shadow moved, it frolicked and bounded away from her side. Yet none of the humans seemed to notice the dancing shadow. It cackled silently while tromping in her wake. The Puppeteer stood back in the crowd, waiting and watching.


    With no more interruptions the auction of slaves began. The Dryad bodies were sold quickly as statues to adorn houses. Then the Elf commander was dragged up to the stage, stripped bare and gagged. Though she fought at first they whipped her raw until the fight left her. She lay blankly on the stage as the vilest, most greedy humans Drakar had ever seen bid on her. They had lustful eyes, gazing her up and down. He knew it would not end well for her.


    ¡°Our premium item the Elven princess Azra, last of her noble house. The bidding will begin at fifty gold pieces.¡±


    ¡°A hundred gold coins.¡± Cried an exceptionally disgusting man.


    To call him a pig in man''s clothing would be an insult to swine, he made pigs look downright handsome. His fat rolls jiggled while his man servants held the luxuriously cushioned chair that he was beached in aloft. They were burly and strong, but they seemed to have trouble, keeping him above the crowd. A look of disgust covered the Elf''s face.


    ¡°Five hundred gold coins,¡± yelled another man he was thin and weasel-like, a look that easily caused one to be wary of him.


    The pig roared with laughter spilling the wine from his golden goblet. ¡°One platinum piece.¡±


    They locked eyes and the weasel relented. Azra was stuffed into another cage and wheeled to the fat man''s side. She cried and trembled in terror, looking upon the whale of a man that now owned her. His beady little eyes were black and cold.


    Hands wrangled at Drakar before dragging him out of the cage. He did not struggle, knowing it was pointless. He stood before them, feeling their withering gazes. He heard a throat clear behind him and the auctioneer began. ¡°And here we have a royal lizard man. The bidding will begin at a hundred silver pieces. Are there any takers?¡±


    The Puppeteer silently raised her hand, high above the crowd. Then a young lady below a parasol raised her hand from beside the pig. ¡°One gold piece.¡±


    The dolls shot her a look of surprise that quickly turned to hatred. ¡°Ten gold coins,¡± barked the black knight.


    The girl puffed up her cheeks and shouted, ¡°A hundred gold pieces.¡±


    ¡°Five hundred gold pieces,¡± smirked the dolls.


    ¡°Papa please, I want that one really bad. Please!¡± cried the girl, looking up at the fat man.


    ¡°Why do you want a lizard man? Clearly, it is overpriced.¡±


    ¡°But, Papa! That''s not a Lizard Man that is a Dragon! Look, look see the horns? Lizard men don¡¯t have those. A Dragon, papa, I have always wanted a Dragon! Please, pretty please!¡±


    ¡°A Dragon you say. Very well, my dear, Papa will get it for you,¡± grinned the obscene man. ¡°One platinum piece.¡±


    Shock covered the crowd and whispers wriggled through the sea of heads. ¡°Unprecedented! Maxwell Ebonheart such generosity. One platinum piece going once, twice.¡±The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Then Sin raised her hand again. ¡°Five platinum pieces,¡± roared all of the dolls.


    ¡°Ten!¡±


    ¡°Fifteen!¡±


    ¡°Thirty!¡±


    ¡°Fifty!¡±


    ¡°One hundred!¡±


    ¡°Two hundred!¡±


    A strange stillness covered the courtyard. The eyes of Maxwell were bulging and a vein had appeared on his forehead. Sin was smirking and all of the marionettes were smug. Then their faces turned to horror.


    Maxwell yelled, spit and pieces of food shot out of his mouth like shrapnel. ¡°How dare you defy me! Three hundred platinum pieces.¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable! Do I hear three hundred and ten?¡± asked the Auctioneer looking at Sin. She shook her head forlornly. ¡°Sold to Maxwell Ebonheart!¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Papa! Thank you! I love you, I love you, Papa!¡± Squealed the little lady, jumping up and down.


    Sin was livid. She threw her metal box on the ground and the music screamed with agony. The gears within jammed and came to a screeching halt. She kicked it again and again before lifting it up. She stormed off hitting people out of the way. The dolls were cursing and screaming at Maxwell while being dragged away.


    ¡°This isn''t over Pig King! You have won for now, but we will have the last laugh!¡± raged the dolls.


    Maxwell chuckled shooing them away, ¡°For all that frolicking about you could make more money in a bed than on the streets playing with dolls.¡±


    Sin stopped in her tracks and grinned like a crescent moon. The mask seemed to crack and the jagged smile stretched out past the sides of her face. The dolls cackled, ¡°I am capable of more than your tiny brain could possibly imagine. I would never lower myself below the dirt to be equal with the likes of you, human. I have seen the affairs of the gods such petty squabbling of mortals is beneath me.¡±


    She pranced off, humming and the myriad of Marionettes waltzed before her. A crowd followed eager to hear one of her stories. Maxwell grunted and ushered his slaves to bring him to the podium. The attendants pushed Drakar and the Dark Elves forward, Daemyn was among them. Their hands were clasped together and chains connected them. They stood rigidly before their new owner.


    ¡°Oh? Why the Dark Elves too?¡± Asked Maxwell glancing over the thirty new comers.


    The Auctioneer smiled and bowed. ¡°For your generous contribution, we have decided to throw in these. Think of them as a packaged deal.¡±


    ¡°How generous of you. I will accept, very well let us get these slaves home and teach them some proper manors.¡±


    ¡°Papa, I am so happy you won,¡± grinned the auburn headed girl. ¡°You beat out that mean and stingy woman who was trying to steal him.¡±


    ¡°Of course my dear sweet little Giovanna. Now remember this one was very expensive so do not break it like the last ones.¡±


    ¡°Papa but it is a Dragon they are really tough. It is not weak like those elves or fairies or nekomar you got me before.¡±


    ¡°I can only hope.¡± Replied Maxwell. ¡°All the same though be careful with it. I know how rough you get with your toys.¡±


    ¡°I promise.¡± Smirked Giovanna not at all sincere.


    Drakar''s scales shuddered as the girl approached. He had seen so called evil before, but this was the first time he had ever felt it. She was about a head taller than him, but her demeanor was that of someone well beyond her years. She carried herself with elegance and the vile smile never left her face. Her eyes were that of a hungry beast and he was her prey. She closed the umbrella and poked at him with it, forcing him to move. She leisurely strolled in a circle around him inspecting her new pet. Giovanna stopped before his downcast eyes. Her sparkling shoes had mud on the bottoms and the socks disappeared below her black bell of a dress.


    She lowered her gloved hand before him and said, ¡°Kiss your Mistress, pet.¡±


    He spat on it and her umbrella smashed into the side of his head. The world spun and he lay at her feet. Her grin had spread impossibly wide and her eyes were shining. Her foot stamped on his chest before she put all of her weight on it. She stood glaring down.


    ¡°How fun. Papa, I want to break this one in myself,¡± cackled Giovanna looking up at Maxwell, then her face filled with unadulterated bliss when she gazed back down at him. ¡°Oh, it has been a while since something resisted, usually the moment one hears of House Ebon Heart all hope drains from their body, but you are different, perhaps you don''t know about my family. If that is the case I will be sure to teach that body and mind of yours very thoroughly. Let us see how long your false bravado will last. Do not disappoint me and be sure to put up a good fight. It will make it so much more satisfying when I shatter your little mind. I will mold you into a loyal creature that cannot possibly live without me. You will grovel at my feet like the good little pet you are, licking the dirt from my toes. If you are lucky I will feed you table scraps whilst you message my legs at dinner. I am your Mistress and you will wait upon my every whim.¡±


    ¡°Damned humans leave him alone!¡± yelled Daemyn, struggling against his restraints.


    ¡°Oh? Are you two friends?¡± asked Giovanna, her face became flush. ¡°How delightful, then you can watch. I have not been this excited for years! Hans! Hans! Prepare my training room.¡±


    A tall man knelt before her. His face was aged yet he had a youthful vigor in his eyes. His gray hair was short and slicked back. Hans wore a black suit and a white undershirt. Everything about this man seemed ordered. His face bore many pits and scars that gave him the look of a veteran. He stood after a few moments and his tailcoats flapped.


    ¡°As you wish Mi Lady,¡± said Hans, bowing with his hand over his heart.


    ¡°Yes, yes off with you now,¡± flatly replied Giovanna.


    Hans left with his hands behind his back. The chains were gathered from each of their cuffs and then connected to the backs of the man servants. Maxwell motioned and the procession moved into the streets. Giovanna giggled and extended her parasol once more, walking gingerly beside the chair with her father. The street coiled like a serpent, weaving up a hill. A giant castle stood at the crest of the hill, it had tall walls and flags waved on the wind. The higher they went the larger and more prominent the houses became until there were only mansions. The walls rose ten feet up and were made of thick stone. The gates were wrought of iron. Guards stood vigilant before every entrance, each had a different coat of arms upon their armor. In total there were seven, but the largest and most extravagant was the ebon gate that they entered. The guards in onyx and crimson opened the way. The symbol on their armor and the many flags adorning the walls was a black heart, being crushed by a crimson fist atop royal purple.


    Decadent, was the only word that could describe this place. Statues of women lined the path all were laid bare and exceptionally endowed. A fountain with a pearly young lady stood in the center of the turnabout for carriages. Staring at it Drakar realized it was a likeness of Giovanna. It with raised arms to the sky, exposing every nook and cranny of her tender form. The breasts were flat and her waist was slim. Water poured out of her palms and washed down the front and back of her body. Due to her pose, it concentrated between her legs before falling back into the basin of stone below. Why someone would want something like that was beyond him.


    Among the gardens to the sides various dryads had been placed surrounded by flower beds. Vines had grown up, covering parts of their empty husks and once more brought flowers to their forms. It was a sad sight yet strangely Drakar thought it would have made them happy to be entombed in blooms. Maids stood in rows along the steps to the massive oaken doors. They bowed humbly at the procession''s approach. They were all in red and black dresses that looked very easy to move in. Each had a white apron and their faces were covered by a veil of see through material.


    ¡°Master, young Mistress welcome home. Was your trip satisfactory?¡± asked Hans bowing.


    ¡°I believe it was. Prepare some clothes for my entertainment tonight. Be sure to wash the slaves properly as well. They smell of piss and shit,¡± said Maxwell, gesturing with his jiggling arm.


    Azra was hauled off by several maids, her hands and feet tightly bound. Drakar was separated from the Dark Elves by Hans. Giovanna followed behind. They walked up into the gaping maw of the mansion. Chandeliers hung high from the ceiling and purple carpets flowed down every walkway. Paintings covered the walls most were of nude individuals, however several were family portraits of the Ebonheart house. In one was a small girl with dark red hair in a blue dress grinning. Beside it was a man with a handsome physique, he had bulging muscles and a twirled mustache. Several others had girls with black hair and dark eyes.


    He was led deeper into the corridors. There were so many it soon seemed like a maze, but Giovanna and Hans knew exactly where they were going. With every step Drakar could feel the possibility of escaping diminish. Ciara seemed to feel it too, cowering in her hiding place. She had long ago nestled her way into his matted hair out of view. Her breathing was light and she dared not make even a sound or else she would be found. They came to a stairway that led down into sparsely lit shadows. They descended the stone carved steps. Cold smooth rock surrounded them. Every turn of the spiral a lit candle was held in sconces to light the way. At last they reached the end of the stairs. A long corridor expanded out and doors lined the walls a fair distance from one another. They walked down another hallway, this one had no doors to the sides, instead it had metal prison bars revealing cells.


    Various creatures were gathered here all of them looked abysmal and malnourished. Each cell only held one type of being but there were tens of cages on each wall. Blood stains and claw marks dragged away from the gates on each cell. Drakar peered into one seeing a pack of worgs growling at one another over a scrap of meat. Elves were in another their will looked as though it had been broken and they lay about empty. Not even humans had been spared in opposite cages were men and women their bodies covered in fresh lacerations and bruising. Several Nekomar were confined within one of the last cages. They were cannibalizing one that had fallen, viciously tearing the body apart and stuffing the meat into their mouths. The cat girls reared up and hissed at their approach. Giovanna glared at them and they cringed in the corner crying and wetting themselves.


    ¡°What did you do to them?¡± asked Drakar looking away from the poor creatures.


    ¡°Those weak little things. Their minds were pathetic they do not even know what they are anymore. They are simply mindless animals now,¡± shrugged Giovanna.


    They had reached the door at the end of the corridor it was sturdy and made of metal yet even still there were several dents. The blood stains were thick around the entrance and the walls were dotted with smeared hand prints. Hans opened the door and despair awaited Drakar within. All manor of tools of torment hung from the back wall. The floor dipped in the center and a drain grill was present. Against the left wall was a wooden Rack used to pull apart prisoners limb from limb. On the opposite wall stood a tall metal coffin filled with spikes, upon the front was a woman grinning evilly, it was an Iron Maiden. A table stood near the back with chains and cuffs at every corner. Wooden stools were stacked neatly next to a pile of buckets. A stone trough of water was nestled beside the iron maiden. The room was brightly lit by a chandelier overhanging the center and two tall candle stick holders next to the door. Drakar could only cringe.


    ¡°Where to begin? I wonder, I wonder,¡± said Giovanna striding to the far wall, she looked over her varied implements of torture before lifting down a leather whip with serrated metal shards all across the bottom half. ¡°Well let us take things slowly we have all the time in the world, don''t we pet.¡±


    Hans tied him to the floor, his arms and legs splayed out. She raised the whip and it cracked against his back. The metal dug into his scales carving out grooves. Drakar screamed and shook against his bonds. Giovanna struck him again and again. Each time his voice grew shriller and the blood splattered with the backlash of the whip. Her eyes were filled with lust. Soon her breathing was heavy and her arm was far more energetic. The pain seared through him and Drakar could only clench his teeth. A particularly ferocious swing stole his breath and made the world turn back.


    It was peaceful for a few sweet moments. Then wet and cold shuddered through him. The agony was burning through his back and Drakar opened his eyes. He struggled, unable to breath. His head had been submerged and was being held under water. What seemed like a cruel eternity passed before he was pulled up. Drakar gasped for breath, but just as his lungs filled he was thrust back below the surface. This torture repeated many more times before he felt empty and his whole body had gone numb. Finally, he fell backwards collapsed upon the floor. Giovanna stood over him, licking her black fingers.


    Ciara scuttled across the floor like a cockroach when the light turned on. She fled in terror soaked to the marrow. Giovanna leapt backwards seeing the little sprite, but then realized what it was. She took one step forward, then hurled herself at the pixie. She slammed into the ground and bounced. Her arms snaked across the floor and snagged the little creature before she could escape into a hole in the opposing wall. She stood squeezing Ciara tight enough to make her exhale and stop struggling.


    ¡°A Pixie? How strange is this your friend?¡±


    ¡°Please just don''t hurt her,¡± whimpered Drakar.


    ¡°That all depends on you,¡± smirked Giovanna.


    ¡°Don''t worry about me Drakar just try to escape!¡± wailed Ciara.


    ¡°I won''t leave you, Ciara. You are all that I have left,¡± he cried and wriggled in his bonds. ¡°Please, I beg you, I will do whatever you want, just don''t hurt her.¡±


    ¡°How touching. So adorable. I would have to be really evil to rip her apart right before your eyes.¡± She smiled petting Ciara with a finger. Then she squeezed hard enough to make the pixie squeak. ¡°Oh wait, I am that evil. Obey my every word and I will spare this little bitch for now.¡±


    ¡°I promise,¡± replied Drakar earnestly.


    ¡°Tell me what are you?¡± she asked perplexed. ¡°You are not just a Dragon that much is clear. Your blood is black so what is the other half?¡±


    He answered honestly, ¡°Devil.¡±


    ¡°Devil... oh my. So you are half Dragon and half Devil?¡± Said Giovanna. She thought it over for a long moment. Then her expression changed, it grew even more demented.


    She stepped on his stomach, tracing it with her toes, then her foot stopped between his legs. It was smooth and featureless, which had her at a loss for only a moment. It fascinated her even more. She propped him up on the stool, letting his top half droop on the floor. Her fingers dug at his scales, then they found a slit. It was wet and warm inside. He felt her invade and kicked her in the chest with his chained feet. Giovanna reeled back hitting the floor hard. Hans moved to lift her, but she simply lay staring up at the ceiling. She blinked then rose from the floor with the most lecherous grin Drakar had ever seen. She tossed Ciara up and down in her hand. She turned and seemed disinterested in him.


    ¡°Hans give him a nice bath, clean his wounds, and bring him to dinner.¡±


    ¡°As you wish Mi Lady.¡± Replied Hans, undoing the bindings and setting Drakar free.


    ¡°I should probably feed those nekomar, it has been what a week? I was wondering how long they would last. To think they would turn on one another so easily, I guess they are just beasts.¡±


    ¡°How long have you had them?¡± Asked Drakar.


    ¡°Oh, those cats? Three years now I think might be around four. I had heard they were captured outside that forest you were in.¡± Replied Giovanna.


    ¡°What happened to the others there were only three.¡±


    ¡°Inquisitive I see. Oh, were they your friends? I suppose I can tell you,¡± she said, thinking on it. ¡°I believe there were ten originally. I remember that I tortured three to death learning the ins and outs of their tolerances. One was smart enough to become a maid, but she was raped to death by my father, two others were as well. Up until today there were four left, but since my experiment was to starve them now there are three.¡±


    ¡°Why do you torture things?¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± she scoffed. ¡°It brings me great pleasure to see things suffer. The greatest feeling in the world is dominating a strong willed creature and making it bend to my will. I have been this way since as long as I can remember.¡±


    Giovanna walked away with a yawn. Drakar stood before the caged beasts that had once been his friends. He remembered all the adventures they had. The days long gone that would never return. Tears flowed down his face. The poor creatures had been tortured so much they had lost the ability to speak, they could only growl and hiss. They no longer even recognized him, but he knew every one of them. His closest friends that he had shared his joys and sorrows with were gone forever. They were nothing more than animals now, feral and mindless. His heart hurt even more, like a scabbed wound that had been torn open. His mouth filled with bile and he threw up.


    Hans pulled him to his feet and dragged him along. They left the dungeon, but that did not soothe his woe. Vaguely, he was aware of the scalding hot water pouring through his wounds. He was numb though and nothing mattered anymore. The more he thought the worse everything seemed. In such a place as this it was only a matter of time before everyone he knew and loved would be tortured to death. He silently prayed to Luna to save those he cared about but she never answered. He desperately held on but it looked ever bleaker with each passing moment.


    He found himself wearing human clothes and sitting before a feast. Giovanna sat across from him and Maxwell was at the head of the table. He stuffed his fat cheeks like some sort of rodent. He was swollen and jolly. Everything about him repulsed Drakar. He could feel his tormentor rubbing his leg below the table. The food was something that commoners could only dream of eating. At first, he stared at the roasted meat and cooked vegetables unable to eat. Memories of Bela began to surface.


    ¡°Now remember never pass up good food. You do not know when you might be able to eat again. If you want to survive you must eat and conserve your strength,¡± smiled Bel.


    A warm feeling filled Drakar and he smiled for the first time in so long. The meat was delightful, it melted in his mouth and tasted better than anything he had ever eaten. He tore at pieces and felt the disapproving eyes of Giovanna upon him. His scales shuddered in terror and he dared not make eye contact with her. Her lips had been twisted into a foul smile. She kicked him under the table with the sharp pointed toe of her shoes.


    ¡°Manors now pet unless you wish to eat on the floor like a beast.¡± Her cold eyes bore through him. He dropped the food back on the plate and downcast his head.


    ¡°So how is your new pet?¡± asked Maxwell between mouthfuls.


    ¡°I am most delighted,¡± replied Giovanna averting her gaze.


    ¡°I am glad to hear.¡± Chuckled the jubilant man.


    ¡°So how is your new partner?¡±


    ¡°I will be having her for dessert.¡±


    ¡°How unlike you to be so patient didn''t you rape the last one before we even got home?¡± asked Giovanna.


    ¡°This one seems to have some fight in her,¡± grinned Maxwell. ¡°It will be very enjoyable to train it out of her.¡±


    ¡°How very alike, we are.¡± She smiled. ¡°By the way I plan on, bearing this one''s child. I am sure that it will be strong.¡±


    There was a moment of silence, then the fat man roared. ¡°What? His child! I will not let a filthy nonhuman defile your womb.¡±


    ¡°NOW PAPA!¡± she yelled, standing and slamming her hands on the table. ¡°I am a grown woman, for a year already I have had my moon blood. This one is special. I can feel it. Now before you raise a ruckus, know this, I know all about your shrines to Luna and Sintress.¡±


    Maxwell''s face turned blue in a moment. He shook his head and cleared his throat. ¡°This is not the place to discuss such things.¡±


    ¡°I think it is Papa! I know you lust after the devils and are trying to make a commune to get one here. I don''t care what you get into your bed but a devil is very risky. If the Red Irons ever found out we would be labeled as traitors. Consorting with Sin Spawn is treason, you know. The Solar Knights would not have pity on us just because of our house.¡±


    ¡°You are right,¡± sourly replied the fat man.


    ¡°Oh, don''t get me wrong. I never said it was impossible, we simply must be very careful with how we proceed.¡±


    His eyebrows raised and he squinted. ¡°What are you planning?¡±


    ¡°There is a very good reason I want to bear his child. He is half devil. In other words, he is a dragon demon.¡±


    ¡°Impossible surely it lied to you! I have never heard of such a thing. Dragon brood cannot be mixed with devil blood. I spoke at length about this with the Dragoon Guild and they said it could not be done.¡±


    ¡°His blood is black just like a devil. Clearly, they lied to you, it can be done,¡± said Giovanna, looking down at her father. ¡°You may not be able to sense it but I can feel the dark powers residing within him. Did you not notice how all of the Dark Elves were so fervent about his fate? Unlike you papa I pay attention to detail.¡±


    ¡°What are you going to do with him?¡± Maxwell shifted a glance at Drakar.


    ¡°He will become my personal breeding pet of course. We will chain him in a cell and mate him with slaves. I was thinking Centaur, if we could get a good number of Drataur our standing would rise even higher and we could train them to be loyal.¡±


    ¡°You certainly make good points but what if people notice something amiss.¡±


    ¡°Easy,¡± she grinned. ¡°That is the beauty of this. He is a dragon and so we simply say he is just a dragon. No one will be the wiser.¡±


    ¡°What about the Devils, though.¡±


    ¡°You still want to summon one? Make sure that you make a new room that is extremely fortified and slap a collar of slavery on her before she can get any ideas. Honestly, Papa sometimes you just don''t think very clearly. It must be the lust clouding your head.¡±


    ¡°You know me too well daughter.¡± Laughed the fat man. ¡°I will allow your plan however you will grace my bed all night.¡±


    ¡°Is that all?¡± said Giovanna looking at her nails. ¡°I suppose you would be getting lonely after a month. Hans be a dear and take Drakar to my room I will be by in the morning for more of his training. Make sure he doesn''t run off.¡±


    ¡°As you wish,¡± replied the butler.


    Hans lifted Drakar from his chair and led him away. Though he had not said a word he had listened to everything they plotted. Such a dismal future awaited him. A mere beast to such vile people. His resolve returned and he paid close attention to his surroundings. The corridors became familiar and he distinguished where the servant quarters were. A burning desire began to form in his chest. They passed several of the Dark Elves whilst they were led in chains. Daemyn looked at Drakar though there was pain in his eyes there was also relief.


    ¡°Lord Drakar I am thankful they did not kill you. From what I have heard of that dungeon seldom do slaves return after going down,¡± smiled Daemyn.


    ¡°It was a wretched place. Those that were down there are better off dead. They are but husks of their former selves,¡± replied Drakar.


    ¡°Stay safe.¡± He said putting his hand over his heart.


    ¡°You too.¡±


    They parted ways and Drakar was led to a tall door Hans opened it. The room was soft and fuzzy. He stared at the plethora of stuffed animals. Toys were scattered about the floor by a large chest off in the far corner. This was certainly not the room one would expect of such a demented person as Giovanna. It was excessively childish. A massive veiled bed stood at the back of the room. To the left a desk was covered in loose papers. Sitting parallel to it was a small table and several chairs set up for a tea party. Stuffed animals leaned in their places at the table with cups before them. Each was missing a different piece. One the head was gone, another the leg, and in this way it cycled through all five of them. A wardrobe was placed beside a tall mirror that faced the bed. The mirror was marvelous and glistened clearer than water on the brightest of days. Drakar saw himself, the clothes seemed so foreign to him, a second skin of black and red. He felt restricted by the fabric, but it was also soft and comfortable. Though he had seen the Dark Elves wear various apparel this was the first time he had worn anything other than wood or leaves during his games. It felt fitting.


    Hans led him to a pile of pillows beside the bed. A thick metal bar was cemented into the floor and a chain was fastened to it. A silvered collar hung at the end. He reluctantly was fastened to the post and left in gloom the room all alone. He lay on the pillows, staring at the ceiling. A realization dawned upon him, this room was a dungeon all its own. There were no windows and the only light came from the flickering candle beside the door. Was Giovanna a prisoner in her own right? She lived here yet it seemed more lonesome the longer he stayed. The air was hot and stuffy. He felt itchy, no matter how he scratched it persisted. A buzzing sound filled his ears it was unnerving. The sound was everywhere and yet nowhere. It was absolute silence. His dreary eyes closed and he let his dreams take him away from the waiting horrors of House Ebon Heart.

 Chapter 3 Puppets on Parade

    Chapter 3 Puppets on Parade


    A low moan echoed through the walls and Drakar stirred from his fitful sleep. He sat up staring into the darkness. It was a voice crying out, it sounded agonized. He moved to the wall, placing his ear on it and the sound grew louder. It was faint but a rhythmic clinking rose from the silence of the room. He heard the voice once more a shriek of bliss rang out from the other side of the wall.


    ¡°Papa! Oh Papa right there!¡± Wailed Giovanna in the adjacent room.


    The pounding reached a fevered pitch and she screamed. ¡°That''s it harder! How disgraceful making your own daughter into such a lewd woman. You disgusting pig! You love being treated like trash, how pathetic. I wonder what the other nobles would think if they saw your pitiful self. So fat I had to dig for your cock. What do you have to say for yourself Papa?¡±


    He heard the muffled replies, but there were no words. Incoherent groans of pain and pleasure filled the air. A loud slap echoed and the crack of a whip lashed the darkness. Agony scurried up Drakar''s spine, remembering the lashing he had received. Giovanna was now cackling and the sound of the whip were coming faster and harder than before. After what seemed hours a silence fell over the room.


    ¡°How fun Papa did you like my slave play? Letting me be in control, well was it delightful?¡± Asked Giovanna.


    ¡°As expected of my daughter. The way you handle that whip is a form of art.¡±


    ¡°Why thank you I have had a lot of practice. So what is next Papa? Are we going to defile that elf bitch?¡±


    ¡°I have not had enough of you yet my dear. The elf can wait.¡±


    ¡°Me? But Papa all that whipping made me tired.¡±


    ¡°Just lie back and let Papa take care of everything.¡±


    ¡°I know better. You would crush me if I left it all to you. Honestly if I am not on top I would be worried over my safety your fat has gotten so bad lately that you look like a tub of lard. Where did my big strong Papa who was called the Black Hearted Bull go? He must be swallowed up by all this fat.¡±


    ¡°Very well then, get on your knees where you belong.¡±


    ¡°That mouth of yours is the only good thing left of you, the fat has eaten everything else. Be honest when was the last time you saw your little cock?¡±


    ¡°Hush now girl and get to work.¡±


    ¡°Very well, but after this I need some sleep. It is so late already.¡±


    Giovanna became quiet and the relaxed sighs of Maxwell rose. Drakar retreated from the wall and lay on the pillows his eyes wide open. He was unsure of exactly what they had been doing, but it sounded like some sort of torture. The thought that she would subject him to something like that made his scales crawl and he buried himself below the pillows. He lay there, covering his ears from the moans emanating from the next room. A small voice rattled through the air and he stared into the darkness. A tiny red glow illuminated the glass of a jar on the desk. It was Ciara, she stood forlornly staring out of her prison unable to do anything. Though she talked it was muffled and sounded like squeaks. Drakar moved to grab the jar but the chain held him back. He tugged and pulled, but it would not yield. Ciara was crying and he could not reach her. He sat pitifully staring at her. Hours seemed to pass, when a sudden gust of air filled the room. The door burst open and there stood Daemyn.


    ¡°Drakar! We are leaving this wretched place right now.¡± Said the tall Dark Elf.


    He quickly crossed the room and slashed down severing the chain that bound him to the pillar. Daemyn grabbed him and dragged him by the arm. One of the others broke the jar and set Ciara free. She hid in his hair, wailing incessantly. Twenty Dark Elves stood in mismatched armor and their varied weapons gleamed with fresh blood. Their eyes glowed a deep dark red. The blood lust had taken them.


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± Asked Drakar walking on his own.


    ¡°To the Crystal Bog in the far north many Dryads and Dark Elves live there and we can seek refuge with them.¡± Said Daemyn.


    ¡°No, I mean how are we getting out of this place?¡± He asked.


    ¡°While you were confined we have been working diligently and have learned the ins and outs of this accursed place. Now be quick before the guards notice we are escaping.¡±


    They prowled through the corridors moving quietly and swiftly. The moon light showered in through one of the windows and the outside seemed surreal. Shadows danced as a strange orange glow flashed in the darkness. Fire licked the sky all around the rooftops. Drakar stared, as smoke billowed up under the crescent moons. The ground shook and a terrible noise worse than thunder shattered the glass. He fell back on the floor. The dark elves wobbled, but held their own. Their faces had become fearful. Screams of agony filled the wind outside and bells were ringing at a frantic pace.


    Guards filled the corridor behind them raising their swords and shields. Daemyn grabbed him and leapt out the shattered window, the others followed suit quickly. The grass quivered at their arrival and the plants all around shimmered silvery. They had escaped into a back garden. Hedges crept around the walls and statues dotted the rose banks. Angry yells followed them and crossbow bolts descended. Two of the dark elves fell to the projectiles, but those that remained charged forward. They rushed across the open ground and dove behind a tall hedge.


    Booms echoed beyond the walls and the fires raged even more. They did not have time to worry about what was happening in the city, the humans were closing in. Daemyn peered at their attackers and motioned to move. They took several steps out before retreating when a hail of bolts pelted the ground. Drakar sat realizing that they were effectively pinned down. The others looked pained several had bolts sticking out of a limb.


    ¡°What the paradise is going on out here?¡± Screeched Giovanna, appearing from the shadows of the mansion side door clad in leather and brandishing a wicked looking whip.


    Guards surrounded her. They moved as a shield. Crossbowmen were on all sides. They were trapped between her men and the tall wall behind them. Daemyn raised his sword and stepped in front of Drakar, the others followed suit. A mere fifteen against more than fifty. Giovanna approached causally and Daemyn bull rushed her. His sword slashed and she lashed out with her cord of leather. It cracked and the sword spun from his grasp, stabbing into the ground to the side. She waved again and the leather smashed into his face. Blood boiled out of the open wound and he staggered back. Crossbow bolts stabbed into the others and they crumpled over. Those that were not hit used their allies as shields.


    ¡°Is that all?¡± She said with disappointment. ¡°I thought you would have put up more of a fight than that. I mean really I even lessened the guards so that you could get weapons and try to escape. Oh, right. I forgot about the drugs in your food and water. This is just pitiful. Pathetic worms grovel at my feet and I will give you a swift death.¡±


    A rustling sound rose and cries of pain filled the corridor behind her. She turned to the sounds. Three vicious Nekomar lunged from the shadows, behind them a pack of blood crazed worgs howled in hot pursuit. The nimble cat girls bounded up the stone wall and the worgs rushed forward. The beasts descended upon the men, tearing them to pieces. Giovanna lashed out making one scream in pain. Her guards hacked away at the crazed animals. The hallway echoed with commotion and Azra rushed forward followed by the beaten high elves and the remaining dark elves.


    They brandished swords, cutting into several of the black and red soldiers. They pushed the humans back, slashing and weaving through their armored foes.


    Giovanna cut the air with her whip and the swords fell from the reeling elves. Azra held fast lunging at her nemesis. She cut down with all her strength, knocking back the Mistress of Ebonheart. They growled at one another and started once more.


    ¡°How did you get out of your cage?¡±


    ¡°I strangled that fat slob and took the key. It was easy.¡± Smirked Azra.


    ¡°You! You killed my Papa!¡± She screamed, slamming her plated fist into the Elf''s stomach.


    She reeled back coughing and wheezing. ¡°Damn, all of those drugs are still sapping my strength.¡±


    ¡°I will make a cup from your skull!¡± Raged Giovanna.


    A spear stabbed into her side and Azra cut off the man''s hand. She retreated, blindly slashing at anything that got near. Blood poured from her side and her strength waned quickly. She collapsed before Drakar and he dragged her away. Giovanna pursued snapping her whip. Scales shattered and blood filled the air. He screamed, reeling in pain. The Nekomar dived down from above. They fell into the fray gouging out eyes and sinking their teeth into soft necks. One targeted Giovanna. The furry beast descended latching onto her face. It clawed at her, tearing and ripping. She screamed and thrashed fighting off the monster. Blades sliced through the feral creature and it fell away coughing up blood.


    Giovanna clutched her face and looked towards Drakar. Her blood oozed between her fingers and she was filled with madness. Her grin made the moons jealous. She held her whip approaching him. ¡°My own blood. You have made me bleed my own blood. It was you all along! I will make you regret opposing me. I will skin you alive!¡±


    Her hand fell from her face and Drakar retreated in horror. Half of her face had been torn off. The muscles were exposed and blood flowed with every twitch. Giovanna rushed towards him. The ground shook and she fell mid stride. A horrendous sound rose from beyond the wall. He turned when a shadow over took them. There crouched upon the wall was a Nekomar that seemed oddly familiar. It was black with white stripes and its eyes glistened like the ocean. The beast girl flung herself down knocking Giovanna flat.


    ¡°No hurt Meowster!¡± Screamed the furious creature.


    She bounded forward, her powerful legs driving her. She leapt through the air and kicked a knight so hard he crashed into the wall and crumpled up. She grabbed hold of Daemyn and dragged him to safety. Then darted about the ground, dashing between legs and kicking upwards to cut men in two. After every attack she swiftly retreated to Drakar''s side.


    ¡°Too many Meowster we must retreat.¡± Said the cat girl.


    ¡°Where are we going to go?¡± Asked Drakar.


    ¡°We must head to the square, the others are there. Maggy!¡± She cried.


    The wall shuddered, then cracked and burst in a shower of stone. There stood a knight who towered in the night. His armor was pitch and his visor glowed dark red. Giovanna fled the moment she saw him. He stepped forward and the earth shuddered. The black knight raised his massive sword and stepped forward to confront their attackers. Bolts clinked off of his armor harmlessly and he approached the humans. His sword descended and carnage followed. With a single swipe five men were sliced in two. He stomped on the fallen and swung again. They screamed and ran from him. He pursued chopping down mercilessly. His sword split a tree and three men down the middle. Ciara stared out at the massacre ripping at his hair in terror.


    ¡°Drakar! I thought we were going to die. Who are these people? Why are they helping us?¡± Blubbered the pixie.


    ¡°I do not know, but we have no choice except to trust them.¡± He replied.


    ¡°Meowster come with me. Come, come the Mistress is waiting.¡± Smiled the Nekomar.


    Drakar nodded and the Nekomar hoisted Daemyn on her back. She led the way through the burning city. The dark knight was following behind closely with Azra draped over his shoulder. The sky was filled with clouds and lightning cracked striking into the castle upon the hill. Like ants from a mound soldiers poured out of the gates rushing down the streets. Cries of pain began to bubble up. They filled the air and drowned out even the thunder. Drakar rushed to the next corner and before him was a massacre. Fires billowed from the houses and stores. The knight bounded ahead when more humans appeared. Swords clashed as the city guard fought against the towering knight in black armor. His sword descended in a crescendo of blood and terror. Limbs were parted from their owners while others were cut in half as easily as a hot knife through butter. The humans stood no chance against the ebon figure. Crossbow bolts clinked against his armor and when he turned the red glare of his eyes pierced through his assailants. The pungent reek of blood, shit, and piss filled the air.


    Music roared to life and upon a rooftop set ablaze appeared Sin. Her cloak swam in the burning wind. The mask wore a face of great dismay that bubbled into rage. She leapt down before the figure, hurling the metal box. It crashed into him with a terrible sound of gears seizing up. The music descended into grinding and howling from the contraption. Drakar held his breath, expecting Sin to be cleft in two like all the others, he looked away unable to watch someone who was so kind, even if she was weird, be ripped to pieces. Instead the black and white dressed doll yelled not as one would in a desperate fight for your life, but as a mother scolding a child who broke a toy. ¡°What in paradise are you doing? Who is this? Is there a head in that helmet because you are clearly not using it!¡±


    The knight was taken aback by the verbal assault, but soon took a knee before the puppeteer and the tiny frightening woman. ¡°You said to kill the humans. Salt the earth so that no life may ever return. Burn and pillage, sack and despoil. I did as I was told. This is a woman who helped the master.¡±


    ¡°I don''t care who she is. The Master takes priority. I said after we have secured the prince. This was to be our gift to him, You were to execute those he hated most, then slaughter the rest of these pathetic insects that have tormented the boy. His revenge. Now stop lollygagging.¡± Said a chorus of dolls.


    ¡°It is done then he has had his revenge let us leave this place. It stinks of human. Though maybe we could cook some I am hungry after being cooped up.¡± Said the knight rising to his feet. His mammoth weapon flung through the air pinning a crossbowman to the wall behind him. He stepped to the quivering man and tore him off of his sword, wiping the blood on the corpse as he returned to Sin''s side.


    ¡°Your head is full of clouds isn''t it. What do you suppose the boy will do when everyone he has ever known is butchered before his eyes for no conceivable reason? He may have had friends you know. In his eyes by now we are nothing more than gruesome monsters and will kill him like the rest! It will be like getting a demon to knit to find him again if he has escaped.¡± Said the doll of a long haired knight.


    Drakar stared as two marionettes took on a life of their own. Their bodies grew and filled to the size of people or monsters in some cases. A woman rose from a minuscule wooden knight her hair was long braided platinum and her sapphire eyes were serpent like. A dazzling winged helmet covered her head. She wore full plate of gold and bones. A shield of silver larger than a door and a foot thick stood beside her. She stretched and cracked her knuckles, her hands had talons and segmented white scales advanced into her armor. She bowed before the puppeteer before rising again hefting a massive maul of white gold upon her shoulder. The crimson doll flashed and creaked as it shattered. There in its place stood a beautiful young woman with flowing sanguine hair. Her skin was tinted blue and appeared as ice, the fires flickered beyond her giving a strange warmth to her. The air frosted around her. She twirled and danced in her dress of crystallized blood. She scooped a partner from the floor, waltzing with the upper half of a slain guardsman. His mailed hands clinked with every move and blood trailed after them as did frozen footsteps.


    ¡°It has been so long since you let us out!¡± Gleefully shouted the woman in red.


    ¡°To feel the wind again, Mistress you are most kind. What is your bidding?¡± Asked the golden woman.


    Sin stood before them and upon her shoulder was yet another doll. It had short coal hair and wore a maids'' outfit of black and white. She spoke for the silent puppeteer, her voice was delicate yet a tone of mischief salted every word. ¡°Spread out and find the Master. If any humans try to interfere get creative. Be quick about it I can sense that he is still nearby, but he will be scared, be gentle. Valene check to the east. Malissa you will scour the west... for the love of Luna put that filthy thing down you have no idea where it has been!¡±


    ¡°I never get to have any fun!¡± Cried the woman in red slamming the corpse down, reducing it to a bloody pulp.


    ¡°Don''t you take that tone of voice with me young lady.¡± Snarled the maid.


    ¡°But Faith its been more than three hundred years since the mistress has let me out. I want to play and there is nothing you can do about it!¡± Malissa frolicked away without a care in the world. The little maid fumed, stomping up and down on the puppeteer''s shoulder. The Nekomar bounded forward, flopping down at Sin''s feet. Daemyn fell to the ground and she rolled on her back exposing her belly.


    ¡°What is it? Maeve where did you pick this up? That is a bad kitty! What have I told you about dragging back bodies?¡± Asked the maid, looking down at the strange creature.


    Maeve scowled ¡°But I found the Meowster!


    ¡°This is not the Master!¡± Raged the tiny maid. ¡°Has your brain turned to yarn? You silly cat.¡±


    ¡°No this is not him, it is his friend.¡± Blubbered Maeve. ¡°Maggy even helped me get him too.¡±


    ¡°What? So that bumbling bag of bones wasn''t just rampaging as he liked?¡±


    ¡°He saved us. Meowster come out and play with us.¡± Said Maeve.


    ¡°Saved you?¡± Laughed Faith hysterically, holding her sides. ¡°We both know you do not need saving.¡±


    ¡°But I am just a cat nyah.¡± Replied the shifty eyed creature.


    ¡°Sure you are.¡±


    Drakar emerged and Maeve darted to his side happily, rubbing against his leg. He felt her frizzled hair against his hands. Maeve grinned, playfully pawing at his face. She was soft and warm. Her tail bristled and she hissed, staring past him into the darkness beyond the street set ablaze. She reared up and growled. Her back was rigid and every hair on her body stuck up. Foot steps rang out and men began to appear.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    ¡°Seems we are not too late.¡± Said a gruff voice from the new arrivals.


    The steel covered new comers looked like knights from the castle. They appeared organized and tough. Drakar stepped away and Maeve scooted back pressing against him.


    ¡°What is a filthy Nekomar doing here? Are the monsters rampaging here as well? Well, lets get to it, kill them all.¡± Said a knight with golden armor and a white cape.


    He raised a silvery sword to Maeve. She retreated a step before biting into the back of Drakar''s neck. She drug him with her like a mother cat trying to save her kitten. She was a lot stronger than she looked. Her hind legs bristled with muscle and she lunged forward through the air more than twenty yards. Silver bolts pelted down all around. The heavy thuds resounded and a strange ooze spilled from the cat girl''s mouth. She reeled and floundered on the cobbled stone. The onslaught continued, but she wrapped tighter and tighter around him, protecting him at her own expense.


    ¡°How bold and daring, such courage, striking down a cat and trying to slay a boy.¡± Said Faith as the puppeteer strode undaunted by the hail of bolts. ¡°Valene, Magnum, Malissa the master is in peril are you done playing around yet? I suppose I should do something about this as well.¡±


    Wings filled the sky and a roar silenced the flames all around. Valene appeared through the murk giant scaly wings adorned her back. The massive shield slammed down before Drakar and Maeve protecting them. The battle maiden hefted her maul, advancing towards the humans. Cries of terror escaped their ranks.


    ¡°I am the bringer of woe, harbinger of hunger. I am Valene, the fallen champion and I will feast on your flesh.¡± Said the white clad woman. Her mouth unhinged and a huge slimy forked tongue licked her chops with bated breath.


    ¡°The Dragoness! Why is she here? I thought she was just a myth!¡± Cried their pitiful voices.


    Her jagged teeth smirked and her maw opened wide fire rushed out in an explosion of power. The knights were consumed and the night filled with their screams. She swung her maul and bodies flew away broken and shattered. The massive black knight appeared from the shadows he cleaved into a side group of humans, sheering them in half. They could not even cry out in pain. Lightning churned the sky and the maid doll rose to a stature of six feet. Thunder boomed whistling the wind through her dress and madness filled her face. Another strike cracked down into the middle of fleeing forces, rending the road asunder and raining rocks down all around. Faith laughed merrily while the storm above grew ever more vicious. Forks of death splintered the sky stabbing through the human ranks. The sound made the earth quake and all, but the monsters held their heads desperately.


    ¡°Oh this looks like fun.¡± Said Malissa prancing in her dress. She danced, twirling and the ground froze in every direction around her.


    She slide gracefully on the ice and it cascaded before her like a wave. The knights turned to run, but as she glided by their feet froze. Then a creeping cold grasped up their bodies turning them into ice sculptures. She skated, picking up speed before launching herself into the air. She spun as though gravity held no say, making snowflakes drift down. Malissa landed with a crunch of ice, she bowed and all of the frozen men shattered to pieces. She was in her own little world, waving to an audience that was not there.


    ¡°Aw?! Over already?¡± Cried Malissa, stomping on the red ice. ¡°They don''t make humans like they used to. I at the least wanted an encore.¡±


    ¡°Ah shut it princess. We have meat at last, nice and cooked. Want it burned or seared?¡± Laughed Valene, ripping a smoking leg off of one the slain men.


    ¡°I don''t care meat is meat.¡± Declared Magnum feasting beside the scaled woman.


    Drakar stared at the fiends from behind the tower shield. They gossiped and roared together as though killing so many people was nothing uncommon. He turned his gaze to the listless creature who had saved him. Green liquid bubbled from her wounds, it seemed agitated. The rods of metal slid out of her flesh and fell to the ground. The entirety of her form dissolved, becoming a puddle of malachite goo. Slowly her body solidified returning to its former self. Her moist eyes met his and a gentle smile spread across her face. Maeve said. ¡°Meowster is safe.¡±


    ¡°What are you?¡± He asked.


    She grinned toothily, ¡°I am just a cat nyah.¡±


    He stared at her not understanding exactly what happened. Clearly Maeve was not a Nekomar as she seemed to claim. He realized that someone was watching him and he looked up into the deep blue eyes of the puppeteer. She had crouched beside him silently, watching him. Her warm hand rubbed his back. The mask wore a gentle smile and she began humming. Sin''s arms embraced him in a tight yet delicate hug. Though she was silent he could feel what she was saying. There, there Drakar let it all out, you will feel better after. Don''t worry I am here, I will not leave you. He felt that she truly cared.


    Sin straightened her back and walked a few steps away from him she held up her hands to the sky. She stood in silence while the others made their way over to her. From her hands darkness crept out in a mist. It bubbled and rolled away from her, washing over the dead scattered all around. Fingers twitched, mouths gaped, limbs flailed, and the dead stirred once more. Their bodies reattached themselves becoming whole once more. They staggered and groaned, crawling if they had no legs.


    ¡°What have you done?¡± Cried Drakar, staring out over the sea of writhing limbs and shambling corpses.


    Faith replied patting him gently. ¡°No need to worry the Mistress is just putting them to good use.¡±


    ¡°But they were dead. How can they get back up?¡±


    ¡°No need to worry Master they are simply puppets, zombies. They will distract our enemies while we escape.¡±


    ¡°This is strange how did she do that?¡±


    ¡°Magic.¡± Replied Faith as though this much was nothing at all.


    Drakar stumbled and fell onto the stone road. His stomach emptied and he retched coughing while the maid pat him on the back. He saw all those that he remembered, whether they took care of him or chased him it didn''t matter all of them shambled by with eyes blank. The dark elves, dryads, humans, high elves, and even the three nekomar were among the shambling mob. They were all gone, they were standing here, but there was nothing inside. They were empty shells. He fell into a fit of shivers and cried uncontrollably. Sin pat him with her warm hands and lifted him onto her back. Her mask smiled and azure hair descended into his face. He lay against her blubbering.


    Hours drifted by while the Puppeteer carried him on her back. They had left Tar behind. The fires had consumed everything, leaving nothing, but ashes. The undead horde had marched to the south west along the road. The dirt path before Drakar meandered on into the rising sun and a new dawn had risen. With the advent of the sun he could truly see his saviors. They were beaming between one another and their gazes fell on him regularly. Malissa, the Ice Princess would shyly glance his way before darting off to chase small furry animals or butterflies, the animals fled in terror from her. Faith, the Maid Witch smiled mischievously and she spoke for Sin as they traveled. Valene, the Dragoness boldly led the way, flicking her forked tongue at him with a grin. Magnum, Life Bane never showed his face, but through his visor his glowing eyes were always watching Drakar from the back of their procession. Maeve frolicked about without a care in the world.


    ¡°Why did you save me?¡± Asked Drakar.


    ¡°Because you are the Master.¡± Simply said Faith looking at the sky.


    ¡°Why am I the master?¡±


    ¡°It is your destiny. You are one of the last remaining children of the Shewolf.¡±


    ¡°Wait, you do not mean the Shewolf do you?¡±


    ¡°Mistress Shewolf is the Demigoddess of the Shadow Realm and Queen of the Devils.¡± Replied Faith.


    ¡°Then you know where my mother is? You are taking me to her?¡± Smiled Drakar but it soon fell away as everyone shook their heads.


    ¡°Unfortunately she is lost. Cursed by the humans, she lost her powers and now we can no longer find her. We will be raising you.¡±


    ¡°Why would the humans curse her?¡±


    ¡°You should know why. They abhor and disdain those that are different. The Devils have fought the Humans since the Realms were created. The sun has always lusted after the moons after all.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Lord Solar god of the Material realm has longed for Lady Luna Goddess of the Shadow Realm since the moons were created. He started the ancient Lunar Wars to claim her, sending his human minions to sack and despoil the Shadow Realm. The Devils though proud and haughty, long lived and vastly more powerful were out numbered hundreds to one. It was a desperate affair but Lady Luna''s twin brother Lord Magus sent his Ascended to aid them. Together they repelled the invaders and drove them back into their own realm. This was but the first of many wars that the humans started. For now we shall leave it at that. I will be teaching you in the near future so do not worry.¡± Said Faith with a courteous smile.


    ¡°So I see. How are all of you connected to Sin?¡± Replied Drakar.


    ¡°Sin is a powerful Necromancer who serves the Goddess of Death, Sintress. She has great powers and has saved each of us from death''s door now we serve her. Sin and Shewolf were best friends so it is only natural that she would be concerned for the well being of her children. Though we were too late to save the others. The humans have somehow been able to find them far faster than we anticipated.¡±


    ¡°Then we have to find my brothers and sisters, before it is too late.¡±


    Faith shook her head and her eyes were down. ¡°We have already failed. You are the last. Originally there were twenty others when we first arrived two thousand years ago, but each time we pinpointed their location the Solar Knights beat us there and purged the child. It seems Lord Solar was spying on us. Though now he cannot see since we have shrouded ourselves from his eyes with magic.¡±


    ¡°Wait, two thousand years ago? I am only eight years old. How long ago did Shewolf go missing?¡±


    ¡°Two thousand years ago of course. Originally we came to investigate what had happened to her. As for how you got here we have no idea. Same for the other children all of you should have been safe and sound in the Shadow Realm growing up to be great dark lords and following in your mother''s foot steps, but someone or something scattered you across the Realms. If I had to point a finger it would be at the Ascended. They have been very supportive of the humans lately.¡±


    ¡°The Ascended?¡±


    ¡°Yes they are what the humans call angels. Though they look pretty and they wield vast powers. They have betrayed us. In all likelihood it is they who cursed Shewolf.¡±


    ¡°Then they killed my brothers and sisters, cursed my mother and tried to kill me as well. What could they want? Then the Ascended are the true enemy?¡±


    ¡°No they are more of observers than anything else. They stick to their own realm. It is the humans we must worry about. We are a threat to them because we resist. So naturally they wish to destroy us.¡±


    ¡°I will never forgive them. Because of them I have no home and my family and friends were slaughtered.¡± Replied Drakar.


    ¡°Do not worry we will protect you Master.¡± Said Valene and the others. Sin nodded with a smile.


    Drakar was set down. He stretched his legs and ran up beside Valene. She glanced at him before her predatory eyes went back to surveying the path ahead. Her scaled hand plopped down on his head ruffling the hair while she looked on. Valene pulled a small wagon with the two incapacitated elves on it. The sun was high over head beating down on the troupe. Magnum seemed to be having trouble with the heat. His odor was growing worse by the minute it was so foul the flowers were wilting when he passed. It was the stench of death. The others did not seem to notice, likely being used to the smell by now. Drakar could only squint and try to stay downwind of him, which was hard since the wind was blowing with them.


    ¡°Why does Magnum smell so bad?¡± Finally said Drakar, covering his face with his ripped shirt.


    Magnum bowed and removed his helmet, but this only made it worse. His head was a dull yellow skull with rotting chunks of hair stuck in spots. A jagged gash appeared on the top, apparently his cause of death. The man was literally a walking, rotting corpse. He was an Undead. He hungered for flesh even though he could neither digest it nor taste it, his latest feast was already beginning to putrefy within his dark broiling hot armor.


    ¡°I am sorry Master, sometimes I forget. After all I have no nose. I will refrain from eating on our journey.¡± Humbly said the tall knight.


    ¡°I did not realize you were actually dead. I mean everyone else seems to be alive and well.¡±


    ¡°Master do not mind that old bag of bones.¡± Giggled Malissa, handing a frozen flower to Drakar. ¡°He has always been stinky. I remember when I first met him, Faith was yelling at me to be polite since I kept kicking him and trying to light him on fire, or freeze him so that he would stop smelling so icky. I like pretty things like flowers and fountains of blood. I also like cute and cuddly things like bunnies and kitties. They are so warm and soft and I just want to snuggle with them all day long. I hug and squeeze them until their little brains pop out of their eyes. They always struggle so much, but that just makes me want to hug them even tighter! They kick and scream, but that is how I know that they love me and I love them, so I hug them even tighter. But eventually they stop moving, no matter if I shake them, or throw them up in the air and catch them. That is when I know that they don''t love me anymore.¡±


    Drakar edged away from Malissa whose face seemed sad but this only caught her attention she grinned, getting ready to hug him but Valene pulled her away. She pouted and fought for a moment being held up by her head above the ground. She was shaken violently enough that one would think her head would come off. Her body twisted and she wriggled before she broke free and glomped onto Valene''s leg. She squeezed and hugged all the while being ignored. The Dragoness marched onward with a perpetual frown upon her face and every step jolted the Ice Princess her visage was of pure bliss.


    ¡°See, see no matter how hard I hug Valy she always kicks and struggles, sometimes she screams too that is when I know that she really likes it. I remember the first time I met Valy. She was a big angry dragon that loved to hug people who came into her castle. Puppets was talking with Valy about stuff that doesn''t matter, so I was bored, but then I grabbed her tail. She loved that, thrashing so hard and hitting me against the walls. So I hugged her even harder. She liked that so much she put me in her mouth. That is where she puts people that she really likes. Valy bit me and chewed on me, but then I hugged her tongue. Then, then she blew fire all over me! I was so warm I could just feel her love. But then she spit me out and every time I tried to hug her she would fly away. How mean right? Even though I know she likes it. That went on for a while a few years I think I am not very good at keeping track of time. but I would always get her while she was sleeping. I would hug her neck so much that she would really struggle, she likes that. Then one day I came and hugged her but she didn''t move at all no matter how hard I hugged her so I went and got Puppets. Then she became like me and now I get to hug her all the time and that is why I love Valy.¡±


    Valene grumbled lowly, then she shook her leg in an attempt to dislodge the parasite that had attached itself to her. She stepped away from the cart. She crouched, flexing her immense leg muscles then she kicked off of the ground rising high into the sky. She was merely a dot among the clouds. Faith pulled Drakar back about ten paces petting him lightly. The wind whistled as the dot grew larger. Her great wings formed an ark and she dove straight towards the ground. Valene wrestled Melissa into position directly below her. The two slammed into the ground, dust shot up billowing out of the crater. A shadow emerged, it was Valene and there was no longer something unsightly attached to her leg, it was now latched onto her back crossing its arms below her plated breasts. Malissa laughed crushing the Dragoness in her embrace. The frown grew into a pained expression, but Valene was quiet, seemingly resigned to being a hug pillow.


    ¡°How was Malissa not affected?¡± Asked Drakar.


    Faith replied, ¡°Malissa''s body is made of enchanted Ice. The crystallized soul of an Ice Elemental was molded into that shape while it was still in a liquid state and Malissa was placed within it. She is nearly indestructible and feels no pain.¡±


    ¡°I do not understand what is an Elemental?¡±


    ¡°Elementals are the dominate race of the Fire Realm they come in varied shapes and compositions.¡± Explained Faith. ¡°Each Elemental is born from a certain nature whether it be fire, ice, water, earth, wind, light, and darkness. They were born from chaos and to it they shall return. They serve Mistress Moltaer goddess of fire, passion, chaos, and war. Moltaer''s first born child is Diva, the Destroyer. Diva is the Demigod of the fire realm and is considered the strongest of all the Demigods. Her wrath and ire are so terrible the world buckles around her when she fights. Mountains and great gorges will form, volcanoes will erupt, hurricanes and blizzards will cover the skies, great waves of water will crash down upon her foes this is because she was formed from all of the elements. However because Diva is so strong she rarely gets serious, she has not left the fire realm since the Second Lunar War and the sundering of the third moon. The Fire realm is continually ripping itself apart while the elements fight for supremacy. Elementals are our allies, though that will not stop them from picking fights. They are strong because they ceaselessly fight one another. As such no one dares to attack the Fire Realm.¡±


    ¡°She sounds scary.¡±


    ¡°We likely will not go to the Fire Realm though if things become dire here then we might have to go. Do not worry Diva is actually a very kind being if you can gain her trust, if you are strong she will accept you, but if you are weak she will crush you.¡±


    ¡°How can I fight someone who tears the world apart at will?¡± Asked Drakar nervously.


    ¡°You will not have to, she would make you fight one of her generals. They are considerably weaker than she is. Though they are strong, if you use their counter element they are weak. For instance the Fire child Aideen and the Earth child Gaia are weak to water. The only two elements that you would have to worry about are Light and Darkness they have no counter and can only be stalemated by their opposite. Lucilla the Light child and Keaira the Dark child are twins born into being at the same time. They share a rivalry and fight over the affection of their mother, though they rarely fight one another in person due to how destructive their powers are. These two are the only children you should fear if we go to the fire realm. As I said though do not worry about the Elementals, for now worry about our immediate future.¡±


    Elementals sounded terrifying, were they really that strong? If Faith says they are it must be true. Definitely an opponent Drakar never wanted to fight. There was still so much he do not know about the realms. He realized just how ignorant he was. He knew nothing, but what Bel and the others taught him, yet their knowledge seemed pitiful and insignificant compared to the bottomless fountain who called herself Faith. He resolved to learn more. He wanted to be stronger so that no one could ever hurt him or the ones he loved again.


    ¡°If you say so Faith.¡± Said Drakar, thinking things over. ¡°Where are we going anyway?¡±


    ¡°For now we will be heading north. Our final destination is our base of operations in the foot hills of the Slag Ridge. It is a nice place secluded from the humans, there are many non humans that live in the area. To the south of it is the Shadow Song Forest, to the west is the Crystal Bog, and to the east are the Razor Grass Meadows. The entire area is actually surrounded by the Slag Ridge which makes a valley in the middle, there are several entrances, but all are on the southern edge and all lead into the Shadow Song Forest. I have a map here if you would like to see.¡±


    Faith held out a map letting the sun illuminate it. It was a large wrinkled canvas that had seen many years of use, burns and rips dotted the sides there was even a puncture mark near the middle. A glowing dot appeared on the surface near the middle of the landmass. Mountains were drawn to the right and a forest seemed to be up above from the dot. There was something written but Drakar could not read the language so it simply looked like scribbles to him.


    ¡°What is this dot?¡± Asked Drakar pointing to the green sphere on the paper.


    ¡°That is where we are. Maps are magic you see. As we move it will move with us. This is a map of this continent. We are currently on Khar Mar the western most continent in the Material Realm. This place has the least human influence in the realm since it is mostly secluded. Originally it was inhabited solely by the Mar races and Centaur, but Humans overpowered them and enslaved most that were not secluded. Though I say least there are still many humans here, but it is not nearly as over run as the middle continent known as Dawn Spire, which is the strongest nation of humans and has the Phoenix King as its ruler. The Phoenix King is the Demigod of the humans. He is very powerful and even if killed he will reincarnate upon death. He is a fanatic of Lord Solar and our arch enemy. Those were some of his men that tried to kill you earlier. He is definitely a foe that is both tenacious and absurdly strong. We do not have the forces to defeat him, which is why we are hiding here so far away from him.¡±


    ¡°Wait we are hiding from the humans? I thought all of you were really strong?¡±


    ¡°We are, but regrettably we are out numbered, cut off from reinforcements for the time being, and out matched if we were to fight the Templar that act as the Phoenix King''s personal guard we would lose. The only reason we have not been hunted down is because of our concealing magic. This is why we are retreating to our haven. We need to regroup with our allies and figure out how to prolong this struggle.¡±


    ¡°Prolong? Why don''t we just leave? Go to the Shadow Realm for instance.¡±


    ¡°Our objective is to keep the Humans here in the Material Realm so that another Lunar War does not occur. If they have an enemy attacking their home the Humans cannot mass and launch another crusade. We must kill as many as possible if left unchecked they breed quickly and after a hundred years their numbers will increase ten fold. Due to our meddling over these long years we have somehow kept them in check. Though humans are generally weak by themselves they are like ants get enough of them together and they can drag down even some of the most powerful of foes. As is they are still the most populous race in all the realms out numbering every other race combined five to one at the moment. If left alone they will become a wave of destruction that will wash over the realms. In the capital city of Dawn Spire alone there are more than thirty million humans strong.¡±


    ¡°How many is a million? I have never heard that word before.¡±


    ¡°Well lets see how high can you count?¡± smiled Faith.


    ¡°Twenty.¡±


    ¡°So I see. Imagine ten, now imagine ten tens. Now you have one hundred now make there be ten more hundreds. That is one thousand, add ten more thousands and you have ten thousand. Now add ten more ten thousands. That is one hundred thousand, ten more of those is a million. Did I lose you?¡±


    Drakar nodded. ¡°You lost me after a thousand.¡±


    ¡°That is fine. I will teach you later how to read and write, and of course numbers. Do not feel bad it is something that must be learned.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Murmured Drakar.


    Faith bowed to him. ¡°But of course Master I am here to teach you, it is my purpose.¡±


    ¡°If there are so many humans why would they attack other realms?¡±


    ¡°They are greedy and hold nothing but the sun sacred. They believe anything under the sun belongs to them as a birthright. They subjugate non humans and turn them into slaves to work their fields, fodder for their wars, and even for their entertainment. They are such filthy creatures we must purge them before they can spread further. That is why we must not let them have their way.¡± All of those gathered nodded in agreement to what Faith said.


    Valene turned with a grin. ¡°The road ahead will be long and treacherous, but once we are safely past the Shadow Song Forest we will be able to relax more. Rest for now Master we will handle everything.¡±


    Drakar nodded to the scaled woman, she turned and knelt before him, offering her back. Malissa glared from the side before darting off to chase Maeve, her cheeks puffed up with jealousy. He shimmied into position wrapping his arms around her neck and nestling his legs under her armpits. Her back was vast and covered in a soft pelt from some beast. It was old and well worn, but it was the most comfortable thing Drakar had ever felt. He snuggled against her platinum braids and she stood, advancing forward.